Backlit, her silhouette blurred. Though it was time to leave, Fu Shize didn’t want to break this moment of tranquility.
His feelings for Yun Li hadn’t come suddenly. When he accidentally saw her high school photo, he recognized her—the high school student who had built a robot years ago. But he was no longer the same person he had been then.
Fu Shize hadn’t dwelt on their dramatic reunion. He couldn’t be indifferent to someone he had once noticed, but he also wouldn’t pay as much attention as he would have in his youth.
He saw through her feelings.
Initially, he never considered the possibility. He no longer had the strength to form new attachments.
Yet, she seemed determined to persist.
Despite her social anxiety, she always found tremendous courage to move forward. Seemingly soft, yet inexplicably strong.
Imperceptibly, the scales in his heart had already tipped significantly in her favor.
When he learned that she had come to Xi Ke University looking for him years ago, a surge of emotion was overturned, leaving only bitterness behind.
“I’m no longer the person you once admired,” he thought. “Even if it wasn’t me, you could still meet someone as brave and forward-moving as yourself.”
But he couldn’t accept that she might give up, thinking she was embarrassing herself. In truth, he was the one lacking the courage to move forward.
She shouldn’t suffer any hurt. Since she had come so far and still liked him firmly, it was his turn to complete the journey.
Fu Shize remained motionless. His gaze wasn’t intense; Yun Li couldn’t read any other emotion in it. The only thing she was certain of was that he kept looking at her.
She glanced down at the paper airplane in his hands.
Fu Shize had always been reserved. Even when drinking, he wouldn’t say much more.
Yun Li enjoyed this way of being with him; she wasn’t a particularly boisterous person herself.
She couldn’t help but think about her current appearance—her bangs might be covering her eyes a bit, and her hair had grown longer, needing a trim.
As she stood there, lost in these scattered thoughts, Fu Shize suddenly said, “When I return from Yihe, let’s be together.”
Having taken this crucial step, he could no longer retreat.
His voice was soft, hidden in the darkness.
Yun Li followed his gaze but couldn’t speak.
After a long moment, he seemed to remember to ask for her opinion and added, “Is that okay?”
Yun Li remained silent. Fu Shize thought for a moment and continued, “I generally don’t have much emotional fluctuation. You might think I lack feelings.”
“I can tell you with certainty that I like you.”
A hint of tenderness crept into his voice.
“You might think it’s not enough, but there will be more in the future.”
These words soothed the uneasiness in Yun Li’s heart.
Last night, after leaving the grove and hearing the implication of Fu Shize’s words, Yun Li’s emotions overwhelmed her rationality. She didn’t dwell on his past rejections or coldness, feeling that his fondness for her was enough.
Throughout their day-long date, Yun Li had hidden her deep-seated insecurity. When she first rediscovered the video from Xi Ke University and saw the familiar young man, she felt more dazed than anything else.
Because of that pursuit that only she knew about.
After her college entrance exam, she cycled for 40 minutes every day to Xi Ke University, waiting for half a month until she finally saw Unique’s exhibition, but didn’t meet the person she wanted to see.
She hadn’t been admitted to Xi Ke University. She covered the photos in her room, thinking she would probably never have the chance to see him again.
For her, it had been a humble first love.
When they met again and she pursued Fu Shize, her initial intention was just to give it a try.
Even if she failed, they would simply return to their previous state—
She had known him for seven years, yet always remained in that state of strangers.
Even if their relationship didn’t progress, there was no room to regress either.
That state wasn’t particularly hard to accept.
It just felt like something was missing whenever she thought about it, not even worthy of being called regret.
She never thought he might like her. What she never imagined was hearing these words from his mouth.
Since Christmas Eve, she has harbored many concerns.
He was a golden boy; how could he possibly like her?
Yun Li couldn’t find a reason for him to like her.
Nevertheless, at this moment, she didn’t need a reason.
If he was willing to admit it, she would believe him without needing any explanation.
Because her wish was pure.
She simply wanted to be with him.
Yun Li’s eyes grew moist as she tried to make her tone sound matter-of-fact: “Can we not wait until you return from Yihe?”
Can we be together now?
Fu Shize smiled slightly: “You like me very much.”
No matter how deeply he buried his feelings, he didn’t want the person before him to suffer the bitterness of this pursuit.
“Well, I’ve been pursuing you for a long time, as you know,” Yun Li admitted. He had just confessed, so she didn’t need to hide her feelings anymore.
He thought for a moment, his tone serious: “So it’s unfair to you, somewhat hasty.”
