Chapter 21: The Twenty-First Rose — She Wanted to Give Her a Home

“So, do you want to be my girlfriend—the kind where we build a relationship with marriage in mind?”

Ye Jiayuan’s voice was cool yet gentle, like a slow love song humming softly in Fu Chaoying’s heart.

The study’s overhead light fell across her body, half in light and half in shadow, casting a soft halo around her.

Fu Chaoying’s mind went blank. It was as if a sudden tide had swallowed her whole; at that moment, she seemed to lose the ability to think entirely.

She looked at Ye Jiayuan, a complicated feeling rising in her chest, tangled and knotted, impossible to sort through and impossible to ignore.

One question kept battering at Fu Chaoying’s mind, almost forcing its way out: Do you like me?

But the pride wounded by a recent rejection, together with an adult’s rationality, made it hard for her to ask so directly.

She did not want to taste that sense of defeat again.

Fu Chaoying’s lashes trembled lightly as she changed the way she asked. “Why me?”

Ye Jiayuan looked at her calmly, her gaze open and earnest. “I don’t have the time to get to know someone new, then spend even more time getting used to them and falling in love.”

“In all the time we’ve known each other, I’ve found it comfortable. Sustainable. And we know each other well.”

“I’ll take this relationship seriously. My intention is marriage.”

Fu Chaoying looked at her, a hard-to-describe bitterness rising in her heart. Her throat tightened slightly before she asked with a touch of self-mockery, “So this is… matchmaking-style dating?”

Ye Jiayuan gave an almost imperceptible smile, as if helpless. “Something like that.”

“We can agree on a fixed period. If we don’t fall in love, we can part ways.”

“Of course, during the process of building feelings, you can also end it at any time.”

When she finished, Ye Jiayuan added seriously, “My core strengths are probably that I can give you all the resources you want, and that I won’t cheat.”

She spoke the latter half in a light, unconcerned tone, but Fu Chaoying’s heart tightened.

It was hard not to think of her ex, of Ye Jiayuan’s younger sister, of the cheating scandal that had shaken both families and become public knowledge.

It was a shadow she had spent months finally managing to digest.

Ye Jiayuan said gently and frankly, “But I do have flaws. I’m very busy, so I won’t have that much time.”

“And there’s a chance we’d be long-distance. Still, I’ll do my best to make time to be with you.”

At that moment, Fu Chaoying could only hear her own breathing and heartbeat. Then she saw Ye Jiayuan lean closer, staring into her eyes as she asked, “Will you consider me?”

Fu Chaoying could only clearly feel her heart beating at an abnormal speed, as if it might leap straight out of her chest.

Ye Jiayuan’s terms were far too tempting. Whether from the standpoint of benefit or emotion, Fu Chaoying found it hard to refuse.

Xingye International was a strong enterprise in both Huaxia, Jiujiapo, and Gangcheng; it had excellent strategic vision, with interests across many industries, and resources and connections far beyond what ordinary people could ever imagine.

Emotionally, Fu Chaoying’s feelings for Ye Jiayuan were far too complicated. She was too starved for love; just a glimpse of something special was enough to make her want it at any cost.

And when such a heaven-blessed woman turned to her and extended an olive branch, who could possibly refuse without hesitation?

But if they truly started dating, then long distance, the relationship between their families, and whether she and Ye Jiayuan were truly compatible or could really make it to the end—all of these would be mountains standing between them.

Fu Chaoying’s mind was already a complete mess, all kinds of thoughts crashing through it.

But on the surface, she still made herself seem calm and reserved. “I know you’re very good to me, Jiayuan Jie, but this isn’t a small matter. I’ll need some time to think it over.”

Ye Jiayuan smiled, understanding flashing briefly in her eyes. She turned to look out at the gorgeous sunset beyond the window. “Of course. This is your life; you can think it over slowly, and you have every right to make whatever choice you want.”

Fu Chaoying followed her gaze toward the window and asked casually, “Jiayuan Jie… why did you give me ‘Magnolia Blossom’?”

Ye Jiayuan turned back slowly, her gaze warm and serious. “Because you’re worth it.”

Fu Chaoying’s heart trembled, as if brushed lightly by a feather. Just as she was about to ask more, she saw another car return to the courtyard below.

It was the Porsche she knew all too well; it was Ye Yi’an’s car.

Fu Chaoying had only just withdrawn her gaze when Ye Jiayuan stepped forward and blocked her in front. A clear, cool magnolia fragrance instantly filled her nose, and then she heard a gentle, “Don’t be afraid.”

