Doing Some Adult Things
So his name was Fang Zeqing.
And what a nice-sounding name it was.
That night, Li Xia lay in bed, buzzing with all sorts of excitement and fantasies. It took her a long time to finally drift off to sleep.
The club often hosted storytelling events, and Li Xia wasn’t one to get stage fright. But the thought of F possibly showing up made her swap out the plain gray work uniform she’d prepared in advance for a silky blouse and a mermaid skirt.
While waiting for her coffee that morning, F messaged her, reminding her to eat breakfast. She hadn’t expected him to be up so early. Li Xia’s fingers tapped away at the screen: 【Already ate!】
As she reached for her coffee, her blouse sleeve slid across the back of her hand. At first, she just felt an itch, but when she looked closer, she saw a cluster of glaring red spots had broken out on that small patch of skin.
Li Xia frowned, unsure what kind of rash it was. Casually, she typed: 【I think I’m having an allergic reaction.】
F replied instantly: 【Any symptoms?】
Li Xia: 【Little rash spots.】
F: 【Send me a pic.】
Li Xia snapped a photo. The uneven, mottled bumps on her fair skin were uncomfortable to even look at.
She hesitated instinctively: 【It doesn’t look good.】
F responded quickly: 【Doesn’t matter. Send it.】
Left with no choice, Li Xia hit send.
F: 【Looks like eczema.】
F: 【Go ahead with work. I’ll bring some ointment over.】
There was still some prep work to do before the sharing session, so Li Xia pocketed her phone. She ignored the red spots and threw herself into the task at hand.
The bookstore partnering with the club this time belonged to an old friend, and she was on good terms with the person in charge. Everything from coordination to setup went smoothly. In the first half, Li Xia handled the stage with ease, fielding questions and sharing insights effortlessly. During a brief intermission, two readers cornered her with more queries.
Glancing up absentmindedly, she spotted a new figure in the distance. He was dressed in a crisp white shirt, heading their way. His gaze swept through the crowd, searching. Until it locked onto the right pair of eyes.
Like finding his anchor, Fang Zeqing’s wandering eyes settled in an instant—
The hum of voices buzzed around them, music flowed softly, and Li Xia smiled at him through the layers of people.
Fang Zeqing froze. He raised his phone and gave it a little shake.
…
The morning wrapped up. Pretending she wasn’t tired would be a lie. Fortunately, everything had gone according to plan, and the event’s vibe had been great. As the readers began to disperse, Li Xia let out a breath of relief. The mental exhaustion faded, washed away by the stack of books sold and the readers’ enthusiasm—replaced by a rush of accomplishment.
People were such contradictory creatures. She’d taken this job as a stopgap, yet on another level, it had become the perfect chance to prove something to herself.
The vast venue emptied out, leaving only the one person she most wanted to see. He approached her and handed over a cup of warm water.
“You worked hard.”
Li Xia smiled as she took it.
Before she could voice her thanks, the person in charge—busy sorting materials with their back to her—asked what she wanted for lunch. “How about some spicy hot pot? Oh right, Xia Xia, you need to deal with that rash quick…”
They turned and fell silent.
The person in charge blinked. “Sorry, sorry! Didn’t mean to interrupt you two.”
He was clean-cut and refined, tall and elegant—the man opposite her was strikingly handsome. Unable to hide her admiration, she glanced back at Li Xia with widening eyes. She patted Li Xia’s arm and whispered—or so she thought—”Xia Xia, your boyfriend?”
Li Xia’s ears burned. She mouthed back: Not.
The person in charge let out a long “Ooooh,” then turned to him. “Handsome, that’s eczema. See, there’s some near her neck too. You should take her to get some medicine first—don’t forget.”
Fang Zeqing nodded slowly. “Already got it.”
“Ohhh, thoughtful! You two chat.” The person in charge left, satisfied.
It was only then that Li Xia noticed F’s eyes fixed on her neck, his gaze drifting down to her collarbone. Feeling awkward under his scrutiny, she reached up to tug at her collar, but he gently caught her wrist.
“Don’t touch it with your hands,” Fang Zeqing said, concern in his eyes. “I asked a doctor. It’s not serious—some ointment and it’ll clear up.”
So he’d even consulted a doctor.
Li Xia nodded obediently and dropped her hand. “I could’ve gotten it myself. Sorry you had to make the trip.”
He chuckled instead. “Isn’t it obvious?”
“?”
“I wanted to see you.”
“…”
The words came out with utter sincerity.
His eyes earnest, curved in a smile.
Li Xia couldn’t fathom how someone could make her heart quake with such a simple sentence.
The tremor rippled through her thoughts, crashing into every shred of reason and hormone alike.
The calm she’d barely mustered shattered again, her heart pounding like a fawn’s frantic steps. Even her voice lightened, chirping like a sparrow: “Then I owe you big time!”
Checking the time—it was nearly noon—Li Xia suggested, “How about lunch first? What do you feel like?”
Fang Zeqing said anything was fine. “But you—sure you don’t want to apply the ointment first? Your friend made a point of telling me.”
He prioritized it, so Li Xia agreed.
