Chapter 37

After breakfast, Fu Cheng took Youyi to the shooting range at his company.

This was an indoor shooting range, different from the one at the base, but not too different.

Though it was indoors, the space was large, and there were various types of guns available.

During the New Year’s period, the company was empty, and with the air conditioning on, the temperature was quite high. Fu Cheng helped Youyi take off her coat and put it in the locker, then fitted her with wrist guards and earmuffs before handing her a gun.

“Do you remember what I taught you last time?”

Youyi thought for a moment and nodded.

She had practiced diligently last time, even though he had kept her behind for extra practice, she still ended up with the highest score in her group.

“I’ll teach you again.” Fu Cheng stood behind her, guiding her hands to hold the gun and adjusting the details of her grip.

His broad chest pressed against her back, the warmth of his body transmitted through the thin fabric, his calloused fingers pressing heavily on hers. Youyi’s heart inevitably fluttered.

She bit her lip gently.

“Don’t get distracted,” Fu Cheng admonished softly.

He pressed the trigger, and the bullet flew out with a deafening bang. Even with the earmuffs, the sound was overwhelming, making her head throb.

Unlike the outdoors, the sound indoors was confined and amplified within the space, and despite the sound-absorbing materials, the noise echoed around.

Fu Cheng only demonstrated once before withdrawing his hands.

“Aim for the bullseye and fire away.” Fu Cheng pointed to the target ahead. “When you fire ten shots, all the negative emotions will be taken away with them.”

“Don’t be afraid. I’m right behind you.”

She needed a way to vent.

Only by letting it out could she shed her burdens.

Try this reckless release.

It would feel liberating.

Youyi furrowed her brow, resolutely pressed the trigger, firing one shot after another. The recoil pushed her back, but Fu Cheng steadied her from behind.

She didn’t care whether she hit the target, just firing away recklessly.

Ten shots in a row.

It was exhilarating.

When Youyi removed the earmuffs, her eardrums still rang faintly.

Fu Cheng cupped his hand over her ear, “Are you okay?”

Youyi was sweating.

She felt that with each pull of the trigger, her negative emotions were also leaving. It was like a large sponge filled with water, now gradually being squeezed dry, returning to a dry state.

Her pale forehead twitched, and in the sunlight, her black hair contrasted sharply with her fair skin. Reflecting on the deafening noise, Youyi nodded and said seriously, “I’m fine.”

Fu Cheng leaned down and kissed her lips, savoring the sweetness, then wiped her sweat and went over to count her shots.

“You did great,” Fu Cheng said. “Ten shots, seventy-five points.”

In her most recent attempt, she hit the nine-ring mark.

Last time she practiced shooting, Fu Cheng hadn’t praised her. This time, receiving compliments made Youyi smile involuntarily.

After resolving these negative feelings, she felt much lighter and even managed to control a simpler firearm with one hand, which she had never expected to do.

Her accuracy continued to improve.

After finishing here, Fu Cheng took her shopping.

It was Youyi’s first time going out with him.

Youyi usually spends within her means and prefers to buy things that are suitable rather than extravagant. She rarely buys luxury items.

The bags in the boutique looked beautiful, but Youyi never considered buying one. She browsed through the store and then left.

Fu Cheng walked beside her, patiently following her.

“You were looking at the first bag on the second row earlier. Why didn’t you take it down to look at it?” Fu Cheng noticed her gaze lingering on it for several seconds without taking it down.

He wasn’t sure what Youyi liked and wanted to ensure she could get what she wanted. He hoped she would pick what she liked.

Youyi hesitated and explained, “I don’t need to buy something so expensive.”

The most expensive bag she owned was a 300-yuan one she bought for herself on her birthday.

“Have you ever used the card I gave you?” Fu Cheng asked. “Do you know how much money is on it?”

Youyi shook her head. She didn’t know.

She hadn’t had the chance to buy anything expensive yet, and she had mentioned she would consult Fu Cheng before making any significant purchases.

She had kept the card in a small compartment of her bedside drawer, assuming it was for her to keep on his behalf.

“If the money is left unused, it’s meaningless,” Fu Cheng said. “You should know there’s at least an eight-figure amount on it.”

Youyi’s mouth dropped open in surprise.

“And it’s all yours.”

Fu Cheng’s dark eyes were fixed on her. His tone was deep and assured. Knowing Youyi was still careful with his things made him a bit heartbroken, but…

“If spending a bit of money makes you happy, then it’s worth it.”

At that moment, Youyi’s heart leaped with joy. She knew Fu Cheng was doing everything he could to make her happy. The initial sadness had been slowly replaced by another emotion.

An emotion called “Fu Cheng.”

“But I didn’t bring it today.” Youyi patted her pockets.

Although, there was nothing there.

