Meng Fu Yuan noticed Chen Qing Wu’s expression falter and realized he might have misspoken.

He was merely pointing out his younger brother’s shortcomings from an elder brother’s perspective, but it sounded like he was trying to sow discord.

Making Qing Wu unhappy was never his intention.

Trying to make up for it, he added, “But considering it’s Qi Ran, he’s already being thoughtful. He often forgets even his parents’ birthdays.”

Chen Qing Wu smiled, accepting his reassurance. “That’s how he is.”

Meng Fu Yuan placed the glass back on the shelf and checked his watch. “Finish up here a bit more, or come have dinner with me.”

“Let’s eat first and then come back to tidy up,” he suggested.

Chen Qing Wu dusted off her hands and walked to the sink by the workbench to wash them, telling Meng Fu Yuan to wait as she went to change her dusty clothes.

Meng Fu Yuan moved to another display shelf, which held Chen Qing Wu’s own favorite works.

There were cups, plates, and bowls of all shapes, with glazes in soft pink, green, and blue. The subtle and gentle glaze colors made the pieces seem warm just by looking at them.

Besides the set of white porcelain tea ware at the Meng house, the last time he saw her work was at her graduation exhibition.

He had been on a business trip in Munich and detoured to London.

At her graduation exhibition, Qing Wu displayed a simple water cup, with a very plain design and a glaze that seemed like the purple from freesia petals diluted a hundred times and mixed into water.

The gentle misty color made it seem like the perfect everyday water cup—unassuming but always bringing a sense of joy when used.

She named that cup “Flower and Mist” and later gave it to Meng Qi Ran.

Meng Fu Yuan had never seen Qi Ran use it, but once, while retrieving something from his room, he noticed it placed alone in a wooden display case with a glass front.

A soft, clear white light inside the case highlighted the glaze perfectly.

Meng Qi Ran had once gone through great lengths to get a signed football from his favorite Polish forward at Borussia Dortmund, but even that was placed with his other collectibles.

It showed how much he valued that cup.

Hearing footsteps behind him, Meng Fu Yuan came back to reality.

Chen Qing Wu had changed into a fitted short top and loose wide-leg pants, casually carrying a tote bag.

She didn’t spend much effort on her outfits; her natural demeanor made anything look good.

On the way, the city lights were already on.

The atmosphere in the car was quiet but noticeably less awkward than before.

Chen Qing Wu broke the silence, “Brother Yuan, which district is your company in?”

Meng Fu Yuan gave her the address.

“It doesn’t seem too far, driving should take about…”

“Half an hour. Forty minutes if there’s traffic.” Meng Fu Yuan glanced at her. “You can visit sometime when you’re free.”

Chen Qing Wu nodded, “Sure.”

They chatted lightly, and soon arrived at the restaurant.

It was tucked away in a quiet alley, hard to find.

Meng Fu Yuan had reserved a window seat. A lamp with a paper shade cast a soft orange-red light on the tablecloth, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of Sargent’s painting *A Dinner Table at Night*.

The waiter handed them the menu, which Meng Fu Yuan passed to Chen Qing Wu. “See what you’d like to eat.”

Chen Qing Wu didn’t hold back, scanned the menu, and ordered two dishes, then handed it back to Meng Fu Yuan.

He added two more dishes and told the waiter, “Please note the nut allergy.”

The waiter nodded, “Of course. I’ll place the order for you.”

Chen Qing Wu lifted her glass and took a sip of lemon water, then looked at Meng Fu Yuan.

“Brother Yuan.”

When she first learned to speak, her elders taught her to call him that, and it stuck.

Whenever she called him “Brother Yuan,” her voice was soft and clear, and Meng Fu Yuan felt an uncontrollable stir in his heart, feeling slightly ashamed.

“Hmm?” Meng Fu Yuan’s expression tightened slightly as he responded.

“I have a question for you.”

“Go ahead.”

Chen Qing Wu got straight to the point, “Did you cover part of the rent for the studio?”

Meng Fu Yuan paused, “Did Teacher Qian tell you that?”

“No, I guessed it myself.”

Since she had guessed, Meng Fu Yuan didn’t deny it. “Apart from the rent, are you satisfied with the environment and conditions?”