Ye Jiayuan had said these two words before, too; on the day she brought her back to the Ye family to face Ye Yi’an.

Just two short words, yet they carried a power that soothed the heart.

Fu Chaoying suddenly looked up and met her eyes. They were far too close now; there was only a fist’s distance between their noses, and even the sound of each other’s breathing was clearly audible.

Their warm, damp breaths mingled together, and the air was filled with a faint, ambiguous tension. Fu Chaoying’s gaze locked onto the depths of her pupils, where her own face was reflected, clear and focused, and her heartbeat accelerated once again.

The air seemed to freeze at that instant, only to be shattered back into motion by a knock at the door.

“Jie, is Ah Ying with you?” Ye Yi’an’s voice came from beyond the door.

The two of them sprang apart.

Fu Chaoying was taking a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart, when she heard Ye Jiayuan answer evenly, “We’re discussing work.”

“Okay; Mom asked me to come get you for dinner.”

The doorway went quiet again. Fu Chaoying stood where she was, but then felt her right hand wrapped in a warm, soft touch; it disappeared in an instant, and her fingertips could not help trembling.

Ye Jiayuan gave her hand a brief squeeze, then placed her palm on Fu Chaoying’s shoulder and patted it lightly. “Let’s go downstairs to eat together.”

It was reassurance, keeping exactly the right distance, measured and proper.

Fu Chaoying’s lips curved slightly, but another complicated emotion welled up inside her.

She followed Ye Jiayuan downstairs. Just as they reached the stairs, she heard the conversation from below.

“You girls all come home without calling ahead; are you trying to surprise me?” Chu Yiyun’s voice carried a touch of complaint, but the delight in it was unmistakable.

Ye Yi’an was acting coquettish and flattering her. Fu Chaoying pretended not to hear, automatically blocking out everything related to her.

Fu Chaohua saw Fu Chaoying and Ye Jiayuan coming downstairs together and, being the only one who knew the situation, inevitably grew a little curious.

On top of that, to protect her cousin, she simply walked to Fu Chaoying’s side and quietly put herself between her and Ye Yi’an.

In such an awkward atmosphere, with Fu Chaoying walking between Ye Jiayuan and Fu Chaohua, she felt wonderfully secure.

The three of them took their seats. Ye Yi’an was seated at some distance from her and only watched her covertly, unusually silent.

Fu Chaoying didn’t look directly at her; she ate quietly and tried her best to pretend Ye Yi’an did not exist.

Since the younger generation had rarely gathered like this, Chu Yiyun started asking about everyone’s work, and mentioned that Ye Jiayuan had recently taken an interest in the art world and could help Fu Chaoying more.

Fu Chaoying smiled faintly. “Jiayuan Jie is our company’s strategic consultant; she’s already helped me a lot.”

Ye Jiayuan tilted her head to glance at her, then added casually, “Xiaoying is very independent. She usually doesn’t ask me for help.”

That was blatant sarcasm aimed at her… where was Ye Jiayuan’s usual composure and self-restraint?! Fu Chaoying grumbled inwardly, yet she also felt a faint, secret pleasure.

Fu Chaoying’s eyes curved as she accepted it generously. “You flatter me, Jiayuan Jie.”

Ye Jiayuan looked at her again without a trace, and a nearly imperceptible smile flickered across her features.

Fu Chaohua quietly observed the two of them and felt more and more that something was off. Xiaoying had said Jiayuan Jie had turned her down, but the atmosphere between these two people looked nothing like rejection.

Chu Yiyun began asking after Fu Chaoying’s work again, full of concern and warmth.

Fu Chaoying answered briefly, and when she lowered her head again, she found several shrimp in her bowl.

She glanced sideways and saw that Ye Jiayuan’s bone dish was full of shrimp shells.

Fu Chaoying was startled; she only felt that Ye Jiayuan was being far too bold. Aunt Chu was sitting right beside her!!

But within two seconds, Fu Chaoying calmed herself—sisters from prestigious families peeling shrimp for each other counted as normal behavior.

She ate them quietly, not finding a chance to thank Ye Jiayuan.

After dinner, Fu Chaohua had the habit of going out for a walk, so Fu Chaoying naturally went with her, wanting to use the chance to calm herself and escape this complicated vortex that was the Ye household.

Ye Yi’an had been conveniently kept at home by Chu Yiyun under the pretense of chatting, and could not get away.

Fu Chaoying and Fu Chaohua left the house together, only to hear footsteps behind them.

