When I Meet the Moon - Chapter 31

Chapter 31

The family's sofa was L-shaped, and Yun Ye sat on the sofa beside Fu Shize, nibbling on the strawberries he had given him while stealing a few sideways glances at him.

Seemingly calm and indifferent to the outside world, his ink-black pupils nevertheless revealed a cold sharpness. Without leaning on the backrest for support, he sat upright against the sofa, propping his face up as he stared in Yun Li's direction.

Hey, having him as a brother-in-law wouldn't be bad either.

While Yun Ye was still switching back and forth between peeking and eating, Fu Shize suddenly asked him, "What are you peeking at?"

"..."

"Nothing." Panicking, he directly ate a few more strawberries. Fearing that Yun Li might hit him, he glanced in her direction a few times before asking cautiously, "Brother, are you from West Science and Technology University?"

"Mn."

Fu Shize looked at him thoughtfully. "How did you know?"

"Oh, my sister mentioned it." Yun Ye came up with a reason, having basically confirmed that Fu Shize was the person Yun Li had plastered on her wall back in high school. After thinking for a moment, he continued, "Brother, don't listen to my nonsense just now. My sister has never chased anyone before; otherwise, given her personality, she would have chased that person all the way to Mars."

"..."

"Have you ever been to West Science and Technology University?" Fu Shize handed Yun Ye a strawberry.

"Thank you, brother," Yun Ye said obediently. Fu Shize seemed much gentler than before. After eating the strawberry, he thought for a moment and added, "My sister has given me rides there a few times."

"To visit?" Fu Shize handed him another strawberry.

"No... Thank you, brother." Yun Ye accepted it again. "My sister said she had a friend there and that she was going to look for someone, so I just stayed there reading books with her."

Fu Shize did not pursue the topic further, continuing instead to chat with him about applying to West Science and Technology University and potential major directions.

Yun Li's game was reaching its conclusion, and Fu Shize pushed the plate of strawberries a bit closer to Yun Ye. "Eat some more."

Seeing that Yun Li was about to come over and that they wouldn't have any more time alone, Yun Ye hurriedly said, "Brother, my sister is a very good person."

"Mn."

"She's really good."

"Mn."

"Do you think she's good?"

"..."

Yun Ye didn't know how to hide his thoughts, and feeling that his intentions were now too obvious, he ate a strawberry to mask his embarrassment.

Fu Shize didn't say anything. The two siblings shared a slight resemblance in their facial features, and their expression when feeling awkward was almost identical.

When Yun Li took off her glasses, she saw Fu Shize and Yun Ye sitting on the sofa chatting. His demeanor looked much gentler and calmer than usual, like an older brother, while Yun Ye's expression was that of an uninitiated teenager, completely bewildered.

Remembering what Fu Zhengchu had said when he was drunk, only four words flashed through Yun Li's mind—

No! Way! Right!

Oh, my god.

It's hardest to guard against a thief from within your own house.

"Yun Ye, didn't you say you have a lot of homework?" Yun Li grabbed Yun Ye by the wrist and dragged him toward his bedroom.

After closing the door, Yun Ye saw Yun Li's expression and felt a sudden jolt of fear. "I didn't say anything!! I was only saying good things about you!"

Yun Li remained silent.

Yun Ye was terrified. "Really, I swear to heaven."

Yun Li eyed him. "Yun Ye, you like girls, right?"

"..."

Understanding her implication, Yun Ye angrily retorted, "Yun Li, you're sick in the head."

When Yun Li returned to the living room, Fu Shize was already packing up his equipment. She glanced at the coffee table; the paperwork on it was completely gone. Yun Li was slightly stunned. "Did you eat the strawberries?"

Fu Shize powered down his glasses and packed all the frames back into the bag before slowly replying, "No."

Yun Li rushed back into Yun Ye's room and said in a low voice, "Did you eat my strawberries?"

"Can't I eat them?" Yun Ye looked completely baffled.

