Chapter 31

The family’s sofa is L-shaped, and Yun Ye sat next to Fu Shizhe, nibbling on the strawberries he was given, sneaking glances at him.

Seemingly calm and indifferent to the outside world, his dark pupils, however, exuded a sharp chill. He didn’t lean on anything, just reclined against the sofa, his face propped up as he stared in Yun Li’s direction.

Hey, having him as a brother-in-law wouldn’t be too bad.

While Yun Ye was switching between sneaking glances and snacking, Fu Shizhe suddenly asked, “What are you peeking at?”

“…”

“Nothing.” He hurriedly ate a few strawberries, fearing Yun Li’s scolding, then cautiously asked, “Brother, are you from XiFu Sci-Tech University?”

“Mhm.”

Fu Shizhe thoughtfully looked at him, “How did you know?”

“Oh, my sister mentioned it.” Yun Ye found an excuse, pretty sure Fu Shizhe was the person Yun Li had posters of in high school. After a pause, he continued, “Brother, don’t mind what I said earlier. My sister, she’s never chased anyone. If she did, she’d chase them to Mars with her personality.”

“…”

“Have you been to XiFu Sci-Tech University?” Fu Shizhe handed Yun Ye another strawberry.

“Thanks, brother.” Yun Ye replied obediently, Fu Shizhe seemed much gentler than before. He ate the strawberry and thought for a moment, “My sister took me there a few times.”

“To visit?” Fu Shizhe passed another strawberry.

“Not really… Thanks, brother.” Yun Ye accepted again, “My sister said she had a friend there, said she was meeting someone, so I just read books with her there.”

Fu Shizhe didn’t pursue the topic further, instead, they chatted about applying to XiFu Sci-Tech University and majors.

As Yun Li’s game was coming to an end, Fu Shizhe pushed the plate of strawberries towards Yun Ye, “Eat some more.”

Seeing Yun Li coming over, knowing their alone time was ending, Yun Ye quickly said, “Brother, my sister is a very good person.”

“Mhm.”

“She really is.”

“Mhm.”

“What do you think of her?”

“…”

Yun Ye, not one to hide his feelings, felt his intentions were too obvious this time and ate a strawberry to cover his embarrassment.

Fu Shizhe didn’t say anything. The siblings shared a resemblance, and their expressions when embarrassed were nearly identical.

When Yun Li took off her glasses, she saw Fu Shizhe and Yun Ye chatting on the sofa. His demeanor seemed much more gentle and calm than usual, like an older brother, while Yun Ye looked like an unenlightened young boy.

Remembering what Fu Zhengchu drunkenly said, only one word crossed Yun Li’s mind—

Impossible!

Damn.

A thief within one’s own ranks is hard to guard against.

“Yun Ye, didn’t you say you had a lot of homework?” Yun Li grabbed Yun Ye’s wrist and dragged him towards the room.

After closing the door, Yun Ye saw Yun Li’s expression and felt uneasy, “I didn’t say anything!! I was speaking well of you!”

Yun Li remained silent.

Yun Ye got scared, “Really, I swear.”

Yun Li looked at him, “Yun Ye, you like girls, right?”

“…”

Understanding her implication, Yun Ye retorted angrily, “Yun Li, have you lost your mind?”

When Yun Li returned to the living room, Fu Shizhe was already packing up the equipment. She glanced at the coffee table; the paper was empty. Yun Li paused, “Did you eat the strawberries?”

Fu Shizhe turned off the glasses and packed everything back into the bag before slowly responding, “No.”

Yun Li rushed back to Yun Ye’s room, whispering, “Did you eat my strawberries?”

“Can’t I eat them?” Yun Ye was puzzled.

Yun Li, “No! I left one on the table.”

Yun Ye, “I didn’t know which one it was; that brother gave me a lot.”

“…”

Yun Li glared at him, “You’re going to be the death of me. Don’t eat the rest.”

Yun Ye speechless, “A stranger I met for the first time knows to let your brother eat strawberries. Yun Li, you’ve been a sister for sixteen years, how come you’re not more considerate?”

Remembering the heart-shaped strawberry, Yun Li felt a pang of heartache. Her plan for the night had fallen through; she had wanted to give Fu Shizhe a box of strawberries with a heart-shaped one right on top.

Without paying any more attention to Yun Ye, she returned to the living room to find Fu Shizhe ready to leave, shoes on, and standing by the door. Yun Li hadn’t expected him to leave so soon and was momentarily taken aback after closing the room’s door.

“You’re leaving now?”

“Mhm.”

Hearing Yun Li’s question from his room, Yun Ye opened his door, only poking his head out, “Sis, why don’t you walk him out? It’d be impolite not to.”

