Chương 262: Chapter 262: Cousin, Stop Touching.
Ning Jiali's bed was surrounded by a white mosquito net.
However, through the net, the color of the quilt and bed sheets could still be seen.
The bedding and sheets were red, looking very festive.
Moreover, they were embroidered with mandarin duck patterns.
Xu Xiuwen hadn't been in his cousin's room for a long time, and he didn't expect her beddings to be red.
Sleeping on this bed with his cousin, why did it feel like a newlywed couple's bridal chamber?
Bah bah bah!
Even if Xu Xiuwen was a scumbag, he wouldn't have any thoughts about his cousin.
Instead, he felt a bit regretful.
He shouldn't have agreed to sleep in her bed.
But it was too late to say anything now.
Luckily, the pillow wasn't red; it was light green, with lotus flowers embroidered on it.
This made Xu Xiuwen breathe a sigh of relief.
After entering the room, Ning Jiali also realized.
Although Xu Xiuwen was her cousin, he was still a grown man.
It didn't seem proper for her, a young girl, to share a room and a bed with him.
She was also worried that her cousin might misunderstand her intentions.
How to put it...
Because in Ningzhuang, things weren't as particular as in the city.
Even in 2005, there were still examples of cousins getting married.
Not to mention far away, but close ones.
Ning Wanju, Xu Xiuwen's aunt, and also Ning Jiali's aunt.
She was actually the cousin of her husband (Xu Xiuwen's uncle).
Her husband's mother and Xu Xiuwen's grandmother were sisters.
So, the aunt and her husband were actually cousins.
Because of this thought, Ning Jiali's face turned red.
She worried Xu Xiuwen might misunderstand, but she didn't feel it was right to explain proactively. Maybe her cousin hadn't thought of this connection.
Ning Jiali thought for a moment and had an idea.
She walked to the bed, quickly took off her coat, got on the bed, moved to the inside, lay facing inward, and covered herself with the quilt.
Ning Jiali lay on the inner side of the bed, leaving the outer side open.
Seeing his cousin had already gotten into bed and made space for him, Xu Xiuwen felt it would be pretentious to be fussy now.
He took off his coat and wool sweater, wearing only long underwear, and was about to get into bed.
He suddenly asked, "Lili, is there another quilt?"
Ning Jiali, back facing Xu Xiuwen, blushed and said, "Cousin, the quilt is in grandma's room."
"Then never mind!"
Xu Xiuwen had no choice but to accept the situation of sharing the same quilt with his cousin.
He gently lifted a corner of the quilt, slowly got in, and lay facing outward.
The bed was very spacious, enough for three people to lie side by side.
So now the two of them each took a corner of the quilt, leaving a large gap in the middle.
After lying down, Ning Jiali suddenly said softly, "Cousin, the light is still on."
Xu Xiuwen then realized he hadn't turned off the light when he got into bed.
He lifted the quilt, got out of bed again, walked to the switch, and turned off the light.
After the light went out, the room was instantly pitch black.
Xu Xiuwen's eyes hadn't adjusted to the sudden darkness, so he relied on memory to walk back to the bed.
As he reached the bedside, his knee accidentally hit the edge of the bed.
Xu Xiuwen immediately gasped, his face contorted in pain.
Although Ning Jiali couldn't see Xu Xiuwen's expression, she heard the sound and couldn't help but laugh softly.
She quickly stopped laughing and gently reminded, "Cousin, be careful."
"Mm."
Xu Xiuwen groped around the bed, found the edge of the quilt, lifted it, and got in.
After lying down, his eyes gradually adjusted to the dark environment of the room.
He tried to fall asleep, but felt a bit restless and couldn't sleep.
He didn't know if his cousin was asleep.
He hadn't heard any sound from her.
After a few minutes, Xu Xiuwen gradually started to feel sleepy.
At this moment.
Ning Jiali suddenly asked softly, "Cousin, are you asleep?"
Xu Xiuwen, who was almost asleep, was woken up by her question.
He opened his eyes, turned his head, and asked, "Not yet, what's up?"
Hearing this, Ning Jiali turned over, still lying on her side but facing Xu Xiuwen.
She hesitated for a moment and said, "Cousin, it's been a year since we last met, you've changed a lot. You don't seem like the cousin I used to know."
Xu Xiuwen fell silent upon hearing this.
Strictly speaking, he was indeed not the same person he once was.
He sighed and asked, "Are you scared by my changes?"
Ning Jiali nodded lightly, "Mm."
Xu Xiuwen also turned to face his cousin in the dark.
