"Captain, which of these windproof scarves do you think would suit me best?" Tang Lin held up several semi-transparent face-covering scarves, her sparkling eyes fixed eagerly on Fu Zhengchu.
Her delicate features stood out on her oval face, enhanced by meticulous makeup.
"Any of them would work." Faced with such enthusiasm, Fu Zhengchu took a careful look before responding.
Clearly dissatisfied with his answer, Tang Lin pressed further, "Junior, I meant which one would be more suitable for a girl to wear."
Yun Li recalled that Tang Lin was a first-year graduate student, two years senior to Fu Zhengchu. Last time, she had thought Tang Lin was just joking about getting close to Fu Zhengchu, but she hadn’t expected her to act so swiftly.
Seeing Fu Zhengchu hesitate, Tang Lin made no attempt to hide her intentions and pushed further, "How about this—you pick one for me, and as thanks, I’ll give you one too."
"No need..."
Fu Zhengchu looked visibly flustered, his gaze darting nervously toward Yun Li and the others.
Normally lively and talkative around them, he now found himself cornered by Tang Lin’s relentless approach.
Only then did Tang Lin notice the presence of the other two. Her eyes lingered on Fu Shize’s face for a few seconds before dropping to their tightly clasped hands. Raising an eyebrow, she gave Yun Li a meaningful wink.
It seemed she had completely forgotten Fu Shize.
The rest of Fu Zhengchu’s group soon gathered around.
Almost everyone’s gaze first landed on the strikingly attractive couple before them, then inevitably drifted to their joined hands.
Instinctively wanting to avoid the attention, Yun Li tried to pull her hand free.
She tugged lightly, but though Fu Shize’s grip wasn’t tight, he gave her no room to escape.
When she attempted to withdraw her hand a second time, Fu Shize glanced at her. Yun Li had a sinking feeling, but before she could react, he yanked her forcefully into his arms.
The sudden movement drew the others’ attention. Even Fu Zhengchu seemed embarrassed by the scene and quickly ushered the rest away.
Steadying herself, Yun Li remarked, "Turns out my boyfriend has quite the thick skin."
Fu Shize pinched her earlobe and replied, "Not thick enough."
Yun Li: "..."
Fu Shize: "Now we’re alone."
Yun Li: "..."
—
After spending quite some time in the store, Yun Li finally picked out her gear and left. With no other plans, they drove back to EAW. The company had recently introduced several new games that could be played in multiplayer mode.
The experience center was open as usual on weekends. While Fu Shize went to Xu Qingsong’s office to fetch the equipment, Yun Li waited in the lounge, where she ran into He Jiameng, who had come in to work overtime.
"Hey, Teacher Xian Yun, working on a weekend? No date plans?"
Yun Li smiled. "Actually, I am on a date..."
"A date at the office?" He Jiameng grinned knowingly. "Office romances are hard to flaunt during the week, so sneaking around like this must be thrilling, huh?"
"..."
Yun Li shot her a look, signaling her to stop imagining things. He Jiameng didn’t press further, instead sighing gloomily. "I only came in today because the boss said he’d be here—hoping for some alone time. But then his little cousin showed up."
"Still, family resemblance is strong. She’s quite pretty," she continued. Resigned to the fact that she wouldn’t get any alone time with Xu Qingsong, she grabbed her bag and called it a day.
Yun Li checked the time—ten minutes had passed, and Fu Shize still hadn’t returned.
Hesitating for a moment, she walked to Xu Qingsong’s office door and knocked. From inside, Xu Qingsong’s voice responded evenly, "Come in."Pushing open the door, apart from Xu Qingsong and Fu Shize, there was also a girl in the room with long, straight black hair and a uniform skirt. Her gaze lingered on Yun Li for only a moment before she dismissed her as a company staff member, shifting her attention away with complete disinterest.
Yun Li could immediately match this face to the one in the photo.
Seeing her approach, Fu Shize walked toward her.
Lin Wanyin, assuming he was about to leave, blurted out angrily without regard for Yun Li’s presence, "Aze, I came looking for you on New Year's Eve too. Why did you avoid me?"
"..."
