It wasn’t their first time grocery shopping together.

But the last time they did it felt like a lifetime ago.

As an older brother, Meng Fu Yuan often had no choice but to take care of two younger children when their parents wanted to have fun.

It was the year when Chen Qing Wu and Meng Qi Ran were seven. They were in Meng Qi Ran’s room, playing a “martial arts drama” they had seen on TV. During their “final duel,” Meng Qi Ran misjudged his strength, elbowing Chen Qing Wu in the nose, causing it to bleed profusely.

Meng Fu Yuan, who had gone downstairs to get a drink, was caught off guard. He quickly had Chen Qing Wu tilt her head, instructed Meng Qi Ran to get cotton and an ice pack, and pinched her nose to stop the bleeding.

With her shirt stained with blood, Chen Qing Wu sat obediently, her voice muffled, pleading with him not to tell their parents that Qi Ran had hit her, to spare him from being scolded.

Once the bleeding stopped, Meng Qi Ran mindlessly watched cartoons, while Chen Qing Wu remained somewhat listless. Meng Fu Yuan guessed she might have been scared, fearing that if the bleeding didn’t stop, they’d have to go to the hospital, worrying their parents.

He patted her head and suggested they change her clothes before their parents noticed.

Her eyes immediately lit up.

After changing her clothes at the Chen household, he took her and Qi Ran to the supermarket, hoping she’d pick some snacks she liked.

Chen Qing Wu’s parents were strict about snacks, worried they’d upset her stomach. She was quite disciplined herself, lingering around the chips aisle without picking anything, only grabbing a box of blueberries from the fresh produce section.

At the moment, Meng Fu Yuan pushed the cart while Chen Qing Wu clung to him, reminiscing, “Did you find me and Qi Ran annoying back then?”

“Yes.”

Chen Qing Wu laughed, “Can’t you be a bit more tactful?”

Meng Fu Yuan corrected, “You weren’t too bad, Qi Ran was more annoying.”

“I used to sincerely wish you were my real brother.”

“Good thing your wish didn’t come true.” Meng Fu Yuan glanced at her, “If I were your real brother, you’d probably find me annoying too.”

“Yeah.” Chen Qing Wu nodded, seemingly agreeing, “It’s better you’re not my real brother, but not for the reason you mentioned.”

Meng Fu Yuan almost immediately understood her underlying meaning.

Noticing his slight pause, Chen Qing Wu turned to look, “What are you thinking?”

“Nothing.”

“Oh?” She smiled mischievously, “You weren’t thinking about how no siblings would do what we did before leaving, were you…”

Meng Fu Yuan covered her mouth with his hand.

Chen Qing Wu’s laughter muffled against his palm, almost instantly reminding him of her muffled “Brother Yuan” in bed.

Though he hadn’t worn glasses today, it didn’t prevent him from maintaining a perfectly composed and serious expression, giving no hint to outsiders of his true feelings.

Except to Chen Qing Wu.

She laughed even harder, seeming to enjoy watching him lose his composure, watching him be tainted by desire, watching him fall from his pedestal, willingly kneeling at her feet.

Chen Qing Wu pulled down Meng Fu Yuan’s hand, intertwining their fingers.

Meng Fu Yuan felt the ring on her finger, a bit loose but still fitting snugly.

Perhaps it was time to give her a new one.

Just as the thought emerged, he dismissed it, afraid of scaring her.

As they talked, they reached the snack aisle.

Chen Qing Wu glanced at the chip shelf, and Meng Fu Yuan grabbed two bags of original flavor, tossing them into the cart.

Chen Qing Wu recalled the last time they watched a movie at Meng Fu Yuan’s place, he had brought out original flavor chips. She realized this was no coincidence.

“…How do you even know my favorite chip flavor?”

“Observing with intention reveals everything.”

“What else do you know?”

“Favorite flowers, coat brands, singers, writers, ceramists. Height, weight, shoe size…” Meng Fu Yuan’s tone was calm, pausing slightly at the end.

Chen Qing Wu naturally noticed, laughing, “What did you omit?”

