Embedded Files
Psst! We're moving!
Zou Lexiao, with a slight smile on her lips, wiped away her tears and went upstairs.
Once back in her room, she fully unleashed her excitement. She tossed her bag onto the sofa, kicked off her slippers, and threw herself onto the bed, rolling around several times, almost falling off the edge.
She grabbed the side of the bed, her hair brushing across her face. She carelessly pushed it aside, leaving a strand stuck to the tip of her nose, which she ignored.
Staring at the crystal chandelier, she suddenly giggled softly, letting out two quiet “heh heh” sounds. She grabbed a pillow, covered her face with it, and laughed like a fool.
Finally, Yu Jingze belonged to her.
Another verification message popped up on her phone—it was Yu Jingze adding her as a friend again. [“Either your WeChat or your phone number needs to come off the blacklist, or else how am I supposed to call you?”]
She had not only deleted his WeChat but also added his phone number to the blacklist.
After considering for a moment, she decided she wanted to hear his voice and removed his number from the blacklist.
Soon after, Yu Jingze’s call came through.
Zou Lexiao wanted to act reserved, though the concept of being reserved had been completely shattered by her own hands the moment she met him.
But that didn’t stop her from pretending now.
After nearly forty seconds of ringing, with him still patiently waiting on the other end, Zou Lexiao finally answered. She took a deep breath before responding.
Yu Jingze’s first words were an apology: “Don’t be mad anymore. I shouldn’t have asked you so many times.” Back then, when he asked, he should have added, If you don’t have a boyfriend, I’ll pursue you.
But he just couldn’t bring himself to say those words, which led to this misunderstanding.
He apologized again, “I’m sorry. Please don’t be upset anymore, okay?”
Whether it was because of the late hour or because he softened his tone, his apology sounded more like coaxing. His magnetic voice carried a gentle warmth that tugged at her heartstrings.
Zou Lexiao realized how weak-willed she was—she already wanted to forgive him right then and there.
“Lexiao?”
Hearing no response on the line, Yu Jingze called her name.
Zou Lexiao’s heart skipped a beat at the sound of her name coming from him. If he kept coaxing her a little longer, she would surely surrender.
Looks might be satisfying to admire, but only truly possessing them could bring peace of mind.
Yu Jingze knew she was listening—he could hear the faint sound of her sniffing, likely from crying earlier because of him.
“Are you sleepy? If not, I can come over to see you now.”
Zou Lexiao finally spoke, “Why should I let you see me whenever you want? I’m not sleepy at all; my eyes are wide open, but I just don’t want to see you.”
Yu Jingze: “...”
Her claim about her wide-open eyes made him chuckle.
Zou Lexiao’s confidence wasn’t as strong as she thought. When the line suddenly fell silent, she started to panic. “Are you upset?”
“No. Why would I be upset?”
“Not letting you see me,” Zou Lexiao sighed. “It wouldn’t be worth it if I really drove you away.”
“I won’t leave. You can keep being mad.”
But Zou Lexiao still felt uneasy. “How long can I stay mad? No matter how long I ignore you, will you keep coaxing me until I forgive you?”
Yu Jingze gave her a clear answer: “Yes. Three months, five months, half a year—it’s all fine. Just don’t make it too long.”
Zou Lexiao had never imagined she’d dare to stay angry for that long. In truth, she couldn’t wait to have him back. She was already debating whether to forgive him by noon or evening tomorrow.
This was just how pitifully small her resolve was.
“Yu Jingze.”
“I’m here. Go ahead—I’m listening.”
Zou Lexiao wanted to clarify something. “You’ve decided to pursue me and want to be with me—is it because you think I’m suitable, or because you like me? You need to figure this out.”
For him, it might not matter much—men rarely think with their heads; they marry someone they find suitable. For her, it was different.
If he didn’t feel anything for her and she found out the truth someday, she’d be utterly disheartened. It would be better to know now so she wouldn’t get her hopes up and would only admire his looks.
