When I Meet the Moon - Chapter 53

Chapter 53

Lin Wanyin picked up her shoe, put it back on, and walked over toward Yun Li.

Setting aside the earlier incident, Yun Li gave her a mental thumbs-up.

The emergency call had already connected, and Yun Li briefly explained what had happened. She had seen the man's back while at work, but only recognized him when she saw his face clearly after the fact. It seemed he had been loitering in the vicinity all along.

"This is your second time running into him?" Hearing the contents of her call, Lin Wanyin asked.

She dusted off her hands and straightened her clothes. Aside from a slightly haughty expression when speaking, she genuinely looked like a quiet, delicate high school student.

"Yeah, I've already called the police," Yun Li answered honestly. "You were very brave..."

"There were two of us." Lin Wanyin didn't accept her praise. "I wouldn't have chased him if I was alone. I'm not stupid."

With that, the two exchanged glances. Lin Wanyin scanned her up and down, furrowed her brow, and said, "You didn't dare chase him even with two people. Aren't you a bit too much of a pushover?"

"..."

"And you even let a minor do the chasing."

Yun Li didn't entirely agree. Unsure whether the man might resort to extremist behavior, she would always choose to leave the scene first before calling the police.

Still, what Lin Wanyin said was true, and she had indeed driven the pervert away. Swallowing her frustration, Yun Li conceded, "Got it, next time I'll be the one to chase him."

"I'm leaving. Watch your own safety." Being in a foul mood and having no desire to linger, she turned and walked home.

She hadn't taken two steps before she realized Lin Wanyin was following right behind her.

Yun Li felt as though her life over the past two days was an absolute mess. She hurried back home, bolted the door, and sat on the sofa for a full several minutes.

Getting up and returning to the door, she looked through the peephole and found Lin Wanyin lingering outside. After standing there for a bit, the girl sat down against the wall in the middle of the hallway.

She must have secretly watched the elevator floor she got off at from downstairs.

Dealing with Fu Shize's niece, Yun Li only felt that her current position was rather strange—somewhat like an elder, yet somewhat fearful of this source of trouble.

She cracked the door open a sliver.

Lin Wanyin sprang up from the floor with a start.

"I'll tell you a secret about him, can you guys let me tag along when you go out?" Worried about being rejected, Lin Wanyin lowered her voice. "I'm an internet influencer, and I've previously posted on the platform saying he's my boyfriend."

Changing her tune, she added, "I don't expect him to actually like me, you guys can just help me live out the fantasy online."

"..."

"Isn't Xu Qingsong pretty handsome too?"

"Aze was the top scorer in the college entrance examination, you know. Then people will say I have a tall, rich, and handsome academic genius boyfriend." Lin Wanyin had already envisioned her ultimate, idealized scenario.

Yun Li was utterly speechless.

Lin Wanyin pleaded with her, "Please, just help me play matchmaker once. You might even become my aunt-in-law in the future."

Yun Li: "If I play matchmaker for you, can I still be your aunt-in-law?"

Her rejection was glaringly obvious. Yun Li felt somewhat out of touch with the times, unable to quite comprehend what young people were thinking.

Lin Wanyin adopted the tone she usually used when talking to Fu Shize: "If you're like this, I'll tell my grandpa and grandma, and you'll never be allowed to enter their family's door."

Staring at her with absolute calm, Yun Li said slowly, "By then, your uncle will walk right through my family's door himself."

"..."

Faced with this unexpected counterattack, Lin Wanyin rolled her eyes and refused to back down. "I've known Aze for seventeen years, how long have you even known him?"

"A little over half a year, I suppose," Yun Li cooperated. "Too bad it's me—someone who's only known him for half a year—who became his girlfriend."

"..."

The two of them stood by the doorway arguing like elementary schoolers. Yun Li felt her emotions inexplicably dragged along by the girl, and after arguing until she was tired, she sighed. "Your uncle isn't here. Staying here is useless, just go home."

