ryethenovel Chapter 13 Mending a Cheongsam
Chapter 13 Mending a Cheongsam
"Is Auntie pretty?"
Su Nian slowly snapped out of her chaotic thoughts and looked up to meet Jiang Ruotong's smiling eyes.
The woman's features were extremely gentle and graceful.
The soft light fell on her delicate cheeks, adding a touch of gentle and charming beauty.
Her eyes curved into crescents, holding a faint smile, tinged with a gentle probing.
It landed quietly on the boy.
A familiar warmth inexplicably welled up in Su Nian's heart.
He did not hesitate at all.
"beautiful."
A single word
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ruotong couldn't help but chuckle softly.
After laughing, Jiang Ruotong slowly reached out, picked up the wine-red cheongsam that had been casually tossed aside, and gently handed it to Su Nian.
Her long, slender fingertips lifted slightly.
Her tone carried a hint of helplessness and a soft plea.
"Then could you please help Auntie sew up this tattered dress, little brother Su Nian?"
Her voice was very soft and gentle.
"Otherwise, when we go out to collect supplies tomorrow, Auntie won't have any decent clothes to wear."
Su Nian lowered her eyes to look at the cheongsam. The wine-red fabric had a delicate texture, and it was clear that it had once been an extremely exquisite and beautiful garment.
However, during the process of fleeing from the monster, it was torn in several places with holes of different sizes, and the once beautiful cheongsam became tattered.
He reached out and took the cheongsam. His slightly cool fingertips touched the fabric, which still retained the faint warmth of Jiang Ruotong's body.
Su Nian nodded slightly, his calm expression showing no impatience, and replied softly:
"Okay, I'll sew it for you, Auntie."
As soon as he finished speaking, he composed himself.
He focused his mind and silently opened his storage space.
The storage space was neatly filled with all sorts of supplies collected over the past few days.
The few scraps of cloth left over from opening the beginner's treasure chest were lying quietly in the corner.
He quickly scanned the area, his gaze landing precisely on one piece of fabric.
It was a burgundy fabric in the exact same color family as the cheongsam, with almost no difference in shade, and the size of the fabric was just right.
It's more than enough to mend all the holes in the cheongsam without leaving any unsightly marks.
With a thought, Su Nian took the piece of cloth out of her storage space and laid it flat on her lap.
He then reached out and took the sewing box from Jiang Ruotong.
In the dim, yellowish light
The tiny silver needles looked exceptionally sharp.
He gently picked up the soft cotton thread with his fingertips, held his breath and focused intently in the dim light of the corridor filtering through the crack in the door. With practiced and swift movements, he smoothly threaded the cotton thread through the tiny eye of the needle in just a few strokes.
The entire set of movements was fluid and seamless, without the slightest hesitation.
After threading the needle, Su Nian reached out and carefully aligned the two sides of the large tear in the waistband of the tattered cheongsam.
With fingertips gently pressing to hold the misaligned fabric in place, I steadily began to sew it up with a fine needle.
His movements were steady; with each rise and fall of his fingertips, the fine and neat stitches followed the original texture of the fabric, evenly spaced, flat and beautiful.
Every stitch was done with extra care
It would be hard for anyone to believe that such delicate, exquisite, clean and neat needlework could come from the hands of a nineteen-year-old boy.
Jiang Ruotong sat quietly not far from him, not saying anything more to disturb him, only lowering her gentle eyes.
Her gaze fell gently on the profile of the boy who was bending down to mend his clothes.
The small cubicle was extremely dimly lit.
The soft rays of sunlight gently fell on Su Nian's profile.
It made his already strong and smooth jawline even more defined and sharp.
Jiang Ruotong watched quietly, a hint of gentleness unconsciously creeping into her eyes.
My steady heartbeat inexplicably quickened, and a complex emotion, difficult to describe, welled up inside me.
She lived for nearly forty years, experiencing many ups and downs, and had met countless men of all kinds.
Wealthy and powerful officials, handsome and dashing young men,
She has seen almost every kind of personality and appearance.
But in all these years, she has never met such a special person.
There was no ostentatious flattery, no deliberate approach, no utilitarian calculation; just quiet patience.
In such a crumbling, dilapidated, and dimly lit cubicle,
Willing to give up everything
He carefully sewed up an old, tattered cheongsam for her.
Moreover, the person in front of him was a completely different young man like Su Nian.
This stark contrast deeply moved Jiang Ruotong.
Su Nian seemed to notice the lingering, gentle gaze beside her. Her fingers, which were mending the fabric, paused slightly, and she slowly raised her eyes.
