As long as Xia Fu continued dating Fang Jingcheng, she wouldn’t need to worry about money or daily trivialities.

Every summer, the peak season for students transferring household registrations and handling various certifications, the academic office secretary would start work early. Once they entered S City’s service area, Fang Jingcheng made a call to arrange some help, so by the time they arrived at the local police station from the high-speed rail station, a delivery guy on an electric bike handed Xia Fu an envelope containing the necessary documents.

It was Wednesday afternoon, and there weren’t many people waiting at the police station. Before long, Xia Fu was seated on a small bench in the service office. The staff member glanced over Xia Fu’s documents and smiled kindly, “Oh, little girl here to study at F University? Give me your ID card and fill in these fields here.” She clicked the mouse a few times, printed a few registration forms, then turned to place Xia Fu’s ID on the scanner. The whole process took less than half an hour, and Xia Fu soon held her new registration page.

The paper, stamped with a bright red seal, was still warm, emitting a faint ink smell. It felt light and delicate, almost like an unreal dream. Xia Fu carefully placed the registration page into her folder, worried it might wrinkle.

After everything was handled, Fang Jingcheng took her hand and, as if seeking praise, said, “Usually, you would submit these documents to the registration department when school starts, but I thought you’d feel more at ease holding onto it yourself now.”

“By the way, there’s a bank next door. Want to check out some investment products? My account manager is on duty today too.”

Firefighters had recovered Xia Fu’s suitcase from the ruins. Fang Jingcheng had bought her this sturdy, photographer’s edition suitcase. It had been stored in the storage room’s corner, where a toppled cabinet perfectly shielded it from falling debris. Remarkably, it remained intact. Inside, besides her wallet, her laptop, wrapped in a change of clothes, was also unscathed.

The compensation money had been deposited into the bank account she used to pay tuition. Initially, Xia Fu planned to place it in a large certificate of deposit, waiting until after graduation to decide what to do with it to avoid impulsive decisions that could lose the principal. Thanks to Fang Jingcheng’s connections, she was welcomed into the bank’s VIP lounge and signed up for investment products that required tens of times more capital than her account held, with returns supposedly matching S City’s soaring property prices.

Would this make things easier for her?

Ever since the accident, Xia Fu had displayed an unusual calmness, handling various formalities like a precise machine, shedding only a few tears at the funeral parlor. Excessive composure can sometimes be a sign of hidden depression. Xia Fu was the type to keep her emotions bottled up.

Fang Jingcheng looked at Xia Fu’s profile, noticing her delicate face quietly maturing, gradually overlapping with someone else from his memories. The sound of her heels tapping on the smooth floor echoed as she walked past him, her gaze indifferent. Unable to help himself, he asked, “Is there anything you want to do next?”

Xia Fu thought for a moment and replied, “I want to go back to the school library. My teacher’s group meeting started on Monday, and she said there’s a new paper that’s quite interesting, which she wants us to discuss in the next seminar.”

She had been delayed at home for several days dealing with her parents’ affairs, and the postgraduate students in her group, who had returned early, had already started discussing this semester’s research plans. Although she had explained the reason for her delay to Zhou Hongxia and received some comfort, Xia Fu didn’t want any special treatment because of it.

Fang Jingcheng’s eyes widened in surprise. “Starting this afternoon? It’s already late. How about resting and picking it up tomorrow morning? Teacher Zhou isn’t the type to overwork her students. You don’t have to push yourself too hard.”

Was she overdoing it?

Even if she was sitting in a business-class seat, long trips were never comfortable. Xia Fu had always taken afternoon naps, so he thought she’d at least head back to the dormitory to rest.

But Xia Fu only shook her head. “I also want to review my English. The entrance interview is just around the corner, and my mind’s a bit scattered lately. I’m not sure if I’ll do well.”

“I want to get into the elite class, so I can attend classes with you.”

She looked at him gently, and his name suddenly became her reason to strive. She lightly stroked the soft flesh of his hand, causing Fang Jingcheng to lose the motivation to persuade her. He sighed, “Alright, then.”

…

Xia Fu returned to the library, finding her favorite seat by the window in the “Literature Reading Zone.”

