At the breakfast table, Qiao Xiyan and Duan Linbai were staring each other in the eye. It was indescribably strange.
On the other side, Song Fengwan was already knocking on the door of the study.
“Come in.” Fu Chen’s voice was hoarse.
When Song Fengwan pushed the door open, Fu Chen was bending over the desk and copying scriptures. The smoke from burning agarwood was wafting from the incense burner, slowly rising up. Today, he was listening to ‘The Drunken Concubine’, and the voices of the female characters were mellow.
“Third Master.”
Fu Chen looked up at her. She was wearing a light green dress, revealing a part of her fair calves. The dress had an off-shoulder design, showing her slender and delicate collarbone. There was a red string hanging around her neck, and on the end of the string was a Ruyi jade about the size of a thumb. Just by looking at it, he could tell that the workmanship was exquisite and that it wasn’t an ordinary product.
Song Fengwan rubbed her pocket and was thinking about how to start the conversation, feeling inexplicably uneasy.
“What’s the matter?” Fu Chen put down the brush and took a sip from the thermos cup beside him.
“Um…” The voices of the Peking opera echoed throughout the room, and her voice was soft, almost inaudible.
“Do you need to be that far away from me?” Fu Chen raised his eyebrows. Does she think that I’ll eat her up?
Song Fengwan took a few steps forward to be in front of Fu Chen. She took out the box from her pocket and handed it to him. “I broke your prayer bead bracelet last time, and I also wanted to give you a birthday present, so I’ll give them together.”
Fu Chen placed the cup down and took it with both hands. She knows how to prepare a birthday gift for me. Seems she does have a conscience.
“Happy birthday.” Song Fengwan’s voice was low, and she felt a little embarrassed.
“Are you that afraid of me?” Fu Chen held the box, his palms warm. He bent over to look at her, and naturally his entire face got close to hers.
“No.” Song Fengwan was just afraid to meet his eyes.
She had an erotic dream again last night, and she felt embarrassed just recalling it.
Third Master Fu was arrogant and abstinent. In her heart, he’s different from ordinary people, yet she…
… had already tainted him in her dreams over and over again.
Thinking of this, Song Fengwan felt ashamed of herself.
“Look at me.” Fu Chen’s voice was low and hoarse because he had stayed up late last night.
Song Fengwan looked up and realized that the distance between them was extremely close. He had a smile on his face as she looked at him seriously. His smile seemed as though it could drown her.
“It’s my birthday today. Can I have a wish?” His breathing was light, and when it blew gently past her face, it felt a little ticklish.
“From me?” What can I satisfy him with?
Fu Chen nodded.
“Call me Third Brother first.” He coaxed her in a low voice.
After he heard her calling him Third Brother once that night, his heart had melted.
Song Fengwan thought that since it was his birthday today, he was the most important one today, so she bit her lip and said, “Third Brother.”
She was a southerner, so her voice was sweet and soft, with a hint of the Suzhou dialect. The end of her sentence was tender and soft, as if it had a hook attached to it, making his heart itch.
“You’re quite obedient this time.” Fu Chen reached out and stroked her hair. His palm was thick and warm, and as his hand caressed her head, she felt numb.
The tips of Song Fengwan’s ears were red, and she tilted her head slightly to dodge.
Fu Chen just smiled. “Still studying today?”
“My hand is injured, so I can’t hold a pen.” Song Fengwan’s right hand was injured, and even though the injuries weren’t serious, it was tough to hold things.
“Although it’s injured and bleeds sometimes, it’ll recover a few days before the exam, so it won’t affect your performance.”
“Yeah.” Song Fengwan was also worried about this. After hearing his words, she felt a little more at ease.
“My birthday wish is for you to accompany me out today.”
Song Fengwan wanted to ask more, but Fu Chen had already closed his scripture. “Let’s go and eat.”
Is he going to take me to the old residence today?
Why is he bringing me to his blind date?
***
Since Duan Linbai didn’t rest well last night, he went upstairs to catch up on his sleep after breakfast. Qiao Xiyan wanted to polish the stone he had just bought and didn’t even eat lunch. Fu Chen said that he wanted to bring Song Fengwan out, and Qiao Xiyan immediately agreed.
Qiao Xiyan also knew that it was Fu Chen’s birthday today, and he might be returning to the old residence. He wouldn’t be able to take care of her today, and since Fu Chen would be with her, nothing big could go wrong.
Song Fengwan returned to her room to tidy herself up and wore a white down jacket before carrying her bag as she walked out.
She looked at the shirt Fu Chen was wearing. He paired it with a dark sweater vest, a dark tie, and a long black trench coat. He was tall, and his legs were long. He looked so elegant that no one could compare to him.
