He paused, then added, “If you want, I can accept that too.”
“…”
Fu Shize’s thick skin almost refreshed Yun Li’s understanding of him. She shifted away, “I don’t.”
After finishing the small mango mille-feuille, Yun Li reconsidered this possibility.
“I might often be at odds with my dad, so I’m seriously considering it. Because at those times, I’d probably want you by my side.”
“Mm, I’ll be there.”
His response was concise as he played with her hair.
Yun Li’s lips curved upward as she stood up to survey the small single room, “Then where would I sleep?”
Fu Shize answered directly, “You’d sleep on the bed, I’d make a bed on the floor.”
“With what?” Yun Li didn’t see any extra bedding in the room, and there wasn’t enough space for another set.
“You could give me a sheet,” Fu Shize suggested.
Yun Li looked at his frame and immediately ruled out that option, “Isn’t your health not so good? I’m worried you’d catch a cold sleeping on the floor.”
“…”
Noticing her staring at his body, Fu Shize nonchalantly took a sip of water. After putting down the glass, he directly wrapped an arm around Yun Li’s waist.
They were both sitting on the edge of the bed. Now, with Yun Li pressed against his side, it was different from usual. He used a bit of force, his five fingers digging into her waist.
As she looked up, she bumped into his chin, meeting his deep, dark eyes. Yun Li’s mind went blank.
The pressure on her waist increased.
Knowing where this might lead, she still stared directly at him, her slightly parted lips somewhat enticing.
Fu Shize said softly, “Even if my health isn’t good, the bed is still for you.”
Although his words were entirely accommodating, his actions seemed to repeatedly prove to her – don’t worry, my health is fine.
Close to eleven o’clock, Fu Shize escorted Yun Li back to her residential complex. Near the iron gate, Fu Shize took out a small paper-folded red rose from his pocket, holding it in his palm.
Yun Li was stunned, “For me?”
He lowered his head, a few soft strands of hair falling slightly in front of his eyes. After a moment’s contemplation, he replied, “No, how’s the folding?”
Seeing his stubbornness, Yun Li boldly critiqued, “It’s okay.”
“Then I’ll put it back.” As he spoke, Fu Shize moved to put the paper rose back in his pocket. Yun Li quickly grabbed his hand, “Don’t crush it.”
Yun Li felt the smooth paper, “How did you find time to fold this in the office?”
“When I thought of you and couldn’t work, I’d fold one,” Fu Shize casually replied.
Yun Li tilted her head and asked, “So you only folded one?”
“…”
“One is fine,” she said before he could respond, her lips curving into a smile. She held the paper rose loosely to her chest, walking backward into the building. Their gazes remained locked until her eyes disappeared in the gap of the closing door.
It was nearly midnight when Yun Li got home. She kicked off her shoes; the living room lights were still on, with Yun Yongchang sitting at the dining table. Yang Fang had already gone to bed.
Two plates of clumped stir-fried noodles sat on the table, clearly having been there for some time.
“Come eat something,” Yun Yongchang said stiffly, getting up to take the noodles to the kitchen.
Yun Li heard the microwave start. Though reluctant, she sensed a hint of conciliation in Yun Yongchang’s gesture of waiting up to have a late-night snack with her.
After putting away her items in her room, she listlessly sat down at the dining table.
Hearing the commotion, Yun Ye also came out of his room. Wearing only a tank top and short pajama bottoms, he sat cross-legged on a stool, observing her expression.
Yun Ye: “Where did you go? You didn’t reply to my messages.”
Yun Li glanced at him, “Why?”
When she was with Fu Shize, she had barely looked at her phone. Opening it now, she found that Yun Ye had sent her over a dozen messages.
She opened the chat interface but returned without scrolling up to read them.
Yun Ye had worried about her all evening and was now somewhat irritated, “You’re not even going to read my messages?”
“Not in the mood right now,” Yun Li put her phone face down on the table. “I’ll go back to my room and carefully appreciate what you sent after eating this late-night snack.”
“…”
Just as she finished speaking, Yun Yongchang came out with the reheated noodles. Yun Li went to get bowls and chopsticks, and the atmosphere among the three became somber.
Father and daughter ate the noodles expressionlessly, with Yun Ye feeling like an outsider.
Silence in the Yun household was never a good sign. After a few minutes, Yun Yongchang spoke with a hint of unappreciated accusation, “I’m doing this for your good.”
Yun Ye hadn’t expected his father to spend an entire evening at the dining table only to come up with this provocative statement.
The generational gap in thinking was too wide. Yun Ye’s hair stood on end as he kicked Yun Li lightly, signaling her not to say anything rash in anger.
Yun Li glared at him disapprovingly but still managed to control her tone, keeping it calm, “I know.”
“Then you should understand that everything Dad does is for your benefit. With your temper and personality, if you’re mistreated in someone else’s home, you’ll just stubbornly keep it to yourself…”
She had tried many times to make Yun Yongchang believe that she was capable of protecting and taking care of herself.
Yun Li looked up, not seeing the expected deprecation on Yun Yongchang’s dark, dry face.
Instead, she saw Yun Yongchang’s refusal to back down. Fu Shize was right; Yun Yongchang had a narrow mindset, but his intentions were never bad.
Rather than believing in her, he preferred to believe in his ability to protect his daughter.
