Chen Yuzheng spoke openly.
His gentle whisper sounded by her ear, carrying a breathy laugh.
Yu Nuo’s upper body was tilted awkwardly, her shoulder touching his chest. This was an uncomfortable position for her. He had only pulled her slightly, without embracing or holding her in place. She was trembling nervously, not daring to get too close to Chen Yuzheng, yet unwilling to move away from this distance. Her arms were weak and powerless, barely supporting herself on his leg to maintain balance.
Chen Yuzheng slightly arched his back, whispering in her ear, his breathing heavy: “Sister, aren’t you going to give me an answer?”
Her heart felt like it was soaking in soft cloud cotton candy, and also like being on wave-tossed seas, sinking down and floating up. Yu Nuo wanted to urgently say yes to him, but tears kept falling beyond her control.
Her eyelashes were wet as she nodded, stuttering her response: “I… okay.”
But Chen Yuzheng wouldn’t let her off: “Okay what?”
Yu Nuo was still crying, speaking with a thick nasal voice, “Chen Yuzheng, I like you too.”
After a pause, he no longer needed to hold back. He casually raised his hand, fingers curled, knuckles intimately touching her eye corner, slowly wiping away the transparent tears.
“Sister, you’re so cute when you cry, what should I do if I can’t help wanting to bully you?” Chen Yuzheng’s eyes were dark, his voice low, with a slight hint of mischief.
…
…
The cicadas were still chirping chaotically, occasionally people getting off night shift passed by, casting curious glances their way. Even the salty smell of the shrubs became sweet, mixing with the crisp air unique to summer nights. The two sat silently on the bench for a while.
Staring absently at the lamplight shadows at her feet, Yu Nuo asked softly: “It’s so late? Are you going back?”
Chen Yuzheng’s legs were dangling, “I don’t think so.”
“Hm?”
“It’s quite nice to just sit here alone for the night.” Chen Yuzheng said lazily, then added: “If you have the heart to leave me here.”
She willingly let herself be morally blackmailed, blinking: “Then I’ll keep you company…”
Actually, Yu Nuo didn’t want to leave either, afraid that if she went up and slept, she would wake up to find all of this had disappeared.
The fresh sweat was still sticky on her clothes. Yu Nuo looked down and smacked a mosquito on her leg.
Then she thought of Chen Yuzheng and glanced at his exposed skin from the corner of her eye. There was only a bit of light here. She couldn’t help moving a little closer, leaning in to look carefully, and found his arms were covered in mosquito bites of various sizes. She looked up worriedly: “Why are you such a mosquito magnet? Are they itchy?”
“It’s fine.”
“Why didn’t you say anything when you got bitten?”
Chen Yuzheng tilted his body: “Well, it would have ruined the mood.”
Yu Nuo stood up: “Wait a moment, I’ll go upstairs to get some Florida Water.”
After saying this, she paused.
Chen Yuzheng: “What’s wrong?”
Yu Nuo put down her phone, patted her pockets, and after a while said: “I… I think I forgot my key.”
Chen Yuzheng’s eyes shifted downward.
Yu Nuo followed his gaze and realized she was wearing her house slippers.
Chen Yuzheng spoke meaningfully, unable to hold back his smile: “You came down in such a hurry? Were you afraid I would run away?”
Yu Nuo curled her toes, her face red as she stubbornly replied: “I just didn’t feel like changing shoes.”
Chen Yuzheng asked calmly: “So, you can’t go back now?”
Yu Nuo nodded, explaining: “I have another key in my school dorm, but I’ll have to wait until 6:30 tomorrow morning when they open the school gates.”
—
Midnight.
Yu Nuo followed Chen Yuzheng back to the car, and he turned on the air conditioning. Cool streams of air blew up from below, relieving the itchiness from the mosquito bites a bit.
Yu Nuo’s phone still had fifty percent battery, with power-saving mode on, it should last until tomorrow.
Chen Yuzheng turned off the overhead light and told her: “Put on your seatbelt.”
Noticing the car starting, Yu Nuo obediently pulled the seatbelt over, lowered her head to fasten it, and asked: “It’s so late, where are we going…?”
“My friend’s shop.”
Seeing him take out his phone, preparing to make a call, Yu Nuo nodded without asking further.
Chen Yuzheng called Ji Gaozuo: “Where’s that shop your girlfriend runs?”
Ji Gaozuo: “What for?”
“I’m heading there now.”
Ji Gaozuo was silent, “Just you?”
“One more.” “Is it your fish-loving girl? Tsk, weren’t you acting tough earlier, even blocking me? Now you remember your daddy?”
Chen Yuzheng couldn’t be bothered with his nonsense, “Give me the address, hurry up.”
…
…
The car followed the navigation for over an hour before pulling into a parking lot. Yu Nuo recognized the Bund’s landmark in the distance. She made a random guess – was he planning to take her to watch the sunrise by the river this time?
Chen Yuzheng parked the car and got out. Walking up from the parking lot, they walked side by side. Yu Nuo lowered her eyes, secretly watching his hand hanging by his side. She wanted to hold it but was too shy to take the initiative. They had just gotten together, and everything still felt unreal to her.