They settled into a quiet corner of the bookstore. It was mealtime, but the sofa area was empty, shielded by shelves of books. No one noticed them.
“What did the doctor say? Eczema for sure?” Li Xia asked.
Fang Zeqing hummed softly from across the table. “Probably from Nanlin’s humid environment.”
Li Xia looked utterly glum. “I’m such a landlubber.”
Used to the dry north, she’d come to Jiangnan and gotten out of sorts in just a few days.
She used her phone as a mirror, pulling down her collar. A faint patch of red rash peeked out, some above her collarbone. She could handle the spots on her hand, but her neck was trickier—limited view meant the ointment would smear on her collar. Fumbling with the mirror, ointment, and collar, Li Xia’s hands were a frantic mess.
“Here, let me help.”
Fang Zeqing moved to sit beside her.
Li Xia’s heart jolted. She held her breath, waving him off. “No need, I can do it.”
“It’s already on your clothes.”
She still needed the blouse that afternoon, so she had no choice. Stopping her efforts, she said, “Then… thanks.”
Awkwardly, she undid her collar and pulled it down, exposing a sliver of pale collarbone on the left. The silky fabric slipped, so she tugged it back up. Then she turned her head away, inwardly cursing her clumsiness.
Sensing her embarrassment, Fang Zeqing politely checked the back of her neck first. “Hold your collar steady. I’ll be quick.”
“Mm.”
She started to turn back, but without warning, he leaned in close. Li Xia’s head snapped around like a spring-loaded trap. His warm breath, laced with a soft laugh, brushed her ear:
“Don’t be nervous. It’s not a shot.”
If he hadn’t said it, fine—but now, from her neck to her cheeks, everywhere burned.
Her mouth held firm: “I’m not!”
“Not at all?”
“…”
He laughed again, light and teasing.
Li Xia lowered her gaze, her lips curving shyly. They were so close—her back went rigid, propping her up, afraid to move. But from the corner of her eye, she stole glances: at his thick, inky lashes rising and falling, at the focused eyes beneath them when they lowered, at his handsome nose bridge.
No contact yet, but her heart fluttered like a butterfly beating its wings, ready to take flight.
“First time seeing you at work.”
In the rising warmth of the silence, Fang Zeqing spoke up.
Li Xia: “Dazzled, huh?”
She tried joking to steady herself.
But Fang Zeqing didn’t play along.
He squeezed out some ointment and touched her neck without warning. The cool cream sent a physiological shiver through her senses. Then his fingers glided from left to right, spreading it gently.
“Yeah, dazzled.”
Only then did he respond.
His words came slow, laced with laughter—like low-degree liquor.
“You were amazing today,” he paused, “or rather, captivating. I didn’t realize editors do this kind of thing too.”
Praise from someone she liked, every word landing right on her heart.
Li Xia beamed sweetly. “Thanks for the compliment, Director Fang.”
“This event wasn’t even in my wheelhouse. I wasn’t thrilled about coming—barely any prior experience. But once I was up there, it felt challenging. Especially with you praising me like that.” Emboldened, she met his eyes. “Makes the effort feel worthwhile.”
Fang Zeqing’s fingertip circled along her left collarbone, helping the ointment absorb.
“Suits you perfectly.”
“Me?”
“Mm.”
“Looks like people need that spark of novelty to really dive in.” Li Xia laughed.
Fang Zeqing looked at her but said nothing.
He paused his movements. “All done.”
“Oh, thanks.”
“Want me to blow on it?”
Li Xia’s hand flailed like a windshield wiper: “No no no!”
Once was enough for this kind of thing. Her face had to be beet red. Hanging out with this guy meant keeping a bottle of heart pills handy. But at the same time, Li Xia couldn’t stop smiling.
What she felt—what she couldn’t deny—
Was that under F’s dopamine rush, her senses and body drowned in pure delight.
They lingered over lunch, talking for ages.
Finally, standing at the door to see him off, Fang Zeqing steadied her wrist. “I’ll pick you up tonight.”
Meeting F and growing ever closer to him had left Li Xia’s heart fluttering all day long. She hadn’t dwelled on it much at first, keeping her emotions calm and steady, but the moment she did, her mind filled with the sound of his voice, his breath, his fingers, and all those fleeting touches. They all decoded in her brain waves into one burning question—
What was she to do? She wanted to see him so badly. She wanted to be with him. Urgently. Like a wildfire spreading across the plains.
Addictive.
Li Xia tried to sweep away the invading army of love cells conquering her brain with work.
But that evening, the plan to pick her up fell through. Their jobs would wrap up tomorrow, sending them in different directions, and her friends had invited her to a group dinner. Li Xia agreed. It was for the best, she thought. Without seeing F, she wouldn’t get too carried away. She quickly relayed the news to him, and he clearly wasn’t pleased.
F: 【But I want to have dinner with you too】
Bubbles of honey welled up in Li Xia’s heart: 【We still have time】
F sounded a bit sulky: 【Six meals】
Li Xia burst out laughing in an instant.
“You two haven’t made it official yet?” Perhaps her smile was too obvious, because the supervisor leaned over.
