After passing West Science and Technology University, it only took another ten minutes by car to reach home.
The visit to EAW had been at the end of August, and now, three months had passed without returning home. Yang Fang had cleaned Yun Li’s room in advance, leaving it spotless.
As soon as she entered the house, Yun Li dropped her luggage to the side and went straight to her room, collapsing heavily onto the bed.
The family dog, catching the familiar scent, came trotting over and jumped onto Yun Li’s bed.
Yun Li rubbed the dog’s head and called out, “Dui Dui.”
Dui Dui was a not-so-chubby Shiba Inu. After Yun Ye finished his middle school entrance exams, Yun Yongchang had asked if there was anything he wanted. Yun Ye had said he wanted a dog, and coincidentally, Yun Li loved dogs too.
Yun Yongchang had always refused, but one day, he came home with a little Shiba Inu himself.
From outside came Yun Yongchang’s scolding voice: “All you do when you get home is lie on the bed. What kind of behavior is that?”
Yang Fang pulled him back: “You start scolding Li Li the moment she gets home. She’s been on a plane for hours—can’t you let her rest?”
Yun Li let go of the dog and raised her arm to cover her eyes. Once released, Dui Dui took it as a sign that the reunion was over, rolled over, and jumped off the bed.
So noisy.
Ever since the rejection, Yun Li had been suffering from insomnia. Now, suddenly relaxed, waves of drowsiness washed over her.
By the time she woke up, it was already 11 p.m.
Rubbing her eyes, Yun Li groggily walked to the living room.
Glancing at the sofa, she saw a teenager lying there playing with his phone, his chin resting on a pillow, showing no reaction to her presence.
Yun Li asked, “Want some midnight snacks?”
Without looking up, Yun Ye replied, “Yes.”
Yun Li was a bit speechless. When she wasn’t home, Yun Ye would always ask her over the phone when she was coming back. Now that she was here, he acted completely indifferent.
Walking into the kitchen, Yun Li took two scallion pancakes from the fridge, poured a little oil into the pan, and placed one inside. While waiting, she picked up her phone to check WeChat.
He Jiameng: [Yun Li~ Where in West Fuling do you live?]
Seeing the message, Yun Li replied directly: [Near Xinguang Street. Why?]
He Jiameng: [Is it close to West Science and Technology University? The company is sending someone there on a business trip next week, and the boss asked me to arrange an assistant to accompany them.]
He Jiameng: [I thought of you since you’re in West Fuling now. Want to consider it? It counts as work attendance! Even if it’s less than three days, it’ll be counted as three!]
Yun Li thought about it. Next week, Yun Ye would be away on weekdays, and both parents would be at work. Staying home alone didn’t sound fun, so she agreed.
[I love you so much!!!!!]
[I asked several people, but as soon as they heard about the person in charge, they all refused.]
[But I don’t think you’ll dislike him!]
[You’ll probably really like him!!!!]
[Super handsome!!!]
“...”
She felt a bit deceived.
Just seeing the words “super handsome,” Yun Li could already guess who was coming.
Several days had passed since the rejection. Yun Li lowered her eyelids, lost in thought.
The oil in the pan suddenly sizzled loudly, snapping her back to reality. She remembered the unfinished food in the pan.
Hurriedly flipping the scallion pancake, she saw the other side had already turned a coffee brown.
True to the non-stick pan she had picked, the burn was perfectly even.
Poking it with the spatula, Yun Li muttered to herself, “It’s probably still edible for Yun Ye.”
Just then, Yun Ye walked in to get water: “...”
“Yun Li,” Yun Ye said darkly.Yun Li was startled and felt a pang of guilt. "It's not like I can waste food," she said.
Yun Ye remained expressionless.
Reluctantly, she gave in and mumbled, "This probably isn’t edible anymore. It’s a waste forced by circumstances—Heaven will understand."
After making two fresh servings, Yun Li carried both plates to Yun Ye’s room and nudged the door with her foot. "Yun Ye, open up."
Placing his portion on his desk, she sat on the edge of his bed and began eating. "Someone from my internship company is coming on a business trip. They asked me to assist."
Yun Ye turned his head. "When?"
"Next Monday to Tuesday," Yun Li replied between bites, her words slightly muffled.
"Do you know who’s coming? Any idea where they’re going?"
"It’s at West Science and Technology University—"
Yun Ye called her name a few more times. "Why’d you stop mid-sentence?"
Yun Li hesitated before forcing out, "I probably know the person coming."
Yun Ye, noticing her unusual reaction, suddenly asked, "Your boyfriend?"
Yun Li shook her head.
"Someone you like?"
She shook her head again and nudged him. "Stop guessing. What do you know about adult matters?"
He Jiameng soon sent over the relevant details. West Science and Technology University had recently established a new research center and was considering ordering some Virtual Reality Products for their studies. If successful, it would be a sizable order.
