Chapter 26 "Fu Linzheng, please hug me..."
Chapter 26
Upon hearing Fu Linzheng's words, Rong Weiyue's lowered eyelashes trembled, and a surge of heat rushed through her heart, leaving her with an indescribable soreness and swelling.
She was like a little hedgehog, all alone in the cold winter night, her whole body red with cold, trying to curl up her small body to protect herself. But suddenly a warm hand carefully lifted her up, wrapped her in a blanket, and drove away all the cold.
When she dropped the bronze horse just now, she thought of her childhood experiences and was subconsciously scared. She wondered if Fu Linzheng would be angry and blame her, or be a little annoyed, even though he was not short of money.
But what he cared about didn't seem to be the immediate thing at all.
He first applied medicine to her, and then told her that she didn't need to do housework and that she should take care of herself first.
It was as if she wasn't a tenant in this house at all, but rather the owner...
Why is he always so good to her...?
Rong Weiyue responded, her fingertips clutching the pillow, her heart filled with tenderness.
After applying the medicine for a while, Fu Linzheng said, "Don't get the wound wet yet."
"Yes, thank you..."
Rong Weiyue's emotions had calmed down considerably, and she was about to get off the sofa when Fu Linzheng frowned and stopped her: "Where are you going again?"
"The fragments haven't been cleaned up yet..."
He reluctantly pulled her back to the sofa, saying, "Sit still, I'll take care of it."
She was bewildered when she saw Fu Linzheng take a broom and start cleaning, not letting her get involved at all.
After finishing, Fu Linzheng came over and asked, "Have you had dinner?"
"I just ate something quick..."
"Want some more? I bought some pork ribs, let's make some pork rib soup, some cold vegetable salad, and some fried beef."
That's good, finally I don't have to eat pasta anymore...
She pursed her lips and nodded. "Can you do it? I'll help you."
Fu Linzheng said lazily, "It's not that simple, but if you want to spend more time with me, that's fine too. No need to pretend."
"..."
Rong Weiyue felt a slight tap on her heart, and mumbled something without saying a word.
She seems to really want to spend more time with him, whether in high school or now; it seems that being near him makes her feel better.
She went to the kitchen with him and asked what she wanted to do. Fu Linzheng told her to sit at the counter and rolled up the sleeves of his windbreaker to wash the fruit. "The chef is cooking, why are you making a mess?"
He's a chef, huh...
Fu Linzheng put the food on a plate: "I bought too much fruit and cream puffs. You can try them first, but don't eat too much, or you won't be able to eat the main course later."
"oh……"
When Rong Weiyue saw the fruit and food laid out in front of her, she felt like a kindergarten child coming home, eating some snacks first and then obediently waiting for the meal to start, all that was missing was a little bib around her neck.
As Fu Linzheng prepared the ingredients, Rong Weiyue, recalling what she had overheard in the Mingheng elevator that evening, casually said, "I thought you had something to do tonight and didn't come back for dinner. I just ate with Hu Hu."
The man looked up at her and asked, "What do you want?"
"Like... for example, there might be a last-minute dinner party or something."
Fu Linzheng washed the ribs, lazily teasing, "Do you think I have that kind of free time? I worked non-stop all day, and rushed back to buy groceries to serve my ancestors as soon as I finished training. It's a good thing I came back, otherwise some people might still be holding that pile of shards and wiping away tears right now."
"..."
With her thoughts exposed, Rong Weiyue's cheeks flushed slightly, and she couldn't help but feel surprised. So, he hadn't seen that rich young lady...?
The words Ni Yin had once told her—that Fu Linzheng never met any girls—resurfaced in her mind, sending a shiver down her spine and making her afraid to think any further.
Later, after Fu Linzheng finished preparing dinner, Rong Weiyue, who had only drunk some yogurt and nuts, unexpectedly ate a hot meal.
After dinner, Fu Linzheng said, "A housekeeper will be coming to clean tonight. If you have any special requests, just tell her."
The housekeeper would come every week, but Rong Weiyue forgot the date and realized that the cleaning had been done in vain.
