The rain threads fell in a whisper, like an enormous woven net, enveloping this quiet yet vibrant small town, trapping those restless hearts. Outside the courtyard wall, the streetlights glowed dimly yellow, the streets empty and deserted. The thousand-year-old tree at the entrance drooped like an ancient elder with lowered eyes as if waiting for someone to return from afar. Inside the house, however, the vigor of young life seemed to continue.

The living room was pitch dark, impossible to see one’s hand, yet Ye Meng could still accurately find Li Jin Yu’s lips. Their warm breaths mingled together as Li Jin Yu was pressed against the sofa. She lay on top of him, and his nostrils filled with her subtle perfume, quite unlike Jiang Lu Zhi’s “mobile milk tea fragrance” that could be smelled from ten miles away. This was comfortable and pleasant.

The sofa was as soft as cotton, and the two of them pressing down almost sank to the bottom. His lips were being sucked and nibbled, and Li Jin Yu could only obediently half-lie, half-lean there. Whether he didn’t know how or was pretending to be innocent, he gave no response whatsoever, entirely submitting to satisfy her boldness.

However, after kissing for a while, he discovered that Ye Meng was particularly focused on his Adam’s apple.

She kissed until Li Jin Yu’s throat itched. Unable to bear it any longer, he placed one hand on her waist and with the other, grasped the slender nape of her neck, pulling her back. He laughed breathlessly, “Are you a dog? Can you stop biting?”

Ye Meng continued kissing him, her voice changing to something low and languid: “How did you get this scar?”

Li Jin Yu froze momentarily, adjusted his position, and said softly, “When I was little, climbing around with my brother, I accidentally knocked into something.”

“It’s very sexy,” Ye Meng praised, lowering her head to peck his lips again. “I like it.”

Li Jin Yu looked at her, turning his head away somewhat uncomfortably.

“Not used to it?” Ye Meng gazed down at him, suddenly stopping. “First kiss?”

He looked at her pitifully, “Mmm.”

Ye Meng lay on top of him, laughing until she shook like a flower branch in the wind. Whether it was the dampness in the room or the deepening intensity in his eyes, they seemed to be shrouded in thick mist, like an injured fawn hoping someone would stop to notice him.

“I’ll teach you.”

Although Ye Meng was impatient, she was now very considerate of his feelings, gently pecking his lips in small kisses, thoughtfully asking in a low voice about his experience: “How is it? Uncomfortable? Do you mind me kissing you like this?”

For a moment, Li Jin Yu wondered if their roles in the script had been reversed, yet he appreciated how much she cared about his feelings. It was certainly better than when she had first pounced on him like a puppy, biting wildly to release her energy.

But Ye Meng noticed he still wasn’t responding, and cradling his face with some disappointment, asked, “Do you have a cleanliness obsession?”

Li Jin Yu sighed, also quite helpless: “I’ve had a bit since childhood.”

She gradually asked, “Is it related to your depression?”

“Mmm.”

“Low desire for that sort of thing?”

“…” Li Jin Yu answered honestly, “Just find it a bit disgusting.”

Indeed, Ye Meng had read many big data reports; low sexual desire was a significant characteristic of depression.

Someone like him who might never have been intimate before probably had even lower desire.

Ye Meng: “To what extent? Is it okay for me to hold you, kiss you like this?”

“It’s fine, not as exaggerated as you think. I’m just not used to it yet, maybe we’re not familiar enough?”

Ye Meng found his serious analysis a bit amusing, understanding his meaning and accepting the blame: “Okay, big sister was too hasty.”

He hadn’t fully entered a romantic state yet, even a kiss seemed so awkward. But Ye Meng wasn’t discouraged; she had always been patient, especially when cultivating boyfriends.

“Exchanging saliva is also an important part of enhancing mutual feelings. Besides mental connection, achieving greater physical harmony means, for example, you in me, me in you.” Ye Meng spoke nonsensically.

Li Jin Yu, afraid she might fall, placed his foot on the coffee table and couldn’t help but laugh and scold: “Female hooligan.”

Ye Meng didn’t deny it. Looking at his thin, handsome features, she was moved and raised her hand to swear: “Just a little more kissing, I promise I won’t use my tongue.”

“Mmm.” He agreed.

Just as she spoke and their lips touched, there was a “click” as the living room light was suddenly switched on. Qiao Mai Mai, like a wandering ghost in her pajamas, appeared at the doorway. “Brother? Sister Ye Meng?”