Yun Li said, "Not those! I left one specific one on the table."

Yun Ye replied, "I didn't know which one it was. That brother handed me a bunch of them."

"..."

Yun Li glared at him. "I'm going to be ticked off to death by you. Don't eat any of the remaining ones."

Yun Ye was speechless. "A stranger meeting for the very first time knows to let your younger brother eat strawberries. Yun Li, you've been an older sister for sixteen years, how do you not have any basic awareness?"

Thinking of her specially crafted heart-shaped strawberry, Yun Li only felt her heart ache terribly. Her meticulously planned scheme for the entire evening had just gone down the drain. She had originally wanted to let Fu Shize take a box of strawberries back with her, with that heart-shaped one sitting right at the very top.

Without paying Yun Ye any more mind, she returned to the living room. Fu Shize had already packed everything up, changed his shoes, and was standing by the doorway. Not expecting him to leave so soon, Yun Li pulled the bedroom door shut and stood there momentarily caught off guard.

"Are you leaving?"

"Mn."

Hearing Yun Li's question from inside his room, Yun Ye opened the door and poked just his head out. "Sis, you should go see the brother off." He tilted his head. "Otherwise it's impolite."

Yun Li grabbed her car keys, slipped her shoes on, picked up a jacket, and followed Fu Shize out. After the two of them stepped into the elevator, she pressed the button for the basement level. Remembering the romantic atmosphere in the living room that had just been ruined by Yun Ye, Yun Li suddenly felt somewhat nervous, unconsciously clutching her sleeve.

Their family's parking spot was right near the elevator. After getting into the car, Yun Li fastened her seatbelt tightly and rolled down the window for some fresh air.

Fu Shize stood outside the passenger side, lingering without getting in.

With one hand braced against the car door, from Yun Li's perspective she could only vaguely make out his arched posture, his pale chin resting against the car window.

Thinking the car door hadn't been unlocked, Yun Li leaned over and unlocked it for him.

The moment the door opened, Fu Shize bent inward, stumbling slightly as he bumped against the seat. Yun Li's leaning body had yet to retract when a scent of tobacco washed over her. The moment she brushed against him, Yun Li recoiled as if struck by lightning, holding her breath and not daring to speak.

She gripped the steering wheel tightly, keeping her gaze strictly fixed on the road conditions on both sides of the parking garage.

After a moment beside her, Fu Shize finally spoke in a low voice, "Sorry."

Noticing that his voice sounded rather wrong, Yun Li turned her head to see Fu Shize frowning, his hand curled into a tight grip against his abdomen as his body arched tensely.

"Are you in a lot of pain?" Yun Li was still driving and felt completely at a loss. As soon as she cleared the garage exit, she pulled the car over to the side and stopped.

With his back pressed against the seat, beads of sweat broke out across Fu Shize's forehead. His body was curled inward, the veins on his hand prominent as he tightly clutched his stomach. His complexion was already pale to begin with, and at this moment he was utterly drained of blood.

"Is your stomach acting up?" In a panic, Yun Li reached for her phone, but fumbled and dropped it onto Fu Shize's lap. "I'll call an ambulance. I—I have a car, I'll take you to the hospital right now."

"No need." Fu Shize grabbed the hand she had extended to grope for the phone. "I'm used to it. It'll pass in a moment."

With those words, however, he did not let go of Yun Li's hand.

Yun Li didn't dare to act rashly. She held her breath, waiting for Fu Shize's next move.

The seconds felt boundlessly long.

Gradually, his brows slowly unfurled, and the taut muscles in his body relaxed along with them.

He opened his eyes, his gaze filled with utter exhaustion.

Seeing this, Yun Li asked, "Are you feeling a bit better?"

"Mn."

"Then can I take you to the hospital now?" Yun Li asked cautiously.

"Back to the hotel. I'll sleep for a bit."

Fu Shize didn't say anything more.

After dropping him off at the hotel, Yun Li drove home with a heart full of heavy thoughts, only to realize that her hands were trembling. She pressed down on her shaking hands and walked anxiously toward the kitchen.