She opened her notebook mechanically, reading her previous notes word by word, feeling that confusion and uncertainty still lingered around her like the damp cold of the monsoon season.

One had to admit, Fang Jingcheng, as her boyfriend, understood her personality well. Xia Fu was neither calm as usual nor as studious as he’d imagined.

Perhaps her initial efforts were to earn her family’s praise, to make everyone proud of her. But soon, her diligence and efficiency turned into a struggle—to escape pain and gain freedom. No matter how tough it was, to avoid a life of decay in the small town, she could endure it all.

Now, the oppressive force was gone, but Xia Fu still felt a sense of urgency. She feared losing her drive to study, feared losing direction for the future. Or maybe, as her grandmother had cursed with a voice torn to shreds before slipping into a coma: “You shameless thing, ingrate, jinx! Think clinging to a man makes you a phoenix? Can you sleep at night with blood money from your parents?”

But the knowledge had never left her. The skills honed through hard years would not betray the effort she had put in. Like long-lost friends, once a bit unfamiliar but soon reconnecting, they surrounded her closely after a bit of reacquainting.

Even with her parents gone, her talent hadn’t vanished; she could still enjoy the taste of food, feel the warm summer breeze carrying the scent of fresh greenery outside the library, and resonate with the heated academic debates among the group’s top students.

The joy and satisfaction felt carefree, but it was undeniably real.

The scratch of her pen on the paper made a soft, soothing sound. As her thoughts delved deeper into the details of the paper, the last shadows in Xia Fu’s heart melted in the golden afternoon sunlight.

She set down her pen and clenched her fist gently, finally feeling relaxed:

“I am still myself, and my fate has always been in my own hands.”

With the shackles gone, it felt like a new path had opened—not to escape pain, but to pursue the satisfaction of fulfilling her dreams, and to continue forward.

As she thought this, she couldn’t help but glance at Fang Jingcheng across from her.

Like her studies, her feelings for him were complex. There had been an element of using him to escape and retaliate against her family. At one point, he had been her sole lifeline, and she had practically forced herself to move forward, fulfilling his desire to be loved. She had even confessed to him first.

Now, those things were in the past; it was time for her to evaluate this relationship. She wondered if Fang Jingcheng’s unique charm would fade as the shadows of her family faded.

That lazy, crafty young man had initially picked a thick, professional book and pretended to read it seriously across from her. But he soon grew bored, refilling his coffee and hiding a National Geographic magazine behind his professional book to study photography techniques.

Like a kid secretly reading comics in class, Xia Fu thought she’d find him childish.

But no.

She observed his focused gaze and asked, “How’s it going? Still on track?”

“Mm, I remember most of it,” he replied cheerfully, clearly more thrilled than she was.

“I knew you’d be fine! Want to catch a movie tonight, or stroll around the mall? SA just messaged me saying there’s some new stuff in stock.”

He smiled at her. In the reading room at dusk, the brilliant sunset illuminated the dust in the air, making them look like dancing little fairies. Under that light, he too seemed to glow—a soft light that warmed her heart.

She thought he was adorable.

Just like the first time she’d seen him at the junkyard, his beauty rivaled a rose. This relationship was built on countless heart-thumping moments, with something genuine beneath it all.

Xia Fu reached out and placed her hand over Fang Jingcheng’s, saying, “I don’t want to go out tonight or return to the dorm. I just want to spend time alone with you. Can I come over to your place?”

“Will it be inconvenient?”

She had always assumed that this relationship wouldn’t last, never really caring about Fang Jingcheng’s background.

But since he already knew about her broken family, it seemed only fair to peek into his past too.

“Of course not!”

An excited flush and a hint of embarrassment surged within Fang Jingcheng. They’d booked a room and done everything before, but inviting her home felt like a special experience. While he anticipated it, he also fretted, wondering if the apartment he hadn’t visited in nearly a month would appear messy. Had the cleaning service been thorough? Were the books on his nightstand intellectual photography magazines or recent comic issues? And hopefully, his “How to Please Xia Fu” magazines were well hidden in the drawer.

Xia Fu knew he had an apartment outside, but she hadn’t expected it to be high-rise with views of S City’s bustling riverside and broadcast tower—a space large enough to house a family.

