Chapter 20

Youyi had slept at home all morning. After getting up at noon, she tidied up and went to school for her classes.

The next door was very quiet. When Youyi closed her door, she did so gently, as if afraid the sound would be heard. She pressed the elevator button, and after entering the elevator and ensuring the door was closed, she let out a small sigh of relief.

As a junior, Youyi had more experimental and skill-based classes. Missing even one class could set her back a lot, and she didn’t want to be the one left behind.

The afternoon class was in the analysis and testing laboratory in the college building, and Youyi’s friend had saved her a spot.

“Are you sick?” her friend asked, noticing the needle mark on the back of Youyi’s hand. “Is it a cold?”

“No,” Youyi said, briefly explaining what had happened the night before, omitting the part about Fu Cheng.

“You just took that ibuprofen?” Her friend was surprised. “I’ve seen you take it before without any issues.”

Not only Youyi, but all of them took it for menstrual cramps, and nothing this severe had ever happened before.

Youyi said, “Maybe it’s because I drank a lot of cold water yesterday, or maybe… it’s because my medication was too old.”

Seeing Youyi’s obvious fatigue and pale complexion, her friend decided not to talk much to avoid further tiring her out.

It wasn’t until near the end of the class that Youyi realized Sheng Sheng wasn’t there.

“She didn’t come to class?” Youyi mouthed.

“She broke up with her boyfriend and was crying in the dorm this morning,” her friend said. “You know, the one she used to play games with online.”

“Wasn’t she supposed to meet him during the National Day holiday? She came back in a bad mood and wouldn’t say what was wrong.”

Her friend had covered for Sheng Sheng in the morning. If she skipped the afternoon lab again, it wouldn’t be long before the counselor noticed.

Youyi was a bit worried. “I’ll go check on her.”

“No need,” her friend said. “She needs to cry it out alone.”

They hadn’t disturbed Sheng Sheng in the dorm. The curtain had been drawn all day. Some things needed to be worked through on their own. It was better to let her be alone and quiet.

She probably didn’t want them to see her cry anyway.

Youyi’s phone rang. It was a message from Fu Cheng, asking when she would be done with class and if she needed him to pick her up.

She hadn’t mentioned anything when she left at noon, and now seeing his message, she didn’t respond immediately.

Until Fu Cheng sent another message: “Shall I come pick you up?”

Youyi finally replied: “No need.”

She went to eat with her friend in the afternoon. Even though she felt better, she still had little appetite. Distracted, Youyi put down her chopsticks after only a few bites.

She glanced at her phone again. Fu Cheng hadn’t sent any more messages.

Suddenly, Youyi asked, “Have you ever been heartbroken?”

Her friend, who was eating a big bite of rice, shook her head in confusion, still chewing.

“I’ve had my fair share of disappointments,” her friend said after swallowing. “Compared to what Sheng Sheng is going through today, it feels like the same level of difficulty.”

“Though, after experiencing it multiple times, it doesn’t feel like much. I’ve already figured out this emotional process.”

Her friend clicked her tongue, thinking their number of heartbreaks might not even compare to her own experiences of disappointment.

Youyi asked curiously, “What emotional process?”

Her friend counted off on her fingers. “Denial, anger, depression, acceptance.”

“It’s all just minor stuff, nothing serious.”

Based on this, Sheng Sheng was likely at the “depression” stage and would soon move to acceptance.

Her friend took a sip of lemon water to clear her throat and suggested, “My birthday is at the end of the month. Let’s go out for a nice meal to celebrate.”

By then, Sheng Sheng would probably be feeling better.

“Sure,” Youyi agreed dully.

The hallway lights cast a cold glow. It was quiet at the door, and as Youyi entered the password, she glanced back at room 902.

After replying to Fu Cheng’s message in the afternoon, he hadn’t sent anything further.

She wasn’t sure if she wanted him to message her or not. She had been staring at her phone all evening, but when he sent a message earlier, she didn’t want to reply.

It was capricious, excessive.

And inexplicable.

As soon as Youyi opened the door, the doorbell rang. She paused, walked to the door, and looked through the peephole.

It was Fu Cheng.

Even without looking, she could guess it was him.

She felt a bit guilty for not replying to his messages today. Although there was still a door between them, she could already imagine Fu Cheng’s cold expression and stern tone.

The first time she was angry with him was like this, with tension between them, making things very awkward.

But they weren’t as close then.

It was different now.

Youyi knew that this issue was entirely blocked in her heart. She hadn’t clarified things with Fu Cheng because she herself didn’t understand, so she didn’t even know how to ask.

Her feelings were tangled like a mess of threads, with one end broken and the other tangled, ending up in a knot.

Youyi still opened the door.

There was a two-minute gap between Fu Cheng knocking and her opening the door.

Clearly, she was slow to open it.

Youyi looked down without meeting his gaze, standing at the door and asking, “What’s the matter?”

“Are you okay?” Fu Cheng stood outside, his gaze dropping.

He was scrutinizing her.

Youyi could sense it.

She gave a soft “hm.”

Fu Cheng asked, “Are you still unwilling to talk to me?”

His tone wasn’t as cold as expected. Instead, it sounded like he was accommodating her. Youyi was taken aback for a few seconds. The light above her head was blinding, so she closed her eyes briefly to avoid it.

