Fu Shize went downstairs and sat to Yun Li's left, with Xu Qingsong taking the seat beside him shortly after.
Yun Li felt the presence of the person on her left was too overwhelming and instinctively leaned slightly toward Fu Zhengchu.
Fu Zhengchu asked, "Sis Li, why are you sitting so close?"
Yun Li replied softly, "I feel more at ease sitting next to you."
When Xia Congsheng saw Fu Shize, she looked shocked. "Uncle, you look way too handsome today. I never knew Qingsong's clothes would suit you so well."
Though Yun Li also thought it suited him, she was puzzled as to why he had suddenly dressed this way.
Fu Shize gave a reasonable explanation: "Didn’t bring any spare clothes."
"I think it suits him too," Xu Qingsong said with a laugh. "Have you all decided what to play?"
Xia Congsheng replied, "We just opened a deck of Uno."
Xu Qingsong: "Alright."
Chen Renran suggested, "Let’s play 'Snap Zero'—it’s more exciting."
Everyone except Yun Li seemed familiar with the rules and answered in agreement:
"Sure."
"No objections here."
Seeing Yun Li’s confused expression, Chen Renran explained, "Basically, when someone plays a '0' card, everyone has to quickly slap their hand on the pile. The last person to do so has to draw two cards."
The game proceeded smoothly. Yun Li found it quite simple once she got the hang of it, matching either the color or number of the card played by the person before her.
Then, when the first "0" card was played, everyone immediately slapped their hands down, stacking them together. Yun Li didn’t react in time and ended up having to draw two cards.
After drawing twice, Yun Li became more alert, keeping a close eye on the cards being played. In the second round, when someone played a "0," she swiftly slapped her hand down, followed by the others.
Lu Yu reacted at about the same speed as Yun Li, placing his hand just after hers.
This time, Fu Shize was the last one.
Yun Li mentally applauded herself for her quick reflexes.
Later, when Yun Li herself played a "0" card, she immediately slapped her hand down, with Fu Shize following right after. Until the last person was determined, their hands remained pressed together, palm to back.
Yun Li could feel Fu Shize’s hand hovering lightly over hers, but even that slight contact made her heart race uncontrollably.
She stole a glance at Fu Shize—his expression remained as calm as still water.
Twice more that round, Fu Shize was the one to place his hand just after Yun Li’s.
Her heart couldn’t take much more of this, and by the time the game ended, she was about to say she wanted to quit.
Before she could speak, Fu Shize said, "Let’s switch games."
Yun Li stared at him blankly.
The close-knit group respected his suggestion and agreed without question.
Chen Renran, still eager to play, asked, "Why? Everyone was having fun."
Fu Shize rested his chin on one hand and replied casually, "I’m used to memorizing cards. Winning too quickly ruins the fun."
Chen Renran: "..."
The others: "..."
Chen Renran: "Well, if we’re not playing Uno, what should we play instead?"
Deng Chuqi suggested, "How about 'High Card'? Whoever draws the highest card can ask anyone here a question." Everyone agreed.
"Oh," Chen Renran added, "Since we’re playing this, we might as well liven things up with some drinks. I brought two bottles—I’ll go get them."After Chen Renran brought over the drinks, he handed one to Lu Yu and then poured for everyone sitting on his side.
When it came to Fu Shize's turn, he spoke up, "I don't need any, thank you."
Yun Li was slightly surprised by his refusal. In her impression, Fu Shize and alcohol were practically inseparable.
The game began, and after everyone drew their cards, they revealed them one by one. Yun Li's card wasn't particularly high, and she secretly sighed in relief. She didn’t want to ask anyone questions, nor did she want to be questioned.
After looking at his card, Chen Renran exclaimed, "Mine must be the highest!" He then flipped his card over.
The King of Spades.
Indeed, nothing could top that.
Xia Congsheng said, "Then pick someone to ask."
Chen Renran had a clear target in mind and addressed Yun Li directly, "Is there someone here you have feelings for?"
Instantly, all eyes turned to Yun Li.
Unable to withstand the collective gaze, Yun Li replied, "No."
Chen Renran pressed on, "Then if you had to choose one, who would it be?"
Yun Li: "..."
Xia Congsheng interrupted, "Nope, only one question per turn."
Chen Renran shrugged, "Fine."
As the game continued, others occasionally drew the highest card, but the questions were mostly about past embarrassing moments.
Until Lu Yu drew the highest card. Wanting to help Chen Renran out, he thought for a moment and asked, "Who do you think is the most handsome person here?"
Chen Renran: "..."
He was utterly speechless and discreetly stepped on Lu Yu's foot under the table.
Yun Li hadn’t expected them to be so relentless. After a weak struggle, she locked her gaze on Fu Zhengchu. "Fu Zhengchu."
