When I Meet the Moon - Chapter 71

Chapter 71

Yun Yongchang did not speak. It was only after Yun Li closed the door that he snapped back to reality and muttered to Yun Ye, "Those fathers and mothers do it all for their children. We just wanted to find your sister a better family, not look down on her, so she won't be wronged after she goes over there."

"Dad, go apologize to sister. Who can take it when you talk like that?" Yun Ye's tone was poor. Normally, Yun Li and Yun Yongchang bickering were just minor matters, and it had been a very long time since they had said such excessive things.

Seeing neither of his children supporting him, Yun Yongchang's expression turned ashen as he moved his lips: "I raised you two so big..."

Finding it annoying to listen to, Yun Ye walked straight back to his room.

......

Yun Li hurried downstairs, and Yin Yucheng had just arrived at the residential compound's entrance.

She quickened her pace to catch up. Hearing footsteps and seemingly having waited for a long time, the other person turned around.

Looking somewhat relieved, he smiled at Yun Li.

Without hesitation, Yun Li said, "Fu Shize and I are still dating; I haven't told my dad."

Yin Yucheng's smile froze slightly, his expression indescribable.

Yin Yucheng had originally thought that Yun Li chasing after him meant she was interested in him. After all, his qualifications across the board were not bad, and the two had known each other for two years.

Approaching thirty, how could his path of blind dates be so difficult?

This time it was introduced by their parents. Upon seeing the other party's information, on one hand, it was someone he had once had a crush on, and on the other hand, Yun Li had a good personality and was quite suited for living together, which prompted him to specifically come to Xifu.

Yun Yongchang had also been very honest; the union of such two families would yield a relatively good outcome.

"I made it very clear to my dad before, he just wouldn't listen to me." Looking equally troubled, Yun Li gazed at him helplessly and apologetically: "I hope this matter won't affect Yun Ye and Yun Yi. I'll transfer your plane ticket and hotel expenses to you."

Until this moment, what Yun Li was considering was her own younger brother, rather than his feelings after traveling thousands of miles to get here.

Every single word felt like it was cutting into Yin Yucheng's heart. He was considered popular elsewhere; he simply disliked others approaching him with utilitarian motives based on material conditions.

He had wanted to have a purer campus romance, yet he repeatedly hit walls with Yun Li.

Oh, come to think of it, whenever he participated in competitions back then, as long as Fu Shize was present, he could never take first place.

Perhaps accustomed to losing, since this time the rival was still Fu Shize, it seemed he wasn't that hard to accept.

Yin Yucheng quickly adjusted his expression to preserve a bit of his dignity, acting completely unconcerned: "It's fine. I've been on over twenty blind dates already, so just treat it as me coming over to see my younger sister."

Yun Yongchang's extreme maneuver put Yun Li in an extremely awkward position, and her face showed apology.

"I'll go find Yun Yi first, don't take it to heart." Implying something, he said, "We'll be family just the same in the future."

After sending Yin Yucheng off, Yun Li unloaded the burden on her mind.

Thinking of what had just happened, Yun Li felt a wave of suffocation, experiencing the distinct sensation that Yun Yongchang wanted to arrange her entire life for her.

Going home would probably mean facing Yun Yongchang's stinky face again. Since she was already out, she decided to go all the way and took a taxi to Xike University.

By the time she arrived downstairs at the department building, Fu Shize had already parked his little turtle scooter by the roadside and was waiting for her.

Yun Li familiarly sat behind the little turtle and hugged his waist: "Should we go nearby? There's a gaming arcade."

Fu Shize glanced sideways at her. Running out in the middle of the night to play video games did not fit Yun Li's usual style, but without asking too much, he drove straight to the shop.

The two of them rented a small private booth, containing only a two-seater sofa and a screen.

Handing a controller to her, Yun Li casually started a game. Her button presses were frantic and forceful, as if venting the emotions pent up in her heart.

After playing only a few rounds, Fu Shize put down his controller, turned his head, and asked her, "Why did you run over in the middle of the night?"

Dully fiddling with the controller, Yun Li vaguely replied, "I missed you."

"Oh." He clearly did not believe this reason. Without rushing, Fu Shize patiently started a new game for her and accompanied her through a couple more rounds.

Fu Shize's question seemed to open the floodgates. Yun Li recalled Yun Yongchang's actions over this period—constantly introducing blind date candidates ever since she returned to the country, inviting them to external restaurants even after her explicit refusals, and blaming Yun Li when she failed to show up.

This time was even more absurd, directly inviting the person to their home.

