On the way to the highway toll booth, Chen Qing Wu’s phone, resting on the gear shift, started buzzing with frequent WeChat notifications.

Meng Fu Yuan reminded her, “Qing Wu, you have some messages.”

Chen Qing Wu, who was driving, couldn’t spare any attention, so she said to Meng Fu Yuan, “Can you check for me who’s messaging?”

She knew it was unlikely to be any of the parents since she had wisely set their WeChat messages to Do Not Disturb mode while she was in the bedroom.

Meng Fu Yuan picked up her phone, “Unlock code?”

“My boyfriend’s birthday.”

Noticing his fingers pause, she glanced at him and laughed, “Not allowed?”

Meng Fu Yuan chuckled, “Quite allowed.”

He entered the digits, “Wrong password?”

“Huh?”

“Do you have another boyfriend?” Meng Fu Yuan looked at her.

Chen Qing Wu was a bit stunned, just about to let him try again when she heard him laugh, realizing she had been teased, “…Meng Fu Yuan, you’re really annoying.”

“Oh, no more calling me Brother Yuan?”

“Do you still look like a brother right now?”

Meng Fu Yuan raised his eyebrows slightly.

Chen Qing Wu’s phone apps were organized by color: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, white, black—each color in its own folder, neatly arranged, a delight for anyone with OCD.

Meng Fu Yuan found WeChat in the green folder, and tapped on it.

The top pinned chat, with a black-and-white movie still as the profile picture, was labeled “Meng Fu Yuan.”

He couldn’t help but smile.

At his age, to still get flustered over something as trivial as a phone password and WeChat pinning, was perhaps a bit immature.

His eyes moved down, noting several unread messages from Zhan Yining.

Chen Qing Wu told him to open them directly.

After reading, Meng Fu Yuan’s brows knitted slightly.

Not hearing him speak, Chen Qing Wu glanced over, asking, “What did she say?”

“Qi Ran is drinking at a bar, and won’t listen to anyone trying to stop him. She said Qi Ran keeps calling your name.”

Chen Qing Wu eased off the accelerator, looking at Meng Fu Yuan, “…What do we do? Should we go check on him?”

Meng Fu Yuan said, “It’s your call.”

Chen Qing Wu was silent for a moment, maintaining a speed of around thirty, slowly moving forward.

The highway toll booth was in sight.

She sighed, turned on the left indicator to move to the leftmost lane for a U-turn, “…Let’s go check. We’re just the worrying kind.”

Meng Qi Ran was at a friend’s bar.

When Chen Qing Wu and Meng Fu Yuan arrived, the glass coffee table was already cluttered with toppled bottles.

Zhan Yining, anxious and pacing, saw Chen Qing Wu like seeing a savior, “Qing Wu, please help persuade him. If Qi Ran keeps drinking like this, something will happen…”

Chen Qing Wu patted her arm reassuringly.

Meng Fu Yuan stepped over the scattered bottles, snatched the glass from Meng Qi Ran’s hand, placed it on the table, and lifted him by the collar from the sofa.

Meng Qi Ran struggled to open his eyes, “…It’s you.”

“It’s me. What? Want to fight?”

Meng Qi Ran grabbed Meng Fu Yuan’s wrist, trying to pull away, “You… let go of me…”

But his steps were unsteady, his grip weak.

Chen Qing Wu had already checked for nearby hotel rooms on her phone and said to Meng Fu Yuan, “I’ve booked a room, let’s take him there to rest.”

Meng Fu Yuan nodded.

Hearing Chen Qing Wu’s voice, Meng Qi Ran looked up immediately, “Qing Wu…”

He struggled hard, trying to walk towards her, nearly stumbling.

Meng Fu Yuan lifted him again, twisting his arm around his shoulder to support him, “Struggle again and I won’t care if you drink yourself to death.”

Meng Fu Yuan carried Meng Qi Ran out of the private room. Zhan Yining hurriedly followed, carrying his coat, ready to catch him if he fell.

Chen Qing Wu watched with a bit of melancholy.

Downstairs, Meng Fu Yuan shoved Meng Qi Ran into the back seat, “If you dare vomit in my car, you’ll sleep on the street tonight.”

Remembering there were trash bags in the glove box, Chen Qing Wu opened it, tore one out, and handed it to Zhan Yining who had also gotten in the back, “Yining, keep an eye on him. If he needs to puke, make sure it’s in the bag.”

Zhan Yining nodded in a daze.

The hotel was nearby, only a five-minute drive.

After checking in and taking the elevator up, Chen Qing Wu opened the door with the key card, and Meng Fu Yuan helped Meng Qi Ran to the bed.