Yun Li grabbed her car keys, picked up her shoes, and grabbed a coat to follow Fu Shizhe. After entering the elevator, she pressed the button for the basement level, remembering the broken moment in the living room caused by Yun Ye, Yun Li suddenly felt nervous, unconsciously clutching her sleeves.

Their car was parked near the elevator. After getting in, Yun Li fastened her seatbelt and rolled down the window for some air.

Fu Shizhe stood outside the passenger side, hesitating to get in.

He leaned on the car door with one hand, and from Yun Li’s angle, she could only vaguely see him bending over, his pale chin resting against the car window.

Thinking the door was locked, Yun Li leaned over to unlock it for him.

As soon as the door opened, Fu Shizhe leaned in, stumbling into the seat. Yun Li, still leaning out, was met with a waft of tobacco scent, and upon touching him, she recoiled as if shocked, holding her breath, afraid to speak.

She gripped the steering wheel tightly, daring only to focus her gaze on the parking lot’s conditions on both sides.

After a moment, Fu Shizhe finally spoke in a low voice, “Sorry.”

Noticing something off in his voice, Yun Li turned to see Fu Shizhe frowning, his hand clenched over his abdomen, his body tensely arched.

“Are you in a lot of pain?” Yun Li, still driving, was at a loss and quickly pulled over as soon as they left the garage.

Fu Shizhe leaned against the seat, his forehead covered in dense sweat, his body curled up, the veins in his hand prominent as he gripped the area around his abdomen. His complexion was already pale, and now it was completely devoid of color.

“Is it your stomach?” Yun Li frantically reached for her phone, but it slipped from her grasp onto Fu Shizhe, “I’ll call 120, I have a car, I can take you to the hospital now.”

“No need,” Fu Shizhe grabbed her hand reaching for the phone, “I’m used to it, it’ll be okay in a bit.”

After saying this, he didn’t let go of Yun Li’s hand.

Yun Li dared not make any sudden movements, holding her breath, and waiting for Fu Shizhe’s next action.

The seconds stretched endlessly.

Gradually, his eyebrows relaxed, and the tension in his muscles eased.

He opened his eyes, tiredness evident in his gaze.

Yun Li asked, “Are you feeling better?”

“Mhm.”

“Can I take you to the hospital now?” Yun Li asked cautiously.

“Back to the hotel. I need to sleep.”

Fu Shizhe didn’t say more.

After dropping him off at the hotel, Yun Li drove home with a heavy heart, only to realize her hands were shaking. She pressed her trembling hands and walked into the kitchen, worried.

Yang Fang and Yun YongChang had already arrived home and were preparing dinner.

Seeing her return, Yun Ye approached, “That guy today was pretty handsome.”

Yun Li, her mind preoccupied with Fu Shizhe’s stomach ache, responded absentmindedly, “Mhm, and then?”

“He’s also tall and has a good presence.”

Yun Li, “What are you trying to say?”

“Yun Li, why did you suddenly bring a guy home?” Yun Ye’s eyes were clear, staring provocatively at Yun Li.

“…”

Yun Li didn’t want to engage with him.

Yun Ye, gossiping, leaned in closer, “I’m sure I didn’t mistake him, that brother is the one from the poster on your wall. And he also told me he’s from XiFu Sci-Tech University.”

“…”

“Today, while you were washing the strawberries, that brother kept watching you. My room door was open, and he didn’t notice me.”

“Have you finally seen the hope of success after chasing for so many years?”

Yun Li couldn’t stand it anymore: “Why do you talk so much nonsense?”

Ignoring Yun Ye’s barrage of questions, Yun Li brought the dishes to the dining table. Yun YongChang was already seated, looking in a bad mood. He first complained about the driving school, then quickly shifted his focus to Yun Ye’s studies.

Distracted by what Yun Ye had said earlier, Yun Li responded absentmindedly.

“Did you have Yun Ye help you with a video today?”

Yun Li didn’t deny it: “Yeah.”

Yun Ye quickly kicked her under the table.

“Your brother just got into the top class,” Yun YongChang said sternly. “It’s bad enough that your own grades are poor, don’t drag your brother down with you.”

Yang Fang expressed her dissatisfaction: “Li Li rarely comes home. Can’t you say less?”

Yun YongChang: “I told you not to go to Nanwu for your postgraduate studies, but you went ahead without approval. Now you’re back making videos and even involving your brother. Do you think you can support yourself?”

Yun Li silently ate a few bites of her rice.

Unable to bear it, Yun Ye retorted: “Dad, I just appeared in the video, I didn’t do anything else, and it didn’t interfere with my studies.”

Yun YongChang glared at him: “You be quiet too.”

“Snap.”

Yun Li forcefully put down her chopsticks.