Ye Jiayuan quickly caught up to them. “The forecast says it might rain; let’s take two umbrellas.”

Fu Chaoying and Fu Chaohua reached out and took them. “Thank you, Jiayuan Jie.”

But Ye Jiayuan did not turn back toward the house; instead, she walked to Fu Chaoying’s side and said naturally, “I’ll walk with you for a bit.”

Fu Chaohua didn’t know their real situation and was afraid things would be awkward, so she quietly moved to the space between the two of them.

Fu Chaoying happened to need time to think and sort out her thoughts, so she was quite happy to let it be; she understood perfectly and simply said nothing.

The three of them chatted idly as they walked. Mostly it was Fu Chaohua talking about little stories from their circle, and the atmosphere was fairly relaxed.

When they reached the lake, a breeze swept across their faces, dispersing some of the summer heat and inner restlessness.

They passed many people walking their dogs after dinner; the dogs ran around happily, and Fu Chaoying looked over at them with envy.

Then she encountered a fluffy little Bichon Frise, wagging its tail and grinning happily; it was so adorable it was practically cheating, and it even followed along with Fu Chaoying’s group.

Fu Chaoying bent down, looked up, and politely asked the dog’s human companion, “May I pet it?”

The other person agreed enthusiastically. “Of course! It loves making new friends!”

Fu Chaohua watched her sister crouch down to pet the dog, her face bright with laughter, and quietly noticed that although Ye Jiayuan was standing far away, her gaze had stayed fixed on her sister the entire time; there was a rare softness in her eyes.

Fu Chaohua was surprised at first, then puzzled. The atmosphere between those two was truly a little strange.

Fu Chaoying was having so much fun with the dog that she heard her cousin tease her, “Do you want to raise another one?”

Fu Li had once raised a little dog named Xingxing. It had accompanied Fu Chaoying from childhood into her teenage years, and it was an incredibly important presence in her life.

At that moment, the memory flashed through her mind. Fu Chaoying froze slightly; a trace of loss flickered in her eyes before she shook her head and smiled. “Maybe I can think about it in the future.”

The moment she finished speaking, the sound of running paws suddenly came from beside her ears, along with a crisp bark. Fu Chaoying turned around in a daze, only to see Ye Jiayuan already jogging to her side with open arms, blocking the Labrador that had just lunged toward her.

Ye Jiayuan was hit squarely in the chest by that enthusiastic Labrador and nearly lost her balance.

Fu Chaoying’s heart jolted. She immediately stood to steady her, concern in her voice. “Jiayuan Jie, are you okay?”

The Labrador’s human companion hurried over to apologize. “Sorry, sorry; it’s just way too outgoing.”

Ye Jiayuan waved it off, saying she was fine, her expression unchanged.

Seeing that she had steadied herself, Fu Chaoying quietly let go of her arm, though a strange feeling rose in her heart. But the instant she released her, she heard Ye Jiayuan sneeze.

Concern flashed in Fu Chaoying’s eyes. “Jiayuan Jie, did you catch a cold?”

Ye Jiayuan shook her head. “I’m fine.”

Fu Chaohua smiled without saying anything, silently observing the subtle atmosphere between them; she was even more certain now that there had to be more to come between these two.

They had walked only halfway when a fierce wind suddenly rose and the sky was covered in dark clouds. It looked like rain would come soon.

They started back together. By the time they returned to the Ye residence, Chu Yiyun told them that Ye Yi’an had already left to catch the high-speed train back for filming.

Fu Chaoying felt completely unruffled; she only politely said goodbye together with Fu Chaohua.

“Oh, it’s going to be a thunderstorm in a little while. It isn’t safe to drive at night, so stay here and rest for the night; just keep me company.” Chu Yiyun warmly insisted that they stay.

Fu Chaohua looked at Fu Chaoying to hear her opinion.

Fu Chaoying was also wavering when she heard Ye Jiayuan say softly, “I’m flying to Gangcheng tomorrow morning.”

Fu Chaoying looked up and was caught completely off guard by meeting her eyes.

There seemed to be a trace of reluctance in Ye Jiayuan’s eyes, but it was quickly smoothed away by calmness.

Fu Chaoying quietly averted her gaze and, for reasons she herself did not understand, agreed to stay the night.

Chu Yiyun was rarely able to have these younger people keeping her company, and her mood improved greatly. She immediately pulled them to the tea room for an evening tea, chatting casually about family matters.

When the conversation turned to Fu Chaohua’s graduation, it naturally shifted to Nanyan University.

