Was it just her imagination?
Yun Li couldn't be sure.
...
Yun Li received a call from Yang Fang.
"Your brother hasn't been playing with his phone much after coming home these days. He just sits at his desk as soon as he gets back. Has something upset him?"
Yun Li immediately thought of Yun Ye's puppy love situation and replied stiffly, "Probably not. Mom, don't worry too much."
Yang Fang said worriedly, "Could you ask your brother how he's been? Is the academic pressure too much? I'm afraid he might burn out at this rate."
Yun Li: "..."
It probably had nothing to do with studies.
Not daring to explain casually, Yun Li agreed, "Alright, I'll ask him."
Feeling it was time to talk to Yun Ye about this, Yun Li made a video call.
When the call connected, the handsome young man's face appeared on screen, his lips downturned in displeasure. "You didn't even look at the messages I sent you."
Yun Li: "Oh, really?"
Checking their chat history, after she'd last sent Yun Ye ["Yun Ye, I admire you ten thousand times!!!"], he had indeed replied several times over the following days.
Yun Ye: ["?"]
One day later.
Yun Ye: ["??"]
Two days later.
Yun Ye: ["???"]
...
Previously preoccupied with her own romantic troubles, Yun Li hadn't paid much attention to Yun Ye's meaningless replies.
Remembering how Yin Yucheng had specially come over that day, Yun Li pursed her lips. "Oh, I forgot about it when I got busy. When I texted you, Yin's brother came looking for you, saying you've been sending her two postcards every week—" Yun Li mocked, "Too busy to need your sister's reply, I suppose?"
Yun Ye: "..."
Yun Ye: "How did he know it was me?"
Yun Li found this ridiculous: "Yun Ye, could you be more subtle when pursuing someone? Over twenty postcards all in the same handwriting—her brother came knocking on our door!"
After a long silence, Yun Ye blurted out: "Damn it, her brother read my letters."
"..."
Yun Li: "Well, I think he might have peeked too."
Yun Ye angrily said: "Damn, that's shameless."
After some thought, Yun Li agreed: "Damn, it really is a bit."
Yun Ye quickly accepted reality and complained: "Why are you only telling me this now?"
"I just told you I forgot." Showing no remorse, Yun Li instead lectured earnestly: "What you're doing might affect that girl's studies. Yun Ye, we should... you know, tone it down a bit."
Yun Ye: "No, Yun Li! Your brother's letters got read by someone else! Aren't you going to stand up for justice?"
"Oh." Yun Li ignored his point and changed the subject: "Also, turns out you were sending them in the whole class's name. I thought you were being bold—my mistake."
Yun Ye turned his head away from the camera, sounding impatient: "None of your business."
Unfazed by his tone, Yun Li calculated the returns on Yun Ye's giving behavior and reminded him: "But if you've sent so many postcards, what if she thinks they're from someone else?"
He looked indifferent: "As long as she gets them."
Seeing his impenetrable attitude, Yun Li thought of herself and lamented: "Yun Ye, if you keep giving unconditionally, you'll be the one getting hurt in the end. You need to love yourself more, understand?"
Yun Ye: "..."Yun Ye: "Why are you suddenly saying things like this?"
Yun Li: "..."
Yun Li: "I'm just giving you some advice from experience..."
Yun Ye: "Does that brother not like you?"
After a moment of silence, Yun Li directly ignored the question: "Let’s continue talking about your situation. It seems their family doesn’t plan to interfere, as long as it doesn’t affect your studies. They just came to confirm the matter with me."
With his biggest worry resolved, Yun Ye let out a sigh of relief and flashed a smile unique to youth: "So, do you think I can still send her things in the future?"
Yun Li immediately distanced herself: "I don’t support puppy love, and I won’t give you money to send things either."
She suddenly remembered the reason for this call: "Oh, right, Mom just called me. She said you don’t play with your phone at all and just sit at your desk as soon as you get home."