“…”

“…”

There was chaos on the sofa, mainly from Ye Meng. The female hooligan who had taken the initiative was ultimately timid at heart. Without a word, she rolled off him, accidentally kicking over the nearby trash can in the confusion. A bag full of bright yellow-orange peels scattered all over the floor. She could only awkwardly rub the back of her neck and say to Li Jin Yu: “Little sister’s awake, I’m leaving.”

Li Jin Yu, the one whose tofu had been eaten, seemed much calmer. His collar hung open messily as he lounged languidly on the sofa, looking like someone who had just been ravished. He vindictively commanded her: “Take the trash out with you.”

“…” You yandere.

After Ye Meng left, Li Jin Yu sat on the sofa, rubbing his face. This house was old, the furniture and facilities somewhat damp and moldy. Southern winters warmed up quickly; a few days after the New Year would be the start of spring, and there was already a hint of humidity. In this room, even with the light on, it wasn’t very bright. The dim light enveloped his young, slender body.

Li Jin Yu sat with his elbows on his knees, hands covering his face. It wasn’t due to the embarrassment of being caught by his cousin making out with his girlfriend, but rather the fatigue of recent days. He hadn’t rested properly since returning from Beijing.

“Aren’t you going to sleep?” he asked, face buried in his hands.

Qiao Mai Mai hadn’t moved from her spot, standing like a scarecrow for a long time, and finally asked the question that had puzzled her for days: “Brother, are you and Sister Ye Meng together now?”

“Mmm.”

“I think I interrupted you two. Should I move back?”

“No need, we’ll discuss it later.”

If Qiao Mai Mai left, the impatient Ye Meng would probably not let him off.

Li Jin Yu smiled at his thoughts. What was he avoiding? Was he avoiding Ye Meng? He corrected himself: “You decide when to move.”

Qiao Mai Mai sat down beside him and curiously asked: “What’s it like dating a sister like Ye Meng?”

“A sister like her?” Li Jin Yu turned to look at her. “What kind?”

Qiao Mai Mai put a segment of orange in her mouth, carefully recalling her interactions with Ye Meng, and said: “Well, look, she and Sister Lu Zhi are two different types. She’s very beautiful, a natural kind of beauty, not like Sister Lu Zhi’s hyaluronic acid-filled beauty. Just from photos, she’s truly beautiful, but if Sister Lu Zhi and Sister Ye Meng stood together, she’d be overshadowed. Sister Ye Meng has a very special aura about her—cheerful and open, yet distinctly feminine. She can chat with anyone, but you never feel she’s too flirtatious. She always keeps herself clean and tidy, just comfortable to look at. I don’t know if it’s just my imagination, but standing next to her, I always feel confident. That kind of sister seems very attractive, so I want to know what it’s like to date her.”

Li Jin Yu had lit a cigarette at some point. He took it into his mouth, exhaled smoke mixed with tobacco, and said: “It feels like if you confessed to her, she might even agree. It’s a feeling of…” he tapped off the ash, saying, “not being able to hold onto her.”

Similarly, when Fang Ya’en learned that Ye Meng had successfully captured Li Jin Yu, she also asked the same soul-searching question: “What’s it like dating a brother like that?”

They were in the car at the time, along with Fang Ya’en’s husband, parked in the hospital’s underground garage, waiting for Li Jin Yu to come down from upstairs. The four of them were planning a couples’ weekend date.

Ye Meng sat in the passenger seat, looking down at her phone to send Li Jin Yu their location. She smiled, “A brother like what?”

Fang Ya’en had her window open and lit a cigarette, saying: “You know, the kind who’s tall and handsome, yet innocent, seems full of stories, a bit depressed and weary, but damn still has a touch of sexiness, and from a distance, even looks cold and abstinent—that kind of premium brother.”

Ye Meng couldn’t stop laughing and pointed to the back seat, “Aren’t you afraid your husband will deal with you when you get home?”

Fang Ya’en’s husband worked at a government agency, was very sociable, and had a proper appearance. Wearing rimless glasses, he heard Ye Meng’s teasing and smiled without speaking.

Ye Meng put away her phone, looking like she was soaking in honey: “It just feels like being both a big sister and a little sister.”

Fang Ya’en tapped her cigarette, feigning disdain: “Tsk, look how smitten you are.”

As she spoke, Li Jin Yu emerged from the elevator. Ye Meng spotted him immediately. After not seeing him for two days, the sight of that tall, cool figure made her heart race uncontrollably.

Fang Ya’en put out her cigarette, solemnly welcoming this first boyfriend after Ye Meng’s long period of singlehood.

As the rear door opened, before Li Jin Yu could get in, Fang Ya’en introduced first: “This is my husband, Chen Jian, who works at the Investment Promotion Bureau. From now on, you two are also ‘girlfriends’.”

