Chapter 92

Lu Chenyu led Wen Feixi onto the bus and arrived at a quiet neighborhood on the east side of Serene River City.

Away from the bustling city center, the area felt serene. A narrow street connected rows of low buildings on either side, the road shrouded in darkness. Lights glowed in many of the homes, and the silence was so profound that their footsteps echoed clearly in her ears.

Lu Chenyu instinctively gripped Wen Feixi’s hand tighter.

“It’s a bit slippery. Watch your step so you don’t fall.”

She pushed open the heavy iron gate, sending a shower of dust cascading down.

“Sister, stand back a little,” said Lu Chenyu.

Wen Feixi stepped aside, and Lu Chenyu shoved the gate a few more times before wrenching it open.

Together, they entered the old house. Lu Chenyu flicked on the light, revealing everything in crisp detail.

Wen Feixi glanced around. The place was rundown, with sparse furniture arranged in a simple two-bedroom, one-living-room layout. It had a distinct vintage feel, like a traditional local building.

“This is where my grandmother used to live,” Lu Chenyu explained.

Ms. Song was a local from Serene River. The family had always lived here until her grandmother passed away, leaving the house vacant. When Lu Fuyan had been sick and hospitalized in Serene River, Ms. Song had sometimes come here to cook during her caregiving shifts, so the furniture wasn’t too dirty.

Lu Chenyu sank onto the sofa and dialed Ms. Song’s number.

“Lulu, where are you right now?” Ms. Song’s voice came through the phone amid a noisy background. “Have you eaten?”

“I’ve eaten. I’m studying now,” Lu Chenyu replied.

Over New Year’s, Ms. Song hadn’t wanted Lu Chenyu to return to Little Sea Trench. It was already senior year three, and the college entrance exam loomed ever closer. The holiday was short, and going back home would waste too much study time.

But Lu Chenyu had insisted on coming back, and even Ms. Song couldn’t sway her stubbornness.

Now, hearing that Lu Chenyu wasn’t returning after all, Ms. Song sounded pleased and urged her to focus on studying in River City.

It was freezing outside, with puddles frozen solid and the indoor temperature hovering near zero.

Lu Chenyu rummaged through the cabinets and pulled out a hot water bottle, then started boiling water.

Since Ms. Song occasionally stayed overnight, the utilities were still connected, and the rooms were fairly clean.

Wen Feixi couldn’t stand the cold. Her nose was red, and she was shivering all over. Lu Chenyu filled the hot water bottle for her and had her clutch it to her chest, then wrapped her in a blanket.

She turned on the heater, and the chill in the room gradually began to lift.

Lu Chenyu headed downstairs to check the corner store for food, but it was nearly bare—only a single bucket of instant noodles sat forlornly on the shelf. She bought a pack of ham sausage and hurried home with the noodles.

She boiled water, and soon the noodles were ready. The room filled with an exaggeratedly rich aroma.

Lu Chenyu carried the steaming bucket to the sofa, sat cross-legged, and murmured softly, “We’ll just make do for one night…”

Outside, all was quiet.

Lu Chenyu scooped up a forkful of noodles from the big bucket, blew on it carefully, and held it to Wen Feixi’s lips.

Wen Feixi obediently opened her mouth.

Wen Feixi rarely touched food like this in her daily life, and Lu Chenyu usually found instant noodles too flavorful to eat often. But right now, cold and hungry as they were, the simple meal tasted surprisingly delicious.

Lu Chenyu pulled a ham sausage from her bag, twisted it in half, and shared it with Wen Feixi.

They ate spoonful by spoonful, even finishing the broth.

Warmth finally spread through their bodies.

“How are we sleeping? There’s only one room,” Wen Feixi said after touring the house. She stood in place and added, “The other room looks like it’s being used as a storage space.”

She was exceedingly polite, never wandering or prying in someone else’s home—like the perfect guest.

Lu Chenyu felt a twinge of discomfort. It suddenly struck her that she didn’t like Wen Feixi acting this way. She wanted Wen Feixi to feel at home here, just as if it were her own.

Lu Chenyu pushed open the door to the only bedroom. Without heating, a wave of cold air rushed out, making her shiver.

The room held just a small single bed.

Without a second thought, Lu Chenyu said, “You’ll sleep in the room tonight. I’ll take the sofa outside.”

“Lulu,” Wen Feixi said with a slight frown, turning to her. “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable because of me.”

“This is your home. You should be the one sleeping in this room—” Before she could finish, Lu Chenyu yanked open the wardrobe and pulled out all the clean blankets and pillowcases inside.