Yun Ye muttered, "Isn’t it good that I don’t play with my phone? What’s she thinking?"
"Alright, I’m just giving you a heads-up. Be mindful of it yourself."
"Okay."
After hanging up, Yun Li saw that Yang Fang had sent her two more messages.
One was a photo of Yun Ye’s report card.
The other read: 【What if your brother ruins his health from overworking? [crying]】
Yun Li opened the report card and took a look.
It really hadn’t affected him at all.
She then opened Yun Ye’s chat and sent him a 200-yuan red packet. After some thought, she added a note: 【For meals】-
As the day to go to the homestay approached, Yun Li found it increasingly hard to control her anxiety.
Yun Li had arranged with Fu Zhengchu beforehand that after she got off work at EAW on Friday, Xu Qingsong would pick her up at her apartment, take her to a nearby supermarket for supplies, and then drive to the homestay.
No one had told her whether Fu Shize would be going or not.
After work, Yun Li returned to her apartment to grab her luggage.
On the desk was still the baseball cap Fu Shize had given her. Over the past few days, she had occasionally run into him in the break room, but she didn’t want to go out of her way to return it afterward. The back-and-forth had dragged on, and she still hadn’t given it back.
Maybe he’d be going too.
Yun Li tucked the cap into her bag. By the time she went downstairs, Xu Qingsong’s car was already parked outside. The window rolled down, revealing Xu Qingsong in the driver’s seat and Fu Zhengchu in the passenger seat.
Yun Li sighed in relief and was about to open the car door when it slowly swung open from the inside. As she bent down, she caught sight of Fu Shize’s figure. Beside him was only a black bag, placed on the side near the door.
Fu Shize shifted slightly inward, making room for her.
"..."
Feigning composure, Yun Li ducked into the car. The seat still carried his residual warmth. She placed her bag in the empty space between them.
Xu Qingsong turned slightly to greet Yun Li. Today, he was wearing a linen floral shirt, pieced together in beige and brick red, with a solid-colored blazer-style jacket over it.
Noticing Yun Li’s lingering gaze, he didn’t shy away and asked, "What’s up?"
Yun Li averted her eyes: "I just feel like Director Xu’s shirts are all quite vibrant. You don’t see many people wearing them." Not being great at compliments, she added vaguely, "They all look pretty nice."
Hearing this, Xu Qingsong laughed and said playfully, "Really? I thought Ah Ze’s clothes were too dull before and wanted to gift him a few sets, but he refused every time."
Since the topic involved Fu Shize, Yun Li’s tone became slightly unnatural as she probed, "Oh, why’s that..."
Xu Qingsong glanced at Fu Shize through the rearview mirror and teased, "No idea. Maybe he thought they were ugly."As the center of the discussion, Fu Shize himself didn’t voice any opinions, only lifting his eyelids when mentioned.
Seizing the opportunity, Yun Li glanced at him. He was dressed in a white shirt and light gray casual pants, paired with a black woolen coat.
After driving two or three kilometers, the car arrived at a nearby large supermarket.
As soon as they stepped onto the elevator, Yun Li hurriedly said, "Fu Zhengchu, I'll go with you." Leaving the other two behind, she grabbed a shopping cart for Fu Zhengchu, and the two headed straight for the snack section.
Faced with an array of snacks, Fu Zhengchu tossed several large bags of chips into the cart. Seeing that Xu Qingsong and Fu Shize were some distance away, he leaned closer to Yun Li and whispered, "Sis Li, today I deliberately sat in the front passenger seat!"
"..."
No wonder Fu Shize was in the back seat today—normally, he would sit in the front to help Xu Qingsong watch the road.
Fu Zhengchu hadn’t forgotten his mission as a wingman. "Sis Li, I saw a drone in your latest video. Is it for Uncle?"
The person before her had clear, sincere eyes, showing pure concern for a friend. Not wanting to lie, Yun Li answered bluntly, "Yes..." She paused. "But I’ve decided not to give it to him."