The four of them were all alumni of Nanyan University, and Fu Chaohua had even done her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate all at Nanyan; she was very familiar with the school and deeply attached to it.

Fu Chaohua smiled. “The school still talks about Jiayuan Jie’s legend to this day.”

There was a trace of pride in her tone, as if she were speaking of how outstanding her own older sister was.

Ye Jiayuan was one of the most legendary alumni across so many graduating classes. She not only graduated with excellent results, but after taking over the family business, she pushed through reform in the face of opposition and eventually transformed the family workshop into a listed company; from there, she rose rapidly and never looked back.

Her investment instincts were superb, and her name was well known both at home and abroad. She was also an idol in the hearts of generations of Nanyan students.

Chu Yiyun’s gaze swept over the girls, then she suddenly patted Fu Chaoying’s hand and said affectionately and nostalgically, “Oh? I remember our Xiaoyuan gave you an award too, didn’t she?”

Fu Chaoying was slightly startled, and then Chu Yiyun suddenly pulled out her phone. “I still have the photo here.”

Fu Chaoying’s gaze followed her hand, and she saw Chu Yiyun find that photo in her favorites and enlarge it.

It was from Fu Chaoying’s graduation ceremony, when she had gone up on stage as one of the university’s outstanding graduate representatives to receive her award.

But she remembered clearly that Ye Jiayuan had not presented the award to her; they had barely exchanged a few words.

When they passed each other on stage, Ye Jiayuan had only given her a slight nod and said, “Keep working hard.”

Her tone had been flat and distant, carrying a kind of politeness that did not feel familiar.

Afterward, they had taken a group photo with the award presenters and then stepped down from the stage.

They had not even had time to exchange pleasantries, let alone eat a meal together.

Perhaps even then they had already become quite distant; it was only because of the families on both sides that they continued to maintain surface-level courtesy.

When Ye Jiayuan saw the photo, she said in a low voice, “That day the schedule was very rushed; I didn’t even have time to take Xiaoying out for a meal.”

So that was it.

Fu Chaoying turned to meet her gaze and smiled. “Back then, everyone was so envious that I got to take a photo with Senior Ye.”

The joke came out at just the right moment; everyone laughed, and the topic moved on.

No one knew that Fu Chaoying had also been envious of the girl Ye Jiayuan had presented the award to.

She had even proudly told them, “Oh, Senior Jiayuan is my girlfriend’s biological sister.”

Thinking about it now, what she had really been proud of was that such an outstanding Senior Ye Jiayuan was her family’s old friend’s daughter; she was someone so close yet so out of reach.

Only back then, Ye Jiayuan was not yet familiar enough with her as a family friend’s sister, so she had not been able to bring herself to say it out loud; she had been afraid people would laugh at her for showing off.

A blinding bolt of lightning suddenly flashed past the window, followed by a burst of thunder.

Fu Chaoying, who had been deep in thought, jumped in fright. Her body trembled slightly, but she quickly calmed down and regained a composed expression.

After that, she just sat quietly on the sofa, listening to them talk, chiming in occasionally.

Ye Jiayuan’s gaze would occasionally settle on her without seeming to; it was like an inadvertent sweep, yet there was a kind of hard-to-describe attention behind it.

“Is Xiaoying still afraid of thunder? Do you want to sleep with Auntie tonight?” Chu Yiyun asked with a smile, her tone full of a senior’s care for a junior.

As soon as she said it, Fu Chaoying and Ye Jiayuan exchanged a subtle, tacit look, both of them thinking of the countless small moments they had shared in Jiujiapo; those nights when they had slept together during thunderstorms.

Fu Chaoying’s cheeks grew unnaturally hot. She quickly looked away and responded obediently with a smile, “It’s okay, Auntie; I can manage on my own.”

It had only been a joke, and Chu Yiyun did not insist.

After chatting a while longer, the family’s usual gathering program began—the marriage-and-dating pressure.

Chu Yiyun started urging Ye Jiayuan to find someone, speaking earnestly and with concern. “I don’t even know your orientation; if I introduce you to someone, I wouldn’t even know which direction to go in.”

Ye Jiayuan’s romantic history seemed blank—or at least, she had never told them anything about it.

In everyone’s eyes, she had always been a steady, rational powerhouse who devoted herself entirely to her career.

But Fu Chaoying knew her orientation.

After all… Ye Jiayuan had asked her just a few hours ago whether she wanted to date.

Fu Chaoying naturally shifted her gaze to Ye Jiayuan, only to see that Ye Jiayuan was looking back at her too. Their eyes met like a faint current passing between them.

