Having just turned down Chen Renran, the person in question was still present.
Yun Li hadn’t intended to embarrass him, but under Fu Shize’s gaze, she felt a guilty pang of being caught red-handed and instinctively nodded.
Fu Shize leaned back slightly. “Come here.”
Xu Qingsong crossed his arms as he observed the stunned Chen Renran by the door and couldn’t help but intercede, “Can we at least keep the fruit platter?”
“……”
Chen Renran handed over the platter with a darkened expression. Xu Qingsong thanked him politely, “Thanks.”
Their room was tidy and bright, with neatly made beds and no personal belongings in sight. The desk held books, a speaker, and a glass teapot.
Xu Qingsong gestured casually, “Have a seat on the sofa.”
He replaced the previous tea bags with Flower and Fruit Tea, adding two rock sugar cubes. The room was soon filled with a floral fragrance.
Yun Li settled into a corner of the sofa. Fu Shize placed two new transparent teacups on the table, and Xu Qingsong leisurely poured the rosy-hued tea into both. After a brief wait, he pushed one cup toward her once it had cooled to a drinkable temperature.
“Try it.”
Yun Li thanked him and took a small sip. The tea was still slightly scalding, but the taste was pleasantly sweet and tangy.
Once the guest was properly attended to, Xu Qingsong stood up. “Should I step out for a bit?”
Only then did Yun Li notice his outfit—a pale blue sweater paired with white dress pants. She had seen plenty of fashion influencers, but few could carry off such a perfect blend of gentleness and elegance as he did.
“No need,” Yun Li said quickly.
She didn’t want Xu Qingsong to leave on her account. He seemed to be one of Fu Shize’s close friends, and she wanted to get along with them.
Hearing her response, Xu Qingsong sat back down beside Fu Shize with easy grace.
Contrary to Yun Li’s expectations, there was no awkwardness. Xu Qingsong pulled out a tablet stocked with documentaries and, after consulting her preference, selected one about bread-making.
The room had a projector, so he cast the documentary directly onto the wall.
The three of them sat quietly on the sofa.
After about ten minutes, Xu Qingsong nudged the fruit platter toward Fu Shize, who glanced down and wordlessly slid it in front of Yun Li instead.
She speared a piece with a fruit fork.
Fu Shize then pushed the platter back to Xu Qingsong, who also helped himself to a piece.
With the lights off, the enlarged images played clearly on the wall. Yun Li wasn’t fully engaged, her attention barely on the documentary.
From the corner of her eye, she stole glances at the two beside her. Fu Shize’s gaze was clear, showing no trace of intoxication, while Xu Qingsong had one leg bent lazily as he leaned into the sofa.
Both were watching with rapt attention.
Yun Li didn’t want to ruin their mood.
For half an hour, she fought off waves of drowsiness, forcing her eyes open only to see kneaded dough being slammed repeatedly onto a countertop on-screen, the rhythmic thuds lulling her further.
Fu Shize turned his head to look at Yun Li.
Xu Qingsong caught the moment, propping his chin on his hand with an amused smirk. Just as quickly, he returned his gaze to the screen. “It’s getting late. Let’s finish this another time.”
Too exhausted to continue, Yun Li shifted and felt something hard beneath her leg—the Hand Warmer Ball. She stood up, holding it. “I’ll head back then. Can I take this with me?”
Xu Qingsong couldn’t suppress a chuckle.
Fu Shize: “……”The laughter made Yun Li glance hesitantly at the object in her hand—it was indeed the Hand Warmer Ball she had bought herself. Unsure of what had just happened, she bid Fu Shize and Xu Qingsong goodnight and returned to her room.
It was already past midnight.
Not long after she finished washing up, Deng Chuqi and Xia Congsheng also returned to the room. While Xia Congsheng was showering, Deng Chuqi pulled Yun Li into a corner.
Her tone was shocked: "Chen Renran just told me that Xia Xia's uncle invited you to his room to watch a movie? And you actually went?"
"Xu Qingsong was there too—it wasn’t just the two of us alone," Yun Li quickly explained.
"That’s what I thought. Xia Xia's uncle wouldn’t be that much of a scoundrel." Deng Chuqi visibly relaxed.
After a brief hesitation, Yun Li said, "There’s something I want to tell you."
Deng Chuqi: "Is it about Chen Renran?"
"Yes, thank you for your kindness." Yun Li was straightforward. "But I don’t plan to pursue anything with Chen Renran. I didn’t get a chance to clarify with him earlier. Could you help me pass the message?"
Deng Chuqi: "I should’ve guessed when you came back with Xia Xia's uncle. My good intentions backfired. I’ll talk to him tomorrow when he’s sober." Then she abruptly changed the subject: "So what happened between you and Xia Xia's uncle tonight?"
Yun Li summarized the evening’s events in a few sentences.