“Nothing.”

“Then let me guess?” Chen Qing Wu tilted her head, pretending to think seriously, then mouthed: bra size, right?

She laughed and added, “Did you just find out yesterday?”

“Qing Wu, we’re in public.”

“So what? There’s no one within ten meters of us.” She seemed to have an epiphany, “Oh, you’re shy…”

Seeing Meng Fu Yuan ready to cover her mouth again, she quickly stepped forward, turned around, and laughed at him, “You’re so serious, Meng Fu Yuan.”

Meng Fu Yuan looked at her, “I advise you to say less now, Qing Wu.”

It was almost a warning: don’t say I didn’t warn you.

“Are you going to punish me?” Chen Qing Wu’s playful tone seemed to expect it.

“……”

He admitted defeat.

Tomorrow was New Year’s Eve, and they decided to prepare their own New Year’s Eve dinner at home. They bought some chicken, duck, fish, and semi-prepared shrimp and crab.

Meng Fu Yuan pushed the cart while Chen Qing Wu tossed in anything she fancied, completely forgetting their original plan of “just buying the essentials.”

By the time they reached the checkout, Chen Qing Wu looked at the overflowing cart and asked, “Why didn’t you stop me?”

“Why stop you? You’ve finally reached an age where you can eat whatever you want.” He paused and added seriously, “Except for nuts, of course.”

Chen Qing Wu laughed, “You’re so good to me, Brother Yuan.”

“…” Meng Fu Yuan’s face tensed, “Stop calling me that.”

As they passed the shelves near the checkout, they paused briefly.

Meng Fu Yuan, expressionless, picked up a box and threw it into the cart.

“Is that enough?” Chen Qing Wu asked earnestly.

“…”

Chen Qing Wu deliberately stared at him, picked up another box, then another.

Meng Fu Yuan had to press down on her hand, “That’s enough, Qing Wu.”

The hint of resignation in his voice seemed like a plea for everything that had happened today.

After checking out, Meng Fu Yuan pushed the cart to the underground parking lot, loading the items into the trunk.

“Oh no.”

Meng Fu Yuan looked at Chen Qing Wu, “What’s wrong?”

“My car is still at home.”

“I’ll go back in a few days and bring it here.”

“Why go back?” Chen Qing Wu was curious.

“…To fulfill a promise?”

“Huh?”

Meng Fu Yuan reluctantly admitted, “Last year during the Spring Festival, we went to the temple together to pray. Remember? I accidentally drew a fortune slip.”

“Oh, I remember. You didn’t show us the fortune. What did it say?”

“…It said ‘The Red Luan star moves’.” Meng Fu Yuan’s tone was very reluctant.

Chen Qing Wu laughed heartily, finding it especially incongruous coming from Meng Fu Yuan. “Do you believe in that?”

“As long as it brings us together, I can believe in anything.”

“Then you should believe in yourself. I chose you because of you, not because of anything else,” Chen Qing Wu said earnestly.

They got up at 2 PM today, and lunch was hastily settled in the basement level of the mall.

Since it wasn’t too far from dinner time, they went to a bakery and a flower shop to pick out some desserts and fresh flowers.

Sometimes, it was hard not to marvel at how fast times had changed. When she was a child, most shops would close the night before New Year’s Eve, but now it was so convenient.

After dinner, they returned to the apartment.

They put the purchased items into the refrigerator and arranged the fresh flowers in a vase.

It didn’t seem long before they checked the time and saw it was already past nine.

“I’ll go take a shower first.” Chen Qing Wu took out her phone and snapped a photo of the light purple eustoma in the vase before speaking.

She knew there was a certain deliberate calmness in her voice, relative to the unspoken understanding of what was about to happen.

Meng Fu Yuan nodded, “Okay.” His voice was even calmer.

Chen Qing Wu took a shower and changed into her pajamas. As she walked out of the bathroom, she saw the balcony door of the master bedroom was open, and Meng Fu Yuan was leaning against the railing, smoking.