What about next time? What kind of excessive things might happen then?

The more Yun Li thought about it, the more depressed she became, lowering her head as she recounted to Fu Shize: "My dad is a bit outrageous. He called Yun Ye's brother-in-law's relative to the house for a blind date with me."

"..."

"We had a fight before I left." Remembering what Yun Yongchang had said, Yun Li's tone dropped a bit, "Actually, I understand the reason why he's in such a rush."

Yun Li stammered, "My dad has always thought I'm quite introverted and stubborn in personality. When I was little, I often got bullied and I always cursed back, but my dad has always felt that these actions of mine are signs of immaturity."

During Yun Li's childhood, no matter what she encountered, Yun Yongchang would cast aside his reticent nature to argue with the other party on her behalf.

Because of this, whenever Yun Yongchang was criticized by relatives, Yun Li would also step forward without any fear.

She didn't know when this relationship had begun to change.

Yun Li had not forgotten Yun Yongchang's kindness toward her, and precisely because of that, she felt all the more sorrowful at this moment.

"Actually, I've been working hard all these years, wanting to tell him that I am a bit introverted, but that doesn't mean I can't get along with others, doesn't mean I can't take care of myself, and doesn't mean I can't make decisions for myself."

Yun Li grew up under Yun Yongchang's suppression. She fought hard against all of it; whether it was pursuing her master's degree at Nanjing University of Science and Technology or going on exchange in the UK, these experiences broadened her horizons.

She felt that she had done well enough, and had also recovered her long-lost confidence in herself.

Yet deep down in her bones, she remained insecure.

The confidence given to her by the outside world would be completely shattered the moment she returned home.

Her efforts could never exchange for Yun Yongchang's trust, just as there was always someone following behind her to tell her: "No matter how much you do, it's useless."

"I don't know how to make my dad approve of me." Yun Li drooped her head: "Today he told me that Yin Yucheng doesn't mind that I'm deaf in one ear."

"It's as if in his eyes, this is my entire value."

Every time such a thing happened, she couldn't help but wonder if she really was that terrible. That was why her father had always looked down on her this way.

The last few words were almost spoken through clenched teeth. Recalling Yun Yongchang from her childhood, an immense wave of grievance surged into her heart.

She believed Yun Yongchang loved her.

Which was precisely why she longed all the more to gain his approval.

"Lili." Fu Shize lifted her face, looking at her earnestly: "Don't doubt yourself because of what other people say."

Pausing for a moment, he added, "Never doubt your own capabilities at any time."

"You are very independent, and you are also strong-willed. Whatever you wanted to do, you've accomplished." Fu Shize stroked her hair. Normally his speech lacked intense emotion, but right now, it was filled with unquestionable certainty.

She was the shining treasure right here in his hands.

She should not lose her luster because of anyone's skepticism.

"There are all kinds of people in this world, and everyone has different values. Parents have their own ideas, and those ideas are not flawless—in fact, many times they are hard to accept." His tone remained calm as he whispered by her ear.

"But parents are parents, and we are ourselves."

"Besides, Uncle does approve of you, which is why back then, he opposed us being together so fiercely." Even though this matter spoke of his own faults, Fu Shize said it without any lingering resentment.

He felt his own daughter was good enough, which was why he wanted to find a match of equal standing.

"That's just because he doesn't understand you, he's stubborn and obstinate." Yun Li tugged at his collar, "Don't care about his reaction back then."

"I don't care." Fu Shize pulled her closer to him, "I only care about the present."

Inside the booth, only the light from the screen illuminated his thin lower lip. Yun Li raised her head and gave him a light peck.

This time, Fu Shize had no romantic intentions in mind, returning the gesture intimately and soothingly.

It was as if telling her that he would always stay by her side.

Yun Li's mood improved a lot. Remembering that Fu Shize would still have to meet Yun Yongchang in the future, she asked somewhat nervously, "Are you afraid of my dad? Do you think my dad is very despotic?"

"I wouldn't dare speak ill of my future father-in-law." Fu Shize picked up the game controller again, opened a new game, and played for a while.

The game on the screen was stimulating and exciting, and this time Yun Li played with deep focus. Moving beside her, Fu Shize suddenly put down the game controller.

After a moment of silence, Fu Shize spoke: "You went on a blind date today."

Yun Li: "..."

Fu Shize: "There might even be a next time?"

Yun Li felt a wave of nervousness: "Today was an accident, it should..." Thinking of her old man's temperament, her words paused.

She couldn't be sure whether there would be a next time either.

