Yun Li stood in place, lost in thought for a moment.
Originally, she had imagined that when Fu Shize fell in love, he would be in some distant, unattainable state. She never expected that he could also have such an adorable side.
She wondered if “adorable” was the right word.
Another employee called Yun Li over to help. She covered her cheeks, trying to shake off her previous emotions, and casually sent Fu Shize an emoji in response.
The high school students in the experience hall were from Nanwu No. 1 High School. They adjusted their information technology curriculum to allow students to visit the nearest virtual reality experience center for hands-on learning. Over the next few days, more students from Nanwu No. 1 High School will be coming to EAW.
As closing time approached, Yin Yucheng contacted Yun Li, saying his schedule had changed and he had returned to Nanwu early. He wanted to meet her tonight.
When she arrived at the café, Yin Yucheng was already waiting. He was more attentive to Yin Yunyi than Yun Li was to Yun Ye.
The chair she was to sit in had already been pulled out. After she sat down, Yin Yucheng politely asked, “Is it inconvenient for you to meet on a workday?”
Yun Li shook her head. “It’s fine. I can go back to work after our chat if needed.”
Wanting to get straight to the point, Yun Li asked directly, “Did Yun Ye say in the postcard that he’d be coming during the winter break?”
“Yes,” Yin Yucheng took a sip of his red tea. “Yunyi told me about it after seeing the postcard and asked for my opinion.”
Yin Yucheng continued, “Actually, I didn’t want to get involved, but my parents saw the postcard.” He looked troubled. “In short, letting them go out alone would be like encouraging their puppy love, so I’ll be going along with them.”
“…”
Imagining the three of them together, Yun Li felt genuinely sorry for Yun Ye.
Yin Yucheng went on, “But if I go alone to interfere with their meeting, I’d be like a huge third wheel. Would you be willing to come along?”
Yun Li didn’t react immediately. “What?”
She instinctively wanted to refuse but wasn’t sure if that was appropriate. She didn’t agree right away, saying, “I’ll discuss it with my brother first.”
Hearing her response, Yin Yucheng lowered his head and smiled, then opened his bag and took out a box, placing it in front of Yun Li. “Last time you brought a gift for Yunyi. When we went out recently, she prepared a gift for you.”
It was a dark purple box. Yun Li felt she hadn’t done anything to deserve it and hesitated, “Why don’t you take it back for her? It wasn’t a big deal.”
Yin Yucheng smiled, “It’s not expensive. Please accept it. I hope you’ll like it.”
He didn’t keep her any longer, and the red tea he ordered for her was in a to-go cup. Yun Li took the box and stood up to say goodbye.
Once again running around because of Yun Ye’s affairs, Yun Li just wanted to scold him when she got back.
She opened Yun Ye’s chat window and typed: [How old are you? Still needing your sister to clean up after you.]
Yun Ye: [?]
Yun Li had to patiently explain the situation to him.
Yun Ye: [He said he wants to go with us?]
Yun Li: [You think I made it up?]
Yun Ye was silent for a moment: […]
Young people adapt quickly. After a few minutes, Yun Ye messaged again: [Yun Li, come with us, please.]
Yun Li didn’t understand.
Yun Ye: [Please, please] He added a “begging” emoji.
Yun Li: [Why?]
Yun Ye, somewhat embarrassed: [If you come with us, you can help me distract her brother.]
Yun Li firmly refused: [No way.]
Yun Ye: [Please, I’m begging you.]
Yun Li: [No.]
She didn’t reply to Yun Ye’s messages anymore. After returning to EAW, Yun Li opened the box and took a look. It was a light blue crystal bracelet. She casually put it back in the box, remembering the Christmas gift she had given to Fu Shize.
It seemed too simple in comparison.
She felt like she owed Fu Shize something.
“Teacher Xianyun, how are you spending New Year’s Eve?” He Jiameng asked out of boredom.
It was almost time for the New Year.
In previous years, she usually went home and played games with Yun Ye all night.
Remembering her conversation with Fu Shize yesterday, Yun Li said without much reservation, “Probably with my boyfriend.”
Hearing her words, He Jiameng was quiet for a few seconds, then opened her eyes wide in surprise: “Teacher Xianyun, you have a boyfriend?” She seemed to remember something and looked a bit frustrated, “Then when I was trying to set you up with Fu Shize earlier, I was helping someone steal someone else’s girlfriend.”
Yun Li: “It’s not like that…”
He Jiameng nudged her with her shoulder, grinning mischievously, “Teacher Xianyun, that’s not good. You should be faithful when you have a boyfriend.”
Yun Li: “I am dating him…”
He Jiameng didn’t hear clearly and asked curiously, “Who?”
“Fu Shize.”
“…”
The shock on He Jiameng’s face grew more exaggerated. She gasped in disbelief, “Is it the Fu Shize I know?”
Yun Li smiled, “Mm-hmm.”
He Jiameng’s reaction made Yun Li feel a bit…
Pleased?
Her expression seemed to say, “Teacher Xianyun, you’re amazing! You managed to pluck this high-hanging flower!” Perhaps it was because of all the failed attempts to pursue Fu Shize before, but Yun Li felt light as a feather.
Earlier, He Jiameng had said she didn’t think Yun Li had a boyfriend.
Ever since learning that Fu Shize didn’t mind her telling others, Yun Li inexplicably wanted the whole world to know they were a couple. She opened the photo from their Christmas outing, where he was wearing her scarf and looking relaxed at the camera.
