When they returned to the 3rd floor of the EAW experience hall, Yin Yunyi and Yin Yucheng were sitting on the rest chairs by the virtual roller coaster entrance, waiting. Seeing Yun Li, they both stood up.
Yin Yunyi took the clothes from Yun Li’s hands. “Thank you, Sister Yun Li.”
Yun Li smiled. “No need to thank me.”
Yin Yucheng immediately noticed the person behind Yun Li. “Fu Shize?”
Completely unaware they knew each other, Yun Li asked, “You two know each other?”
Yin Yucheng smiled. “We met a few times during competitions when we were in school.” Not having seen them arrive together and noticing Fu Shize wearing an EAW badge, Yin Yucheng assumed they were just colleagues.
After Yin Yunyi put on her coat, Yin Yucheng took the initiative. “It’s our first time here. Why don’t you show us around?”
Since he had asked, Yun Li couldn’t refuse. “Alright.”
Yin Yucheng, noticing Fu Shize following along, asked curiously, “Are you coming with us?”
Fu Shize naturally took the question as an invitation. “Sure.”
Yin Yucheng: “…”
Yun Li felt inexplicably awkward and tried to ease the atmosphere. “Why don’t you try the roller coaster next to us first? The experience is quite good.”
“Sister, come with us? I want to ride with you,” Yin Yunyi invited enthusiastically.
Not wanting to leave Yin Yunyi with the impression that Yun Ye’s sister was difficult to get along with, Yun Li nodded.
As they were queuing, Yin Yucheng and Fu Shize stood at the back. Yin Yucheng looked at Fu Shize and said, “I thought after graduating from Xi’an Jiaotong University, you’d find an extraordinary job.”
Fu Shize, unbothered by the subtle dig in his words, calmly replied, “Last time I heard a broadcast from Nanjing University of Science and Technology, did you find a campus romance?”
Yin Yucheng immediately recalled the content of that interview and felt a bit speechless. “I’m working on it now. What about you?”
Fu Shize: “Just resolved.” He said matter-of-factly, “Ahead of you.”
Two people were standing in front of them, and the person Fu Shize referred to couldn’t be his sister.
“…”
Yin Yucheng forced a smile and quickly changed the subject. Fu Shize, however, didn’t seem very interested and remained silent unless a response was necessary.
Soon, it was their turn. The virtual roller coaster seats were arranged like a real roller coaster, with several rows in each car and two seats per row.
Still nursing his emotional wounds, Yin Yucheng didn’t show it outwardly but seemed a bit distracted as he sat next to Yin Yunyi. Fu Shize opened the safety harness for Yun Li and naturally sat down beside her.
Yun Li had experienced this attraction many times before. The first time was when she came to EAW to record promotional videos, and later as an intern at EAW. With her employee card allowing direct access to the experience hall, she would occasionally come to play when slacking off work or after hours.
After so many times, the initial shock had worn off, but even now that she was used to it, the high-risk scenes in the VR goggles could still scare her.
The scene in front of her gradually moved from the bottom, clanking upwards to the top, about to plunge from the roller coaster’s peak.
Yun Li gripped the bar in front of her tightly, feeling another hand reach over and gently envelop hers, carrying a hint of reassurance.
At the moment the roller coaster plunged, she couldn’t tell whether the thrill from the ride or the warmth covering her hand made her heart race more.
After two rounds on the virtual roller coaster, Yin Yunyi said she needed to return to her class, and Yin Yucheng accompanied her back.
Yin Yunyi asked, “Sister Yun Li when would be a good time to return this coat to you?” Originally, she thought her brother could return it, but now it didn’t seem appropriate.
Yun Li thought for a moment. “I don’t usually wear this coat, and you’re busy with high school, so you won’t have time to return it. How about when Yun Ye comes to visit you, you can give it back to me then?”
Yun Li and Fu Shize headed to the elevator together, while Yin Yucheng and Yin Yunyi took the escalator. The four parted ways.
Yin Yunyi stood next to Yin Yucheng, her eyes wide as she asked, “Brother, it seems Sister Yun Li has a boyfriend.”
Yin Yucheng forced a smile. “Probably.”
Yin Yunyi, knowing the answer, added another blow: “Didn’t you ask her before?”
Yin Yucheng didn’t want to talk anymore. “Yes.”
On the other side, the two entered the elevator and stood side by side. Fu Shize reached out and gently scratched her palm.
