Mrs. Fu, please be mindful of the appropriate boundaries.

"You're allowed to come, but I'm not?" Yu Shinan retorted.

"No. I just think you're busy." After all, it's his mother's house; he can come back whenever he wants.

Yu Shinan picked up the things; what she was struggling to carry seemed light in his hands. "Let's go."

"Hmm." Fu Sichen took two steps, then stopped and called out to him, "Brother Nan, um, I..."

She hesitated.

Yu Shinan stopped and turned to look at her. "What's wrong?"

Fu Sichen hesitated, his two index fingers hooked together behind his back and twisting tightly. "You...you brought Lin Yuanqing back to see Aunt Yu?"

A large truck drove by on the side of the road, shattering her voice into pieces.

Yu Shinan didn't hear clearly, so he turned around and took a few steps toward her, getting closer.

"What did you just say?"

"I'm bringing this bone-strengthening wine for Aunt Yu. It's made with leopard bones." Fu Sichen pointed to the gift box he was carrying. "It can be drunk or used externally. Aunt Yu said her legs hurt before."

Fu Sichen paused, lowered her voice, and, holding back tears, said, "If Lin Yuanqing is here, I won't go."

"Whether she's there or not, what does it have to do with whether you go or not?" Yu Shinan frowned, clearly not understanding the connection between the two.

A sense of unease inexplicably rose in her heart. She didn't like Lin Yuanqing, but he wouldn't force her to.

But is it really because of Lin Yuanqing that the boundaries are drawn so clearly?!

Does this mean that from now on, in order to avoid Lin Yuanqing, even he has to avoid her?!

Yu Shinan was never a pleasant person. When his face turned cold and tense, he exuded a murderous aura that was ingrained in his very bones.

He had kept his true nature completely hidden all these years, but suddenly he lost all restraint in front of her.

His displeasure was obvious.

I wonder if it was because of her obvious rejection of Lin Yuanqing that she provoked his dissatisfaction.

He had never spoken to her so harshly before.

Fu Sichen's heart skipped a beat, and he felt a slight pain.

She didn't know how to say it; there were some things he didn't know, but Lin Yuanqing did.

The awkwardness of being face-to-face was indescribable.

Moreover, she admitted that she couldn't let go of him yet. Secretly liking him like this, and having to pretend to be indifferent, made her heart ache.

It hurts.

The pain was so intense that I wanted to cry, but I had to force a smile. That feeling was unbearable.

"I'm afraid of disturbing you," she said softly.

"Won't."

Fu Sichen didn't say anything more. She walked forward, and he followed suit.

The man had long strides, and he quickly walked ahead of her.

She followed behind him, one step behind, as the afterglow of the setting sun shone on them, casting two faint shadows on the ground.

The summer wind carried waves of heat, and the back of his T-shirt was soaked with sweat.

When placed on the back, it reveals broad and firm muscle lines.

He walked ahead of her, his broad body seemingly blocking out all the sunlight for her.

There are some people you shouldn't like, and you should tell yourself to control yourself.

But when you get close, your eyes will unconsciously fall on him and follow him around.

Yu Shinan walked very slowly, but it seemed that she walked slowly as well.

Always one step behind him.

The girl who used to chatter incessantly beside him, whose smiling eyes he could see with just a turn of his head, is now invisible to him unless he turns around.

Many elderly people were cooling off by the roadside near the entrance, fanning themselves with palm-leaf fans. Fu Sichen, who knew them well, would greet them, "Grandpa, Grandma."

A crisp, clear sound.

This made Yu Shinan glance at him sideways.

The old man smiled and replied.

If someone doesn't know them, they might ask, "Is she from the Yu family? They say she's getting married, how wonderful!"

"No, that's not her. This girl is my younger sister; she's at school."

"She looks young, a delicate and tender little girl, probably seventeen or eighteen."

"They're in college, almost twenty."

"Has the future wife of the Yu family's son come to visit?"

