The situation took a sudden turn, completely beyond Chen Qing Wu’s expectations.

At this critical moment, Chen Qing Wu inexplicably thought of her father, Chen Suiliang’s, evaluation of Meng Fu Yuan.

It must have been during a New Year’s card game one year when Meng Fu Yuan won four rounds in a row, leaving everyone frustrated.

At that time, Chen Suiliang said he feared playing cards with Fu Yuan the most. Not only did he stay calm and composed, but no matter how bad his hand was, he could always find a sliver of hope and turn the situation around with careful maneuvering.

And now, it was exactly like that.

She never expected to be countered like this.

Her brain short-circuited, and her heart seemed to malfunction.

Meng Fu Yuan stared at her steadily, giving her no chance to evade the topic.

“…I really don’t have the ability to say one thing and mean another.” Finally, Chen Qing Wu closed her eyes and said resignedly, “You understand me better than I do.”

Meng Fu Yuan felt the breath caught in his throat slowly release.

He took her wrist and guided her to sit on the sofa.

He sat on the coffee table opposite, leaning forward slightly.

Their knees were touching, reminiscent of a previous scene.

Meng Fu Yuan looked at Chen Qing Wu, reached out, and took her hand resting on her leg.

She hesitated but did not resist.

He held her hand, gazed at her, and earnestly said, “Qing Wu, I just hope all your decisions come from your true feelings. The only reason I can accept for you to distance yourself from me is if you tell me you have no interest in me.”

“…You already know that’s not true.”

Their palms pressed together, and Chen Qing Wu could feel the thin layer of sweat on Meng Fu Yuan’s palm, as if he was never afraid to let her know his weakness—he was actually terrified.

“But I have to tell you, it’s only this much…” Chen Qing Wu raised her other hand, pinching her thumb and forefinger together to indicate a small amount, then slightly widened the gap, “Just this much.”

Meng Fu Yuan chuckled softly.

He lowered his head, pressing his forehead against the back of her hand that he was holding.

In a husky voice, he said, “Any amount is enough.”

For someone who has dwelled in darkness, even a tiny glow of a firefly is precious.

He had worked so hard to finally gain a place in her heart.

Chen Qing Wu looked down at Meng Fu Yuan, feeling moved and unable to control it.

Such a dignified person, performing an action like resting his forehead on her hand, signaled a devout infatuation.

The back of her hand felt as if it was being branded with heat.

“Meng Fu Yuan…”

He lifted his head when his name was called.

“…Why do you like me?” Chen Qing Wu couldn’t help but ask.

“I want to know why you only ask now?” Meng Fu Yuan looked at her, “Were you afraid to ask before?”

“…..”

“Did I hit the mark again?”

Chen Qing Wu tried to pull her hand back, but Meng Fu Yuan immediately held it tighter, “Do you remember that time? I transferred flights from North City and went with Qi Ran to pick you up from school for dinner.”

Chen Qing Wu nodded.

“At that time, you were working on ceramics, very focused. I didn’t recognize you at first.”

“And then?”

“And then…”

Meng Fu Yuan realized it was too difficult to analyze his feelings face-to-face, “…Do you have to know now?”

“Are you afraid to tell me now that I’ve asked?” Chen Qing Wu chuckled.

“Not afraid.”

The openness in his tone left her speechless.

“Alright…then you must tell me next time.”

“Okay.”

While they were talking, Meng Fu Yuan gently held her hand, a gesture that was not flirtatious but extremely intimate.

When you start to crave, doesn’t it mean you’re one step closer to falling completely?

She had a premonition that it wouldn’t be long before she lost all reason to resist.

Suddenly, there was a vibration on the coffee table.

It was Meng Fu Yuan’s phone.

Chen Qing Wu immediately withdrew her hand, “…Your call.”

Meng Fu Yuan reached over to check, “It’s a work call. Please excuse me.”

“…It’s fine, take it.”

Meng Fu Yuan picked up the phone and walked towards the window.

Chen Qing Wu picked up the glass of water on the coffee table and drank it all. Still feeling thirsty, she took the glass to the kitchen island.

While refilling her glass, she glanced at Meng Fu Yuan’s back by the window, then raised her hand to press her cheek, trying to cool it down quickly.

The call was brief; it seemed to be someone from the technical department reporting progress. It ended quickly.

As soon as the call ended, Chen Qing Wu spoke, “Um…I might need to go back.”

