Huai Zi woke up feeling refreshed, with no remaining discomfort.
Juhua boiled some hot water to wash his hair. Crushing a handful of tender mujin leaves to extract a slippery sap, she rubbed it into his long hair. Spreading her fingers, she gently scratched his scalp, then used her thumbs and index fingers to massage his temples and the back of his neck, all while chatting with him softly.
Huai Zi lay on his back on the cool bamboo bed, eyes half-closed. He looked at the dense foliage above. His ears were filled with the sound of the wind, the chirping of birds, the crowing of roosters, the barking of dogs, and the laughter of children. Feeling Juhua's gentle massage, he realized that whenever he was drunk, she seemed exceptionally tender and considerate. It was a different kind of intimacy compared to their usual interactions. For a moment, his heart was as sweet as honey, brimming with happiness.