"I've been here once or twice, and he's good-looking. This guy attracts women."

"Of course they're looking for a woman. I heard the wife is pregnant, so they need to get married quickly."

As Fu Sichen greeted everyone, snippets of conversation drifted into my ears. It seemed that many people already knew about his upcoming marriage.

She couldn't get to his side, so Yu Shinan simply stopped and waited for her.

Fu Sichen was momentarily dazed and bumped into him. "Ouch..."

His leg tripped over one of his legs, and he fell forward.

Yu Shinan, with both hands full of things, couldn't bother grabbing her arm, so he simply stretched out his arm to block her back and hugged her. "Can't you watch where you're going? How could you trip over something like this?"

Fu Sichen grabbed his T-shirt with one hand and put the other on his arm, where he was loosely hugged.

He smelled of soap, cigarettes, and sweat, but it wasn't unpleasant; rather, it was intoxicating—a pure masculine scent.

On a summer evening, his body felt like a furnace, baking her face.

He stood with his back to the light, shrouded in shadow, making it difficult to see his face even up close.

But when he looked down, he could see her face, which was flushed red from the heat.

But it looks good.

He had an urge to pinch her cheek.

Fortunately, he was carrying something, so he wasn't in any danger.

Fu Sichen steadied himself, stepped back slightly, and then released his grip.

Ding Jing brought out a basin of water and casually splashed it into the vegetable garden. Looking at the girl standing next to Yu Shinan at the end of the alley, she smiled, "Si Chen is here?"

"aunt."

Fu Sichen greeted him with a smile, then quickly walked a few steps ahead of Yu Shinan. Her long hair swayed with her running steps, and she was carrying a small backpack that was attached to her back.

She was so lively, running and jumping around that Yu Shinan even wondered if she was over twenty.

She's just like a little girl coming home from school.

But he actually...

Yu Shinan suddenly looked away, his eyes darkening and becoming brooding, it was unclear who he was angry with.

Ding Jing smiled at Fu Sichen, "It's good that you came to visit. You even brought things. I've told you so many times. Your aunt has everything you need."

She smiled and pointed to her small garden, where the abundant summer rains and suitable climate made the vegetables grow exceptionally well.

"I know you don't need anything. I brought it because it's a token of my affection," Fu Sichen said with a smile, acting coquettishly.

Ding Jing pulled her inside, saying, "I've prepared all the groceries. Your aunt will cook something delicious for you tonight."

"OK."

Fu Sichen showed up especially to support her; when she entered, she didn't see Lin Yuanqing.

"Put your things in your brother Nan's room first. You can sleep there tonight. I'm too lazy to clean the other rooms." Ding Jing pushed her there, then said to Yu Shinan, "Go and tidy up your room."

Yu Shinan hummed in agreement, but then asked, "Where do I live?"

Ding Jing turned to look at him, somewhat puzzled, "Aren't you leaving tonight?"

"I'm not leaving," Yu Shinan replied.

Ding Jing didn't expect him to stay. "If you're not leaving, then tidy up the room next to yours. It's just for one night, so make do with it."

Ding Jing showed no pity. Usually, only Yu Shinan came back to her room; the other rooms were mostly filled with miscellaneous items and were a mess.

Men don't make such a fuss; Si Chen will definitely take care of him.

Are they going to stay here too?

Fu Sichen felt as if his heart had been stabbed, and his chest suddenly felt tight and uncomfortable.

"Auntie, I've already eaten. I'll take a taxi home. I'm not staying here anymore," Fu Sichen refused.

"What's wrong? Didn't you say you were free this weekend and wanted to come here for some rural life?" Ding Jing asked curiously.

"No. It's rare for Brother Nan and Sister-in-law Lin to come back." Fu Sichen smiled woodenly. "I won't disturb your conversation. Besides, she'll object if I get the room."

Fu Sichen wanted to call Lin Yuanqing by her name, but since they were in front of Aunt Yu, it wouldn't be appropriate to call her by her name directly.

sister in law?

