The sofa at home was L-shaped. Yun Ye sat on the section next to Fu Shize, nibbling on the strawberries he had given him while stealing glances at him.
Outwardly calm and indifferent to his surroundings, Fu Shize's jet-black pupils exuded a cold sharpness. He didn't lean on anything, simply reclining against the sofa, propping his face with one hand as he stared in Yun Li's direction.
Hmm, having him as a brother-in-law wouldn't be bad either.
Yun Ye alternated between stealing glances and sneaking strawberries when Fu Shize suddenly asked him, "What are you looking at?"
"..."
"Nothing." Flustered, he stuffed several strawberries into his mouth at once. Afraid Yun Li might scold him, he glanced her way a few times before cautiously asking, "Brother, do you go to West Science and Technology University?"
"Mn."
Fu Shize looked at him thoughtfully. "How did you know?"
"Oh, my sister mentioned it." Yun Ye made up an excuse. He was almost certain now that Fu Shize was the person from Yun Li's high school photos she used to stick on her wall. After some thought, he added, "Brother, don't mind what I said earlier. My sister's never pursued anyone before. If she had, given her personality, she'd chase them all the way to Mars."
"..."
"Ever been to West Science and Technology University?" Fu Shize handed Yun Ye another strawberry.
"Thank you, brother." Yun Ye said obediently. Fu Shize seemed much gentler now. He ate the strawberry and thought for a moment. "My sister took me there a few times."
"To visit?" Fu Shize offered another strawberry.
"No... thank you, brother." Yun Ye accepted it again. "My sister said she had friends there. She went to meet someone while I read books with her."
Fu Shize didn't pursue the topic further, instead chatting with Yun Ye about applying to West Science and Technology University and choosing majors.
As Yun Li's game was ending, Fu Shize pushed the plate of strawberries toward Yun Ye. "Have some more."
Seeing Yun Li approaching and their alone time ending, Yun Ye hurriedly said, "Brother, my sister is a really good person."
"Mn."
"She's truly wonderful."
"Mn."
"Do you think she's good?"
"..."
Yun Ye couldn't hide his thoughts well. Feeling his intentions were too obvious, he ate another strawberry to mask his awkwardness.
Fu Shize didn't respond. The siblings shared some facial resemblance, and their expressions when flustered were nearly identical.
When Yun Li took off her headset, she saw Fu Shize and Yun Ye chatting on the sofa. Fu Shize looked much more gentle and calm than usual, like an older brother, while Yun Ye appeared like a naive, unenlightened teenager.
Remembering what Fu Zhengchu had said while drunk, only four words flashed through Yun Li's mind—
No! Way! Right?!
Holy shit.
The thief comes from within the family.
"Yun Ye, didn't you say you had lots of homework?" Yun Li grabbed his wrist and dragged him toward his room.
After closing the door, seeing Yun Li's expression made Yun Ye nervous. "I didn't say anything!! I was saying nice things about you!"
Yun Li stayed silent.
Yun Ye grew scared. "Really, I swear to heaven."
Yun Li eyed him. "Yun Ye, you like girls, right?"
"..."
Understanding her implication, Yun Ye snapped, "Yun Li, you're insane."
When Yun Li returned to the living room, Fu Shize was already packing up his equipment. She glanced at the coffee table—the plate was empty. Yun Li froze. "Did you eat the strawberries?"
Fu Shize powered off his headset and neatly packed all the components into their case before answering slowly, "No."
Yun Li rushed back to Yun Ye's room and whispered, "Did you eat all my strawberries?""Can't I eat it?" Yun Ye looked utterly confused.
Yun Li: "No! I left another one on the table."
Yun Ye: "I didn't know which was which. That brother handed me a bunch."
"..."
Yun Li glared at him: "You're going to be the death of me. Don't eat any more of them."
Yun Ye sighed in exasperation: "Even a stranger I just met knows to let your little brother have some strawberries. Yun Li, you've been a sister for sixteen years—where's your awareness?"
Thinking of her heart-shaped strawberry, Yun Li felt nothing but heartache. Her carefully planned evening had been ruined. She had originally wanted Fu Shize to take a box of strawberries home, with that heart-shaped one placed right on top.
Ignoring Yun Ye, she returned to the living room, where Fu Shize had already gathered his things and was standing by the door in his shoes. Not expecting him to leave so soon, Yun Li closed her bedroom door behind her, momentarily at a loss.
"Are you leaving already?"
"Yeah."
Hearing Yun Li's question from his room, Yun Ye opened his door and stuck his head out: "Sis, walk him out." He tilted his head. "It's only polite."