He turned his head to look at Jiang Ruotong, who was quietly watching him beside him.
She didn't speak, but the corners of her mouth slightly turned upwards.
After a brief eye contact, Su Nian didn't get too distracted. She quickly looked away, lowered her head again, and focused intently on continuing to mend the remaining hole in the back of the cheongsam.
The small cubicle fell into a profound silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Just as Su Nian was concentrating on mending the hidden hole deep inside the back of the cheongsam, the dim light affected his judgment of the needle's direction.
The fingertips holding the silver needle shifted slightly, and the movement was caught off guard, resulting in a small mistake.
He didn't notice the sharp direction the needle was pointing, and the fine needle pierced his delicate fingertip without warning.
A sharp, piercing pain instantly spread from my fingertips throughout my body.
Caught off guard, Su Nian instinctively hissed softly, and the fingertips holding the needle and thread jerked inward.
In the blink of an eye, bright red blood slowly oozed from the tiny needle hole.
Jiang Ruotong had been quietly watching him mend the clothes with gentle eyes.
At this moment, my worry was almost overflowing.
The previous calm could no longer be maintained.
She almost instinctively stood up immediately, her tone filled with urgency and panic, her voice trembling slightly:
"Ouch! How could you be so careless? You pricked your hand! And it's bleeding so much, it must hurt so much!"
The moment she finished speaking, she quickly reached out her slender, warm hand and carefully grasped Su Nian's injured finger.
Gently cradling it in my soft, warm palms,
Gentle movements
They were afraid that even the slightest force would worsen the boy's wound pain.
She muttered softly:
"It's all my fault, Auntie. If I hadn't troubled you to sew my cheongsam, you wouldn't have been distracted and gotten hurt, and you wouldn't have pricked your hand and bled."
Seeing Jiang Ruotong's eyes filled with self-blame, guilt, and worry, Su Nian felt a warmth in his heart. He quickly shook his head gently, his clear eyes filled with calm composure, and whispered words of comfort.
The boy's clear voice still carried a slight, almost imperceptible hoarseness, his tone calm and gentle, without a trace of complaint or grievance:
"It's alright, Auntie, it's just a minor injury, nothing to worry about."
"I used to prick my hands a lot when I sewed clothes myself, so I'm used to the pain. It's not too painful. Thank you for your concern."
He paused, his gaze returning to the still-unfinished cheongsam, his tone firm and earnest:
"The clothes will be finished soon. Auntie, just wait a little longer. There are only a few small holes left, and we'll be able to mend them all in no time."
Seeing the boy's fingertips still bleeding, yet his sole focus on sewing her cheongsam, Jiang Ruotong felt an even stronger pang of heartache.
How could they possibly wait patiently for him to continue his actions?
She gently shook her head, her tone carrying an undeniable tenderness:
"No, the wound is bleeding, we can't continue stitching it up, otherwise it will get infected and cause serious problems."
After saying that, she carefully helped Su Nian put down the needlework and cheongsam in his hands, and carefully examined the wound on his fingertip.
Fortunately, the needle didn't penetrate too deeply; it only damaged the surface of the skin and flesh, and the bleeding wasn't significant, but it was still extremely distressing to see.
Jiang Ruotong remembered that her storage bag still contained disinfectant iodine and sterile gauze that she had collected before, which were scarce supplies used to treat wounds in times of crisis.
She quickly got up and walked to the side, rummaged through the small medical kit, and sat back down next to Su Nian.
In the dim light, she bent down slightly, examining the boy's fingertip wound closely.
The movements were as gentle as if handling a fragile treasure.
She was afraid that if she moved too hard, the boy would suffer more pain.
"Hold out your hand properly, Auntie will disinfect and bandage it for you. It will be clean so that it won't get infected."
Jiang Ruotong's voice was exceptionally soft and gentle, carrying the unique tenderness of a mature woman.
Su Nian obediently extended her injured finger and sat quietly.
He allowed her to carefully treat his wounds without the slightest resistance.
Jiang Ruotong first took out a clean, sterile cotton swab and gently wiped away the remaining bloodstains on her fingertips, minimizing the pulling and irritation to the wound.
After wiping away the bloodstains, she applied a suitable amount of iodine solution and gently placed a cotton swab on the broken wound.
A slight stinging sensation was felt the moment the iodine touched the wound.
Su Nian's fingertips curled up almost imperceptibly.
Jiang Ruotong noticed his subtle reaction and immediately slowed down and softened her movements even more.