“It’s fine. The sofa outside is plenty big.”

Silence fell between them after Lu Chenyu spoke.

They had shared a bed before, but now that the thin veil between them had been pierced, sharing one felt awkward no matter how she thought about it. The single bed was so small—surely their bodies would touch.

“Then you sleep on the floor mat. Okay? I want you with me,” Wen Feixi said.

Lu Chenyu met Wen Feixi’s eyes, brimming with almost-tears, and found the refusal stuck in her throat, impossible to voice.

So Lu Chenyu laid out blankets on the floor.

Wen Feixi showered first, then Lu Chenyu.

After Lu Chenyu entered the bathroom, Wen Feixi sat on the floor mat. Her phone buzzed.

It was Wen Yanxiu calling.

Wen Feixi’s expression darkened slightly. Listening to the patter of water from the bathroom, she answered.

“Where are you?” the man’s sullen voice demanded.

“Who’s that girl you’re with?”

At the Bo Si Building earlier, Lu Chenyu had been too far away and shrouded in shadow for the driver to make out her face. Wen Feixi’s body had blocked it completely.

Wen Feixi had so many friends, and Wen Yanxiu had been guarding her jealously since childhood. He had countless suspects in mind but no clue who dared covet his daughter.

Wen Feixi spoke flatly to Wen Yanxiu for a few moments. Then the bathroom door opened.

She hung up.

Fresh from her shower, Lu Chenyu saw Wen Feixi already lying on the floor mat. Her eye twitched.

“What are you doing? Get up!”

Lu Chenyu rushed over to tug at her, but Wen Feixi lay there with eyes half-closed, a slight curve to her lips. Lu Chenyu lost her footing and tumbled onto the bed, landing atop Wen Feixi.

Lu Chenyu froze.

Wen Feixi wore Lu Chenyu’s nightgown, the thin fabric tracing her perfect curves. Her bent knee pressed right between Lu Chenyu’s abdomen.

The brush of skin brought a faint itch.

Lu Chenyu’s face flushed scarlet in an instant.

Wen Feixi rested a hand by her head, palm up, and gazed at her lazily. “Does Classmate Lu want to sleep with me, after all?”

Lu Chenyu’s cheeks burned hotter. In the end, she said nothing and clambered back onto the bed.

With the lights off, the room plunged into darkness, reminiscent of that night six years ago.

Lu Chenyu lay staring at the ceiling, Wen Feixi’s words echoing relentlessly in her mind.

“Does Classmate Lu want to sleep with me, after all?”

That night, Lu Chenyu slept on the bed while Wen Feixi took the floor mat.

Though the heater was on, it wasn’t powerful, and the room stayed cold. Uneasy, Lu Chenyu got up in the middle of the night to check on her, then gently draped another blanket over Wen Feixi.

The next day, Lu Chenyu began worrying about money. She had only a little over eighty yuan left—not enough to last until after New Year’s.

“How about we both go earn some money tomorrow?” Wen Feixi suggested.

Lu Chenyu blinked in surprise.

How could the two of them make money?

Then inspiration struck.

Serene River was now a popular tourist spot, especially for snow viewing over New Year’s. The Japanese restaurant should still be open, and she knew the manager there. She could pick up a shift.

But Lu Chenyu’s expression soured quickly. Part-time pay was meager—not nearly enough.

Wen Feixi, however, showed no concern.

She held out her hand. “Give me fifty yuan.”

Lu Chenyu hesitated.

She only had a little over eighty left. Handing over fifty would leave her penniless. What would they eat afterward?

After a moment’s thought, Lu Chenyu passed over the fifty.

Wen Feixi smiled, her voice husky as she teased, “Really giving it to me? Aren’t you afraid we’ll go hungry?”

Lu Chenyu fell silent for a beat. “Worst case, we starve together…”

Delight deepened in Wen Feixi’s eyes. She ruffled Lu Chenyu’s hair. “Good girl.”

The next day, Lu Chenyu went to work at the Japanese restaurant.

With New Year’s approaching, wages had risen. She could make about a hundred yuan a day.

After her shift, she hit the market for vegetables. The budget was tight, but she refused to skimp on Wen Feixi, picking the best she could afford.

That evening at home, Lu Chenyu held little hope for Wen Feixi’s earnings, but Wen Feixi returned with a hundred yuan, having vanished somewhere unbeknownst to her.

Unable to hold back, Lu Chenyu asked, “Where did you go?”

“I’m not telling,” Wen Feixi replied.

