February 14th.
Qian Fei hazily remembered that besides being called "Po Wu" (the fifth day of the Chinese New Year), this day also had a fancy foreign name—Valentine's Day.
Qian Fei thought for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Li Yifei, you’ve been calling me today just to make small talk. Did you have a fight with your girlfriend or something?"
She heard silence on the other end of the line, followed by an earth-shaking snort: "Sanitary Pad, do I really seem that combative to you? Do I have to be fighting with some other woman before I can call you?"
Qian Fei was completely lost by his logic and could only blindly agree: "No, no, no! You could also call me first and then go fight with another woman afterward! Honestly, the order doesn’t really matter!"
She heard Li Yifei’s breathing grow slightly heavier on the other end. An inexplicable sense of delight bubbled up in her heart...
"Sanitary Pad, with an attitude like yours, all I can say is—happy single’s Valentine’s Day!" Li Yifei said venomously before hanging up.
Qian Fei was so infuriated by his sharp tongue that she wanted to call him back and dedicate the song "Happy Breakup" to him as a blessing.
But then she reconsidered—it was still the New Year holiday, and Valentine’s Day at that. Doing something like that would be a bit too cruel. Li Yifei might be shameless by nature, but she couldn’t stoop to his level of "lowly" behavior.
On the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, Qian Fei received another call from Li Yifei.
This time, she wasn’t even surprised.
Through the receiver, she could hear the sound of running water from a faucet, faintly accompanied by what seemed like someone washing dishes.
Li Yifei’s tone was full of righteous indignation, like a boss scolding an employee: "Comrade Qian Fei, are you not planning to come back to work? All your comrades are busy building the motherland, and here you are, lounging at home like a parasite. Do you have no shame after all the socialist grain you’ve eaten growing up?"
Qian Fei burst out laughing. "Are you just itching for someone to argue with? What are you even doing? Washing dishes with your girlfriend? You two better be careful—don’t go breaking all my plates and bowls!"
After exchanging a few more words, they hung up.
●︶3︶●
A hand emerged from the sink, wiped itself on an apron, and then pressed the Bluetooth earpiece to end the call. The hand then plunged back into the water to rinse the suds off the plates and bowls.
This was a new set of porcelain Li Yifei had procured through connections—originally made for high-ranking officials in Beijing.
As he dried the dishes, he thought with amusement that if that silly woman ever found out that breaking one of her plates had earned her this exquisite set, she’d probably tremble holding a bowl while eating.
●︶3︶●
Just as Qian Fei hung up and was about to resume watching the TV drama The Brink , she noticed her father standing behind her like a ghost—she had no idea when he’d appeared.
Seeing her turn around, her father hunched over and asked, "Who were you talking to just now?"
Qian Fei jumped. "No one! Wait—since when do you eavesdrop on my calls?"
Her father clutched his stomach and groaned. "I wasn’t eavesdropping! I always listen openly whenever I want. But, Xiaofei, my stomach hurts—I think I ate something bad!"
Qian Fei paled at the sight of his ashen face. "Since when has it been hurting?"
Her father winced. "Since last night!"Qian Fei sprang up from her chair, "You've been in pain for most of the night and you're only telling me now!"
She hurriedly got dressed and, together with Aunt He, took the old man to the hospital.
The emergency room doctor pressed a couple of spots casually before confidently making his diagnosis. He said the old man had overeaten during the New Year celebrations, gave him a painkiller shot, and prescribed some digestive aids. "Remember to cut back on meat for him and give him more vegetables," he advised. "We've had many patients with the same symptoms these past few days—all from overeating during the holidays!"
Qian Fei nodded in agreement, but when she tried to ask for more details, the doctor had already moved on to the next patient.
Qian Fei and Aunt He helped the old man out of the emergency room. Back home, after taking his medicine, the old man groaned as he lay down. Looking at his haggard face, Qian Fei couldn't shake off her unease.
She called Aunt He out of the bedroom. "Auntie, I remember you telling me that Dad has had this kind of pain a few times before. I think that emergency doctor was a bit too hasty. How about after the New Year, you take Dad back to the hospital for a thorough check-up?"
Aunt He also looked worried and assured her, "Alright, we definitely will," putting Qian Fei's mind at ease.
Gratefully holding Aunt He's hands, Qian Fei said earnestly, "Auntie, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to afford a house in Beijing! Now that I'm not home, you have to take care of the house and Dad—you're working so hard! Once Dad fully retires, I'll bring both of you to Beijing. Auntie, from now on, I'll be your own daughter—I'll take care of you in your old age!"
Aunt He's eyes reddened as she reached up to touch Qian Fei's face. "Good child, I knew I wasn't wrong about you!"
Trying to lighten the mood, Qian Fei joked, "Auntie, tell me—Dad's factory is practically bankrupt, so poor it jingles even without wind, yet he insists on working diligently until retirement! Doesn't he know how to enjoy life? He should've taken you and me to Beijing earlier!"