Yu Shinan looked at her. This way of addressing him made him feel inexplicably uncomfortable. She herself had said she wouldn't call him that, but she did it again?

She assumed Lin Yuanqing was also there, so she didn't want to stay here.

Yu Shinan put the things she brought aside without explaining.

It wasn't until Ding Jing said, "You mean Lin Yuanqing? She didn't come?"

not coming?

Fu Sichen looked towards Yu Shinan. Why didn't he explain himself clearly?!

Her heart was on a rollercoaster ride.

Suddenly feeling awkward, Fu Sichen blushed slightly. "I thought Brother Nan came back to see you with her."

"They don't have your kind heart. Your aunt's biggest regret is not having a daughter." Ding Jing smiled. "Go on, put your things down, play for a while, I'll go cook."

Yu Shinan walked into the room, and Fu Sichen followed. The room was a renovated old house, clean and tidy, with very casual furniture inside.

The man's room exuded a rugged feel, containing a bed, a single sofa, a wardrobe, and a small desk, all made of wrought iron and painted black. A tire decoration hung on the wall.

Hard, rough, with simple lines.

As soon as you walk in, you're surrounded by his presence.

Fu Sichen had been here many times and was familiar with the layout, but she had never stayed here.

His clothes, which he had changed out of, were lying on the bed in the room.

He usually dressed fairly formally at the Silver Bay Hotel, but since it was inconvenient to move around afterward, he changed into a T-shirt and sweatpants.

Knowing I was leaving soon, I didn't hang it up.

Yu Shinan picked up the clothes and draped them over his arm, then casually straightened the sheets, making the creases he had pressed down disappear. "You'll sleep here tonight."

"Did you bring any clothes?" he asked.

"I brought them." She was only staying one night, so she brought pajamas, underwear, and a dress.

Summer clothes are thin and don't take up much space; a backpack is all you need.

Yu Shinan walked out, his gaze sweeping over her legs. "Change into long pants, there are a lot of mosquitoes."

Fu Sichen already knew that he had been bitten by mosquitoes twice on his leg while he was standing and talking in the yard.

itch.

She bent down to scratch, leaving scratch marks on her fair legs. "I forgot there are a lot of mosquitoes in the summer, and I didn't bring any pants."

Yu Shinan stared at the marks on her legs, his Adam's apple bobbing. He looked away and went outside.

Fu Sichen put down her bag and walked to the desk, where there was an ashtray filled with cigarette ash, and an unfinished mechanical model on the table.

Fu Sichen could picture him sitting in a chair, a cigarette dangling from his lips, assembling these intricate little modules with just one glance.

His expression was calm, completely absorbed in something, the tobacco curling in the firelight, just like her heart, which was now curling up in pain.

Fu Sichen ran his fingers along the edge of the table, then sat down in the chair where Fu Sichen had sat, his seat overlapping Fu Sichen's.

Yu Shinan pushed the door open and came in.

Perhaps because he harbored ill intentions and felt guilty, Fu Sichen quickly got up when he heard the door open.

She was too close, and her legs slammed against the bottom edge of the table, causing her to scream in pain and fall back down.

The person was lying on the table and even pushed his model over.

It hurts so much, my scalp feels swollen.

Fu Sichen rested his head on the edge of the table, his hands pressed against his thighs, "Ouch, ouch, ouch..."

Yu Shinan, "..."

Speechless.

I couldn't help but laugh again.

He walked over, reached out and ruffled her hair as she lay there. "Why are you in such a hurry to get up?"

"You suddenly came in..."

Tears welled up in her eyes from the pain.

Yu Shinan placed the bottle on the desk, then pushed her away by placing his hand on the back of the chair, making her face him. "Did you bump your leg?"

For a while, the pain was so intense that every nerve in my body felt stretched taut.

He bent down and pressed his palm on her leg, and she seemed to freeze.

The man's large, warm hand landed on her thigh, and Fu Sichen felt completely numb, as if his palm was covered in thorns that dug deep into her flesh.

