In the evening, at the Yu family's residence.
Yu Xiuxiu and Mother Yu were making tangyuan in the kitchen, while Wen Zhongen and Father Yu discussed business in the study upstairs.
In the living room, only Wen Tingxue and the recently returned Yu Wenli were present.
And the melodramatic television drama that was playing.
The atmosphere wasn't particularly warm, but not cold either. At least Wen Tingxue felt relaxed.
Her hand in her pocket moved, and her gaze slowly shifted to the young man playing on his phone.
He lowered his eyes slightly, his thumb occasionally swiping, his expression neither warm nor cold, making it difficult for anyone to approach.
Wen Tingxue quietly swallowed her words, intending to wait until he was done before speaking.
Just as her eyelids were about to droop, the young man seemed to sense something. He lifted his thin, pale eyelids, his dark eyes looking straight at her.
Clad in a white shirt, he exuded an even more refined and aloof aura, like a deity untouched by mortal dust.
“Yiyi.”
Yu Wenli exited the chaotic forum and called her in a soft, yet gentle tone.
“Come sit.”
He patted the seat beside him, his gaze softening, devoid of its previous coolness.
She was sitting in a corner of the sofa, making it inconvenient for him to move closer.
A spark of joy ignited in Wen Tingxue's heart. She happily sat beside him, obediently taking out the money and tissues from her pocket and handing them to him with both hands.
“Here.”
Her small palm held a packet of tissues and rose-themed banknotes of the same brand.
The price far exceeded that of two roses.
Yu Wenli's gaze lingered on the two items for a few seconds.
The smile at the corner of his lips faded slightly, but his voice remained gentle, “I told you, you didn't have to return it.”
Perhaps due to his innate excellence, he exuded a natural coolness.
Even with a pair of naturally expressive peach blossom eyes, he seemed distant when not smiling.
Wen Tingxue felt inexplicably timid. Her almond-shaped eyes blinked twice, and she softly explained.
“I have to return it, or I won't feel comfortable.”
Her eyes, glistening with moisture, looked heartbreaking, and the slight displeasure that had arisen in Yu Wenli's heart instantly dissipated.
He had been too hasty.
They had only known each other for two days; how could he expect her to trust and rely on him?
Moreover, there was plenty of time; there was no need to rush things.
Yu Wenli reached out and picked up the items in her palm. His fingertips brushed against hers, sending a surge of warmth.
Wen Tingxue quickly withdrew her hand, but her ears still turned a little red.
Yu Wenli's lips curved upward again, a smile spreading into his eyes, intoxicatingly so.
“Brother doesn't lack tissues, keep them.”
He placed the tissues back into her hand, along with a few packets of snacks.
Wen Tingxue whispered her thanks. She was indeed a little hungry.
However, she felt too embarrassed to take the snacks on the table, intending to wait until dinner. Now that food was being offered to her, she didn't hesitate.
She tore open a small packet and ate slowly.
Mother Yu had been worried that her son's cold demeanor might make the young girl feel wronged, so she kept glancing over. To her surprise, the two children were getting along quite harmoniously.
They were even watching the melodramatic show that he usually disliked.
“Tsk tsk.”
Mother Yu couldn't help but shake her head and sigh, “Yiyi is just so likable. This brat is unwilling to watch a show with me.”
Yu Xiuxiu looked at her daughter's back with eyes full of tenderness, feeling both sour and pained. “Xiao Wen is very caring. Yiyi has never depended on anyone like this before.”
Every time they returned home, she preferred to hide away alone. If anyone approached, even her cousin, she would feel uncomfortable.
But in front of Yu Wenli, she seemed very relaxed.
…
It was the Lantern Festival today. Mother Yu and Yu Xiuxiu had made a lot of tangyuan and prepared many dishes.
The two families gathered around the table, eating with gusto.
Everyone knew Wen Tingxue's personality, so they piled plenty of food onto her plate, afraid she would go hungry.
Grandma's cooking was only average, and Auntie was completely unaccustomed to household chores, so she rarely ate such delicious food.
At most, when her cousin went out to eat, he would bring her leftovers, or when her older cousin returned during holidays, he would specifically take her out for a good meal.
Being able to eat such delicious food at home was a scene from her dreams.