"Holy shit!" Deng Chuqi’s jaw dropped in shock. Afraid Xia Congsheng might hear, she lowered her voice: "He touched your hand?"
Yun Li: "Mhm..."
Deng Chuqi: "Damn, what a scoundrel."
Yun Li’s cheeks flushed as she couldn’t help adding, "It was... kind of nice though..."
Deng Chuqi: "..."
Deng Chuqi: "Xia Xia's uncle seems so cold and aloof—who knew he was this smooth?"
Yun Li defended him: "Maybe he just couldn’t help it..."
Deng Chuqi teased: "Defending him like this—have you already thought of baby names?"
Yun Li laughed: "I’ve got two picked out."
After a pause, Yun Li asked uncertainly, "Do you think he likes me?"
Deng Chuqi rolled her eyes: "Based on what you’ve described, what else could it be?"
Yun Li lowered her gaze: "He drank tonight, but when I saw him earlier, he seemed pretty sober."
Deng Chuqi: "It’s better to clarify things when he’s sober. But aren’t you angry?"
Yun Li paused: "No? It was just a misunderstanding."
Deng Chuqi: "I meant about how you chased him for so long without getting any response."
Yun Li had completely forgotten about that: "I originally thought it’d take at least half a year or more, so even now, I still feel like I’m dreaming."
She licked her lips and said, "It feels like I achieved my little goal ahead of time—I’m really happy. But now I’m a bit worried he’ll say tomorrow, 'Sorry, I was drunk last night.'"
Yun Li mused to herself: "I should’ve recorded it tonight so he couldn’t deny it later."
Deng Chuqi: "..."
Falling asleep with seventy percent joy and thirty percent worry, Yun Li dreamed of EAW’s break room. Fu Shize sat on the sofa, expression cold. When Yun Li tried to speak, he cut her off—Sorry, I was drunk last night.
Dawn broke as Yun Li woke from the dream. The room was dim, filled with the steady breathing of Deng Chuqi and Xia Congsheng. A glance at her phone showed it was just past 5:30 a.m. Yun Li opened her chat window with Fu Shize—still displaying last night’s conversation.
Her heart settled.Last night, the heater had left Yun Li's throat parched as she slept. She opened her eyes in bed for a while before quietly slipping out to wash up in the bathroom.
Yun Li gently closed the bedroom door behind her.
The hallway was pitch black. Holding her phone, she tiptoed downstairs. Just as she reached the first floor, she spotted a figure sitting on the sofa.
The scene from her dream came rushing back.
Yun Li froze, not daring to move forward.
Fu Shize had noticed her the moment she turned the corner. Seeing her hesitate, he leaned against the sofa, his voice hoarse: "Lili."
The cold tone carried a trace of softness that had slipped in unnoticed. That call dispelled the unease lingering from her dream. She walked over and sat down about a meter away from him.
In the dim light, she could barely make out his features, yet his presence remained unaffected by the darkness.
Her gaze lingered on his face as she whispered, "Say it again."
Fu Shize: "?"
Yun Li repeated, "Say it again."
Fu Shize tilted his head to look at her, his expression relaxing slightly before he murmured again, "Lili."
The silent living room held nothing but the quiet sound of his voice.
Suppressing the urge to throw herself into his arms, Yun Li asked contentedly, "Did you just wake up?"
Fu Shize thought for a moment, his words carrying a hidden meaning: "The alcohol's worn off."
Understanding his implication, Yun Li couldn’t help but smile.
Fu Shize said, "Come closer."
Yun Li shifted, moving next to him until she felt her leg lightly brush against his, a faint warmth seeping through.
He sounded weary as he spoke: "Stay with me for a while."
"I wanted to get some water first..." Yun Li felt like she was ruining the moment.
"I'll get it." Fu Shize didn’t mind. He got up and went to the kitchen. Yun Li heard the sound of water boiling. A few minutes later, he returned to his spot and handed her a glass of warm water.
Yun Li took a sip, noticing how Fu Shize kept watching her. Even though she knew he couldn’t see clearly in this light, she nearly choked anyway.
Embarrassed, she set the glass back on the table.
The heater made the room stuffy, so Yun Li took off her jacket. The rustling sound of her removing her clothes in the dark only fueled Fu Shize’s imagination—what he couldn’t see made it all the more vivid.
Uncomfortable, he picked up her glass and took a sip.
Yun Li reminded him, "That’s my glass. You took the wrong one."
Fu Shize hummed in acknowledgment, then got up to pour himself a glass of cold water in the kitchen. The lack of heating there sharpened his drowsy thoughts slightly.
But he was still exhausted.
After placing the glass back in front of Yun Li, Fu Shize didn’t last long in the darkness. His mind foggy, he shut down completely and fell asleep.
By the time Yun Li felt the weight on her shoulder, Fu Shize was already out—only a minute or two after setting the glass down.
For a moment, Yun Li didn’t dare move.
