After delivering their luggage to the dorm’s doorstep, Yun Li and Fu Zhengchu decided to accompany Fu Shizhe to the campus gate.

The campus’s greenery was exquisite, with lush trees lining the pathways. Nearing noon, the sunlight cast a crisscross pattern of light and shadows on the ground. The three of them walked side by side on the brick path, enjoying the gentle breeze with a feeling of comfort and ease.

The path was crowded with students new to the school year, many of whom, like them, were laden with bags and sweating profusely.

Yun Li couldn’t help but feel grateful.

After hesitating for a while, she thought about asking them to join her for a meal.

After much deliberation, she still couldn’t bring herself to ask.

To the gate, Fu Zhengchu chattered away, introducing Yun Li to the school’s environment. Before leaving, Fu Shizhe quickly reminded Fu Zhengchu, “Take good care of yourself.”

Then he looked up at Yun Li.

“You too.”

Yun Li immediately regretted not inviting them for a meal, even if it meant facing rejection.

To have at least mustered the courage to ask would have been something

Graduate life turned out to be less busy than Yun Li had anticipated. Once her class schedule was set, she found herself with several days off each week. Not being particularly diligent, she often did nothing on her days off.

During these idle moments, she frequently found herself thinking of Fu Shizhe.

This was the first time in her life that Yun Li had found herself so inexplicably preoccupied with another person so frequently.

It was as if she’d been bewitched.

Despite Fu Shizhe’s always keeping people at arm’s length and bluntly rejecting whatever Yun Li said, he probably grew tired of the numerous people asking for his contact over the years.

The Mid-Autumn Festival arrived quickly.

Deng Chuqi called her, mentioning that both she and Xia from Sound’s companies had distributed mooncakes, and since the two of them couldn’t finish them all, they decided to give Yun Li a box.

Yun Li wasn’t particularly fond of mooncakes but didn’t want to waste their kind gesture.

They agreed to meet at a Hunan cuisine restaurant near the school.

Due to the Mid-Autumn holiday, most college students not going home would dine out. This restaurant was well-regarded in the area and a favorite among students from Nanwu Institute of Technology University, bustling with lively chatter.

Deng Chuqi quickly ordered a few dishes and then handed the menu to Yun Li, asking, “Do you plan to go home for the National Day holiday?”

“Not really, it’s still too soon,” Yun Li responded, remembering her conversation with Yun Yongchang and shaking her head. “I still want to keep my life.”

“What do you plan to do with your life then?” Deng Chuqi seemed unsurprised. “If you’re not doing anything, why don’t you stay with me? Xiaxia always goes back to her hometown during holidays, leaving me all alone.”

Thinking she had no other plans, Yun Li agreed.

As they spoke, Deng Chuqi suddenly sighed, “My high school deskmate sent me a wedding invitation a few days ago.

“After telling my mom, she asked me if I had someone.

“I wish she’d learn from other moms and set me up on more blind dates.

“How can she not try a bit harder?”

Yun Li almost spat out her water.

“Speaking of which, how are things progressing with Xiaxia’s uncle?” Knowing Yun Li had never been in a relationship, Deng Chuqi couldn’t predict how Yun Li would act around someone she liked.

“Pretty good,” Yun Li replied lightly.

Deng Chuqi was shocked and pressed, “How did it progress?”

Laozi once said, ‘To have is to have not, to not have is to have.’ My ‘not having’ has reached such a state, isn’t that pretty good?”

“…”

Given their previous interactions, on the morning of the 11th, Yun Li packed her clothes in the dorm and headed straight to Deng Chuqi’s place.

By the time she arrived, Xia from Sound had already gone back to her grandparents. The two had no plans to go out, each sprawling on a couch, idly passing most of their time.

Xia from Sound returned the day before the end of the National Day holiday, followed by Fu Zhengchu holding bags and bags of stuff.

After greeting them, Fu Zhengchu said, “I should head down now. I’m afraid Uncle might leave without me.”

“Oh, right,” Xia from Sound turned to Yun Li, “Li Li, my uncle is now taking my brother back to school. Do you want to go with them? That way, you don’t need to take the ride back alone.”

Originally, Yun Li had planned on ordering takeout with Deng Chuqi and then leaving after eating. Before she could politely refuse, Deng Chuqi had already agreed to her.

“Sure!”

Meeting Yun Li’s puzzled gaze, she blinked, implying more than she said: “I wouldn’t feel comfortable with you going back so late by yourself. Since there’s a ride available, of course, you should take it!”

Yun Li couldn’t ignore the matchmaking hint in her eyes.

Hesitantly, Yun Li said, “But I need some time to pack.”

At this, Fu Zhengchu didn’t mind, pulling out his phone, “Then I’ll tell my uncle to wait.”

“…”

Deng Chuqi exposed her, “What do you have that needs packing? Plus, you can leave some stuff here; it’s not like you won’t come back.”