Yun Li grabbed her car keys, slipped on her shoes, and threw on a jacket before following Fu Shize. Once they were in the elevator, she pressed the button for the underground parking level. Remembering the intimate moment in the living room that Yun Ye had ruined, she suddenly felt nervous, unconsciously clutching her sleeves.
Their parking spot was near the elevator. After getting into the car, Yun Li fastened her seatbelt and rolled down the window for some air.
Fu Shize stood outside the passenger side, hesitating to get in.
With one hand on the car door, Yun Li could only vaguely see him bending slightly, his pale chin resting against the window frame.
Thinking the door might be locked, Yun Li leaned over to unlock it.
As soon as the door opened, Fu Shize bent down to get in, stumbling slightly as he collapsed into the seat. Yun Li, still leaning forward, was met with the scent of tobacco. The moment she touched him, she jerked back as if shocked, holding her breath, not daring to speak.
She gripped the steering wheel tightly, keeping her eyes fixed on the parking lot's surroundings.
Beside her, after a moment, Fu Shize finally murmured, "Sorry."
Noticing something off in his voice, Yun Li turned to see him frowning, his hand clutching his stomach, his body tense and curled forward.
"Are you in pain?" Yun Li, still driving, panicked and pulled over as soon as they exited the garage.
Fu Shize leaned back in his seat, his forehead beaded with sweat, his body curled up. The veins in his hand stood out as he gripped his stomach tightly. His already pale complexion was now completely devoid of color.
"Is it your stomach?" Yun Li flusteredly reached for her phone but fumbled, dropping it onto Fu Shize. "I'll call an ambulance. I—I have a car. I can take you to the hospital now."
"No need." Fu Shize caught her hand as she reached for the phone. "I'm used to it. It'll pass soon."
But he didn't let go of her hand.
Yun Li didn't dare move, holding her breath as she waited for Fu Shize's next move.
The seconds stretched endlessly.
Slowly, his frown eased, and the tension in his muscles relaxed.
He opened his eyes, exhaustion evident in his gaze.
Seeing this, Yun Li asked, "Are you feeling better?"
"Yeah."
"Can I take you to the hospital now?" she asked cautiously.
"Back to the hotel. I need to rest."
Fu Shize said nothing more.After dropping him off at the hotel, Yun Li drove home with a heavy heart, only then realizing her hands were trembling. She pressed down on her shaking hands and walked into the kitchen, visibly worried.
Yang Fang and Yun Yongchang were already home, preparing dinner.
Yun Ye approached her as soon as she arrived. "That guy today was pretty handsome."
Yun Li's thoughts were still preoccupied with Fu Shize's stomachache, so she absentmindedly replied, "Yeah, and?"
"He's tall and has great presence."
Yun Li: "What are you getting at?"
"Yun Li, why did you suddenly bring a guy home?" Yun Ye's bright eyes gleamed challengingly as he stared at her.
"..."
Yun Li didn’t want to engage with him.
Yun Ye sidled up to her, eager for gossip. "I’m sure I didn’t mistake him—he’s the one from the posters on your wall. And he told me he’s from West Science and Technology University."
"..."
"While you were washing the strawberries earlier, that guy kept looking at you. My door was open, so he didn’t notice me."
"After chasing him for so many years, did you finally get your chance?"
Yun Li couldn’t take it anymore. "Why do you have so much nonsense to say?"
Ignoring Yun Ye’s barrage of questions, she carried the dishes to the dining table. Yun Yongchang was already seated, clearly in a bad mood. He first complained about the driving school before shifting his focus to Yun Ye’s studies.
Yun Li responded half-heartedly, still distracted by Yun Ye’s earlier remarks.
"Did you ask Yun Ye to help you film today?"
Yun Li didn’t deny it. "Yeah."
Yun Ye quickly nudged her with his foot under the table.
"Your brother just got placed in the top class," Yun Yongchang said sternly. "You may not have done well academically, but don’t drag him down with you."
Yang Fang interjected disapprovingly, "Lili rarely comes home. Can’t you say less?"
Yun Yongchang retorted, "I told you not to go to Nanwu for grad school, but you went ahead without consulting us. Now you even need your brother’s help to film videos—do you really think you’re supporting yourself?"
Yun Li silently took a few bites of rice.
Yun Ye couldn’t hold back. "Dad, I just appeared in the video. I didn’t do anything else, and it didn’t interfere with my studies."
Yun Yongchang glared at him. "You shut up too."
Thud.
Yun Li slammed her chopsticks down.
"I’m full. Going for a walk."
She stood up, grabbed her jacket, and walked out.
Just as Yun Li had expected, peaceful moments at home were always fleeting. She began regretting her decision to stay for a week, already dreading the tense meals that would follow. The thought alone made her feel suffocated, desperate to escape.
