LRTH - 20

The day before he was to leave for Minghai City, the housekeeper at Li Yizhou’s house brought back several packages from the nearest courier station.

“Yizhou, these are all for you. Your packages,” the housekeeper called out to Li Yizhou.

Li Yizhou glanced at them. “I haven’t bought anything recently. Who sent them?”

“You haven’t bought anything, so it must be those girls who sent them to you,” the housekeeper said with a laugh. She had been receiving some packages almost every week recently, most of which were anonymous.

Li Yizhou showed no reaction. He sat down on the sofa and casually flipped through a magazine on the coffee table. “Refuse to sign for them and send them back.”

“I’ve already picked them up, so they’re already signed for. Besides, they’re from the girls’ hearts. It’s not good to send them back. Why make people sad? Just accept them.”

Li Yizhou’s parents were rarely at home, so he had a close relationship with the housekeeper. He said helplessly, “Auntie, I’m leaving tomorrow.”

“Yes, and that’s exactly why you shouldn’t hurt people.”

Li Yizhou didn’t know what to do with her.

The housekeeper said, “Should I open them for you to take a look?”

“No need.” Li Yizhou wasn’t interested and went upstairs with his book.

The housekeeper looked at his back and sighed. This child seemed polite and kind-hearted on the surface, but he was incredibly cold at times like this.

Li Yizhou didn’t think much of it. After packing his luggage, he rested for a while. He went downstairs for dinner and was about to go to the kitchen when he stopped in the living room. He looked at the items on the coffee table.

A model of the Perot Museum.

Li Yizhou quickly walked over and squatted down to look at it. It was identical, a scaled-down version, and the craftsmanship was surprisingly exquisite.

But as far as he knew, the museum did not sell models of itself as merchandise.

Unless someone had specifically found a professional studio to make one.

“I took that out of a package. I thought it was really beautiful, so I put it there for you to look at. Yizhou, what is this?” The housekeeper came from the kitchen and asked when she saw him looking at it with interest.

Li Yizhou: “A natural science museum.”

“Oh, I see. Why would someone send you this?”

Li Yizhou didn’t know. He was curious, too.

Could it be because of his WeChat profile picture? But that profile picture was only of a very minor part of the museum. Could someone actually recognize it?

The housekeeper smiled, seeing him quietly looking at it. She was glad this gift was the right one. It was rare to see him so focused on something someone else had sent him.

She wondered which girl knew him so well...

On the other side, Fang Nanzhi also received a call from “Tianyang Studio,” informing her that the model had been sent out anonymously and had already been signed for.

Fang Nanzhi thanked them and hung up.

Speaking of Tianyang Studio, it was a studio she had found after spending a lot of time searching during her free time, after she decided to give Li Yizhou a graduation gift. It was the only studio that promised to create a scaled-down model of the Perot Museum.

After she paid the deposit, Fang Nanzhi unexpectedly discovered that Song Chuxuan had given a gift to Li Yizhou.

At the time, she had mistakenly thought Song Chuxuan and he had feelings for each other, so she had planned not to send the model.

But it turned out to be a misunderstanding, so she still had the gift sent out, but she didn’t use her name.

First, because she heard from her classmates that many girls had sent him gifts for his graduation, and almost all the gifts that could be returned had been.

Second, sending it to him under these circumstances would make it seem like she had the same intentions as those girls. Of course, she did have those intentions, but she didn’t want people to know...

She thought he probably liked that museum, so he would probably like the model, too. That was enough.

Fang Nanzhi was in a good mood after receiving the call from the studio. She picked up a watering can, quietly hummed a tune, and went out to the balcony to water the flowers.

Just as she finished watering the first pot and looked up, she saw Xu Yuanhe on the balcony next door.

He also didn’t expect to run into her and paused.

After the last incident, Fang Nanzhi still felt quite awkward seeing him. Her scalp tingled whenever she remembered confessing to him in her dream.

So she quickly and politely greeted him and then went back into her room.

Xu Yuanhe: “...”

He hadn’t said a word yet.

Looking at the closed door across from him, he remembered that night. He had just finished dealing with Xu Tingyou after receiving Li Yizhou’s call and had only intended to see if Fang Nanzhi was acting up because of the alcohol. But he found her lying there quietly, crying silently.