"Congsheng-jie said you were in a relationship, but I don’t believe it. You wouldn’t even date me—how could you possibly have a girlfriend?" Ignoring his indifference, Lin Wanyin trailed behind him, chattering incessantly.
Fu Shize couldn’t be bothered to respond and simply took Yun Li’s hand.
The intimate gesture finally drew Lin Wanyin’s attention. She scrutinized Yun Li for a long moment before asking, "Is she your girlfriend?"
Without waiting for an answer, she continued nonchalantly, "Oh, well, that doesn’t matter. Even if you have a girlfriend, I can still hang out with you."
Yun Li: "..."
Among the three, only the girl was speaking with wide-eyed insistence. Xu Qingsong stood up with a headache, reluctantly interjecting, "Wanyin, let me take you around the area. Your uncle has plans with his girlfriend—don’t disturb them."
"No way," Lin Wanyin refused outright. "I came all the way here. Aze has to keep me company."
Her tone was laced with displeasure and blame. "Besides, I don’t even mind you two being together. Surely your girlfriend wouldn’t mind having me around too, right?"
"Do you mind?" Lin Wanyin asked Yun Li directly.
Yun Li: "..."
Perhaps relying on her familial connection to Fu Shize, she seemed convinced Yun Li wouldn’t refuse in such a setting.
Meeting her challenging gaze, Yun Li felt as if an overconfident child had barged into the office. Before Fu Shize could intervene, she calmly replied, "I do mind."
Lin Wanyin: "..."
Yun Li looked up at Fu Shize. "I want to go back."
Xu Qingsong shot Fu Shize a meaningful glance and quickly steered Lin Wanyin away before she could react.
Yun Li wasn’t entirely sure what Lin Wanyin wanted—she seemed like a spoiled child. Shortly after they stepped outside, Lin Wanyin caught up with them, stubbornly trailing two meters behind.
If they walked faster, she sped up. If they slowed down, she matched their pace.
"..."
Yun Li glanced at Fu Shize, whose expression was tense with impatience. He seemed eager to escape, pulling her along at a quicker pace.
Seeing that they were completely ignoring her, Lin Wanyin snapped, "It took me a whole hour to get here!" She then resorted to threats, "I’m not even an adult yet. If you abandon me here and something happens, you’ll be fully responsible! My parents will never forgive you!"
The threats had no effect on Fu Shize, but they unsettled Yun Li. After they got into the car, Lin Wanyin still ran after them. Through the rearview mirror, Yun Li saw her stop in place and throw her backpack to the ground.
Less than two minutes after driving off, Fu Shize’s phone began vibrating incessantly. Yun Li glanced at it—several calls from his parents.
No doubt Lin Wanyin had already complained to the elders.
Fu Shize called Xu Qingsong. "Why didn’t you tell me she was coming?""My personal freedom was completely taken away," Xu Qingsong said helplessly. "She snatched my phone as soon as I walked in."
"..."
Fu Shize hung up the call.
"Is that your niece?" Yun Li leaned back in her seat, gazing ahead. "I accidentally saw her sending you a lot of messages before..."
Fu Shize: "I didn't read them."
"Does she like you?"
"..."
"Probably."
Yun Li was shocked: "So she really has incestuous thoughts?"
"..."
"If you don't want to give her false hope, shouldn't you just reject her outright?" Yun Li looked around, bringing up old grievances. "Just like how you rejected me before."
"..."
Fu Shize pulled the car over to the side of the road and looked at Yun Li. She said this without any trace of anger. His expression softened as he unbuckled his seatbelt, leaned over, and gently embraced her.
After holding her for just a few seconds, he cupped Yun Li's face and lightly licked her lips. Stunned at first, she quickly regained her senses and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Only when they were both breathless did Fu Shize let go, fastening her seatbelt again. Yun Li noticed his phone screen light up—already ten missed calls. Hesitantly, she asked, "Is it really okay to just leave her there?"
After witnessing the situation today, Yun Li could guess that Lin Wanyin was the one obsessively pursuing him unilaterally. Moreover, backed by her elders, she disregarded his feelings and boundaries.
However, if Lin Wanyin was a minor and had come all this way specifically to see Fu Shize, any mishap that befell her would inevitably draw blame onto him.
