Exiting the underground parking lot, a long corridor led to a dazzling array of festive lights, with people selling roses in baskets along the way.
Fu Shize stopped and picked one from the bunch.
The young girl stated firmly, "One hundred."
Yun Li: "..."
Before she could stop him, Fu Shize had already paid without hesitation.
It was the kind meant to be worn on the wrist.
He lifted her hand and slid it through the ribbon loop.
"It does look quite nice," Yun Li examined it for a moment. Even though it wasn’t her money, seeing it come from Fu Shize’s wallet still pained her.
Pursing her lips, she added, "But it feels like paying the idiot tax."
"..."
Hearing this, Yun Li somewhat felt she was being ungrateful. She quickly justified, "In love, everyone’s IQ drops to zero—even the top science student can’t escape it."
Fu Shize: "..."
The tiny bit of romance was utterly shattered by Yun Li’s words. Without a word, Fu Shize walked ahead.
After entering the mall, Fu Shize went to the restroom. When he came out, he saw Yun Li holding an additional rose in her hand.
She fastened it onto his wrist. He didn’t resist, merely smirking as he remarked, "Someone just called this the idiot tax." He paused. "And said my IQ was zero."
"You hold grudges too easily," Yun Li commented. "That was five whole minutes ago."
"..."
Fu Shize didn’t respond, simply taking her hand and leading her upstairs.
The two roses on their wrists occasionally brushed against each other.
After dinner, they returned to South River Garden, with Fu Shize heading to shower first.
Yun Li went back to her room alone, sitting on the bed against the wall.
Everything’s... normal, right?
She spaced out for a while, still thinking about the photo album from earlier that afternoon.
Not wanting to dwell on the mood, she flopped onto the bed and called Yun Ye.
The teenager answered instantly, proudly showing off a newly received postcard.
Yun Ye: "I’m texting Wai Wai."
Wai Wai—Yun Li automatically connected the nickname to the initials of Yin Yunyi’s name (Y.Y.). She frowned. "Doesn’t she not have a phone?"
Yun Ye: "Her brother got her a basic phone—the kind that only calls and texts."
Seeing him stroke his chin in deep thought, taking forever to finish the text, Yun Li couldn’t help asking, "What did you send?"
Yun Ye: "One."
Yun Li: "What?"
Yun Ye explained, "In case her parents check her phone, I send a ‘1’ every morning and night—it stands for ‘good morning’ and ‘good night.’"
Yun Li chuckled. "Impressive."
She mercilessly teased, "Took you that long to send a ‘1.’"
Yun Li: "Don’t you feel inferior around Yin Yunyi?"
Yun Ye gave the camera a puzzled look.
Yun Li delivered the final blow: "She’s so much prettier than you."
"If I felt inferior, I wouldn’t have pursued her. Why torture myself?" Yun Ye retorted impatiently, ruffling his hair and pulling the camera farther away. "See for yourself—I’m totally good enough for her."
"..."
Yun Ye’s reply struck a nerve.
Noticing her gloomy expression, Yun Ye paused. "Did my brother-in-law bully you?"
Yun Li sighed heavily. "There’s some distance between me and your brother-in-law. There are a lot of things he hasn’t told me."
"Huh?" Hearing this, Yun Ye got up and headed to the bathroom, brushing it off. "Just ask him, then."
"I did..." Yun Li’s face twisted in discomfort. "I don’t know how to explain it. Your sister’s developing learned helplessness here.""No way?" Yun Ye looked at the camera, letting out a slightly mocking laugh as if he was a little angry. "Yun Li, don’t act all tough at home only to suffer outside."
His eyes drooped, completely indifferent to her reaction, his face annoyingly smug. "If that’s the case, I’ll have to side with Dad."
"..."
Yun Ye was already brushing his teeth, the toothbrush making one side of his cheek puff up twice its usual size. He mumbled, "The braised pork you left in the freezer before you left was toxic. I ate it today and felt sick."
After spitting out the foam, he complained, "Something felt off."
Yun Li’s mind was a mess, and she retorted directly, "That’s because you’re not resting well. Stop staying up late writing postcards to Yin Yunyi."
Yun Ye could tell she was in a bad mood and kept her company until his usual bedtime.
After hanging up, Yun Li started a livestream. It quickly became clear she shouldn’t have forced herself—her fans noticed she was off and in low spirits, so she had to end the stream abruptly.
Her mood was poor, and she slept fitfully.
Half-asleep, she noticed a faint glow of nightlight in the room.
Yun Li lay with her back to the door, eyes open. Fu Shize stood at the doorway for a long while before finally walking over to her.
She closed her eyes, pretending to sleep.
She waited for what felt like an eternity, drifting in and out of drowsiness.
A cold yet soft touch brushed against the back of her hand, trailing upward until it paused at the rose—the one she hadn’t been able to bring herself to remove.
She fell into a hazy sleep, unsure how long he stayed.
Nanwu University started its semester early, and Yun Li, representing EAW, was responsible for the spring recruitment presentations on campus.
It was her first time speaking in such a public setting, and she had been nervous for days. Fortunately, Fu Shize had rehearsed with her for two or three nights.
By the time the presentation ended, it was already past three in the afternoon.
Her phone showed several missed calls—all from Yun Yongchang.
Yun Li stared at the screen for a long time before finally calling back.
Yun Yongchang didn’t scold her for not answering. He sounded calm. "I brought you a spring quilt. It’s at the door of your rented place."