Fu Shize raised his eyes to look at her: "It's also been a long time since I last saw your father."

Hearing this, Yun Li froze. She still carried psychological trauma from the last incident: "You don't mind what my dad did last time..."

"My state at the time was indeed very poor." Fu Shize confessed frankly, "I won't blame your father; he was protecting his daughter within the limits of his own capacity."

He spoke with utter lightness, completely devoid of resentment or any other emotion.

Even Yun Li herself still held bitterness toward that incident.

"But if his protection hurts you," Fu Shize paused, his voice dropping abruptly as his lips brushed against her right ear, "then I will want to take you home even sooner."

He made no attempt to hide his intentions whatsoever.

"Then you'll have to see if I agree or not." Yun Li smiled, "Even if my dad agrees in the future, I might not necessarily agree."

With the two of them preoccupied with talking, the game screen had already entered standby mode.

Seeing that Yun Li didn't care much for playing anymore, Fu Shize stood up and gently pulled her to her feet. Before Yun Li could steady herself, she heard his voice from above: "Let's go, come sit at my place for a while."

It wasn't until they reached downstairs at the dormitory building that Yun Li realized what the "home" Fu Shize mentioned actually was.

She glanced sideways at the dormitory building manager: "Can I go in?"

Fu Shize directly pulled her along: "Mhm, I live in a single room."

As the words fell, two pairs of young lovers leaned against each other as they entered the building. The dormitory manager didn't even lift her head, as if this affair were the most normal thing in the world.

Yun Li felt a little worried about whether something might happen after going up.

Seeing her hesitating expression, Fu Shize chuckled: "I really just want to sit for a while, where's your mind wandering off to?"

"You already knew what I was thinking." Being called out by him like this, Yun Li felt a tinge of bashfulness, yet refusing to admit defeat, she retorted: "That just means you were thinking the exact same thing."

Fu Shize was not someone with a thin skin to begin with. After letting out an "mhm," he feigned lingering tenderness and asked her in return: "No?"

"..."

The two first went to the convenience store next to the dormitory building, where Fu Shize grabbed two bags of milk and placed them in the microwave to heat up.

During this time, Yun Li caught sight of the colorful boxes on the shelf next to the cash register and quickly withdrew her gaze.

After unpacking a bag of milk for her, Fu Shize led her upstairs. The dormitory was relatively old and lacked an elevator; Yun Li followed him up the stairs to the fifth floor.

Just like the apartment at Jiangnan Court back then, Fu Shize's dormitory was kept meticulously neat. Aside from a few books placed on the desk, there were no other sundries.

He took a slice of mango crepe cake from the mini-fridge and placed it on the table: "My junior martial brother went to the mall today, and I asked him to help bring one back."

Fu Shize still remembered Lin Jingran and the others mentioning they were going to the most popular dessert shop in Xifu before heading out. Once they left, he messaged Lin Jingran asking him to bring a slice back.

Lin Jingran had asked knowingly: [Senior Brother, don't you usually not want any?]

It seemed there didn't need to be any special reason.

He simply wanted to see something like this present moment—Yun Li obediently eating, bite by bite, the thing he had specially brought back for her.

Noticing his gaze, Yun Li rubbed her cheek with the back of her hand: "Is there something on my face?"

"No." Fu Shize sat down beside her.

Yun Li scooped up a spoonful and offered it to him: "Do you want to eat a little?"

"You eat, my stomach isn't good." Fu Shize pushed the spoon back. Yun Li let out an "oh," and pondering his words, suddenly noticed him staring straight at her.

Fu Shize: "You should still eat a little."

Yun Li let out another "oh." Just as she raised the spoon, Fu Shize gently brushed her hand aside.

He leaned forward, biting her lips twice with a force that was neither too heavy nor too light, lingering affectionately for a moment as the tip of his tongue slid bit by bit across her lip petals.

Without deepening the kiss, he retreated to his original position. Dazed, Yun Li placed the spoon back into the cake box.

The space spanning just a few square meters felt cramped. Glancing at the old incandescent light bulb overhead, Yun Li asked him, "Living alone in this tiny single room, don't you feel stifled?"

Pondering the motivation behind her question, Fu Shize slowly countered: "Are you planning to move in and live with me?"

"..."

With only the two of them in this narrow space, saying anything probably wouldn't sound normal anymore.

Pointing at his exceptionally narrow bed, which had the standard configuration of a dormitory bed, Yun Li said: "This bed is only one meter wide!"

Fu Shize turned his head sideways: "I didn't say we'd sleep in the same bed.”