Yun Li didn’t want that to happen.
Fu Shize looked at her. Half-jokingly, Yun Li said, "After all, she’s your niece, and in some way, she’s utterly devoted to you..."
Not wanting to dwell on the topic, he responded ambiguously, also in jest: "Not enough kissing?"
"..."
Once home, Yun Li was bombarded with exclamation marks from Deng Chuqi.
Deng Chuqi: [You and Xia Xia’s uncle are living together???]
Yun Li had no idea where this rumor came from and replied: [How is that possible? Who told you that?]
Deng Chuqi: [That Lin Wanyin. Xia Xia said she posted on her social media that you two are cohabiting.]
The news startled Yun Li so much she jumped up from the couch. Hastily grabbing Fu Shize’s phone, she rushed to the kitchen where he was washing strawberries. "Can I check your WeChat?" she asked.
Fu Shize hummed in agreement, unhurriedly washing a strawberry. He took a bite himself before offering the other half to her lips.
Her focus shifted to the fruit in front of her, his face slightly blurred in her vision. Yun Li parted her lips lightly as he pushed the strawberry into her mouth, his thumb lingering to stroke her lower lip twice.
Blushing, Yun Li pushed his hand away and swallowed the strawberry in a fluster.
Searching for Lin Wanyin in WeChat, the recent messages in their chat were voice notes, while the earlier ones were all question marks. Scrolling up, Yun Li found nothing but endless "???".
"..."
She converted the voice messages to text. As the messages popped up, even Yun Li’s usually calm expression began to crack.
[I just like you, I’ve never done anything to hurt you. Why are you treating me like this?]
[What’s wrong with liking my own uncle?]
[I don’t even mind that you have a girlfriend. I don’t need any commitment. Can’t you just acknowledge me?]
Reading these messages infuriated Yun Li, making her feel like her boyfriend was being emotionally blackmailed.Clicking into her friend circle, the latest post read: [Visited Little Uncle, but he and his girlfriend were in a hurry to go home. Just a poor single dog here, wuwuwu.]
They had many mutual friends who first showered the post with likes, followed by some standout comments.
Dad: [ snickering ]
Mom: [ snickering ]
Mom replied to Dad: [A cause for universal celebration flowers flowers ]
Dad replied to Mom: [ thumbs up thumbs up thumbs up ]
These were likely Fu Shize’s parents. Neither of them had informed their families about their relationship yet, but Lin Wanyin’s little push had effectively announced their romance to his relatives in one fell swoop.
Strangely, it made her feel somewhat happy.
Returning to the chat interface, she saw that Fu Shize’s parents had sent quite a few messages. Before she could open them, a video call came through—from his father.
Yun Li brought the phone to the kitchen. Fu Shize frowned. "Don’t answer."
When the call timed out, the video call persisted relentlessly. Fu Shize turned off the faucet and picked up the phone, only to mute it.
"..."
"Maybe you should take it?" Yun Li couldn’t bear seeing his phone screen light up repeatedly.
Fu Shize: "He never video calls me."
Yun Li: "?"
Fu Shize: "Lin Wanyin probably told him. He wants to see you."
Noticing Yun Li’s lack of reaction, he paused and asked, "Do you want to meet?"
"No, no, that’s too fast." Yun Li shook her head vehemently. Feeling her response wasn’t strong enough, she flipped his phone face down to hide the incoming call notification.
Her quick refusal made Fu Shize glance up, his gaze thoughtful.
Water trickled from the fruit basket into the sink as Fu Shize turned off the tap. "Do you think it’s too fast?"
A straightforward 'yes' might sound like she lacked confidence in their relationship. Yun Li shook her head earnestly. "Meeting them would be fine too."
Fu Shize fell silent before asking, "What about sharing a tent?"
Having never spent the night with him, she had some expectations and curiosity about the scenario. Yun Li admitted honestly, "That’s not too fast. But can you sleep with clothes on?"
"..." The corner of his lips curved. "Do you usually sleep with clothes on?"
"Yes."
"Fine," he tilted his head. "Then can you sleep without clothes?"
"..."