He didn’t know what he was thinking at the time. All he knew was that he had walked over and handed her a tissue. Then, all of a sudden, he heard her confessing...

She was drunk, but she said those words so seriously. He even felt that he could sense the weight of that “like.”

“It was a misunderstanding! I don’t like him. I don’t remember...” The words she had said to deny it also came to his mind.

Xu Yuanhe frowned.

How strange. Why was he suddenly thinking about this?

Whether she liked him or not was none of his business. He didn’t like her.

________________________________________

A few days later, Xu Yuanhe and Li Yizhou left one after another to attend college in Minghai City.

After having a goal, Fang Nanzhi became more focused on her studies. She still didn’t have much of a social life, but many people still came to her with love letters and gifts.

Fang Nanzhi had never been so popular, but she found that she didn’t really like the feeling.

This “attention” was not the kind of “attention” she had wanted before. Before, they had ignored her, and now that they noticed her, it was only because of her looks.

It wasn’t like him.

Throughout the semester, Xu Tingyou would often say that she was inhuman, just a robot that only knew how to study. Fang Nanzhi would just smile it off and remain immersed in her own world.

She couldn’t wait to speed up and shorten the distance between her and Li Yizhou.

Time passed quickly, and soon they entered their second-year winter break.

This winter break, Fang Nanzhi’s family didn’t go back to their hometown. Instead, they brought her grandparents over so they could celebrate the new year in Hangzhou.

During those days, Fang Nanzhi accompanied her grandparents to many scenic spots. The two elderly people were full of energy. Often, Fang Nanzhi’s feet would ache, but they would still be excitedly charging forward.

On New Year’s Eve, they finally didn’t go out and stayed at home to prepare the New Year’s Eve dinner.

After dinner, it was almost 7 PM. Fang Nanzhi was in the living room with her grandparents, watching the Spring Festival Gala. But halfway through, Xu Tingyou dragged her out, saying they should go set off fireworks together.

“Hurry, hurry! They’ve all gone to Brother Yizhou’s house, and they’ve already bought the fireworks.”

“Huh?” Fang Nanzhi’s heart skipped a beat. “He’s back? Didn’t you say he was going to spend the new year abroad with his parents this year?”

Xu Tingyou said, “Maybe their plans changed. Brother Yizhou and the others came back yesterday. His parents just left after New Year’s Eve dinner, so no one’s home. We can have more fun.”

“Oh... okay.”

Fang Nanzhi was completely unprepared to see Li Yizhou today. It had been a whole semester since she had seen him. She didn’t know if he had changed at all, and she didn’t know if the clothes she was wearing today were pretty...

Her grandmother had insisted she wear red today for good luck. Would it look bad?

Fang Nanzhi spent the entire way over lost in her own thoughts.

When she walked into his yard, her heart was in her throat.

“We’re here! Where are the fireworks? Give us some.” As soon as she walked in, Xu Tingyou said to the people standing by the coffee table.

Everyone turned around. After glancing at Xu Tingyou, their eyes fell on the person behind her.

It was a tall girl wearing a red toggle coat and small leather shoes. Her long, curly hair was draped over her shoulders.

Her facial features were soft, her face was small, and her skin was fair and clear. Her eyes were lively yet had a cool charm, making her very eye-catching.

Zhao Ke’s mouth fell open in awe. “I have to say, junior, how did you get even more beautiful after a semester?”

Fang Nanzhi quickly glanced at Li Yizhou. He was looking at her, a slight smile in his eyes, holding a lot of sparklers in his hand.

Her ears immediately felt hot.

Xu Tingyou said, “Stop it. Don’t flirt with her. Liaoliao, come get some.”

Zhao Ke said, “I’m not flirting. What’s wrong with saying she’s beautiful? Right, Ahe?”

Xu Yuanhe, who was sitting next to him, had already looked away. He ignored Zhao Ke and stood up. “I’m going out to set off a big one.”

Song Chuxuan glanced at him and followed him out. “I want to set one off, too!”

Xu Tingyou had told her that Song Chuxuan and Xu Yuanhe were not together. Xu Yuanhe had rejected her a long time ago. Now, when the two met, they were only friends.

Fang Nanzhi glanced at their backs and then looked away, feeling a little sad. She thought that sometimes, courage and boldness were useless in front of the person you liked.

