Lin Wanyin picked up her shoe, put it on, and walked towards Yun Li. Setting aside previous events, Yun Li mentally gave her a thumbs up.
The emergency call had already connected. Yun Li concisely described what happened, mentioning she had seen the man back at work but only recognized his face as the one she’d encountered last night. He seemed to have been lurking nearby.
“You encountered him a second time?” Lin Wanyin asked, hearing the phone conversation.
She dusted off her hands and adjusted her clothing. Apart from her slightly domineering expression when speaking, she indeed looked like a frail, quiet high school student.
“Yes, I’ve already called the police,” Yun Li said honestly. “You were very brave…”
“There are two of us here,” Lin Wanyin didn’t accept the compliment. “I wouldn’t chase alone. I’m not stupid.”
After speaking, they looked at each other. Lin Wanyin surveyed Yun Li from top to bottom, frowning, “Even with two people, you didn’t dare to chase. Are you too much of a pushover?”
“…”
“And you let a minor like me do the chasing.”
Yun Li didn’t quite agree, unsure if the man might behave erratically. She would have chosen to leave the scene and then call the police.
However, Lin Wanyin spoke the truth and had indeed driven away the pervert. Yun Li swallowed her pride and said, “I understand. Next time, I’ll do the chasing.”
“I’m leaving. Take care of yourself,” Lin Wanyin said, her mood sour, not wanting to linger. She turned to go home.
After a few steps, Yun Li realized Lin Wanyin was following her.
Yun Li felt her life had become a mess these past two days. She quickly returned home, locked the door, and sat on the sofa for several minutes.
Rising to return to the door, she peered through the peephole and saw Lin Wanyin lingering outside, standing for a while before sitting against the wall in the middle of the corridor.
She had probably watched which floor Yun Li’s elevator stopped at.
Faced with Fu Shize’s niece, Yun Li felt her position was strange, somewhat like an elder but also afraid of this source of trouble.
She opened the door with a crack.
Lin Wanyin sprang up from the ground.
“I’ll tell you one of his secrets if you let me tag along when you go out, okay?” Lin Wanyin whispered, probably fearing rejection. “I’m an internet celebrity. I said on my platform that he’s my boyfriend.”
She changed tack, “I don’t expect him to like me. Just help me maintain this dream online.”
“…”
“Isn’t Xu Qingsong quite handsome too?”
“Uncle Ze is a top scorer in the college entrance exam. People will say I have a rich, handsome, genius boyfriend,” Lin Wanyin had already imagined what she considered perfect.
Yun Li was speechless.
Lin Wanyin pleaded, “Please, just help me set us up once. You might become my aunt-in-law someday.”
Yun Li retorted, “How can I be your aunt-in-law if I help set you up with him?”
Her refusal was obvious. Yun Li felt outdated, unable to understand what young people wanted.
Lin Wanyin adopted the tone she used with Fu Shize: “If you’re like this, I’ll tell grandpa and grandma. You’ll never be able to enter their house.”
Yun Li stared at her calmly and said slowly, “In that case, your uncle will come to my house instead.”
“…”
Caught off guard by this counterattack, Lin Wanyin’s eyes darted around, unwilling to back down: “I’ve known Uncle Ze for seventeen years. How long have you known him?”
“A little over half a year,” Yun Li played along. “Too bad it’s me, who’s only known him for half a year, who became his girlfriend.”
“…”
The two argued like schoolchildren at the doorway. Yun Li was strangely affected by her emotions. Tired of arguing, she sighed, “Your uncle isn’t here. There’s no point in you staying. Go home.”
“I know. Great-grandmother is sick, right? Uncle Ze is with her,” Lin Wanyin continued. “But why aren’t you there? Uncle Ze grew up with a great-grandmother and great-grandfather. Great-grandfather has passed away, so he must be very sad now. You’re an incompetent girlfriend.”
“…”
Having lost the earlier argument, Lin Wanyin saw Yun Li’s expression and couldn’t help but laugh with satisfaction: “Don’t tell me you didn’t even know this. You know nothing about him. How can you be in a relationship?”
Yun Li remained silent. Lin Wanyin became even more arrogant: “Oh, I get it! You’re in one of those short-term relationships, right?”
Yun Li was quiet for a moment before responding, “I know all of this.”
Then, extremely displeased, Yun Li closed the door: “Go home now.”
Yun Li sent a message to Xu Qingsong informing him of Lin Wanyin’s whereabouts. Sitting back on the sofa, she absentmindedly picked up the origami on the table.
She didn’t know anything.
Feeling a bit hurt and self-reproachful, she realized it was her lack of courage to ask that allowed others to criticize.