Outmatched, Yun Li resigned herself to waiting for that day. Oddly, as the date approached, her nervousness gradually faded.
Several times, she wondered if he would buy a couple sleeping bag.
Lin Wanyin’s little episode didn’t stir any further waves.
On the day of the camping trip, Fu Shize picked her up by car, having already packed their gear. The campsite was a three-hour drive from the city center, and they followed the bus in their own vehicle.
Fu Shize fastened her seatbelt and kissed her forehead before setting off.
At the campsite, Yun Li helped Fu Shize pitch their tent—a double-sized orange one—on the flat ground.
Amidst over a dozen tents on the field, Yun Li snapped a photo before settling by the pre-arranged hot pot setup. Fu Zhengchu, as the group leader, had already organized everyone to gather flashlights for lighting.
Fu Shize draped a large blanket over her shoulders. Once he sat down, Yun Li wrapped the other end around him.Under the blanket, their bodies were pressed close together. Yun Li stealthily touched the back of Fu Shize's hand, and he responded by grasping hers in return, his fingers moving upward to gently knead her wrist.
They had also brought plenty of beer.
Before attending, Yun Li had assumed she would only need to stay with Fu Shize the entire time, without interacting with anyone else.
The dozen or so participants took turns introducing themselves. As the only couple present, Tang Lin asked with a smile, "How did you two get together?"
Yun Li glanced at Fu Shize and replied, "We just met..."
Another girl chimed in, "And then it was mutual affection?"
Yun Li: "Not exactly. There was some chasing involved."
"Who chased whom?"
Yun Li wasn’t afraid to admit she had pursued Fu Shize, but before she could speak, Fu Shize said, "I chased her."
She looked at him, and he playfully squeezed her fingers, deftly steering the conversation away. For the rest of the time, they remained like two isolated creatures under the blanket, silently staring at the small hot pot in front of them.
Yun Li listened as the others discussed previous hiking trips they’d joined. She turned her head toward them several times, wanting to say something, but never quite mustering the courage.
Eventually, someone approached them—a guy who was the sweep of the hiking group and part of the same club as Fu Zhengchu.
"My name is Gu Kaiming," the guy said, holding a bottle of beer. He poured a cup for each of them. Normally, Fu Shize would refuse, but this time he didn’t.
Yun Li greeted him, and Gu Kaiming casually sat down on their picnic mat.
"Your girlfriend is really pretty," Gu Kaiming said to Fu Shize, who nodded and replied, "Thank you."
"Don’t be shy. Everyone here is really nice," Gu Kaiming said, noticing Yun Li’s nervousness. He smiled at her. "Let me introduce you to the others."
Yun Li glanced at Fu Shize, who nodded, though he showed no interest in joining and stayed behind to fiddle with the small hot pot.
Though a chronic introvert, Yun Li longed to fit into such a group. She followed Gu Kaiming, struggling to contribute to the conversation but gradually finding her place as others drew her in.
Strangers didn’t seem so hard to get along with after all...
When she looked back at Fu Shize, he was still sitting alone, bored. Anyone who tried to chat with him gave up after a few words, deterred by his aloofness.
Yet his gaze never left her.
That supportive look gave Yun Li a boost of confidence. By the time she turned her attention back to him, over an hour had passed.
He was still in the same spot. The flashlight nearby had been taken by others, leaving him shrouded in darkness, looking somewhat forlorn. A pang of guilt struck Yun Li, and after saying a quick goodbye to the others, she hurried back to him.
"I was gone too long," she said as she sat down. Earlier, Fu Shize had insisted she take the blanket with her, and now his body was icy cold. She wrapped the blanket around him twice.
Staying here alone, he had turned into a block of ice. The thought amused Yun Li, and she asked, "Still cold?"
Fu Shize: "Mhm."
She tightened the blanket around him, sensing he was serious. "What should we do then?"
He stared at her. "Need a heat source."
Yun Li: "..."
"Let’s go," he said, standing up and bundling her into the blanket as well. He led her toward the woods. By now, most of the group had dispersed, and their departure went unnoticed.The two of them walked to a patch of grass nearby—a small, sunken clearing surrounded by rocks on three sides.
It was a very secluded spot.
