Chapter 16

In the morning, Youyi woke up to find it was already 11 o’clock.

Even on weekends, she had never slept in this late. Last night, she had slept so deeply that it carried over to midday.

The feeling of waking up was different from any other day.

The air conditioner in the bedroom was on, making it cool, and she had a thin layer of sweat on her back. When she moved slightly, she realized she was in Fu Cheng’s arms.

Her neck rested on his arm, her cheek pressed against his shoulder, and her legs, bare from the ankles down, just brushed against his lower legs.

“Awake?” Fu Cheng’s deep voice inquired from above.

Waking up with someone beside her for the first time felt unreal. She slowly lifted her head and looked into Fu Cheng’s dark eyes.

“Have you just woken up too?” Youyi turned away, awkwardly trying to find something to say.

How had she ended up agreeing to let Fu Cheng stay here last night?

To be honest, Youyi couldn’t remember clearly. She vaguely recalled Fu Cheng asking her something, but she was so disoriented at the time that her mind couldn’t process his words.

“I’ve been awake for a while,” Fu Cheng said.

Fu Cheng had a regular routine. Even if he stayed up late, he would wake up at his usual time the next morning. When he woke up, Youyi was in a deep sleep.

He had even gotten up to brush his teeth and wash his face, then returned to hold her in his arms again, and she hadn’t stirred.

She really could sleep well.

If it weren’t for her steady breathing—

He had been awake for a while. Why hadn’t he gotten up?

Had he been just watching her sleep?

Fu Cheng’s arm was still around her waist, not letting go. After he woke up, he had just stayed there, waiting.

He had never experienced waking up to find someone so obediently lying in his arms.

Opening his eyes, he saw a home filled with warmth and affection.

Fu Cheng asked, “Should we get up now?”

If they didn’t get up, it would be noon soon, and besides, she couldn’t sleep any longer like this.

Youyi sat up from his arms, and Fu Cheng also sat up. Youyi heard him ask, “Do you want breakfast or lunch?”

The question sounded casual but had an undertone of sarcasm.

Youyi replied, “I’ll brush my teeth first.”

There was a faint smell of alcohol on her, not too strong, but she wasn’t used to it. She brushed her teeth thoroughly, washed her face with clean water, and when she returned to the room, she just applied a little moisturizer.

Fu Cheng had taken off his shirt and changed into new clothes. Youyi caught a glimpse of the scar on his lower back in the mirror again.

It was more visible in daylight, longer than what she had seen the previous night.

She stared at it, unable to look away.

Fu Cheng noticed her gaze as he finished changing.

He glanced over, his eyelids lowering slightly, and he touched the calluses on his fingers, saying in a soft voice, “You felt it last night.”

The abs.

Eight-pack abs.

Fu Cheng paused and asked, “Do you want to touch them again?”

He downplayed her curiosity, but he suddenly remembered how he had asked her to try sitting up last night, which revealed new insights about him.

Fu Cheng’s stamina was boundless.

In fact, it didn’t even amount to a fraction of his full capacity.

Youyi wanted to ask him something, but the words stuck in her throat. Her legs felt weak, and she almost swayed when she stood up.

Fu Cheng gathered her long hair behind her head, feeling the thin sweat on the back of her neck, and noticed her skin was a soft, pale white.

He emitted a subtle dangerous aura, causing Youyi to shrink back.

He always came on so directly, with no preparation.

“I still have a lot of homework to finish,” Youyi said honestly.

Fu Cheng held her hand and, without waiting for her reaction, kissed the tip of her finger.

His lips were a bit dry and rough against her fingertip, making her heart race, her eyes full of turbulent emotions.

“I’ll go get you something to eat.”

*

Youyi found her phone was dead and turned it on after plugging it in. Her WeChat instantly filled with messages.

Huang Youyi: [Ding Youyi, where have you been all night? Ignoring everyone!]

Youyi: [I was at home.]

Huang Youyi: [What were you doing at home?]

At home…it’s hard to say.

Maybe she was just exhausted from training at the base, which made her sleep so long when she got back.

Huang Youyi thought this might be the case and didn’t ask further.

Huang Youyi had also gone home yesterday. She spent the morning scrolling through the news, feeling relieved she hadn’t gone out, but also envious of those who had.

In short, she felt conflicted.

And then she played with her phone.

Huang Youyi: [The guy, Du Li, I thought he had quieted down. Now he’s spreading rumors that he’s been with you.]

The original words about Du Li were even harsher, claiming that Ding Youyi seemed pretty but was actually unpleasant, and that he lost interest after a couple of encounters. Now, he wasn’t interested in her anymore.

Huang Youyi thought, if she ever saw him, she’d give him a piece of her mind.

It’s disgusting how he not only acts like a nuisance but also spreads malicious rumors. Is he from a cesspool? Everything about him stinks.

The affair between Ding Youyi and Du Li was old news, and people in the medical school knew a bit about it, so those who knew Youyi wouldn’t believe Du Li’s claims.

But whether or not people believe these rumors, the damage is always done to the girl.

Huang Youyi reminded her because he was worried that she might stir up trouble again.

Huang Youyi: [Be extra careful these days. Some people might lash out like cornered animals.]

If it were before, Youyi would really be worried.

Now, when Huang Youyi said this to her, Youyi felt it wasn’t a big deal.