Aunt He laughed. "Actually, even after retirement, your dad and I wouldn't want to go to Beijing. How could it compare to home? Here, we can gather a group to play mahjong every day. I've heard in Beijing, neighbors can live next to each other for over a decade without really knowing one another!"
Qian Fei realized it was true. Yet every year, countless people still flock to Beijing, knowing life there is tough, yet gritting their teeth and refusing to leave. Why was that?
Before bed, she brought it up during her usual late-night chat with Yao Jingjing.
Yao Jingjing enlightened her: "Because people believe that after enduring hardship, there will be rewards. They—including you and me—are collectively called 'Beijing drifters.' At the core, we're all ambitious."
Qian Fei understood.
These people wanted a life different from others, to soak in the city's atmosphere, to embrace metropolitan culture, to ensure their children wouldn't have to struggle as hard as they did just to reach the capital. So no matter how exhausting or bitter life became, even if their prime years were spent crammed in a rented room sharing kitchens and bathrooms with strangers, nothing could stop their pursuit of dreams.
This was Beijing. People came in waves, and many left disillusioned and defeated. Those who stayed were the successful strivers; those who couldn't had no choice but to carry their regrets elsewhere.Qian Fei felt a surge of panic as she thought to herself—she had to work even harder and better, or one day, this high-intensity city would cast her aside too.
●︶3︶●
On the evening of the ninth day of the lunar new year, Qian Fei's phone rang again. When she saw "Li the Drama Queen" flashing on the screen, she wasn’t even surprised anymore.
"What now, young master?" she answered.
Li Yifei snorted on the other end. "What time are you arriving in Beijing tomorrow?"
"One in the afternoon. What, are you planning to pick me up?" Qian Fei teased.
"That depends on my mood."
"Oh-ho-ho-ho! Look at you! I say, young master Li, you’ve been awfully clingy this holiday. Could it be you miss me?" Qian Fei joked shamelessly.
Li Yifei scoffed. "Sanitary Pad, your face just keeps getting thicker!"
Qian Fei spat in mock outrage. "Li Yifei, are you tired of living? If you dare call me 'Sanitary Pad' one more time, I swear I’ll make you go house-hunting on 58.com—or I’ll change my surname to yours!"
Another scoff. "I’ll be waiting for you to take my surname—Li Qian, the Sanitary Pad!"
●︶3︶●
The tenth day.
The moment the plane landed, Qian Fei turned on her phone. As soon as the signal kicked in, it rang—"Li the Drama Queen" once again dominating her screen.
When she answered, Li Yifei told her he was waiting outside Terminal 3 and ordered her to hurry up.
"Listen, young master here doesn’t pick people up or wait for them. Get out here fast—if you dawdle even half a minute, I’m walking away!"
Qian Fei responded with just two words: "Good riddance!"
Dragging her suitcase and lugging a heavy bag, she shuffled through the crowd at a snail’s pace. By the time she finally met up with Li Yifei, the drama queen was visibly impatient.
"You showed up this second. One more second and I’d have turned and left!" he snapped, grabbing her suitcase and bag—only for his wrist to buckle under the weight, nearly dropping the bag.
"Sanitary Pad, did you eat super-strength pills at home?" he asked incredulously, eyeing her. She had carried the bag effortlessly, as if it were a sponge pillow. "What’s in this thing?"
Qian Fei rolled her eyes. "My dad insisted on bringing some hazelnuts and almonds for 'Little Li.'"
At that, Li Yifei’s expression brightened. He happily hoisted the bag and declared, "I just can’t help being so lovable! Women from 8 to 80 adore me, and now even uncles in their fifties and sixties are falling for me!"
Qian Fei nearly gagged.
When they got home, she expected to find the place a complete mess—but to her surprise, it was spotless.
"Did your girlfriend clean up?" she asked skeptically.
Li Yifei smirked. "Young master did it himself, thank you very much!"
Qian Fei gasped. "Are you turning over a new leaf?"
He gritted his teeth. "I’m lowering myself to your level."
"By the way, shouldn’t you be at work today?" she asked.
"Which makes my kindness all the more profound!" he retorted.
Qian Fei scoffed and went to her room to unpack.
Li Yifei marched into the kitchen and announced loudly, "I’ve mastered two signature dishes—a fusion of East and West. Just wait, I’ll show you my skills!"Qian Fei found it quite refreshing. Over the holiday, the finicky prince not only agreed to clean the room but also learned how to cook. Compared to before, his current diligence was downright outrageous.
It seemed his new girlfriend had a rather positive influence on him.
Qian Fei’s impression of the advertising girl improved by quite a bit.
As she packed her things, she listened to the clattering noises from the kitchen, her heart pounding in anticipation of the legendary "hard dish" he had promised. At one point, she couldn’t resist peeking into the kitchen to see how Comrade Li the Finicky was faring—whether he had accidentally chopped off a few fingers. But Li Yifei, holding a kitchen knife in one hand and a tomato in the other, promptly chased her out.
Half an hour later, Li Yifei finally bellowed, “Done! Come out!”
Qian Fei rushed out of her room, brimming with curiosity.
