Having just refused Chen Renran’s invitation, Yuan Li now found herself in an awkward situation. She hadn’t wanted to embarrass him, but upon meeting Fu Shize’s gaze, she felt a sense of guilt, as if caught red-handed. Without thinking, she nodded in agreement with Fu Shize.
Fu Shize turned slightly and said, “Come here.”
Xu Qingsong, arms crossed, looked at Chen Renran standing stunned behind the door. Feeling sympathetic, he asked, “Can we keep the fruit platter?”
Chen Renran silently handed the fruit platter to Xu Qingsong with a gloomy expression. Xu Qingsong politely said, “Thank you.”
Their room was clean and bright, with neatly made beds and no personal belongings aside from books, a speaker, and a glass teapot on the table.
Xu Qingsong casually said, “Please, sit on the sofa.”
He replaced the tea bags with fruit tea and added two sugar cubes. The room quickly filled with a fresh floral scent.
Yuan Li sat in the corner of the sofa. Fu Shize took two new transparent teacups and placed them on the table. Xu Qingsong leisurely poured rose-red fruit tea into both cups. After waiting a moment for the tea to cool, he pushed a cup towards Yuan Li.
“Try it,” he said.
Yuan Li thanked him and took a small sip of the still-hot tea. It had a sweet and sour taste.
Having tended to his guest, Xu Qingsong stood up and said, “Should I step out for a bit?”
It was then that Yuan Li noticed he was wearing white trousers under his lake-blue sweater. She had seen many fashion bloggers’ outfits, but few could display gentleness and nobility as appropriately as he did.
“No need,” Yuan Li quickly replied.
She didn’t want Xu Qingsong to leave on her account. He seemed to be one of Fu Shize’s close friends, and she wanted to try getting along with his friends.
Hearing her response, Xu Qingsong sat down next to Fu Shize with ease.
The atmosphere wasn’t as awkward as Yuan Li had imagined. Xu Qingsong took out a tablet containing several documentaries. After asking for Yuan Li’s opinion, he chose one about bread-making.
The room had a projector, and Xu Qingsong directly projected the documentary onto the wall.
The three sat quietly on the sofa.
After about ten minutes, Xu Qingsong pushed the fruit platter toward Fu Shize. Fu Shize glanced at it and discreetly pushed it in front of Yuan Li.
Yuan Li picked up a piece with a fruit fork.
Fu Shize pushed the platter back to Xu Qingsong.
Xu Qingsong also took a piece.
The room was dark except for the clear images projected on the wall. Yuan Li hasn’t fully focused her attention barely on the documentary.
She secretly glanced at the two men beside her. Fu Shize’s eyes were clear, showing no signs of intoxication. Xu Qingsong had his right leg bent, lounging casually against the sofa.
Both men were watching intently.
Yuan Li didn’t want to spoil their enjoyment.
After struggling for half an hour, drowsiness repeatedly overcame her. Yuan Li tried to keep her eyes open, only to see the kneaded dough repeatedly slammed onto the chopping board on the screen, each thud like a lullaby.
Fu Shize turned his head to look at Yuan Li.
Noticing this, Xu Qingsong rested his face on his hand, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. In a moment, he turned his gaze back to the screen and said, “It’s getting late. Let’s continue another time.”
Yuan Li was too tired to insist on watching more. Feeling something hard under her leg, she stood up, holding the hand warmer. “I’ll head back then. Should I take this with me?”
Xu Qingsong couldn’t help but chuckle.
Fu Shize: “…”
This laughter made Yuan Li look at the object in her hand with suspicion, though she was sure it was the hand warmer she had bought. Unsure of what had happened, Yuan Li bid them goodnight and returned to her room.
It was already past midnight.
Shortly after she finished washing up, Deng Chuqi and Xia Congsheng also returned to the room. While Xia Congsheng was in the shower, Deng Chuqi pulled Yuan Li to a corner.
Her tone was shocked: “Chen Renran just told me that Xia Xia’s uncle invited you to his room to watch a movie. And you went?”
“Xu Qingsong was there too. We weren’t alone,” Yuan Li quickly explained.
“I knew it. Xia Xia’s uncle wouldn’t be that indecent,” Deng Chuqi visibly relaxed.
Yuan Li hesitated for a moment before saying, “There’s something I want to tell you.”
Deng Chuqi: “Is it about Chen Renran?”
“Yes, thank you for your kind intentions,” Yuan Li said directly. “But I don’t plan to develop anything with Chen Renran. I didn’t find a chance to tell him earlier. Could you please help me convey this message?”
Deng Chuqi: “I should have guessed when you came back with Xia Xia’s uncle. I meant well but ended up causing trouble. I’ll explain it clearly to him when he’s sober tomorrow.” Then, changing the subject: “Did anything happen between you and Xia Xia’s uncle tonight?”
Yuan Li briefly recounted the events of the evening.
“Damn!” Deng Chuqi was so surprised she could barely close her mouth. Afraid of being overheard by Xia Congsheng, she lowered her voice: “He touched your hand?”
