The unreal feeling of Sang Yan showing up at the noodle shop out of nowhere got stronger with every word he said, almost washing away all of Wen Yifan's thoughts.
Wen Yifan stared at him, unable to speak. The worry that had been eating at her all night melted away, replaced by something else entirely. Her throat tightened, and her lips shook, but no words came out.
It was like getting something wonderful she'd never let herself hope for, a wish she'd never allowed herself to want, suddenly appearing right in front of her. She couldn't believe it. She didn't even have the courage to reach out and take it.
She was afraid that the moment she touched it, everything would disappear.
Right then, she thought back to running into him at "Overtime" bar at the end of last year. When he'd treated her like a complete stranger, when his attitude toward her had been so cold, she'd tried her hardest not to let it get to her.
She'd told herself she understood. It made sense, didn't it?
This was the price she had to pay for what she'd done.
Wen Yifan was the one who had hurt Sang Yan.
So she didn't deserve any place in his precious memories. To him, she was just nobody important, someone whose place could easily be taken by anyone else who came along.
She'd thought that was all she meant to him.
But right now, Wen Yifan finally understood.
That wasn't true at all.
Maybe he'd met plenty of other people since then.
Maybe his feelings for her had faded over time.
But he had never forgotten her.
After all these years, so much had changed.
"I still only like you."
Wen Yifan stared at him without blinking.
All of a sudden, she wished human memory could work like a movie, broken down into single frames. If that were possible, she could keep this moment forever.
Never forgotten, never wanting to forget.
Seeing how long she stayed quiet, Sang Yan pressed his lips together a little, looking a bit unsure.
"Hey, say something."
His words snapped her out of it. Wen Yifan came back to herself. She sniffled quietly, feeling like she should say something romantic back. But after getting such a surprise, all she wanted was to handle everything carefully: "If you think saying things like that is cheesy—"
Sang Yan looked down at her.
Wen Yifan finished seriously, "Then I'll be the one to say them from now on."
Hearing this, Sang Yan's face froze.
Like a kid who just got the best toy in the world, Wen Yifan's ears slowly turned red. Not knowing how to react, she spoke very carefully: "Though it's kind of hard for me right now."
Sang Yan looked at her, his lips slowly curving up.
As her words settled, silence fell again.
Wen Yifan thought about it and realized she hadn't actually answered his confession yet. She looked at him, feeling like this wasn't quite done and they should finish properly: "So now we're—"
"Hmm?"
"Mutually in love."
"…"
Hearing this, Sang Yan couldn't seem to help himself and suddenly dropped his chin, laughing.
More quiet laughter.
Wen Yifan had no idea what was so funny, but feeling like they weren't done yet, she brought things back on track: "So, from now on, you're my boyfriend?"
Sang Yan, still laughing: "Yes."
Wen Yifan looked up at him laughing.
The dimple on the right side of his mouth got deeper, his eyes crinkling up, looking really happy.
Her own lips curved up without meaning to.
That unreal feeling didn't go away at all. If anything, it got stronger.
But she felt so happy because of it. She just hoped this dream-like feeling, where only the things she wanted actually happened, would last forever and never change.
…
Their relationship's sudden transformation left Wen Yifan uncertain about proper interaction. She lapsed into silence, simply absorbing his face at this intimate proximity, the faint mole on his eyelid rendered particularly distinct.
Wen Yifan's focus gradually blurred once more.
This profound sense of unreality made her wonder if some spirit had assumed his form on this rain-soaked evening to enchant her.
The following moment—
Sang Yan's laughter subsided somewhat, and he spoke again, his tone teasing: "That happy?"
Wen Yifan: "Hm?"
"Well, naturally." Sang Yan surveyed the curve of her mouth, his words deliberately drawn out. "Securing such an incomparable man as myself is certainly grounds for celebration lasting a decade or two."
"…"
Sang Yan announced magnanimously: "Go on, continue."
