Exiting the ground-level parking lot, a long corridor led to the vibrant holiday lights. Along the way, people were selling roses from baskets.
Fu Shize paused and picked one. The young girl promptly said, “One hundred.”
Yun Li was taken aback, but before she could intervene, Fu Shize had already paid.
It was a wrist corsage style. He lifted her wrist and slipped her hand through the silk ribbon.
“It does look quite nice,” Yun Li remarked, examining her hand. Although it wasn’t her money, she still felt the pinch from Fu Shize’s wallet.
She pursed her lips and added, “It just feels like we paid a stupidity tax.”
Realizing her words might seem ungrateful, Yun Li quickly justified, “In love, even science geniuses can have zero IQ.”
Fu Shize remained silent.
With the small romantic gesture thoroughly dismantled by Yun Li, Fu Shize walked on without a word.
After using the restroom in the mall, he emerged to find Yun Li holding another rose.
As she pinned it on him, he didn’t resist but said with a wry smile, “Didn’t someone just call this a stupidity tax?” He paused. “And said I had zero IQ?”
“You’re too grudge-holding,” Yun Li commented. “That was five whole minutes ago.”
Fu Shize said nothing, gently taking her hand as they headed upstairs.
The two roses on their wrists occasionally brushed against each other.
After dinner, they returned to Jiangnan Garden. Fu Shize went to shower first.
Yun Li retreated to her room, sitting on the bed against the wall. Everything should be normal, right? She pondered, still thinking about the photo album from that afternoon.
Not wanting to dwell on those emotions, she flopped onto the bed and called Yun Ye.
The boy answered immediately, proudly showing off his new postcard.
“I’m texting Wai Wai,” Yun Ye said.
Yun Li automatically associated “Wai Wai” with Yin Yunyi’s initials. She frowned, “Doesn’t she not have a phone?”
“Her brother got her an old-style phone that can only make calls and send texts,” Yun Ye explained.
Seeing him ponder for a long time without finishing the text, Yun Li asked, “What are you sending?”
“One,” Yun Ye replied.
“What?”
He explained, “I send a ‘one’ morning and night to mean good morning and good night. Her parents might check her phone.”
Yun Li laughed, “Impressive.”
She teased mercilessly, “It takes you that long to send a ‘one’?”
“Don’t you feel inferior around Yin Yunyi?” Yun Li asked.
Yun Ye looked at the camera, confused.
Yun Li twisted the knife: “She’s so much better-looking than you.”
“If I felt inferior, I wouldn’t be pursuing her. Why make myself miserable?” Yun Ye said impatiently, ruffling his hair and moving the camera back. “Look for yourself. Am I not good enough for her?”
Yun Ye’s response hit a sore spot for Yun Li.
Seeing her dejected expression, Yun Ye paused. “Did brother-in-law mistreat you?”
Yun Li sighed heavily, “There’s some distance between your brother-in-law and me. He doesn’t tell me many things.”
“Huh?” Yun Ye got up to go to the bathroom, not taking it seriously. “Why don’t you just ask him?”
“I did, but…” Yun Li’s expression was full of difficulty. “I don’t know how to say it. Your sister is developing learned helplessness.”
“No way?” Yun Ye looked at the camera, smiling sarcastically, seeming a bit angry. “Yun Li, don’t be tough at home but suffer outside.”
He drooped his eyes, not caring about her reaction, looking rather punchable. “If that’s the case, I’ll have to side with Dad.”
Yun Ye was already brushing his teeth, the toothbrush puffing out one side of his face. He mumbled, “The braised pork you froze for me before you left was toxic. I ate it today and felt sick.”
Spitting out the foam, he complained, “Something felt off.”
Yun Li’s mind was in chaos, and she retorted, “That’s because you’re not resting well. Stop staying up late writing postcards to Yin Yunyi.”
Guessing she was in a bad mood, Yun Ye chatted with her until his bedtime.
After hanging up, Yun Li started a livestream. She shouldn’t have pushed herself – her fans quickly noticed her off-mood and low spirits, forcing her to end the stream abruptly.
Her mood sour, she slept fitfully.
Half-awake, she sensed some night light entering the room.
Yun Li opened her eyes, facing away from the door. Fu Shize stood at the doorway for a while before walking to her side.
Yun Li closed her eyes, pretending to sleep.
She waited for a while, drifting back into a half-asleep state.
A cool, soft touch brushed her hand, moving upwards and stopping at the rose – she hadn’t had the heart to remove it.
She dozed off, unsure how long he stayed.
South Wu University started early, and Yun Li represented EAW for spring recruitment talks.
It was her first time speaking at such a public event. Yun Li had been nervous for days, but thankfully Fu Shize had rehearsed with her for two or three nights.
By the time the presentation ended, it was already past 3 PM.
She had several missed calls, all from Yun Yongchang.
Yun Li stared at the screen for a long time before calling back.
Yun Yongchang didn’t scold her for not answering. He sounded calm: “I brought you a spring blanket. It’s at the door of your rented place.”
This caught Yun Li off guard. She hadn’t even received a heads-up from Yun Ye.