Fu Zhengchu widened his eyes, a bit embarrassed. "Really?"
Yun Li suddenly felt guilty. "Of course."
After answering, Yun Li felt a weight lift off her chest and reached for her drink. However, her original glass of orange juice was already empty. She hesitated, eyeing the untouched glass of alcohol beside her.
Suddenly, a hand appeared in her line of sight.
Fu Shize moved her glass of alcohol away and replaced it with his untouched orange juice.
He downed the alcohol in one go. "You guys keep playing. I’m going for a smoke."
After Fu Shize left, Yun Li found herself distracted during the game.
Staring at the orange juice before her, her mind went blank.
Deng Chuqi noticed her odd behavior and tried to smooth things over. "It’s getting late. Maybe we should take a break?"
Xia Congsheng agreed, "True. Besides, there’s a hot spring in the rooms. Let’s head back early and relax."
With that, the group dispersed.
Xia Congsheng went to find her parents first. Back in her room, Yun Li headed to the balcony to fill the outdoor hot spring tub. The temperature was low, and steam rose as the water poured into the tub.
Deng Chuqi removed her makeup in front of the mirror and mused, "Today, the ‘unattainable flower’ wore that floral shirt and actually looked like a young master at first glance. I used to think only Xu Qingsong had that kind of vibe."
Yun Li pulled up a chair beside her and began removing her makeup as well.
Noticing her preoccupied expression, Deng Chuqi nudged her lightly. "Hey, don’t tell me you’re falling for him again just because he changed his outfit?"
"I’m not that shallow," Yun Li retorted, shooting her a glance before grabbing her bathrobe and heading to the balcony.
The two undressed and stepped into the tub.
The warmth enveloped them instantly. Yun Li scooped water and poured it over her shoulders. The dense mist seemed to cling to the wooden partitions, making her thoughts drift hazily.She moved closer to Deng Chuqi and whispered, "Didn’t I tell you before that he was planning to go on a date with a girl he’s known for many years?"
Deng Chuqi: "Yeah, that’s right..."
Yun Li leaned her head back against the marble edge, looking lost. "But when I asked Fu Zhengchu, he said the only people he’s known for a long time are relatives..."
Not quite understanding her point, Deng Chuqi thought for a while. "Does Xia Xia’s uncle have a thing for that?"
"..."
Unclear what wild ideas Deng Chuqi was entertaining, Yun Li denied it. "That’s not what I meant." She asked hesitantly, "I mean, do you think I might have misunderstood him?"
Deng Chuqi placed a towel behind her to avoid the cold edges of the pool. She disagreed, "Even if it’s a misunderstanding, the fact remains that he’s been rejecting you all this time."
Deng Chuqi: "Lili, my colleague really likes you. You should know you’re a very desirable person."
Yun Li: "Don’t bring up your colleague again..."
Deng Chuqi: "Why don’t you just ask him directly? You keep overthinking things, and the only one suffering is yourself."
Yun Li covered her eyes with a towel. "After being rejected so many times, how could I dare ask?" She murmured, "Isn’t that just asking for humiliation?"
Soaking in the warm water, her pores relaxed from the heat, and Yun Li felt her whole body unwind, briefly forgetting the troubles of the past month.
The image of Fu Shize surfaced in her mind, snapping her back to reality. She braced her hands against the marble edge and pushed herself up to sit on the side, reaching for a towel.
The cold air outside hit her instantly, and with a splash, she retreated back into the pool.
Deng Chuqi eyed her mischievously. "Lili, your figure these past few years—"
Before she could finish, two sudden knocks sounded against the wooden panel.
"..."
Both fell silent.
Deng Chuqi: "Did you hear that just now?"
Yun Li: "..."
Without another word, they scrambled out of the hot spring, threw on their robes, and dashed back into the room, tightly shutting the balcony window behind them.
Yun Li felt a chill run down her spine. "Our neighbors are..."
Deng Chuqi: "Holy crap..."
...
When Xu Qingsong returned to the room, Fu Shize was leaning against the edge of the pool, scrolling on his phone. Noticing his sour mood, Xu Qingsong scooped up some water and playfully splashed it over his head.
"You should quit smoking. We’re only halfway through the trip."
Fu Shize wiped the water from his eyes with a towel and said nothing, simply shifting to the side to continue using his phone.
Seeing his silence, Xu Qingsong didn’t press further. He undressed and sank into the hot spring, exhausted from the day. Within minutes, drowsiness began to set in.
The sound of water running in the next room was unmistakable through the thin wooden panel.
Their peace was abruptly interrupted by the sudden intrusion of voices—Yun Li and Deng Chuqi’s conversation.
Fu Shize tilted his head toward the source of the sound. He shifted closer and knocked lightly on the panel.