A while later, the housekeeping team arrived. Fu Linzheng had always contacted them for house cleaning, but the people who came were randomly assigned each time. Several of the housekeepers recognized Fu Linzheng: "Good evening, Mr. Fu."
Upon seeing Rong Weiyue, her eyes brightened slightly, and she nodded with a smile: "Hello, Mrs. Fu."
Rong Weiyue: ? ? ?
The auntie smiled and asked, "Where should we clean first?"
Rong Weiyue's face flushed as she was about to speak, but then the man beside her said in a lazy voice, "Let's go to the living room first."
"OK."
No, why isn't this person explaining...?
The group began cleaning, and later went to Rong Weiyue's bedroom. The housekeeper helped change the bedding into a new four-piece set, and then used a machine to roll the bedding back and forth.
She asked about the machine's function, and the aunt smiled and said, "This is for high-temperature mite removal and sterilization. Mr. Fu specifically instructed me to do this. He said that your skin is prone to allergies, redness, and rashes, so all the bedding materials should be replaced with non-fluorescent cotton, and the disinfection must be thorough."
Rong Weiyue was stunned.
He actually remembered all of this...
The aunt also took out a bottle of fragrance: "When we came last time, he specifically asked us to clean your room carefully, saying that you like a light green mandarin scent, so we went and bought this."
Rong Weiyue smelled the pleasant fragrance in the air, and her heart was stirred. After the cleaning was finished, the housekeeper asked, "Madam, is there anything else you need?"
"It's very clean, thank you. But you've misunderstood, I'm just a tenant here."
The aunt paused for a moment, then smiled and apologized, "I'm sorry, this is the first time we've seen Mr. Fu with a daughter. And since he's so attentive to you, we misunderstood."
She froze.
This is the first time, has no one else done this before...?
After the housekeeping team left in the evening, Fu Linzheng went to handle official business, while Rong Weiyue continued to work overtime in her room. Later, after she finished showering and sat on the edge of the bed, a notification popped up on her WeChat. It was Fu Linzheng collecting her rent, but he didn't say much.
The next evening, after getting off work, she wanted to go to the music room to practice the piano. When she opened the door, she saw an unfamiliar machine inside.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a brand new air purifier.
The fuselage is silver-white, it operates silently, and a faint floral fragrance floats in the air.
When she checked the price, she was shocked.
Confused, she went to ask Fu Linzheng, but the man was leaning back on the sofa looking at his phone without even looking up: "I just happened to buy two on sale. I'll keep one in my room, and you can just leave the other one wherever you want."
She was taken aback. "Thank you..."
The music room had a slight odor recently due to the new interior decorations, but turning on the air purifier made the air much fresher.
That evening, she chatted on the phone with Yin Lu. Upon learning of this, Yin Lu chuckled and teased, "How come it feels like Fu Linzheng bought this air purifier for you? Goodness, you just paid over three thousand in rent, and he immediately bought you an air purifier worth over ten thousand. Why don't I have such a foolish and rich ex-boyfriend landlord!"
Rong Weiyue smiled helplessly, "You're in the middle of a conversation."
"Sigh, it feels like we've never even started dating. He's so busy every day, and he's not as nice to me as he used to be."
Yin Lu complained to her about her boyfriend for a while, then steered the conversation back on track: "Don't take Xiang Anyue's words seriously. She's nobody. She's just jealous of you. Anyway, I feel that Fu Linzheng treats you differently. If he doesn't like you, I'll jump into a cesspool."
"..." There's no need to be so certain about that.
"You said before that he pursued you in high school because of a bet, but honey, think about it carefully, what kind of bet could make him gamble for seven or eight years? No matter how strong his desire to conquer is, after so many years, he should have calmed down by now, right? To put it bluntly, can't he conquer other women?"
Rong Weiyue choked upon hearing this, and Yin Lurou said softly, "Have you ever heard the saying, 'Love is like Schrödinger's cat? When you stop to examine it, you may find that it is no longer love'? Since you don't understand why Fu Linzheng is so good to you, then don't try to figure it out. Just enjoy it for now."