Chen Qing Wu walked over. Meng Fu Yuan turned when he heard her, immediately putting out the cigarette and pulling her into his arms, “It’s cold outside. Put on a coat before you come out.”

The lights at night looked clean and bright, seemingly more beautiful than her impression of the Eastern City.

The air was chilly, but having just taken a shower, her body was still warm, so she didn’t feel cold.

Still worried she might catch a cold, Meng Fu Yuan went inside, found a long thick robe in the closet, and wrapped her in it.

“Just look for a while and then go inside. It’s windy outside and you could catch a cold. I’ll go take a shower first.”

Chen Qing Wu nodded.

After his shower, Meng Fu Yuan changed into black silk pajamas and glanced at the balcony, only to see Chen Qing Wu still there.

He walked over to her and pressed down on her head, “Why don’t you listen?”

“I’m fine. I’m not cold,” Chen Qing Wu laughed. “The night view is so beautiful. It would be perfect with some beer.”

Upon hearing this, Meng Fu Yuan was about to leave.

Chen Qing Wu quickly grabbed his arm, “I was just saying. If I drink, I’ll have to brush my teeth again. What a hassle.”

Her hands were indeed warm, so Meng Fu Yuan felt a little relieved. Seeing that she didn’t want to go inside for a while, he decided to stay with her.

The night was quiet, and a distant horn sounded, making the space feel empty and distant, like a trace of homesickness for a wanderer.

Holidays always brought out more emotions in people.

After a long silence, Chen Qing Wu suddenly spoke, “Meng Fu Yuan.”

“Hmm?” Meng Fu Yuan lowered his head slightly.

“Do you remember when you asked me why I decided to give up on Qi Ran? I said my love was wasted like water. That was the fundamental reason. The final straw was…”

Chen Qing Wu suddenly looked up at him, “He refused to kiss me.”

“Really.” Meng Fu Yuan’s voice was extremely calm. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms, “I don’t understand. Because I always want to…”

Before he could finish, he cupped her face and leaned down. His tongue invaded her mouth, entwining with hers, and from the start, there was no gentle prelude.

Chen Qing Wu swallowed, stood on tiptoe, and pressed herself against Meng Fu Yuan.

Her heart pounded like a drum, giving her the illusion of falling. She had to wrap her arms tightly around his neck.

“Qing Wu…” Meng Fu Yuan spoke during a break to catch his breath, his voice low and short, “…I’m afraid it’s too fast for you.”

Chen Qing Wu shook her head.

In the next instant, Meng Fu Yuan didn’t hesitate. He bent slightly and picked her up, cradling her in his arms.

Entering the room, he closed the balcony door and drew the blackout curtains.

Chen Qing Wu fell into a deep gray, looking into Meng Fu Yuan’s deep eyes.

For a brief moment, he lowered his head and kissed her again.

Warm breaths moved from her lips to her ears, down her neck, while his fingertips, cool as frost, found themselves immersed in softness and warmth. It was unclear who melted whom.

Chen Qing Wu’s eyes opened in a hazy blur.

She loved the bedroom’s lamp, a soft yellow that resembled moonlight in dreams. It cast a light that made Meng Fu Yuan appear heartbreakingly handsome. Even with a smoldering fire in his eyes, his expression remained intensely cold, a contrast that was utterly captivating.

In their deep kiss, Chen Qing Wu raised her hand, hooking a finger into the black robe’s tie. Staring straight into Meng Fu Yuan’s eyes, she pulled, letting the robe fall as she rose to embrace him.

The sensation was unobstructed.

Meng Fu Yuan shuddered.

Chen Qing Wu lifted her head to kiss his Adam’s apple, feeling it move up and down.

In the next moment, Meng Fu Yuan pressed her shoulders down, covering her. He sought refuge on her chest.

His fingertips wandered like wind stirring a still lake, creating ripples.

He repeated his morning actions, only slower and more patient.

As a child, she used to play in the mountains, not far along the path was a square stone pool, covered in moss, its original appearance long lost.