Confessing didn’t always lead to a relationship. If the other person didn’t like you, they just didn’t like you, no matter how deep or profound your feelings were...

“Which one do you want to set off?”

Her mind was wandering when she suddenly heard Li Yizhou’s voice.

She immediately snapped out of it and looked up at him. “...The sparklers, I guess.”

“Okay.” Li Yizhou took out a box and handed it to her, then suddenly asked, “How did you do on your final exams?”

“Huh?”

Xu Yuanhao rolled his eyes. “Brother Yizhou, you never quit. You’re going to ask all three of us about our grades, aren’t you?”

Li Yizhou tapped him on the head and said leisurely, “You were my student. What’s wrong with asking?”

“But I have my privacy.”

Li Yizhou: “Exactly. You did so badly that you should keep it private.”

“...”

Fang Nanzhi understood what he meant and quickly said, “I got ninth in the class.”

Li Yizhou’s eyebrow raised slightly. “That’s an improvement.”

With just that small bit of praise, Fang Nanzhi’s earlier sadness disappeared completely. She couldn’t help but feel happy. “Mhm... a little bit.”

Li Yizhou: “Xu Yuanhao, you should learn from her. Don’t be so complacent every day.”

Xu Yuanhao secretly rolled his eyes. He didn’t want to listen anymore and quickly ran out into the yard.

Li Yizhou smiled and looked at Fang Nanzhi. “Here’s a lighter for you.”

Fang Nanzhi: “Mhm.”

Everyone had left, and Li Yizhou was also leaving. Fang Nanzhi quickly followed him outside.

He didn’t seem to have changed much after a semester... Oh, wait, his hair was a little shorter, making him look more energetic and tall.

Walking beside him, Fang Nanzhi’s heart was filled with joyful little bubbles. She racked her brain trying to find something to talk about.

“Is Minghai University hard to get into?” She finally asked, knowing the answer.

Li Yizhou stopped and turned to look at her. “Minghai University? You want to go to Minghai University?”

Fang Nanzhi’s breath hitched in her throat, but she still said, “...I really want to.”

Li Yizhou said, “With your current grades, if you work harder, you have a chance.”

“Really?”

“Mhm. It feels like you’ve improved a lot.”

Fang Nanzhi’s lips couldn’t help but turn up. She nodded hard.

Maybe because he had tutored her before, Li Yizhou was just as concerned about Fang Nanzhi as he was about Xu Yuanhao, asking her about her studies.

“What major do you want to study?”

Fang Nanzhi paused and said, “I haven’t decided yet... I’ll think about it if I get into Minghai University. I don’t dare to think too much.”

Of course, she wasn’t going to say that the major she wanted to study was architecture. How embarrassing would it be if she didn’t get in?

Li Yizhou said, “You can start thinking about it. Getting into Minghai University shouldn’t be a problem for you.”

“Mhm! I’ll work hard.”

________________________________________

Xu Yuanhe had already started setting off the fireworks in the garden. The bright sparks shot up two or three meters high and scattered, and everyone cheered.

Fang Nanzhi jogged over to Xu Tingyou’s side and lit the sparklers in her hand. The big and small fireworks went off at the same time, making the whole yard very bright.

“Liaoliao, take a picture for me!” Xu Tingyou said.

Fang Nanzhi nodded and took out her phone. “You stand here. Yes... just like that. 1, 2, 3! I took it. Change your pose?”

Xu Tingyou was very cooperative, holding the fireworks this way and that, and letting her take many pictures.

As Fang Nanzhi was taking pictures, Li Yizhou appeared in the distance in her camera’s view.

He wasn’t playing with fireworks. He was leaning against the railing, his hands in his pockets, his hair slightly messy from the wind. His handsome eyes had the look of an adult.

He didn’t notice this side. He was looking at the fireworks in the yard.

Fang Nanzhi lifted her eyes from the camera, then lowered them and quietly pressed the shutter button.

Just then, the person in the camera turned around. In a split second, Fang Nanzhi nonchalantly changed her direction and continued taking pictures of Xu Tingyou.

“Liaoliao, can you see clearly from this angle?” Xu Tingyou asked.

Fang Nanzhi: “Huh? Oh, yes, I can see clearly.”