Yin Lu exclaimed, "I want to live with such a super handsome guy every day. He takes care of me and spoils me. I'd be so happy. He can have any of my good looks, as long as he doesn't want my money!"
Rong Weiyue couldn't help but laugh: "Teacher Yin, can't you act like a teacher at all?"
"Ugh, I'm so exhausted every day..."
The two chatted for a long time before finally hanging up. Rong Weiyue buried her face in the blanket, her mind replaying Yin Lu's words, her thoughts racing.
So, why not try enjoying it first...?
I thought about random things for a long time and didn't fall asleep until very late.
The next day, she went to her studio to finish her manuscript.
Now she has no other thoughts on her; finalizing the design for the "Frost and Snow Ballad" jewelry is her biggest task.
She made herself a cup of black coffee and was about to get to work when her phone suddenly rang, sounding unusually abrupt amidst the calm.
She looked down—
It was a call from her mother, Sheng Liu.
She's been so busy lately that she hasn't been home for almost a month.
Rong Weiyue paused for a moment, then answered the phone. Sheng Liu's gentle voice came through, "Yueyue, are you awake?"
"Yes, I'm already at the studio."
"You've been so busy lately, haven't been home for dinner in ages. Today is Xinxu's birthday, how about the four of us celebrate your brother's birthday at home tonight?"
Rong Weiyue was stunned. She had been so busy that she had forgotten about the date. Sheng Liu nagged her, "It's been so long since you've been home. Your dad is unhappy. Promise me you'll come home tonight, okay?"
Rong Weiyue lowered her eyelashes, and after a few seconds spoke in a low voice:
"I see."
After a busy day at work, she left the studio in the evening and drove to the city center, first going to a shopping mall.
Fu Linzheng called her on the way. She answered, and the man's casual, deep voice came through: "When are you getting off work? My friend is opening a new restaurant and asked me to come over and give him some advice. It's a new style of Hunan cuisine. I just happen to be driving past your studio, so I'll give you a ride?"
"No, I have something to do tonight. You can eat by yourself."
"Need to work overtime?"
“No,” she said, stopping at a red light and taking a sip of iced water. “I’m going home for dinner to celebrate my brother’s birthday.”
After a few seconds of silence, Fu Linzheng lazily opened his mouth and said, "Oh, I see."
Half an hour later, the car stopped in front of a detached villa in the city.
The nanny, who was tending the flowers and plants in the front yard, saw her and greeted her with a smile, "Yueyue is finally back."
She smiled faintly in response. The nanny took the things from her hands, and Rong Weiyue walked into the house. As usual, the melodious and graceful sound of Kunqu Opera echoed in the room.
Sheng Liu is a Kunqu Opera artist who runs a Kunqu Opera museum in Beijing.
Sheng Liu, who was busy in the kitchen, immediately turned off the radio when she saw her and walked over happily: "I called you earlier but you didn't answer, so I knew you were on your way. Are you cold? Why are you wearing so little?"
"It's okay, I'm not cold..."
"You look like you've lost weight. Have you been working hard lately?"
Rong Weiyue said she was fine. When she walked into the living room, she handed Sheng Liu the wool sweater and down jacket she had bought for her. Sheng Liu told her to save the money for herself, saying, "You can rest assured as long as you take good care of yourself. You must have lost weight; your face looks so much smaller. You can stay at home this weekend, and I'll give you a good meal."
Rong Weiyue followed Sheng Liu to the kitchen, where the chefs were busy. Sheng Liu had also been busy all afternoon. "Xinxu should be back from school soon. I specially went to the market today to buy his favorite king crab and mantis shrimp. How about making a typhoon shelter style and a spicy stir-fry?"
Rong Weiyue paused for a moment, then nodded: "Yes, it's fine."
Sheng Liu suddenly realized, "Mom forgot you're allergic to seafood, so I quickly asked the kitchen to add two more dishes. But I also made black chicken and lotus seed soup today, which you used to love."