Chen Qing Wu nodded.

“Then that’s all that matters.” Meng Fu Yuan said calmly, “I did help with the rent. I also supported Qi Ran when he first started racing. As the older brother, it’s my duty to take care of my younger siblings.” He deliberately made his words sound grand.

Chen Qing Wu couldn’t find a rebuttal. Refusing would seem pretentious, and given the close relationship between the Chen and Meng families, there was no need for such formalities.

Meng Fu Yuan looked at her, “If you feel indebted, you can help me with something.”

Chen Qing Wu quickly responded, “Tell me!”

“I have a friend who runs a tea house and wants a custom tea set.”

Chen Qing Wu smiled, “This is you helping me, not the other way around. I’m getting an order even before opening.”

Meng Fu Yuan added, “It’s pro bono.”

“The first order should have a discount anyway. If it turns out well, having it in the tea house is good promotion for me. I’m fine with it, just worried your friend might not like my work.”

“That won’t happen.”

Chen Qing Wu said, “If they don’t mind, I can discuss it with them first.”

Meng Fu Yuan nodded, “I’ll arrange it.”

While chatting, their dishes were served, and they began to eat.

Meng Fu Yuan casually asked, “Does the studio need anything else?”

Chen Qing Wu put down her chopsticks, about to speak, but saw Meng Fu Yuan looking at her.

“Qing Wu, you don’t have to be so formal with me. Just speak freely. I’m not an elder.”

Chen Qing Wu was taken aback.

She wasn’t sure if it was because of his words or the look in his eyes behind his glasses, which seemed distinctly gentle and accommodating.

It was strange; she had never noticed before how gentle Meng Fu Yuan could be.

She picked up her chopsticks and started eating again. “I don’t think there’s anything missing at the moment.”

“If you need anything, let me know. I’m more familiar with Dongcheng than you.”

His tone wasn’t particularly warm, but it made her feel like she had someone reliable to depend on in Dongcheng.

—No matter how much she had feared Meng Fu Yuan in the past, she had to admit that in terms of reliability, no one could surpass him.

Chen Qing Wu nodded.

They chatted about Aunt Qi and her mother’s trip to Thailand with the two elders.

She realized it had been a long time since they had talked alone like this, probably not since Meng Fu Yuan went to college.

The atmosphere was far more relaxed and enjoyable than she had anticipated, and dinner passed by unnoticed.

Reflecting on the evening, she realized that while Meng Fu Yuan wasn’t overly talkative, he never let her topics die out, always adding a few words at the right moment to keep the conversation going.

They didn’t drink, so Meng Fu Yuan drove her back to the studio.

On the way back, they continued their conversation from dinner.

When she noticed the large sign for the cultural park, it felt like they had arrived in the blink of an eye.

The car stopped in front of the studio.

Chen Qing Wu unbuckled her seatbelt. “Brother Yuan, wait a moment. I have something for you.”

Meng Fu Yuan nodded, turning on the hazard lights.

He watched her get out of the car and jog into the studio.

A moment later, she came back with a paper bag.

She handed it to him with a smile. “This is a porcelain tile painting I made before leaving the Porcelain Capital. The whole batch was ruined except for this one. Thank you for taking care of me.”

Meng Fu Yuan paused before taking it.

Chen Qing Wu smiled, touching her nose lightly. “I always thought you didn’t like me.”

Meng Fu Yuan didn’t know whether to ask “Really?” or “And now?”

But Chen Qing Wu answered herself, “Now I think it was just my misunderstanding.”

Meng Fu Yuan looked at her, thinking, Of course, it was your misunderstanding.

Dislike only has one true opposite.

“Don’t want to take up more of your time.” Chen Qing Wu stepped back with a smile. “Drive safely.”

Meng Fu Yuan placed the paper bag on the leather seat beside him and nodded.

He drove to a wider area to turn around. As he passed the studio entrance, he saw her turn and wave.

When he didn’t know how to handle his uncontrollable emotions, he always chose to remain expressionless, just like now.

At the park gate, he pulled over, took out a cigarette and lighter from the glove compartment, and lit one.