While carefully disinfecting the wound thoroughly, I gently comforted the patient:
"Just bear with it for a moment. Iodine disinfection will sting a little, but it will be fine after the disinfection and bandaging. The pain will subside quickly."
After carefully disinfecting and thoroughly cleaning the area around the wound to ensure no bacteria remained, Jiang Ruotong removed clean, sterile gauze.
Cut out the right size and carefully wrap it around Su Nian's fingertips.
Wrapped tightly and loosely, layer upon layer, it effectively protects the wound and prevents further injury from bumps and knocks.
It won't affect blood circulation in your fingertips if the bandage is too tight.
Finally, she carefully tied a neat and beautiful knot.
She was exceptionally focused and attentive throughout.
After treating the wound, Jiang Ruotong finally breathed a long sigh of relief. She looked up at Su Nian, her eyes still filled with deep heartache, and softly instructed him:
"Okay, I've bandaged it up for you. Be careful these next few days, don't let the wound get wet, and don't do any strenuous work that might pull on it. With proper care, it will heal quickly in a few days."
"Thank you so much, Su Nian. You even got injured while helping me sew my clothes. I feel really bad about it."
Seeing her so thoughtful and concerned, Su Nian felt a growing warmth in his heart.
He gently shook his head, his brows and eyes clean and gentle.
"You're welcome, Auntie. It was nothing, just a small favor. It's nothing serious."
After a moment of silence, the young man gazed at Jiang Ruotong's gentle and kind eyes, and the inexplicable sense of familiarity in his heart became increasingly clear.
He hesitated for a moment, then spoke softly and slowly, his tone sincere and frank: "Auntie, you actually look a lot like my high school homeroom teacher."
Jiang Ruotong was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, followed by a gentle curiosity as she asked, "Oh? Like your high school homeroom teacher? Really?"
"Um."
Su Nian nodded earnestly, carefully tracing the gentle contours of her eyebrows and eyes, his tone filled with heartfelt praise.
"My high school homeroom teacher was just like that auntie. She was very beautiful, had a mature and gentle temperament, and was very kind and patient with people."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ruotong's cheeks unconsciously flushed a faint blush, and a gentle warmth welled up in her heart.
A gentle smile involuntarily crept onto her lips as she softly said:
"I see. I didn't realize I had something in common with your teacher. I'm happy that you feel a connection with me."
After a brief chat, the atmosphere became even more warm and harmonious.
Su Nian looked at her finger, which had been properly bandaged. The pain had subsided considerably, and it did not affect simple hand movements.
He didn't want to give up halfway and insisted on completely mending the cheongsam:
"Auntie, the wound has been bandaged up, so it won't affect my sewing. I'll finish mending the cheongsam."
Jiang Ruotong saw that his attitude was firm
She stopped trying to stop him, but repeatedly told him to be careful and not to hurt the wound again.
Having learned from the previous experience of being pricked by the needle, during the subsequent stitching process...
Su Nian's movements became increasingly cautious and careful, each stitch and thread handled with exceptional steadiness and focus.
He was naturally skillful with his hands, and his needlework skills were exceptionally solid.
The remaining few small holes were all repaired in no time by his steady and meticulous hands.
The burgundy cheongsam, which was originally covered in tears, holes, and so tattered that it was almost unwearable, was completely transformed after Su Nian's meticulous stitching.
The large tear was stitched up perfectly, leaving no trace.
All the holes, big and small, were perfectly filled with fabric of the same color.
The fine, neat stitches are hidden within the fabric's texture, showcasing exquisite and delicate workmanship. Unless examined closely at close range, it's almost impossible to tell that this cheongsam was once severely damaged.
There was no trace of repair, and it was in almost the same condition as brand new.
Su Nian gently raised her hand and carefully unfolded the mended cheongsam, revealing the smooth fabric.
He handed the clean, intact cheongsam to Jiang Ruotong, his eyes crinkling with a smile.
"Okay, Auntie, it's all mended. Look, now you can wear it out normally."
Jiang Ruotong quickly reached out and took the cheongsam, her eyes instantly filled with delight.
She eagerly examined every detail of the cheongsam, turning it over and over, from the waist to the back, from the hem to the skirt; every tear was repaired perfectly.
The exquisite stitching was delicate and neat, completely exceeding her expectations.
The emotions welling up in my heart surged like a rising tide, wave after wave, gently washing over my entire being.
She lived for nearly forty years, weathering half a lifetime of storms, and was never short of men who flattered and fawned over her.
The men who flocked around her, possessing wealth and power, were accustomed to using expensive material possessions to express their affections.