Rong Weiyue smiled and said, "It's alright. It's Xinxu's birthday, so just cook what he likes to eat."
Sheng Liu smiled and pulled her outside, "Your brother has been participating in some city basketball league recently, which is quite tiring, so I'm making him a big meal tonight to reward him. He hasn't been home for two weeks, but he often video calls me to report on his progress, unlike you, who don't send a single message for ten days or half a month."
Rong Weiyue lowered her head and pursed her red lips. "I signed a contract with a film crew a while ago and have been rushing to finish the script. Mom, how are you feeling?"
A voice came from the kitchen: "Madam, should we just boil these mantis shrimp?"
Sheng Liu turned her head and replied, "Xin Xu likes salt and pepper flavor, so you leave it to me to make..."
Sheng Liu said they would talk later and hurried to the kitchen.
Rong Weiyue composed herself, looked around the house, and noticed that many new pieces of furniture and decorations had been added. The decorative paintings on the living room wall had been replaced with abstract paintings, and the watercolor flower painting that she loved most when she was a child had been taken down. In the backyard, a trellis that she had personally arranged was now rusty and had been moved to a corner, with old newspapers and some unused flower pots piled on it.
She got up and went to her bedroom.
Pushing open the door, the setting sun cast its light on the dust motes floating in the air. The room still looked the same as it did in high school. Her old schoolbag hung beside the desk, stacks of textbooks were stored in a storage box, and her senior year review plan and class schedule were still posted on the desk.
The calendar on the table is still stuck in my senior year of high school.
She turned and walked to the balcony, where there were two swing chairs, which she and her sister Rong Siqing used to each have.
When they were little, they would sit here together and eat Chocola after dinner in the summer. She always ate very quickly, and Rong Siqing would give her the remaining crispy ice cream cone, jokingly calling her a little kitten.
Now, she is the only one left on the swing chair.
Rong Siqing died of myocarditis in high school. At that time, Rong Weiyue was only in junior high school and would never have her sister again.
A sharp pain welled up in her heart, and Rong Weiyue's eyes stung slightly. Suddenly, a male voice came from behind her: "Sister—"
She turned her head and saw a tall, handsome boy walk in, beaming with a smile: "Sis, I've been looking for you for ages, you're here."
Rong Xinxu is five years younger than her and is currently a freshman at a university in Beijing. He walked up to her with a smile and said, "Mom said you're coming back tonight. I was originally going to celebrate my birthday with my brothers, but I immediately canceled it. I had to come back to have dinner with you."
Rong Xinxu has always been lively and cheerful, completely opposite to her. Rong Weiyue smiled and said, "You've grown taller again. I have to look up at you from now on."
Rong Xinxu smiled, revealing two tiger teeth: "Sister, you're beautiful too, but you're too thin now. You need to eat more. Girls can't always be on a diet."
"I haven't lost weight..."
Rong Xinxu pulled her downstairs. Rong Chengye's voice came from the doorway. Rong Xinxu called out, "Dad, Sister's back!"
Rong Weiyue met Rong Chengye's gaze, then quickly looked away. Rong Chengye's smile also faded slightly, and he snorted, "You've become a rare guest now, haven't you? I don't see you more than a few times a year. I thought you'd forgotten where your home is."
Rong Xinxu said helplessly, "Dad, my sister is finally back, so please stop nagging her. By the way, where's my birthday present?"
Rong Chengye handed him the bag in his hand: "You brat, you're always the most eager to get a gift."
"Oh my god, these are my favorite sneakers! Thank you, Dad! Dad's the best!"
Rong Xinxu hugged him happily, and Rong Chengye patted his shoulder with a smile, saying in a doting tone, "You're such a grown-up, yet you're still like a child."
Sheng Liu said the food was ready and called them to sit down and eat. Rong Chengye went over, carried the things he had bought to the kitchen, and said to Sheng Liu, "Yueyue loves this boiled fish. It's from the shop near her school. Put it on a plate. She also likes this glutinous rice mochi. Give it to her after the meal."
"Fine, you won't give it to her yourself?"