Fu Chaoying suddenly felt awkward, her cheeks heating up. She hurriedly looked away, only to hear Ye Jiayuan say, “I’ll handle it myself. Don’t worry.”

She always said that.

Chu Yiyun was already used to it; after her attempts to persuade her failed, she could only keep saying, “Fine, fine; do whatever you want. I can’t control you anyway.”

When Fu Chaoying glanced over again, she saw Ye Jiayuan looking at her with a slight smile, a flicker of unreadable light passing through her eyes.

It felt oddly thrilling, like sneaking around behind an elder’s back. Fu Chaoying’s heartbeat sped up a little, and she silently averted her gaze.

It was getting late, so the conversation ended there.

The Ye family had specially prepared guest rooms for Fu Chaoying and Fu Chaohua; they were right next door, so it was quite convenient for both of them to stay.

Fu Chaoying went into her room to shower. Hot water poured from head to toe while the sound of the rain outside filled her ears.

At a time like this, the comfortable, relaxed atmosphere was perfect for immersive reflection; it let her observe her own heart more clearly.

Without realizing it, Fu Chaoying sank into thought, and many fragmented scenes flashed through her mind.

Not long ago, in a dream, she had reached out toward Ye Jiayuan, only to be met with a cold stare.

Yet now, in reality, Ye Jiayuan had taken the initiative to extend an olive branch, and she had become lost.

Fu Chaoying smiled in the haze of steam, feeling that she was truly ridiculous beyond measure.

She turned off the water, put on her bathrobe, walked to the window to dry her damp hair, and looked out at the bright lightning streaking across the dark sky while deafening thunder rolled in her ears.

For some reason, there had been especially many thunderstorms this year.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door behind her; it was soft, just two or three taps before stopping.

Fu Chaoying hurried over to open it, only to find Ye Jiayuan standing outside with a cup of hot milk, her expression calm.

Seeing that Fu Chaoying was dressed only in a thin bathrobe, with large areas of pale skin exposed, Ye Jiayuan kept her eyes on her face and asked softly, “Are you scared?”

Thinking of all the things that had happened in Jiujiapo during thunderstorm weather, Fu Chaoying awkwardly took the milk. Her fingertips accidentally brushed her palm, and a warm sensation spread through her, before she answered obediently, “Not really, thanks, Jiayuan Jie.”

Ye Jiayuan gave a slight nod and said softly, “Then get some rest early. Good night.”

With that, she gently closed the door.

Fu Chaoying was no longer like she had been in Jiujiapo, when she would actively seek Ye Jiayuan’s help.

Ye Jiayuan let out a helpless sigh.

As soon as Fu Chaoying closed the door, she drank a few mouthfuls of the milk. It was the right temperature; she guessed Ye Jiayuan had brought it because she was worried Fu Chaoying wouldn’t sleep well at night.

Fu Chaoying took two deep breaths and tried hard to settle her thoughts, to sort out the tangled mess in her mind, only to find it was useless.

She dried her hair, locked the window, drew the thick curtains, and flung herself onto the soft bed, beginning to prepare for sleep.

Warm milk was supposed to be a perfect sleep aid, but the milk Ye Jiayuan had brought only made her think of the day’s events, and that in turn kept her awake.

She rolled around in bed, unable to sleep.

No one knew how much time passed before Fu Chaoying finally drifted into shallow sleep.

But in the middle of the night, she was jolted awake by a nightmare; when she opened her eyes, the thunderstorm outside still had not stopped.

The outside environment could affect the subconscious, turning into nightmares that unsettled her and kept her from peace.

Fu Chaoying took a long while to steady herself. Only then did she get up, climb out of bed, and prepare to go out for a glass of water to calm herself down.

But the moment she opened the door, she heard a gentle voice say, “Can’t sleep?”

Fu Chaoying froze in confusion, thinking she must be hearing things; but the instant she turned her head, she saw Ye Jiayuan sitting on the sofa in the corner of her bedroom.

Fu Chaoying blinked, thinking she must have been mistaken, then shook her head before finally waking up a little. “I just got woken up by thunder… Jiayuan Jie, why are you still sitting here at this hour?”

Her tone was puzzled, but even more astonished.

Ye Jiayuan lifted the papers in her hand. “I happened to have an important document to read.”

Reading a document… then why not go to the study? And Ye Jiayuan’s bedroom was on the other side, so why was she sitting by the door to Fu Chaoying’s room reading it?