“I’m full, going for a walk.”

She stood up, grabbed her coat, and walked out.

Just as Yun Li thought, peaceful moments at home were always short-lived. She began to regret her decision to stay home for a week, dreading the tense atmosphere at the dining table in the coming days, feeling suffocated and wanting to escape.

She drove aimlessly through the streets, reaching the city center surrounded by familiar streets and shops. Stopping at a traffic light, Yun Li could even remember the approximate duration.

Her eyes welled up without her realizing.

Yun YongChang always loved his children in what he believed was the right way. He was merely complaining about Yun Li going to Nanwu for her postgraduate studies without his approval, but he went further, belittling her to nothing, thinking that by putting pressure on her, she would admit her mistake and back down.

Yun Li gripped the steering wheel, only to realize she had unconsciously driven near Fu Shizhe’s hotel.

She stopped at an intersection and messaged Fu Shizhe: “Have you had dinner?”

Yun Li zoned out, continuing to type: “There’s a famous fish porridge place near you, good for the stomach. Want to go together?”

Without waiting for a reply, Yun Li guessed his refusal and directly drove to the store to get a takeaway.

Her phone vibrated.

Wife: “No.”

As expected.

Driving back near the hotel, Yun Li found a spot on the roadside to park, holding the fish porridge in the hotel lobby, typing and deleting several messages, not sending any.

Afraid of being rejected again.

Yun Li stared at the porridge in her hands, muttering, “What should I do with you?”

After hesitating for a while, she went to the front desk, asking them to deliver it to Fu Shizhe’s room. After the front desk went upstairs, she returned to the lobby’s public sofa, secretly hoping he would come down to meet her.

He wasn’t there.

The front desk returned the thermal bag to Yun Li, who walked back to her car, feeling indescribable.

Staring at the thermal bag with colorful seafood patterns printed on it, she could feel the warmth inside.

She didn’t see him.

Yun Li realized that her trip wasn’t because she thought Fu Shizhe hadn’t had dinner or hurt his stomach. She was hurt, so she wanted to see him, wanting him by her side.

Thinking about facing Yun YongChang’s face upon returning, Yun Li would rather spend the night in the car.

After browsing her phone for a while in the car, Yun Ye sent a message: “Don’t be upset.”

Yun Li: “I only accept red packets of 200.”

Yun Ye: “Don’t be upset.”

Yun Li laughed, opening the two red packets. Yun Ye first sent 52 yuan, with an emoji of a kitten batting its eyes at her. The second time, he sent 200 yuan, with the content identical to the first packet.

Yun Ye: “Return the first one.”

Yun Li: “Oh.”

Ten minutes later.

Yun Ye: “You haven’t returned it.”

Yun Li: “Oh.”

Yun Ye: “…”

Her mood significantly improved, Yun Li opened her photo album, filled with pictures of her and Yun Ye, browsing for a long time.

She touched the porridge on the passenger seat, now cold. She thought of Yun Ye, her brother who grew up with her.

What about Fu Shizhe?

She recalled the last time she saw his WeChat interface, aside from over a hundred unread messages from Lin WanYin, messages from other people were almost a week old.

Yun Li realized that Fu Shizhe might have always been alone.

After staying in the car for nearly an hour, someone tapped on the window. Yun Li came to her senses and turned to see Fu Shizhe holding a canned beer, gently knocking on the window.

Yun Li hurriedly rolled down the window: “What are you doing here?”

Fu Shizhe shook the can: “Buying stuff.”

He stepped over to the passenger side, opened the door, and got in, casually moving the thermal bag aside. Seeing ‘Fish Porridge Shop’ prominently printed on it, he pondered for a moment and asked, “For me?”

As they entered, the plastic bag containing a few cans of beer clinked.

“Um… it should be cold now, I won’t eat it,” Yun Li slowly said. “But you had a stomachache at noon, and yet you bought…” She glanced at the beer in his plastic bag, “five cans of beer, so you probably don’t need to drink porridge.”

Yun Li usually spoke to Fu Shizhe in a gentle and soft manner, but now her words carried a hint of spiteful sarcasm.

She didn’t know how to express her anger towards Fu Shizhe, nor did she know if she had the right to do so. She simply turned her face away, looking out the window.

“I’m not in a good mood right now. I don’t want to chase after you, please get out of the car.”

Fu Shizhe had just sat down when the person beside him suddenly asked him to leave. He was taken aback, glancing at Yun Li a few times. She didn’t even turn her head, as if sulking.

Perhaps intimidated by Yun Li’s harsh tone, Fu Shizhe instinctively put the beer back into the bag. After getting out of the car, he threw the beer and the bag directly into a nearby trash can.

Then he got back into the passenger seat and started to unpack the thermal bag.