Rong Chengye glanced at her and said, "I don't care about her."
The four sat down at the dining table. Rong Chengye said he wanted to have some wine, and Sheng Liu smiled.
"It's our son's birthday today, so I'm giving you a break. Ah Xu, go to the liquor cabinet and get your dad's favorite bottle."
Rong Xinxu said, "Okay, but you can't drink as much as you did last time at the midnight snack. Mom and I will take care of you all night."
Rong Chengye laughed: "That was an accident. With you all watching me today, I definitely won't drink too much..."
Rong Weiyue sat at the table and silently went to pour a drink.
The nanny brought out the cake, and after blowing out the candles and making a wish, the four of them started eating. Rong Weiyue noticed that the table was mostly filled with seafood, and Sheng Liu said, "Yueyue, you eat fish. Your dad bought it for you."
She looked up at Rong Chengye, who was calmly drinking his wine without looking at her. She lowered her eyes and responded.
Rong Xinxu ate heartily, while Rong Weiyue quietly ladled out some black chicken soup. Sheng Liu served her some food: "Yueyue, you should eat more. Mom will give you some good nourishment this weekend. I'm not busy at the Kunqu Opera House next week, so I'll come over and cook you some good food for a few more days."
Rong Weiyue was taken aback. "I recently moved and am sharing an apartment with someone, which is not very convenient."
"Moving? Why are you moving all of a sudden? Where are you living now? Why are you sharing an apartment with someone?"
"It's... a neighborhood near my studio."
She didn't want to say too much.
Sheng Liu frowned: "Is it safe to share an apartment? Is it a male or female roommate? I can't share an apartment with a man, it's dangerous."
Rong Weiyue moved her lips, and Rong Xinxu smiled: "Mom, as long as the person is reliable, a male roommate is fine too. Living under the same roof, maybe a relationship can even develop. Aren't you two always urging my sister to find a boyfriend?"
Rong Chengye tapped Rong Xinxu on the head: "What nonsense are you talking about? What kind of talk is it if outsiders find out that a girl and a boy are living together? They'll gossip and it will affect the girl's reputation!"
Rong Xinxu scoffed lightly: "Dad, you're such an old-fashioned person..."
"You have to be serious when you're dating, and you have to be discerning when choosing a boyfriend. Do you think you can just bring anyone home?"
Rong Chengye took a sip of wine and looked at Rong Weiyue: "Your mother and I have recently taken a liking to a boy named Yan Huai. He is the son of one of my business partners. He has a master's degree from abroad and will be returning to Beijing to work soon. His family is well-off, and he is polite. I showed him your photo, and he was very satisfied. When he returns to China, you two can meet and talk. If you are satisfied, you can settle down as soon as possible."
Rong Weiyue felt a surge of annoyance and frowned: "Don't you need to ask me first before you introduce me to people? I already said I don't go on blind dates."
Sheng Liu advised from the side, "Yueyue, your parents aren't forcing you. That boy is really nice. It won't hurt to meet him first. Just consider it as making a friend."
Rong Chengye got angry at Rong Weiyue's attitude: "How old are you now? Are you still being picky? Look at your Uncle Lin Kang's daughter, she's about to have her second child, and Uncle Zhang's daughter got married last month. If you keep dragging this out, all the good boys will have been taken by someone else. Aren't you worried?!"
"You're the one who's worried, not me."
Rong Weiyue looked up at him, her tone cold and barbed: "Are you thinking of me, or do you want to use my marriage as a tool to win over business interests?"
"Rong Weiyue!!"
Rong Chengye's expression changed abruptly, and he slammed down his chopsticks, instantly darkening the atmosphere in the living room. "You're so ungrateful, aren't you?!"
Rong Xinxu: "Dad, you're here again..."
Sheng Liu quickly tried to smooth things over, saying, "Never mind, Yueyue has her own plans. Let's eat first."
Looking at Rong Weiyue's cold and indifferent face, Rong Chengye was furious: "We wanted you to date and get married for your own good, so that someone would take care of you and you wouldn't be all alone. But you act like we're trying to harm you every day, like we're your enemies! Look at what you've accomplished now, you've achieved nothing!"
