Fu Shize fastened her seatbelt and started the car, driving forward. The entire way, his expression was cold as he focused on the road ahead. The speed was extremely fast, and within minutes, the sign for the hospital emergency room came into view.
“I can just treat it at home with some medicine.” Yun Li was taken aback. Though the fall had hurt, in her mind, one only went to the hospital for serious illnesses.
He didn’t respond, parking the car before pulling Yun Li into the emergency room. From registration to consultation, the entire process took no more than two minutes. As the doctor treated her wound, Fu Shize leaned against the wall nearby, watching silently.
After the wound was treated, the two returned to the hallway, sitting side by side on the waiting chairs. Fu Shize lowered his head, fingers interlaced between his knees.
He hadn’t spoken for half an hour.
Yun Li placed her right hand on his knee. The gauze wrapped several times around the base of her thumb. Fu Shize glanced at it, then lightly pinched her fingertips.
Suddenly, he pulled her into a tight embrace.
It was a forceful hug.
His arms locked firmly around her shoulders, his fingers pressing into her with unmistakable strength, as if trying to meld her into his body. Yun Li froze for a moment before he buried his face in her hair.
She could feel the coolness of his cheek and the straight bridge of his nose against her neck.
At this moment—whether it was her imagination or not—she could sense that she was an important part of him.
After holding her for a while, Fu Shize let go. The doctor had warned her not to get the wound wet, but there were no other major risks. Yun Li didn’t dwell on the injury, but thinking of the stolen gift, she muttered gloomily, “I barely even got to hold the gift before it was snatched away.”
“...”
Fu Shize hooked a finger around hers. “I’ll get it back for you.”
He didn’t look like he was joking at all.
“No need. That guy looked really aggressive. If he hurts you, it wouldn’t be worth it.” Yun Li quickly objected. Fu Shize didn’t respond, so she pressed, “Did you hear me?”
He gave a faint hum, lost in thought, his expression unreadable.
The emergency room doors faced the Nanwu Ferris Wheel. Yun Li gazed at the neon lights in the distance before remembering their original plans for the evening. “Can we still go to the restaurant?”
Fu Shize checked the time. “We’re past the reservation. Let’s go home.”
As she moved to stand, Fu Shize got up first. “I’ll carry you.”
Yun Li: “...”
Though she was fairly certain Fu Shize hadn’t mistaken where she was injured, she still reminded him in confusion, “It’s my hand that’s hurt…”
Fu Shize looked at her, the corner of his mouth lifting in a faint, unbothered smile.
He made no attempt to hide his intentions. “I want to carry you.”
Yun Li glanced around. There weren’t many people. After a brief internal struggle, she relented. “Fine, I guess. No one will know it’s just my hand.”
It probably wouldn’t draw too much attention.
“...”
Hearing her reluctant tone, Fu Shize was speechless. He turned and crouched down, his broad back waiting for her. Yun Li peeked around like a thief before slowly looping her arms around his neck.
His hands slid under her thighs, effortlessly lifting her up.
She had no memory of ever being carried like this. Unaccustomed to the sensation of being off-balance, Yun Li tightened her grip around his neck and buried her face in his scarf.
The faint scent of tobacco clung to the fabric. Fu Shize paused. “It’s a bit hot. Take it off for me.”
She obediently removed his scarf and draped it around her own neck.
Fu Shize: “Hold on tighter.”
Yun Li tightened her arms around him.Fu Shize: "Like just now."
"..."
Yun Li: "Like what..."
She mumbled, her face flushed as she slowly buried it against the crook of his neck, pressing against his skin—this action clearly reluctant.
She could feel his grip tighten slightly.
Seemingly amused by her contradictory behavior, a low chuckle escaped his throat. Hearing the teasing undertone, Yun Li shot him a glance, her eyes carrying a hint of warning.
Fu Shize also turned his head to look at her. Somehow, Yun Li lifted her face and lightly brushed her lips against his. Seeing his momentary surprise, she felt a rush of triumphant satisfaction.
His astonishment lasted only a second. The next moment, Fu Shize gazed at her and said, as if casting a spell, "Come closer."
"..."
She wore an unwilling expression, yet her face still inched toward him. His eyes were clear, his nose sharply defined as if shaded, their proximity so close she could even see the shadows of his lashes.
Fu Shize leaned in and touched his lips to hers.
Yun Li instinctively pulled back. The corners of his lips lifted slightly as he repeated, "Come closer."
His voice held an irresistible allure, gentle yet slightly husky.
She felt her neck grow warm too, as if losing her senses, and leaned toward him. Fu Shize lowered his gaze, his lips covering hers. The soft sensation lingered longer than any of their previous kisses. Then, he began to tentatively nibble every part of her lips, at an agonizingly slow pace.
With each gentle bite, his eyes remained fixed on her. Yun Li's mind was consumed by the man before her, even her breath filled with his scent. The teasing sensation sent sparks through every nerve in her body.
Unconsciously, her grip tightened. At that moment, his warm tongue slipped past her teeth, meeting hers.
The emotion in his eyes overwhelmed her reason. Yun Li surrendered to his guidance, letting him draw her tongue into his mouth. Amidst the mingling of lips and tongues, she gradually regained her breath. His breathing grew ragged, his gaze entirely focused on her.
...