They had agreed not to show affection at work and had consciously maintained distance all day. Now, suddenly closing that gap, afraid of being discovered by colleagues, yet with strange thoughts stirring in their minds.
Yun Li went from defense to offense, raising her hand slightly and slipping her fingers into the small gap between his slightly parted fingers, interlocking them.
That hand also cooperated by gripping hers back.
Yun Li was still thinking about what else she could do when, after a few seconds, Fu Shize said, “No next step?”
He shamelessly pointed it out directly, disrupting Yun Li’s thoughts.
Just then, the elevator stopped at the basement floor. Yun Li quickly let go of his hand and hurriedly exited the elevator. “Back to work.”
On the last workday, no one in the company was working overtime. Yun Li was the last one in her department to leave. After turning off the lights, she let out a sigh of relief. The next time she’d see EAW would be in 2017.
Fu Shize was waiting for her in the hallway, wearing a blue-green windbreaker and a baseball cap. Hearing the sound of her opening the door, he looked up.
His neck was covered by a gray scarf.
It was the one she had knitted.
Yun Li moved closer and took his hand on her initiative.
It was still snowing lightly.
The snow was dry, so they didn’t use umbrellas. Fu Shize took off his baseball cap and put it on her head. The snow on the first floor had already covered their ankles.
A figure stood at the entrance, holding an umbrella. Yun Li, leaning against Fu Shize, didn’t notice the person as they quietly walked out into the snow.
“Wait a moment.”
The figure caught up with them, and Yun Li realized it was Yin Yucheng. He was holding a bag and seemed to have been waiting outside for a long time, with snowflakes on his hair.
He lowered his gaze to their tightly clasped hands, wanting to say something but not speaking. After several seconds, he naturally handed the bag to Yun Li. “These are your clothes.”
“You didn’t have to come specially,” Yun Li said, surprised, reaching out to take the bag.
“It’s no trouble,” he said gently.
He had just come to confirm.
After wishing them a happy new year, Yin Yucheng turned and left. His car was parked by the roadside, and his tall figure soon disappeared from view. Yun Li’s gaze didn’t linger, and she continued walking in the direction they had been going.
Yun Li asked, “He said you met during a competition.”
Fu Shize: “Mm.”
Remembering how Yin Yucheng seemed to want to say something but couldn’t earlier, Yun Li asked in confusion, “Does he not like you very much?”
She naively speculated, “After all, with you around, he could only ever come second at best.”
“…”
She was a bit slow on the uptake.
Fu Shize didn’t say anything. He took off her cap, ruffled her hair, and put it back on her.
The snow on the plaza had been cleared into paths, with straw laid down to prevent pedestrians from slipping. Inside the residential area, snow covered everything.
“Follow behind me.”
Fu Shize walked in front. His shoes were much larger than Yun Li’s, so after he made footprints, her shoes wouldn’t sink into the snow.
By the time they got home, their faces were numb from the cold. Yun Li turned on the air conditioning and poured Fu Shize a cup of hot water. It was nearly six o’clock, and there were vegetables and meat prepared in advance in the refrigerator. Yun Li took the ingredients to the kitchen, but before she could start cooking, Fu Shize walked in with his cup.
He had refilled his water but didn’t leave, instead leaning against the refrigerator and watching her.
Seeming to notice his gaze, Yun Li turned around. “You can go sit outside for a bit.”
She was wearing a light pink apron, her shoulder-length hair tied up in a bun with a floral hair tie, exposing her nape. Water slid down Fu Shize’s throat as he lowered his gaze, staring at her busy figure. The apron was tied with a butterfly knot at the back, accentuating her waist.
Before he knew it, his cup was empty. He put it aside and approached Yun Li, hugging her from behind.
Yun Li’s body stiffened. She nudged him with her right shoulder, saying with some exasperation, “Go out first, I can’t cut vegetables like this.”
Her hands were wet, resting on the lettuce as she was slicing it. The water was ice cold. Fu Shize moved along her wrist, only pausing briefly on the back of her hand before stopping on the cutting board.
“I’ll help.”
He didn’t linger, releasing her and moving to the sink on his own, washing the vegetables she had placed there. Then he neatly cut the lettuce on the cutting board according to the thickness she had been using.
It was evident that Fu Shize rarely cooked, his movements somewhat clumsy as he washed and cut vegetables for her.