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

Seeing her return, Yun Ye sidled up to her and said, "That brother today was actually quite handsome."

With all her thoughts consumed by Fu Shize's stomachache, Yun Li responded distractedly, "Mn, and?"

"He's tall too, and has a great temperament."

Yun Li asked, "What are you trying to say?"

"Yun Li, how is it that you suddenly brought a guy home?" Yun Ye's bright, clear eyes stared at Yun Li with a provocative glint.

"..."

Yun Li didn't want to entertain him.

Gossiping, Yun Ye crept closer to her. "I definitely didn't recognize the wrong person. That brother is the exact same guy you plastered on your wall. And he also told me himself that he's from West Science and Technology University."

"..."

"Today when you were washing strawberries, that brother kept looking at you. My bedroom door was open, so he didn't notice me."

"You've been chasing him for so many years; have you finally cleared the clouds to see the sun?"

Yun Li couldn't take it anymore. "Why do you have so much nonsense to say?"

Ignoring Yun Ye's pile of questions, Yun Li carried the dishes to the dining table. Yun Yongchang had already sat down. Seeming to be in a foul mood, he first complained about the driving school before shifting his focus directly onto Yun Ye's academics.

Thinking about what Yun Ye had just said, Yun Li responded half-heartedly.

"Did you make Yun Ye help you shoot a video today?"

Yun Li didn't deny it. "Mn."

Yun Ye quickly kicked her under the table.

"Your younger brother just got assigned to the top-tier honors class," Yun Yongchang said in a deep voice. "It's bad enough that your own grades are mediocre, don't go dragging your brother down with you."

Yang Fang dissatisfaction flared up. "It's rare for Lili to come home for a visit, can you drop the criticisms for once?"

Yun Yongchang retorted, "I told you not to go to Nanwu for graduate school, but you went ahead and did it first before telling us. Now that you're back and shooting videos, you still have to rely on your younger brother to help you out? Do you really think you're capable of supporting yourself on your own?"

Yun Li silently shoveled a couple of bites of rice into her mouth.

Yun Ye couldn't help but talk back. "Dad, I just made a cameo appearance in the frame, I didn't do anything else, and it didn't disrupt my studying at all."

Yun Yongchang glared at him. "You shut up too."

"Clack."

Yun Li forcefully set her chopsticks down.

"I'm full. I'm going out for a walk."

She stood up, grabbed her jacket, and walked straight out the door.

Just as Yun Li had expected, peaceful times at home were always extremely fleeting. She began to regurt her decision to stay at home for a whole week, and imagining the deadlock at the dinner table over the next few days made her feel so suffocated she wanted to flee.

Aimlessly driving her car out onto the streets, she arrived downtown where she was surrounded by familiar streets and storefronts. While spacing out at a red light, Yun Li could even remember the approximate duration of the signal.

Her eyes grew red before she knew it.

Yun Yongchang always loved his children in the way he deemed correct. He was merely complaining about Yun Li's unauthorized decision to go to Nanwu for graduate school, yet he felt the need to further disparage her into absolute worthlessness, thinking that by imposing pressure on her through such methods, she would admit her faults and back down.

Yun Li gripped the steering wheel tightly, only to realize that she had unconsciously driven near Fu Shize's hotel.

Finding an intersection to park by, she sent a message to Fu Shize: [Did you eat dinner?]

With her mind blank, Yun Li continued editing her message: [There's a very famous fish porridge shop near your place that's really good for the stomach. Want to go grab some together?]

Even without waiting for a reply, Yun Li could already guess his refusal, so she simply drove to the shop and packed a signature portion to go.

Her phone buzzed.

Wife: [No.]

As expected.

Driving back to the vicinity of the hotel, Yun Li parked on the roadside, took the fish porridge, and sat down in the hotel lobby, repeatedly editing several messages on her phone without sending a single one.

She was afraid of being rejected again.