Wen Yifan moistened her lips, silently retracting her previous speculation.
Even a spirit probably couldn't achieve this level of shamelessness.
—
Beiyu's temperature ran slightly cooler than Nanwu's, and the persistent rainfall had introduced a biting quality to even the wind. Though barely past eight o'clock, numerous shops along the street had already shuttered, leaving only a handful of larger outdoor establishments operating.
The pair continued their walk.
Wen Yifan took the initiative: "Have you secured a hotel?"
Sang Yan: "Not yet."
Wen Yifan instinctively looked his way, immediately registering the rainwater collecting on his shoulders. His jacket's waterproof material prevented penetration, but moisture now traced paths down the fabric. Her hand rose unconsciously to brush it away as she asked: "Have you eaten dinner?"
"Not yet," Sang Yan responded, capturing her wrist to halt her movements. "What are you doing? Isn't your hand cold?"
Wen Yifan reminded him: "Adjust the umbrella slightly, look, your clothes are completely soaked."
"Wen Shuangjiang," Sang Yan's fingertips radiated warmth as they traveled gradually upward, briefly enveloping her rain-dampened hand before releasing it. "When benefiting from someone's service, refrain from offering excessive critiques, understood?"
"…"
Wen Yifan stared at her hand suspended mid-air, and after several seconds, gradually lowered it. Though the contact lasted mere moments, the place where he'd held her seemed to ignite.
Dispelling the rain's chill entirely.
She clenched her hand lightly, then for reasons she couldn't articulate, deliberately returned it to her pocket.
Minimal conversation passed between them as they walked, silence dominating. Yet within that quietude existed an almost tangible intimacy wrapping around them both.
Passing a fruit vendor, Wen Yifan abruptly halted.
Sang Yan regarded her: "What is it?"
Wen Yifan: "Buying something."
Sang Yan didn't inquire about her intended purchase, merely offering a lazy: "Mm, go ahead."
Wen Yifan entered and selected precisely two apples. She approached the cashier, preparing to pay when Sang Yan had already extracted his phone and scanned the payment code.
The proprietor bagged the apples and extended them.
Sang Yan accepted the bag, asking casually: "Craving apples?"
Wen Yifan indicated the apples, then gestured toward him, offering a succinct explanation: "I mentioned I'd give you something tangible."
"…" Sang Yan produced an "Oh" sound.
After departing the fruit stand, Wen Yifan purchased dinner for Sang Yan nearby.
Before they realized it, they'd reached Wen Yifan's hotel. She approached the front desk, proposing: "Why not stay at this establishment tonight, and tomorrow we can return to Nanwu together in our vehicle?"
Sang Yan: "Alright."
Wen Yifan consulted the front desk and utilized Sang Yan's ID to reserve a room on her same floor. Throughout this process, her eyes caught his ID photo. He appeared marginally younger than presently, eyes subtly upturned, the arrogance inherent to his character completely unconcealed.
Based on the ID's date, the photograph seemed captured during his university years.
She couldn't resist several prolonged glances.
Sang Yan observed her: "What are you doing?"
Wen Yifan prepared to explain.
Looking up, she encountered that face which had only grown more arrogant with time's passage.
She immediately swallowed her explanation: "Nothing."
After the front desk completed the procedures, Sang Yan collected the room key and ID card. Then both moved toward the elevator. He pocketed the room key but quite naturally extended his ID card toward her.
Wen Yifan accepted it reflexively but couldn't comprehend his intention: "What is it?"
Sang Yan stated leisurely: "If you wish to look, proceed."
"…"
Startled by Sang Yan's gesture, Wen Yifan froze. She lowered her gaze to Sang Yan's ID photograph, then after several seconds, raised her eyes to Sang Yan standing beside her with hands pocketed, awaiting the elevator.
He wasn't facing her direction, merely observing the elevator's numerical display.
Wen Yifan looked away, the corner of her mouth lifting subtly.
