Chapter 16: “I Really Like It.”

A deliberately lowered voice, slightly hoarse, carried an unruly, teasing hint of desire.

Hidden in the night, it sounded like a joke—but also like temptation.

Xia Zhi Cha bit her lip tightly and gave a small nod.

Fu Chi Yu was a little surprised.
“You’ve really never kissed anyone before?”

Xia Zhi Cha nodded again.

“Never dated anyone either?”

“…”

Her throat felt dry. After a slight pause, she softly murmured,
“Mm.”

He could talk about kissing and dating so easily—he was probably very experienced…

She didn’t even dare imagine what Fu Chi Yu looked like kissing someone else. The thought alone made her chest feel tight.

Eventually, the rustling from Jiang Lili and Gao Yuyang finally subsided. The two emerged from the woods, walking out hand in hand.

Once they were far enough away, Xia Zhi Cha slowly pushed herself off the ground using the grass beneath her.

Her legs were a little numb, so she bent down to rub them.

Fu Chi Yu leaned lazily against a nearby tree, arms crossed, stretching his shoulders with a faint laugh:
“Too many people over by the fireworks show. I thought you guys might get lost, so I came to find you. But in the end—”
He clicked his tongue, clearly not upset, speaking with his usual devil-may-care tone,
“Those two really ditched their friends for romance.”

As Xia Zhi Cha listened, she glanced at a new message from Jiang Lili.

Jiang Lili: Are you guys already at the fireworks show?
Jiang Lili: I’ll come find you now!

…They weren’t there yet.

And just now, she and Fu Chi Yu had… witnessed your sweet little moment.

Feeling slightly guilty, she replied while walking out of the grove:

Xia Zhi Cha: Got held up for a bit, coming now.

Behind her, Fu Chi Yu called out:
“Xia Zhi Cha.”

She responded, turning around to see him holding out the bag of snacks she had forgotten.
“You left something behind.”

Only then did she realize—she’d been so flustered earlier, she completely forgot about the snacks on the ground.

“Thanks,” she said as she accepted the bag.

Fu Chi Yu gave a slight nod of his chin,
“Let’s go.”

Xia Zhi Cha nodded and walked ahead a few steps.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, she turned around. Seeing Fu Chi Yu right behind her, she paused in her tracks and stopped in front of him.

“Hmm?” Fu Chi Yu looked down, puzzled.

The next second, Xia Zhi Cha reached out her hand and opened her palm.

Her small, pale hand held a finely wrapped little box—like something meant to hold jewelry.

She looked nervous. Her throat bobbed slightly as she swallowed, then softly said,
“…This is for you.”

After a short pause, she added,
“A thank-you gift… for helping with the dress last time.”

The box even had the logo of the amusement park on it.

Fu Chi Yu’s eyes flashed with surprise, then understanding. A mischievous smile tugged at the corner of his lips:
“So that’s what you were buying at the souvenir shop?”

No wonder she lingered around the accessories.

Xia Zhi Cha bit her lip and nodded.

“Alright.”
Fu Chi Yu chuckled and accepted the gift, casually opening the box.

Inside were two small stud earrings, metallic, cool-toned—surprisingly well-matched with the necklace he was wearing today.

He was just about to nonchalantly praise her taste when his eyes fell on Xia Zhi Cha.

She was looking up at him, her wide, soft deer-like eyes full of nervous anticipation, waiting for his reaction.

Those eyes sparkled—like fireworks exploding.

Their gazes locked for a moment. Fu Chi Yu froze, inexplicably moved.

“Thanks.”

After a brief silence, he gave a low laugh, tucked the gift box into his bag, and added—
“…I really like it.”

---

After the fireworks show, the amusement park began clearing out.

Fu Chi Yu didn’t take the subway back to campus with the others. Instead, he hailed a taxi and went straight to his apartment in the east part of the city.

It wasn’t far—just a few kilometers from the park.

His unit was on the top floor. He punched in the code and entered, unsurprised to find the lights already on. He simply raised an eyebrow and headed upstairs.

The rooftop had been decked out in a flashy, over-the-top style. In the center, sprawled across a sunken couch, was a guy with a buzzcut—laid-back and cocky, like he had no bones.

Hearing footsteps, he didn’t even sit up—just waved lazily in Fu Chi Yu’s direction like they were old friends.

This was Zhao Zai Ye, the youngest son of the Zhao family—longtime friends of the Fus. He was useless at everything except drinking, gambling, smoking, and partying.

“The old man kicked me out again tonight. I’m crashing here.”
He raised a half-empty beer bottle,
“I’ll sleep on your couch.”

Fu Chi Yu didn’t even blink, clearly used to it. He grunted in acknowledgment and sat down casually.

Zhao Zai Ye gave him a sideways glance, then sat up:
“You’re not even going to ask what I did this time?”