Staring at the container of porridge in her hands, Yun Li muttered to herself, "What am I supposed to do with you?"

After hesitating for a long time, she walked over to the front desk and asked the receptionist to help deliver it to Fu Shize's room. After the receptionist went upstairs, she sat back down on the lobby's public sofa, harboring a lingering sliver of hope that he might come down to see her.

He wasn't there.

The receptionist handed the insulated bag back to Yun Li. Carrying it back to her car in a daze, she couldn't quite describe what she was feeling.

Staring at the insulated bag in her hands, which still had colorful seafood patterns printed on it, she could feel the warmth radiating from within.

She hadn't seen him.

Yun Li realized that her trip here wasn't actually driven by the thought that Fu Shize hadn't eaten dinner and had an upset stomach. She was the one who was hurting, so she wanted to see him; she wanted him by her side.

The mere thought of having to go back and face Yun Yongchang's face made Yun Li prefer to spend the night sleeping in her car.

After scrolling through her phone in the car for quite a while, Yun Ye sent a message: [[Red Packet] Don't be unhappy]

Yun Li: [I only accept 200-yuan red packets.]

Yun Ye: [[Red Packet] Don't be unhappy]

Yun Li let out a small laugh and opened both red packets. Yun Ye had initially sent 52 yuan, accompanied by an emoticon of a little cat opening its eyes wide and obediently pawing at her. The second one he sent was for 200 yuan, with everything else identical to the first red packet.

Yun Ye: [?? Return the first one to me.]

Yun Li: [Oh.]

Ten minutes later.

Yun Ye: [You still haven't returned it.]

Yun Li: [Oh.]

Yun Ye: [...]

Her originally terrible mood suddenly improved quite a bit. Yun Li opened her photo album, which was filled with pictures of her and Yun Ye, and scrolled through them for a long time.

She reached over and felt the porridge on the passenger seat—it had already gone cold. It made her realize that she still had Yun Ye, a younger brother who had grown up alongside her all through her childhood.

What about Fu Shize, then?

She recalled seeing his WeChat interface last time: aside from Lin Wanxyin's unread pile of over a hundred messages, almost everyone else's messages were from a week or more ago.

Yun Li realized that Fu Shize was probably always by himself.

After lingering in the car for nearly an hour, someone lightly tapped on her car window. Startled out of her daze, Yun Li turned her head to look. Fu Shize was holding a canned beer, gently rapping against the glass.

Yun Li hurriedly rolled down the window. "Why are you out here?"

Fu Shize shook the aluminum can slightly. "Running errands."

He strode over to the passenger side, pulled open the door, and climbed in, casually moving the insulated bag on the seat to one side. Seeing the prominent characters 'Fish Porridge House' printed on it, he pondered for a moment and asked, "For me?"

The cans of beer inside the plastic bag clinked loudly against each other as he entered.

"Mn... It must be cold by now, don't eat it," Yun Li said slowly. "Besides, your stomach hurt at noon, and yet you still bought..." She lowered her gaze to peek at the beer in his plastic bag, "...five cans of beer. You probably don't need to eat porridge either."

Normally, Yun Li spoke to Fu Shize with a gentle and mild tone, but this time her words carried a hint of petty, resentful sarcasm.

She didn't know how to throw a tantrum at Fu Shize, nor did she know if she even had the right to do so, so she simply averted her face to look out the window.

"I'm in a bad mood right now. I don't want to chase you anymore, get out of the car."

Fu Shize had just sat down, only for the person next to him to abruptly try to kick him out of the car. He froze for a moment and stared at Yun Li; she hadn't even turned her head back, looking as if she were nursing a fit of sullen anger.

Whether startled by Yun Li's harsh tone or not, Fu Shize conscientiously tucked the beer back into the bag. After stepping out of the car, he took the bag with the beer and tossed it directly into the trash can nearby.

Afterward, he climbed back into the passenger seat, retrieved the insulated bag, and unwrapped it.