Seeing his face, Youyi felt guilty and denied, “No.”

Since she denied it, Fu Cheng didn’t refute her further.

“I brought you a drink,” Fucheng said, holding a packet of silver fungus and rose-flavored balls, still warm from when he had just picked them up.

He bought some food for her after she hadn’t responded to his messages. He had heard that sweets can improve one’s mood.

Youyi liked sweets too.

When Fu Cheng tried to come inside, Youyi instinctively stepped aside to block him. Fu Cheng stopped and raised his eyebrows slightly.

“You won’t let me in?”

So he stopped.

“Then just take it yourself.” Fu Cheng handed her the bag.

Youyi accepted it and explained quietly, “My period isn’t over yet.”

The implication was that—

Right now, it’s not possible.

He didn’t need to come in.

Fu Cheng’s gaze hardened slightly, his stern brows showing frustration. He stood straight in front of her, watching as she kept her head lowered, not even looking at him.

“Have I offended you?” he asked coldly.

The atmosphere grew tense and colder.

Youyi looked down, seeing only his fingers lightly rubbing the space between his thumb and index finger. He took a step back, even blocking the light above her.

Youyi could guess that he was genuinely angry now, even though she didn’t look.

She felt inexplicably guilty and thought she was unfairly blaming him.

One second, two seconds…

One minute.

The atmosphere felt eerily still.

Youyi’s back was stiff. She was about to speak when Fu Cheng reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box.

Her gaze followed the box, and her words stopped.

“I bought you a gift.” Fu Cheng’s hushed voice was like a stone thrown into a dark, deep pond.

He opened the box to reveal a rose gold bangle with a small swan-shaped chain. The color would compliment Youyi’s complexion beautifully.

Fu Cheng took the bangle out, put the box back in his pocket, and then took her wrist.

Youyi slightly recoiled but didn’t move after he held her wrist.

Fu Cheng gently put the bangle on her wrist.

The chain wrapped around once and was fastened by him.

His hands rarely did such delicate work.

The bangle, suited for her wrist, looked exceptionally small in his hands.

“I know your mood isn’t great during this time. If you don’t want to talk to me, I’ll bother you less.”

Fu Cheng’s voice was low but gentle. “Don’t touch cold water or drink ice. Remember to eat meals on time, even if you don’t have an appetite.”

He paused.

“If I’ve offended you, I’m apologizing.”

“Okay?”

He specifically bought a gift to apologize.

So, don’t be mad at him.

Youyi looked up, feeling a pang of sourness in her heart.

It was actually her unreasonable behavior. She had thought Fu Cheng would be angry, but he was apologizing to her.

Even though they were both sensitive and walking on eggshells, his broad, comforting hands safely held her feelings.

He was endlessly retreating and compromising in this relationship.

Youyi even realized that Fu Cheng was… comforting her.

She had never imagined that one day he would comfort someone, given how stern he looked when scolding others.

Although there were no sweet words or flowery speeches, and his tone wasn’t particularly gentle,

He was genuinely trying to cheer her up in his own way.

Fu Cheng had no intention of coming inside.

“Tonight, don’t turn on the air conditioning. It’s not cold anyway.”

When immunity is low, it’s easy to catch a cold.

Fu Cheng’s last piece of advice was, then he took a step back and turned to leave, but then remembered something.

“If you want me to hold you while you sleep, send me a message.”

He closed the door, and Youyi looked up, the light above her now shining down again.

But it had become much softer.

She shook the bangle on her wrist.

The bangle, with its swan pendant adorned with crystals, looked very pretty and fitted well on her wrist, giving a cool touch.

He must have put a lot of thought into choosing it.

Youyi closed the door and leaned against it. Although her lower abdomen ached, her chest felt similarly heavy.

That night, Youyi went to bed early. In a daze, she woke up from a nightmare. She touched the damp corner of her eyes and, feeling confused, sent a message to Fu Cheng.

—[I can’t sleep.]

It was 3 a.m. When Fu Cheng arrived from the other side, he didn’t turn on the light. With the weak night light from the sheer curtains, he saw Youyi wrapped in her blanket, like an ostrich afraid to look up.

He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled the blanket. His fingertips touched her soft cheek and felt the dampness.

Youyi’s heart ached, and she started to cry inexplicably.

“What’s wrong?” Fu Cheng leaned down, thinking she might be having stomach pain again. He wanted to pick her up, but her hand grabbed his, holding onto his fingers with a sense of grievance.

“Why are you still awake?” Her voice came out muffled from under the blanket.

Fu Cheng said, “I was waiting for your message.”

So he hadn’t slept, waiting for her to text.

“Fu Cheng, you seem to be really good to me.” The voice from under the blanket was tearful. She held his calloused fingers against her palm, feeling that Fu Cheng was truly there with her.

“Are you this good to others too?” She asked, feeling sad and wronged.

Fu Cheng adjusted the blanket, making sure it didn’t cover her face to avoid obstructing her breathing.

“I don’t compromise with others.”

“Why?”

The white sheer curtain fell to the floor, and his figure was cast upon the wide bed, his deep, dark eyes revealing nothing.

“Because you are Ding Youyi,” he said.

**

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