Rong Weiyue was stunned, then chuckled: "I've accomplished nothing?"
"Am I wrong? You didn't go to the Central Academy of Fine Arts, but changed your application to the Sino-American Academy of Fine Arts, giving up such a bright future. Now you're not getting married, not having children, not going home, and neglecting the family's filigree factory to open your own studio. You're still sharing an apartment with someone! I've spent so much money raising you since you were a child, and what have you accomplished?"
"Dad, how can you say that?" Rong Xinxu said anxiously. "My sister is very capable. She has started her own business and has dozens of employees!"
"Start a business?" Rong Chengye scoffed. "You think being a boss is something special these days? Her studio would have gone bankrupt long ago without my connections! Why do you think the 'Frost and Snow Chant' production team would work with her? It was me who went to the producer and kept endorsing her. Without connections or background, why would they choose you?!"
Rong Chengye's sharp sarcasm was like a knife stabbing into her ear, and Rong Weiyue's heart shattered like glass under the scorching summer sun, spreading bitterness.
She had heard these words far too many times since she was a child.
When she was little, she studied hard, but no matter how good her grades were, she could never get a word of affirmation from Rong Chengye. If she got 99 points on a test, he would scold her for being careless and lazy; if she got 100 points, he would tell her not to be arrogant, because there are always people better than her.
She loved the violin. When she participated in a violin competition in elementary school, she made a mistake because she was too nervous. Rong Chengye said that she had no talent and should give up as soon as possible. She was forced to learn filigree inlay and had to complete the tasks he assigned every week, spending the whole day in the workshop.
Rong Chengye never praised her. He said she wasn't as radiant as her older sister, nor as emotionally intelligent or articulate as her younger brother. She was introverted, quiet, and proud, which made her unlikable. He said that she needed to be tempered so that she wouldn't be unable to withstand any criticism or setbacks in society in the future.
Rong Weiyue secretly changed her college application to the China Academy of Art, which enraged Rong Chengye, who told her to get out of the house. Later, after her grandmother passed away, she realized that she was determined to pursue the path of filigree inlay. But even now, despite winning many awards and achieving some small successes, Rong Chengye still sees her as nothing.
Rong Weiyue was already numb to these words, but at this moment she still felt as if countless needles were piercing her heart, tearing open the festering wound that could not heal.
She scoffed, a smirk playing on her lips: "If you look down on me so much, why did you let me come home? Wouldn't it be better to just pretend I was never born? You don't want a daughter like me, but do you think I want a father like you?"
“You—!” Rong Chengye’s face froze.
Rong Weiyue's eyes were as cold as ice: "Please leave me alone from now on. I don't need your endorsement or your connections. You should be happier to see my studio go bankrupt, right? That would give you even more reason to humiliate me, wouldn't it?"
Sheng Liu quickly grabbed Rong Weiyue's hand: "Yueyue, you can't say that, your father didn't mean it that way..."
“How could it not be?” She looked coldly at Sheng Liu. “Isn’t this what he’s been thinking all these years? Because all the effort he’s put into his sister has gone down the drain, he can only pin his hopes on me, his backup option.”
Rong Chengye shook his head angrily: "Rong Weiyue, you've always been like this since you were little. I really don't know whose temper you inherited from. You're so stubborn and have never given me a moment's peace. So many people praise you as a good girl, but how are you good? You're not obedient at all!"
Rong Weiyue's eyes darkened: "Why should I be a good girl? What I hate most is being praised as good. I've never been a good girl. Didn't you know I had a boyfriend in high school? You should give up now. I won't live up to your expectations."
She picked up her bag and walked out. Sheng Liu tried to chase after her, but Rong Chengye angrily shouted, "Don't stop her! She's not welcome here. Let her leave!!!"
The door slammed shut, and Rong Xinxu quickly chased after her, grabbing her in a panic: "Sister, don't go! Dad's been drinking and he's been talking too harshly. We finally managed to have a meal together, and you haven't even shared my birthday cake yet..."
