At high noon, Fu Xueli was woken by a phone call.

Xixi’s voice was anxious, “Sister Xueli, the cameraman was blocked outside, we’re not allowed into the residential complex, they even said we can’t film anywhere.”

Fu Xueli stared at the ceiling, taking a few seconds to react. Oh… she’d forgotten—she’d accepted a variety show before. Today they’d arranged to specifically come film at the artist’s residence.

She struggled to sit up, spitting out two words, “Can’t do it.”

Of course not. Xu Xingchun was still here—how could he be captured by cameras? The news and hit pieces would fly everywhere then. Fu Xueli called Tang Xin, having her book a hotel on short notice and send people to set it up.

The security downstairs only let Xixi and the makeup artist go up.

Just woken up, her waist was particularly sore. Half-awake, she discovered a glass of water on the nightstand. Fu Xueli picked it up to wet her throat, shuffled into slippers and went to Xu Xingchun’s room.

She rubbed her eyes, leaning against the wall looking at him. The noon sunlight was too bright, making her pupils uncomfortable.

“Xu Xingchun, what did you have for breakfast?” Just awake, her voice was still weak and hoarse.

“It’s now twelve-thirty in the afternoon.” Cold wind howled in from the balcony. Xu Xingchun sat in a chair, temperature somewhat low. He wore only a slightly loose thin gray sweater with no jacket. Turned a page in his book, as usual calm and steady.

“Auntie Qi didn’t come?”

“She came.”

Fu Xueli frowned, “Why didn’t you wake me?”

Just then the doorbell rang. She stopped mid-sentence, turning to answer the door. Turned her head back to say, “Put on more clothes Xu Xingchun, it’s so cold.”

Pulling open the door, Xixi waited obediently outside holding a huge pile of things. Seeing Fu Xueli, her face immediately lit up, first words were, “Hehe Sister Xueli, the management here is so strict, you shouldn’t have to worry about reporters sneaking photos.”

“I don’t usually live here.” Fu Xueli frowned, letting them in.

Neither Xixi nor the makeup artist had received any advanced education. Entering the door, they were intimidated by that row of books. Then muttered privately that if they could bring the cameraman in, when it aired online it would definitely stir up a storm.

Curiously looking around, too embarrassed to wander everywhere. Simply looked around briefly, then followed to Fu Xueli’s room.

Because time was tight, only half an hour to handle hair, clothes and makeup. Fu Xueli hadn’t eaten, gnawed a few slices of toast and a cup of soy milk Xixi brought up.

Approaching November, weather already a bit cold, she had to record a variety show and couldn’t avoid wearing a knee-length dress.

Silky smooth, and real silk too.

Sipping the small half cup of soy milk, Fu Xueli was a bit worried. Wandered over again, pushing open Xu Xingchun’s room door. He still maintained his previous position without moving.

She said, “I have something this afternoon, don’t know if I can come back tonight. If you need anything, call me.”

Pondered a while, continuing to talk to herself, “Is it urgent for you to stay home alone? Should I call Auntie Qi over, or what?”

Xu Xingchun didn’t answer.

Quiet for a little while, Fu Xueli nodded to herself, “Never mind, I’ll try to come back early.”

“Fu Xueli.” Xu Xingchun spoke, calling her.

Fu Xueli turned back, looking at him.

“Take the key.” Xu Xingchun said, “It’s on the living room table.”

All along the way, Xixi looked infatuated, propping up her head, saying with slight shyness, “Sister Xueli, I feel like Officer Xu is so handsome.”

Clearly recuperating at home sick, yet didn’t have any feeling of being thin or exhausted. Although the distance was a bit far and Xixi hadn’t looked very carefully, she inexplicably felt he had a particularly cold temperament. Yet very coordinated.

Fu Xueli glanced at her, “He’s always been handsome, he was the heartthrob of our high school class.”

“Really?” Xixi widened her eyes.

Fu Xueli thought about it, then thought of Xie Ci. So she changed her tune, curving her lips slightly, “Oh… there was someone more handsome than him, but that person was a real bastard.”

“Actually I think Officer Xu wins on temperament. By the way, when he was in school, were his grades really good?”

Fu Xueli was flipping through the script she’d be recording later, movements pausing, “Why are you suddenly so curious about Xu Xingchun today?”

Xixi felt embarrassed, “I just suddenly wanted to hear about it, because I never went to high school but really admire people who can study.”

People who can study?

Fu Xueli stared at the paper, somewhat distracted.

Speaking of people who can study, Xu Xingchun could definitely count as one.

Back in middle and high school, he’d just stand there casually and draw a clear dividing line between himself and many others. Every minute, every second, he just fell short of telling others, I’m different. Brazenly wearing the three words “honor student” on his forehead.

Every morning during extended recess, after she and Song Yifan and their group finished playing around and returned to the classroom, passing through the corridor, they could always see Xu Xingchun properly dressed in his school uniform, one hand supporting the railing beside him, head lowered earnestly helping others with problems.

That appearance, as if his whole body was wrapped in a layer of gauze-like faint light. Anyway, the kind of handsome that made passing female students sneak careful glances.

He really was different.

More than one person had approached Fu Xueli. The one she could remember was at the last gathering after high school graduation, most people drunk. Ma Xuanrui looked like she was about to cry, leaning close to her ear to tell her.

Why is it that you don’t have to do anything and Xu Xingchun still likes you?

What does he even like about you?

Fu Xueli herself wanted to know too. Apart from being pretty, she really had no redeeming qualities. Not obedient, not sensible, doing everything according to her own temperament, never considering others’ feelings.