He smiled and said, "No matter how I change, the fact that I am your cousin will never change."
Ning Jiali responded with a soft "Mm," then curiously asked, "Cousin, what is university like?"
Ning Jiali was a senior in high school, and in five months she would face the college entrance exams.
Her curiosity about university was quite normal.
Xu Xiuwen chuckled, "University, well, it's actually a lot like high school, just with more freedom. In university, you'll meet people from all over the country and make many new friends."
"Oh." Ning Jiali was silent for a few seconds before asking, "Do you think I can get into university, Cousin?"
Ning Jiali's grades had always been among the top in her class, but the top students in her class were not the same as those in the top classes of prestigious high schools.
Their school didn't have many students who made it to university each year, and the number was even fewer when spread across different classes.
Her concern was understandable.
Xu Xiuwen knew his aunt well; in her eyes, only money mattered, and she didn't care about Ning Jiali's grades or if she was stressed.
He could imagine that Ning Jiali usually kept her worries to herself and didn't share them with anyone.
Xu Xiuwen took his hand out from under the quilt and reached out to his cousin in the dark.
He gently patted her head and encouraged her, "You can definitely get into university. I have a lot of confidence in you."
Xu Xiuwen wasn't just saying that; in his previous life, Ning Jiali had eventually been admitted to a second-tier university and later became a teacher after graduation.
Ning Jiali felt very touched by his words.
She mustered up her courage and said, "I also want to study in Jinling in the future."
Xu Xiuwen chuckled, "That would be great. When the time comes, I'll come back and personally take you to school."
Ning Jiali was very moved, "You're so good to me, Cousin."
"You're my cousin; it's only right that I take you to school. Alright, it's getting late, let's get some sleep."
Ning Jiali nodded, "Mm, goodnight, Cousin."
Xu Xiuwen withdrew his hand and prepared to sleep.
This time, instead of lying on his side, he lay flat on his back.
Ning Jiali did the same.
The night grew deeper.
On his first night back at his grandmother's house, Xu Xiuwen spent the night in his cousin's bed.
"Cock-a-doodle-doo..."
Early in the morning, a rooster somewhere in the village started crowing, soon followed by others.
Amid the long, drawn-out crowing of the roosters, Xu Xiuwen woke up.
As soon as he opened his eyes, his mind was still a bit foggy, but when he fully woke up, he was stunned.
Ning Jiali was half-leaning against his arm, sound asleep with a slight smile on her face, clearly having a good dream.
This sleeping position reminded Xu Xiuwen of An Sishi.
In the past few days, An Sishi liked to sleep in his arms.
Xu Xiuwen thought to himself, did he mistake Ning Jiali for An Sishi in the middle of the night and pull her into his arms?
He hadn't considered the possibility of Ning Jiali actively snuggling up to him.
It seemed unlikely.
Xu Xiuwen felt very guilty.
He had pure sibling feelings for his cousin, without any romantic thoughts, and never considered such things.
But having slept holding her all night felt inappropriate.
Seeing that she was still asleep, he hurriedly withdrew his hand.
He moved cautiously, fearing that any sudden motion might wake Ning Jiali.
Fortunately, the roosters had stopped crowing by then.
Once he had freed his hand, Xu Xiuwen quietly slipped out of bed.
Standing by the bed, he quickly got dressed and then swiftly walked to the door and went outside.
Xu Xiuwen didn't realize that as soon as he left the room, Ning Jiali, who had been motionless in bed, suddenly opened her eyes, her face blushing.
Xu Xiuwen's grandparents' house had a layout with three connected front rooms, but the three smaller back rooms were each separate, with their own doors.
So, stepping out of the room brought him directly into the courtyard.
As soon as Xu Xiuwen emerged from his cousin's room, he saw his grandmother coming out of the kitchen.
At that moment, his grandmother also saw him.
Xu Xiuwen's heart skipped a beat, unsure if his grandmother had seen him coming out of Ning Jiali's room.
Feeling guilty, he didn't dare say much.
Fortunately, his grandmother didn't say anything either.
This reassured Xu Xiuwen; it seemed his grandmother hadn't seen him.
Xu Xiuwen pretended to be casual as he returned to the front room.
His second aunt and younger aunt's families were all up; the beds were empty, except for his second cousin, Wu Qiang, who was still asleep.
Xu Xiuwen sat in the room for a while, then went to the back courtyard kitchen.
Sure enough, all the older generation had woken up, and he was the only one of the younger generation who was up.
Ning Wanqiu handed him a prepared toothbrush and a cup, and Xu Xiuwen took them and quietly went to the courtyard, squatting on the stone path to brush his teeth.