"I know, my great-grandmother is sick, and Aze is over there keeping her company," Lin Wanyin continued. "But why didn't you tag along? Aze grew up by his great-grandmother and great-grandfather's side since he was little. His great-grandfather has already passed away, so he must be feeling terrible right now. You really are an unqualified girlfriend."

"..."

Having lost the previous verbal sparring, Lin Wanyin couldn't help letting out a vindicated, triumphant laugh upon seeing Yun Li's expression. "You wouldn't happen to not even know about this, would you? You don't understand him at all, what kind of relationship are you even having?"

Yun Li stayed silent, prompting Lin Wanyin to grow even more arrogant. "Oh, I get it! Are you guys having one of those short-term relationships?"

Yun Li remained silent for a moment before responding, "I know all of these things."

With extreme displeasure, Yun Li pulled the door shut. "Hurry up and go home."

Yun Li sent a message to Xu Qingsong to inform him of Lin Wanyin's whereabouts. Sitting back down on the sofa, she dazedly picked up the origami piece from the table.

She really didn't know anything.

A wave of grievance welled up in her heart, mingled with self-blame—it was her own lack of courage to ask, and her own hesitation that gave others the opening to point fingers.

Fretting on the sofa for a short while, Yun Li grabbed her bag once more, put on her shoes, and went out.

She had heard Fu Shize mention that the elderly woman was at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University, knowing only that it was the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine. After locating the inpatient building for that department, she found a seat on an outdoor bench and sat down.

Normally, Yun Li wouldn't do something like this, feeling it was far too abrupt and rash. But she figured that at a time like this, he might need company.

She disliked the feeling of emotional distance; she wanted to be the one who understood him and stood by his side.

Inside the hospital room, Fu Shize was still seated beside the hospital bed. Fu Dongsheng and Chen Jinping chattered nonstop beside him, while the elderly woman in the bed, whose hearing had faded, looked at the scene with a benevolent gaze.

Fu Dongsheng said earnestly, "Son, Dad can handle staying overnight to take care of her. You should go back and keep your girlfriend company."

Chen Jinping chimed in, "Your mom and I have nothing going on these days, go handle your romance."

Ever since catching sight of Lin Wanyin's Moments post, the two of them had repeatedly tried to confirm it with Fu Shize, but received zero responses; he had always made a habit of keeping his personal matters to himself.

As time passed, they began to doubt whether this girlfriend even existed, seizing every chance they met to frantically probe for answers.

Acting as though he heard nothing, Fu Shize leaned against the bedside and gently stroked the old woman's hand, which was mottled with red and black spots.

"Even if you won't talk to us about it, you shouldn't leave the girl hanging like that," Fu Dongsheng advised. "Just as we walked in, there was a young lady sitting outside. Was she waiting for you?"

"..." Things were getting increasingly absurd.

Fu Shize: "Don't know her."

Unwilling to listen to them bicker, Fu Shize stood up wanting to step outside for a cigarette. As he reached the door, he spotted a slender, familiar figure huddled on the bench, head lowered as she looked at her phone. Her hair hung down on both sides, shielding her ears, revealing fair and delicate cheeks. Below the bridge of her slightly upturned nose, her pale pink lips were softly moist.

Fu Shize pushed the door open and stepped outside, his gaze softening. He walked over, took Yun Li's hand, and pressed a touch against her forehead. "I'll be out in a minute."

Fu Dongsheng still had things he wanted to say to him, so he followed right behind and ran straight into this scene.

"..."

When Fu Shize came back out, slipped into his coat, and told the two of them, "You guys keep watch for a bit."

"Is that young lady your girlfriend? Can your mom and dad go outside and say hello to her?"

Remaining silent, Fu Shize didn't answer.

"Dad knows this is a bit overstepping, don't mind me, but was that girl really waiting for you just now? A girl like that isn't just hanging around casually."

"..."

"Son, you have to take responsibility after kissing someone."

Covering her mouth in shock, Chen Jinping gasped, "You kissed her?"