After brooding on the sofa for a while, Yun Li grabbed her bag, put on her shoes, and went out.
She remembered Fu Shize mentioning the elderly were in Nanda First Affiliated Hospital, only knowing it was the cardiovascular department. After finding the inpatient ward, she sat on a bench outside.
Normally, Yun Li wouldn’t do something like this, feeling it was abrupt and impulsive. But she thought that at this time, he might need companionship.
She disliked the feeling of distance and wanted to be the one who understood and accompanied him.
Inside the ward, Fu Shize was still sitting by the bedside. Fu Dongsheng and Chen Jinping were beside him, talking non-stop. The elderly patient, hard of hearing, looked kindly at the scene.
Fu Dongsheng spoke earnestly, “Son, Dad can stay here. You should go back to your girlfriend.”
Chen Jinping agreed, “Your father and I are free these days. Go on your date.”
Ever since seeing Lin Wanyin’s social media post, they had repeatedly tried to confirm with Fu Shize, but never received a response. He never discussed his matters with them.
As time passed, they began to doubt if this girlfriend existed, and seized every opportunity to probe.
Fu Shize ignored them, leaning against the bed, gently holding the elderly person’s hand, spotted with age.
“If you don’t want to tell us, fine, but don’t leave the girl hanging,” Fu Dongsheng advised. “When we came in earlier, a girl was sitting outside. Is she waiting for you?”
“…” The conversation was getting ridiculous.
Fu Shize: “I don’t know her.”
Not wanting to hear more of their speculation, Fu Shize got up to go outside for a smoke. At the door, he saw a familiar, slender figure curled up on the bench, looking down at her phone. Her hair fell on both sides, covering her ears, and revealing her fair, soft cheeks. Under her delicately upturned nose, her light pink lips were slightly moist.
Fu Shize pushed the door open, his gaze softening. He walked up to Yun Li, took her hand, and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’ll be out in a moment.”
Fu Dongsheng, still wanting to talk, followed behind him and witnessed this scene.
“…”
Fu Shize returned, put on his coat, and said to them, “Please look after things for a while.”
“Is that girl your girlfriend? Can your father and mother go out to greet her?”
Fu Shize remained silent.
“Son, I know this might be overstepping, but don’t mind us. Was that girl waiting for you? Young women aren’t to be taken lightly.”
“…”
“Son, remember, if you kiss someone, you must take responsibility.”
Chen Jinping covered her mouth in shock: “They kissed?”
Fu Dongsheng proclaimed: “I saw it with my own eyes.” Although it was just a kiss on the forehead.
Fu Shize put on his gray scarf, ignoring them as he left.
Yun Li had been waiting for a while and stood up when she saw him.
“I just wanted to keep you company and see if there was anything I could help with,” she said softly, her voice soothing. Fu Shize took her hand, and only then did Yun Li notice the two people behind him.
She immediately realized they were Fu Shize’s parents.
The couple was well-dressed and looked kind and gentle. Chen Jinping politely greeted her, “Hello, I’m Shize’s mother, and this is my husband.”
Fu Shize glanced at them: “…”
Chen Jinping invited Yun Li to the café downstairs. Fu Dongsheng didn’t join them, as the elderly patient had a personal caregiver, so leaving for a while wouldn’t be an issue.
Yun Li nervously followed Fu Shize. He seemed calm, as if not surprised by this turn of events.
Though their features were similar, their mannerisms when speaking were vastly different. Chen Jinping’s voice was gentle as she chatted briefly with Yun Li about her situation.
She reminded Yun Li a bit of her mother, Yang Fang.
They hadn’t been seated long when Fu Dongsheng arrived with a gift bag. He sat next to Chen Jinping, his temples graying but looking energetic.
Fu Dongsheng addressed Yun Li slowly, “Yun Li, do you have a nickname?”
“Others usually call me Lili.”
“Lili.” Fu Dongsheng switched quickly, handing her the gift. “This meeting was unexpected, so I couldn’t prepare a gift in advance. I just bought this while driving over. I hope you don’t mind.”
They didn’t chat with Yun Li for long, but warmly invited her to dinner at their home next time.
Finally, alone, Fu Shize took Yun Li for a walk around the inpatient area. He hadn’t slept for two nights and thought he was hallucinating when he first saw Yun Li.
“Grandmother is elderly and often hospitalized, but it’s not serious,” Fu Shize explained briefly, a smile tugging at his lips. “But I’m really happy you came especially.”
Relieved that her presence hadn’t complicated matters, Yun Li smiled too.
As they walked aimlessly, Yun Li was trying to build up her courage.
She had been fretting for a while when the person beside her chuckled softly, touching her earlobe. “You’ve been waiting so long, just say it.”
