When I Meet the Moon - Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Returning to the third floor of the EAW Experience Center, Yin Yunyi and Yin Yucheng were waiting on the rest bench by the virtual roller coaster entrance. Seeing Yun Li, the two of them stood up simultaneously.

Yin Yunyi took the jacket from Yun Li's hands: "Thank you, Sister Yun Li."

Yun Li smiled: "You're welcome."

Yin Yucheng instantly spotted the person standing behind Yun Li: "Fu Shize?"

Never imagining that the two of them would have any intersection, Yun Li asked: "Do you guys know each other?"

Yin Yucheng smiled: "We met a few times during competitions back when we were studying." Not having witnessed them arriving together, and seeing that Fu Shize was wearing an EAW employee badge, Yin Yucheng simply assumed the two of them were colleagues.

After Yin Yunyi put the jacket on, Yin Yucheng took the initiative to speak: "This is Yunyi's and my first time here, do you mind showing us around?"

Since the other party had already brought it up, it wouldn't be convenient for Yun Li to refuse: "Sure."

Noticing Fu Shize tagging along beside them, Yin Yucheng asked with some confusion: "Are you coming with us too?"

Fu Shize naturally interpreted this question as an invitation: "Sure."

Yin Yucheng: "..."

Feeling inexplicably awkward, Yun Li tried to ease the atmosphere: "Would you guys like to try the roller coaster over here first? The immersion on this one is pretty good."

"Sister, why don't you come with us? I want to ride with you," Yin Yunyi invited proactively.

Not wanting to leave Yin Yunyi with the impression that Yun Ye's sister was hard to get along with, Yun Li nodded.

As the group waited in line, Yin Yucheng and Fu Shize stood toward the back. Looking at Fu Shize, Yin Yucheng remarked: "Given that you graduated from West Ke University, I would've thought you'd land a more extraordinary job."

Indifferent to the subtle dig hidden in his words, Fu Shize replied calmly: "I heard the radio broadcast from Nanli University last time. Having a campus romance?"

Instantly reminded of the content from that interview, Yin Yucheng was left speechless: "We're working on it right now. What about you?"

Fu Shize: "Just settled it." He added casually: "Right ahead of you."

There were only two people standing in front of them, so the person Fu Shize was referring to certainly couldn't be his younger sister.

"..."

Yin Yucheng forced a smile and quickly changed the subject. Fu Shize, however, showed little interest, remaining silent unless a response was strictly necessary.

Before long, it was their turn in line. The seats on the virtual roller coaster were identical to a real one, with multiple rows per car and two seats per row.

Having practically suffered a romantic setback, Yin Yucheng didn't show it on the surface, but zoned out somewhat as he sat beside Yin Yunyi. Fu Shize pulled open the safety harness for Yun Li and smoothly took the seat beside her.

Yun Li had already ridden this attraction many times. The first time was when she came to EAW to shoot a promotional video, and later when she interned at EAW. Because she had an employee card granting direct access to the experience center, she would occasionally come play when slacking off from work or after hours.

Having done it so many times, the initial shock was gone, but even though she was used to it now, she would still occasionally be startled by the high-risk visuals inside the VR headset.

The imagery before her eyes gradually rumbled from the bottom up to the peak, about to plunge down from the apex of the roller coaster.

Yun Li gripped the front safety bar tightly, feeling another hand reach over to envelop hers with a moderate pressure, carrying a subtle air of reassurance.

At the exact moment the roller coaster plunged downward, she couldn't tell whether the terror brought by the ride was greater, or the heart-fluttering warmth radiating from the hand draped over hers.

After riding the virtual roller coaster twice, Yin Yunyi suggested rejoining her class, and Yin Yucheng accompanied her back.

Yin Yunyi asked: "Sister Yun Li, when would be the best time for me to return this jacket to you?" Originally she could have had her brother return it, but now that didn't feel quite appropriate.

Yun Li thought about it: "I don't usually wear this jacket, and you don't have time to return it while in high school. Just give it back to me when Yun Ye comes to find you."

Yun Li and Fu Shize headed to the elevator lobby together, while Yin Yucheng and Yin Yunyi went to take the escalator. The four of them parted ways right there.

Standing beside Yin Yucheng, Yin Yunyi blinked wide eyes and asked: "Brother, it looks like Sister Yun Li has a boyfriend."

Yin Yucheng forced the corners of his mouth to twitch: "Seems so."

Asking a question she already knew the answer to, Yin Yunyi twisted the knife further: "Didn't you ask clearly beforehand?"

Yin Yucheng didn't feel like talking anymore: "I did."

The other pair stepped into the elevator and stood side by side. Fu Shize extended a hand and lightly scratched her palm.