Her calmness stemmed from the fact that before any potential danger even arrived, she had already thought of Fu Cheng.

Fu Cheng was slowly occupying more and more space in her life, so her fear and anxiety were gradually decreasing as well.

Youyi: [Don’t worry, nothing’s going to happen.]

Huang Youyi: [Wanna catch a movie tonight? A few new films just premiered for National Day, and they look good.]

On such a day of national celebration, how could one not go out and soak up the festive atmosphere?

Youyi glanced at the marks on her collarbone.

In this awkward season where wearing turtlenecks seemed odd, it didn’t seem like she could go out.

So, Youyi could only decline: [No thanks, it sounds boring.]

While they were chatting, Fu Cheng came back.

He was carrying two bags, one filled with packed meals, and the other with meat and vegetables from the supermarket.

Youyi asked, “Are you going to cook?”

Fu Cheng placed the bags down and nodded in acknowledgment.

Since they were both home, it wasn’t reasonable to keep ordering takeout—cooking was better than eating out.

Fu Cheng didn’t look like someone who could cook, so Youyi was skeptical but didn’t voice her doubt.

Around five in the afternoon, he started preparing dinner in the kitchen.

As Youyi passed by while getting water, she glanced over, and Fu Cheng said, “Come help.”

His tone was cold, but still forceful, reminiscent of the way he used to bark orders during training.

Youyi put down her cup. “What can I help with?”

Fu Cheng: “Wash the vegetables.”

He had bought a pound of beef brisket and two potatoes—probably to make potato-braised beef brisket—and two racks of ribs along with some mushrooms and fungi.

“What flavor do you like for the ribs?” Youyi soaked the mushrooms and then began washing the ribs and brisket.

“What flavor do you like?”

“Sweet and sour.”

Youyi said, “My grandmother used to make sweet and sour ribs that were delicious. She’d add a bit of ketchup, a little white vinegar, and more sugar because I liked them on the sweeter side.”

She said it once, and Fu Cheng remembered.

He put the brisket on to simmer, prepared another pot for mushroom soup with meat slices, and after blanching the ribs, caramelized them in rock sugar until they turned a jujube-red color, adding extra sugar just for her.

He was really making sweet and sour ribs.

Youyi had recently started learning to cook but hadn’t yet tackled dishes this complicated. She also doubted whether Fu Cheng could pull it off.

After a while, a familiar aroma wafted from the kitchen—meat wrapped in sweet and sour sauce. Youyi peeked in and saw that the ribs had turned a golden color; they looked decent.

Youyi sniffed the air and asked him, “You can cook?”

His kitchen at home looked so new, like it hadn’t been used much, so she had assumed he wasn’t the type to cook.

“I know how to cook a little,” Fu Cheng brought out the dishes. “Otherwise, how would I survive living on my own?”

“Can I taste it?” Youyi asked cautiously. Seeing that Fu Cheng didn’t object, she picked up a piece of rib.

The taste was sweet and sour, with a heavier sweetness—just like her grandmother used to make.

“Well, now we have someone to cook at home,” Youyi sighed, not realizing how strange her words sounded. Fu Cheng paused for a moment but then saw her smiling with her cheeks puffed out as she ate.

He slid the ribs closer to her.

After dinner, Fu Cheng went to wash the dishes, and Youyi felt she should contribute something too, so she stood beside him, helping to put the washed dishes back in the cupboard.

“No need for you to do this.” Fu Cheng gestured for her to step aside.

Maybe she was just getting in his way.

So Youyi stood by the door, but her gaze kept drifting back toward him.

After finishing, Fu Cheng wiped his hands clean and caught her staring.

Fu Cheng: “Why are you watching me?”

Her gaze wavered, and she quickly suppressed her nervousness, as if she had just witnessed something she wasn’t supposed to.

“Do you like what you see?” Fu Cheng’s voice had barely faded when he pulled her close, pressing her against him, leaving no space between them. His firm muscles made her body heat up.

He lightly pinched her fingers and then lowered his head to kiss her earlobe. His lips were a bit dry, and a spark of electricity surged from her ear, making her curl her toes. She thought he would continue kissing downwards, but to her surprise, Fu Cheng let her go.

“I’m heading back. You should rest,” he said coolly as he released her and turned to leave.

“Fu Cheng,” Youyi called out, a bit anxious.

She furrowed her brows, looking pitiful.

“You said,” Fu Cheng’s eyes darkened, his voice low, “once a month.”

It was only the first of the month, and their quota had already been used up.

With that, he really left.

After he left, Youyi went to take a shower. When she came out, her face was even redder from the heat. The clock barely pointed to eight. She covered her face, feeling embarrassed for a full three minutes, unable to stand it any longer. So, she knocked on the door next door.

Fu Cheng had just showered too. The scent of him overwhelmed her, and when he saw her lips flushed red and her eyes brimming with water, she lowered her head in shame and whispered, “I didn’t mean it.”

There was an extremely dangerous look in Fu Cheng’s eyes, as if he had been waiting for this moment. He paused for a few seconds, then leaned in, continuing the kiss that had been left unfinished.

Youyi wrapped her arms around his waist, her fingers pressing against his body, finding it comforting. In a small voice, she whispered, “Kiss me lower.”

Fu Cheng scooped her up, and with a “bang,” the door closed behind them.