“I met your parents,” Yun Li said slowly. “Our relationship should be considered a step further now, right?”
“Mm.”
“Then—” Yun Li pinched his sleeve, “I feel like I don’t know you well enough yet.” Once she started, everything seemed to flow more smoothly.
“I’m not the type to ask much myself. But I don’t like this feeling of not knowing you well.”
“I want to be the person who knows you best.”
Fu Shize waited for her to continue.
Having said this much, Yun Li couldn’t change her nature and worried, “Will you think I’m too controlling?”
“No. But—” Fu Shize smiled, “I like being controlled.”
“…”
Though his tone was normal, Yun Li’s mind inexplicably wandered elsewhere. She poked him, “Then tell me about your childhood.”
Fu Shize made a sound of agreement.
Seeing him lean in, Yun Li held him at arm’s length, maintaining a safe distance. “Just talking is fine.”
“Not enough,” he caught her hand and moved close to her cheek, lowering his voice as he slowly shared his story, pausing occasionally to kiss the corner of her mouth.
It wasn’t as complicated as she had imagined. His parents were professors at West Science University, only recently returning to Nanwu frequently due to work. He grew up living with his grandparents, seeing his parents once a month, which is why he wasn’t very close to them.
After finishing this part, Fu Shize still seemed eager to continue. He looked down and said, “Keep asking.”
Yun Li, distracted by his kisses, pushed him away, deciding not to ask further. However, she was reassured that he seemed willing to share if she asked.
“There’s something else I want to tell you. I didn’t want to worry you yesterday,” Yun Li haltingly recounted her encounter with the pervert. Visibly, the smile in Fu Shize’s eyes faded.
Yun Li continued, “I’ve reported it to the police. I can take care of myself, but… I was really scared. I booked a ticket for Yun Ye to come tomorrow, but,” her voice began to tremble, “I just… want you by my side.”
She tried to keep her voice calm as she spoke, but Fu Shize saw through her forced smile and remained silent for a long while.
“Were you hurt?”
Yun Li shook her head. At the time, she had felt disgusted, and after meeting Lin Wanyin, the whole incident had taken on a comedic tone. Now, her main emotion was fear of encountering the man again.
He pulled Yun Li into his arms.
“Lili, move in with me,” he looked at her. “Starting tonight.”
…
Fu Shize returned to the hospital room to get his keys, leaving the task of staying with the patient to his parents.
He remembered the phone call Yun Li had made to him.
An indescribable feeling welled up in his heart.
She must have been very scared at that time.
An unspeakable sense of guilt crashed over him. He gripped the keys tightly and silently led Yun Li to the parking lot.
After starting the car, warmth quickly filled the cabin. Fu Shize, unable to calm his emotions, turned off the engine again.
“Lili.”
He turned his head, and after a long pause, said softly, “I’m sorry, Lili.”
I’m sorry I wasn’t by your side.
On the way, Yun Li and Fu Shize discussed living together. The apartment in Jiangnan Garden was a large three-bedroom, located in the heart of Nanwu City’s old town, next to the city government, with almost the best security in the city.
They would sleep in separate rooms.
Throughout the conversation, Fu Shize responded calmly, but Yun Li felt he was thinking about something else.
“In the future, if anything happens,” Fu Shize suddenly said, “let me know immediately.”
Yun Li agreed.
After picking up some clothes and pajamas from her apartment, Fu Shize took her to Jiangnan Garden and cleared out a room for her.
Fu Shize wouldn’t let her go to the balcony, but everywhere else was fine.
The living room was immaculate, with no signs of daily life, not even a box of tissues on the table.
Yun Li, uninterested in other areas, followed him directly to his room. The bookshelf was full of books and drone models, with a bed in the corner covered in deep blue bedding.
“After I move in, I’ll pay you rent for the Qilixiang apartment. I originally intended to use that money for rent anyway,” Yun Li said, not wanting to take advantage of him.
Fu Shize glanced at her, “No need for rent.”
Yun Li thought for a moment, “Then consider it your living expenses.” She calculated, “With my current income, I should be able to support a man.”
“…”
“Yun Ye is coming tomorrow, so I still need to go back to stay. I’ll officially move in after the New Year.”
It was a reasonable suggestion. Feeling sleepy, Fu Shize made a nasal sound of agreement.
After speaking, Yun Li returned to her room to tidy up a bit.
Having not slept for two days, the sight of the bed made sleep irresistible. Fu Shize fell onto the bed facing away, covering the light with the back of his hand.
After a while, Yun Li returned to his room and shook him gently, “I’m still a guest now, so you should entertain me properly.”
Fu Shize, extremely tired, pulled her into his arms and turned to embrace her, “Is this entertainment good enough?”