Someone as excellent as Xu Xingchun—what did he like about her?

Like her beauty?

Or her heartlessness?

Xixi kept asking, but Fu Xueli didn’t want to elaborate, avoiding the topic with a few casual words.

Next, Fu Xueli quickly went through the script in her hands, remembering the general idea. Then in her mind, began formulating a one-on-one debt repayment plan. She was determined to let Xu Xingchun completely let go of his psychological burden and become a normal person again.

Only her head was empty—thought all day and came up with nothing.

In the evening Tang Xin notified Fu Xueli to return to Linfei for a meeting, the whole team had to go. There was rather surprising news—Linfei had signed Ji Qinqin, she should be getting resources pushed soon. The news hadn’t gotten out yet, very few knew.

Looking at Ji Qinqin’s smiling face, Fu Xueli asked, “Are you a devil?”

“……”

“Why have you been haunting me constantly lately?”

Ji Qinqin shrugged, “Fu Xueli, you’re not cute at all anymore, hehe. I’m a devil, so we’ll have to see each other often from now on.”

After confirming some matters, Fu Xueli was too lazy to joke with her.

In the afternoon she received a text from Fu Chenglin.

Fu Yuandong wanted her to return to Lin City this year for New Year’s—to visit graves.

This text instantly ruined most of Fu Xueli’s good mood for the day.

After the meeting, the company generously arranged dinner at some high-end location. Fu Xueli planned to eat two bites and leave. But was pulled back by Fang Nan, “What’s going on Fu Xueli, constantly running home, are you keeping someone at home?”

“No, just have some things.”

Fang Nan’s smile was ill-intentioned, “I heard your alcohol tolerance is terrible. Are you trying to slip away early to avoid embarrassment because you can’t drink?”

Fu Xueli’s mood was already bad, particularly aggressive: “What, want to get me drunk?”

Fang Nan said with a laugh, “Wouldn’t dare, wouldn’t dare.”

Fu Xueli had always been impatient with this kind of drinking table culture, but at this moment felt provoked, saying to Fang Nan, “If you were better looking, I might consider one drink down. As you are, today I, Fu Xueli, will risk my life to show you what society means.”

Fang Nan: “……”

In the end Fu Xueli didn’t show Fang Nan what society meant, but she herself got a taste. So drinking too much definitely causes trouble. Fu Xueli was completely dazed, even twisted her ankle going down the stairs.

Unlucky to the extreme.

At night she was woken by the cold.

Fu Xueli had drunk a bit much, sleeping like the dead on the living room sofa. She sat up holding a blanket from who knows where. Looking up, dizzy and disoriented, double vision seeming to sway before her eyes.

The small overhead light clicked on. Fu Xueli withdrew her hand. Turning her head, she got a huge fright, “—Ah!”

“Xu Xingchun, why are you playing ghost, trying to scare me to death?” Her soul still unsettled, mostly sobered from the alcohol.

“Go sleep in the room.” His voice was a bit muffled, not explaining his strange behavior of sitting in the darkness for most of the day.

Fu Xueli frowned, vision focusing properly, “I know.”

Result—one leg came down and immediately she gasped in pain. The top of her foot and ankle were all swollen red, puffed up high.

Falling into the eyes of the person beside her was another scene entirely.

“Hiss, don’t touch, don’t touch, it hurts a bit.” Fu Xueli’s cheeks were somewhat flushed, couldn’t help wanting to struggle, lips twitching slightly.

Xu Xingchun’s movements froze.

“Don’t move.” He said in a low voice, then went to the side to make a phone call.

After connecting, said two sentences. The person on the other end immediately broke into curses, “Xu Xingchun, didn’t you fucking study medicine?!! Is a twisted ankle worth this, specially calling to ask, not even looking at what time it is? I just finished surgery, you know?!! Disturbing people’s dreams over such a small matter in the middle of the night, psycho!”

This voice was a bit too loud in the night. Xu Xingchun listened with an unchanged expression, Fu Xueli felt somewhat embarrassed.

Fortunately there were crushed ice cubes at home that could be applied. Xu Xingchun had injuries, movement not very convenient, only one hand able to exert force. He used a very awkward position, half-kneeling in front of her.

“It hurts so much.” Fu Xueli almost cried, her other foot kicking against Xu Xingchun’s shoulder, wanting to escape the restraint.

“Fu Xueli.” Xu Xingchun paused slightly, “Don’t throw a tantrum.”

“I’m not throwing a tantrum, but it really hurts.”

He waited a while, seeming to sigh lightly, “Bear with it.”

“Do you feel sorry for me?” She slurred, liking to talk nonsense when drinking, not caring if drunk or not.

“Am I too beautiful?” she asked again.

“Yes.” Xu Xingchun answered blandly. Lowered his eyes, his fingers with distinct bones, carrying bone-chilling cold, yet using very gentle technique, rubbing the ankle swollen like a steamed bun.

“Right, I’m too beautiful.” Fu Xueli nodded, “So will you forgive me no matter what bad things I do?”

“For example.”

“For example…” Fu Xueli was still thinking, but the force he used hurt her again.

In her heart she thought, Xu Xingchun was indeed still that way.

No matter how he pretended coldness and indifference, he couldn’t disguise his true nature.

She’d seen through it long ago.

He was like withered grass—most of the time silent, hiding himself extremely deeply, but in his bones still unable to suppress the hysteria. Sometimes, too lazy to even disguise.

She felt Xu Xingchun had always been holding back a force.

Just waiting for a little spark, he could burn until only ashes remained.