After the fireworks were finished, everyone went back inside to eat something.

“Xu Yuanhe, I want to set off more fireworks. Will you come with me?” Song Chuxuan suddenly said.

Xu Yuanhe glanced at her. “Didn’t we set off enough just now? No more.”

“I want to. Come with me, hurry.”

Song Chuxuan didn’t seem to really want to set off fireworks but wanted to talk to Xu Yuanhe alone.

Everyone could see this, and Xu Yuanhe naturally saw it, too. He looked a little impatient, but Song Chuxuan was persistent, so he had no choice but to go out with her.

The remaining people looked at each other, and the atmosphere suddenly became a little quiet.

“Does Sister Chuxuan still like my brother?” Xu Yuanhao asked.

Zhao Ke: “I think so.”

“But I don’t think my brother likes her.”

Zhao Ke: “I think, with someone as persistent as Chuxuan... your brother will fall for her sooner or later. After all, when a girl pursues a guy, it’s easy to get him.”

After saying that, Zhao Ke suddenly felt like he had said something he shouldn’t have and secretly glanced at Fang Nanzhi.

After all, in their group of friends, the incident of Fang Nanzhi’s drunken confession was seen as her speaking the truth. However, she was too introverted, and when faced with a love rival like Song Chuxuan, she backed down.

He wondered if the girl’s feelings had faded after a semester. It would be so awkward if they hadn’t.

Xu Yuanhao: “Really? Brother Yizhou, did my brother say what he feels about Sister Chuxuan? Will he accept her in the end?”

“Stop gossiping.” Li Yizhou wasn’t interested in other people’s private matters and deliberately changed the subject. “Do you want some fruit?”

Xu Yuanhao knew Li Yizhou wouldn’t talk and looked disappointed. “I want strawberries, grapes, and cherries.”

“Then come with me and wash them.”

“Ah...”

Xu Yuanhao was directly dragged away by Li Yizhou. When Zhao Ke saw him walk away, he said mischievously, “This guy is never interested in gossip. It’s so boring. How about this? Since he won’t gossip, I’ll tell you his gossip.”

Xu Tingyou immediately became interested. “What is it? What is it?”

Zhao Ke: “You can guess what it was like for a heartbreaker like him in college. Girls are all over him.”

Fang Nanzhi: “...”

Zhao Ke said with great interest, “I have a friend who also goes to Minghai University. She told me that the school’s most beautiful girl is crazy about Li Yizhou. Seriously, she even followed him to his dorm building to pursue him.”

Xu Tingyou’s eyes lit up with gossip. “What does she look like?”

“I’ll show you. She’s a broadcasting and hosting major. She’s definitely beautiful, and she’s a genius. I heard she was the top liberal arts student in Jiangsu Province.”

“Wow... that’s really impressive.”

“Here, look at this. Isn’t she beautiful?”

Xu Tingyou leaned in to look at Zhao Ke’s phone. “Wow... she really is beautiful. Liaoliao, look.”

Xu Tingyou handed the phone over, and Fang Nanzhi had no choice but to look. She really was a very beautiful girl... The top liberal arts student in the province, she was really amazing.

Fang Nanzhi squeezed the cup in her hand and gave a faint response.

Zhao Ke gossiped, “I think there’s a good chance Brother Zhou and this girl will get together.”

Xu Tingyou: “Why?”

“She’s beautiful and outstanding. Her dad knows Li Yizhou’s dad, and they’re both masters in the architecture field. And she’s pursuing him. Who wouldn’t be tempted, right?”

Xu Tingyou: “That’s true.”

Zhao Ke: “My friend also told me about other things about this girl. I heard they...”

Zhao Ke chattered on about Li Yizhou and the girl’s little romantic moments.

Fang Nanzhi didn’t want to listen anymore. She made an excuse and stood up, walking out of the small yard.

On New Year’s Eve, the night in Hangzhou was especially cold.

The biting night wind blew, making her eyes feel a little uncomfortable and hot, and they turned red.

Fang Nanzhi looked at the firework tubes in the yard that hadn’t been cleaned up yet, feeling incredibly sad. How could she have forgotten?

Although she was determined to catch up, others weren’t standing still.

Even if Song Chuxuan didn’t like him, there were others, many others, like the girl Zhao Ke had just mentioned—beautiful, outstanding, and at the top of her game.