Even in such a situation, Meng Fu Yuan couldn’t abandon his brotherly instincts, removing Meng Qi Ran’s shoes, pulling up the quilt, and loosening the cap on a bottle of water on the bedside table, placing it within arm’s reach.

Zhan Yining was stunned.

Everyone was afraid of Meng Fu Yuan. One Halloween, they had a party at the Mengs’. Past midnight, the noise disturbed Meng Fu Yuan’s rest. He didn’t embarrass them in person but warned Meng Qi Ran privately to send his friends home or he’d call the police for disturbing the peace.

Zhan Yining had witnessed Meng Qi Ran not daring to make a sound. This stern brother would certainly call the police if provoked.

Unexpectedly, Meng Fu Yuan could be so meticulous in caring for someone, even loosening the bottle cap, a detail she wouldn’t have thought of.

Straightening his clothes, Meng Fu Yuan looked at Zhan Yining and nodded slightly, “Qi Ran has troubled you.”

Zhan Yining quickly said, “It’s nothing… we’re friends, it’s my duty.”

“He’ll be fine after sleeping. Miss Zhan, you should rest too.”

Zhan Yining nodded.

As the three were about to leave, the person on the bed suddenly sat up, making a retching sound.

Chen Qing Wu, closest, quickly supported him, “Hold on, go to the bathroom to vomit!”

Meng Fu Yuan stepped in, supporting Meng Qi Ran. Zhan Yining immediately opened the bathroom door and lifted the toilet lid.

Meng Qi Ran collapsed onto the floor, hugging the toilet, and vomited.

Chen Qing Wu grabbed the water bottle from the nightstand and stood at the bathroom door.

After emptying his stomach, Meng Qi Ran pressed the flush button.

When the water bottle was handed to him, he paused, turning his head.

Seeing Chen Qing Wu’s face, all the emotions numbed by alcohol surged back, “…Why do you still care about me, Qing Wu.”

Chen Qing Wu paused, then handed the water bottle to Meng Fu Yuan, stepped into the bathroom.

The toilet was separated from the shower by a glass panel. She grabbed the showerhead and turned the water to full blast, dousing Meng Qi Ran’s head without hesitation.

Everyone was shocked.

Meng Fu Yuan didn’t expect Chen Qing Wu to be this harsh. She was always full of surprises.

The water was cold, pouring down his collar, making Meng Qi Ran shiver, looking dazedly at Chen Qing Wu.

“Are you sober?” Chen Qing Wu asked coldly, “Can you stop being so childish, Meng Qi Ran. It’s just a breakup, what’s the big deal? Every day I liked you was a heartbreak! If you find this feeling unbearable, remember it well and don’t hurt the next person!”

Meng Qi Ran was stunned.

“You’re 26, not 6, not 16. I have my own life, and Meng Fu Yuan will have his own life. We won’t revolve around you, cleaning up every mess you make. Once I made my decision, there was no turning back. If you want to wallow in self-pity, do so. But if you truly care for me, learn to respect my decisions and let me pursue my happiness.”

Finishing in one breath, she turned off the shower.

Water dripped down Meng Qi Ran’s soaked hair, blurring his vision.

Chen Qing Wu let go, the showerhead dropped to the floor, she spoke softly, “…Take care of yourself, so Meng Fu Yuan and I can be at ease.”

Meng Qi Ran looked up at her backlit figure, feeling like everything had ended.

He raised his hand, instinctively wanting to grab her arm but let it fall back down, defeated.

Chen Qing Wu walked out of the bathroom.

Meng Fu Yuan spoke, “If you’re awake, take a hot shower and sleep. Go home when you wake up, don’t worry our parents.”

Meng Qi Ran remained silent.

Outside, there was a brief silence before Zhan Yining said, “Qing Wu, you guys go ahead… I’ll wait till he’s done showering.”

“Will it trouble you?”

“No… it’s nothing.”

Meng Qi Ran heard footsteps moving away.

Zhan Yining came over to support him.

Drunk, his body was heavy. Zhan Yining, slipping on the wet floor, nearly fell forward.

Meng Qi Ran immediately steadied her shoulder.

Zhan Yining seemed on the verge of a breakdown, squatting down and covering her face.

Hearing her faint sobs, Meng Qi Ran hesitated, then lifted her face, “…Why are you crying?”

Zhan Yining remained silent.

“It’s okay now,” Meng Qi Ran smiled. “Get up quickly, don’t let your clothes get wet too…”

“You need to take a hot shower.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll wait for you outside.”

“Okay.”

Zhan Yining seemed worried, frequently looking back as she got up and closed the bathroom door.