Driving aimlessly through the streets, she reached the city center, surrounded by familiar shops and roads. As she stared blankly at a traffic light, she could even estimate how long it would take to change.
Before she knew it, her eyes welled up.
Yun Yongchang always loved his children in the way he deemed right. His complaints about her going to Nanwu for grad school without consulting him were just the surface—he had to belittle her further, as if pressuring her this way would make her admit fault and back down.
Gripping the steering wheel tightly, Yun Li realized she had unconsciously driven near Fu Shize’s hotel.
Pulling over at an intersection, she texted him: Have you had dinner yet?
Her mind blank, she continued typing: There’s a famous fish congee place near you—it’s good for the stomach. Want to go together?
She didn’t need to wait for a reply to know he’d refuse. Instead, she drove to the restaurant and ordered a takeout portion of their specialty.
Her phone buzzed.Wife: [No, thanks.]
As expected.
After driving back near the hotel, Yun Li found a roadside spot to park. She carried the fish porridge to the hotel lobby and sat down, drafting several messages on her phone but ultimately sending none.
Afraid of being rejected again.
Staring at the porridge in her hands, Yun Li muttered, "What should I do with you?"
After hesitating for a long time, she approached the front desk and asked them to deliver it to Fu Shize's room. Once the staff went upstairs, she returned to the public sofa in the lobby, secretly hoping he might come down to see her.
He wasn’t there.
The front desk handed the insulated bag back to Yun Li. Disheartened, she carried it back to her car, unable to describe the emotions swirling inside her.
She stared at the insulated bag in her hands, its surface printed with colorful seafood patterns, still warm to the touch.
She hadn’t seen him.
Yun Li realized that her trip here wasn’t just because she thought Fu Shize might have skipped dinner and hurt his stomach. She was hurt, and she wanted to see him, to have him by her side.
The thought of going back and facing Yun Yongchang’s stern expression made her prefer spending the night in the car.
After scrolling through her phone for a while, Yun Ye sent a message:
[Red envelope] Don’t be upset.
Yun Li: [I only accept 200-yuan red envelopes.]
Yun Ye: [Red envelope] Don’t be upset.
Yun Li chuckled and opened both envelopes. The first one contained 52 yuan, accompanied by a sticker of a kitten with wide, innocent eyes playfully scratching her. The second one had 200 yuan, with the same sticker as the first.
Yun Ye: [??? Give the first one back.]
Yun Li: [Oh.]
Ten minutes later.
Yun Ye: [You still haven’t returned it.]
Yun Li: [Oh.]
Yun Ye: [...]
Her previously gloomy mood lifted considerably. She opened her photo album, filled with pictures of her and Yun Ye, and scrolled through them for a long time.
She reached over and touched the porridge on the passenger seat—it had gone cold. She reminded herself that she still had Yun Ye, her younger brother who had grown up by her side.
But what about Fu Shize?
She recalled the last time she saw his WeChat interface. Apart from the over a hundred unread messages from Lin Wanyin, the rest were all from at least a week ago.
Yun Li realized Fu Shize might have always been alone.
After sitting in the car for nearly an hour, someone lightly tapped on the window. Yun Li snapped out of her thoughts and turned to look. Fu Shize stood there, holding a can of beer, gently rapping on the glass.
Yun Li hurriedly rolled down the window. "What are you doing here?"
Fu Shize shook the beer can. "Shopping."
He walked around to the passenger side, opened the door, and slid in, casually moving the insulated bag aside. Noticing the bold characters "Fish Porridge House" printed on it, he paused and asked, "For me?"
The clinking of beer cans in his plastic bag was audible as he got in.
"Yeah... It’s probably cold now, so don’t bother." Yun Li spoke slowly. "But since your stomach hurt at noon, and you still bought..." She glanced at the five cans of beer in his bag, "this much beer at night, I guess you don’t need porridge anyway."
Normally, Yun Li spoke to Fu Shize in a soft, gentle tone, but this time, there was a hint of sarcasm laced with frustration.
She didn’t know how to get angry at Fu Shize, nor was she sure if she even had the right to. So she turned her face away, staring out the window.
"I’m in a bad mood right now. I don’t feel like chasing after you. Get out of the car."Fu Shize had just sat down when the person next to him suddenly tried to shoo him off the car. He froze for a moment, glancing at Yun Li a few times. She didn’t even turn her head, as if sulking.
Perhaps startled by Yun Li’s harsh tone, Fu Shize obediently put the beer in his hand back into the bag. After getting out of the car, he tossed the entire bag of beer into a nearby trash bin.
Then he returned to the passenger seat and picked up the insulated bag, unwrapping it.
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