Yun Li stood there in a daze for a while.
She had originally thought that Fu Shize would be the type to remain aloof and distant even in a relationship. She never imagined he could have such an adorable side to him.
She wasn’t sure if "adorable" was the right word.
Another employee called Yun Li over for help. She pressed her hands to her cheeks, pulling herself out of her reverie, and casually sent Fu Shize a sticker in reply.
The high school students visiting the experience center were from Nanwu No. 1 High School. Apparently, their IT class schedule had been adjusted to let them experience virtual reality firsthand at the nearest VR center. Over the next few days, more students from Nanwu No. 1 High would be coming to EAW.
As the end of her shift approached, Yin Yucheng contacted Yun Li, saying his plans had changed and he had returned to Nanwu earlier than expected. He wanted to meet her that evening.
When she arrived at the café, Yin Yucheng was already waiting. It was clear he paid much more attention to Yin Yunyi than Yun Li did to Yun Ye.
The chair across from him had already been pulled out for her. After she sat down, Yin Yucheng politely asked, "I hope it wasn’t too much trouble to meet on a weekday?"
Yun Li shook her head. "It’s fine. I can go back to work after we’re done talking."
Wanting to get straight to the point, Yun Li cut to the chase: "Did Yun Ye mention in the postcard that he’d be coming during winter break?"
"Yes," Yin Yucheng took a sip of his black tea. "Yun Yi saw the postcard and told me about it, asking for my opinion."
Yun Yucheng sighed. "Honestly, I didn’t want to get involved, but my parents ended up seeing the postcard." He rubbed his temples, looking exasperated. "Anyway, letting those two go off alone would just encourage their puppy love. So I’ll be going with them."
"..."
Imagining the three of them traveling together, Yun Li couldn’t help but feel genuine sympathy for Yun Ye.
Yin Yucheng continued, "But if I’m the only one tagging along, I’ll just be a third wheel. Would you be able to come with us?"
Yun Li was caught off guard. "What?"
Her first instinct was to refuse, but she wasn’t sure if that was the right call. She hesitated. "I’ll discuss it with my brother first."
Hearing her response, Yin Yucheng chuckled softly. He opened his bag and took out a small box, sliding it across the table to her. "Last time, you helped deliver a gift to Yun Yi. When we went out recently, she prepared something for you in return."
It was a dark purple box. Feeling she hadn’t done much to deserve it, Yun Li hesitated. "Maybe you should take it back for her? It wasn’t a big deal."
Yin Yucheng smiled. "It’s nothing expensive. Please accept it. I hope you’ll like it."
Not wanting to keep her any longer, he had even ordered her tea in a to-go cup. Yun Li took the box and stood up to say goodbye.
Once again running errands because of Yun Ye, all Yun Li wanted to do when she got back was scold him.
She opened their chat window and typed: [How old are you, still needing your sister to clean up your mess?]
Yun Ye: [?]
Yun Li had no choice but to patiently explain the situation.
Yun Ye: [He really said he’s coming with us?]
Yun Li: [You think I made it up?]
Yun Ye fell silent for a moment: [...]
Young people adapted quickly. A few minutes later, Yun Ye messaged again: [Yun Li, you should come with us.]
Yun Li didn’t understand.
Yun Ye: [Come on, come on!] He even added a "pretty please" sticker.
Yun Li: [Why?]Yun Ye was a bit embarrassed: [If you come with us, you can help me distract her brother.]
Yun Li refused firmly: [No.]
Yun Ye: [Please?]
Yun Li: [No.]
She stopped replying to Yun Ye. Back at EAW, Yun Li opened the box and glanced inside—it was a light blue crystal bracelet. She tossed it back into the box, thinking about the Christmas gift she had given Fu Shize.
It seemed too simple.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that she had shortchanged him.
"Teacher Xian Yun, how are you spending New Year's Eve?" He Jiameng, bored, struck up a conversation.
New Year’s Eve was already approaching.
In previous years, she would usually go home and play games with Yun Ye all night.
Recalling her conversation with Fu Shize the day before, Yun Li didn’t shy away from the topic. "Probably with my boyfriend."
He Jiameng fell silent for a few seconds before her eyes widened in surprise. "Teacher Xian Yun, you have a boyfriend?" Then, as if remembering something, she looked remorseful. "Then when I tried to set you up with Fu Shize before, I was basically helping someone steal you away."
Yun Li: "Not really..."
He Jiameng nudged her shoulder with a teasing grin. "Teacher Xian Yun, that’s not good. If you have a boyfriend, you should stay loyal."
Yun Li: "I’m dating him..."
He Jiameng didn’t catch it clearly and asked curiously, "Who?"
"Fu Shize."
"..."
He Jiameng’s shock grew increasingly exaggerated. She sucked in a sharp breath, disbelieving. "The Fu Shize I know?"
Yun Li smiled. "Yeah."
He Jiameng’s reaction actually made Yun Li feel a little...
Pleased?
Her expression seemed to say, Teacher Xian Yun, you’re amazing! You actually plucked that unattainable flower! Whether it was because of all the setbacks she’d faced while pursuing Fu Shize before, Yun Li felt lightheaded.
Earlier, He Jiameng had said she didn’t think Yun Li had a boyfriend.