Meng Qi Ran’s clothes were already soaked, and he felt like he was sinking into a freezing lake, continuously descending.

He remained motionless, in the boundless cold silence, feeling as if a part of his life had suddenly aged.

/

As they stepped out of the room into the hallway, Meng Fu Yuan asked Chen Qing Wu, “It’s very late. Should we stay overnight and leave tomorrow morning?”

Chen Qing Wu shook her head, smiling tiredly, “We should get out of here as soon as possible.”

So, they got back in the car, silenced all contacts, and headed straight for Dongcheng.

Halfway there, they switched drivers at a rest area, and by the time they reached the apartment, it was already past 3 AM.

Chen Qing Wu had never experienced such a long day. It seemed like all the calmness of her earlier life was saved up for the twists and turns of this single day.

As her mind relaxed, she felt incredibly sleepy.

While Meng Fu Yuan pushed the two suitcases inside, she was already yawning frequently, covering her mouth.

Meng Fu Yuan said, “Go wash up and sleep first.”

Chen Qing Wu nodded, “Can you help me take out the things I need from the suitcase?”

Meng Fu Yuan laid down the suitcase and unzipped it.

“The toiletry bag on the left.”

Meng Fu Yuan took out the toiletry bag.

“On the right. Pajamas.”

The right side was filled with neatly folded clothes. Meng Fu Yuan took out the sweaters, coats, and other clothes, finding Chen Qing Wu’s pajamas at the bottom. It was a white, knee-length, long-sleeved nightgown.

“And underwear.”

Meng Fu Yuan paused.

Looking up, he saw Chen Qing Wu slightly tilting her head, clearly wanting to see how he would react.

“Where?” he asked evenly.

“In the middle compartment.”

Meng Fu Yuan unzipped the middle compartment, finding a storage bag inside. He opened it and randomly took out a pair.

His face remained expressionless throughout.

He gathered everything and handed it to Chen Qing Wu, who chuckled lightly, “Oh, you like black?”

“……”

Chen Qing Wu took her change of clothes and toiletries, heading towards the guest bathroom.

At that moment, Meng Fu Yuan spoke, his tone calm, “There’s a bathroom in the master bedroom too.”

“Oh.”

Chen Qing Wu stopped, turned, and walked towards the master bedroom, her expression equally blank.

She partially closed the master bedroom door and walked towards the bathroom, observing as she went.

The master bedroom was very spacious, with a semi-open closet. Grey glass cabinets revealed neatly arranged shirts and suits.

Though it was a model home, the soft furnishings clearly reflected personal taste, with a color scheme of black, white, grey, and blue, exuding the vibe of a bachelor.

On a side table by the bed, she noticed a ceramic plaque she had given Meng Fu Yuan a long time ago.

What kind of affection leads someone to place such a gift by their pillow, visible every time they wake up and lie down?

After her shower, Chen Qing Wu carried the basket of dirty clothes out of the bathroom.

Unexpectedly, Meng Fu Yuan had already entered the bedroom and was unpacking the suitcase.

She paused, “Um… dirty clothes.”

“Just leave them. I’ll take them to the laundry room later.”

“Do you do all the housework yourself?”

“The housekeeper is on holiday for New Year.” Meng Fu Yuan glanced at her, “You sleep first, I’ll finish unpacking.”

Chen Qing Wu yawned, walking to the bed, “Which side should I sleep on?”

“Either is fine.”

Chen Qing Wu chose the side near the window, pulling back the covers and lying down.

She rested her head on her arm, watching as Meng Fu Yuan emptied a section of the wardrobe, methodically hanging her clothes from the suitcase by length.

Then, he hung his own clothes.

She originally intended to wait for Meng Fu Yuan to finish showering, but the long day had exhausted her completely, and she fell asleep without realizing it.

When she woke up, she noticed the faint morning light filtering through the curtains, suggesting it was already late.

As she reached for her phone, she heard rustling behind her and suddenly realized she was in Meng Fu Yuan’s bed.

An arm stretched over, wrapping around her waist, pulling her back.

Meng Fu Yuan’s head nestled against hers, his chin resting on her shoulder, seemingly inhaling the scent of her hair.

He had a faint, warm fragrance, likely from the same shower gel she used.

“Morning.”

“Morning.”

“…What time is it?” she asked.

“I don’t know.” Probably just woken up, Meng Fu Yuan’s voice was a bit hoarse.

“Tomorrow is New Year’s, should we… go shopping for some things today?” Chen Qing Wu’s voice grew quieter as she became aware of the undeniable presence pressing against her from behind, more pronounced than when she held it last night.

Meng Fu Yuan must have realized she noticed, because he pressed deliberately.