Left with no choice, Yun Li went back to her room to get her things ready.

Before leaving, Xia from Sound remembered to say, “Oh, right, Li Li, I forgot these past few days at home. I just sent you a few job postings. See if you’re interested in any.”

Yun Li was taken aback, having not expected Xia from Sound to mention it so casually without intending to bother her.

Xia from Sound added, “There’s also one that Xu Qing Song mentioned verbally. EAW is looking for an HR and Administration Specialist, possibly other positions too. I’ll send you their HR’s WeChat later.”

…

Returning to the car a few days later,

Once the car started, to ease Yun Li’s awkwardness, Fu Zhengchu initiated the conversation, “Sister Li Li, are you looking for an internship recently?”

“Yes.”

“Are you considering EAW?” Fu Zhengchu said with a hint of grievance, “I wanted to intern this summer too, but my mom kept calling me to watch the store.”

“…”

Yun Li glanced at Fu Shizhe, unsure how to respond.

“I think EAW is not a bad choice. At least the compensation is good, and my brother is quite generous to his employees,” Fu Zhengchu unintentionally brought up a sensitive topic, “Plus, my uncle works there too, so you guys can look out for each other.”

He then looked for confirmation from the related party: “Right, Uncle?”

Fu Shizhe gave him a look.

Perhaps intimidated, Fu Zhengchu didn’t dare to trouble Fu Shizhe under the guise of politeness. Quickly, he switched to a more reasonable topic: “Sister Li Li and your place is near Haitian City, so it’s convenient.”

Although Yun Li remained silent, she couldn’t help but feel guilty.

“Alright, I’ll think about it.”

Heading down the road, they first passed by the Nanwu Institute of Technology, then to Qilixiang Dwellings.

Fu Zhengchu got off first, leaving the two of them in the car.

The silence resumed.

Yun Li felt as if she was back to the night they first met, only this time she was seated in the back.

She was too preoccupied with the current situation to feel uncomfortable. From his perspective, a stranger had made several odd gestures towards him out of the blue, and now suddenly wanted to work in the same unit he was in.

Anyone would suspect an ulterior motive.

Yun Li was torn about whether to explain. Before she could speak, Fu Shizhe suddenly asked, “Yun Li Li?”

Yun Li was taken aback, the soft intonation of his voice sounding almost… cute?

Before she could discern the origin of this nickname, Yun Li heard him ask, “Where did you buy your cake the other day?”

“Cake?” Quickly realizing he meant the Swiss rolls, Yun Li answered, “I made it myself.”

Fu Shizhe paused, then simply acknowledged, “Hmm.”

Yun Li carefully inquired, “Why?”

Fu Shizhe replied, “The elders at home liked it.”

“Oh, I usually make quite a lot, and I can’t finish it by myself. It’s a waste to leave it in the fridge,” Yun Li said, “If your family likes it, I can bring some over next time.”

Right at the entrance to the residential area, Fu Shizhe stopped the car, “Thanks, but no need to bother.”

Though Yun Li was the one being refused,

She couldn’t help but marvel at how steadfast he was.

After being turned down so many times, Yun Li had grown somewhat numb. Her thoughts still lingered on his nickname and the recent interaction as she absentmindedly nodded, “Then I’ll head back.”

As she reached for the car door handle, she paused.

Yun Li couldn’t resist saying, “I’ve been looking for internships recently, so Xiaxia helped me check out a few, but I haven’t decided where to send my resume.” After a pause, she tentatively added, “Do you have any thoughts?”

She couldn’t outright say, “I might go for an interview at EAW, and if you dislike me, I won’t go.”

If he had any objections, she could straight away cross EAW off her list.

Fu Shizhe turned around.

Silence.

From his expression, Yun Li might have been overinterpreting, but at that moment, she could read “What does it have to do with me?” on his face.

Upon reflection, it indeed was overthinking on her part; where she chose to work had nothing to do with him. It sounded as if he cared about whether or not she’d appear before him.

Before she could think of a way to salvage the situation,

Fu Shizhe suddenly asked, “What internships did Xia Congsheng recommend to you?”

“Huh?” Yun Li instinctively took out her phone and handed it to him, “These.”

Fu Shizhe looked them over. The information Xia Congsheng sent included company profiles and job requirements. Fu Shizhe briefly scanned them, occasionally asking her about her major and her expectations for the job.

The evening light cast on his side face, revealing a layer of fine fuzz. His light-colored shirt also caught a pattern of specks.

It was as if bunches of fireworks, following the rhythm of her heartbeat, shot into the sky and exploded in layers, turning the world into a dazzling array of colors. The person in front of her, at this moment, seemed to have closed the distance between them.

After a few minutes, Fu Shizhe, like explaining a subject, compared the pros and cons of several companies. Finally, he objectively gave her an answer.

“EAW would be a better fit for you.”