And he was in college now, where he could have a passionate and sweet relationship.

She was two years behind. She couldn’t catch up no matter what.

Maybe one day she would actually get into Minghai University, and she might even run into him on campus with another girl...

The more Fang Nanzhi thought about it, the sadder she became. The joy she had felt from seeing him was completely gone, replaced by this realization.

Because she was so distraught, she wandered aimlessly and didn’t notice that Xu Yuanhe and Song Chuxuan were not far ahead. After saying something to each other, Song Chuxuan suddenly wrapped her arms around Xu Yuanhe.

Fang Nanzhi finally noticed the two of them and stopped abruptly.

But it was too late. Song Chuxuan’s back was to her, so she didn’t notice anything. She only stood on her tiptoes and kissed Xu Yuanhe’s cheek.

But Xu Yuanhe, who was facing her, saw her.

“...”

Fang Nanzhi’s eyes were still red, and she was a little dazed.

The scene suddenly became very awkward.

“Don’t look.”

Just as Fang Nanzhi felt that she shouldn’t be prying into other people’s feelings and was about to turn and leave, someone grabbed her arm from behind. Fang Nanzhi was turned around and almost bumped into the person behind her due to the momentum.

Her nose brushed against his clothes, and she smelled a faint, familiar scent.

Fang Nanzhi looked up in a panic and saw Li Yizhou’s slightly furrowed brow and eyes as deep as the night sky...

When Li Yizhou came to pull her away, he didn’t expect her to turn around with red eyes.

He had just come to the small yard to clean up the messy firework tubes when he saw someone standing in the corner, motionless.

He didn’t know what she was looking at, so he walked over to take a look. He didn’t expect to see Xu Yuanhe and Song Chuxuan hugging at the corner.

Li Yizhou immediately remembered the “misunderstanding” from before.

At that time, this girl had said she was drunk and that her confession to Xu Yuanhe was fake. But now, seeing her standing in the corner and staring, it didn’t look like she didn’t like him.

He frowned, wanting to call her away and stop her from watching this scene. After all, it was heartbreaking to watch the person you secretly have a crush on hug someone else.

It was with this thought that he pulled her, but he didn’t expect her to be even sadder than he had imagined.

When she looked up, her eyes were red, her nose was red, and she looked so pitiful.

Li Yizhou was speechless.

After a moment of silence, he let out a soft sigh. “It’s too cold. Let’s go inside.”

Li Yizhou didn’t take her to the living room. After all, she seemed to be in a bad state emotionally. Instead, he took her to the side room, where his family usually sunbathed and painted.

He pulled out a tissue and handed it to her, in case she cried.

Fang Nanzhi didn’t take it. She hung her head and didn’t speak.

Li Yizhou had no experience comforting a “heartbroken” person, especially a young girl. He was silent for a moment before saying, “Study hard. You’re at a critical time now. Don’t take this liking thing too seriously.”

“What?”

“Yuanhe—”

Fang Nanzhi knew he might have misunderstood the scene just now. She shook her head weakly. “I told you, I don’t like him...”

Li Yizhou had no choice but to stop talking. With her personality, she probably wouldn’t admit it.

Fang Nanzhi said in a muffled voice, “But why can’t I take this liking thing seriously?”

Li Yizhou had only said that to comfort her and didn’t actually believe it. So, he could only come up with a common reason. “You want to get into Minghai University, don’t you? If you put your mind to this, it will affect your studies.”

But she would only study harder for it.

Fang Nanzhi’s nose felt sore, and her voice became muffled. “It won’t affect my studies...”

Li Yizhou was a little helpless. It was as if he had become a teacher and now had to guide a high school student’s love life.

“No matter what, you have to focus on your own path first and achieve your own goals. It’s not too late to think about liking someone after you get into a good university.”

Fang Nanzhi: “What if it’s too late by then?”

“Huh?”

“What if by the time I get into a good university, the person I like is already with someone else? What do I do?”

Fang Nanzhi didn’t know what was wrong with her tonight. Maybe the belief she had held onto all this time had collapsed. She was suddenly very panicked and at a loss. Looking at the person in front of her, her eyes were so red that it looked like tears would fall at any moment.

“Li Yizhou, what do I do if it’s too late to make that person like me...”