He didn’t seem to think he was in the way in the kitchen. At first, Yun Li was afraid he’d be bored and repeatedly tried to send him out, but Fu Shize ignored her attempts.
When Yun Li asked him to get something, he’d move; when she didn’t need anything, he’d lean nearby and watch her.
When she stood still, he’d come over to hug or cuddle her.
The meal preparation left her flushed and flustered.
Finally finishing cooking, Yun Li turned to look at Fu Shize, seemingly a bit dissatisfied with his frequent interruptions.
He leaned there casually.
She put her hands behind her back, intending to untie the apron. Fu Shize approached her, his hands slipping through the gap between her arms and waist, reaching behind her.
He naturally untied the knot at her back. Yun Li could feel the string around her waist instantly loosen, but her heart tightened in response.
After loosening the tie, his hands didn’t retreat, instead pressing against her waist.
Yun Li looked up. They were close, and his dark eyes held a hint of emotion.
The air was rapidly heating up.
Yun Li wanted to say something but found herself lost in his gaze. Unconsciously, she stood on her tiptoes and lightly pressed her lips to his.
It was just a brief touch.
When she came to her senses and realized what she had done, she could barely control her facial expression. She lowered her head, trying to hide her loss of composure.
The person in front of her didn’t move.
Yun Li bit her lower lip. After a moment, her voice was barely audible: “I couldn’t help it…”
Her tone was a bit aggrieved as if he had deliberately tempted her.
Fu Shize gave a light “Mm,” and gently stroked the valley of her lips with his fingertip.
This slight touch sent a tingle through Yun Li’s heart. She looked up, her eyes brimming with uncontrollable emotion. As their gazes met, Fu Shize’s fingertip paused. He lowered his head, pressed his lips to hers, and then, with great restraint, gently bit down.
…
After separating from him, Yun Li went to the living room to calm down for a while before returning to the kitchen to serve the dishes. Fu Shize was still in the kitchen, holding the apron, and asked her, “Can I wear this?”
“…”
Not knowing what he was up to, Yun Li answered honestly, “It probably won’t fit you.”
Fu Shize hung the apron back up.
Since he asked, he probably wanted to wear it. Yun Li had a hard time imagining that scene, him in light pink. She instinctively objected, “Don’t wear mine.”
Fu Shize glanced at her fingertips, red from the cold.
“Help me choose one.”
…
They finished eating in about half an hour. After cleaning up the dishes, Yun Li and Fu Shize curled up on the sofa. The room temperature had risen, and he was wearing a thin sweater, leaning next to her.
With nothing else to do, Fu Shize accompanied Yun Li as she browsed E-station for a while. Finding nothing particularly interesting, they chose a movie.
Yun Li’s phone rang.
“Li Li, want to spend New Year’s Eve together tomorrow?” It was Deng Chuqi’s call. “Xia Xia is going home tomorrow, so I’ll come find you.”
The phone had some sound leakage. Yun Li looked at Fu Shize, who didn’t react, only reaching out to play with a strand of her hair near her ear.
His fingertips inadvertently brushed her cheek.
Yun Li blushed, trying to move Fu Shize’s hand away. He chuckled.
There was a pause on the other end of the phone, and then Deng Chuqi asked suspiciously, “I think I heard a man’s laugh. Did you hear it?”
Yun Li: “…”
Yun Li: “It’s from here.”
Deng Chuqi: “…”
Yun Li simply got up from the sofa, wanting to avoid Fu Shize’s interference. But before she could take a step, he grabbed her hand and pulled her back to the sofa. She lost her balance and fell backward into his arms.
The voice from the phone continued: “Are you still able to take the call?”
This made it sound like they were doing something embarrassing.
Yun Li looked at Fu Shize, who seemed to have no desire to clarify the situation. She could only anxiously say, “It’s fine, don’t overthink it.” Taking a deep breath, she admitted, “I’m in a relationship.”
“Damn. Who?”
Just as Yun Li had imagined, not having told her first would probably make Deng Chuqi feel a bit upset. Unsure if the name Fu Shize would be an even bigger shock, Yun Li hesitated for a good while without speaking.
However, the person holding her didn’t maintain his usual silence.
“You don’t know my name now?”
This was directed at Yun Li, but he deliberately said it close to the phone.
There was silence on the other end of the line for a long time, then the call was tactfully ended.
“…”