The two of them had agreed not to display any intimacy within the company, consciously keeping their distance all day long. Now that they were suddenly pulled close, a strange rebellious impulse bubbled up inside them, driven by the fear of being discovered by colleagues.

Turning defense into offense, Yun Li shifted her hand upward, sliding her fingers into his slightly parted gaps to interlock their fingers completely.

That hand reciprocated by tightening its grip around hers in full cooperation.

While Yun Li's mind was racing to figure out what her next move could be, Fu Shize spoke up a few seconds later: "Is there no next step?"

He bluntly laid it out without an ounce of shyness, completely disrupting Yun Li's train of thought.

Just then, the elevator stopped at the basement level. Yun Li hurriedly released his hand and scrambled out of the elevator in a panic: "Back to work."

On the final workday of the year, no one in the company stayed late for overtime. As the last person in her department to leave, Yun Li let out a long breath after shutting off the lights. The next time she saw EAW, it would be 2017.

Fu Shize was waiting for her in the hallway. Wearing a cyan-blue windbreaker and a baseball cap, he raised his head upon hearing the sound of her opening the door.

His neck was shielded by a gray scarf.

It was the one she had knitted.

Yun Li hurried over and took the initiative to hold his hand.

It was still lightly snowing.

The snow was dry, and neither of them used an umbrella. Fu Shize removed his baseball cap and placed it on her head. The accumulated snow at the entrance had already covered their ankles.

A figure holding an umbrella stood by the doorway. Leaning against Fu Shize's side, Yun Li paid the person no mind, stepping quietly through the snow as they headed outward.

"Hold on a moment."

The figure caught up to them, and Yun Li realized it was Yin Yucheng. He was holding a bag, and having presumably waited outside for a long time, stray snowflakes dusted his hair.

He lowered his gaze to look at their tightly locked hands, appearing as though he wanted to say something, but held his tongue. After several long seconds, he returned to a natural expression and handed the bag to Yun Li: "Here is your jacket."

"You didn't have to make a special trip," Yun Li said in surprise, reaching out to take it.

"It's fine," he said warmly.

He had simply come to confirm it for himself.

With a brief parting wish of Happy New Year, Yin Yucheng turned and walked away. His car was parked right by the roadside, and his tall, slender figure vanished into the distance shortly after. Not lingering on the sight, Yun Li continued walking in the direction they had been heading.

Yun Li asked: "He said you guys met during a competition."

Fu Shize: "Mn."

Recalling Yin Yucheng's expression earlier—wanting to speak but holding back—Yun Li wondered out loud: "Does he not really like you?"

Naturally letting her imagination run wild, she reasoned: "After all, anywhere you go, he's at best only taking second place."

"..."

She was a bit slow on the uptake.

Fu Shize remained silent. He lifted the cap off her head, ruffled her hair, and placed it back on.

A path had been shoveled clear through the snow on the plaza, laid over with straw mats to prevent pedestrians from slipping. Upon entering the residential complex, thick snow blanketed everywhere.

"Follow behind me."

Fu Shize took the lead. His shoes were significantly larger than Yun Li's, and by stepping in his footprints, her shoes wouldn't sink into the snowdrift.

By the time they reached home, her face was completely numb from the cold. Yun Li turned on the heater and poured a cup of hot water for Fu Shize. It was nearing six o'clock, and with vegetables and meat pre-prepared in the fridge, Yun Li brought the ingredients to the kitchen. Before she could even begin cooking, Fu Shize walked in holding his cup.

He filled a glass of water but didn't leave, leaning against the refrigerator to watch her.

Seemingly noticing his gaze, Yun Li turned back: "Go sit outside for a bit first."

She wore a light pink apron, and her shoulder-length hair was tied up into a messy bun with a patterned scrunchie, exposing the back of her neck. Water slid down past Fu Shize's throat as he lowered his gaze to stare at the busy figure. The apron was tied with a butterfly knot in the back, accentuating her slender waistline.

Before he knew it, the water in his cup hit the bottom. Setting the cup aside, he stepped close to Yun Li and wrapped his arms around her from behind.

Yun Li's body stiffened. Nudging him with her right shoulder, she said with helpless exasperation: "Go outside first, I can't chop vegetables like this."

Her hands were wet as she hovered over a bamboo shoot, slicing it. The water was freezing cold, but Fu Shize traced his fingers forward along her wrist, lingering only briefly on the back of her hand before pressing them against the cutting board.

"I'll help."

Without lingering further, he let go of her and drifted over to the sink on his own accord, rinsing the leafy greens she had placed inside. Then he neatly chopped the bamboo shoots on the cutting board to match the exact thickness of her slices.

It was easy to see that Fu Shize rarely cooked; his movements in washing and cutting vegetables for her looked somewhat clumsy.