Immediately, the splashing sounds of Yun Li and Deng Chuqi fleeing the pool and rushing back to their room followed.
Xu Qingsong was now wide awake, leaning against the edge of the pool, watching Fu Shize with amusement.
Though Yun Li and Deng Chuqi hadn’t mentioned any names, Xu Qingsong hadn’t paid much attention, but he could roughly guess the topic. A faint smile played on his lips, but he didn’t ask further.
Noticing his expression, Fu Shize shot him a reproachful glance. "I asked you about the restaurant before..."
Xu Qingsong hadn’t considered this earlier and paused. "Did Xiao He tell Yun Li?"He flicked the water lightly and chuckled, "Isn't this just helping you ward off some unwanted attention?"
Fu Shize closed his eyes briefly, choosing not to engage further.
Yet his mind lingered on what Fu Zhengchu had told him earlier and the conversation between Yun Li and Deng Chuqi he'd just overheard.
What an absurd misunderstanding.
...
Back in her room, Yun Li was on the verge of a breakdown.
As she desperately toweled her dripping hair, Deng Chuqi tried to console her, "Don't overthink it. Maybe he didn't hear anything... Even if he did, it's not a big deal..."
If he hadn't heard anything, he wouldn't have knocked on the wooden panel to alert them.
Yun Li buried her face in her hands miserably, "Just kill me now."
After comforting Yun Li for a while, Deng Chuqi mentioned that Chen Renran had invited them to play mahjong downstairs. Yun Li curled up on the bed, staring blankly at her phone, and sighed, "I'm not going."
The next morning, Yun Li woke up at eight and planned to ask Xia Congsheng and Deng Chuqi to breakfast. The two had stayed up until one or two in the morning, drinking heavily, and were now sound asleep.
Left with no choice, Yun Li headed out alone. Just as she closed the door, she heard another door shut behind her. Turning around, she saw Fu Shize stepping out of his room.
Fu Shize asked, "Going for breakfast?"
Yun Li replied softly, "Mm..."
Fu Shize said simply, "Let's go together."
The restaurant was in another building. The self-service breakfast setup was modest, featuring only a toaster and an egg cooker, with a few insulated trays holding some Chinese breakfast items.
"Want toast?" Fu Shize stood beside her. Yun Li nodded, and he took the tongs from her hand, placing two slices of bread into the toaster.
As Yun Li waited nearby, Fu Shize glanced at her and said, "Go find a seat first."
After setting her breakfast on the table and sitting down, Yun Li had barely settled in when Chen Renran and Lu Yu moved from another table to hers, carrying their trays. "Mind if we join you?" they asked.
Yun Li nodded. "Fu Shize is over there waiting for the toast..."
She looked up at his back as he stood by the toaster. After a short wait, he transferred the toasted bread to a plate.
Chen Renran ventured cautiously, "So... are you two in that ambiguous phase?"
Yun Li choked on air and quickly shook her head. "No..."
This response gave Chen Renran a glimmer of hope. As he set his tray across from Yun Li, he noticed her plate was rather empty. "You didn't get a drink? I'll grab one for you. What would you like?"
Before Yun Li could refuse, Fu Shize returned with his tray and sat beside her. "No need," he answered for her. "I've got it."
Once seated, Fu Shize transferred two slices of toast from his plate to hers and added a fried egg.
He then unwrapped the straw from the milk carton, punctured the aluminum seal, and handed it to Yun Li.
The milk was warm.
He explained casually, "Soaked it in hot water for a bit. Took some extra time."
His own breakfast consisted of just two slices of toast and a cup of black coffee.
Chen Renran observed their intimate exchange, recalling Yun Li's earlier denial, and his expression turned peculiar.
Breakfast passed with minimal conversation. After finishing, as they stepped outside, Yun Li realized she'd left her small bag at the table. Fu Shize told her to wait where she was and went back inside to retrieve it.
Since yesterday, Chen Renran had noticed how thoroughly Fu Shize shielded Yun Li. Despite Deng Chuqi's repeated assurances that there was nothing romantic between them, he couldn't shake his suspicions.Seizing the opportunity, he asked Yun Li again, "Are you and Congsheng's uncle really not in that ambiguous phase? Or are you two already dating?"
Yun Li shook her head.
Chen Renran felt somewhat uncomfortable and, disregarding Lu Yu's presence, spoke candidly, "Yun Li, to be honest, I have feelings for you. If you're not interested, you can just say so directly. There's no need to ask Congsheng's uncle to help make me back off."
These words left Yun Li stunned. She replied blankly, "What?"
"You and Congsheng's uncle don't seem like just ordinary friends. If you two acted ambiguously in front of me just to reject me, that really wasn't necessary."