Fu Chaoying was full of questions, but she didn’t ask. Instead, she walked straight toward the water purifier, only to see Ye Jiayuan stand up and head there first.

Fu Chaoying quickly took two steps to catch up. “Jiayuan Jie, I’ll do it myself.”

Ye Jiayuan said firmly, “It’s fine.”

“Then thank you, Jiayuan Jie.” Fu Chaoying immediately stopped, standing behind her as she watched Ye Jiayuan pour the water with elegant, graceful movements.

After filling the cup, Ye Jiayuan looked at her and said softly, “Didn’t we agree I’d give you time to think? You don’t need to feel pressured; just treat me as… an ordinary older sister next door.”

“Even if you refuse me, I’ll still regard you as my younger sister in the future.”

Fu Chaoying took the cup, blinked, then curved her brows and asked her softly, “Then… does guarding me while I sleep also count as treating me like a younger sister?”

Her tone held a hint of teasing, but more than that, it was a probe.

Ye Jiayuan turned around and gave a quiet “Mm,” without explaining.

Fu Chaoying’s lips curved deeper, yet a familiar complicated emotion welled up inside her as she murmured, “Jiayuan Jie, you’re so good to me.”

A trace of tenderness flashed through Ye Jiayuan’s calm expression, but she quickly looked at her again with composure.

Fu Chaoying lifted the cup and drank a few mouthfuls, then asked casually, “What time is your flight tomorrow morning?”

“Ten o’clock.”

Fu Chaoying set the cup down, her hand pausing; then she lightly tugged at the sleeve of Ye Jiayuan’s sleepwear.

Ye Jiayuan lowered her eyes slightly, only to see that Fu Chaoying’s fingers had already withdrawn, followed by a soft, “Then Jiayuan Jie, go back and rest soon. Good night.”

Fu Chaoying turned to go back into the bedroom, only for Ye Jiayuan to catch her wrist.

“Wait.”

Before the word had even fully fallen, Ye Jiayuan turned and headed toward her own bedroom, leaving behind a clean, mysterious silhouette of a back.

Fu Chaoying had no idea what was going on. She lifted her wrist and looked at it carefully, as if that warm, steady touch still remained there, lingering for a long time.

She suddenly remembered that on a stormy night in Jiujiapo, Ye Jiayuan had rejected her hug, but said that if she was scared, she could hold onto her wrist.

Not long after, Ye Jiayuan came back out of her room holding a teddy bear.

When she got closer, Fu Chaoying could see it clearly and was slightly startled. “This one looks like mine.”

“Mm. It was given out by the school the year I graduated.”

The Nanyan graduate teddy bear—Fu Chaoying had always thought it had been brought back from the alumni association by Chu Yiyun, but unexpectedly, it had actually been transferred to her by Ye Jiayuan.

Fu Chaoying took the bear and brushed her fingers over the soft fur. The familiar, faint magnolia scent drifted into her nose.

They had already said thank you far too many times tonight. Fu Chaoying smiled, her eyes curving. “Then I should sleep well tonight.”

Ye Jiayuan gave a small nod, her gaze resting gently on her face. “Good night.”

Fu Chaoying returned to her room holding Ye Jiayuan’s teddy bear.

In her heart, she thought: so the bear that had accompanied her through so many long nights had come from Ye Jiayuan.

And when Ye Jiayuan could not accompany her at night, she had given her own bear to her instead.

A hard-to-describe warmth rose in Fu Chaoying’s heart. She hugged the bear close and sank into a deep, dreamless sleep.

She slept soundly through the night.

Fu Chaoying was woken by her alarm, rubbed her drowsy eyes, and then saw a WeChat message lying quietly on her phone screen: [No need to see me off; I’ve already changed my flight. Sleep a little longer.]

Was Ye Jiayuan… a worm in her stomach? Or had she already figured her thoughts out so thoroughly that she knew Fu Chaoying would definitely go see her off?

Fu Chaoying turned off the alarm and thought about sleeping a bit longer, but after tossing and turning she still couldn’t fall back asleep; Ye Jiayuan’s figure kept appearing in her mind.

So she simply got up at once, then typed in Ye Jiayuan’s chat box: [Did you arrive?]

It felt too intimate, so she deleted it and changed it to: [Safe takeoff and landing~]

After washing up, she went downstairs, only to hear Aunt Chu sighing in the dining room, her voice carrying a touch of displeasure—

“Is she angry with me? Shouldn’t I have urged her to date and get married? She’s old enough now! Honestly, the older she gets, the less obedient she is!”

