The fake heiress loves to act? The max-level boss isn't interested in playing along.

Once upstairs, Fu Hua opened the door and turned on the lights, and a wave of warmth wafted out.

She took the things from Xie Ci's hands and placed them on the dining table: "Why did you bring so much?"

"Here's some of the New Year's goods that we prepared at home, and some that the army gave us. I'll give you some."

Xie Ci took off his coat, revealing that he was only wearing a military green sweater underneath.

He rubbed his frozen hands; his knuckles were even a little white.

"Please have a seat, I'll go boil some water."

Fu Hua went into the kitchen as she spoke.

Xie Ci stood in the center of the living room, looking around at the apartment he had helped find.

It's not big, but everything is kept clean and tidy.

Just like she used to live alone, perfectly at ease.

The bookshelves were crammed with books, and several foreign language journals and draft paper were spread out on the table.

Two pots of jasmine, with their pure white flowers, are growing on the windowsill.

Upon closer inspection, the entire room was filled with this refreshing and pleasant fragrance.

"What would you like to drink?"

Fu Hua asked from the kitchen.

"Osmanthus Oolong".

He said thank you.

Fu Hua paused for a moment.

Ever since that time she came to thank me, she has brewed this tea.

She casually remarked that this was her favorite.

After that, every time he came, he only ordered this.

The water has boiled.

Fu Hua washed the apples and oranges, cut them up, arranged them on a plate, brewed some tea, and brought them out.

The two sat down at a small table in the tea room.

Through the rising steam of tea, I watched the snow falling softly outside the window.

The tea room was very quiet.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the air fell silent for a moment.

Fu Hua casually flipped open a copy of "Frontiers in Materials Science" on the table.

Xie Ci took out a book on military theory from his bag.

They each looked at their own things, occasionally glancing up at each other.

Or you could offer them some fruit and say a few words.

Like an old couple who have been together for many years,

There's no need to deliberately find topics to talk about, and it doesn't feel awkward.

After reading for about half an hour, Fu Hua suddenly put down the book.

Looking at Xie Ci, he said, "You have something to do today!"

It is not a question.

Xie Ci stopped turning the pages of the book, looked up, and asked, "Why do you say that?"

"You read a total of three pages, with a five-minute interval between each page turn."

Fu Hua said calmly, "When you read, you read at different speeds depending on the content. Today it was too regular, and I only did this when I was distracted."

Xie Ci smiled wryly: "Fu, you should use that observational skill for reconnaissance against the enemy."

"so what?"

Fu Hua picked up her teacup. "What is it?"

Xie Ci remained silent for a few seconds.

He remembered that when he returned home yesterday, his grandfather had a serious expression on his face and called him to the study.

The old man sat behind his mahogany desk, his face grim: "Xie Ci, you've broken things off with that girl from the Fu family."

"grandfather--"

"Let me finish."

The old man raised his hand. "What's the situation with the Fu family now? The real daughter and the fake daughter are causing a huge scandal, the adopted daughter is in jail, and the biological daughter has run away from home."

How complicated must a child from such a family be? What you need for the path you will take in the future is a stable, honest, and supportive partner.

No matter how talented Fu Hua is, her family background is a stain.

He stood ramrod straight as he said his farewell: "I don't care."

"You may not care, but the organization does, and the Xie family does."

Grandpa stared at him. "I've already found someone for you. Xu Qing, the granddaughter of the Xu family, just graduated from the National Defense University. She's got impeccable family background."

Her grandfather and I were old comrades-in-arms; her father worked at the General Armaments Department, and her mother at the space agency. A family like that, a girl like that, is worthy of you.

"Grandpa, feelings aren't about being a good match—"

"It's simply a matter of whether they're a good match!"

The old man slammed his hand on the table. "Xie Ci, don't be confused. You're young now and think love is the most important thing."

When you reach my position, you will understand that marriage is the union of two families and the integration of resources.

What can Fu Hua bring to the Xie family? Only a bunch of trouble!

Those words swirled in Xie Ci's mind.

He couldn't tell Fu Hua.

Given her personality, if she knew his family objected,

If one knew that Xu Wei existed...

She would turn around and leave immediately, without any hesitation.

She never bothered with things that required fighting for.

She wasn't that determined to begin with.

Moreover, they had never formally defined anything between them.

"It's nothing."

Xie Ci concluded with a forced smile, "It's just some transfers within the military; we're still waiting for notification."

Fu Hua looked at him; his eyes were clear, as if they could see right through people's hearts.

But she didn't ask any further questions, she just nodded.

She picked up the book again: "Hmm."

That's what she is.

She always stays true to herself, and no matter how much the outside world fluctuates, it cannot disturb her inner peace.

Sometimes Xie Ci felt that she was like a tree with deep roots.

We will endure the storms, but we will never be uprooted.

But it was precisely this about her that made him both at ease and afraid.

What's reassuring is that she will never become anyone's appendage.

What I'm afraid of is... she might not really need anyone.

The tea room fell silent again.

The snow outside the window was falling even harder, swirling and fluttering.

It enveloped the entire world in pure white.

After a long while, Xie Ci suddenly spoke up: "Student Fu."

"Um?"

"Ever since I heard you play the cello once at the nursing home..."

Xie Ci looked at her, "I've never had a chance to properly hear you play. It's snowing outside right now..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but he conveyed the meaning.

Fu Hua closed the book, thought for a moment, and stood up: "Wait."

She went into the bedroom and soon came out carrying a cello.

This was a gift from Zhang Wen's mother.

In gratitude for her successful performance at the nursing home.

The violin case was brand new; she had never played it, but she would often take it out to maintain it.

She sat down by the window, adjusted the position of the piano, and tried a few notes.

Xie Ci sat in the same spot and looked at her.

Fu Hua closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then lowered the bow.

It is Scarborough Fair.

The moment the melody began to flow, Xie Ci was stunned.

He doesn't understand music, but he can understand emotions.

The sound of this piano is so pure!

Like snow, like moonlight, like a mountain stream.

Yet beneath this cleanliness lies an indescribable desolation and resilience.

Fu Hua was very focused while playing the violin.

Eyelashes drooped, fingers moved across the strings.

Every movement was precise and natural.

The snow outside the window became the background, and the dim yellow light outlined her profile.

Xie Ci suddenly understood why two world-class mentors were vying for her.

This isn't just talent; it's an instinct.

Deep within the soul lies the perception and expression of beauty.

She found the beauty of logic in mathematics.

What we find in scientific research is the beauty of truth.

What I found in music was the beauty of the soul.

How could someone like that be ordinary?

As the music ended, its lingering notes slowly faded away in the tea room.

Fu Hua put down her bow and looked up at Xie Ci: "How was it?"

Xie Ci opened his mouth, but found that he couldn't make a sound.

He cleared his throat before saying, "No wonder."

"No wonder what?"

No wonder you deserve the best of everything.

Xie Ci said, his voice a little hoarse.

"Fu Hua, you deserve all the good things in this world."

Fu Hua smiled, a faint but genuine smile: "Thank you, I don't need to be worthy of anyone, I just need to be myself."

She put the zither away and sat back down at the tea table.

She picked up the slightly cooled tea and took a sip: "However, thank you for understanding."

Outside the window, the snow is still falling.

Length of night.

During the last few days of winter vacation, in a private room on the second floor of Dexinglou, the best hotel in Beijing...

The seats in Class 6 were packed.