Yun Li had given up pursuing Fu Shize for a while now. She wasn’t sure if there were lingering traces of her past feelings in her interactions with him that she wasn’t aware of, leading Chen Renran to think this way. After a pause, she asked, "Why do you say we’re not ordinary friends?"
Chen Renran grew increasingly convinced that Yun Li was trying to hide her intentions and laughed in frustration. "No ordinary friends act like that."
Just then, Fu Shize returned. Unaware of their conversation topic, he leaned down and said to Yun Li, "Let’s go."
Last night, she had tossed and turned over the hot spring incident, and now with Chen Renran’s words, Yun Li was preoccupied with thoughts.
Fu Shize glanced at her. "What’s on your mind?"
Yun Li snapped out of her daze and replied casually, "Just thinking about how ordinary friends should interact..."
To Fu Shize, however, these words carried a different meaning.
He didn’t respond but pointed in a direction. "It’s Christmas Eve tonight. They’ve set up lights over there."
Faint strands of lights and Christmas decorations adorned the trees. After a pause, he added, "They’ll turn on at nine."
Yun Li nodded absentmindedly.
Deng Chuqi and Xia Congsheng slept until the afternoon, so Yun Li didn’t go out either. Only after they woke up did she learn that Fu Zhengchu had also gotten drunk late last night.
Once everyone was sober, they discussed playing cards downstairs that evening. Yun Li wasn’t comfortable with drinking gatherings, and her interactions with Chen Renran had also been awkward, so she excused herself, saying she needed to edit videos.
Deng Chuqi, who had likely heard something from Chen Renran, didn’t press her.
By ten o’clock, Yun Li was bored out of her mind in her room. The occasional laughter from downstairs made it impossible for her to sleep early. Remembering what Fu Shize had said earlier, she got up, changed clothes, and grabbed her camera.
Seeing it was only one degree outside, Yun Li filled the Hand Warmer Ball with hot water, wrapped it in fleece, and held it in both hands as she stepped out.
From the doorway, she could hear classical music coming from Fu Shize’s room.
She wasn’t sure who was inside.
Downstairs, a few people were chatting and playing cards, but Fu Shize and Xu Qingsong were absent. Avoiding Chen Renran’s gaze, Yun Li greeted them and excused herself, saying she was going to photograph the villa’s exterior. Since she wouldn’t be long, she declined Fu Zhengchu’s offer to accompany her.
Outside, Yun Li headed in the direction Fu Shize had mentioned earlier.
The lights were near the restaurant, a few hundred meters from their small villa. As she approached the woods, she could already see the faint glow of warm yellow light strips winding through the treetops.
Further away, the sky was a grayish-blue, with clouds like splashes of dye.
She turned on her camera and took a distant shot.
Pulling her coat tighter, Yun Li clutched the Hand Warmer Ball and moved closer.
A hammock hung from a thick branch, about half a meter off the ground. As Yun Li walked forward, the hammock swayed slightly.She halted in her tracks.
The person lying on the hammock briefly lit up his phone screen before setting it aside. Though the moment was fleeting, Yun Li recognized it was Fu Shize.
After hesitating for a while, she slowly approached.
He was curled up asleep on the hammock, with a bottle of alcohol and a glass beside him—only half the liquor remained in the bottle.
Despite the freezing temperature, he wasn’t dressed warmly, and his lips were pale.
A pang of discomfort tugged at her heart.
Yun Li crouched down and poked his shoulder.
Fu Shize opened his eyes to look at her, his gaze drowsy. He sat up and said softly, "You're here."
You're here?
It sounded as if they had arranged to meet tonight.
The outside temperature was bitterly cold, and Yun Li could feel frost forming on the tree trunks. Fu Shize looked up at her now, his eyes clear and different from his usual demeanor—the sharpness at the corners gone, replaced by a youthful softness.
He lowered his gaze to the empty space beside him and murmured, "Sit for a while."
Yun Li stayed rooted in place.
After a pause, she spoke. "You've had too much to drink."
She handed him the Hand Warmer Ball. Fu Shize stared at it for a long moment before reaching out to take it. His hands, numb from the cold, regained a faint sensation. He insisted, "Sit for a while."
Not wanting to argue with a drunk, Yun Li reluctantly sat beside him.
The hammock sagged into an inverted triangle under their weight, forcing them closer together.
Fu Shize glanced down, took her wrist, and placed the Hand Warmer Ball back into her palm. The warmth in her hand contrasted sharply with the chill of his touch, but Yun Li’s attention was entirely fixed on that icy sensation.
Fu Shize didn’t let go.
He pulled her other hand over and pressed it onto the Hand Warmer Ball.
Time seemed to freeze in that moment.
She saw the boy she had met seven years ago looking back at her.
Slowly, he leaned in, his lips brushing her right ear.
"Aren’t you chasing after me anymore?"
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