Wen Tingxue gently bit into the brown sugar glutinous rice cake, eating it slowly, as if replenishing the sweetness that had been missing for so many years.
Yu Wenli noticed that she was only eating sweets, so he transferred the sweet dishes from his bowl to hers.
“?”
Wen Tingxue looked up blankly, her cheeks bulging with tangyuan, making her look like a squirrel.
The smile in Yu Wenli's eyes faded when he met her gaze.
Her eyes were vacant, as if she were lost in thought, her expression sluggish and dull, clearly not recalling anything pleasant.
Yu Wenli thought of her past circumstances, and a pang of heartache and anger arose within him, which quickly turned into gentleness.
His well-defined fingers gently stroked her soft hair.
“Brother doesn't like sweets, can you help me share some?”
Yu Wenli's eyes curved into a smile, and his exceptionally pleasing voice resonated in Wen Tingxue's ears.
Like the sweet rain nourishing the earth, it slowly brought her back to life.
Her lips, stained with sweet cake, were attractively pink. Her words, too, carried a hint of sweetness, “Okay.”
Her eyes gradually regained their sparkle, and Yu Wenli's heart felt warmed.
His thin lips curved into a smile as he promised, “Good girl, brother will take you to guess lantern riddles and watch the lion dance later.”
Wen Tingxue loved this festive and lively atmosphere. She nodded joyfully and obediently ate the food in her bowl.
Yu Wenli ate at a leisurely pace, his peripheral vision almost entirely on her, his attention naturally drifting.
It wasn't until Mother Yu patted his shoulder that he snapped back to attention.
“What is it?” he asked, looking up.
Mother Yu playfully glared at him, “What are you thinking about? You can't even hear me when I call you. It's lively tonight, take your sister out for a stroll, and get familiar with the neighborhood layout.”
Although Mo Xiang Ya Ju was built outside the city center, its location was good, and it was only a few subway stops away from the bustling commercial area.
Yu Wenli nodded, “Okay.”
Mother Yu had initially thought her son would take Wen Yaya on the subway. To her surprise, after dinner, her son directly threw a small helmet to Wen Yaya.
Father and Mother Yu exchanged a look of shock.
Their son was going to ride his motorcycle?!
Didn't he refuse to let girls sit on the back of his motorcycle?!
The last time his cousin wanted to ride, he had refused. And today…
Father Yu smiled and said, “Our son has grown up.”
Mother Yu belatedly clicked her tongue, “No wonder he wasn't willing for Wen Yaya to be our goddaughter.”
-
On the Lantern Festival, Jiangcheng's city center was bustling with excitement. Lantern riddles, lion dances, stilt walking—everywhere was filled with the vibrant atmosphere of life.
Amidst the crowded streets, Yu Wenli tightly held Wen Tingxue's hand, leading her from one end of the street to the other. Then, he took her on his motorcycle to experience the night scenery of Jiangcheng's seaside, breathing in completely free air.
Wen Tingxue, by his side, had a joyous time, eating many snacks, and finally returned home with candied hawthorns and cotton candy.
She vowed that this was the happiest day of her more than ten years of life.
She had her parents' protection, her friends' company, and didn't have to worry about being bothered or facing sudden messes.
She no longer had to face her grandmother's sarcasm, her aunt's passive-aggression, or her cousin's wanton harassment.
Her life was finally like that of an ordinary girl.
It felt so good.
Wen Tingxue slowly crunched on the sugar coating of the candied hawthorn, her steps slowing slightly as she followed behind Yu Wenli, walking in his shadow.
Step by step, she moved towards the light, towards him.
Mo Xiang Ya Ju occupied a large area, and it would take time to explore it thoroughly. After parking the car, Yu Wenli chose a route he often took and briefly explained the directions of each path to her.
Wen Tingxue listened quietly, occasionally nodding while biting into the sweet and sour candied hawthorn, exceptionally well-behaved.
As they reached the end, Yu Wenli happened to be standing under a warm streetlamp, his entire demeanor softened.
Wen Tingxue looked up, her bright eyes filled with trust and dependence.
She slowly raised her lips, seeming to have something to share.
However—
“Yu Wenli?”
A voice interrupted.
It was a woman's voice, with a familiar tone.