Taking a heavy drag, he felt a bit of relief from his anxiety.

He took the paper bag and pulled out its contents.

It was a framed porcelain tile painting of an ink landscape, with misty mountains seemingly drifting out from the background.

Though it was a “thank you” gift, it was the first time he had received something she made herself.

What more could he ask for?

For the next few days, Chen Qing Wu stayed at the studio finishing up the setup.

She also went “into the city” with Zhao Yingfei to buy some decorations.

When the studio was finally ready for her to start working, her bank balance was already running low.

Zhao Yingfei “generously” treated her to dinner at a street food stall behind the university, declaring that she wouldn’t let her best friend go hungry, promising to feed her at the school cafeteria for a month if needed.

After dinner, Chen Qing Wu rented a shared bike and rode back to the park.

She returned the bike at the park entrance and walked to the studio.

As she was searching her bag for the keys, she heard a laugh from the door. “Finally back.”

Startled, she almost dropped her bag. “…Qi Ran?”

With the bright moonlight in the suburbs free from light pollution, she saw clearly that the person leaning against the wall was indeed Meng Qi Ran.

“Why didn’t you say you were coming?”

“How could I surprise you then?” Meng Qi Ran laughed.

Chen Qing Wu opened the door and turned on the lights.

The room lit up, and she noticed Meng Qi Ran was wearing a light gray hoodie, carrying a black backpack, with a shallow scratch on his arm.

She grabbed his arm, “What happened?”

“Fell during a test ride. It’s normal.” Meng Qi Ran pushed her shoulder gently, guiding her inside.

“How did the race go?”

“First in my group.”

“That’s impressive.”

Meng Qi Ran raised his eyebrows.

“Have you eaten?”

“I had a bit on the plane. It’s a long way out here, and the traffic was terrible. I almost got carsick.”

“But you’re a race car driver.”

“Race cars aren’t faster than taxis.”

Chen Qing Wu laughed.

Meng Qi Ran tossed his bag on the table and collapsed onto the sofa.

“Do you want something to eat? I can order takeout.”

“Do you have water?”

“Yes. Hold on.”

She had ordered a box of bottled water earlier that day, still unopened.

She tore it open and handed him a bottle.

Meng Qi Ran took a few gulps, then set it on the coffee table.

Leaning back against the sofa, he looked around. “Everything’s set up?”

“Mostly.”

“Do you need anything else?”

“No.” As she spoke, she opened a delivery app and ordered a KFC meal—the nearest place with the fastest delivery.

After ordering, she sat next to him. “When’s your next race?”

“In two weeks.”

“Are you going home before that?”

“Yeah. Going back the day after tomorrow.” Meng Qi Ran turned to her, “Want to go shopping tomorrow?”

“Sure.”

They chatted casually until the delivery driver called, saying the food was at the door.

Chen Qing Wu told Meng Qi Ran to stay put and went to get the food.

When she returned, she saw Meng Qi Ran on a step ladder, hanging something by the window.

She walked over and looked up, “What are you hanging?”

She heard a clear, ethereal sound and was momentarily stunned.

It was a string of colorful glass wind chimes.

Meng Qi Ran finished hanging it and jumped down from the ladder.

He clapped his hands and went to wash them.

Chen Qing Wu followed, unpacking the takeout on the counter.

Hearing him yawn, she looked over, “Tired?”

“Yeah. Didn’t sleep much last night, reviewing the race with my coach. Took the car for maintenance today and came straight here.”

Chen Qing Wu felt a surge of warmth.

“You were in such a hurry,” she laughed softly.

Meng Qi Ran didn’t respond, just chuckled.

The sound came from his nose, lazy but like a feather brushing her eardrum.

His hoodie sleeves weren’t rolled up properly and slipped down while washing his hands.

Chen Qing Wu noticed and reached to help him roll them up.

But just then, he turned around abruptly.

Their eyes met unexpectedly.

Chen Qing Wu held her breath, not expecting to be this close. His breath seemed to fall directly on her nose.

They both froze.

Time and space seemed to stand still.

Her eyelashes trembled uncontrollably, her heart felt like it was jumping into her throat.