Lu Chenyu’s heart was in her throat.

Wen Feixi shrugged off her coat, folded it neatly, and drawled casually, “You’re not exactly anyone special to me. Why do you need to know all my secrets? Say ‘I like you, be my girlfriend,’ and I’ll tell you everything.”

Her voice was soft, but it hit like a thunderclap.

Lu Chenyu’s cheeks burned. She turned away, avoiding Wen Feixi’s gaze.

Wen Feixi burst out laughing. “Silly, I was joking.”

Over the next few days, they parted ways during the day for work and returned each evening with their earnings.

Lu Chenyu’s pay was steady, but Wen Feixi’s kept growing. At first, Wen Feixi brought back less than Lu Chenyu, but now she far outpaced her, hauling in over two hundred yuan daily.

What on earth was Wen Feixi doing to earn that much?

Lu Chenyu’s curiosity mounted.

The next day after her shift, Lu Chenyu headed to the central market for vegetables. Strolling along the riverbank, she unwittingly reached the ancient town.

Serene River had become a tourist haven, its snowy vistas especially stunning near New Year’s. Crowds flocked here for fun. The town square bustled with vendors hawking handicrafts and snacks, much like the market across from their school.

The scents wafted temptingly from afar.

The market lay behind the ancient town. Lu Chenyu shoved her hands in her pockets and walked on.

Suddenly, she spotted a familiar figure at one stall.

Lu Chenyu froze, her eyes widening slightly.

A crowd ringed the stall. There sat Wen Feixi in the midst, wearing glasses and clutching a sketchpad.

She focused intently on the person before her, her pencil flying across the paper.

Lu Chenyu stared in astonishment.

Wen Feixi was drawing portraits. For each sitter, she whipped up a quick cartoon likeness. Hiding in the throng, Lu Chenyu peeked at the prices.

Each drawing was cheap—just twenty yuan. Other stalls offered similar quick cartoons but charged more.

And Wen Feixi’s were better.

Beautiful as she was, Wen Feixi joked easily and had a generous personality. Tourists soon gathered, watching her draw and drawing even more onlookers.

Standing amid the crowd, Lu Chenyu watched in a daze, her heart pounding anew. Admiration swelled within her, mingled with a sticky warmth.

This was Wen Feixi.

Always so capable. Even as the young miss of the Wen family, penniless in dire straits, she could still bloom.

Wen Feixi returned home to a rush of warm air.

They had pooled their earnings—several hundred yuan now—and Lu Chenyu had bought a small space heater. Plugged in, it made the room cozy.

She’d also gotten a big pot, an electric hot plate, and plenty of ingredients.

Tonight: hot pot.

Wen Feixi paused at the kitchen doorway, watching Lu Chenyu bustle at the stove.

Lu Chenyu’s mind was still on the street scene. She turned, her face faintly flushed from the steam.

Wearing a black sweater and apron, her ink-black hair in a ponytail, those amber peach-blossom eyes fixed on Wen Feixi, pupils shimmering like rippling water.

“Are you tired today?” Lu Chenyu asked softly.

Wen Feixi stepped over to help set the table. “Not too bad.”

Lu Chenyu noticed the reddened tips of Wen Feixi’s fingers.

In just a few days, calluses had formed.

Lu Chenyu pressed her lips together, pondering how to broach spying on her that afternoon.

“If it’s to provide for Lulu, I’m not tired at all,” Wen Feixi said.

Lu Chenyu’s heart skipped a beat, her face heating up again. She looked away, but her lips curved despite herself.

She knew Wen Feixi’s tastes well. For hot pot, she’d bought all her favorites and skipped the beef she was allergic to.

The pot bubbled invitingly on the hot plate. Lu Chenyu dumped in potato slices and luncheon meat. The room felt like spring, warming them inside out. Wen Feixi’s lips reddened from the spice, setting off her snow-white skin.

“Thank you,” Wen Feixi said with a smile.

Mid-meal, Wen Feixi stepped away to the bathroom.

Lu Chenyu kept scalding more food, but when she added fish balls, oil splattered out, speckling Wen Feixi’s phone. Lu Chenyu grabbed tissues to wipe it clean.

Some oil had seeped into the phone case crevices. Removing the case, Lu Chenyu discovered something inside.

A photo.

Lu Chenyu froze.

Tucked in Wen Feixi’s phone case was that picture from the haunted house rooftop at school—their selfie together. Small as it was, Wen Feixi kept it right there.

That night in bed, Lu Chenyu finally mentioned seeing her draw.

