On the flight back to Canaan, clouds drifted past the window.
Shen Yusi recounted what had happened at the dinner party to Xie Sheng.
“This world is too small. There’s an acquaintance around every corner. It really hampers my style.”
Xie Sheng also let out a sigh. “So the battlefield was set up while you were asleep. You missed quite the show.”
“Oh god, no thanks. Just thinking about it gives me a headache.” Shen Yusi slumped back in defeat. “I’m seriously pissed. I was so careful, and I still managed to screw up like this.”
Xie Sheng just laughed. “But I get the feeling neither of those two really seems to mind.”
Especially Qi Yue. He even seemed to be enjoying it.
Men. They always liked a challenge.
Shen Yusi snorted. “What’s there for them to mind? I’m the one who hasn’t said anything. Spending time and energy every day juggling them, making sure they don’t find out about each other—it’s exhausting work, you know.”
Xie Sheng agreed. “Exactly, exactly! This is clearly their blessing!”
Shen Yusi took a sip of juice, thinking that Lin Yingzhou had taken the initiative to explain things to her last night. She really couldn’t blame him.
But the culprit hadn’t.
“That bastard Qi Yue. If Lin Yingzhou hadn’t shown me that screenshot, I never would have known he secretly posted a whole story about me on his Moments!”
Hearing that, Xie Sheng remembered. “Oh yeah! That night at the bar, he told me some idiot blocked him from leaving. I thought it was some creep. I didn’t realize it was Lin Yingzhou.”
Shen Yusi was stunned. “He actually said that?”
“Yeah, let me find the chat log.” Xie Sheng searched for the keywords and handed her phone over. “Look.”
Shen Yusi read the chat log and had to laugh.
These two childhood friends were constantly setting traps for each other. Were they using her as their battlefield?
The flight from Yunchang to Canaan was just over two hours.
During the National Day holiday, Shen Yanchu and Shen Pei, brother and sister, were both away on temporary business trips.
Shen Pei mysteriously said in a phone call that she had arranged for two handsome guys to pick her up.
Xie Sheng had family matters to attend to, so she said goodbye to Shen Yusi and left first. Shen Yusi was looking forward to seeing just what kind of handsome guys were waiting for her.
At the arrival gate, two tall figures stood out strikingly. Even before she could see their faces clearly, Shen Yusi knew they were definitely good-looking.
They had a clear division of labor: one held a bouquet of flowers, the other held a large, gold-embossed banner.
Shen Yusi squinted to read the words on it.
— A Warm Welcome for Shen Yuanyuan, Home for the Holidays.
She took a few more steps forward, and her high hopes came crashing down. She dragged her suitcase over reluctantly. “Why is it you two? Where are those handsome guys Auntie said she’d arrange?”
He Yuxiao snorted. “Are we not handsome enough? Plenty of girls were trying to get our numbers before you showed up.”
“Be grateful. We stopped in the middle of a meeting to come pick you up.” Jiang Yanci shoved the huge bouquet of Ecuadorian roses into her arms. “Alright, He Yuxiao, put that banner away. It looks stupid.”
He Yuxiao nearly jumped out of his skin. “The hell, Jiang Yanci! You’re one to talk, snatching the flowers for yourself. You leave me with the damn banner, and then you have the audacity to call me stupid?”
Shen Pei couldn’t make it in person and felt terribly guilty. She had specifically told the two guys that since this was Shen Yusi’s first time away at school and her first holiday back home, she needed a grand welcome with plenty of face.
He Yuxiao put away the banner and raised an eyebrow. “So, how about it, Yuanyuan? You think we gave you enough face?”
They were both dressed in exquisitely tailored suits, but they were acting like middle schoolers. Shen Yusi let out a dry laugh. “Heh.”
Jiang Yanci casually took her luggage. The veins on his clearly defined hand stood out slightly. He paused for a second, then turned his head. “Do you have dumbbells hidden in here? It’s so heavy.”
Shen Yusi was at a loss for words. “If you can’t handle it, just practice more.”
The Mercedes G-Class drove towards the city. Jiang Yanci rested one hand on the steering wheel and glanced in the rearview mirror, suddenly speaking up. “The way you look, seems like you’re having a pretty good time at school.”
Shen Yusi immediately bristled from the back seat. “Are you calling me fat?”
“Don’t twist my words if your Chinese isn’t good.”
“Don’t try to worm your way out of it. That’s exactly what you meant.” Shen Yusi scoffed. “Your Chinese isn’t any better than mine.”
He Yuxiao rubbed his temples and groaned. “What deep-seated grudge did you two have in a past life? Fighting since you were kids, and you can’t stop even in university?”
Two cold snorts filled the car.
Finally, they reached their destination.
Shen Yusi was just about to hop out of the car when she was called back.
“Safe and sound at home.” Jiang Yanci pulled out his phone and opened the camera. “Stand still. I need to take a photo as proof.”
And so, without any preparation, Shen Yusi had an incredibly ugly photo taken by Jiang Yanci and sent straight to the family group chat.