Li Xia pressed her lips together and shook her head.
She hadn’t really thought about how to make things official with F.
She simply enjoyed him—enjoyed all the emotions he stirred in her, the thrills, regardless of whether they led anywhere. F probably felt the same.
After a moment’s hesitation, she still asked, “Do you think… if I confessed to him, I’d have a chance?”
“Why wouldn’t you?” the supervisor countered.
“He’s the one who should be worrying about that,” the supervisor huffed. “Sure, he’s handsome—scratch that, the handsomest guy I’ve seen lately—but you’re great too. You’re capable at work, you’re pretty, and…”
“He seems to really like you,” the supervisor said with conviction.
“Huh?” Li Xia blinked in surprise. “How can you tell?”
“He’s too obvious. I spotted him the moment he showed up. But from the time he arrived until he sat down, his eyes were locked on you the whole time.” The supervisor explained, “At first, I didn’t know who he was looking at. Then I walked behind him and saw he was taking photos of you.”
“So focused.”
This straightforward account left Li Xia’s cheeks burning.
Now she existed in F’s phone too. She wondered if he’d captured her looking good.
Buoyed by the excitement, she took a few sips of low-proof liquor. By the time she got back to the hotel, it was already ten at night. After washing up, Li Xia couldn’t wait to climb into bed. Without a second’s hesitation, she tapped on the name that had been on her mind and called.
He picked up right away.
“Fang Zeqing.”
She spoke his name first.
Lying on her back, the ceiling light expanded in her pupils, dazzling her, but there was silence on the other end.
“Fang Zeqing,” she called again.
“I’m here.”
There was a faint breath and a chuckle from the receiver, his tone helpless. “Stop calling me.”
“What’s wrong?” Li Xia asked, eyes closed.
“Your name sounds nice. I want to say it.”
But he didn’t take the bait, instead asking, “Should I come find you?”
“No.”
“No?”
“No.”
Fang Zeqing still picked up on it. “Li Xia, have you been drinking?”
“Yeah.”
He sighed softly. “You’re not fully better yet. You shouldn’t drink.”
“I’m fine.”
“Has the rash improved?”
“Mm-hmm!”
“Wait,” Li Xia said, suddenly latching onto the key point as her eyes flew open. “What did you just call me?”
“Li Xia.”
The tail end of his voice had a magnetic pull, like gravel wrapped in velvet, and it set her heart itching again. Her thoughts swayed. “Sounds nice.”
“You say my name so well.”
“…”
“Do you really not want me to come over?” he asked again.
Li Xia sounded like she was threatening him. “If you’re not afraid of danger…”
He laughed again. “Are you that dangerous?”
“Yeah, a woman who’s been drinking is dangerous.” Li Xia’s mind was actually quite clear, but she couldn’t control her mouth. “Who knows what I might do to you…”
Realizing the reactions stirring in her body under the influence of hormones and alcohol, Li Xia cut herself off abruptly.
But she couldn’t dodge his insistent question—
“Do what?”
Do what?
Li Xia dropped the pretense. “The kind of things adults do, of course.”
“…”
A few seconds of silence passed, and she heard Fang Zeqing force the words through clenched teeth. “Li Xia, you better remember what you said tonight.”
…
The air hung utterly still. No one knew that Li Xia had buried her head under the covers and smacked it several times, trying to knock away the memory and the colors flooding her brain.
She pressed her lips together and said nothing, so Fang Zeqing spoke first. “Still awake?”
Li Xia lifted her head from under the covers and mumbled an affirmative.
“If I remember right, someone wanted to hear me sing last time.”
“Me!” Li Xia flailed as she sat up.
“Oh, I wonder if Miss Li Zi, fresh off her drinks, still wants to hear it. I’ve recorded it.”
“I do!” Li Xia shouted twice in a hurry.
“Oh—but I have a condition.”
Bargaining now.
Li Xia gritted her teeth and agreed. “What is it?”
“Let’s meet tomorrow, Li Xia.”
“Huh?”
“I said, let’s meet tomorrow, okay?”
His tone was so gentle, but when it landed in Li Xia’s heart, it fizzed like an effervescent tablet, bubbling and roaming everywhere.
She said yes.
Then her phone vibrated with a short audio clip.
Fang Zeqing: “Don’t tell me if it’s bad.”
Li Xia laughed at him, her fingers eagerly tapping to play it.
She could hardly describe what kind of night it was—tipsy, heartfelt, with that incredibly beautiful voice washing over her heart like a tide.
He had sung Tao Zhe’s “Every Day.”
In a smoother, more laid-back R&B style, crooning, “My heart has already flown to the other side of this city.”
Li Xia’s heartbeat fell into total chaos.
Was this what it felt like to like someone?
Li Xia rolled around on the bed. She felt like her time with F had turned her into a little lamb. She wanted to roll freely across the grassland, covering herself in petals and the scent of grass, expressing her joy and affection without restraint.
Before sleep claimed her, her love cells triumphed over all reason.
His song looped in her ears, his voice immersing her completely, along with those words—
“Let’s meet tomorrow, Li Xia.”