Wen Feixi paused, then laughed awkwardly as if it were nothing. “I meant to get my phone fixed, but I needed too much gear to gather. So I bought paper and pens to sketch instead.”

“But that stall…”

Wen Feixi sighed wistfully. “Registering one costs two hundred yuan. Too pricey, and no time. I just had to dodge the city management. Run whenever they showed up.”

“…”

“You idiot,” Lu Chenyu said.

Wen Feixi blinked.

Lu Chenyu rarely swore.

She was too well-behaved, never using foul language. But now, frowning at Wen Feixi, she said it softly.

Wen Feixi’s heart melted. She reached out, resting a hand on Lu Chenyu’s shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze.

Smiling softly, she murmured, “It’s fine. I travel light—easy to run.”

“Making perfect use of your short-distance champion skills, huh?”

Lu Chenyu’s heart ached. Holding Wen Feixi’s hand, she whispered, “Drawing that many every day must make your hands so sore.”

Wen Feixi insisted it was nothing.

Lu Chenyu rolled off the bed onto the floor mat, massaging Wen Feixi’s hands and working the pressure points.

Wen Feixi propped her chin, watching. Streetlight filtered through the window, scattering across the bed. Even without lamps, they could make out each other’s faces dimly.

Lu Chenyu averted her gaze.

Unbeknownst to her, the walls around her heart had begun to crumble.

New Year’s Eve, the streets teemed with people.

After her shift, Lu Chenyu went to the ancient town to pick up Wen Feixi.

She watched as Wen Feixi packed her drawing supplies into her bag. Wen Feixi suggested strolling the town to celebrate.

Lu Chenyu nodded.

They walked along the riverbank. Lu Chenyu gazed down at the rushing waters beneath the bridge, her heart thumping.

These waters flowed from snowy mountains, gathering here before heading to River City and the sea…

Suddenly, a girl ran up. “You two are so pretty! Want to get a photo over there?”

A photography stall stood in the distance, advertising “wedding,” “portraits,” and “art shots.”

Lu Chenyu declined. Their money was precious, needed for necessities. Wen Feixi worked so hard for every yuan, and this was Lu Chenyu’s last shift—the restaurant closed from New Year’s Day through the sixth. No more part-time work.

They had little left.

But as Lu Chenyu spoke, Wen Feixi pulled a crumpled bill from her bag.

She handed it to the photographer. “One photo, please.”

Somewhat annoyed, Lu Chenyu said, “We barely have any money left. Why spend it?”

“Money can always be earned again,” Wen Feixi replied with a smile. Turning to her, she winked. “But opportunities to take a photo with Lulu? Those don’t come every day.”

Her voice was as gentle as ever. The light played across her refined features, gilding them like gold.

Lu Chenyu stared, her heart warming as if something might overflow, pounding fiercely.

Meeting those deep brown, almond-shaped phoenix eyes left her mind blank.

In the end, they stood shoulder to shoulder on the bridge.

Crowds surged around them as the photographer cleared a small space.

The camera flashed, blinding them momentarily.

Wen Feixi blinked, instinctively tightening her grip on Lu Chenyu’s hand. At that instant, fireworks exploded behind them, bursting into a kaleidoscope of colors across the night sky. They bloomed brilliantly, only to fade in moments, drawing cheers from the crowd as all heads tilted upward.

“So lucky! New Year’s fireworks right at this moment,” the photographer remarked.

Amid the deafening booms, Lu Chenyu turned to her.

Wen Feixi’s expression was a touch stiff, but standing by Lu Chenyu’s side, she bravely lifted her gaze.

Dressed in a white puffer jacket, one hand in her pocket, the other holding Lu Chenyu’s—this was the first time Lu Chenyu had seen her smile at a camera, so radiantly happy.

In a rush of heat, Lu Chenyu seized Wen Feixi’s hand.

“Hey! We’re not done shooting!” the photographer called.

Wen Feixi froze as Lu Chenyu pulled her along. People pressed in everywhere. Anxiously scanning for a quiet spot, that phrase bubbled up again. But in that moment, she’d forgotten everything—Ms. Song, Wen Yanxiu, all of it. She just wanted to say it to Wen Feixi.

Down the stairs at last, they found a less crowded area.

The roaring river surged behind them. Gasping, Lu Chenyu stopped and looked at her.

Wen Feixi gazed back in surprise. “Lulu, you…”

Lu Chenyu glanced around, leaned in, and quickly pecked Wen Feixi’s cheek. Timidly, she met her eyes.

“I like you too,” Lu Chenyu whispered.