Following Shen Pei’s remote instructions, the Shen family villa was in a flurry of activity, preparing to welcome the return of their only daughter.
As the carved door hinges made a soft sound, Shen Yusi pushed it open. Rose petals rained down upon her.
The moment the sweet fragrance filled her breath, a uniform shout exploded in her ears.
“Yuanyuan! Welcome home!”
Shen Yusi stood frozen at the entrance. The huge living room had been transformed into an indoor garden, with a waterfall of roses cascading down from the second-floor railing.
Only her aunt could pull off something so flamboyant.
“Oh my, Yuanyuan, you’ve gotten so thin!” Auntie Lu, still in her apron, hurried over from the sea of flowers. She looked Shen Yusi over carefully, her concern palpable. “You must have had such a hard time at university.”
“Not at all! I’ve even gained weight. On the way back, Jiang Yanci even said I looked like I was living the good life at school.”
Auntie Lu shook her head. “What does he know? The flesh on your face is practically caved in.”
Shen Yusi’s mouth twitched.
See? Adults always exaggerate.
“It’s fine. In these eight days you’re back, we’ll put all that flesh back on.” Auntie Lu pulled Shen Yusi towards the dining room. “I took a special cooking class these past few months, just waiting for you to come home.”
The long, luxurious stone table was set with countless dishes: matsutake chicken soup, crab meat and tofu, jade-green shrimp, smoked shad with Biluochun tea…
Shen Yusi’s appetite was whetted. The food on the Canaan Airlines flight had been terrible. She was genuinely hungry.
She picked up her chopsticks, praising the food as she ate, “Auntie Lu, even as head chef at Qingyi Tower, you’d be more than qualified.”
“Slow down, don’t choke.” The crow’s feet around Auntie Lu’s eyes crinkled as she smiled. “Your dad said once you’re a sophomore next year, he’ll let me go to Yunchang to take care of you.”
Shen Yusi’s eyes lit up. “Wow, really?”
She hadn’t wanted to buy an apartment off-campus before because she didn’t want to have to find a new housekeeper. If Auntie Lu was willing to go, that would be perfect.
Seeing Shen Yusi’s reaction, Auntie Lu felt even more sorry for her. “Mm. Just a few more months. Hang in there.”
Shen Yusi rubbed her round belly as she went back to her room.
Looking at the number that had gone up a few kilos on the scale, she completely gave up.
Oh well.
A girl’s happiness is what matters most.
Shen Yusi sank into the plush Hästens mattress, savoring its softness. She suddenly felt like an idiot for filling out her college application choices all those months ago.
Why had she thought that leaving home meant gaining freedom?
Yunchang didn’t have soft, comfortable beds, midnight snacks comparable to Michelin-starred meals, or the constant care and attention she was used to.
Back when she had resolutely chosen Yun University, it was partly because its College of Fine Arts was the best in the country, and partly because she wanted to try living away from Canaan.
Now that she was home, she finally understood just how harsh her life had been for the past two months.
The eight-day long holiday for the combined National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival looked fantastic on the surface, but the pile of assignments was crushing. Shen Yusi opened her calendar and calculated, deciding to set aside three days to finish her homework first, then play to her heart’s content.
After successfully getting into the calligraphy class, Lin Yingzhou, out of a sense of humanity, had stopped assigning her homework.
But Shen Yusi felt that since the holiday was so long, if she didn’t chat online a bit, she’d end up feeling distant from everyone when she got back to school.
It was a bit funny, really. When there was a misunderstanding, Lin Yingzhou would take the initiative to message her, looking for a chance to explain things.
Now that the misunderstanding was resolved, he’d gone back to his old self: cold, stubborn, like a steel plate that just wouldn’t warm up.
She spun her phone in her hand three times before she got an idea: [Teacher Z! I’ve found the reason I failed the cursive exam!]
At that moment, Lin Yingzhou was in his study writing a report. Seeing this message, he was a bit surprised. He hadn’t expected Shen Yusi to be reviewing the exam even after coming home.
She really did care a lot about this class assignment.
He asked: [What is it?]
Shen Yusi smiled to herself: [The biggest reason is you!]
Lin Yingzhou felt her ability to twist things around was getting stronger.
Z: [?]
Shen Yusi rolled over: [So, when are we going to have some hands-on instruction?]
Lin Yingzhou sighed. He’d definitely overestimated her. Whenever she came looking for him, it was never about anything serious: [Aren’t you home?]
Seeing him take the bait, Shen Yusi’s fingers flew across the screen: [That’s fine. We can just video call!]
Lin Yingzhou paused.
He instinctively looked at his reflection in the French window.
It wasn’t clear enough, so he walked over to the full-length mirror and reached out to smooth a slight crease on his collar.
He frowned, feeling he was being too deliberate, and purposely messed it up again.
But five minutes passed. The phone was as silent as if it had crashed.
On the other end, Shen Yusi was also waiting, but her wait was different from his. She was supremely confident.
After another two minutes or so.
Shen Yusi felt the time was right and typed out a message: [It’s fine if it’s inconvenient.]
Almost the same second the message was delivered, the jarring sound of a video call invitation rang out.