Yu Jingze countered with a question: “Do you think my personality and age suit you?”
“...Not really.”
“Then there you go.”
Zou Lexiao wanted him to say it outright, not leave it ambiguous.
After half a minute of silence, there was still no sound from the phone.
“If you have nothing to say, I’m hanging up. Goodbye.”
Yu Jingze: “Because I like you.”
Zou Lexiao was satisfied. “Mm, goodnight.”
She ended the call.
Yu Jingze: “...”
So whether he said it or not, she was going to hang up anyway.
________________________________________
After calming down, Zou Lexiao pretended to be thirsty and went downstairs to pour herself a glass of water. Though there was a water dispenser upstairs, she acted as if she hadn’t noticed it.
Humming one of Gu Heng’s songs, she skipped down the steps two at a time.
Mrs. Zou saw her daughter’s radiant smile and finally felt at ease. Smiling, she asked, “Did Yu Jingze call you?”
Zou Lexiao still felt a bit shy. “Mm.” She emphasized, “I hung up on him.”
This trivial matter brought her immense happiness.
Mrs. Zou, who had never experienced romance herself, couldn’t fully understand this feeling.
She had been slow to grasp the concept of love. During university, she didn’t date anyone, and her marriage to Mr. Zou had been arranged by their families. There was no spark or love at first sight—just a sense of suitability that led to marriage.
Their married life had been peaceful and fulfilling. Love probably grew gradually, but what remained was mostly familial affection.
Previously, when Zou Lexiao had been so infatuated with Yu Jingze that she nearly lost herself, Mrs. Zou hadn’t intervened. When confused, she consoled herself by comparing it to her daughter’s obsession with collecting perfumes.
Her collection of perfumes was considered odd behavior by many.
But she simply liked them and wanted to possess them.
Her daughter’s feelings for Yu Jingze must be similar.
After Zou Lexiao poured herself some water and went upstairs, Mrs. Zou turned to Mr. Zou and said, “If Lexiao marries Yu Jingze, it wouldn’t be bad. In the Yu family, Fu Jichen will look out for her—I’ll feel reassured.”
Mr. Zou: “In the Yu family, the one most likely to bully Lexiao is probably Fu Jichen.”
Mrs. Zou: “...”
She caught the key point. “So you’re saying...you agree?”
Previously, Zou Lexiao and Yu Jingze had briefly been together and then quickly split, causing quite a stir with various rumors circulating. During that time, relatives who saw them would ask what had happened.
Even she and her husband were baffled—they still didn’t know what exactly transpired between Zou Lexiao and Yu Jingze. Perhaps it was true that Yu Jingze had used Zou Lexiao as a fake girlfriend and then ended things after using her.
Out of respect for their daughter’s dignity, they hadn’t pressed her for details.
She had previously feared her husband might feel sorry for their daughter and hold a grudge against Yu Jingze, making it hard for him to approve.
Mr. Zou sighed. “A daughter grows up and leaves home eventually. As long as she’s happy, that’s all that matters.”
________________________________________
Early the next morning, before dawn, the Yu family group chat became lively.
Unable to sleep, Yu Jingze sent a message: [“I’ll make breakfast today. What time are you all waking up?”]
Qi Yuan: [“Is the sun rising from the west today?”]
Rarely serious, Yu Jingze replied earnestly: [“Thank you all for your help.”]
Fu Jichen had just finished his morning workout and showered when his phone kept vibrating. He asked, [“Can we order any kind of breakfast?”]
Yu Jingze: [“Keep it simple—I don’t know how to make much.”]
Seeing his sincere tone, Fu Jichen didn’t make things difficult for him: [“Whatever you want. Jinqin and I will come over at eight.”]
It was barely six in the morning. Yu Jingze went downstairs to prepare the ingredients. Today was the most meaningful day he’d had in years.
With the help of the housekeeper, it took nearly two hours for Yu Jingze to prepare a full table of breakfast. Regardless of taste, it looked impressive.
