Fang Jingcheng was standing right below the dorm building; just one glance from Ji Xiaowei would be enough to spot him. Xia Fu decided there was no point in hiding it any longer.

She lowered her eyes, bit her lip, and replied softly, “Yeah, I’m dating Fang Jingcheng, and we came in first place,” her face looking a bit shy.

“I knew you could do it!”

Ji Xiaowei let out a delighted exclamation. She quickly glanced toward the balcony and, upon spotting the young man, gave a knowing smile and lightly patted Xia Fu’s shoulder.

“I knew that guy had some intentions! At least he didn’t mess with your competition schedule and seems to be behaving well.”

The two of them chatted and laughed as they headed back to the dorm. Although Xia Fu had already changed back into her casual clothes from earlier, her simple look didn’t dull the impact of the flowers Fang Jingcheng had picked for her. Since it was still early, everyone in the dorm was awake, chatting around the desks, doing skincare, and watching shows. Noticing Xia Fu’s special bouquet, the other girls couldn’t resist teasing her a little.

“Wow, so you really are together now? You’ve always been so indifferent about romance. What changed? What do you like about him—he’s really good-looking, isn’t he?”

Since they were close enough to help her with emergency funds, Xia Fu didn’t mind their curiosity. She sat down, hugging her backpack, and answered in a quiet voice, “Because I was starving.”

She told the truth, but fortunately, the others didn’t quite get it. Recalling how they often saw them together at the cafeteria, the girls wrinkled their faces and helplessly chided Xia Fu.

“Yeah, you two are always in the cafeteria together… You’re just so innocent; it’s really worrying.”

Xia Fu chuckled but didn’t offer any further explanation.

“I brought some snacks.” She shared the treats Fang Jingcheng had given her, handing them out to her roommates, but this time, she held onto the bouquet as a symbol of their new relationship and didn’t break it up for them.

Claiming she needed rest after the intense competition, Xia Fu climbed into her bed early, drawing her heavy bed curtain to block out the dorm’s noise, and lay there thinking about her “boyfriend” and their conversation.

“I hope you’re happy.”

The words were plain, a bit cheesy, and not particularly novel, but it was the first love confession Xia Fu had ever received.

“Hope you’re sensible and marry well,” or “Hope you study hard and make lots of money”—in her crowded household, compliments from her parents always came with a clear purpose and a restrained tone. They could be all smiles one moment, only to adopt a stern face the next, worried that an immature child might get carried away, often adding, “Don’t get too happy; be careful not to lose focus,” and, “You’re still far from being as good as the neighbor’s kid.”

In a way, what they said wasn’t entirely wrong. Happiness was something people envied, something that had to be contained.

As a shopkeeper’s daughter, she knew well not to show happiness while doing business, or else sellers would trap her with high prices. And in the countryside, under the gaze of many watchful eyes, even something as simple as planting a fruit tree outside their garden would, when harvest time came, lead to arguments over a few fruits with neighbors. More than once, in some lonely morning, she’d seen the elderly tear up over a sapling poisoned by a jealous neighbor.

Sometimes, having something to protect was more frightening than being all alone.

Better to avoid smiling at him, and better still not to let others see her smile.

But how could that be controlled? Though Xia Fu was always rational, tonight, she wanted a brief escape from all those thoughts.

She pulled out the folded T-shirt beside her pillow, curling her body up and holding the soft fabric close to her. It was a shirt Fang Jingcheng often wore; even after washing it a few times, it still carried a faint trace of his scent.

“This is mine now.”

Since he had declared their relationship, even the smallest bits of joy should be hers to keep.

Preparing for the competition hadn’t only resolved Xia Fu’s financial troubles but also added a golden line to her student record. Just one year into school, she’d outperformed seniors, securing a campus competition honor. Zhou Hongxia, her advisor, felt proud and graciously gave Xia Fu a week off.

“You’ve worked so hard for so long; take this weekend to relax and really rest up. As for the upcoming Elite Program interview, don’t worry—I’ll write the recommendation for you.” Even Jiang Rong’s snarky comments, mocking Xia Fu’s lack of social activities and “collective spirit,” couldn’t interfere with her planned transfer. Now, she could even find time to work on strengthening her fragile health.

With Fang Jingcheng involved, Xia Fu’s extracurricular life was about to get colorful; by the following evening, he’d already arranged for her to have a boxing coach.