Chu Yiyun had learned early that morning that her eldest daughter had left without saying goodbye and had changed her flight in the middle of the night; now she had already landed in Gangcheng, which left her quite unhappy.

As the only one who knew the truth, Fu Chaoying shrank her neck and said softly, “...Jiayuan Jie may have had something urgent to handle. Auntie, please don’t be mad.”

“What urgent matter could be so important that she had to fly to Gangcheng at dawn? She didn’t even say a word!” Chu Yiyun complained, then added with a mix of helplessness and exasperation, “Forget it, forget it; I can’t control her anymore.”

Fu Chaoying had no answer either, so she only smiled and said, “Auntie, let’s have some tea.”

After breakfast at the Ye residence, Fu Chaoying drove her cousin back, first taking her to Nanyan.

Fu Chaohua was full of gossip and leaned closer. “So what’s the situation now between you and Jiayuan Jie?”

Fu Chaoying kept her eyes on the road ahead and said calmly, “We’re still friends for now.”

“For now…?” Fu Chaohua caught the key words sharply and raised her eyebrows, a mysterious smile appearing on her face. “No wonder I heard you two whispering outside the door last night.”

Fu Chaoying’s brow twitched. The light ahead had only two or three seconds left, so she hit the brakes. “What did you hear?”

Fu Chaohua rolled her eyes and deliberately teased her. “I heard… her say she liked you, and you say you liked her too?”

Fu Chaohua couldn’t keep making it up, and both of them burst out laughing.

Fu Chaohua laughed and sighed. “If I’d known, I would’ve cracked the door open and gotten the first scoop!”

“What a pity, what a pity.”

Fu Chaoying’s smile faded a little. “What scoop would there be? If there really were one, would Jiayuan Jie have left without a word at dawn?”

Fu Chaohua nodded thoughtfully. “That’s true. You’d need a few days of clinging and sweetness before you’d even think about work, right?”

Fu Chaoying gave a slight nod, but she felt a faint sense of loss in her heart.

Long distance was a problem. And she could not imagine how her relationship with Ye Jiayuan would differ between a formal romance and a contract romance.

After dropping Fu Chaohua off at Nanyan, Fu Chaoying drove back to the company for work.

Her phone vibrated several times on the way, but she had no time to look and focused on driving.

By the time she parked in the underground garage and picked up her phone, she saw a PDF file sent by Ye Jiayuan, along with a message: [Take a look at which neighborhood you like, and what kind of layout.]

Fu Chaoying froze again, then saw another message from her: [Pick two units.]

Ye Jiayuan hadn’t explained it, but Fu Chaoying suddenly remembered their conversation in Jiujiapo—

She had once asked tentatively, “Why doesn’t Jie settle down here?”

Ye Jiayuan had replied, “Very few family members come over, so it makes no difference whether I settle down or not.”

So when Ye Jiayuan told her to choose two units, was she planning to settle down in both Jiujiapo and Gangcheng?

And had she changed her flight to Gangcheng at dawn today because she wanted to get the housing materials early and give Fu Chaoying a surprise?

A soft spot in Fu Chaoying’s heart seemed to cave in all at once. Her fingertips trembled unconsciously above the chat box, unable to press down for a long time.

She was afraid she had misunderstood; afraid she was being too self-important.

After a long while, Fu Chaoying finally opened the PDF and carefully browsed the property information inside, then slowly typed a line: [Personally, I might think units 7, 16, 19, 25, and 36 are pretty good~ Just for Jiayuan Jie’s reference~]

Ye Jiayuan had not explicitly said she was arranging a home for her, so Fu Chaoying naturally could not place herself in the role of her girlfriend or family member.

She gathered her thoughts, took a deep breath, then opened the car door, got out, and went upstairs.

“Morning, Teacher Fu. You look so cheerful today—anything good happen?” a colleague greeted her and happened to notice the smile at the corners of her lips.

Fu Chaoying gave a slight nod. “Morning.”

Then she turned away and forcefully pressed down the smile on her mouth, inwardly annoyed with herself.

After that brief conversation in the morning, Fu Chaoying received no more messages from Ye Jiayuan.

For the next few days, there were only brief “good morning” and “good night” messages. It was as if the two of them were only maintaining a polite exchange of greetings, with nothing else between them.

Fu Chaoying worked during the day; at night she either painted at home or went shopping and had meals with Shen Guannan and Fu Chaohua, trying her best to keep her life full so she wouldn’t think about Ye Jiayuan.

By Friday night, the three of them had arranged to go get massages and relax.