She was unable to move, so stiff that she barely knew how to react.

Yu Shinan looked up. "Does it still hurt a lot?"

"It doesn't hurt that much." Fu Sichen tried to pull her legs back, but there wasn't much space while she was sitting in the chair.

She was wearing super short hot pants today, and there wasn't even any clothing to block her from hitting the table; her fair and tender legs went straight in.

Yu Shinan gently massaged her legs; they were very white, presenting a completely different tone from his bronze complexion.

He really had no other intentions, but this position...

……

He looked up at Fu Sichen and saw her quickly avoid his gaze. Even in the dimly lit room, her flushed face was still visible, and her eyes, which were watery from the pain, looked as red as if they were filled with fireworks.

It makes you want to swallow your saliva.

Only then did Yu Shinan belatedly realize how inappropriate his actions were. The skin beneath his palm was delicate, and the bones were slender; it seemed as if he could break her with the slightest force.

He abruptly released her hand, straightened up, and handed her the small bottle he had just placed on the desk. "It's mosquito repellent. Spray it on yourself."

The voice was hoarse, the tone of a voice exposed to the sun, dry, raspy, and flaming.

He turned and went out, the door closing behind him.

The old-fashioned door had glass panels on the frame, so it wouldn't close properly unless you closed it carefully; it would only close loosely.

Fu Sichen watched his back as he walked out through the window glass and the crack in the door, then opened the glass door to the front porch of the room and went into the courtyard.

He took a basin, scooped water from the urn—cold water—and buried his face directly in the basin, giving it a quick wash.

From Fu Sichen's angle, only his profile could be seen. Water droplets rolled down his cheeks, gathered on his chin, and then dripped down.

Fu Sichen suddenly felt his mouth was dry and wanted to swallow the drop of water.

The skin on his legs still retained the warmth of his palms, the rough, abrasive feel making his heart burn.

Fu Sichen covered her face with her hands, her eyes red with sadness. In the past, she thought that loving or not loving was something she could easily pick up and put down, and it wouldn't be particularly difficult.

But now I realize it wasn't that easy after all.

Fu Sichen grabbed the mosquito repellent he had gotten and sprayed it on himself.

She went outside and into the kitchen. "Auntie, let me help you."

"I don't need your help, it's simple. It'll be done in a minute." Ding Jing is used to tidying up by herself and doesn't need anyone's help. "Go out and get some fruit. The figs are growing well this year, they're big and sweet, you should try some."

Fu Sichen was kicked out by Ding Jing. Yu Shinan stood by the urn, turned on the tap, and filled it up.

Seeing her come out, he pointed to a plate on the small tea table in the yard, "Figs."

"Did you pick these for me?" Fu Sichen smiled with narrowed eyes. She quite liked eating them. She picked one up, broke it open, and took a bite.

Yu Shinan reminded her, "Peel off the skin, but don't hurt your lips."

"Know."

Those who knew the story would hiss occasionally.

"What's wrong?"

"Is my lip bleeding?" Fu Sichen stared at the fig she had just bitten, which was stained with blood.

She's going to look in the mirror.

The man reached out and grabbed her hair, pulling her close to him and making her look up.

Yu Shinan reached out and lifted her chin, staring at her cracked lower lip.

His brow twitched, and he reached out and tossed the half-eaten fig from her hand. "I told you to peel it before eating. It was just picked, and the white sap inside the peel is very irritating. Where are your ears?"

He scolded her, noticing her slightly swollen, broken lower lip, and asked, "Where else does it hurt?"

"The tip of the tongue".

Fu Sichen's eyes were brimming with tears, and her little tongue peeked out a little.

The tip of her tongue is red.

Yu Shinan stared at it, feeling as if his whole body was on fire, burning hot.

It's even hotter than this humid weather.

He lightly touched her lower lip with his fingertip. "Serves you right. You hurt your tongue. Let's see how you eat later."