Meng Fu Yuan looked over, “Not staying a bit longer?”

“…You just returned from a trip, don’t you need to rest early?”

“I’d be lucky not to suffer insomnia tonight.”

Chen Qing Wu couldn’t help but smile.

“Would you like a tour?”

Chen Qing Wu detected a casual tone in his words, “…Sure.”

The apartment was a three-bedroom, two-living room layout, with standard, straightforward décor.

Following Meng Fu Yuan, she said, “I always thought you bought a house here in East City.”

“Haven’t had time to arrange that. This place is close to the company, so it’s convenient.”

She took only a quick glance inside the master bedroom and then exited.

The guest bedroom was spacious, adjacent to the guest bathroom, with no signs of being lived in.

“Pei Shao said he lives upstairs? Why didn’t you two share an apartment?”

“He’s too noisy.”

Chen Qing Wu chuckled.

As they spoke, Meng Fu Yuan opened the door to the study.

Despite being a rented apartment, the study was the only space that was meticulously arranged, much like Meng Fu Yuan’s study in South City, complete with a desk, workstation, and reading nook, and shelves filled to the brim.

Walking around the workbench in the middle of the study, she noticed a small mechanical figure.

About forty centimeters tall, in a steampunk style, its body and limbs made up of various parts, with two round gears for eyes.

“Is it an ornament? It’s so interesting.”

“It’s a robot. Voice-controlled.”

Chen Qing Wu quickly asked how to operate it.

Meng Fu Yuan said, “Frankenstein.”

The robot’s gear eyes moved, then it made a “clack clack” sound as if it was jammed.

Meng Fu Yuan commanded, “Turn off the study light.”

The robot responded, “Yes, sir.”

The study light turned off.

In the darkness, Meng Fu Yuan commanded again, “Turn on the desk lamp.”

The light from the living room seeped in, so the study wasn’t completely dark. Chen Qing Wu could see the robot’s actions:

It took stuttering steps with its bolt-assembled legs towards the desk lamp. Once in front of the lamp, it bent at the waist, moved its arms, as if fine-tuning.

Moments later, it pressed down on the lamp’s button.

The warm yellow light illuminated the area around the workbench.

“Did you make this yourself?” Chen Qing Wu asked in awe.

“Yes. I wrote a simple algorithm for fun. It’s low-level AI, no different from a toy.”

“And the medical robotic arms your company makes, what level are they?”

“They support remote operations for minimally invasive surgery, with 3D vision and tactile feedback.”

“Can they replace surgeons?”

“Not yet. Besides technical issues, there are ethical concerns.”

Chen Qing Wu nodded, “But I believe that one day most industries will be replaced by AI, even my field.”

“I think there will always be space for handcrafted work in your field.”

Chen Qing Wu laughed, “I hope I’m not out of a job by then.”

She walked up to examine the little robot closely.

Honestly, since Meng Fu Yuan went to university, her understanding of him was limited to what elders and Meng Qi Ran mentioned: he got an Ivy League offer, graduated smoothly, started a company, successfully developed products, secured funding, formed partnerships…

It seemed like a “successful elite” label could summarize everything about him.

If she hadn’t gotten close, how would she know he watched New Wave films, named his robot “Frankenstein,” and gave her a box of flowers as a gift?

And harbored such deep, restrained feelings.

She suddenly regretted not knowing anything about him before.

Chen Qing Wu held “Frankenstein’s” hand and said, “It’s very quiet here…”

Sensing there was more to her words, Meng Fu Yuan looked at her but didn’t speak.

Without looking back, she calmly said, “I’ll come to you in the future.”

A moment of silence.

Chen Qing Wu didn’t hear a response.

Feeling puzzled, she suddenly sensed a faint presence behind her. Then, an arm stretched out.

Brushing against her arm, it reached for “Frankenstein.”

He pressed a mechanical button on the robot’s chest, and it straightened up with a “clack clack” sound.

Meng Fu Yuan’s voice sounded from behind her, “Don’t overestimate me, Qing Wu. There are things I don’t do, not because I don’t want to.”

The hand that pressed the button dropped, naturally resting on the table beside her, “…In my place, I won’t make you this promise.”

Chen Qing Wu’s fingers clenched, her heart instantly in suspense, the slight weightlessness like riding a roller coaster.

His breath was heavy, right above her head.