Rong Weiyue lowered her eyes and smiled faintly: "They haven't celebrated my birthday for many years. Birthday cake... I haven't had one in a long time."
Rong Xinxu opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word. Rong Weiyue tightened her throat and said softly, "I bought you a birthday present. It's on the coffee table. It's the Lego set you like."
She looked up at him and patted him on the shoulder:
Happy birthday, Ah Xu.
She turned and walked toward the garage.
After a while, the car drove out of the villa area, where the traffic flowed into a sea of neon lights. She drove forward, as if she were walking alone on a long street with no way home, in complete darkness.
She opened the car window, and a cold wind rushed in from outside, blowing icy coldly onto her face.
She remembers that when she was little, her family would hold a birthday party for her older sister. Her parents would prepare carefully for her, dress her up like a princess, and invite many classmates. Her younger brother's birthday was in winter. He liked skiing, and his parents used to take him skiing all over the world on his birthday.
However, one year when she was little, she saved up her New Year's money and secretly bought herself a glass snowflake crystal ball that she liked. But they forgot her birthday that day. She only ranked fifth in the class in the midterm exam. When Rong Chengye saw her crystal ball, he threw it away, saying that she only knew how to play all day and did not focus on her studies.
That day, she was punished by being made to copy exam papers in the study. There was no cake, no princess dress, and no birthday present. Sheng Liu only remembered this the next day. They wanted to make it up to her, but she said it wasn't necessary.
Later, she stopped liking to celebrate her birthday because she no longer had any expectations for it, as it was not worth commemorating.
But the only exception was my senior year of high school.
Fu Linzheng celebrated her eighteenth birthday.
Rong Weiyue's birthday is December 8th. At that time, Fu Linzheng was competing abroad. The competition was originally scheduled to last for three days, but he secured the victory ahead of time with his absolute strength.
The competition venue was in a different time zone than China. When the competition ended in Beijing that night, it was already past midnight. After the competition, Fu Linzheng was interviewed, and the reporter asked him if he had anything to say to the audience in front of the camera.
Fu Linzheng, dressed in a blue and white racing suit, looked dashing and confident. He casually curled his lips into a smile and spoke in a low voice:
"The moon is beautiful tonight, so let's wish everyone celebrating their birthday today a happy birthday."
He raised an eyebrow, his dark eyes beneath the baseball cap looking at the camera, a hint of arrogance tinged with tenderness, as if he were gazing at her.
"I hope you will be happy every day in the future."
The next day, it snowed in Beijing. In the evening, Rong Weiyue finished her tutoring class and left school, walking alone under the sycamore trees.
A cold wind swept in, and snowflakes fluttered down. She walked to a crossroads, holding an umbrella and waiting for the red light. She was so cold that she wrapped her scarf tighter around herself. Suddenly, her phone vibrated in her pocket. She answered it, and heard Fu Linzheng's deep, smiling voice coming through the receiver:
"Rong Weiyue, the snow in the capital is very heavy."
Startled, she subconsciously looked up and saw a boy standing in the misty snow under the streetlights across the street. He was holding a green orange cake, and his burning eyes, hidden beneath his hat brim, were fixed on her. A lazy smile played on his lips, and his voice was gentle:
"But it's okay, the flight wasn't delayed."
"I'm back, Yueyue, happy 18th birthday."
Fu Linzheng cherished that day, which few people valued.
He said that turning eighteen is the most important birthday he has ever had, and he wants to be by her side to witness his little moon grow up.
That was a surprise that even her parents had never given her.
The car stopped at a red light. Rong Weiyue turned her head and saw a couple holding hands with their child by the roadside. The little girl's hands were lifted up by her parents and she was being carried forward like a little bird taking flight. The three of them were laughing and chatting happily.
She searched diligently, but found that such a scene seemed to have never appeared in her memory.
She couldn't even remember the last time she laughed heartily in front of her parents.
Whether it's the older sister who is outstanding and impeccable, or the younger brother who was born late in life and was pampered and raised, they are both more likable than her.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't learn it.