The research center was set up under the School of Control Engineering, where Fu Shize was based, so Xu Qingsong had assigned him to handle the trip. His flight was scheduled for Saturday afternoon, with presentations planned for Monday and Tuesday.
He Jiameng sent Yun Li several files and instructed her to print a hundred copies before heading to the university. The promotional brochures needed to be on high-quality Coated paper, but there were no suitable print shops near her home.
At noon on Saturday, Yun Li changed her clothes, grabbed the car keys, and headed out.
Yun Yongchang ran a small driving school and usually drove the training cars when going out. Yang Fang’s workplace was close to home, so she typically commuted by electric bike. With Yun Li back, they left the car at home for her to use, making it easier for her to get around.
Yun Li drove to a print shop across from West Science and Technology University. The brochures wouldn’t be ready until the next day. Back in the car, she recalled He Jiameng’s words.
Fu Shize’s flight was arriving that afternoon.
She had no idea what time.
Opening a flight-booking app, she found five or six flights from Nanwu to West Fuling scheduled for the afternoon. After sitting in the car lost in thought for a while, she tapped open the navigation to West Fuling Airport.
The automated voice announced, "Heading to West Fuling Airport. Total distance: 30 kilometers. Estimated time: 59 minutes."
Yun Li had acted on impulse, driving off without a second thought.
She hadn’t told Fu Shize about this—after all, she was just going on a whim.
The entire drive was fraught with nervous tension, and she nearly broke traffic rules several times.
West Fuling Airport had only one arrivals exit, where a crowd of people waited to greet passengers. Afraid of missing Fu Shize, Yun Li stood directly opposite the exit.
Every time the display showed a flight arriving from Nanwu, Yun Li strained her eyes searching for that familiar figure.
After two or three hours of waiting, she finally saw Fu Shize emerge, pulling his luggage. It had only been a few days, but he seemed thinner, his deep-set eyes weary and distant, standing apart from the crowd.
When Fu Shize spotted her, he paused mid-step before walking over.Yun Li tried to sound natural as she recited the excuse she had prepared earlier: "Did Sister Jiameng tell you? I’ll be your assistant for the presentation. I came to pick you up today."
Fu Shize responded with a simple "Hmm."
"Let’s go."
He pulled his suitcase and walked beside her.
The meeting wasn’t as awkward as Yun Li had imagined.
Fu Shize was as indifferent as ever, walking silently by her side until they reached the parking lot entrance. Suddenly, he said, "I didn’t tell Assistant He the flight number."
Yun Li: "..."
Caught in her lie, Yun Li’s face burned with embarrassment.
Fortunately, Fu Shize didn’t press further. After loading the luggage, he opened the passenger door.
But instead of getting in, he walked around to the driver’s seat. "You sit in the passenger seat. I’ll drive."
Once inside the car, Yun Li noticed the bandage wrapped around his hand.
"What happened to your hand?"
Fu Shize glanced down at the console and turned on the air conditioning. "Just a scrape. It’s nothing."
He set the navigation directly to West Science and Technology University.
Yun Li: "Aren’t we going to the hotel?"
Fu Shize’s grip on the steering wheel faltered slightly.
"No."
Yun Li wanted to talk more, but as the car entered a long tunnel, the repetitive lights and road segments had a hypnotic effect. By the time she opened her eyes again, the car had already stopped.
They were parked in a quiet corner, the outside dim and gloomy.
After turning off the engine, the air conditioning shut off automatically, and the temperature inside the car had dropped significantly. It must have been parked for a while. Yun Li turned her head and saw Fu Shize leaning back in the driver’s seat, playing with his phone. The screen brightness was turned down low, and the dim lighting in the parking area made it easy for her to have slept so long.
"Awake?"
Just as she was stealing a glance, Fu Shize spoke abruptly.
His eyes were still fixed on his phone screen, and Yun Li didn’t have time to wonder how he’d noticed she was awake. She straightened up. "Are we at West Science and Technology University?"
"Hmm."
Yun Li checked her phone. Over two hours had passed since they left the airport. She blinked, thinking she might have misread the time. "After we got to the university, did I sleep for another hour next to you? Why didn’t you wake me?"
Fu Shize glanced at her. "Traffic was bad."
With that, he started the car again. Driving out of the corner, they reached the main road in a few hundred meters. After a few minutes on campus, the car stopped in front of the Control Engineering building.
"Go straight home."
Fu Shize unbuckled his seatbelt, retrieved his luggage from the trunk, and headed straight for the Control Engineering building.
Hearing this, Yun Li, who had been following him, stopped and returned to the car. On the driver’s seat was a cardholder, the first card inside being Fu Shize’s ID.
Yun Li looked at the ID. The young man in the photo smiled freely at the camera. Hesitating for a moment, she traced her fingers over the face on the card.
Feeling a bit like a creep, yet somehow satisfied.
He was only a month older than her. Yun Li opened her phone’s calendar and realized Fu Shize’s birthday fell on New Year’s Eve that year.