The bizarre atmosphere between the two men nearly made Ye Meng laugh out loud in the passenger seat. Afraid that Li Jin Yu might feel awkward, she added: “Li Jin Yu, just call him brother-in-law.”

After an awkward greeting, the two men who had been forcibly made “girlfriends” fell silent, quiet as a painting. Especially Li Jin Yu—looking at him through the rearview mirror, his features were clear, his five features so standardly handsome that he resembled a living sculpture.

Since her marriage, Fang Ya’en truly hadn’t seen many decent-looking handsome men for years. Now, thanks to her best friend, she’d even picked up such a premium specimen.

After some idle chat along the way, the atmosphere finally became less awkward. Chen Jian, with his government agency background, was indeed a people person. He quickly warmed up the atmosphere, and Li Jin Yu wasn’t a cold person either. With Fang Ya’en’s help pushing things along, the two men soon became familiar with each other.

Mostly, Li Jin Yu followed Chen Jian’s topics, rarely initiating his own. Whatever Chen Jian mentioned, he could respond with a couple of sentences. Chen Jian found that Li Jin Yu was quite easygoing and could engage in any topic, yet he gave off a faint sense of distance, a feeling that you could never truly get close to him.

If such a person weren’t Ye Meng’s boyfriend, Chen Jian would most dislike dealing with this type at work. Being talkative, Chen Jian couldn’t help but whisper in Fang Ya’en’s ear once they got out of the car: “I think this guy is a bit difficult to get along with.”

Fang Ya’en gave him a cold side-eye. “Not everyone’s as easy to get along with as you. Any woman can strike up a conversation with you.”

Chen Jian spat and asserted confidently: “I’m telling you now, they won’t last long.”

“No need for your concern. When my girl gets tired of him, maybe the next one will be even taller and more handsome. But if you say anything inappropriate in front of them, be careful—I’ll confiscate all your secret money hidden in the hair dryer when we get home!”

The restaurant was famous in town, with large crowds queuing every day. This meal was arranged very last minute, and Ye Meng had struggled to get a number in advance.

Their table was by the window in the main hall. Ye Meng had paid three times the price to exchange for it because it overlooked the entire serene Ningsu Lake like a mirror. This spot was impossible to book without three or four days’ notice, but Ye Meng had sweet-talked and pleaded all afternoon, finally agreeing to pay 300 yuan for the exchange.

One can only say that people these days are truly cold-hearted.

If it weren’t to celebrate Li Jin Yu’s belated birthday, she wouldn’t have wanted to be such a sucker. She had only found out yesterday that Li Jin Yu’s birthday had passed last month. According to Qiao Mai Mai, he had locked himself at home that day and hadn’t even gone out.

The hall was packed with people, with no empty tables, and a long queue of people at the door, watching vigilantly for anyone about to finish. As soon as Li Jin Yu and Ye Meng entered, they instantly attracted some glances.

This was the first time Chen Jian experienced what it meant to “stop traffic”—wherever they passed, wandering gazes followed. Fang Ya’en, probably used to being around them, seemed quite comfortable, and that couple, likely accustomed to being stared at since childhood, didn’t even notice.

Only he felt timid and awkward under those gazes.

Perhaps it was this emotion that made Chen Jian somewhat unbalanced later. He was now a small leader in a government agency, with a house, car, and child. His parents were healthy, his family harmonious, and he looked presentable. From childhood to adulthood, he had always been the center of attention, and even now, among his peers, he was considered a winner in life.

However, among these four people, he discovered that everyone’s focus seemed to have shifted, and so, not quite sure of his motives, he began to interrogate Li Jin Yu.

“Little Li, have you bought a house in town?” Chen Jian asked casually after ordering, handing the menu to Li Jin Yu.

Ningsu Town’s housing prices had approached 20,000 yuan per square meter this year. The new development that opened at the beginning of the year was already over 20,000 and still in high demand. Without connections, it was difficult to get a good floor. For civil servants like Chen Jian, as long as parents provided the down payment, the housing fund could cover the mortgage, and with low town consumption, the pressure wasn’t too great.

Li Jin Yu took the menu, paused, and said: “No.”

Chen Jian nodded, providing what he considered useful information: “Interested in looking at some properties? A complex just opened for sale recently. I have a friend who has a good relationship with the boss and can help you get a better floor. If you’re planning to marry Ye Meng, you should prepare early. There’s not much good land left in town; most of it has already been developed.”

How could he afford a house? His life was already tight enough.

Li Jin Yu glanced at Ye Meng but still politely replied: “Okay.”

Fang Ya’en gave him a fierce look, but Chen Jian felt the question was harmless and followed up with: “What about your job?”