What now? She wondered whether to close her eyes or look away, but she saw a fleeting panic in Meng Qi Ran’s dark, clear eyes.

He then awkwardly turned away, clumsily rolling up his sleeves and continuing to wash his hands.

The sound of running water seemed far away.

All she could hear was a buzzing, like the static on a TV with no signal.

What she thought had a 99% chance of happening didn’t happen.

Was he “afraid” or “unwilling”?

She couldn’t think anymore.

She mechanically stepped aside, took out the burger, cola, and sides from the takeout bag. “…Eat while it’s hot.”

She heard her voice speaking as if it didn’t belong to her.

“…Okay,” Meng Qi Ran responded dully.

The water stopped running.

She didn’t look at him. “You eat first, I’ll check on the laundry.”

“Okay.”

Chen Qing Wu quickly walked away.

She crouched in front of the washing machine, holding the lid, but felt completely drained.

She stayed there for a long time until she heard Meng Qi Ran calling her. “Qing Wu.”

She answered, stood up, and walked out.

Meng Qi Ran had picked up his backpack. “I’m really tired. I’m going back to the hotel to rest. Tomorrow… I’ll come and take you shopping.”

Chen Qing Wu nodded, “Okay.”

“I’m leaving.” He didn’t look at her. “Rest early.”

He turned and left.

Chen Qing Wu watched his shadow disappear towards the door, her mind blank.

Meng Qi Ran quickly walked to the studio entrance, down the steps.

He stopped and took a deep breath.

He suddenly realized he had been subconsciously avoiding situations like this.

And he didn’t even know why.

His mind was a chaotic mess, filled with a sense of derailment and panic.

The food on the table was untouched.

Chen Qing Wu put it back into the bag, one by one, and threw it in the trash.

She sat in a corner of the sofa and heard her phone vibrate. It was a message from Meng Qi Ran: “I’m in the car. See you tomorrow. Rest early.”

She didn’t reply, just locked her phone and tossed it onto the sofa. Then she fished a cigarette and a lighter out of her bag.

She lit the cigarette but only took two puffs before just sitting there, silently watching it burn down amidst the tinkling sound of the glass wind chimes swaying in the breeze.

The phone rang again. Thinking it was Meng Qi Ran, she glanced at it but saw that it was Meng Fu Yuan calling.

Chen Qing Wu stubbed out the cigarette, picked up the phone, and answered.

“Are you at the studio, Qing Wu?” Meng Fu Yuan asked.

“Yes, I am,” she replied softly.

“I’m coming over to pick up something for Teacher Qian.”

“Oh…” Chen Qing Wu recalled, “He mentioned that to me.”

That morning, she had received a WeChat message from Teacher Qian saying that a blue-glazed plate he intended to give someone was left at the studio, and a friend would come by to collect it.

Meng Fu Yuan said, “I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Is that okay?”

“Yes, it is.”

Meng Fu Yuan parked his car at the entrance.

The door was open, and light spilled onto the ground in front.

He got out and knocked lightly on the open wooden door. A voice came from inside, “Come in.”

Walking in, he saw a ladder by the window, and Chen Qing Wu was climbing up it.

He quickened his pace and said, “What do you need? I’ll get it for you.”

Chen Qing Wu paused and looked down to see that Meng Fu Yuan was holding the ladder.

“It’s fine. I can do it myself.”

Meng Fu Yuan didn’t insist, but he kept the ladder steady.

After a moment, Chen Qing Wu reached a suitable height and took down something hanging from the window frame.

A clear “ding ding” sound echoed.

She turned around, holding a wind chime, and said softly, “I don’t like this sound. It’s too empty.”

Just as Meng Fu Yuan was about to speak, she let go of it.

The wind chime fell straight to the ground and shattered on the concrete floor.

Meng Fu Yuan blinked instinctively, then froze.

Against the light, he saw her expression resembling the shattered glass wind chime on the floor.

“Qing Wu.”

His first reaction was to call her name.

Chen Qing Wu’s gaze steadied, meeting his.

Meng Fu Yuan extended his hand, “Come down.”

When she didn’t move, he reached up and tightly grasped her wrist.

In that moment, his fingers trembled slightly with fear.

Fear that she might fall too.