Unable to breathe, let alone speak. She couldn’t determine if her immobility was due to fear or a hidden anticipation.

No prior experience to guide her.

The current situation was far beyond her coping abilities.

“Oh.”

Meng Fu Yuan paused.

Never did he expect such a reaction from Chen Qing Wu.

She released her grip, pressed her fingers on the table, and suddenly turned around.

Meng Fu Yuan immediately stepped back.

Chen Qing Wu looked up and met his eyes, “You don’t even dare to tell me why you like me. Who would believe your bluff?”

“…..”

After a moment, Meng Fu Yuan calmly said, “Frankenstein. Lights off.”

The robot made a “clack clack” sound.

As soon as the desk lamp button was pressed, the light went out.

In the darkness.

Chen Qing Wu blinked, now genuinely panicked, reaching out instinctively to push him away.

But she heard Meng Fu Yuan chuckle softly, then he reached out and turned the desk lamp back on.

Realizing Meng Fu Yuan never intended to do anything, as if predicting her reaction, she felt less provoked but steadied herself, asking, “…What time is it?”

Meng Fu Yuan glanced at his watch, “Ten-thirty.”

“…I should go.”

“Okay.”

Leaving the study, her heart was still pounding.

Passing through the living room, she paused slightly and looked at the coffee table, “That cup…”

Meng Fu Yuan went over, placed it back in the paper bag, and handed it to her, “If you don’t mind, I’ll give it to you.”

“It’s your first piece. Don’t you want to keep it as a memento?”

“Giving it to you is the best memento.”

Chen Qing Wu nodded, taken aback.

They entered the elevator together, Chen Qing Wu holding the paper bag, glancing at Meng Fu Yuan from the corner of her eye before looking away.

With a “ding,” the elevator door opened.

As she stepped out, she said, “You should go up; I can go back myself.”

“I’ll walk you.”

“I drove myself.”

“I know.”

“…You know and still walk me.”

Meng Fu Yuan kept walking, clearly insistent.

Chen Qing Wu had no choice but to go with him, “Then have your driver bring your car over.”

“Okay.”

Walking side by side outside, she laughed, “This is absurd.”

She thought the last time when she put a shared bike in the back of a Porsche was the most absurd thing she could imagine.

Meng Fu Yuan nodded, “Indeed.”

Meng Fu Yuan took her car keys to drive.

She didn’t refuse, happily taking the passenger seat.

The forty-minute drive was enough to extend the evening’s ups and downs.

Holding the paper bag, she opened the window a crack.

The night breeze was cool, but it couldn’t cool her mood.

They talked about nothing substantial, both somewhat absent-minded.

Before they knew it, they arrived at the studio.

After parking, she asked, “Where’s your driver?”

“Not sure. Should be close.”

“Want to wait inside?”

“No need. I’ll wait at the entrance…”

“Then I’ll wait in the car with you.”

She raised the volume a bit, the radio playing old songs she wasn’t really listening to.

Nor was Meng Fu Yuan.

Both silently enjoyed a shared, quiet moment.

About fifteen minutes later, Meng Fu Yuan’s phone rang.

The driver informed him the car was at the gate, almost there.

Within two minutes, two headlights cut through the night.

They both came to their senses.

Opening the car door, Meng Fu Yuan handed the keys back to Chen Qing Wu.

“…Text me when you get home,” she said, taking the keys.

“Okay.”

“Then…good night.”

“Good night.”

After a brief hesitation, she turned and walked towards the studio entrance.

Climbing the steps, just before unlocking the door, she instinctively turned back.

Not surprisingly, Meng Fu Yuan was still standing there, hands in his pockets, looking at her.

Her hand holding the key tightened, and she turned back to unlock the door, “You should go now.”

“Mm.”

Only then did Meng Fu Yuan open the car door.

Chen Qing Wu entered, turned on the light, and heard the car start outside. She glanced out, watched the car drive past the door, and then closed the door.

Walking to the coffee table, she took out the cup.

She squatted down and examined it closely when her phone vibrated.

[Brother Yuan patted me and was arrested for causing trouble.]

Meng Fu Yuan: …

Chen Qing Wu laughed.

She opened Meng Fu Yuan’s profile and changed his nickname to “Meng Fu Yuan.”

Then she replied: Serves you right for patting me randomly.

[Meng Fu Yuan patted me and was arrested for causing trouble.]

[Meng Fu Yuan patted me and was arrested for causing trouble.]