Fu Dongsheng declared eloquently, "I saw it with my own eyes." Even though it was just on the forehead.

Donning his gray scarf, Fu Shize couldn't be bothered to entertain them and strode straight out the door.

Yun Li had been waiting there for a while. Seeing him emerge, she stood up.

"I just wanted to come keep you company and see if there's anything I can help with." Her voice was soft, carrying a soothing undertone. Fu Shize took her hand, and only then did Yun Li notice the two people following right behind him.

She instantly realized they were Fu Shize's parents.

Both were dressed impeccably, looking gentle and kind. Chen Jinping said politely and courteously, "Hello, I'm Shize's mother, and this is my husband."

Fu Shize glanced at them. "..."

Chen Jinping took the initiative to invite Yun Li down to the café on the ground floor. Fu Dongsheng didn't tag along, and since the elderly woman was being cared for by a dedicated one-on-one nurse, it wouldn't be an issue for them to step away for a bit.

Feeling nervous and awkward, Yun Li followed right beside Fu Shize, who appeared completely calm and seemed entirely unsurprised by this turn of events.

Though their facial features bore a resemblance, their demeanors when speaking were starkly different. Chen Jinping spoke with a soft timbre, pulling her aside for a brief chat about her background.

She actually bore a slight resemblance to Mother Yang Fang.

They hadn't been seated for long before Fu Dongsheng walked over carrying a gift box bag. He sat down next to Chen Jinping. Though his sideburns were gray, he looked full of vitality.

Turning toward Yun Li, Fu Dongsheng asked with a very slow speaking pace, "Yun Li, do you have a childhood nickname?"

"People usually call me Lili."

"Lili." Fu Dongsheng made the transition seamlessly, handing the gift over to her. "Our meeting today was rushed, and we didn't prepare a gift in advance. I could only run out and buy one just now, I hope you don't mind."

The two didn't pry too much into Yun Li's affairs, merely extending a warm invitation for her to come over for dinner next time.

Finally securing some time alone, Fu Shize took Yun Li for a stroll around the inpatient area. Having gone two nights without sleep, he had initially thought he was hallucinating when he saw Yun Li.

"My grandmother is older and gets hospitalized frequently. It's nothing serious," Fu Shize briefly explained the situation, the corners of his lips curving upward. "But I'm really glad you made a special trip to come here."

Seeing that her arrival hadn't ruined anything, Yun Li also let out a smile.

As they wandered around aimlessly, Yun Li busied herself building up her mental resolve.

After hesitating awkwardly by his side for ages, the man beside her let out a light chuckle and stroked her earlobe. "You've been waiting this long, and you're still not saying it."

"I met your parents." Yun Li said slowly, "Our relationship... should probably be considered a step further now."

"Mn."

"Then—" Yun Li pinched the corner of his jacket, "My understanding of you doesn't seem to have reached that level yet." Having made the opening remark, everything felt significantly smoother.

"My own personality isn't one to go around asking. But I don't really like this feeling of not understanding you."

"I want to be the person who understands you best."

Fu Shize waited for her to continue.

After spitting out those two sentences, Yun Li failed to break her usual habit and agonized again, "Do you think my desire for control is too strong?"

"No. But—" Fu Shize smiled, "I like being controlled."

"..."

Despite his entirely normal tone, Yun Li inexplicably drifted into other thoughts and poked him. "Then tell me about when you were little."

Fu Shize gave a hum of agreement.

Seeing him lean in, Yun Li pressed a hand against his chest to maintain a safe distance. "Just talking is fine."

"No." He caught her hand, brought it close to his cheek, lowered his voice, and began slowly recounting his past, pausing every so often to press a kiss to the corner of her lips.

It wasn't as complicated as she had imagined. His parents were professors at Xike University, and due to their work, they had only frequently returned to Nanwu in recent years. He had lived with his maternal grandparents since he was a child, seeing his parents only once a month, which was why he wasn't particularly close to them.