Chen Qing Wu’s breath lightened.

Meng Fu Yuan loosened his grip on her arm, his hand resting on her waist.

Chen Qing Wu widened her eyes, staring at the dark grey curtains, her nightgown buttons undone by two, and after a moment of hesitant probing, she directly embraced him.

She remembered it was also during the New Year when she was younger.

Sometimes, when making dumplings with Liao Shuman, she would handle every step herself, from kneading the dough to mixing the filling.

At that time, she was fond of a little game where she would squeeze the dough tightly in her hand until some of it would ooze out between her fingers.

This thought came to her naturally.

Meng Fu Yuan’s breath on her neck felt like boiling steam. Chen Qing Wu, still groggy from just waking up, found herself plunging headfirst into an even more thrilling sensation.

Meng Fu Yuan placed a kiss on her earlobe and then suddenly stopped all his movements.

Chen Qing Wu turned her head, looking at him in confusion.

His forehead was lowered, and he sighed as if in frustration, saying softly, “We can’t continue, Qing Wu.”

“Why…”

The answer came next to her ear: no condom.

“…” Chen Qing Wu stifled a laugh, “Aren’t you always prepared?”

“No matter how prepared I am, I didn’t anticipate this.”

“I don’t care…” Chen Qing Wu said with a smile, deliberately adding, “I don’t care, I don’t care…”

Before she could finish, Meng Fu Yuan’s hand moved downward.

It was a restraining motion.

Chen Qing Wu’s breath caught in her throat, turning into a muffled moan.

Previously, when Meng Fu Yuan had tried pottery for the first time, she had studied his hands, with their jade-like bones, making one wonder if even holding his hand would feel cold.

Now she was certain; his fingertip skin was indeed cool.

She became like a fully drawn bow or a filled sail, leaning back but not sinking, falling instead into his arms.

Unable to escape, she couldn’t have known in advance that she couldn’t endure this sensation.

The room was dimly lit.

They say that when vision is lost, hearing or smell becomes exceptionally sensitive due to compensation. She believed this because the sound of water was exceptionally clear, making her voice damp.

She felt as though she were drowning in the rainy season.

Back then, she would sit by the window, watching the wind sway the leaves, anxiously waiting for a storm to take away all the summer heat.

Chen Qing Wu didn’t know what prompted her to suddenly call out in a trembling voice, “Brother Yuan…”

Meng Fu Yuan’s movements stopped abruptly.

Chen Qing Wu chuckled, bringing her lips close to his ear. She thought she was probably dissatisfied with being the one falling, while Meng Fu Yuan seemed to be conducting a precise experiment. Her voice was light, but clear enough for him to hear: No wonder you’re good with code, your fingers are so agile, Brother Yuan.

Provoking someone like Meng Fu Yuan required some courage, and she knew this in advance.

But even knowing this, she hadn’t anticipated that she wouldn’t last even thirty seconds after his pace quickened.

The rain suddenly fell.

She felt like a green fruit on the treetop, plummeting with a “pop,” falling into the mud, completely spent.

Clinging to Meng Fu Yuan’s neck, she trembled uncontrollably for a long time before finally calming down. Meng Fu Yuan only embraced her with his arms, his hands not touching her, afraid of soiling her clothes.

Meng Fu Yuan kissed her sweaty forehead and suddenly said, “I do like black.”

Chen Qing Wu’s eyes widened.

So, everything that followed was done with that layer of black between them. Her hands were raised, pressed against her ears, and Meng Fu Yuan bowed to her collarbone.

Occasionally, he would look up at her, his eyes filled with dark intensity, as if some long-dormant danger had awakened.

Chen Qing Wu sensed his body temperature rising, his throat emitting deeply suppressed sounds.

A provocateur only continues to provoke.

“Yuan…”

But this time, she only managed one word before the rest was swallowed by his hand.

It was enough.

In that moment, as Chen Qing Wu’s breath hit his palm, Meng Fu Yuan’s breathing quickened, and he leaned down to hold her tightly.

White soiled black.

Their breaths mingled with a faint saltiness. Chen Qing Wu’s hand rested on Meng Fu Yuan’s back, feeling his sharply defined shoulder blades rise and fall intensely.

“Meng Fu Yuan,” Chen Qing Wu whispered with a laugh, “I like the way you like me.”

Meng Fu Yuan responded by hugging her tighter.

After a long time cleaning up, they finally left.

As they stepped out the door, Chen Qing Wu instinctively pulled up her scarf to cover half her face.

Meng Fu Yuan leaned down, smiling mischievously, “What guilty deed are you hiding from?”

Chen Qing Wu pushed his cheek, “Don’t look at me for five minutes.”