All her attention was fixed on the person beside her. It felt surreal—this was someone she had longed for for so long.
She thought of his perpetually tired eyes. He must have had another sleepless night.
Unable to sleep but not daring to use her phone, Yun Li sat on the sofa, lost in thought.
Fu Shize slept for nearly two hours. Even the glaring daylight didn’t rouse him. Before waking, he frowned slightly, then slowly opened his eyes.
Noticing the movement, Yun Li turned her head just as Fu Shize lifted his, only to be blocked—his forehead pressed against her cheek.
"..."
The first time they had been this close in broad daylight. Fu Shize stiffened for a moment before gradually straightening up.His voice was laced with drowsiness. "What time is it?"
Yun Li glanced at her phone. "Eight o'clock."
"Breakfast?" He turned his head, and Yun Li finally got a proper look at him. He was wearing light blue silk pajamas, his eyelids drooping with sleepiness, giving him a somewhat disheveled appearance.
Yun Li nodded and stood up. After sitting still for two hours, her limbs felt stiff and foreign.
Back in her room, Yun Li grabbed her makeup bag and headed to the shared bathroom. After spending over half an hour applying her makeup, she put on her green gemstone earrings and stared at her reflection in the mirror. The eagerness and anticipation in her eyes were something she hadn’t expected to see.
She changed into a high-neck sweater and, before heading downstairs, hesitated for a moment before deciding to bring a scarf.
Fu Shize was already waiting by the door. As soon as they stepped outside, his gaze drifted downward, lingering on the scarf in her hand.
That look made the tips of Yun Li’s ears turn red.
She took a step forward, raising the scarf halfway. Fu Shize didn’t move, simply watching her quietly. After a brief silence, Yun Li suddenly lost her nerve and prepared to wrap the scarf around herself instead.
Fu Shize: "..."
Fu Shize: "I’m a little cold."
Yun Li’s hand froze, then mechanically moved toward Fu Shize. He obligingly leaned down closer to her, waiting as she wrapped the scarf around him, one loop at a time.
She buried her face in the collar of her sweater. "There."
Just as they reached the restaurant entrance, Yun Li received several video calls in a row from Yun Ye. She declined them outright. Undeterred, Yun Ye kept calling, making her suspect that something might have happened with Yin Yunyi.
Fu Shize said, "Answer it."
When the video connected, Yun Ye’s face filled the screen, looking overly innocent. Without thinking, Yun Li took a few steps forward, putting some distance between herself and Fu Shize.
"Sis, how are you spending New Year’s Eve?"
Hearing the word "sis," Yun Li grew wary. "Don’t know."
Yun Ye spoke sweetly, "Sis, can I come to Nanwu for New Year’s? The 30th is a Friday—I can take the evening flight."
Yun Li: "Why are you coming?"
The teenager replied matter-of-factly, "To spend New Year’s with you, of course."
Yun Li feigned indifference. "Your ID’s on you, and I can’t tie your legs. Go wherever you want—I didn’t hear anything."
"The plane tickets are so expensive..." Seeing her resolve, Yun Ye’s face scrunched up. "Please?"
Knowing his intentions, Yun Li cut straight to the point. "No money."
"If not New Year’s, then winter break. Can you have money by then? Or lend it to me—I’ll pay you back with my New Year’s red envelopes, okay?"
Yun Li remembered his last installment payment of two and a half yuan and didn’t even bat an eyelid. "Installments again? Once a year?"
Yun Ye swore, "No installments this time!"
"How about this—didn’t you like that figurine on my shelf before? I’ll trade it for the plane ticket money!"
Yun Li considered the price. "That seems like a loss for you."
Yun Ye: "Is that okay?"
Yun Li: "Still no."
Yun Ye threw out several more ideas, but Yun Li remained unmoved. In his desperation, he blurted, "What if I make a remote appearance on your livestream?"
"Get lost. Always scheming—if your grades suffer, Dad’ll kill me." Remembering to show some concern for her brother, Yun Li asked offhandedly, "What was your rank in the last exam?"
"Eighth in the grade."
"..."
Back when Yun Li had attended West Fuling Experimental High School, her monthly exam scores had consistently hovered between 200th and 300th place.Yun Li took a sip of water, feigning composure: "If you maintain these grades by the end of the semester, I might reluctantly earn your plane ticket money."
Yun Ye's eyes lit up: "I promise I'll keep these grades till finals. Can I get the ticket money in advance?"
Yun Li: "..."
Yun Li: "No."
Yun Ye reverted to his usual self: "Yun Li, you're so stingy."
Yun Li said exasperatedly: "Don't come begging me next month then."
Yun Ye: "That won't do."
Without continuing the banter, Yun Li hung up directly.
Fu Shize hadn't intended to eavesdrop on her call. He remained standing where he was, yet had been watching her the whole time, so when she turned around, their gazes met instantly.
OpenNovel