Yun Li was still observing the terrain when she failed to notice the uneven ground. She stumbled and fell forward.
Landing on the soft grass didn’t hurt, but the motion was still rather awkward. The blanket-wrapped Fu Shize was also dragged down with her.
He even chuckled.
Yun Li was speechless. Just as she was about to get up, his hands slipped through the gaps between her arms, pressing against the ground as he leaned closer. Yun Li retreated step by step until she ended up lying back on the grass.
The dim light obscured his features, but his presence was unmistakably familiar. Fu Shize’s breathing gradually grew heavier, yet Yun Li’s first instinct was still to glance around.
He gently cupped her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze, and teased, "Always distracted at the most crucial moments."
"What if someone sees us… I’m just eliminating potential risks," she argued.
"Risks?" He leaned in close to her ear. "The only risk here is you."
Before she could react, his lips brushed the corner of her cheek before moving to her mouth. Yun Li stared at his lowered lashes and the stars scattered across the sky, then mustered all her strength to flip them over, pinning Fu Shize beneath her.
His body stiffened, his eyes darkening as he struggled to steady his breathing.
Yun Li tentatively touched the corner of his lips—her first time initiating a kiss like this. Her face flushed as she panted, "I wanted you to see the stars too."
Only then did Fu Shize notice the sea of stars behind her. Her eyes were clear and bright, her voice soft and sweet when she spoke to him, and her earlier actions had been entirely innocent, devoid of any ulterior meaning.
His desire still simmered, and he lifted his head to kiss her again, but Yun Li dodged, pressing a hand against his chest. "Look at them," she urged.
Her tone even carried a hint of impatience.
"Fine."
He obediently lay back on the grass. The clouds had dispersed, revealing a gradient of bluish-gray sky dotted with pinpricks of white light and a wisp of translucent mist.
It wasn’t just stars—it was the Milky Way.
She was determined, earnest in her wish for him to witness the same beauty she had seen.
Fu Shize suddenly laughed.
An unrestrained, unreserved laugh.
"I see it," he said, smiling. "And I see you."
Cradling the back of her head, he pulled her down while his other arm tightened around her waist. His warm lips met hers again, this time with no restraint, pouring out every ounce of emotion he couldn’t suppress.
They lay side by side on the grass, shoulders touching. The night breeze drifted past, carrying the faint scent of earth, the world around them silent and still.
It was Yun Li’s first time seeing so many stars—the Milky Way looming like a phantom in one corner. Feeling the warmth in her palm, she smiled, her eyes curving.
She turned to sneak a glance at Fu Shize, only to find him already watching her. Startled, she asked, "Aren’t you looking at the stars?"
"Don’t want to." Fu Shize shifted onto his side, propping his head on his hand as he moved closer, his gaze fixed on her. "I didn’t come here for the stars."
…
Back at the tent, Fu Shize hung the flashlight overhead. The campsite was remote, with no restrooms nearby. Not wanting to inconvenience Fu Shize, Yun Li had arranged to go with Tang Lin to a secluded spot.
Tang Lin, being outgoing, had already blended in with the others—they had all gone stargazing together earlier."Yun Li, you didn't see it, but everyone around was so envious when your boyfriend said he was pursuing you." Tang Lin made an exaggerated expression, mimicking how others looked at the time. "But honestly, with his personality, I actually thought you were the one chasing him first."
"Someone that aloof must have been head over heels in love to muster the courage to pursue you."
Yun Li had never considered these perspectives from Tang Lin before. Their relationship had progressed steadily, just like any normal couple's.
Occasionally she would wonder why Fu Shize liked her, but she wasn't the type to dwell on unnecessary worries.
Fu Shize seemed to genuinely like her.
But as for being madly in love, it probably hadn’t reached that level yet.
Tang Lin continued, “Honestly, I’m so jealous of you. Your boyfriend is ridiculously handsome—cool, suave, and completely devoted to you alone. Ugh, I want that too.”
Snapped back to reality by her words, Yun Li thought of Fu Zhengchu, who had dated four or five girls, and asked, “Are you chasing Fu Zhengchu?”
“Yes!” Tang Lin sighed dejectedly. “But he’s kind of cold. I added him on WeChat, and his replies aren’t exactly warm.”