Him going on a blind date is indeed different.
He’s dressed up so formally.
“Let’s go.” Fu Chen glanced at her. She’s dressed quite casually.
They didn’t prepare beforehand the last time they had a meal and watched a movie together, so they didn’t choose a good movie. Going out together this time was their first real date, so it was natural that he took it very seriously.
A date always had to have some sense of ceremony.
As Song Fengwan followed him out, she realized that it was just the two of them, and Fu Chen was going to drive. Shi Fang and Qian Jiang weren’t following them.
“Is it just the two of us?”
“How many people do you want to go out with?” Fu Chen raised his eyebrows.
While Song Fengwan was shaking her head, Fu Chen had already opened the car door for her, being a considerate gentleman.
That’s right. It’s useless to bring those two to the old residence to eat and have a blind date.
Fu Xinhan wagged his tail and followed them, looking as if he wanted to climb into the car as well. But he was frightened by Fu Chen’s gaze and ran back to his doghouse.
***
When the car reached a forked road, Fu Chen chose a direction, and the car sped in the direction opposite the old Fu residence.
“We’re not going to the old residence?”
“Who told you I’m going there?” Fu Chen looked at her while smiling.
“Didn’t Grandma Fu ask you to go back a few days ago? She wanted you to…”
“I told her I’m not going back. It’s just going to be the two of us today.” He stared straight ahead with a lazy expression, but his voice had a different kind of surety.
Song Fengwan’s heart was palpitating wildly. She looked out of the window, and she felt so hot that it seemed she had a fever. Coming out alone with me on his birthday? Even normal people won’t see this simply. Duan Linbai is also at home. From his usual tone, Fu Chen also has other friends, yet he only came out with me?
“You’re not even going back on your birthday. Isn’t Grandma Fu angry?”
“We’ve come to an agreement.” Fu Chen naturally wouldn’t say what the agreement was.
***
At this moment, in the old Fu residence…
Because it was Fu Chen’s birthday, Old Madam Fu was personally making some handmade noodles. Kneading dough was laborious work, so after kneading the dough a few times, she already felt that her arms were sore.
“Third Son really isn’t coming back for a meal?” Old Master Fu was wearing his reading glasses and pacing back and forth in the living room. “He’s not even coming home for his birthday. What’s he so busy with!”
“Didn’t he say he had something to do?” After getting Fu Chen’s promise, Old Madam Fu was not as impatient about him being single.
Although Fu Chen had always not listened to others and had his own opinions since he was young, he would never go back on his word and break promises.
“He doesn’t even have time to go home to eat?” Old Master Fu snorted. “This won’t do. I have to call him.”
“Stop! Don’t call him!” Old Madam slapped the dough onto the kneading board. “Third Son might be busy right now. Why are you rushing him? Young people nowadays like to gather with their friends on their birthdays. You have to let him go out more so that he can interact with girls more and find a wife!”
“Hmph—” Old Master Fu snorted. “When this brat promised you, I already knew that there was something fishy.”
“What’s fishy?”
“He never fights battles that he’s not confident in, and this is an extremely important event in his life, so he wouldn’t be so hasty as to let you deal with him however you want. I think this brat already has a target in mind and is already prepared to take down the girl within a year!”
It was true that the older people were, the wiser they were.
“Nonsense. Don’t you already know who he usually interacts with?”
“Even if he has a situation, he won’t tell you.” Old Master Fu snorted.
“It’s even better if he has a situation. Give him time to get along with the girl. Why are you calling him to rush him? You’re so boring.”
Old Master Fu was dumbfounded. I’m boring?
Sure enough, our son is more important than me.
I shouldn’t have agreed to her request back then. She was already so old, yet she still gave birth to this brat. She almost lost half of her life because of him. We didn’t raise our first three children that carefully, but she dotes him on dearly to the core.
***
On the other side…
Fu Chen brought Song Fengwan to a large mall. The temperature in Beijing was low, so the weather was no longer suitable for outdoor activities. As soon as the car stopped, he took out a phone from the glove compartment and gave it to her.
“Third Master?”
“Your phone can’t be repaired anymore, so I bought you a new one. Your phone card is still the same as before, and the messages and phone numbers have been transferred over.”
Song Fengwan was stunned for a moment. It was actually the same model as the one before, but it was brand new.
Since he brought a new phone for me, why isn’t it the latest model but instead one from three years ago?
Indeed, the richer you are, the stingier you are.
“I’ll give you the money later.”
“There’s no need. Just take it. It isn’t worth much.”