But no one has ever been willing to lower themselves and sincerely bend down for her.
Patiently mend a worn-out, cheap old garment by hand.
Moreover, this is in such a cruel and cold wasteland world.
Everyone is too busy taking care of themselves.
Who has the extra thoughts and energy to care about a tattered old cheongsam?
Why bother with such trivial and insignificant little things?
Thought of here
Jiang Ruotong's nose tingled slightly.
I couldn't calm down for a long time.
She looked up at Su Nian, whose smile was pure and clear, and her tone was full of sincere gratitude.
"Thank you so much, Su Nian. I really don't know what I would have done if you hadn't helped me today."
"If it were me, I'd be too clumsy to fix these tears, and the cheongsam would be completely unwearable."
After saying this, Jiang Ruotong said no more, and gently placed the mended cheongsam on the clean bed beside her.
After quickly tidying up her clothes, she picked up the restored burgundy cheongsam and calmly changed into it.
A moment later, she straightened her clothes and stood in front of Su Nian again.
The well-fitting cheongsam perfectly outlined her mature and gentle figure, and the burgundy color made her skin appear even whiter and more delicate, giving her an elegant demeanor.
Her delicate features, paired with an elegant cheongsam, showed that she had shed the disheveled appearance of the past few days.
Su Nian looked up, nodded sincerely, and praised frankly:
"You look especially good in this, Auntie. This cheongsam suits you perfectly."
Hearing Su Nian's sincere praise, Jiang Ruotong felt a deep sense of comfort.
The atmosphere in the small cubicle was peaceful and cozy; outside, the night was deep and quiet.
The roars of the monsters around them subsided briefly, making it a good time to go outside for some fresh air.
Staying in a small, enclosed, and oppressive cubicle all the time is ultimately too dull and depressing, and it's difficult to relax one's long-tense nerves.
Jiang Ruotong looked at Su Nian and tentatively suggested in a soft voice:
"It seems much quieter outside now. Shall we quietly open the door and go out for a while to enjoy the evening breeze? It's too stuffy staying here all the time."
Su Nian also felt that his tense emotions from the past few days needed to be relieved, and immediately nodded in agreement:
"Okay, let's go out quietly and not make too much noise to avoid attracting monsters."
The two carefully got up, took light steps, and gently pushed open the door to the cubicle.
The door opened slowly without making a sound, and the two people tiptoed out of the dimly lit cubicle, one after the other.
The night breeze, carrying the unique coolness of a wasteland night, gently blew by.
It instantly makes you feel refreshed.
The night sky was thick and deep, with a gentle breeze blowing, creating a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere—a rare moment of serenity in the wasteland.
The two found a relatively secluded and safe corner and sat down quietly side by side, maintaining a proper and respectful distance without overstepping any boundaries.
A cool evening breeze ruffled my hair.
Both of them were able to relax for once, letting go of all the tension in their hearts.
The night was gentle, and the evening breeze was soft.
They naturally opened up and began to talk about fond memories of peaceful times.
Jiang Ruotong spoke first, her voice tinged with nostalgia, her eyes filled with longing for the peaceful life of the past.
She spoke of the peaceful and uneventful daily life in peacetime, and of the days when she no longer had to live in constant fear of monsters.
Those warm and mundane daily moments have become an unattainable luxury in today's cruel wasteland.
Su Nian listened quietly, occasionally responding softly, and slowly began to recount his past from his youth.
The two people, one quiet and one talkative
As night deepened, the evening breeze gradually brought a touch of coolness.
Just as the two were immersed in their past memories and the atmosphere was peaceful and serene,
Jiang Ruotong's expression suddenly shifted slightly, and a hint of embarrassment appeared on her face.
She hesitated for a moment, then lowered her voice and spoke softly with a hint of embarrassment:
"Su Nian, I'm sorry, Auntie needs to relieve herself urgently and needs to find a secluded place to do so."
They are currently located a long way from a large shelter in the distance.
Going back and forth would not only waste time, but traveling at night would also be extremely dangerous, making it completely impractical.
Jiang Ruotong looked around and carefully observed the surrounding environment. Not far away, there was a secluded and hidden corner overgrown with weeds, offering excellent concealment.
It's discreet and safe enough that a short stay shouldn't be a big problem.
She explained the situation to Su Nian in a low voice:
"The shelter is too far, and it's too dangerous to go back and forth. I'll just go take care of this in the hidden bushes over there and be right back."