Fu Zhengchu wasn’t too surprised and asked lightly, "Why, Sis Li? Did you two have a fight? You don’t seem to be paying much attention to Uncle lately."
"No... I just won’t give it to him." Yun Li denied immediately, staring distractedly at the chocolate bar in her hand.
On the surface, Fu Zhengchu was still picking snacks, but inwardly, he was burning with anxiety.
He had arranged several group outings, but both had declined. After getting in the car, they hadn’t even greeted each other, and now at the supermarket, Yun Li refused to walk with Fu Shize.
Even someone as slow as Fu Zhengchu could tell something was off between them.
Yun Li wasn’t a child and didn’t want to make a big deal out of this. Carefully, she asked, "Do I really seem like I’m ignoring him?"
Fu Zhengchu answered honestly, "Yes." He emphasized, "And it’s pretty obvious."
"..."
Fu Zhengchu pressed on, "Did Uncle do something to upset you?"
Yun Li hesitated for a long time, unable to voice her thoughts of giving up to Fu Zhengchu. Lowering her eyes, she asked, "Does your uncle have a female friend he’s known for a long time and is very close to?"
Fu Zhengchu gasped in shock. "Sis Li, are you worried Uncle has someone else?"
"..."
That made it sound like she was hunting down a mistress.
"That’s impossible." Fu Zhengchu racked his brain but couldn’t think of anyone. He concluded firmly, "All the women Uncle has known for a long time are relatives—they’re all blood-related. Uncle has very strict upbringing; it’s impossible, absolutely impossible."
Fu Zhengchu’s adamant tone made Yun Li feel confused. She muttered, "There isn’t one?"
"..."
Back in the car, Yun Li’s thoughts lingered on her conversation with Fu Zhengchu.
So, was the earlier claim that Fu Shize had made plans with someone just a misunderstanding? Yun Li stole a glance at Fu Shize, who was looking down at his phone, chatting with someone on WeChat.
As they approached the highway entrance, Xu Qingsong reminded them, "We’re about to get on the highway. Buckle up."
Yun Li’s train of thought was interrupted. She fumbled for the seatbelt on her right, pulling the strap toward the buckle at her side. Fu Shize glanced down as she tried several times without success.
Fu Shize said, "Let me."
Seeing they were about to enter the highway, Yun Li didn’t refuse. "Oh, okay..."Fu Shize released his own seatbelt and leaned closer to Yun Li. As his breath drew near, Yun Li silently recited calming mantras in her heart.
Yet, when his hand actually took hold of the strap, the touch of his skin sent a jolt of electricity through her.
Yun Li stiffened, sitting rigidly straight. Fu Shize kept his head lowered, his loose strands of hair swaying slightly with the car’s movement. His slender fingers adjusted the buckle, hovering just inches from her legs in tight jeans, leaving just enough space between them.
He fastened it effortlessly.
Slowly retreating to his seat, Fu Shize secured his own seatbelt and closed his eyes to rest.
The rest of the journey passed uneventfully. Yun Li opened E-Station, where her recent comments had surged. She scrolled through the notifications, finding dozens of consecutive comments—all from the same person except for a few in the middle. The account had a blank profile picture, the username "efe," and every comment simply read: [Nice.]
This person had also sent her numerous gifts—likely a wealthy new fan. Yun Li sent them a private message: [Thank you^^]
By the time Yun Li and the others arrived, Xia Congsheng’s group had already been there for an hour. Aside from Xia Congsheng and Deng Chuqi, there were two male colleagues they both knew—Chen Renran and Lu Yu.
Xia Congsheng’s family had arranged a small Party Villa for them, a self-built two-story house with four rooms, each featuring an open-air hot spring. The three girls would stay in the family room, while the other two men shared a room.
The villa had no elevator. Fu Zhengchu helped carry the luggage upstairs, while Fu Shize directly picked up Yun Li’s handbag and waited for her at the staircase.