If Li Jin Yu couldn’t detect the ill intentions behind this, then he would have wasted these years of life experience. Before he could speak, Ye Meng, holding the menu, suddenly asked: “Brother-in-law, do you eat meatballs?”

“No,” Chen Jian noticed a warning in Ye Meng’s eyes. He was quite afraid of this girl—she seemed harmless, but she was fierce. So, he awkwardly closed his mouth.

Unexpectedly, Li Jin Yu lowered his head and smiled, “I’m an unemployed wanderer.”

Chen Jian’s expression said “Not my fault, he said it himself,” and he felt quite relieved. See, what’s the use of just being handsome? A person needs brains to live, so he sincerely began his official speech: “You could try taking the civil service exam. At your age, you can still enroll in a prep class.”

Fang Ya’en was extremely annoyed, “Can you not suggest the civil service exam to everyone you meet? Are you the only ones with iron rice bowls?”

Chen Jian wore an aggrieved expression, “I was just saying.”

Li Jin Yu removed the scarf from his neck and said: “I can’t take it.”

“Why?” Now even Fang Ya’en was curious. Had he been in prison?

“I only have a high school diploma.”

Tsk, Chen Jian sighed inwardly, probably a vocational high school too. Indeed, God had only left him with one window.

Chen Jian said: “There are still very few provincial exams you can take. You might want to check next year.”

Li Jin Yu wasn’t too interested; working would mean less time to care for his grandmother. But he still politely said: “Okay.”

At the same time, Li Jin Yu’s phone on the table dinged once. He looked down.

Ye Meng: [Look outside.]

“Bang bang—” A deafening explosion, almost simultaneous with his turning head. Ye Meng suddenly leaned in, and in full view of the two stunned people across and perhaps many more watching eyes around, she straightforwardly kissed him on the lips. The moment of Li Jin Yu’s astonishment, he saw behind him what looked like a silver snake shooting into the night sky from the serene lake, exploding in the air.

At the same time, the restaurant thoughtfully provided a background track.

Outside the window, fireworks like a series of shooting stars flew into the sky one after another, forming brilliant flowers in the air. Even the wind couldn’t suppress the sparks, which rose and fell in profusion. Even the flowers in the corners couldn’t contain their brilliance.

The whole world seemed to suddenly light up.

And in the restaurant, the music flowed, soaring with passion.

“Our hearts are like fireworks One flower connected to another Not falling alone Driving away loneliness Turning around, you’re waiting for me in the same place Perhaps occasionally stopping Ending thoughts of moving forward Not afraid of loneliness And the vastness of sky and sea Wanting to add flowers to your brocade, a grand feast…”

Then, he heard Ye Meng whisper in his ear— “Do you know how much I envy your high school diploma?” “Hmm?” “Because it met you earlier than I did. Happy birthday, baby.”

Fang Ya’en was impressed. Chen Jian was also impressed. When it came to charming younger men, if Ye Meng claimed second place, no one would dare claim first.

After dinner, Fang Ya’en dragged Chen Jian straight away, while Ye Meng held Li Jin Yu’s hand to stroll around Ningsu Lake. The lamps by the lake still glowed one by one, casting a green, dim light that made the calm lake surface shimmer.

The two stopped at the railing where they had first met. Ye Meng said: “Why are you so quiet? Aren’t you moved?”

Li Jin Yu leaned against the railing, and looked down at her, “You’re going to live in the city now?”

“Mmm, I need to go to work. Can’t just eat and do nothing.” Ye Meng sighed, both hands on the railing.

Li Jin Yu didn’t speak, his gaze never leaving her, quietly leaning against the railing, still not responding.

Ye Meng couldn’t stand this kind of gaze from him. She moved forward to hug him, burying her head against his chest, feeling the vibrant life force and heartbeat of the young man.

Li Jin Yu, leaning against the railing, held her in his arms, bowed his head to look at her deeply, and said in a suppressed low voice: “I may never get better.”

Ye Meng froze, instinctively looking up from his embrace to see him, but he covered her eyes. Ye Meng moved his hand away, and he said: “Don’t look, I’m confessing.”

The next second, she felt her lips being gently bitten, sipped little by little.

“I’ve always hoped someone could help me get through this, but I especially didn’t want that person to be you.”

There were few people by the lake, but occasionally night joggers passed by. Li Jin Yu, as if no one else existed, kissed her neck, her earlobes…

Ye Meng’s entire body seemed to burn, getting hotter and hotter. Her spine tingled down to her feet. She heard her own heart pounding like a drum, heard him say in her ear:

“Because I know I will fall for you, without exception.”