Yun Li didn’t understand his meaning. She was the one pursuing him, so she directly denied his words: “We’re in love with each other. There’s nothing unfair or hasty about it.”
“So—” Before Yun Li could finish, Fu Shize spoke.
“Let me say it.”
He moved closer.
“It’s a bit embarrassing to let you hear this.”
“But the words I want to tell you, I’ll always say in your right ear.”
“I like you.”
“Will you be with me?”
Yun Li’s eyes reddened, but her lips curved into a smile: “You know I won’t refuse.”
Fu Shize held the paper airplane in one hand, hesitated for a long time, then reached out to pat Yun Li’s head, stroking her soft hair.
Then, this hand moved forward to Yun Li’s face, his palm resting on her cheek, warm and dry, as if transferring all his heat.
Yun Li saw him lower his gaze, his expression unreadable. She asked cautiously, “What is it?”
“I’m thinking about that day at Xi Ke University—”
Fu Shize looked at her face, “Was your face frozen?”
Yun Li didn’t quite remember which day he was referring to but felt nervous.
The atmosphere became intensely romantic.
Just as Yun Li thought he was about to make the next move,
Fu Shize withdrew his hand and turned away: “I should go now.”
The warmth on her face suddenly faded, and Yun Li felt a bit disappointed. She let out a small “Oh” and said, “Alright.”
Noticing her mood, Fu Shize said, “I’ll come again tomorrow.”
Yun Li smiled: “Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Not long after Fu Shize left, Yun Li received a message from him.
Fu Shize: [What time is your class tomorrow?]
Yun Li glanced at her schedule: [8 AM.]
Yun Li: [Be careful on your way.]
Fu Shize: [Mm]
Suddenly remembering something in her bag, Yun Li immediately went to find it.
The box was small and exquisite. Yun Li held it like a treasure, carefully opening it.
Inside was a pair of pearl earrings.
A simple metal chain with a round, pure white pearl hanging from it.
She felt they suited her perfectly.
The next day, Yun Li had just woken up when she received a message from Fu Shize: [Are you awake?]
Yun Li was still very sleepy, having struggled to fall asleep due to excitement, but she replied: [I’m awake.]
After sending this message, Yun Li felt it was a bit cold, so she added: [Good morning ^^]
She hadn’t gotten out of bed yet when she heard a gentle knock on the door.
Surprised by the knock at this hour, Yun Li got up and walked to the door but didn’t open it immediately.
The knocking didn’t continue.
She tiptoed to the peephole and saw Fu Shize standing outside with a bag.
Yun Li’s sleepiness vanished. She hurriedly opened the door, exclaiming happily, “Why are you here!”
Suddenly remembering she hadn’t washed her face, she quickly ran to the bathroom, leaving behind a hasty, “Please wait in the living room for a moment!”
Fu Shize placed the bag on the coffee table and took out bread and milk. He took one for himself and sat on the sofa, chewing slowly.
Yun Li didn’t want to keep him waiting long, so she quickly tidied herself up.
Coming out to the living room, she saw the bread and milk on the table and asked, pointing, “Is this for me?”
“Mm.”
Yun Li nervously walked over and sat next to him. Fu Shize naturally helped her open the chocolate milk, inserted the straw, and then opened the bread packaging for her.
Picking up the chocolate milk, Yun Li smiled shyly: “This is the brand I like to drink.”
Then, she probed, “Did you know?”
Fu Shize leaned on the sofa armrest, supporting his chin, and turned to look at her: “If you’re asking whether I’ve been secretly paying attention to you.”
“Then my answer is.”
“Yes.”
Yun Li found it incredible how he could say such heart-fluttering things so calmly. She couldn’t speak and turned her face to the other side.
Fu Shize noticed her turning away to hide her smile, and his eyes curved slightly.
“Take your time eating. I’ll take you to school when you’re done.”
“Okay.” Yun Li remembered his schedule, “Aren’t you supposed to go on a business trip today?”
Fu Shize replied casually, “I’ll go to the airport after dropping you off.”
Yun Li: “So you came specially to see me one more time?”
Fu Shize: “Mm.”
After finishing breakfast, Yun Li lingered on the sofa for a while before finally getting ready to leave.
As they walked, Yun Li asked again, “Did you come specially to see me?”
Fu Shize answered once more, “There’s no other reason.” He seemed puzzled by her question, “Why?”
“Just feel like,” Yun Li looked down at the ground, saying softly, “you seem to like me quite a lot too.”
Fu Shize walked Yun Li to her classroom door.
Standing a short distance from the door, Fu Shize took out a set of car keys from his pocket and handed them to Yun Li.
Yun Li took them, confused: “Why are you giving me the keys?”