But the moment she saw the two dishes on the table, her excitement turned into a face full of exasperation.
“ This is what you called a hard dish ?! A grand East-meets-West feast ?!” she asked incredulously, pointing at the sugar-mixed tomatoes and vegetable-fruit salad on the table.
Li Yifei raised an eyebrow. “You don’t think so?”
Noticing a faint trace of disappointment in his expression, Qian Fei softened and quickly said, “Yes! Absolutely! You’re so thoughtful—knowing I’ve been stuffed with greasy food over the holidays, you’re helping me detox right after I get back! Uh… where’s the rice?”
At the mention of rice, Li Yifei’s eyes lit up, his pride impossible to hide. “Let me tell you, I’ve only messed up cooking rice once . After that, every single pot has been perfectly white, fluffy, and fragrant!”
Qian Fei went to the kitchen to check the rice and found a brand-new rice cooker. She guessed that his one failed attempt must have been spectacularly disastrous.
Lifting the lid, she saw that the rice was indeed well-cooked. She scooped a bowl and noticed how beautiful the new rice bowl was. As she forced down mouthfuls of plain rice with the two “hard dishes,” she lavished insincere praise on Li Yifei, calling him a diligent, handsome, and sensible young man. Li Yifei soaked it all in with satisfaction—until he took a few bites of the tomatoes and salad, frowned, and put down his chopsticks.
The tomatoes were unbearably sweet, and the salad tasted as bizarre as bananas mixed with garlic. He couldn’t fathom how Qian Fei was managing to eat it.
How could this woman be like this? Just to avoid dampening someone else’s mood, she’d ignore her own discomfort?
He snatched the chopsticks from her hand. “Stop eating. It’s terrible!”
Qian Fei grinned at his sulky expression. “Honestly, the rice is really good! A few more bites, and you won’t even notice the garlic and metallic knife taste from the tomatoes and salad…”
Seeing his frown deepen, she put down her bowl and stood up, heading to the fridge. “Let me see if there’s anything else we can eat!”
She pulled out a fish and turned to Li Yifei. “I’ll teach you how to stew fish!”
Li Yifei gave her a sidelong glance, his face screaming, Who wants to learn how to stew fish from you? But despite his disdainful expression, he stood up and followed her into the kitchen.
Watching Qian Fei scrape the fish scales with a kitchen knife, he felt both nervous and amazed. Those slender hands gripped the hefty blade firmly, scraping upward from the tail with precision. The scales fluttered off like magic.He found himself staring, utterly captivated.
As Qian Fei finished preparing the fish and turned to ask Li Yifei whether he wanted sweet and sour, braised, or steamed, she noticed him leaning against the doorframe, watching her quietly. His expression was serene and content, as if basking in the warmth of a pleasant afternoon sun.
Qian Fei paused, then asked, "Don't tell me you've suddenly grasped the true meaning of happiness in life just from watching a fish?"
Li Yifei continued gazing at her with that same peaceful, satisfied look and said slowly, "I've always just eaten ready-made meals before. This is the first time I've watched you cook. Isn't it strange? I suddenly feel like you've been gone for a long time."
Qian Fei met his gaze in return.
In the afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows, filling the room, they stood bathed in its glow. He leaned lazily against the doorframe, looking at her with contentment, while she held the fish and kitchen knife, returning his gaze.
The air itself seemed to grow soft and fuzzy in the sunlight.
Amid the warm, cozy atmosphere, Qian Fei spoke up: "Young master, you really aren't cut out for sentimentality. Every time you get sappy, I not only get goosebumps but also a really bad feeling! Come on, tell me—what terrible thing have you done? As long as it's not too bad, I'll forgive you!"
The warm atmosphere vanished instantly, the sunlight becoming as ordinary and lukewarm as any typical winter day.
Li Yifei straightened up expressionlessly and said, "I'll buy you a plane ticket home for tonight. Why don't you just stay through the National Day holiday? That way I won't have to see you and feel annoyed!"
The fish ended up being braised. As Qian Fei transferred it to a new plate, she couldn't help but admire it sincerely: "This plate is so pretty! It should be displayed, not used for serving food!"
Li Yifei suddenly decided not to tell her the origin of the new tableware. Because he was certain she would say those five words: "This is a knockoff, right?"
He suddenly smiled.
This girl was really something—living like some Cinderella from a TV drama, and yet she wasn't even doing it on purpose. She was just so... irresistibly endearing that it made him want to find her a glass slipper.
Author's Note: Thank you to all the beautiful readers for your generous support with the thunder and bombs! You really shouldn't have!!!!!! bows deeply in gratitude But honestly, you really don't need to spend so much—I'm getting overwhelmed by all these thunderbolts and bombs!!!
Romance is most heart-fluttering during those ambiguous, undefined moments, isn't it? Let me stretch out this ambiguity for a couple more chapters, hehe. I don't want Li Yifei to have it too easy—time for a little suffering →_→
Oh, and dear readers, if you're leaving comments and asking for points, please at least give me a 2-star rating!!!!!! It's really hard for me to assign points to zero-rated comments!!!
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