“I’m not asking you to spend money,” Fu Cheng glanced at the store they had just left, “Just know that if you like something, buy it. As long as it makes you happy, it’s worth it.”

Youyi was deeply touched.

He said that as long as she was happy, it was worth it. It seemed like that was his only wish, making her feel his unique affection.

So, she went back and asked the sales associate to show her the bag she had looked at earlier.

It was a newly released handbag adorned with pearls in a pink shade, exuding youthful excitement and charm. Priced at around thirty thousand yuan, Fu Cheng paid for it without a blink.

With this start, the rest became much simpler.

Youyi bought two more dresses, a set of lipsticks, and a set of essence and toner.

All the bags she bought were carried by Fu Cheng.

She was indeed much happier.

So, spending money is always delightful for anyone.

As they prepared to go home, Youyi felt regretful, “I didn’t buy anything for you.”

Everything was for her.

“I got something,” Fu Cheng said.

“What?”

“My wife is smiling.”

*

Back home, Youyi took out the bank card from her bedside drawer and tried to link the card number to her mobile banking app.

After confirming the numbers, Youyi suddenly felt that both the card and her phone were not secure with her.

Wasn’t this card a significant part of their household savings?

Since they had many more days ahead, she shouldn’t waste money, no matter how much or how little there was.

If she were to manage the money, she needed to manage it well.

Fu Cheng was cooking.

When Youyi offered to help, he declined, saying he was only making two simple dishes and needed space to move around in the kitchen, which was already quite large.

It was just that Fu Cheng was so large that he made the space feel cramped.

Her phone displayed a call from her mother.

Youyi took a deep breath and went out to the balcony to answer the call.

She had anticipated all possible scenarios, so she answered the phone with a relatively calm mindset.

The first thing her mother asked was why she had gone out in the middle of the night.

No matter how angry or dissatisfied she was, she couldn’t just leave without a word. It was dangerous to be out alone at night, and they must have been very worried about her.

Sometimes, emotions can be like that.

Especially for Ding Youyi, who was so easily softened.

Despite her previous complaints, hearing their worried voices made her heart soften immediately.

Her eyes welled up with tears.

Her mother continued, mentioning that her grandmother had made pumpkin cakes for her, which she was supposed to bring back to Shenglin City. Now, she hadn’t even had a chance to eat them.

Youyi remained silent, responding only with a low “hmm.”

She felt regretful for not eating her grandmother’s cakes.

As she hung up, Fu Cheng called her to dinner.

His cooking skills had improved remarkably. When Youyi thought about trying to improve her own skills, she had long since fallen behind him.

In the future, it would still be better for Fu Cheng to cook at home.

That night, after Youyi finished her bath and came out, the lights suddenly went out.

Standing at the door, her eyes wide, she peered into the living room. After a few seconds, she thought she saw a figure and tentatively called out, “Fu Cheng?”

The figure was indeed Fu Cheng. Even though she couldn’t see his face in the darkness, she could still sense him, as if she could see into his eyes through the shadows.

Of course it’s Fucheng.

“There’s one more,” Fu Cheng whispered. “Do you want to see it?”

Youyi didn’t understand what he meant.

What else?

Fu Cheng didn’t say anything. He simply took her hand and guided it to a spot on his lower right abdomen.

His abdominal muscles were well-defined, something Youyi couldn’t resist touching even when she felt embarrassed. His formidable strength often focused around his waist, lingering on his firm abdominal muscles.

She depended on his incomparable strength and longed for it, an irresistible draw.

Countless small, secret thoughts hidden in the dark.

Fu Cheng knew she liked it.

So—

“What do you feel?” he asked.

Her fingertips encountered a small raised area, about the length of her pinky. If she guessed correctly, it was a scar on his abdominal muscles.

Fu Cheng had many scars on his body, large and small.

If his abdominal muscles were sweaty, the sensation of the scar would be lessened. Before she lost control, she would touch it secretly, drawn by an almost uncontrollable instinct.

But she had never seen it clearly. In the darkness, her sense of touch became more pronounced.

It was a scar.

Fu Cheng held her fingers and traced the shape of the scar.

—”Y”.

With a faint light coming from the bathroom, Youyi saw a black mark on the lower edge of that abdominal muscle.

It was the letter “Y”.

He placed you in the most comforting place, where the scar and the mark were visible only to you.

He didn’t have many thoughts; he just wanted her to feel a little more secure, within the things he could do.

Fu Cheng knew that now, Youyi was like a board drifting alone in the vast ocean. She needed a support, a place to anchor.

He hoped he could be that constant support in her heart.

Fu Cheng gently patted her back, as if comforting and encouraging her, then he spoke very softly in her ear.

“Youyi, if you like it, then give it a kiss.”