Shen Yusi smiled triumphantly, letting her finger hover over the answer button for a full half minute before tapping it.
Lin Yingzhou’s phone was set to the rear camera by default. On the screen was a spotless rosewood desk, neatly arranged with various calligraphy tools and the materials he was using.
“Teacher Z…” Shen Yusi propped her elbow on a feather pillow, deliberately drawing out her tone, “How come you’re the one video calling me?”
Lin Yingzhou was taken aback. “Wasn’t that what you wanted?”
“…” Shen Yusi took a deep breath.
You blockhead! Would it kill you to say you wanted to see me!
But Lin Yingzhou wasn’t as calm as Shen Yusi imagined.
From the moment the call connected, he couldn’t help but see her lounging against her headboard.
She was wearing a light yellow pajama set, its collar wide open. Her long hair, braided into a plait, hung to one side, swaying slightly against her bare collarbone as she moved.
She was really, really white.
Almost blindingly so.
Lin Yingzhou averted his gaze. “You’re planning to practice cursive in bed?”
Shen Yusi asked with genuine curiosity, “Is that possible?”
Lying in bed was just too comfortable. She didn’t feel like going to the study.
Lin Yingzhou refused coldly. “No.”
Shen Yusi pouted, reluctantly getting up from under the covers.
She didn’t actually want to practice calligraphy. She just wanted a legitimate excuse to video call with him.
The camera jostled as she trotted over. Her footsteps made a dull sound on the wooden floor.
A minute later, Shen Yusi sat down in a chair, a few stray hairs on her temples trembling slightly. “Alright, I’ve transferred battlefields.”
Lin Yingzhou hummed in acknowledgment. “Start with copying.”
Shen Yusi leaned her phone against a cup and turned to search the bookshelf for a copybook.
As she moved, her wide sleeves slid up to her elbows, revealing a section of her pale arm.
She found the book, returned to her seat, and was about to pick up her brush when she suddenly stopped. She looked into the camera and said, “Teacher Z, shouldn’t you demonstrate for me?”
There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by the sound of rustling.
Shen Yusi helpfully suggested, “You can just prop the phone up in your brush pot.”
Lin Yingzhou did as she said. Since the rear camera couldn’t see the screen, the lens wasn’t aimed at his desk.
“It’s a bit crooked. Why don’t you switch to the front camera? That way it’s easier to adjust the angle.”
“Okay.”
The next second, the picture flipped.
Lin Yingzhou’s hands, so beautiful they made you drool, unexpectedly filled the entire screen.
Shen Yusi’s breath caught for a second.
In the brief moment the image trembled, his profile just grazed the edge of the frame, his jawline suddenly disappearing into the deep shadows.
By the time the image stabilized, the desk with the bronze paperweight holding down the paper filled the screen, along with Lin Yingzhou’s face, bathed in warm light.
“See clearly?”
“See clearly—”
Very handsome.
Shen Yusi swallowed her praise, gently biting her lower lip, pressing her finger against the corners of her mouth to suppress a smile.
She looked at the man sitting upright in the screen.
Finally managed to coax him into showing his face.
The faint scent of agarwood smoke rose from somewhere off-screen. Lin Yingzhou sat back down, picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and began his lecture. “The Autobiography emphasizes the connection between strokes even when the brush is lifted. Look here, this reverse stroke…”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Shen Yusi resting her chin on her hand, watching the screen. A shimmering light moved in her amber pupils. Her mind was clearly not on calligraphy.
And this state had been going on for a while.
Lin Yingzhou finally couldn’t hold back. The tip of his brush hovered over the paper, creating an ink dot. “Are you looking at the script or at me?”
Shen Yusi tilted her head, puzzled. “Can’t I look at both?”
Lin Yingzhou didn’t reply. He continued his brushwork and explanation. “The lines are mostly round and smooth. The brushwork relies on flat movement and lifting-pressing…”
The bristles of the weasel-hair brush made a rustling sound as they swept across the paper.
On the screen, the light was bright, casting deep shadows from Lin Yingzhou’s brow bone.
He was wearing a light gray set of pajamas, his sleeves rolled up halfway, the muscles of his forearm forming sharp lines. Veins undulated beneath his pale skin with every lift and press.
Shen Yusi couldn’t help but press the screenshot button, planning to send it to Xie Sheng later.
The click was unusually clear in the quiet environment.
The air froze for a few seconds.
“Shen Yusi.” Lin Yingzhou turned his head slightly towards the screen, his tone stern. “Focus.”
Shen Yusi immediately sat up straight, placing her hands neatly on the table, the picture of a model student. “Alright, Teacher Z. I’m sitting up straight now.”
Just as Lin Yingzhou thought she had finally settled down, Shen Yusi couldn’t help but speak up again. “But Teacher Z, the way you said my name just now sounded really nice. Could you say it one more time?”
Lin Yingzhou looked at the out-of-control slip of the brush on the paper and sighed slightly. “If you’re not going to pay attention, I’m hanging up.”
Shen Yusi protested, “I am paying attention! I’m being very serious.”