If she shared a bed with Qin Piao, she wouldn't be able to keep an eye on Luo Yang. Naturally, An Yuying was unwilling.
All her life, up until after her university graduation, she had tasted love briefly. It was during her junior year when she dated a junior from the same school for two or three months, but when he asked for excessive physical intimacy, she took the initiative to break up.
After graduating, she had to return to the Hongyun Brigade because her parents were unwell. She hadn't truly fallen in love with anyone yet, but since Luo Yang had saved her, she had firmly kept him in her heart. Every night she needed to think about him before she could fall asleep.
Now, a girl, no less attractive than she, had suddenly appeared by Luo Yang's side, and An Yuying felt an unprecedented challenge. She feared losing Luo Yang and wanted to be with him for a lifetime.
When Qin Piao invited her to share the bed, she immediately declined, saying, "No need. This bed can fit three people. I'll sleep right here."
Upon hearing this, Qin Piao's smirk grew thicker, and she thought to herself, "Well, looks like Yuying has been involved with him for a while. Yuying seems so elegant and calm; I didn't expect her to be so open, actually willing to have three people… haha."
Thinking this, both envious and unwilling, she said, "Then suit yourselves."
She changed the subject, asking, "Jiaxin, Yuying, how do you both have such good skin? How do you do it?"
In the Hongyun Brigade, if there was one person least informed, it was Qin Piao.
She interacted very little with the villagers. Even though she was as beautiful as a flower, the villagers still considered her a portent of bad luck and generally dared not come into contact with her, lest they attract misfortune.
Of course, she noticed that the villagers deliberately kept their distance and didn't use a warm face to cozen up to cold butts. They usually communicated very little, so she was typically oblivious to whatever happened in the village.
She knew that Luo Yang was versed in medicine and martial arts, but she wasn't aware that he also had excellent skincare products.
An Yuying said, "I've been using a skincare product prepared by Niu Zai."
At first, Qin Piao thought An Yuying was joking, but when she heard Luo Yang personally confirm it, she busily asked him for some. After receiving a small vial of beauty stream, and learning how to use it, she went downstairs to take a bath.
After her bath, Qin Piao returned to the guest room, waiting for the moment to witness her skin turning whiter.
By almost one in the morning, Qin Piao refused to go to her room to sleep, preventing Luo Yang and the others from resting as well. It would take half an hour to see the changes from the beauty stream, and she wanted to share that excited feeling with everyone.
As she saw that Luo Yang and the others wanted to sleep, she laughed and said, "Niu Zai, teach me some martial arts techniques." She then looked at An Yuying, "Yuying, have you learned the Horse Stance yet?"
An Yuying responded, "I have been practicing."
With Qin Piao insisting, Luo Yang had no choice but to let her and An Yuying practice the Horse Stance right there in the room. When they slightly squatted, with just a glance, he felt uncomfortably hot all over.
Seeing Hong Jiaxin sitting on the bed, Qin Piao invited her, "Jiaxin, come down and practice too. Learning some martial arts is good for self-defense."
Hong Jiaxin smiled and shook her head, while Luo Yang said, "She is my disciple."
Upon hearing this, Hong Jiaxin pursed her lips sullenly. In her heart, she still couldn't accept this classmate as her master. She wasn't ready yet.
"So, you two are both classmates and master-disciple," Qin Piao laughed, "Hey, Yuying, let's also take Niu Zai as our master."
"Sure," An Yuying said softly.
"Niu Zai, Yuying and I want to take you as our master. Is there any ceremony we need to perform?" Qin Piao asked with a smile.
"Jiaxin is already my disciple. If you two take me as your master, then she would become your senior martial sister. You should think it over," Luo Yang said with a smile.
Jiaxin listened, and only then did she show a satisfied smile. She also got out of bed to instruct An Qin and Yuying on practicing the Horse Stance.
For Jiaxin being called "Senior Sister," Qin Piao didn't mind; but An Yuying had some thoughts about it since she felt at a disadvantage. She was a few years older than Jiaxin, yet she had to call her "Senior Sister." Moreover, she thought of Luo Yang as her other half.
Therefore, Jiaxin should be calling her "Master's Wife" instead of the other way around.
However, her relationship with Luo Yang was still unclear and hadn't been announced publicly. Although the villagers saw them as the perfect couple, it was more speculation than affirmation.
"I won't become an apprentice yet. My basics are not strong enough, I can't embarrass Niu Zai," Yuying changed her stance.
"Ah, that's also true. Besides, he's your husband anyway. It doesn't really matter whether you become an apprentice or not. I want to become an apprentice. Niu Zai, from today onwards, you are my master," Qin Piao said with a laugh.
With Qin Piao's words, Yuying's cheeks immediately blushed to the tips of her ears.
She felt slightly embarrassed, yet her heart was delighted. She pouted her thin, moist lips and softly said, "Qin Piao, you're talking nonsense. I'm not listening to you anymore."
Seeing Luo Yang grinning and laughing, Jiaxin grew more convinced that Luo and An were a couple, which helped her understand some of An Yuying's unusual behaviors. Deep down, she felt somewhat melancholic, as if her chest was stuffed with cotton, making it difficult to breathe smoothly, and her heart felt a sense of loss. She felt awkward continuing to talk with An Qin and Yuying, so she slipped back onto the bed to lie down again.
Luo Yang noticed Jiaxin's discomfort and, seeing her lying on her side, glanced at her radiant and graceful body. He walked over, sat on the edge of the bed, and gently patted her.
"Aren't you going to instruct your junior sister in practicing martial arts?" he smiled.
"Sister wants to sleep," Jiaxin murmured.
While practicing the Horse Stance, Qin Piao gave Yuying a smile and a sly wink, clearly hinting, Aren't you going to watch over your husband?
She wanted to see how An Hong's women would secretly compete over Luo Yang. She had no rights to compete, only to watch. If she could share a piece of the pie, she would be quite content. She had long wanted to admire Luo Yang's well-developed muscles in bed, but had never had the chance.
Since Jiaxin arrived at Hongyun Brigade in the evening, Yuying felt an unprecedented pressure of competition, emboldened by Qin Piao's provocative looks.
"Niu Zai, is my posture correct now?" Yuying asked sweetly.
Luo Yang turned his head and glanced at her, facing Yuying's gracefully curvaceous body, and shivered with excitement, then nodded.
Seeing that Luo Yang was unwilling to come over and was still sitting on the bed, Yuying stood straight, her lips slightly pouting, and asked, "Niu Zai, how about this?"
Luo Yang suddenly realized that An Hong's women were really competing and smiled, "Sister An, squat down a little bit."
Initially, he thought Jiaxin's lack of spirit was due to her parents' situation and that she wanted to rest. But as Yuying gave away more hints, he understood.
He couldn't yet confirm Jiaxin's deep interest in him, but the frequent time spent together inevitably brought about affection.
"Niu Zai, I can't do it properly," Yuying's lips puckered even more.
Although Jiaxin was lying in bed, how could she sleep? Hearing the tone of Yuying's voice, she knew it was directed at her. Already feeling uncomfortable and slightly annoyed, she grew even less pleased.
She turned over, saw Luo Yang about to stand up, and thought about competing with Yuying to see whom Luo Yang would favor.
Then, groaning softly, she said, "Luo Yang, sister has an eye ache."