They ascended to the third floor.
Wen Yifan noted the wall signage and indicated a direction: "Your room appears to be that way."
Sang Yan stated matter-of-factly: "Escort me to locate it."
"Okay." After guiding him to his room's entrance, Wen Yifan wavered on whether entering was appropriate and suggested hesitantly, "Then I'll return to my room?"
Sang Yan turned his head: "Do you have remaining work?"
Wen Yifan: "No."
Sang Yan: "Do you have other obligations?"
Wen Yifan: "No."
"Then why retreat?" Sang Yan found it absurd and directly extracted the room key from his pocket, extending it toward her. "Enter yourself."
"…"
Wen Yifan accepted the key and unlocked the door. She entered and settled on the chair beside the bed. Sensing his mild displeasure, she explained softly: "Because we only just established our relationship, I worried that directly entering your personal space might create discomfort for you."
Sang Yan deposited his items on the table: "That statement makes you sound remarkably gentlemanly."
"…"
"Who could have anticipated," Sang Yan pivoted, his tone casual and unreserved, "that you've already explored my entire body."
"…" Wen Yifan wanted to defend herself but acknowledged the accuracy of his statement. She didn't address this, only reminding him, "You should consume dinner first, it's quite late."
At this, Sang Yan inquired: "Have you eaten?"
Wen Yifan nodded: "I had noodles."
While speaking, Sang Yan had already returned to stand before her. He observed her independently for a time, suddenly frowning: "What sort of work assignment is this?"
Wen Yifan: "Huh?"
"Can't you exercise some reasonableness?" Sang Yan's tone carried distinct displeasure. "I invested considerable effort adding some weight to your frame, and you've eliminated it all during half a month's business trip?"
Wen Yifan felt somewhat confused and prepared to respond.
The next second, Sang Yan's gaze froze, as though detecting something. He directly seated himself beside her, raising his hand to tuck the hair near her ear behind it. His gesture was feather-light and lingering, carefully avoiding her skin.
Yet this proximity still made Wen Yifan freeze: "What's wrong?"
Sang Yan discovered the wound behind her ear, the curve of his lips gradually vanishing.
"What happened?"
Wen Yifan didn't immediately comprehend, asking a beat later: "Hm?"
Sang Yan lowered his lashes, his fingertip involuntarily brushing delicately across the wound: "How did this occur?"
Hearing this, Wen Yifan suddenly recalled the minor injury she'd sustained at the scene. Several days had elapsed since the incident, and it had scabbed over with no residual pain. She'd nearly forgotten its existence.
"Some rubble scratched me," because of his touch, Wen Yifan felt nervous, "it's nothing serious."
Sang Yan refrained from further contact, still examining the area behind her ear.
"It's merely a scratch, nothing more," Wen Yifan simply redirected the conversation independently, "By the way, how did you come to Beiyu? Didn't I mention I was returning tomorrow? I even ordered a cake for you."
Sang Yan lowered his hand, responding casually: "I came to collect my gift."
Wen Yifan made an "ah" sound: "But the gift I prepared for you remains at home."
After an extended pause—
Sang Yan drawled an "Oh."
Wen Yifan added: "I'll present it when I return."
"Mm." Sang Yan focused on her lips, suddenly stating, "Retrieve my phone for me."
Wen Yifan glanced around but detected no phone on the table. She turned back, intending to inform him the phone wasn't there, but before she could articulate this, she witnessed Sang Yan, who had maintained some distance from her, lean forward.
Nearly to her original position.
She couldn't halt in time, her lips grazing past the corner of his mouth.
Wen Yifan's body went rigid.
Sang Yan also maintained his original posture, remaining motionless. Observing her somewhat startled expression, his own expression was inscrutable. Two seconds elapsed, then the corner of his mouth lifted slightly, and he murmured in a low voice: "Thanks."
"…"
"I've received it now."
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