The others chatted animatedly, but Yun Li and Fu Shize stood apart, neither speaking.
Once upstairs, everyone exchanged greetings, and Fu Shize handed Yun Li her bag.
"Thanks… Oh, here’s your hat back." Yun Li unzipped the bag and pulled out the black baseball cap.
"No need." Fu Shize didn’t take it. Adjusting the backpack on his right shoulder, he opened it slightly to show her—inside was another cap, this one blue. "I have my own."
Yun Li was puzzled. "I have one too…"
Fu Shize said nothing and turned to walk to his room, which was next to Yun Li’s at the end of the hallway. Xu Qingsong had already settled on the sofa, leisurely scrolling through his tablet.
"You didn’t tell me you were bringing colleagues," Yun Li whispered to Deng Chuqi in complaint.
She hadn’t forgotten Deng Chuqi’s mention of bringing two single colleagues during their last phone call. The way those two looked at her felt a little too eager.
"Well, I didn’t expect Xia Xia’s uncle to come either! Xia Xia said he wasn’t coming at first!" Deng Chuqi replied in a hushed tone, not bothering to hide her intentions. "Originally, these two colleagues were decent enough, but compared to those three uncles and nephews… well, it’s a bit embarrassing. But looks are a gift from heaven, while kindness is cultivated."
Yun Li pinched her. "You didn’t say anything to them behind my back, did you?"
"Uh…" Deng Chuqi grinned sheepishly. "Just that you’re single."
Yun Li: "…"
Seeing her expression darken, Deng Chuqi raised her hands in surrender. "We can’t just cling to one tree, right? Meeting other guys might help you care less about what happened with Xia Xia’s uncle. And don’t judge them just because they’re not the best-looking."
Knowing she meant well, Yun Li sighed.She didn’t want to admit it, but her heart could only hold space for one person at the moment—
A quarter of an hour later, the group reconvened in the living room.
The living room of the small villa was designed for entertainment. At its center was an oval-shaped transparent lamp encircled by a marble tabletop, perfect for board games. The rest of the space was furnished with a pool table, gaming consoles, and a small karaoke setup.
With the heating on, everyone was dressed in light layers. Chen Renran and Lu Yu sat on one side of the circle, followed by Deng Chuqi, Xia Congsheng, and Fu Zhengchu, with several empty seats between Fu Zhengchu and Chen Renran.
When Yun Li entered, Chen Renran eagerly pulled out the chair beside him, but she pretended not to notice and went straight to sit next to Fu Zhengchu.
Fu Zhengchu was engrossed in his phone, and Yun Li caught a glimpse of Fu Shize’s familiar profile picture. The conversation seemed one-sided, with Fu Zhengchu sending multiple messages and Fu Shize responding sparingly.
After sitting down, she didn’t pry. Instead, Fu Zhengchu abruptly put his phone away, his movements slightly flustered. His gaze drifted toward the staircase. “I was just asking when my uncle’s coming down.”
For some reason, neither Xu Qingsong nor Fu Shize had come downstairs yet.
The group started by opening a deck of UNO, with Lu Yu dealing the cards. Meanwhile, Chen Renran poured Yun Li a glass of orange juice and swiftly placed a plate of sliced fruit in front of her, his intentions unmistakably obvious.
His smile only made Yun Li’s skin crawl. Avoiding eye contact, she thanked him and pushed the fruit plate toward Deng Chuqi’s spot.
Yun Li had never played this game before, so Fu Zhengchu briefly explained the rules.
Just as they were about to start a round—Yun Li, feeling nervous about her inexperience—leaned back slightly and glanced up to see Fu Shize descending the stairs.
He wore a loose turquoise-green printed shirt, his porcelain skin accentuated by dark, ink-like brows and eyes. The shirt lent an almost bewitching allure to his otherwise indifferent, weary expression.
Only one word echoed in Yun Li’s mind.
Damn.
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