After a moment of silence, Yun Li said, “I’m already in a relationship. Please don’t ask me to go on blind dates with others. It’s not right.”
Yun Ye’s eyes widened, and he kicked Yun Li under the table again. Yun Li kicked back without mercy.
Yun Yongchang wasn’t surprised and revealed his true nature, starting to investigate, “Who is it?”
Yun Li calmly took a bite of noodles, “The teaching assistant in Yun Ye’s class, a doctoral student at Xike University, is about to graduate.”
Yun Yongchang looked at Yun Ye, “Is that true?”
“…”
Seemingly doubting Yun Li’s credibility, Yun Yongchang directly asked Yun Ye, “You’ve interacted with him, right? What’s he like?”
“He’s quite good…” Yun Ye gave Yun Li a strange look.
“If you had told me earlier, I wouldn’t have invited young Yin over or told him about your situation,” Yun Yongchang felt that what he said today wasn’t right, but after pondering for a while, he still couldn’t express himself clearly.
After a few seconds of self-reflection, he reverted to his usual domineering style, “Bring him home for me to see.”
Yun Li kicked Yun Ye under the table.
Yun Ye immediately spoke up, “Dad, don’t interfere too much. What if you scare her boyfriend away?”
“Besides, our teaching assistant is impressive. He did his undergraduate at Xike University, wins national scholarships every year, often gets first prize in competitions, is very kind to people, and has a good temper.” Yun Ye quickly mentioned all the points Yun Yongchang would like to hear.
Yun Yongchang’s expression softened a bit, but he still nitpicked, “If this boy is so outstanding, hasn’t he dated before?”
Yun Ye was momentarily confused. He glanced at Yun Li and blurted out, “He hasn’t dated anyone else before.”
Yun Li gave him a look.
That phrasing was truly impressive.
He hasn’t dated anyone else before.
Because he’s only dated her.
Seeing that Yun Li had no desire to speak, Yun Yongchang didn’t continue to press her. After finishing the late-night snack, she returned to her room and lay on the bed, sending Fu Shize a message: [Did you arrive?]
A few seconds later, Fu Shize sent back a voice message, just a simple “Mm.”
His cool voice didn’t end abruptly; the tail of the word was dragged out a beat, as if he was extremely tired but had roused himself to reply to her message.
Yun Li’s mood instantly brightened: [I don’t have anything planned for tomorrow.]
She had nothing planned for both days of the weekend and could go out with Fu Shize.
Fu Shize’s tone carried a hint of regret, “I have to work on my doctoral thesis tomorrow.”
Yun Li’s hand paused: [Oh, okay]
Her phone vibrated again. Yun Li was still a bit disappointed, but then she heard him say, “But there’s an empty seat next to me.”
Her heart lightened. She grabbed her clothes and went to take a shower.
When she returned, she found that Fu Shize had sent another message after the previous one: “Are you not coming?”
It seemed that because she hadn’t replied, he had uncertainly invited her again.
Yun Li dried her hair, twirling the paper rose in the light, and replied: [Okay.]
Flopping onto the bed, Yun Li covered her eyes with her hand as drowsiness overtook her. In her hazy state, she remembered the cold shoulder Yun Yongchang had given Fu Shize last time, which startled her awake.
Moving her hand, she saw Yun Ye who had snuck into her room.
“How come you didn’t tell me you’re dating someone?” Yun Ye’s voice was resentful, “I previously…”
“Previously what?” Yun Li dismissed his dissatisfaction, grabbing his head and ruffling it a couple of times.
“Nothing… Stop messing with my hair.” He unhappily brushed away her hand. Seeing herself rejected, Yun Li simply flopped down to sleep.
Seeing her eyebrows relaxed and brow smooth, he guessed she must be quite happy in her relationship.
So it didn’t matter whether she told him or not.
Yun Ye sat at Yun Li’s desk for a while, then got up and paced around the room, before flipping through her bookshelf.
Extremely drowsy, Yun Li urged, “If you have something to say, spit it out.”
“I’m thinking of developing my relationship with Wai Wai after the fall semester exams,” Yun Ye’s eyes wandered, his fingers lightly tapping on the seam of his pants, visibly uncomfortable.
Only Yun Ye could come up with such a euphemistic way of saying “develop the relationship.”
Yun Li: “Oh.”
Yun Ye: “Don’t you have any opinions to share?”
Yun Li looked confused, “Aren’t you already dating under the guise of being classmates? Finally willing to take responsibility?”
Yun Ye: “…”
Needing a favor, Yun Ye swallowed his pride, “Can you ask your boyfriend to lend me a drone?”
“Don’t you have his WeChat?” Yun Li pulled the blanket over herself, clearly indicating it was time for him to leave. She patiently and gently advised, “Yun Ye, you’re an adult now. Don’t always rely on your sister to intervene.”
Yun Ye mumbled, “It’s easier for you to ask. Can you get him to lend me a cool one?”
Yun Li simply ignored him. Yun Ye stood around for a while, then nudged her in the blanket.
She had already fallen asleep.
“…”
Yun Ye paused, turned off the light, and went to get his phone. He roughly expressed to Fu Shize what he wanted to do. Despite it being late at night, he was wide awake, his mind full of thoughts about confessing.
After anxiously waiting for half an hour, Fu Shize finally replied.
[I’ll give you one.]