After brushing his teeth and washing his face, he returned to the house.
Second Aunt suddenly asked, "Xiuwen, where did you go this morning? I didn't see you when I got up."
Xiuwen's heart skipped a beat as he explained, "I got up to use the bathroom."
Second Aunt didn't say anything in response.
In the morning, Grandma cooked noodles in a big pot, a common sight in the countryside, without adding any MSG or seasoning, just a little green onion.
The noodles smelled delicious, paired with Grandma's homemade pickled vegetables, Xu Xiuwen ate two big bowls.
Just as he finished the second bowl, Ning Jiali also got up and came to the kitchen, already dressed.
She saw Xu Xiuwen and immediately smiled, sweetly calling out, "Cousin, you're up."
"Yeah," Xu Xiuwen replied cautiously.
Ning Jiali seemed oblivious and asked, "Did you sleep well last night?"
"Very well. Hurry up and brush your teeth, though. Your breath stinks."
Ning Jiali blushed instantly, annoyed, "You're the one with bad breath, stinky cousin."
The elders heard their conversation and chuckled.
Ning Jiali didn't say much, instead finding her toothbrush and cup, then went to the yard to brush her teeth.
She squatted on the stone slab, before brushing, she lightly breathed into her palm.
No smell!
She quickly realized her cousin had tricked her.
...
After breakfast, Grandma was still busy preparing lunch, with her two daughters helping.
Uncle and younger uncle were chatting in the front room.
Xu Xiuwen went back to the front room, unplugged his phone charger, and glanced at his phone.
Upon opening it, a bunch of messages popped up.
Most were from former cast members, with a few from college friends he got along well with.
Xu Xiuwen replied to each one.
By the time he finished, an hour had passed.
He put down his phone, turned around, and found Ning Jiali standing behind him, seemingly out of nowhere.
"Lili, you've had breakfast, right?"
Ning Jiali nodded, then asked, "Cousin, what are you doing here?"
Xu Xiuwen shook his phone at her, smiling, "My classmates watched last night's TV series and messaged me, so I'm replying to them."
"Oh," Ning Jiali nodded.
Xu Xiuwen suddenly asked, "Are you free right now?"
"I'm free."
Xu Xiuwen smiled, "Since it's still a few hours until lunch, how about I drive you around?"
"Okay, sure," Ning Jiali was initially happy, but then asked, "Just the two of us?"
Xu Xiuwen had an average relationship with his other cousins.
He smiled and said, "Either way is fine, if you want, we can invite them all."
Ning Jiali shook her head, "Let's not, I know you don't like them."
Xu Xiuwen chuckled at her words, walked over, and ruffled the girl's hair, "Yeah, I prefer a well-behaved sister like you, Lili."
Ning Jiali hummed, "But you said earlier that I had bad breath, and you hated it."
Xu Xiuwen thought to himself, if I didn't change the subject earlier, who knows if you would've mentioned last night's incident.
He smiled but didn't respond, just kept ruffling the girl's hair.
Ning Jiali pouted, "Cousin, stop touching, if you keep doing it, I won't grow taller."
Ning Jiali's height was exactly 1.65 meters.
Although this height wasn't considered tall, it certainly wasn't short either.
After all, the average height for women is around 1.6 meters.
Xu Xiuwen chuckled curiously, "How much taller do you want to grow?"
Ning Jiali gestured, "Cousin, you're so tall, and I'm like a dwarf in front of you."
Xu Xiuwen burst into laughter, "A dwarf, haha..."
Ning Jiali ignored his laughter and whispered, "I wish I could be as tall as Third Aunt."
The "Third Aunt" she referred to was Xu Xiuwen's mother, Ning Wanqiu.
Ning Wanqiu was a goddess in every aspect. Let's not mention her looks and temperament; she was about 1.7 meters tall.
Among women, she was considered quite tall, and her body proportions were excellent, with just the right curves in the right places, and long legs.
Xu Xiuwen stifled his laughter, comforting her, "Your current height is just fine. Let's go, get in the car with me."
"Oh," Ning Jiali said.
Xu Xiuwen and Ning Jiali arrived at the car, Xu Xiuwen opened the car door for her.
After she got in and closed the door, he got into the driver's seat.
Once Xu Xiuwen was in the car, he started the engine and reminded her, "Lili, fasten your seatbelt."
After Ning Jiali fastened her seatbelt, Xu Xiuwen started the car, pressed the accelerator, and the wheels spun, propelling the car forward, kicking up some yellow mud in the process.
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