Yuan Li: “Mm…”
Deng Chuqi: “Impressive, that scoundrel.”
Yuan Li’s cheeks flushed, and she couldn’t help but say, “It was quite nice…”
Deng Chuqi: “…”
Deng Chuqi: “This Xia Xia’s uncle looks cold, but I didn’t expect him to be so skilled.”
Yuan Li defended him: “Maybe he just couldn’t help himself…”
Deng Chuqi teased: “You’re protecting him so much, have you already thought of names for your children?”
Yuan Li laughed: “I’ve thought of two already.”
After a moment, Yuan Li uncertainly asked: “Do you think he likes me?”
Deng Chuqi rolled her eyes: “Based on your description, what else could it be?”
Yuan Li lowered her eyes: “He had been drinking tonight, but when I looked at him earlier, he seemed quite sober.”
Deng Chuqi: “It’s better to talk about these things when sober. But aren’t you angry?”
Yuan Li was stunned: “No, it was just a misunderstanding.”
Deng Chuqi: “I meant about how you’ve been pursuing him for so long without any response.”
Yuan Li had completely forgotten about that: “I was originally planning to pursue him for a year or two, so I still feel like I’m dreaming. It feels like I’ve achieved a small goal ahead of schedule, which makes me quite happy. But now I’m a bit worried he’ll say ‘Sorry, I was drunk last night’ tomorrow.”
Yuan Li continued: “I should have recorded it tonight, then he couldn’t deny it.”
Deng Chuqi: “…”
With seven parts joy and three parts worry, Yuan Li fell asleep. She had a dream set in the EAW restroom. Fu Shize was sitting on the sofa with a cold expression. When Yuan Li tried to speak, he interrupted her directly: “I’m sorry, I was drunk last night.”
Yuan Li woke up from her dream at dawn. The room was dim, and she could hear Deng Chuqi and Xia Congsheng’s breathing. Glancing at her phone, it was just past 5:30 AM. Yuan Li opened her chat window with Fu Shize, but it still showed last night’s conversation.
Her heart settled.
Having slept with the heater on, her throat was dry. Yuan Li lay in bed with her eyes open for a while before quietly going to the bathroom to freshen up.
Yuan Li gently closed the door.
The hallway was pitch black. She used her phone as a light and quietly went downstairs. As soon as she reached the first floor, she saw a figure sitting on the sofa.
The scene from her dream came back to her.
Yuan Li stopped in her tracks, not daring to move forward.
Fu Shize had noticed her when she reached the corner. Seeing her hesitate, he leaned against the sofa and said in a husky voice, “Li Li.”
The cold voice held a hint of softness that dispelled Yuan Li’s worries from when she woke up from her dream. She walked over and sat down about a meter away from him.
In the dim light, she could barely make out his features, but his aura was unaffected by the lack of light.
Yuan Li’s gaze lingered on his face as she softly said, “Say it again.”
Fu Shize: “?”
Yuan Li repeated: “Say it again.”
Fu Shize turned his head to look at her, his expression softening as he called out in a low voice, “Li Li.”
In the silent living room, only his soft voice remained.
Yuan Li resisted the urge to rush over and hug him, and asked contentedly, “Did you just wake up?”
Fu Shize thought for a moment, then said meaningfully, “I’m sober now.”
Understanding his meaning, Yuan Li couldn’t help but smile.
Fu Shize: “Come closer.”
Yuan Li moved, shifting to his side, feeling her leg lightly touch the side of his, a faint warmth between them.
His voice sounded a bit tired: “Stay with me for a while.”
“I want to get a glass of water first…” Yuan Li felt she might be ruining the mood.
“I’ll get it.” Fu Shize didn’t mind, getting up to go to the kitchen. Yuan Li heard the sound of water boiling. After a few minutes, he sat back in his original spot and handed her the warm water.
Yuan Li took a sip of water, noticing Fu Shize watching her intently. Although she knew he couldn’t see clearly in this light, she still almost choked.
She awkwardly put the cup back on the table.
The room was warm with the heater on, and Yuan Li felt stuffy, so she took off her coat. Fu Shize heard the rustling sound of her undressing in the darkness, and not being able to see only fueled his imagination.
He uncomfortably picked up the cup she had just used and took a sip.
Yuan Li reminded him: “That’s my cup, you took the wrong one.”
Fu Shize made a sound of acknowledgment and went to the kitchen to pour himself a glass of cold water. The kitchen wasn’t heated, and the low temperature cleared his remaining thoughts a bit.
But he was still very sleepy.
Fu Shize put the cup back in front of Yuan Li. After staying in the dark for a while, feeling drowsy, Fu Shize directly entered a sleep state.
When Yuan Li felt the weight on her shoulder, Fu Shize was already asleep, just a minute or two after he had put down the cup.
For a moment, Yuan Li didn’t dare move.
