"Why don't you buy a light tube and let the owner install it for you? That way, you wouldn't have to grope around in the dark," Hao Jian curiously asked Sister Lan. Usually, when you buy a light tube from a small store and pay a little extra, the shop owner will help you install it.
"We have good light tubes at home, don't want to waste them," Sister Lan explained with a slight smile, as she was used to economizing and avoiding wastefulness.
Hao Jian just smiled and didn't say anything more.
What could he do when Sister Lan was such a good wife and mother?
Hao Jian found the light tubes then climbed up the iron ladder to install them.
During this time, Sister Lan considerately held the ladder for him to prevent any falls.
However, watching Hao Jian diligently installing the light tube, Sister Lan seemed a bit mesmerized, thinking that a man was indeed needed at home.
Soon, Hao Jian had installed the light tube and climbed down from the ladder, wiping the sweat off his brow.
"Uncle is so awesome!" Tongtong exclaimed happily. Now she wouldn't have to do her homework in the dark anymore.
"It's brother," Hao Jian corrected with a dark expression.
"It's uncle," Tongtong stubbornly insisted.
"Little brat, really unpleasant," Hao Jian grumbled, frowning.
"Hehe," Tongtong giggled, seeming very happy to see Hao Jian annoyed.
"Your clothes got dirty, go take a shower," Sister Lan suggested, noticing the dust all over Hao Jian's clothes.
It was from installing the light tube, but Hao Jian seemed indifferent:
"No need, I'll wash when I get home."
"The hot water supply in this building runs until 2 a.m., and it's already out," Sister Lan reminded him. This meant there was no hot water now, except in her home.
Hao Jian glanced at his watch and said with a smile, "That might be a bit inconvenient, right?"
"What's inconvenient about it, stop talking nonsense."
Sister Lan directly pushed Hao Jian into the bathroom, saying, "I'll go get my husband's clothes for you. You won't mind, right? I bought him several outfits he's never worn!"
Sister Lan was clearly worried Hao Jian might mind, and her tone was slightly cautious.
"I don't mind! Thanks, Sister Lan!"
Hao Jian gave a wry smile, then stripped off his clothes and stepped into the bathtub to shower.
"Hao Jian, I'm coming in now," Sister Lan announced, pushing the door open and placing the clothes on top of the washing machine.
She had planned to leave immediately after putting down the clothes, but suddenly, a sight caught her eye.
Through the semi-transparent curtain, a vigorous figure appeared before her!
Hao Jian was extremely well-built and muscular, the kind whose physique looked sculpted when undressed and slim when dressed.
Especially his sharply defined muscles, surely on par with top male models!
Sister Lan had never seriously sized him up before, but for some reason today, she began to take notice.
She watched as the water streamed over Hao Jian's robust chest muscles, also eyeing the striking curves of his eight-pack abdominals.
"This guy's physique is really impressive. He used to sneak peeks at me bathing. Now it's my turn to sneak a peek, it…. it should be okay, right?"
Sister Lan thought to herself, her face flushing deeply as she involuntarily swallowed and scrutinized him even more intently, her breathing becoming more rapid.
"Sister Lan, do you need anything else?"
At that moment, Hao Jian sensed something was off, as it seemed Sister Lan hadn't left.
"Oh, no, nothing. I'm leaving now. Take your time, no rush," Sister Lan replied.
Sister Lan suddenly snapped back to reality, and like she was fleeing, rushed out of the bathroom, then closed the door behind her.
She leaned against the door, her palms already covered in cold sweat, her cheeks flushed red.
What was happening to her, why did she suddenly behave , almost like a hungry succubus, just short of drooling.
After bathing, Hao Jian pushed the door open and walked out, now wearing the clothes of Sister Lan's deceased husband.
Logically, wearing the clothes of a deceased person is considered unlucky, but since these clothes were never worn after they were bought, Sister Lan thought it shouldn't matter.
Sister Lan's husband had died in a car accident, leaving her and their daughter alone.
At that time, Sister Lan was just a housewife and had to take on the burden of supporting the family, sustaining her daughter.
Fortunately, her husband had left them a house, albeit a bit rundown, but it was still a means of survival.
By now, Sister Lan had calmed down, holding Tongtong while watching TV.
"Sister Lan, I'm done washing," Hao Jian said as he walked over.
Tongtong and Sister Lan, hearing this, turned their heads to look!
However, at this sight, both mother and daughter trembled violently, their expressions became completely blank, looking as if they had seen a ghost.
Hao Jian scratched his head, knowing he was quite handsome, and even exceptionally so, but that shouldn't shock the mother and daughter to this extent!
Sister Lan didn't speak, just kept crying continuously.
Tongtong also had tear-filled eyes, pointing at Hao Jian, her voice choked, "Daddy..."
Hao Jian was terrified, his guts nearly failing him, as he hurriedly looked around, thinking that Sister Lan's husband had appeared, angry to see him wearing his clothes, and had come to trouble him.
Then he suddenly realized, Sister Lan and her daughter were crying because they saw him wearing her husband's (dad's) clothes, stirring up their feelings of remembrance.
It must be said, Sister Lan's husband had a physique quite similar to Hao Jian's, both looking so thin, and now Hao Jian wearing the man's clothes was essentially adopting his style.
At first glance, it immediately gave the mother and daughter the illusion that their husband (father) had come back.
At that point, Sister Lan and Tongtong both began to weep, staring blankly at Hao Jian, speechless. This emotional turmoil would take time to settle, as Hao Jian had stirred up the pain buried in their hearts.
"I... I'm so sorry..."
Hao Jian sighed, had he known this would happen, he would never have agreed to take a bath at Sister Lan's place; now, he had ended up making both women cry.
This merely showed Hao Jian bore a striking resemblance to Sister Lan's husband, otherwise, no matter how much he wore the man's clothes, he wouldn't have looked similar.
"No, it's not your fault, it's just us being too fragile,"
Sister Lan shook her head, thinking she could be resilient, till she saw that familiar appearance again and realized she had never moved on.
"Mom, I want daddy to come back, I don't want daddy to be dead, wuwuwu..."
Tongtong hugged Sister Lan, crying loudly, the heart-wrenching sobs heartbreaking to hear.
Sister Lan remained silent, just holding Tongtong and crying. She also didn't know what to say, for she too wished her husband could come back, but that was impossible.
Hao Jian gave a wry smile, then stepped forward, patting Tongtong's little head, "Tongtong, your dad isn't dead?"
"No, you're lying! They all said my dad is dead!"
Tongtong slapped Hao Jian's hand away, crying even harder.
"No, he really isn't dead, he's just gone to a very, very far place," Hao Jian said softly:
"That place is called Heaven, and right now he's in Heaven watching over you."
"Heaven? Are you telling the truth?" Tongtong stopped crying, yet asked while sniffling.