By the time they returned home, it was already past seven. Fu Shize opened the fridge to take a look—Yun Li had organized everything neatly, the ingredients clearly laid out.
He picked out some vegetables and a frozen steak.
Realizing his intention, Yun Li studied Fu Shize's seemingly ethereal, unearthly face and asked bluntly, "Do you know how to cook?"
Fu Shize didn’t answer.
Yun Li stood up as well, trying to push him back onto the sofa. "Let me do it," she said, pressing down on his shoulders—only to find she couldn’t budge him.
He walked into the kitchen, pulling the door shut behind him. Inside, he opened two of Yun Li’s old videos on E-Station, watching them at double speed. Her tutorials were incredibly detailed, and Fu Shize replicated the steps from memory.
Cooking took only half an hour. When he brought everything to the table, Yun Li stared at the pink apron tied around him—ill-fitting and cramped on his frame.
Paired with his cool, detached expression, Yun Li stifled a laugh and pulled out her phone, opening the camera.
Fu Shize remained expressionless. "What are you doing?"
The phone wasn’t on silent—a crisp click echoed in the air.
Fu Shize: "..."
His piercing gaze sent a shiver down her spine. Not daring to push her luck further, Yun Li put her phone away. Seeing her timid reaction, Fu Shize didn’t remove the apron, simply pulling out a chair and sitting down.
"Let me see."
Just two words.Yun Li opened the photo she had just taken and handed it to him. The person in the picture was tall and imposing, wearing a slightly too-small pink apron with a cold expression. Because the shot was taken from a low angle, his lofty demeanor clashed bizarrely yet harmoniously with the cute and docile outfit.
Fu Shize gave a forced smile. "Not bad."
"Should I take another one?" She raised her phone.
"..."
"How about a selfie?" she changed her tune.
Fu Shize didn’t resist as much this time, letting her move closer. Yun Li sidled up next to him. In the frame, his expression remained stern. She nudged him with her shoulder. "Smile a little."
His expression didn’t change in the slightest, but Yun Li didn’t push it. She pressed her cheek against his and pulled the camera back to capture his upper body and outfit.
He paid no attention to her selfie antics, but when their cheeks touched, he rubbed against hers a few times.
She snapped several shots in succession.
The meal didn’t last long. After Fu Shize finished washing the dishes, the two of them sat on the tatami in the balcony—something Yun Li had set up herself after renting the apartment. Through the window, they could see part of a distant Ferris wheel.
At midnight, they should be able to see the fireworks over Nanwu City.
They watched a movie together, and soon, it was almost midnight. Leaning against Fu Shize’s shoulder, they quietly gazed out the window.
The ringing of a video call shattered the silence. It was Yun Ye. Yun Li straightened up and answered the call. He was outdoors, wearing earbuds and only a thin jacket.
Yun Ye switched the camera and panned around to show her his surroundings—it was the fireworks permit spot they used to frequent for New Year’s celebrations. A crowd had gathered around him.
"I bought some fireworks," Yun Ye said, looking into the camera. "I’ll reluctantly set them off for you. Consider it a remote New Year’s celebration."
Yun Li: "..."
She glanced at Fu Shize, who tilted his head to look at her.
...
How had she ended up in such a dilemma so quickly?
Noticing the rapidly shifting expressions on her face, Yun Ye grumbled, "Well, whose fault is it that you wouldn’t give me money for a plane ticket? If I were in Nanwu, we could celebrate together in person."
"If you actually came to Nanwu to celebrate with me, I’d eat my phone," Yun Li shot back without hesitation. The teenager frowned and ignored her. The screen went black for a moment before lighting up again—Yun Ye had already lit two sparklers in his hands and was waving them in front of the camera.
Yun Ye: "Yun Li, these fireworks got more expensive. They’re ten yuan for two now. I bought sixty yuan’s worth today—split the bill. Hurry up and send me a red packet."
Time ticked by. With only two minutes left until midnight, Yun Li wasted no time sending him a hundred yuan. Yun Ye accepted it instantly and let out an intrigued "Oh?" at the amount.
Yun Li: "There you go. I’m going to celebrate now."
Yun Ye: "?"
Yun Li: "Bye."
Yun Ye: "..."
She hung up directly. Fu Shize, who had been watching their exchange, didn’t seem bothered. "You could’ve kept the call going with your brother."
Yun Li shook her head vehemently. This was their first New Year’s together.
There was no way she was letting Yun Ye be the third wheel. She could always send him a couple of red packets later to make up for it.
Fu Shize didn’t say anything else, pulling her into his arms instead. Just as Yun Li was about to speak, the sound of endless fireworks erupted outside the window. Streaks of sparks shot into the sky, bursting apart and scattering colorful rays of light.
On her phone, E-Station’s feed was flooded with posts wishing everyone a "Happy New Year." Some users shared their resolutions or plans for the coming year, along with reflections on the past year’s accomplishments.Yun Li nudged Fu Shize beside her: "Do you have any wishes for the new year?"
Fu Shize rested his head on her shoulder and replied lazily, "Do you?"
"My wish—" Yun Li tilted her head toward him, "is that you'll like me for a little longer."
Fu Shize looked at her as well. After a long pause, he gently pressed his lips to hers. Amid their lingering kiss, his voice came softly—"It'll come true."
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