This didn’t match Yun Li’s impression of Fu Zhengchu, but she stayed silent.
“He talked to your boyfriend today—do they know each other?”
Yun Li replied calmly, “My boyfriend is his uncle.”
“…”
Tang Lin’s lips twitched. “Your boyfriend doesn’t look that old.” She smirked mischievously. “Older men aren’t bad, though. They know how to take care of you.”
“My boyfriend is the same age as me. They’re just from different generations.” Yun Li explained, but Tang Lin barely listened, her eyes sparkling. “So you guys are close to Fu Zhengchu, right? My family owns a pet shop—why don’t you two invite him to come along?”
Seeing Yun Li hesitate, she shook her arm and pleaded, “Please? It’ll be completely free. And your boyfriend is so handsome—he must love dogs!”
There was no logical connection between those two statements.
Still, Yun Li remembered how Fu Shize had deliberately bought fish balls to tease a stray dog near her workplace that day. The image had stuck with her.
She only said she’d ask him later, not giving Tang Lin a definite answer.
“But hey, your boyfriend is so good-looking—you’d better keep an eye on him. My ex was super handsome too, but he just got with me on impulse. Once the novelty wore off, he turned cold.” Tang Lin rinsed her hands with mineral water. “You should lock things down as soon as possible.”
Lock things down?
Yun Li looked puzzled, but Tang Lin’s expression made it clear she meant exactly what Yun Li was thinking.
Yun Li was momentarily speechless.
Back in the tent, Yun Li kept replaying Tang Lin’s words, but the faint unease in her heart vanished the moment she saw Fu Shize’s face.
Staring at him, she grew more and more satisfied.
She snuggled closer. “People say having you as my boyfriend makes me look good.”
Fu Shize, who had been in the tent for a while, replied casually, “What do you think?”
Yun Li: “Then I agree a hundred percent.”
He ruffled her hair and lazily scrolled through the latest tech news.
“I made dessert for you.” Yun Li pulled out a few small boxed cakes from her bag. “Should we give one to Fu Zhengchu too?”
Fu Shize: “Let him come get it himself.”
Yun Li: “Do you want to eat yours now?”
Fu Shize: “Mhm.”
She opened a box, but Fu Shize didn’t move, his fingers swiftly swiping through articles on his phone.
Yun Li placed the cake directly in front of his screen.
Fu Shize leaned back lazily. “No hands.”
One arm was wrapped around Yun Li, the other holding his phone. Yun Li sighed, unwrapped a spoon, and fed him a bite.
He smirked and ate it.
After dessert, they went outside to freshen up. When they returned, Fu Shize laid out the sleeping bags—two separate ones, not the couple sleeping bag Yun Li had imagined.
Once they were spread out, Yun Li stared at him, but he didn’t follow through on his earlier promise to sleep naked. He just took off his jacket and sweater before slipping inside.
Yun Li felt a little disappointed.She was quite a conservative person, and perhaps had imagined too much about this night. Now that reality didn’t match her expectations, she couldn’t help feeling disappointed.
Noticing her expression, Fu Shize: “…”
“You want to see?”
He emerged halfway from his sleeping bag, sitting up straight under her gaze. Gripping the hem of his shirt with both hands, he slowly began to pull it up. First, a small stretch of fair skin was revealed, followed by his abdomen.
Yun Li’s breath hitched. She quickly grabbed his hands and carefully helped him pull his shirt back down.
He watched her movements, amused. Before they could continue their little back-and-forth, Fu Zhengchu’s figure swayed in front of the tent.
After unzipping the tent, Fu Zhengchu took the boxed cake Yun Li handed him. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the two separate sleeping bags inside and shook his head with a sigh.
Back in his own tent, he opened the cake—matcha flavor—and tapped open his chat window with Fu Shize.
Fu Zhengchu: [Uncle, you actually brought two single sleeping bags.]
Fu Zhengchu: [Are you not up for it?!]
His phone buzzed with a simple text emoji—an enlarged “oh.” It was the first time Fu Zhengchu had seen Fu Shize use an emoji. He blinked, nearly choking on his cake.
OpenNovel