It was indeed his private space. Besides the master bedroom, which he used for sleeping, and a guest room for friends, the other rooms had been converted into spaces showcasing his interests—a gaming room, photography studio, and so on, with shelves of camera lenses, comics, figurines, and fitness equipment.

It was obvious he wasn’t into cooking. His kitchen sparkled, with a stainless-steel hood so polished it reflected like a mirror, and the fridge was filled with bottled mineral water and soda. His restraint explained his impressively fit body.

Fang Jingcheng guided Xia Fu through each room, his eyes darting around to inspect every corner, his nerves on high alert to maintain his perfect-boyfriend image.

“This is my bedroom.”

Thank goodness! The cleaning service arranged by the apartment manager had done a thorough job. His magazines were neatly organized in the bookshelf. The nightstand held only one framed photo—a picture of Xia Fu asleep in a field of flowers.

It immediately caught Xia Fu’s attention. She picked up the frame, studied it for a moment, and asked, “You like this one, huh?”

Oh yes, a memento of their anniversary! Perfect!

Seizing the opportunity to make a good impression, Fang Jingcheng eagerly replied, “Yeah, I thought it was memorable. Remember? It’s from our first date after we started dating.”

Xia Fu chuckled softly, setting down the photo and reaching up to loop her arms around his neck, brushing his face as though preparing for a sweet kiss.

“Of course, I remember. It was the first time someone took so many beautiful pictures of me. I was thrilled.”

Fang Jingcheng’s eyes were already closed, not expecting the next moment when she would push him onto the bed.

His dazed expression was just as it had been on their first date.

Xia Fu sighed inwardly. She vividly remembered the little story hidden behind that photo. In the next shot, she’d pinned him down, straddling his waist. To her, the photo meant more than the sweet innocence of a first love.

“I remember I took a lot of photos of you afterward, too.”

She perched on the edge of the bed, propping herself up and leaning back slightly, glancing at him as she asked, “We took a lot of pictures together, so why’s this one so special? You even put it in your bedroom… So that’s it; you like this, huh? No wonder you didn’t object at the hotel.”

Don’t most guys prefer to take the lead? Is this another side of him she’s learning?

Her tone was soft, almost like idle chatter between a couple, yet her words struck Fang Jingcheng like thunder.

Why this picture, indeed?

His secret thoughts had been laid bare by the woman he adored in this private space, and a blush crept up his face.

No, he only took the picture because he thought she’d enjoy it. It was a moment to commemorate their growing relationship, worth celebrating, of course!

This was about a man’s pride; he had to explain it properly!

“Let me explain!”

He propped himself up, looking at her anxiously. But her next move shut down any response he’d mustered.

To avoid any accidents, Xia Fu had privately bought a few boxes of contraceptives after they started dating, though Fang Jingcheng had ended up using the hotel’s supplies, so she’d forgotten about her stash in her pocket, leading Zhang Mei to condemn her as a “loose woman.”

Now, one of the little red packages slipped from her hand and landed on Fang Jingcheng’s firm stomach. The jagged edge of the plastic wrapper tickled his skin. He looked at Xia Fu’s slender fingers as she slowly lifted the hem of his T-shirt, lightly tracing the lines of his waist and abdomen. She whispered, “Alright, go ahead, I’d like to learn more about you.”

Xia Fu lingered patiently, prepared to stop and go see a movie or do something else if he wasn’t into it.

But with her actions, Fang Jingcheng’s objections faded.

Such moments of weakness are the start of a lifetime of compromises.

He finally realized that when it came to this, Xia Fu’s learning pace far outstripped anything he’d anticipated.

“Not bad…”

He truly liked the smooth softness of her inner thighs, the way she lay on his chest, her gaze shimmering with restrained desire under her lowered lashes. At that moment, he could feel his pull over her unmistakably—

She was like a child in an orchard, grabbing a ripe, sticky fruit and bending down to drink its juice.

The leaves-covered soil beneath her began to crumble, everything drawing inward, trapping her, imprisoning her, and then it was his turn to indulge in the invader’s sweet conquest.

“This is perfect; I love it too.”

She sighed, and after a rather chaotic night, only one of the little wrappers was left.

And until the day she grew weary, they would have many more nights like this.