An hour later, she returned to Heshengting.
Opening the door, the interior was pitch black, with only distant neon lights shining through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The large, single-level apartment was empty and so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
It came running out of the house with a flurry of fur, rubbing against her ankles and wagging its little tail, wanting to snuggle up to her.
Fu Linzheng didn't seem to be home, but the little guy had already eaten dinner; it seemed he had come back midway to feed him.
Rong Weiyue went inside, put her bag on the sofa, opened the refrigerator, and took out several bottles of ice-cold beer.
Back in the dark living room, city lights streamed in, their silvery glow falling on the carpet and swirling around her feet. She knelt down and touched it.
"Honey, you must be bored at home all by yourself."
He blinked his eyes and licked her palm.
Rong Weiyue relaxed her strength, sat on the carpet, leaned back against the sofa, pulled the tab on the beer, and tilted her head back to gulp it down.
The icy liquid flowed down my throat to my stomach, and a chill spread from my limbs, trying to numb all the bitterness.
She drank bottle after bottle quickly, and after a while she burped, looked at the bottle beside her, and said softly:
"Wow, I'm so envious of you... You live in such a big house, someone pampers you and loves you, cooks for you, plays with you, and you don't have to work or earn money. You have no worries at all."
She sipped the beer from her red lips and sighed, "I've tried so hard to grow up, but I'm not even as well off as you."
It whimpered twice, then snuggled into her arms, nuzzling its head against her body, as if trying to comfort her.
She hugged her knees, curling up in a ball: "Being human is so tiring. I want to be... to be a happy little dog. I don't want to be human anymore..."
She spoke absentmindedly, when a soft sound came from the doorway.
She looked up and saw that Fu Linzheng had returned.
The man, dressed in a black overcoat, was extremely tall with handsome features. He carried many things in his hands, braving the biting cold wind outside.
He changed his shoes and walked in. He was taken aback when he saw Rong Weiyue sitting in the dark living room. "You're back?"
She lowered her head, "Mmm..."
The overhead light came on, and she lowered her head even further, saying in a muffled voice, "Could you please turn off the light? My eyes hurt."
There was a two-second pause, and then the overhead light went out.
The room became dark again.
She hung her head, and a pair of fluffy slippers were tossed to her feet. Fu Linzheng's helpless scolding voice fell: "You're not wearing shoes, and you're not turning on the heating. Do you want to catch a cold again? Put them on right away."
Rong Weiyue lowered her eyelashes and obediently put on her slippers. Fu Linzheng placed the bag he was carrying on the dining table, his voice languid:
"Did you have a full dinner? I packed some food from my friend's Hunan restaurant for you. It was alright. Their signature dish is spicy crab, but unfortunately you're allergic to seafood, so I just ordered chopped chili fish head and stir-fried beef with yellow peppers. Would you like to come over and have some?"
"It wasn't leftovers; I packed some fresh food for you."
He coughed twice: "But you don't need to be too touched or embarrassed. The main thing is that I pre-charged 100,000, and my friend was so enthusiastic that he insisted on giving it to me. I can only bring it back for you to finish."
Fu Linzheng opened the box and poured the contents onto a plate. He then took a bottle of green orange sparkling water and talked for a while, but found that he did not hear a response.
He turned his head and saw Rong Weiyue sitting on the carpet with her knees drawn up to her chest, looking like a little snowball in her snow-white sweater.
He walked over, puzzled, and saw that she wasn't moving. He half-squatted down and teased her, "What's wrong? I told you not to be too moved, and you really didn't move? Or are you too embarrassed to look at me..."
Before he could finish speaking, a soft body suddenly pressed against his chest.
She tightened her grip on him, holding him tightly.
Fu Linzheng suddenly froze, his eyes filled with a storm of emotions.
“Fu Linzheng…”
Rong Weiyue hugged him, resting her face on his shoulder, suppressing her sobs. Tears silently streamed down her reddened eyes.
"Fu Linzheng, please hug me..."
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