Even after finishing that chapter of his life, Fu Shize still felt unsatisfied. Lowering his gaze, he murmured, "Keep asking."

Kisses from him had thoroughly scattered Yun Li's focus away from serious matters. Pushing him away, she decided not to ask any further. Fortunately—it seemed that as long as she took the initiative to ask, he was truly willing to open up to her.

"There's something else I want to tell you. Yesterday, I didn't want you to worry." Yun Li haltingly recounted the encounter with the pervert. Visibly, the lingering smile in the corners of Fu Shize's eyes vanished entirely.

Yun Li continued, "I've already called the police. I can take care of yourself, but it's just... I was really scared, so I booked a ticket for Yun Ye to come over tomorrow, but," her voice gradually trembled, "I just... really wished you were by my side."

She tried to keep her tone as calm as possible while speaking, while Fu Shize watched her forced smile in silence for a long time.

"Were you hurt anywhere?"

Yun Li shook her head. At the time she had felt nauseated, and after running into Lin Wanyin the entire incident took on a somewhat comedic hue; now, her dominant emotion was simply lingering terror from the encounter.

He pulled Yun Li into his arms.

"Lili, move into my place." He looked at her. "Tonight."

...

Fu Shize returned to the hospital room to retrieve his keys, leaving the night care duties to his parents.

Recalling the phone call Yun Li had made to him earlier.

An indescribable sense of guilt crushed down upon him.

She must have been terrified at that moment.

An unspeakable wave of self-reproach battered his chest. He gripped the keys tightly and silently led Yun Li to the parking lot.

After starting the car, the heater quickly filled the cabin, but unable to calm his churning emotions, Fu Shize killed the engine instead.

"Lili."

Turning his head to look at her after a long pause, he said softly, "I'm sorry, Lili."

I'm sorry I wasn't by your side.

Along the way, Yun Li chatted with Fu Shize about moving in together later. The apartment at Jiangnan Garden was a spacious three-bedroom unit located right in the heart of the old city district of Nanwu, sitting right next to the municipal committee building with arguably the best public security in the entire city.

They would live in separate bedrooms.

Throughout the drive, Fu Shize responded with outward calmness, yet Yun Li could sense he was preoccupied with something else.

"From now on, if anything happens," Fu Shize suddenly spoke up, "notify me the very first second."

Yun Li gave a soft hum.

Stopping by her apartment to grab a set of a change of clothes and pajamas, she was driven by Fu Shize over to Jiangnan Garden, where he cleared out a spare guest room for her.

Fu Shize forbade her from going onto the balcony, but everywhere else was fair game.

The living room was immaculate, completely devoid of any traces of daily life—not even a single pack of tissues sat upon the table.

Showing no interest in the other areas, Yun Li followed him straight into the bedroom. The bookshelf was packed with books and drone models, and a bed was positioned in the corner, outfitted with deep blue bedding.

"Once I move over here, let me pay you rent for the Qixiangdu place. I originally planned to use it to rent a place anyway." Yun Li didn't want to take advantage of him.

Fu Shize glanced at her sideways. "No rent needed."

Yun Li pondered for a moment. "Then consider it your living expenses." She calculated internally, "With my current income, I should be able to afford supporting a man."

"..."

"Once Yun Ye arrives tomorrow, I'll still have to go back to stay there. We can formally move in after the New Year."

It was a reasonable suggestion. Feeling a wave of fatigue, Fu Shize let out a nasal hum of agreement.

With that, Yun Li returned to her room to tidy up briefly.

Having gone two days without sleep, the moment she laid eyes on the bed, sleepiness became irresistible. Fu Shize fell backward onto the bed with his back to her, shielding his eyes from the light with the back of his hand.

After a moment, Yun Li walked back into his room, leaned over him, and shook him gently. "I'm still a guest right now, you need to host me properly."

Drowsy to the extreme, Fu Shize pulled her into his arms, rolled over, and encircled her. "How about hosting you right here?”