Though she appeared cold on the outside, Lin Na turned out to be a diligent and attentive coach. When she learned that Xia Fu wanted to “learn boxing for self-defense,” she carefully examined Xia Fu’s thin frame and skipped the typical sales pitch private trainers used. Instead, she hit her with a bucket of cold water right away:

“There’s no shortcut to anything. Boxing is just a tool. Without the necessary stamina and strength, your light punches will only end up in your opponent’s hands, putting you in even more danger. So if it’s self-defense you’re after, the most effective method is always to run.”

The image of broad shoulders and powerful strikes vanished in a flash.

The sudden blow left Xia Fu feeling a bit deflated. Just because she was a girl and undernourished, was she destined only to run away in the face of trouble?

Luckily, Lin Na, as a sought-after trainer, was skilled at adapting her approach. Her warnings were only to prevent students from getting into dangerous situations. Noticing Xia Fu’s spirits wilting like a sun-wilted sapling, Lin Na cleared her throat and offered encouragement.

“But your decision to exercise and grow stronger is a good starting point.”

“I’ll focus on training your reflexes and evasion skills. Since you’re naturally small, you can use footwork to dodge some attacks. Protecting vital areas with your arms can reduce damage, and when you’re cornered, striking at vulnerable points like the chin or temples can incapacitate the opponent and buy you time.”

“These are skills I can guarantee for you. So, do you still want to learn boxing?”

With hope rekindled, Xia Fu answered without hesitation, “Yes, I do!”

“You’re still a student, right? Private lessons aren’t cheap. Start with some jogging to build basic stamina, and after that, I’ll teach you a few escape tricks.”

Lin Na smiled kindly. Rather than scheduling expensive lessons right away, she led Xia Fu to the body-fat scale to gather some baseline measurements. Then, she crafted a “Fitness Chart” with detailed instructions on running, plank times, and sit-up counts, encouraging her to build a solid foundation.

So, this was the path to becoming stronger?

Looking at the densely packed schedule, Xia Fu’s vision went dark. Maybe once she completed all this, she’d be ready to tackle the school’s 1500-meter race.

Unlike Xia Fu, who was a struggling beginner, Fang Jingcheng seemed effortlessly in control. He was keen to play the training partner, and after finishing his own basic strength training, he’d come over to help her practice.

Fang Jingcheng held her ankles, smiling down as he watched her struggle with sit-ups. Every time Xia Fu sat up, his handsome face and toned chest would get closer, creating a visually overwhelming effect.

As if that wasn’t enough, he’d lean in close when she lay down gasping for breath, propping himself up with one arm by her face and gently suggesting:

“You look really tired. Want to take a break and let me hold you for a while?”

He would affectionately brush his hand along her smooth shoulder, his long fingers gliding across her skin like a snake’s tongue, ready to pick her up for a rest the moment she agreed.

Enduring both physical and emotional challenges, Xia Fu blinked hard, shaking the sweat from her lashes, and resolutely refused, “No way. You’re distracting me; I still have one more set… Could you go do something else?”

Fang Jingcheng reluctantly withdrew his hand, his tone full of regret. “So reliable.”

“Alright, I’ve got some stuff to take care of. I’ll leave for a bit then.”

The temptation finally gone, Xia Fu could focus in peace. Fang Jingcheng continued escorting her to and from school and warming up with her, but he’d now leave her alone mid-workout.

This went on for three days until, one night on their way home, as they passed the garden where new couples often met, Fang Jingcheng suddenly called out to Xia Fu. She finally learned what he’d been up to lately.

Carefully, he took out a gift box from his bag—a rectangular box wrapped in black velvet with silver threads woven through it, like stars hiding in the night sky.

“Remember I told you about a friend who studies jewelry design? I spent some time at her workshop, and now the flowers I made for you won’t wither anymore.”

Fang Jingcheng had a childhood friend in the jewelry department, the same one who’d made the stuffed animal with gemstone eyes in his car.

He’d kept Xia Fu’s wish for flowers in mind. Unfortunately, his schedule had been packed lately, and he couldn’t skip classes after finally presenting himself as a diligent student in front of her. So he’d shaved off a bit of gym time to visit his friend’s villa and work on some crafts.

The gift was a rose crafted from glass, with translucent petals that looked like splashes of seawater or the delicate skirts of jellyfish deep in the ocean, shimmering beautifully under the light.

Under the moonlight, Xia Fu inspected the gift. Through the rose’s petals, she saw Fang Jingcheng’s expectant face. The irregular petals acted like tiny magnifying glasses, reflecting his deep blue eyes and faint dark circles. It was clear he’d spent much more effort on this flower than he let on.

Looking at the delicate, ornate, easily broken rose, Xia Fu thought it resembled an exquisite candy that would never melt, no matter how much it was savored.

Now, it was time to taste the sweetness.