"..."
This was completely unexpected. She hadn’t even received a heads-up from Yun Ye.
"Oh... I just got off work. I’ll take a cab and be there in twenty minutes." Uneasy, Yun Li sent a quick message to Fu Shize.
The reunion between father and daughter wasn’t as explosive as she had imagined.
Yun Yongchang was carrying a large bag with two quilts inside.
Yun Li muttered, "It’s not like I’m short on quilts..."
"Spring and winter quilts. Nanwu is colder than West Fuling." Yun Yongchang’s face was stern. Seeing Yun Li frozen, he snapped, "What are you standing around for? Open the door!"
Her brief moment of being moved by his fatherly concern lasted only seconds. Yun Li turned on the lights and poured him a glass of water. His tone was stiff. "Still dating him?"
Yun Li nodded.
Yun Yongchang clenched his fist, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Have him come tonight. We’ll eat out."
Yun Yongchang insisted on taking a cab, as if riding in Fu Shize’s car would mean taking advantage of him.
He said coldly, "I have no shortage of cars in West Fuling."
Yun Li knew he couldn’t accept the fact that Fu Shize was from Nanwu.
In the taxi, her thoughts were in turmoil. She typed and deleted messages to Fu Shize repeatedly, wanting him to mention working in West Fuling more often but feeling it was inappropriate.
Yun Li: [My dad prefers me to return to West Fuling.]
A faint, indescribable shame prickled at her.
She didn’t want Fu Shize to think Yun Yongchang was difficult to get along with.Once she started considering this, all her words and actions became hesitant and cautious.
Fu Shize had reserved a private room at a renowned restaurant in Nanwu City.
When Yun Li stepped out of the taxi, Fu Shize wasn’t inside the room but waiting for them at the entrance.
His demeanor was calm and composed.
She suddenly felt a little more at ease.
Yun Yongchang remained expressionless throughout, politely engaging Fu Shize in conversation.
The atmosphere at the table was relatively harmonious until Yun Yongchang abruptly asked, "You’re not in school anymore? What’s your highest degree?"
Yun Li set down her chopsticks and answered first, "He has a bachelor’s degree from West Science and Technology University."
Yun Yongchang gave an indifferent "Oh" and continued, "Not planning to pursue further studies?"
Fu Shize replied calmly, "I’m pursuing a Ph.D. at West Science and Technology University."
Hearing that he was studying for a Ph.D. at West Science and Technology University, Yun Yongchang’s expression softened slightly—after all, over half of the university’s graduates ended up staying in West Fuling.
But Yun Yongchang wasn’t easily fooled. He pointed out the oddest detail. "You’re the same age as my daughter, so you shouldn’t have graduated yet, right? Why aren’t you at school?"
"..."
"I took a leave of absence."
His tone was indifferent, as if it didn’t matter to him.
Yun Li could clearly see Yun Yongchang’s expression stiffen the moment the words "leave of absence" were uttered.
She felt suffocated.
Yun Yongchang refused Fu Shize’s offer to see them home and declined his gifts, making his stance very clear.
On the ride back, Yun Yongchang said coldly, "What kind of boyfriend did you pick? He can’t even finish his studies."
"Did you just fall for his looks?"
When Yun Li stayed silent, he took a deep breath. "His parents are professors. I may not be accomplished, but at least the child I raised can finish school."
Yun Li couldn’t stand him belittling Fu Shize like this, but she didn’t want to argue in public, so she bit her lip and remained silent.
"I’ve seen more people than you’ve eaten meals. That boy clearly has psychological issues." Yun Yongchang nagged the entire ride. "Don’t focus on his family background or looks—he can’t even finish school."
In Yun Yongchang’s generation, life was either bitter or sweet, but you had to keep going no matter what.
He couldn’t comprehend what kind of problem could force someone to take a leave of absence.
Unable to take it anymore, Yun Li finally said, "Dad, can you just drop it for now?" Only then did Yun Yongchang fall silent.
The driver, who had listened to the whole exchange, said to Yun Li as they got out, "Young lady, sometimes you should listen to your elders’ advice. Don’t let love blind you."
After returning home, Yun Li didn’t argue with Yun Yongchang. No matter what he said, she only stuck to two lines—
"Who I date is my freedom. Stay out of it."
"Whether he takes a leave of absence or stays in Nanwu or West Fuling is his freedom. Stay out of it."
Rarely had she ever been so unyielding and impenetrable. After a few more attempts, Yun Yongchang, boiling with anger, booked a flight home for that very night.
Yun Yongchang came and went in a rush, leaving chaos in his wake.
Only when the door closed behind him did Yun Li finally relax.
She felt as though she had narrowly escaped disaster.
Yun Li wasn’t afraid of Yun Yongchang’s opposition, nor did she care whether Fu Shize took a leave of absence.
The worst-case scenario was Yun Yongchang disliking Fu Shize—she could endure a few years, and eventually, Yun Yongchang would have no choice but to relent.
Sitting on the sofa, a wave of sadness slowly enveloped her.
She opened her phone. Fu Shize hadn’t sent her a single message since dinner. She typed a few words, then deleted them one by one.She sent him a message saying Yun Yongchang had left.
The clock seemed to slow down, and it wasn't until nearly ten o'clock that she finally heard the sound of the door opening.
Their gazes met, and Fu Shize stood at the entrance for a moment.
Then he walked slowly to her side, bent down, and cradled the back of her head, pulling her into his embrace.
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