Backlit, her silhouette blurred considerably. Though it was already time to leave, Fu Shize didn’t want to break the tranquility of the moment.
His feelings for Yun Li hadn’t come out of nowhere.
The moment he saw her high school photo by chance, he recognized her—the high school student who had built robots years ago.
But he was no longer the same person he had been back then.
Nor did he dwell on their dramatic reunion. He couldn’t treat someone he’d once noticed with the indifference of a stranger, but neither would he pay her the same attention as in his youth.
As for her feelings, he saw them clearly.
At first, he had never considered the matter.
He no longer had the strength to forge a new bond.
Yet, she seemed determined to persist against all odds.
Despite her social anxiety, she always found immense courage to move forward.
Soft on the surface, yet inexplicably resilient.
Unconsciously, the scales in his heart had already tilted heavily in her favor.
Upon learning that the person she had come to West Science and Technology University to find years ago was him, a surge of emotion overturned, leaving only bitterness in its wake.
I’m no longer the person you once admired.
Even if it weren’t me, you’d still find someone as determined as you are.
But he couldn’t accept that the reason she gave up was because she felt she was humiliating herself.
The one lacking the courage to move forward was him all along.
She didn’t deserve to suffer any grievances.
Since she had taken so many steps forward, steadfast in her affection for him,
The remaining distance was his to close.
Fu Shize still hadn’t moved.
His gaze wasn’t intense; Yun Li couldn’t detect any particular emotion in it. The only certainty was that he had been watching her.
She glanced down at the Cardboard Drone in his hand.
Fu Shize had always been a reserved person.
Even when he’d been drinking, he rarely spoke much.
Yet Yun Li liked this way of being with him—she wasn’t particularly lively herself.
She couldn’t help but wonder about her current appearance. Maybe her bangs were slightly covering her eyes, and her hair had grown too long—it was time for a trim.
Lost in these scattered thoughts, Fu Shize suddenly spoke: “After I return from Yihe, let’s be together.”
Having taken that crucial step, he could no longer retreat.
His voice was quiet, hidden in the darkness.
Yun Li followed his gaze, momentarily speechless.
After a long pause, as if remembering to ask for her opinion, he added, “Is that okay?”
When Yun Li remained silent, Fu Shize thought for a moment and continued, “I don’t usually show much emotion. You might think I’m unfeeling.”
“But I can tell you with certainty that I like you.”
A hint of softness crept into his tone.
“It might not feel like enough now, but there will be more in the future.”
Those words smoothed over the unease in Yun Li’s heart.
After leaving the grove last night, hearing the implication in Fu Shize’s words, her emotions had overwhelmed her rationality. She didn’t dwell on his past rejections or his aloofness, content simply knowing he had feelings for her.
Throughout the day’s date, Yun Li had concealed the anxiety deep within. When she first revisited that old video from West Science and Technology University and saw the familiar young man in it, her predominant feeling had been disbelief.
Because that had been a competition known only to her.After the college entrance exams, she had ridden her bicycle for 40 minutes every day to West Science and Technology University. She waited for over half a month, finally attending Unique's exhibition, yet never saw the person she longed to meet.
She didn’t get into West Science and Technology University. Covering the photos in her room, she thought—she would probably never have the chance to see him again.
To her, it was a humble first crush.
When they met again, her initial intention in pursuing Fu Shize was simply to try.
Even if she failed, they would just return to how things were before—
The state of strangers they had remained in for the seven years she had known him.
Even if their relationship didn’t progress, there was no room for it to regress either.
That state wasn’t particularly unbearable.
It was just that whenever she thought about it, something always felt missing—something not even worthy of being called regret.
Truthfully, she had never believed it possible for him to like her. Even less had she imagined hearing those words from his lips.
Since Christmas Eve, her heart had been filled with doubts.
He was a prodigy—how could he possibly like her?
Yun Li couldn’t find a single reason why he would.
Yet, right now, she didn’t need a reason.
If he was willing to admit it, she was willing to believe him—without him having to justify a single thing.
Because her wish was pure.
She just wanted to be with him.
Her eyes damp, Yun Li tried to make her tone sound matter-of-fact: “Can we not wait until you come back from Yihe?”
Can we be together now?
Fu Shize smiled faintly. “You really like me.”
No matter how deeply he buried his own feelings, he couldn’t bear to let the person before him suffer through this chase any longer.
“Then you know I’ve liked you for a long time,” Yun Li admitted. Now that he had confessed, there was no need for her to hide her feelings with restraint.
He thought for a moment, his tone serious. “So it’s unfair to you. A bit rash.”