Song Fengwan pouted. Thinking that he didn’t lack this bit of money, she didn’t continue speaking and turned on the phone. It was a new phone, so she needed to set it up. She took a few minutes while Fu Chen tilted his head to look at her.
It wasn’t that he lacked that bit of money.
It was just that he felt comfortable in his heart with her having the same equipment as him.
***
When the two of them reached the mall, they stopped for lunch. After a quick meal, Fu Chen suggested watching a movie. It was his birthday, and Song Fengwan had come out and hitched a free meal, so she nodded in agreement.
The movie was around one in the afternoon, and there was no one in the theater at all.
She thought the movie Fu Chen chose would be the same as last time—a blockbuster—but she didn’t expect it to be the remastered version of ‘My Neighbor Totoro’. She had watched it a few times before, and watching it again now, she still felt that this movie was cozy and wonderful.
But halfway through the movie, she suddenly felt a weight on her shoulder…
She turned her head around and found that Fu Chen had fallen asleep and was leaning on her shoulder.
With half of his body leaning against her, Song Fengwan felt that he was very heavy. “Third Master?”
He seemed to be asleep and didn’t move at all.
Song Fengwan tried to support his head and push him over, but she felt that it wouldn’t be the best. What if he gets angry?
With her fingers suspended in midair, she looked at Fu Chen. She hesitated and didn’t dare to make a move.
His coat was draped over the seat, and he was wearing a shirt and a vest, looking thin and arrogant.
She had taken off her coat too, and she was wearing an off-shoulder sweater with a long and thin collar, revealing her shoulders. His breath was like a warm wind that blew past her, making her shoulder tickle.
She tilted her head and observed him. He’s really extremely good-looking. His eyebrows are long and slender, and he has a high nose bridge. His facial features aren’t as deep and defined as those of westerners, and the edges of his face are gentle. He exudes an indifferent aura that’s detached from the world.
His skin seems pretty good too…
Song Fengwan reached out her hand and touched his face. It felt very good.
She couldn’t help poking him a few more times.
Who asked you to threaten me the last time. Who asked you to trap me at the door and even make me call you brother. So shameless. Who asked you to scare Fu Xinhan. So inhumane…
She poked enthusiastically until she lowered her gaze…
Fu Chen’s thin lips were slightly upturned.
It was inexplicably sexy.
She reached out and carefully touched it, her heart pounding wildly.
It was very soft and very hot.
Just as she withdrew her hand, Fu Chen suddenly opened his eyes, scaring her so much that her entire body froze in fright. “Third… Third Master.”
“You…” Fu Chen straightened up slightly and turned his head to look at her.
One person had stiff limbs, while the other chuckled on purpose.
Their shoulders were still leaning closely against each other. It was as if a flame was burning and getting hotter and hotter.
“Why is your heart beating so fast when you’re watching Totoro?”
That’s because I was startled by you. I just did something bad, so I’m feeling guilty, okay? “Is it?”
“Yes, your body’s also very hot.”
Their eyes met, and Song Fengwan’s heart trembled. She turned her head away and didn’t dare to say a word.
“I saw what you gave me. The prayer bead bracelet was compensation. Did you braid the tassel yourself?”
“Yeah. It’s my first time, so it’s kind of rough.”
“The hibiscus stone…” When Fu Chen saw the gift, he realized why Song Fengwan had a carving knife with her.
“That’s the birthday gift. It’s not very expensive, so don’t dislike it.”
“Wanwan…” Fu Chen suddenly leaned toward her. His hot breath landed on her ear, making her tremble.
“What?” She dodged to the side. He can just talk. Why is he suddenly leaning over?
“Do you like me?”
When Song Fengwan heard this, her brain instantly felt as though it was lacking oxygen and suffocating. The color of blood spread from the back of her ears to her petite face.
Her heart was on fire, and her entire body was burning.
Her mouth trembled as she watched the person in front of her get closer and closer to her. His breath was very close to her…
“Hibiscus stones represent love. Did you give me this as a hint to me?”
Song Fengwan’s head instantly exploded.
Hibiscus stones were also known as pink crystals and were beautiful and tender in color. In the Qiao family’s jade artifact shop, this stone was the best-selling. She also thought it looked good and didn’t think that anything could go wrong to give this to him as his birthday present. She didn’t know what it represented at all.
“No, how would I dare to have any improper thoughts about you?” Song Fengwan looked at his serious face and was so anxious that she almost cried.
Her palms were sweaty, and she didn’t dare to move.
In her heart, it was just a stone, but a certain someone had already treated it as their token of love.
Fu Chen lifted his eyelids. I actually hope you have improper thoughts about me.
