096

After showering, Xia Yuwei came out of the bathroom with her hair wet, a little tangled, still dripping as she picked up the hair dryer and sat in front of the vanity mirror outside the bathroom to dry it.

Ye Lifeng had people bring out a fresh lunch and set everything in place again before coming over to call her. "Yuwei, if you don't eat soon, the food will get cold again." As he spoke, he naturally took the hair dryer from her hands and helped dry her hair.

His large hand moved through her hair, smoothing it as he blew it dry, then he picked up a comb and carefully arranged it neatly for her.

Watching his familiar, effortless movements, Xia Yuwei could not help letting a faint smile touch her lips. "Senior, are you always this attentive to a lot of girls?"

That smile was tinged with mockery. She felt that she was like a hedgehog now, wanting to prick anyone she saw. Seeing Ye Lifeng treat her with such natural warmth and familiarity, she could not help but want to mock him.

Ye Lifeng's movements slowed. Frowning slightly, he looked at Xia Yuwei in the mirror with a trace of irritation. "Hmm? Yuwei, what do you mean by that?"

"...Nothing. I'm sorry, Senior. I was just talking nonsense," Xia Yuwei said calmly.

"Yuwei, I won't allow you to speak like that, understand? I swear the way I treat you is unique.

"You may not like it, but as long as you're willing to accept it, I'll be satisfied. Don't speak to me so coldly, all right?" Ye Lifeng said to her.

"...I'm sorry, Senior," Xia Yuwei said, sitting upright and quietly letting him dry her hair.

Was this his way of confessing?

Unique. She repeated his words in her heart.

Perhaps, in matters of the heart, those four words truly mattered most. More than anything else, did they not?

For lunch, there were all the dishes she liked. Light, yet still nourishing.

Plain congee with side dishes, fresh slices of salmon, pale green mustard and dipping sauce, fish fin soup in chicken broth, greens...

Looking at Ye Lifeng, who had thoughtfully spread out her napkin and laid out her knife and fork, Xia Yuwei could not help but be moved.

"Thank you, Senior," Xia Yuwei said, beginning to eat with her knife and fork.

"You don't need to be so polite with me." Ye Lifeng's smile was warm as spring. This was a good beginning, was it not? The ring he had prepared might soon be on her finger...

"Ah!" After only one bite, Xia Yuwei suddenly cried out and froze. "Oh no, I had class this morning, and I completely forgot! Professor He is so strict, oh dear, I really don't want to take a make-up exam..."

"Haha, only now do you remember? Isn't that already too late? Yuwei, you're really slow on the uptake..." Ye Lifeng laughed at her from across the table.

"Senior, I'm so anxious, and you're actually enjoying my misery..." Xia Yuwei said bitterly.

"Don't worry, don't worry, I already asked for leave on your behalf." He had always had her schedule, always watched over every move she made. How could he let her be marked absent and forced to retake exams?

"..."

Pouting, Xia Yuwei picked up her knife and fork again and went back to eating. "Senior, you're really thoughtful."

"For the girl I love, of course I'm thoughtful," Ye Lifeng said. It was the first time he had said the word love to a girl.

"Senior..." Xia Yuwei lifted her head and looked at him. His expression was so serious and earnest that she had nothing to say. "I..."

"I told you before, you can take your time. As long as you're willing to accept my kindness toward you, that's enough. One day you'll understand how I feel about you," Ye Lifeng said.

"Senior, what is love?"

"I don't know." Ye Lifeng smiled. "To love you is to want the very best for you. To want to possess someone, and only that one person."

Whether intentionally or not, those words struck Xia Yuwei's heart like a needle.

To want to possess someone, and only that one person.

Only that one person.

If it is not like that, does it not count as love?

Her heart ached.

"Thank you, Senior. I will work hard."

Lowering her eyes, Xia Yuwei's lashes were beaded with tears. Just as she was about to wipe them away with her hand, Ye Lifeng used a handkerchief to dab them dry.

"Yuwei, I hope that with me here, I will never let you cry again."

"Senior..."

************************************************

Picking up her phone, she scrolled through the call log and message inbox. There was no message from him, no call from him. Everything was quiet.

That afternoon, Ye Lifeng stayed with Xia Yuwei, accompanying her parents to see the city's most worthwhile sights.

At Ye Lifeng's closeness, Xia Yuwei's parents said nothing, and Xia Yuwei said nothing either. Everyone seemed to take it for granted, as if silently accepting the relationship between the two of them.

At night, Xia Yuwei still returned to her own place. This time, she had truly decided to move. Ye Lifeng also promised to help her find a suitable place as soon as possible so she could move out quickly.

"Senior, these past few days, thank you so much." Standing at the door of her place, Xia Yuwei said to Ye Lifeng.

Ye Lifeng joked, "If you want to thank me, then call me Lifeng from now on. Can you forget the title Senior from now on?"

"Okay." A smile floated on Xia Yuwei's face. "Then, Lifeng, goodbye."

Before saying goodbye, may I kiss you? Ye Lifeng thought. But he did not say it. He was afraid she would shyly pull away, and then the closeness he had so painstakingly built might crumble in an instant. Be patient. Be a little more patient. He reminded himself.

"See you tomorrow," was all he said softly in the end.

Xia Yuwei watched Ye Lifeng walk away before entering her home.

It was already past seven in the evening, yet the room was dark.

"Xinxin?" Xia Yuwei called out her name. Usually at this hour, she would already be here.

"Xinxin, Xinxin, are you there..."

"Yuwei... baby..." A hoarse voice drifted out from Xinxin's bedroom.

Xia Yuwei switched on the living room light and walked toward Xinxin's room.