After the rain, she would squat by the pool, washing her hands, causing the full pool to overflow, soaking the moss. When the wind rustled through the trees, the air carried a green, wet scent.

This tranquility brewed an even greater storm, dissipating Chen Qing Wu’s patience.

She hugged Meng Fu Yuan’s head, “Meng Fu Yuan…”

“Hmm…?”

“That’s enough…”

“Are you sure?” Meng Fu Yuan’s voice was husky, as if he had swallowed rough sand.

“Mmh…”

Meng Fu Yuan no longer hesitated.

Chen Qing Wu’s arms wrapped around his shoulders, her fingers instinctively digging into his skin.

Meng Fu Yuan immediately paused, bending down to kiss her, unprecedentedly gentle.

Chen Qing Wu took a shallow breath. Despite her mental preparation, adjusting took far more effort than expected. After a while, she quietly told him to continue. Meng Fu Yuan kept watching her expression, his forehead beaded with sweat. Whenever she frowned, he would stop.

Chen Qing Wu found this prolonged process unbearable, so she closed her eyes and decided to take control, moving forward herself.

Meng Fu Yuan’s brow twitched, “Qing Wu…”

Chen Qing Wu remained silent, resting her chin on his shoulder, trembling slightly.

Meng Fu Yuan couldn’t describe his feelings. His first instinct was to kiss her forehead, then find her eyes.

They were wet, like a misty morning.

For a long time, he scrutinized his surroundings and himself.

He knew he wasn’t noble, but Chen Qing Wu’s happiness was his top priority. If Meng Qi Ran could make her happy, he would wish them well; if it were someone else, he would bless them too.

In this mindset, he had never fantasized that the person could be him.

But at this very moment, she had undoubtedly and unreservedly accepted him. This not only resolved all the unrequited love he had endured but also gave him a place in this chaotic world where he could belong.

“Qing Wu…”

Chen Qing Wu felt that this single word was laden with endless emotions. Just as she was about to turn her head, he immediately lowered his, burying his face in the crook of her neck to avoid her gaze. His breath was heavy as he said, “Don’t look at me, Qing Wu.”

Chen Qing Wu remained silent.

After a long while, Meng Fu Yuan slowly turned his head, planting a kiss on her lips. He paused for a moment, then kissed her deeply, the intensity carrying a hint of fierceness.

From that moment on, it was like a storm.

She felt as though she were plunging into the deepest abyss, continually losing and simultaneously gaining.

“Qing Wu…”

Chen Qing Wu’s eyes, misted with tears, looked at Meng Fu Yuan.

He was gazing at her intently, just as he had done for so many years whenever they met eyes.

He said, “I hope when I say this now, you won’t think I’m just speaking on a whim.”

“…What?”

“I love you.”

The crescendo of an impassioned symphony reached its final note, the air still vibrating with its echo.

Chen Qing Wu was tightly embraced by Meng Fu Yuan.

Her mind went blank for a long time before she felt her consciousness, heartbeat, and breathing slowly return.

It was like emerging from underwater, instinctively taking deep breaths of oxygen.

“Meng…” Chen Qing Wu began, her voice hoarse, barely able to speak.

Meng Fu Yuan leaned closer, his hand brushing her forehead, smoothing her sweat-dampened hair. “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head.

Meng Fu Yuan understood that she might just want to call out to him.

He reached over for a thin blanket, wrapped her in it, and held her close.

She opened her slightly reddened eyes, glanced at him, then looked away, “Can you high achievers not perform everything at such a high level?”

Meng Fu Yuan laughed.

As their heartbeats gradually returned to normal, the air still held a trace of heaviness.

Chen Qing Wu suddenly spoke, “I still want that beer.”

Meng Fu Yuan immediately slipped on his pajamas.

As he reached the door, Chen Qing Wu added, “I want it cold.”

A short while later, Meng Fu Yuan returned with a can of ice-cold beer, opened it, and handed it to her.

Wrapped in the blanket, she took a sip and then softly said, “I forgot to respond to something you said.”

“Hmm?”

“I love you too.”