All her attention was on the person beside her, still feeling it was unbelievable – this was the person she had coveted for so long.
Yuan Li remembered his perpetually tired eyes, thinking he might have had another sleepless night.
Unable to sleep and not daring to play with her phone, Yuan Li could only sit on the sofa lost in thought.
Fu Shize slept for nearly two hours, not even waking up to the glaring daylight. Before waking, he frowned slightly and slowly opened his eyes.
Noticing his movement, Yuan Li turned her head, just as Fu Shize looked up, but his movement was hindered, his forehead touching her cheek.
“…”
This was their first such close contact in broad daylight. Fu Shize paused, then slowly sat up straight.
His voice still filled with sleep, he asked, “What time is it?”
Yuan Li looked at her phone: “Eight o’clock.”
“Breakfast?” He turned his head, and Yuan Li finally had a chance to look at him closely. He was wearing light blue silk pajamas, his eyes drooping, looking somewhat disheveled in his sleepy state.
Yuan Li nodded and stood up. Her limbs felt stiff after not moving for two hours.
Back in her room, Yuan Li took her makeup bag to the shared bathroom. After spending over half an hour applying makeup, she put on green jewel earrings and stared at herself in the mirror, seeing an eagerness and expectation in her eyes that she had never imagined before.
Changing into a turtleneck sweater, before going downstairs, Yuan Li thought for a moment and decided to bring a scarf.
Fu Shize was already waiting at the door. As soon as they stepped outside, his gaze lowered, stopping at the scarf in her hand.
This gaze made Yuan Li’s ears turn red.
She stepped forward, raising the scarf, the action half done. Fu Shize didn’t move, quietly watching her. After a moment of silence, Yuan Li suddenly lost her nerve and prepared to wrap the scarf around herself.
Fu Shize: “…”
Fu Shize: “I’m a bit cold.”
Yuan Li’s hand paused, then woodenly moved towards Fu Shize. He cooperatively bent down, leaning closer to her, waiting as Yuan Li wrapped the scarf around him circle by circle.
She buried her face in her sweater collar: “That’s done.”
Just as they reached the entrance of the dining hall, Yuan Li received several video calls from Yuan Ye. She directly hung up. Yuan Ye persisted in calling, making her think something might have happened with Yin Yunyi.
Fu Shize: “Answer it.”
When the video connected, Yuan Ye’s face filled the screen, looking innocent. Yuan Li unconsciously took a few steps forward, distancing herself from Fu Shize.
“Sis, how are you spending New Year’s Eve?” he asked.
Hearing the word “Sis,” Yuan Li became wary: “I don’t know.”
Yuan Ye spoke politely: “Sis, can I come to Nanwu for New Year’s Day? The 30th is a Friday, I can take the evening flight.”
Yuan Li: “What for?”
The young man replied matter-of-factly: “To spend New Year’s Eve with you.”
Yuan Li responded indifferently: “Your ID is with you, I can’t tie you down. Go wherever you want, I didn’t hear anything.”
“The tickets are so expensive…” Seeing her so determined, Yuan Ye’s face scrunched up: “Please.”
Knowing his intentions, Yuan Li directly said: “No money.”
“If not New Year’s, then winter break is fine too. Can you have money by winter break? Or you can lend me some, and I’ll pay you back with my New Year’s money, okay?”
Yuan Li remembered his previous 2.5 yuan installment payment and didn’t even raise an eyebrow: “Installment payment again? Once a year?”
Yuan Ye swore: “No installments this time, I promise!”
“How about this, remember that figurine you liked on my bookshelf? I’ll trade it for the ticket money!”
Yuan Li thought about the price: “Seems like you’re losing out.”
Yuan Ye: “Is that okay?”
Yuan Li: “Still not okay.”
Yuan Ye proposed several ideas, but Yuan Li remained unmoved. In his anxiety, he said: “Can I appear remotely on your livestream?”
“Get out of here. Always with these crooked ideas, if it affects your studies, Dad will kill me.” Remembering to care about her brother, Yuan Li casually asked: “What place did you get in your last exam?”
“Eighth in the grade.”
“…”
Also at Xifu Experimental Middle School, Yuan Li’s monthly exam results had long hovered between 200-300th place.
Yuan Li took a sip of water, trying to maintain her composure: “If you maintain this ranking in the final exam, I guess I’ll reluctantly earn you the ticket money.”
Yuan Ye’s eyes lit up: “I promise I’ll keep this ranking in the finals. Can you give me the ticket money in advance?”
Yuan Li: “…”
Yuan Li: “No.”
Yuan Ye reverted to his usual manner: “Yuan Li, you’re so stingy.”
Yuan Li said exasperatedly: “Don’t come asking me for favors next month.”
Yuan Ye: “That won’t do.”
Not wanting to continue the conversation, Yuan Li directly hung up the phone.
Fu Shize hadn’t intended to eavesdrop on her call and was still standing in his original spot, but he had been watching her the whole time. As a result, when she turned around, their eyes met directly.