Yun Li didn’t understand what he meant. She had been the one pursuing him, after all. She dismissed his words outright: “We both feel the same way. There’s no unfairness, and it’s not rash.”
“So—” Before Yun Li could finish, Fu Shize spoke.
“Let me say it.”
He closed the distance between them.
“It’s still a little embarrassing for you to hear this.”
“But if there’s something I want to tell you, I’ll say it by your right ear.”
—“I like you.”
—“Will you be with me?”
Yun Li’s eyes reddened, but the corners of her lips curled up. “You know I won’t refuse.”
Fu Shize held the Cardboard Drone in one hand, hesitating for a long moment before reaching out to ruffle Yun Li’s hair, his fingers brushing through her soft strands.
Then, his hand moved forward, cupping her cheek. His palm was warm and dry, as if trying to transfer all his warmth to her.
Yun Li noticed his lowered gaze, his expression unreadable. Carefully, she asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I was thinking—about that day at West Science and Technology University—”
Fu Shize studied her face. “Your cheeks must have been frozen stiff.”
Yun Li couldn’t quite recall which day he meant, only feeling a little nervous.
The atmosphere grew overwhelmingly tender.
Just as Yun Li thought he might take the next step—
Fu Shize withdrew his hand, turning his face away. “I should head back now.”
The warmth on her cheek vanished abruptly, leaving Yun Li with a pang of disappointment. “Oh… okay.”
Noticing her mood, Fu Shize added, “I’ll come again tomorrow.”Yun Li curved her lips into a smile. "Then we'll see each other tomorrow."
Not long after Fu Shize left, Yun Li received a message from him.
Fu Shize: [What time is your class tomorrow?]
Yun Li glanced at her schedule: [8 a.m.]
Yun Li: [Be careful on your way.]
Fu Shize: [Mhm.]
Suddenly remembering something in her bag, Yun Li immediately rummaged through it and pulled out a small, exquisite box. Holding it like a treasure, she carefully opened it.
Inside was a pair of pearl earrings—a simple metal chain with a smooth, pure white pearl dangling from it.
They felt perfect for her.
The next day, as soon as Yun Li woke up, she received a message from Fu Shize: [Awake?]
Still drowsy—she had been too excited to sleep the night before—she replied: [Awake.]
After sending it, she felt her response was a bit cold, so she added: [Good morning ^^]
Before she could get out of bed, she heard a soft knock at the door.
Surprised by the unexpected visitor, she got up and tiptoed to the door but didn’t open it immediately. The knocking stopped.
Peering through the peephole, she saw Fu Shize standing outside with a bag in hand.
All sleepiness vanished as Yun Li hurriedly opened the door, exclaiming, "What are you doing here?"
Suddenly remembering she hadn’t washed her face yet, she dashed to the bathroom, calling over her shoulder, "Wait in the living room for a bit!"
Fu Shize placed the bag on the coffee table, taking out bread and milk. He grabbed one for himself and sat on the sofa, eating slowly.
Not wanting to keep him waiting, Yun Li quickly freshened up.
When she returned to the living room, she spotted the bread and milk on the table and pointed. "Are these for me?"
"Mhm."
Nervously, Yun Li sat beside him. Fu Shize casually opened the chocolate milk for her, inserted the straw, and unwrapped the bread.
Holding the chocolate milk, Yun Li smiled shyly. "This is my favorite brand."
Then, hesitantly, she asked, "Did you know that?"
Fu Shize rested his elbow on the armrest, propping his chin as he turned to look at her. "If you're asking whether I’ve been secretly paying attention to you..."
"Then my answer is..."
"Yes."
Yun Li was stunned. How could he say something so heart-fluttering so casually? Speechless, she turned her face away.
Fu Shize noticed her hiding a smile and couldn’t help but soften his gaze.
"Eat slowly. I’ll take you to school afterward."
"Okay." Yun Li remembered his schedule. "Aren’t you supposed to be on a business trip today?"
Fu Shize replied nonchalantly, "I’ll go to the airport after dropping you off."
Yun Li: "So you came specifically to see me again?"
Fu Shize: "Mhm."
After finishing breakfast, Yun Li lingered on the sofa a little longer before finally gathering her things to leave.
As they walked, Yun Li asked again, "Did you really come just to see me?"
Fu Shize repeated, "No other reason." He seemed puzzled. "Why?"
"Just feels like..." Yun Li lowered her gaze to the ground, murmuring, "you might like me quite a bit too."
Fu Shize walked Yun Li all the way to her classroom door.
Standing a short distance away, he pulled a set of car keys from his pocket and handed them to her.
Yun Li took them, confused. "Why are you giving me the keys?"
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