Fu Chi Yu didn’t lift his eyes:
“The usual three things?”

“Not this time.” Zhao Zai Ye laughed,
“I pissed off your stepmom. Now the old man wants me to apologize to her!”

Fu Chi Yu finally looked over.
“Why’d you mess with her?”

“Couldn’t stand her.”
Zhao Zai Ye looked totally unapologetic, smirking,
“Went to your house with the old man for tea—saw her flaunting herself like a seductress. Her daughter’s the same. Girl tried to flirt with me under the table. I snapped.”

Fu Chi Yu leaned back, clearly not surprised.

“Man, how have you put up with them for so many years?” Zhao Zai Ye waved dismissively,
“Your dad too—he’s only got you as a legitimate heir, sent you to Yun City before, and now you’re not even allowed back home. Isn’t he afraid no one will inherit the family business?”

“Of course he’s not afraid.”
Fu Chi Yu closed his eyes, lips curling in a tired smirk.
“He’s terrified I’ll take control.”

“Besides—”
His voice cooled slightly,
“That woman’s pregnant. If I go home now, I’ll just get framed for something.”

Zhao Zai Ye was silent for a moment.
“…No wonder you didn’t go home for the holiday. This crap would drive anyone mad.”

Then he blinked in surprise,
“Wait—don’t tell me your old man’s planning to give everything to her baby?”

Fu Chi Yu didn’t answer.

Which meant—yes.

“Then what are you gonna do?!” Zhao Zai Ye slammed the table, sitting bolt upright.

But Fu Chi Yu just gave a cold laugh.

He smirked, eyes dark with an edge of cruelty:
“If they want to fight for it—they better have the guts to survive.”

His tone barely changed, yet carried a dangerous arrogance.

Zhao Zai Ye paused, then laughed aloud.
“True.”

He’d watched Fu Chi Yu grow up—he knew how terrifying the guy could be.

“Anyway, forget this depressing stuff.”
Zhao Zai Ye handed him a beer,
“You went to the amusement park today?”

Fu Chi Yu raised an eyebrow.
“How’d you know?”

“Your university’s forum.”
Zhao Zai Ye casually asked,
“Got a new girlfriend? Someone posted a picture of you and some girl on a date.”

Fu Chi Yu’s fingers froze around his glass. His expression cooled slightly.
“What picture?”

Zhao Zai Ye pulled up the post on his phone.
“Here, look.”

It was a dark, grainy photo—taken from behind.

Just him and Xia Zhi Cha walking side-by-side toward the fireworks show.

No faces. Just silhouettes.

“Who’s this girl? The new campus belle they’re talking about?”

Zhao Zai Ye didn’t go to Jing University, so he didn’t know much about the forum gossip.
“You guys actually look pretty good together.”

“Tch.”
Fu Chi Yu hadn’t expected to get paparazzi’d like this. He rubbed his temples, annoyed.
“Tell Zhao Qi to delete the post.”

Zhao Qi was a distant relative of Zhao Zai Ye—and a forum admin. That’s how Zhao Zai Ye got access.

“Huh?”
Zhao Zai Ye looked up, confused.
Then his eyes widened in realization,
“Whoa—since when do you care about your image?”

Fu Chi Yu used to ignore everything—rumors, posts, gossip.

But now?

Fu Chi Yu said flatly,
“That girl’s shy.”

“…?”

Zhao Zai Ye was floored.

Just for her?
A blurry back-view photo?
And he wanted it deleted?

“You’ve never gone this far for any of your exes.”

Fu Chi Yu glanced at him, then paused slightly—like he’d just realized it too.

He smirked lazily,
“Don’t overthink it.”
“She’s just too pure. Don’t want to scare her off.”

“Really?” Zhao Zai Ye leaned closer, squinting suspiciously.

Then something shiny on Fu Chi Yu’s ear caught his eye.
“Wait—ear studs? You’re wearing earrings again? Weren’t you done with that?”

Fu Chi Yu casually shoved him away by the forehead.
“Felt like wearing them again.”

Suddenly, that image popped into his head—Xia Zhi Cha handing him the gift with those innocent, starry eyes.

So pure. So shy she practically curled up at the mention of a kiss.

And always blushing. Teasing her almost made him feel guilty.

As his thoughts wandered, Fu Chi Yu caught himself and gave a soft, self-deprecating laugh.

Letting go of Zhao Zai Ye—who was now groaning dramatically—he pulled out his phone and opened the forum.

The post hadn’t been deleted yet. Luckily, it had few comments and was buried.

He opened the thread. The photo of the two of them side-by-side filled the screen.

They did look surprisingly good together.

Fu Chi Yu stared at the image for a long time… Then, on impulse, long-pressed the picture—

And saved it to his gallery.