Yet he didn't feel like he was in the way in the kitchen. Fearing he might get bored, Yun Li had tried repeatedly to shoo him out, but Fu Shize ignored every attempt.

Whenever she asked him to grab something, he moved; whenever she didn't need him, he simply leaned against the side and watched her.

Whenever she stood still for even a second, he would lean in closer to hug her and press against her.

Cooking this single meal left her flushed from head to toe.

Finally finishing the cooking, Yun Li turned to face Fu Shize, looking somewhat dissatisfied with his frequent interference.

He merely leaned there at ease.

Putting her hands behind her back, she prepared to untie her apron. Fu Shize stepped closer, sliding his hands through the gaps between her arms and waist to reach around behind her.

He effortlessly untied the knot at her waist. Yun Li could feel the string instantly slacken, yet her heart tightened all the more because of it.

Having loosened the ties for her, his hands didn't pull away, instead pressing firmly against her waist.

Yun Li looked up. Standing so close together, his dark eyes carried a trace of emotion.

The temperature in the air was rising rapidly.

Yun Li wanted to say something, but instantly drowned in the depths of his gaze. Unconsciously standing on tiptoe, she pressed her lips lightly against his.

Just a brief touch.

Recovering her wits and realizing what she had just done, she felt almost unable to control the expression on her face, lowering her head in a desperate bid to conceal her lapse in composure.

The man before her remained motionless.

Yun Li bit her lower lip, and after a moment, her voice came out as faint as a mosquito's buzz: "I couldn't help it..."

Her tone carried a trace of grievance, as if he had deliberately led her astray.

Fu Shize let out a soft hum, his fingertips brushing lightly across the cupid's bow of her lips.

This subtle contact sent a tingle straight to Yun Li's heart. Lifting her gaze, her eyes rippled with an uncontrollable surge of emotion. Caught in her gaze, Fu Shize's fingertips paused. Lowering his head, he pressed against her lips before biting down softly with immense restraint.

...

After pulling away from him, Yun Li went to the living room to cool down for a good long while before returning to the kitchen to carry out the dishes. Fu Shize was still in the kitchen, gripping the apron in his hand as he asked her: "Can I wear this?"

"..."

Unsure of what he was plotting, Yun Li answered truthfully: "Probably won't fit."

Fu Shize hung the apron back up.

Given that he had asked, he must have had the desire to wear it. Finding it difficult to picture him in light pink, Yun Li instinctively pushed back: "Don't wear mine."

Fu Shize glanced down at her frost-reddened fingertips.

"Pick one out for me."

...

Finishing their meal in about half an hour and cleaning up the dishes, Yun Li and Fu Shize curled up together on the couch. The indoor temperature had already climbed nicely. Wearing a lightweight sweater, he leaned closely beside her.

With nothing else to do, Fu Shize accompanied Yun Li as she browsed Bilibili. Finding nothing particularly novel, the two of them picked out a movie to watch.

Yun Li's phone rang.

"Lili, are you ringing in the New Year together tomorrow?" Deng Chuqi's voice came through the receiver. "Xiaxia is coming home tomorrow, I'll come find you."

The phone's audio leaked slightly. Yun Li glanced at Fu Shize; he didn't move, merely reaching out to playfully twist a strand of hair by her ear.

His fingertips accidentally brushed against her cheek.

Blushing, Yun Li tried to bat Fu Shize's hand away, eliciting a chuckle from him.

After a brief silence on the other end, Deng Chuqi asked with suspicion: "I think I heard a man laughing. Did you hear that?"

Yun Li: "..."

Yun Li: "It's coming from my end."

Deng Chuqi: "..."

Yun Li promptly stood up from the couch, wanting to escape Fu Shize's interference. Before she could take a step, he grabbed her hand and yanked her back down onto the couch. Unbalanced, she tipped backward into his embrace, upper body leaning against him.

The voice continued through the phone: "Then is it still convenient for you to take calls?"

That phrasing made the two of them sound like they were up to something scandalous.

Yun Li looked at Fu Shize. Showing zero desire to clear things up, she had to panic and clarify on her own: "It's convenient, don't let your imagination run wild." Taking a deep breath, she confessed: "I'm in a relationship."

"Crap. Who?"

Just as Yun Li had anticipated, not being informed right away would inevitably leave Deng Chuqi feeling somewhat slighted. Unsure whether dropping Fu Shize's name would give her an even bigger shock, Yun Li hesitated for a long moment without a word.

Yet the person holding her broke his consistent silence.

"Forgotten my name already?"

The question was directed at Yun Li, but he deliberately leaned closer to the phone to say it.

The other end of the line stayed muted for a good long while before wisely hanging up straight away.

"...”