Now that she knew Fu Shize didn’t mind her telling others, Yun Li inexplicably wanted the whole world to know they were together. She opened a photo from their Christmas outing—he was wearing her scarf, relaxed as he looked at the camera.
Yun Li forwarded the photo to Fu Shize: [I set it as my lock screen.]
Looking at the scarf in the photo, Yun Li thought she could knit him one as a belated Christmas gift. After work, she bought some yarn. Calculating the time, if she worked day and night, she could finish it by the time he returned.
She was a beginner—she’d never knitted before. Starting that evening, Yun Li poured all her energy into the scarf. She barely had any free time to talk to Fu Shize, often only realizing hours had passed before sending him a quick emoji in response.
This went on for a day and a half before Fu Shize called her on video.
He was leaning against the headboard, wearing pajamas with the top two buttons undone. A glass of water touched his lips as he took a slow sip.
Yun Li glanced at him briefly before lowering her head again, focusing on knitting and leaving him hanging.
Fu Shize: "..."
Fu Shize remained composed. "Busy?"
The girl on the screen only showed the top of her bowed head, everything below her neck out of frame. Her attention was entirely elsewhere, not even acknowledging his question.
Fu Shize tapped his fingers against the glass, thinking for a moment. Without pressing further, he moved the camera farther away, placing it to the side.He picked up a book from the side, which introduced the development experiences of Yina over the past two decades. He flipped through it for a while, occasionally glancing up at Yun Li.
She was completely absorbed, lips pressed together, fiddling with something unknown.
After an hour or two, Fu Shize had finished the entire book. He stared at the screen for a long while, but Yun Li didn’t react. He switched to another book.
After reading a few lines, his thoughts were restless.
Fu Shize closed the book and watched Yun Li for a while. He got up on his own, poured a glass of water, took a couple of sips after sitting down, then reopened the book.
And closed it again.
Fu Shize lay on the bed, picked up his phone, and leaned his face closer to the camera: "Lili."
Yun Li froze, lifting her head to look at the screen. She looked startled, as if her soul had just returned to her body. Having been neglected by her for the past day or two, Fu Shize now had her attention. He leaned back against the headboard and reopened the book to continue reading.
His focus, however, remained on the screen outside the book. Within seconds, Yun Li lowered her head again. Fu Shize couldn’t help but laugh in frustration. "Talk to me," he said.
Without even looking up, Yun Li replied bluntly, "I don’t have time today. Can we do it next time?"
Fu Shize: "..."
Having been sidelined for so long, Fu Shize thought for a moment before suddenly asking, "Are you preparing something for me?"
"..."
Yun Li paused, then looked up at the screen. "N-no." Wanting to keep it a surprise, she lied, "It’s getting cold, so I’m knitting a scarf for Yun Ye. That’s why I’m busy."
Fu Shize stared at her for a long moment before giving a soft "Hmm," leaving it unclear whether he believed her or not.
After a while, he finally said, "I’m returning to Nanwu tomorrow."
He hadn’t told her in advance about his return date.
"Why so sudden?" Yun Li thought something urgent had happened and stopped her knitting. On the screen, Fu Shize picked up his phone and tapped a few times. Simultaneously, she received his flight details on her phone.
Fu Shize’s tone was as casual as ever: "Going back to see the snow."
...
At three in the morning, Nanwu welcomed its heaviest snowfall in years, lasting only two days. By the next morning, when Yun Li woke up, the rooftops outside were already blanketed in white, and even the edges of the windowsill were covered in three to four centimeters of snow.
Yun Li rushed downstairs to take photos and excitedly sent them to Fu Shize.
She forwarded the pictures to Yun Ye, who, still awake at this hour, responded with visible shock through his text: Damn, is that snow?
Spending another hour or two, Yun Li went downstairs to record plenty of snowy footage. Returning to the warmth indoors, she sat by the window knitting the scarf. As snowflakes fell outside, she thought about Fu Shize’s return today.
Staring at the snow on the windowsill, a subtle emotion enveloped her.
It had only been a few days, yet the anticipation of seeing him again filled her with excitement.
Fu Shize’s flight was scheduled to arrive at Nanwu Airport a little past six in the evening. He sent her a message:
[Lili, leave twenty minutes later]
[It’ll take some time to get to the exit after landing]
[It’s cold]
By the time she received the message, the plane had already taken off. Yun Li read it and dashed to her room to pick out an outfit for the evening, settling on a fitted camel-colored coat. While doing her makeup, she caught sight of the mother-of-pearl box on the table and, facing the mirror, solemnly put on the earrings.
Yun Li used an umbrella to sweep the snow off the car’s hood and windshield.
Navigating to Nanwu Airport, over twenty kilometers from where she lived, she drove past several snowplows along the way, the roads on either side piled with ten centimeters of snow.The last time she picked up Fu Shize at West Fuling Airport, she had been nervous and waited blindly for hours.
She no longer had to rely on luck.
By the time she reached the arrivals gate, his flight had already landed for a while. Yun Li waited in place, and as crowds poured out, he was among them. Moments later, he stepped away from the flow of people and stopped in front of her.
Seeing her, Fu Shize showed little change in his expression.
Yun Li realized she was too excited and restrained the smile tugging at her lips. Just as she was about to speak, the man before her suddenly raised his hand—his breath brushing lightly past as his fingers paused near her hair.
A second later, he leaned in and gently brushed the snowflakes from her hair.
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