“Oh… I just got off work. I’ll take a taxi and be there in twenty minutes.” Yun Li anxiously sent Fu Shize a message.
The father-daughter meeting wasn’t as hostile as imagined.
Yun Yongchang carried a large bag containing two blankets.
Yun Li mumbled, “I don’t need blankets…”
“Spring and winter blankets. South Wu is colder than West Fu,” Yun Yongchang said stiffly. Seeing Yun Li in a daze, he ordered gruffly, “What are you standing there for? Open the door!”
The feeling of fatherly love lasted only seconds. Yun Li turned on the lights and poured Yun Yongchang a glass of water. He asked bluntly, “Still dating him?”
Yun Li nodded.
Yun Yongchang clenched his fist, his tone brooking no argument: “Tell him to come tonight. We’ll eat out.”
Yun Yongchang insisted on taking a taxi, seeming to think that riding in Fu Shize’s car would be taking advantage of him.
He said coldly, “I don’t lack for cars in West Fu.”
Yun Li knew he couldn’t accept that Fu Shize was from South Wu.
In the taxi, Yun Li’s mind was in turmoil. She kept drafting and redrafting messages to Fu Shize, wanting him to say more about potentially working in West Fu, but then thinking better of it.
Yun Li: [My dad hopes I’ll return to West Fu.]
She felt a hint of shame she couldn’t quite express.
She didn’t want Fu Shize to think Yun Yongchang was difficult to get along with.
Once she started considering this, all her words and actions became cautious and hesitant.
Fu Shize had booked a private room at a famous restaurant in South Wu City.
When Yun Li got out of the taxi, Fu Shize wasn’t in the room but waiting for them at the entrance.
His demeanor was calm and composed.
She suddenly felt a bit more relaxed.
Yun Yongchang maintained a neutral expression throughout, politely asking Fu Shize questions.
The atmosphere at the table was relatively harmonious until Yun Yongchang suddenly asked, “You’re not in school anymore? What’s your education level?”
Yun Li put down her chopsticks, rushing to answer, “He did his undergraduate at West Science University.”
Yun Yongchang made a noncommittal sound, then continued, “You’re not continuing your studies?”
Fu Shize calmly replied, “I’m doing my Ph.D. at West Science University.”
Hearing about the Ph.D. at West Science University, Yun Yongchang’s expression improved slightly. After all, over half of West Science University graduates stayed in West Fu.
Not easily fooled, Yun Yongchang pointed out the oddest part, “You’re the same age as my daughter. You haven’t graduated yet, right? Why aren’t you at school?”
“I’m on a leave of absence,” Fu Shize said, his tone flat and unconcerned.
Yun Li could see Yun Yongchang’s expression freeze at the words “leave of absence.”
She felt a sudden suffocating tension.
Yun Yongchang refused Fu Shize’s offer to drive them back and rejected his gift, his attitude very clear.
On the car ride back, Yun Yongchang said coldly, “What kind of boyfriend have you found who can’t even finish his studies?”
“Did you only fall for his looks?”
Seeing Yun Li silent, he took a deep breath, “His parents are professors. I may not be accomplished, but at least the child I raised can finish school.”
Yun Li couldn’t stand him belittling Fu Shize like this, but she didn’t want to argue in public. She bit her lip and said nothing.
“I’ve met more people than you’ve eaten meals. This boy has psychological issues,” Yun Yongchang rambled on. “Don’t care about his family background or looks. He can’t even finish school.”
To Yun Yongchang’s generation, life was simply bitter when bitter, sweet when sweet, but you had to keep going no matter what.
He couldn’t understand what problem could force someone to take a leave of absence.
Yun Li couldn’t take it anymore and said, “Dad, can you please be quiet while we’re out?” Only then did Yun Yongchang fall silent.
The driver, having heard everything, said to Yun Li as they got out, “Miss, sometimes it’s best to listen to your elders’ advice on these matters. Don’t let love blind you.”
Back home, Yun Li didn’t argue with Yun Yongchang. No matter what he said, she stuck to two points:
“Who I date is my freedom, don’t interfere.”
“Whether he takes a leave or stays in South Wu or West Fu is his freedom, don’t interfere.”
She rarely showed such an impenetrable, unyielding attitude. After a few more words, Yun Yongchang angrily booked a flight back for that night.
Yun Yongchang came and went quickly, but left chaos in his wake.
As the door closed behind him, Yun Li finally relaxed.
She felt as if she had survived a disaster.
Yun Li wasn’t afraid of Yun Yongchang’s opposition, nor did she care whether Fu Shize took a leave or not.
The worst outcome would be Yun Yongchang disliking Fu Shize. She could endure for a few years until Yun Yongchang had no choice but to relent.
Sitting on the sofa, a wave of sadness gradually enveloped Yun Li.
She opened her phone. Since dinner, Fu Shize hadn’t messaged her. She typed a few words, then deleted them letter by letter.
She sent a message telling him Yun Yongchang had left.
The clock seemed to slow down. It was nearly 10 PM when she finally heard the door open.
Their eyes met as Fu Shize stood at the doorway for a moment.
He slowly walked to her side, bent down, and cradled her head to his chest.