Fu Chaoying was getting a head treatment and felt so comfortable she was almost asleep, when her phone suddenly started vibrating repeatedly, pulling her back from the half-dreaming state.

It was several video messages from Ye Jiayuan.

Fu Chaoying swiped up and down on her phone screen and found that every single one was a video of a house.

Just as she tapped the first one, Ye Jiayuan’s cool voice came through the speaker: “This is unit 7 in the file…”

Fu Chaoying hadn’t expected her to record them personally and had forgotten to put on her earphones.

The sound was playing out loud now, clearly reaching Shen Guannan and Fu Chaohua; even though she hit mute immediately, the two of them still heard the first line.

They both turned to look at her. “Why does that voice sound so familiar…?”

“Are you buying a house?”

Fu Chaoying’s heartbeat sped up slightly, but she did her best to stay calm, smiling as if nothing were wrong. “No, I just happened to run into a short video.”

The two of them looked at her skeptically. “Really?”

Fu Chaohua smiled and deliberately teased her, “Why does it sound to me like Jiayuan Jie’s voice?”

Fu Chaoying choked a little and hurriedly cut her off, “No way, don’t talk nonsense.”

Then she found her earphones and put them on before continuing to watch Ye Jiayuan’s videos.

The first unit was a duplex apartment. Ye Jiayuan wore a simple white shirt and stood in the spacious, bright living room, introducing everything from the first floor to the second.

Every detail was explained in great depth, just like a professional real estate salesperson.

Each following unit was also filmed by her personally; from the decoration style to the supporting facilities, everything was introduced clearly.

That meant Ye Jiayuan had personally gone to see every unit, personally experienced the advantages and disadvantages of each one.

And judging by the lighting in the videos, she had filmed both during the day and at night. To make these videos for her, she must have sacrificed a lot of rest.

Fu Chaoying froze, a deeper hollow opening up somewhere in her heart; then, before she could process it, she received a call from Ye Jiayuan. The ringtone sounded especially abrupt in the quiet private room.

Fu Chaoying asked the technician to pause, then hurried outside in a fluster to answer.

“Xiaoying, five days have passed already; have you thought it through?”

Fu Chaoying heard her cool voice on the other end, and her heartbeat suddenly accelerated.

“Jiayuan Jie, I still haven’t decided.” Fu Chaoying answered softly.

Even with five days to think about where she should go from here, she still had not found the answer by this moment.

A laugh seemed to come through the receiver. Then Fu Chaoying heard her say, “Looks like I didn’t do enough.”

Hearing the helplessness in her tone, Fu Chaoying couldn’t help but pause. “I…”

“Then are you free tomorrow?” Ye Jiayuan asked next.

Fu Chaoying fell into thought, not knowing what would happen if she said yes, but she still answered with a soft hum, as if under some spell.

“A gift will arrive at your home tomorrow. Remember to receive it.” Ye Jiayuan said softly, “Rest early.”

Then she hung up.

Fu Chaoying stood in the hallway, her heart brimming with expectation and nervousness. Ye Jiayuan had asked if she was free tomorrow… what was she going to do?

Fu Chaoying composed herself and adjusted her expression before going back into the private room.

Before she had made her final decision, she could not rely on anyone else’s suggestions.

After the head treatment ended, the three of them left together.

Fu Chaohua said she wanted to stay at the old house with her, so Fu Chaoying drove her back home.

Fu Chaohua’s gossip spirit blazed up. “That was Jiayuan Jie calling you just now, right?”

Fu Chaoying did not deny it, but she did worry. “You didn’t tell Auntie about me and Jiayuan Jie, did you?”

Fu Chaohua patted her shoulder. “We’ve been sisters for so many years; don’t you trust me even a little? Of course I wouldn’t tell!”

Fu Chaoying let out a breath of relief, then smiled. “That’s good. Then if Auntie asks about it later, just say you don’t know.”

Fu Chaohua nodded. “Of course. Don’t worry.”

Fu Chaoying smiled faintly and nodded, though unease still lingered in her heart.

*

Fu Chaoying slept well, but within half a minute of waking up, she remembered that Ye Jiayuan had said she would send a gift today.

After washing up and going downstairs, she heard a familiar cool voice. Fu Chaoying’s heart skipped a beat; she quickened her steps, but at the turn of the stairs, she fell into a pair of deep, dark eyes.

Ye Jiayuan had returned to Nanyan.

Was the gift she meant… herself?

TL Note:

Huaxia, Jiujiapo, and Gangcheng are made up cities I think