Yun Li forwarded the photo to Fu Shize: [I set it as my lock screen.]
Looking at the scarf in the photo, Yun Li thought she could knit one for him as a belated Christmas gift. After work, she went out to buy some yarn. Calculating the time, if she knitted day and night, she could finish it by the time he returned.
She was a novice, having never knitted before. Starting that evening, Yun Li focused all her energy on knitting the scarf. She barely had time to talk to Fu Shize, often realizing three or four hours had passed when she looked up, only then remembering to send an emoji in response.
This state continued for a day and a half until Fu Shize video called her.
He was leaning against the headboard, wearing a pajama top with the top two buttons undone. A glass of water was at his lips as he took a slow sip.
Yun Li glanced, then lowered her head to continue knitting her scarf, leaving him hanging on the other end.
Fu Shize: “…”
Fu Shize asked calmly, “Are you very busy?”
The screen only showed the top of the girl’s lowered head, everything below her neck out of frame. Her attention was completely focused elsewhere, not even responding to his question.
Fu Shize tapped his glass with his fingertip, pondering for a moment. He didn’t ask further, just moved the camera a bit farther away and to the side.
He picked up a book about Yihe’s development experiences over the past twenty years. He read for a while, occasionally looking up to check on Yun Li.
She was fully concentrated, lips pursed, fiddling with something unknown.
After an hour or two, Fu Shize had finished the entire book. He stared at the screen for a good while, but Yun Li didn’t react. He picked up another book.
After reading a few lines, his thoughts wandered.
Fu Shize closed the book and watched Yun Li for a long time. He got up to pour himself some water, sat back down, took a couple of sips, and opened the book again.
Then closed it once more.
Fu Shize lay on the bed, picked up his phone, and brought his face close to the camera. “Li Li.”
Yun Li was startled and looked up at the camera. She appeared shocked as if just coming back to her senses. After being ignored for a day or two, now that he had her attention, Fu Shize leaned back against the headboard and reopened his book.
Fu Shize’s focus was on the screen beyond the book. After a few seconds, Yun Li lowered her head again. Fu Shize chuckled a bit exasperatedly, “Talk to me.”
Yun Li didn’t even look up, saying bluntly, “I’m busy today. Can we do this another time?”
Fu Shize: “…”
After being set aside for so long, Fu Shize thought for a moment, then suddenly asked, “Are you preparing something for me?”
“…”
Yun Li’s movements paused, and she looked up at the screen. “No… no.” Wanting to surprise him, Yun Li didn’t tell the truth. “It’s getting cold, so I’m knitting a scarf for Yun Ye. That’s why I’m busy.”
Fu Shize stared at her for a good while, then gave a light “Mm,” not revealing whether he believed her or not.
After a moment, he said, “I’m returning to Nanwu tomorrow.”
He hadn’t told her in advance when he’d be coming back to Nanwu.
“Why so sudden?” Yun Li thought something urgent had happened. She stopped her knitting, and on the screen, Fu Shize tapped on his phone a few times. At the same time, her phone received his flight information.
Fu Shize’s tone was as casual as could be: “Going back to see the snow.”
…
At three in the morning, Nanwu welcomed its biggest snowfall in recent years, lasting only two days. The next morning when Yun Li woke up, the rooftops outside were a vast expanse of white, with even the windowsills covered in three to four centimeters of snow.
Yun Li went downstairs and took several photos, excitedly sending them to Fu Shize.
She forwarded the photos to Yun Ye, who was still on his phone at this hour. His shock was evident in his text: [Damn, is that snow?]
Yun Li spent an hour or two going downstairs to record footage of the snowy day. Back in her room with the heater on, she sat by the window knitting the scarf. Granules of snow fell steadily, and she thought about Fu Shize coming back today.
Staring at the snow on the windowsill, a subtle emotion enveloped her.
Though it had only been a few days apart, she was incredibly excited at the prospect of seeing him again.
Fu Shize’s flight was scheduled to arrive after 6 PM. He sent her a message.
[Li Li, leave twenty minutes later]
[It’ll take some time to get from landing to the arrival hall]
[It’s cold]
By the time she received the message, the plane had already taken off. Yun Li looked at these texts and rushed to her room to choose what to wear tonight, settling on a fitted camel-colored coat. While doing her makeup, Yun Li glimpsed the mother-of-pearl box on the table. Looking in the mirror, she solemnly put on the earrings.
Yun Li used an umbrella to sweep the snow off the car’s hood and windshield.
She navigated to Nanwu Airport, which was over twenty kilometers from where she lived. Along the way, the roads on both sides were covered in ten centimeters of snow, and she encountered several snowplows coming from the opposite direction.
The last time she picked up Fu Shize at Xifu Airport, she had been nervous, waiting blindly for hours.
She no longer needed to rely on luck.
When she arrived at the arrival hall, his flight had already landed for some time. Yun Li waited in place, and as crowds of people walked out, he was among them. In no time, he separated from the crowd and stopped in front of her.
Seeing her, Fu Shize’s emotions didn’t change much outwardly.
Yun Li noticed her excessive excitement and tried to restrain the smile at the corners of her mouth. Just as she was about to speak, the person in front of her suddenly raised his hand. His breath lightly passed by as his hand stopped near her hair.
A second later, he moved closer and gently brushed away the snowflakes in her hair.