He was born amidst fireworks.
And should have a life as brilliant as fireworks.
Not bothering to look at the other cards, she found a parking spot, parked the car, grabbed the cardholder, and headed in the direction Fu Shize had disappeared.
She called and messaged him several times, but he didn’t respond.
Unfamiliar with the building’s layout, Yun Li wandered through the lobby and corridors.After walking for a while, she realized that Fu Shize had left deep traces here.
Whether it was the posters at the entrance or the promotional videos playing in the main hall, his presence was everywhere.
Yun Li wandered around the first floor for a while before stopping at the entrance of the college to wait for him. Coincidentally, there was a poster of Fu Shize right in front of her, so staring at it helped pass the time.
West Fuling had a significant temperature difference between day and night. Yun Li had only worn a thin jacket when she went out, and the cold wind at the college entrance seeped through. She buttoned up her coat completely, hugging her arms as she paced back and forth to keep warm.
"Hey, which school are you from?" Suddenly called out, Yun Li paused.
Turning toward the voice, she saw a bespectacled young man approaching. He looked refined and polite.
Yun Li avoided answering directly: "How did you know I'm from another school?"
The bespectacled man chuckled and said with confidence, "I've been here for eight years, from freshman year to my fifth year as a Ph.D. student. There isn't a single pretty girl I don't recognize."
"..."
He assertively held out his QR code toward Yun Li. "Could I get your WeChat? It'd be nice to stay in touch."
Feeling awkward, Yun Li took a step back. "No, I have a boyfriend." Seeing his skeptical expression, she pointed at the exemplary student photo on the bulletin board. "This person."
"Fu Shize?" The bespectacled man looked doubtful.
Surprised that he recognized him, Yun Li suddenly felt uneasy. "What about it?"
She regretted her impulsive lie.
"Hard to believe," the man said bluntly.
"..."
"Besides, he's been on leave for over a year. At least come up with a better excuse."
"..."
Yun Li froze, not processing his remark about Fu Shize's leave of absence.
Uncomfortable under his gaze, she turned to leave but happened to see Fu Shize descending the stairs. Like spotting a lifeline, she hurried over to him.
The bespectacled man, unwilling to give up, was about to call out to Yun Li again when he noticed the indifferent gaze from the man on the stairs. He stopped in disbelief and muttered, "Damn, it's actually true."
Fu Shize seemed somewhat dazed, his eyes unfocused. He stood still for a while before finally fixing his gaze on Yun Li.
Just like when they had parted earlier, Yun Li was wearing a camel-colored long coat, now fully buttoned up. Her slightly wavy hair cascaded down, resting on her shoulders. She wore leggings, her legs slender and straight.
Her hair had grown longer.
Meeting Fu Shize's eyes, Yun Li blinked, her gaze bright like scattered starlight. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold wind, and the tips of her ears were red from the chill.
"You left your cardholder in the car. I was worried you wouldn't be able to check into the hotel, so I waited here for you."
Yun Li waved her phone. "I called you a few times, but you might not have noticed..."
The cold wind slipped through her collar. Fu Shize looked at her and asked, "You've been waiting here the whole time?"
Feeling a bit self-conscious under his stare, Yun Li rubbed her ear and said, "Yeah, I didn't know where you were... But it wasn't long. You didn't take too much time."
She took the cardholder out of her bag. "Here you go."
Fu Shize silently took it and slipped it into his pocket. Then, picking up his luggage, he walked to the roadside."It's so late and cold. If you don't have plans—" Yun Li trailed behind him, speaking softly only after he stopped walking, "Would you like to have dinner together?"
"..."
Fu Shize turned his head slightly to look at her. His tousled hair swayed in the wind as he stood there in a dark overcoat layered over a white shirt—strikingly aloof yet blending seamlessly with the blue-tinted streetlights, as if he had always belonged to the night.
Yun Li waited anxiously.
Fu Shize parted his thin lips and uttered just two words: "No, thanks."
"Oh, okay..." Rejected outright, she stood there awkwardly. "Then let me drive you to your hotel. It's inconvenient with your luggage."
"Thanks, but no need." His tone remained distant as he pulled out his phone to hail a ride.
Yun Li stared at his downcast eyes—his dark pupils cold and detached, his entire demeanor radiating isolation. If she had once mistakenly sensed a thaw in his indifference, now she felt utterly superfluous.
Rejected too many times.
Not unexpected, yet enough to leave her at a loss.
Fu Shize glanced at her and suddenly said, "Step over here. There's a car behind you."
"Oh..."
His words snapped her out of her thoughts.
She moved beside him. Under the dim streetlight, she could see the faint glow of his phone screen illuminating a corner of his impassive face.
He kept his eyes fixed on the countdown timer waiting for a driver to accept the ride. Feeling painfully out of place, Yun Li also took out her phone, stealing a glance at his screen to note the address before booking a ride to his hotel.
Fu Shize: "..."
Fu Shize: "Are you following me?"
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