As eight o’clock approached, none of them had arrived yet.
Yu Jingze took off his apron and went to the storage room, pulling out balloons he had bought previously.
These balloons were originally purchased for Fu Jichen’s birthday. The father had instructed the housekeeper to buy them, mainly for the baby’s amusement. The unused ones had been stored away ever since.
He took out the air pump and began inflating each balloon, tying them off one by one. Once released, they floated up to the ceiling.
The housekeeper had been with the Yu family for nearly twenty years, watching Yu Jingze grow up. Even during festivals, she had never seen him this cheerful—making breakfast and decorating the living room with balloons.
She asked, “Is there something special happening today? Is there anything I can help with?”
Yu Jingze: “Nothing special—I’ll handle it myself.” After a pause, he couldn’t resist sharing with the housekeeper, “I’m pursuing someone.”
The housekeeper was both surprised and delighted. “That’s the biggest news for the family! Auntie will prepare extra portions for barbecues in the spring, just for you two.”
Yu Jingze smiled. “Thank you, Auntie. I’ll take your blessing.”
After inflating all the usable balloons, several were damaged and unusable.
Yu Jingze counted the floating balloons—there were only twenty-one.
He pulled them down one by one, tying the silver ribbons around his fingers into knots. He bundled the twenty-one balloons together, creating a colorful cluster perfect for a young girl like Zou Lexiao, who had a girlish heart.
Yu Jingze stared at the bundle for a moment, put on his trench coat, grabbed his car keys, and headed out.
“Ze, aren’t you eating?” the housekeeper asked.
Yu Jingze: “Not hungry—I’ll eat when I get back.” He added, “I’m going to buy more balloons.”
Soon, the car in the yard drove off.
________________________________________
Yu Jingze had asked the butler where to buy balloons and drove straight there.
While waiting at a red light, he sent Zou Lexiao a text: [“Want to come over this afternoon to see the little fishlings? I’ll pick you up.”]
Zou Lexiao saw the message immediately after waking up. She had already prepared her reply but set her phone aside, waiting a minute before responding.
She hadn’t slept deeply all night and woke up not long ago.
The feeling of receiving his message upon waking was indescribable.
The connection between them had finally been reestablished.
At the next intersection, Yu Jingze reopened his phone. Zou Lexiao’s reply came in—a single character: [“Mm.”]
Tomorrow was New Year’s Eve, and the roads were unusually clear today, cutting the travel time in half compared to usual.
Yu Jingze bought a thousand balloons, planning to inflate 520 of them, just in case some were unusable. The helium tanks filled the trunk.
He didn’t return home but drove directly to Yu Qing’s yard.
Zou Lexiao was coming to see the fishlings in the afternoon, so he placed the balloons in this yard for her to see as soon as she entered.
It was nearly ten o’clock, and Yu Qing and the others had already eaten.
These days were rare moments of relaxation for them. By the lake, Fu Jichen and Qi Yuan were competing in a fishing contest.
The weather was sunny and mild, with sunlight glistening across the lake’s surface, creating gentle ripples.
After the snowstorm, the sky was a brilliant, washed-out blue.
In the yard, green plants, patches of snow, and roses laid out to bask in the sun created a picturesque scene.
The baby was playing with a remote-controlled car, running around the yard and giggling occasionally, entertaining himself.
At the wooden table on the viewing platform, Yu Qing and Yu Jingxin sat with their backs to the sun, chatting idly while snacking on nuts. Each of their wrists was adorned with a bundle of balloons.
Pink, white, and blue, gently swaying in the breeze.
From afar, the scene looked like a painting.
When Yu Jingze got out of the car, something felt off.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced toward the lakeside, focusing on Qi Yuan and Fu Jichen. They must have divided the bouquet of balloons he had prepared earlier, using them to flirt with Yu Qing and Yu Jinxin.
Google Sites
Report abuse