Upon hearing this, Su Nian immediately nodded in agreement, his expression calm and natural, showing no sign of anything amiss, and his tone steady and reliable:
"Okay, Auntie, please be careful and choose a secluded spot. Don't rush, I'll wait for you here and won't follow you. Call me immediately if anything happens."
"Okay, I'll be back soon."
Jiang Ruotong responded softly, got up with peace of mind, and carefully walked slowly towards the hidden thicket of weeds not far away.
She was extremely cautious throughout, trying to keep her presence as inconspicuous as possible, walking lightly and not daring to make the slightest unnecessary sound.
Quickly move to a hidden spot deep in the weeds, put aside all worries, and solve the problem with peace of mind.
She had assumed the area was safe and sound for the time being, and that no danger would arise.
However, they never expected that the unique scent of people at night would have such a strong attraction to the mutated monsters roaming around them.
Just as Jiang Ruotong finished tidying up her clothes and was about to leave,
The strong scent of a stranger had already spread silently, carried by the wind, precisely attracting several mutated monsters that were wandering nearby.
From the depths of the previously silent grass in the darkness, several monstrous roars suddenly echoed.
Before Jiang Ruotong could react, three or five grotesque mutated monsters suddenly sprang out of the darkness.
They have a keen sense of smell and rush towards the scent.
He pounced straight at Jiang Ruotong, who was completely unprepared.
The sudden danger was imminent, and a chilling fear of death instantly enveloped Jiang Ruotong.
She froze in terror, her heart instantly gripped by overwhelming panic, leaving her no time to react or resist.
He instinctively screamed.
Su Nian, who had been waiting quietly not far away, heard a sudden, piercing scream and a monster's hoarse roar.
His expression instantly changed to a fierce and sharp look.
Without the slightest hesitation, he leaped into the air like an arrow released from a bow.
In an instant, he rushed towards Jiang Ruotong's location at high speed.
The darkness of the night did not affect his judgment in the slightest.
He spotted the monsters lunging at Jiang Ruotong at a glance and attacked swiftly and ruthlessly, without any hesitation.
A fierce offensive unfolded instantly, with Su Nian nimbly weaving between the monsters.
Several short, shrill roars of monsters rang out in succession. In just a short while, the three or five mutated monsters that had pounced on them were all cleanly and swiftly killed by Su Nianqian.
It was swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
Jiang Ruotong stood there blankly, her whole body still trembling slightly uncontrollably.
A mixture of immense lingering fear and profound emotion.
Her taut emotions completely collapsed, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
If Su Nian hadn't arrived in time to save them...
She has no chance of escaping this deadly crisis tonight; the consequences will be unimaginable.
After slaying all the monsters, Su Nian quickly suppressed his fierce killing intent and strode to Jiang Ruotong's side.
"Auntie, it's alright now. The monsters have all been dealt with, the danger has passed, so there's no need to be afraid."
Jiang Ruotong raised her tear-streaked eyes and looked at the boy in front of her.
Su Nian carefully calmed Jiang Ruotong down, and after she had composed herself a little,
The two of them quietly and cautiously retraced their steps back along the same route.
Be vigilant and observe your surroundings throughout.
After a series of close calls, the two safely returned to their cramped cubicle.
Gently close the door, completely shutting out the darkness and danger from outside.
The cubicle returned to its quiet and dimly lit state.
The beds in the cramped cubicles were already very limited.
Jiang Ruotong walked to her original resting place
She reached out and gently touched the bed, a look of helplessness and embarrassment on her face.
The cubicle was near the corner of the roof, and whether it was due to a leaky roof or condensation from the nighttime fog, there were quite a few cold water stains on the bed surface.
Large sections of the bedding were soaked with damp water, cold and damp.
There's no way to lie down and rest properly; you can't sleep at all.
It was late at night and there was nowhere else to rest.
Jiang Ruotong hesitated for a long time before finally turning around.
Looking at Su Nian beside her, she spoke with a hint of embarrassment and asked tentatively in a soft voice.
"Su Nian, I'm sorry, my bed is completely soaked by water dripping from the roof. It's so wet that I can't sleep at all. It's too dangerous outside, and there's nowhere else to rest."
"Could I squeeze in a little and sleep in the same bed with you tonight? I won't bother you, and I'll try to take up very little space."
Su Nian did not hesitate at all upon hearing this.
Simply considering safety at night and the other person's situation, he immediately nodded gently in agreement, his tone clean and frank:
"It's alright, Auntie. It's really too dangerous outside. There's no other safe place. Why don't you come and squeeze in with me to sleep? It's okay."
"Come on, squeeze in, it's okay."
"Don't worry."