While Yu Nuo was lost in thought, her hand was suddenly held. She immediately raised her head in surprise, meeting his smiling eyes.
Her heart racing, head fuzzy as they walked for a while, she also secretly curled her fingers. Passing through the space between his thumb and index finger, touching his smooth hand, it was a bit cold.
Chen Yuzheng suddenly laughed, glancing sideways: “Sister, are you this excited just holding hands?”
Yu Nuo was stunned.
He looked natural as he pointed out: “Your hand is very sweaty.”
Yu Nuo became embarrassed and instinctively tried to pull her hand back, but he held it tightly.
Chen Yuzheng seemed somewhat confused by her innocence: “Why are you so easily embarrassed? Let me see your ID card sometime.”
Yu Nuo: “Why do you want to see my ID card?”
“I suspect my girlfriend is underage.”
Yu Nuo: “……..”
Although she was a bit annoyed, she still couldn’t help feeling happy inside about his words “my girlfriend”.
Walking out of the parking lot, the Bund area had lost its daytime bustle and prosperity, with only the street lamps by the plane trees still lit.
Several 24-hour convenience stores were still open. Yu Nuo followed him asking: “Where are we going?”
“To get you a make-up cake.”
—
The pink and white shop door was pushed open, making the feathers on the dream catcher flutter. Hearing the tinkling of wind chimes, the person sitting behind the counter looked up: “Welcome.”
Chengcheng stood up, seeing an eye-catching young couple. She couldn’t help but admire them internally as she smiled: “Hello, what can I help you with?”
“Can you still make cakes here?”
Chengcheng answered: “Of course, we’re open 24 hours.”
She suddenly remembered: “Oh right, are you Zuo-ge’s friends?”
Chen Yuzheng nodded.
Chengcheng went around the table, running to get a menu: “Please find a seat first.”
Yu Nuo looked around at the shop’s decoration, which was like a half cat cafe style, with very cozy decorations and several cats.
Yu Nuo raised her hand, gently patting a ragdoll cat’s head, asking softly: “Is this your friend’s shop?”
Chen Yuzheng said flatly: “Not a friend, I’ve already cut ties with him.”
Yu Nuo: “………”
Chengcheng led them to a window seat. Yu Nuo hesitated for a moment before choosing to sit on the same side as Chen Yuzheng.
He rested his chin on one hand, turning to look at her, “What flavor do you want?”
“Anything is fine…” Yu Nuo had choice paralysis, looking at the beautiful cakes on the menu, she asked: “How about tiramisu?”
“Sure.”
Chengcheng confirmed: “So tiramisu style? What size would you like?”
Yu Nuo said: “Just the smallest size is fine.”
Chen Yuzheng: “Make it 24 inches.”
Chengcheng and Yu Nuo simultaneously: “………”
Yu Nuo reminded him: “Isn’t 24 inches too big? We won’t be able to finish it.”
Chen Yuzheng didn’t see anything wrong: “Isn’t bigger better for cakes? That’s what makes it feel like a birthday.”
Yu Nuo: “My birthday has already passed….”
Chengcheng held back her laughter: “Okay, got it.”
…
…
The cake was made quickly. Chengcheng lifted the curtain and called out to them: “Would you like any writing on the cake?”
Chen Yuzheng stood up, “I’ll write it.”
Yu Nuo sat in her spot, obediently waiting for him.
She seriously played with the sunny doll decoration on the table, suddenly feeling excited.
From childhood until now, it seemed no one had ever properly celebrated her birthday. At most, Yu Ge would take her to the dessert shop next to their house for cake after school.
Back then, Yu Jiang gave them very little pocket money. Yu Nuo knew he was always trying to save money to buy a computer, so she would always order the cheapest tiramisu in the shop.
Yu Ge only thought she liked eating it and didn’t say anything, giving her the small piece entirely. Later, Yu Nuo developed a habit of eating tiramisu with Yu Ge every birthday.
Later when Yu Ge became a professional player, sometimes he was so busy he couldn’t even remember his own birthday. Yu Nuo gradually stopped celebrating birthdays too.
She was still lost in thought when suddenly all the lights in the shop went out.
Yu Nuo was a bit afraid of the dark and was startled, thinking there was a power outage. She stood up, preparing to check the situation.
Candle flames suddenly lit up in the darkness as Chen Yuzheng came out carrying the cake.
Chengcheng clapped her hands, singing the birthday song.
The weak, dancing flames illuminated Chen Yuzheng’s delicate face. Yu Nuo was still in a daze when he came before her.
Chen Yuzheng put the cake on the table.
On the black powder of the tiramisu was her name’s initials, followed by a domineering, flowing “Conquer”.
It matched perfectly with the signature he had written on her sweater before.
Chen Yuzheng raised his hand, hooking her chin: “What are you spacing out for? Make a wish.”
…
…
After Yu Nuo blew out the candles, while cutting the cake, Chen Yuzheng recalled her previous devout expression and asked: “Others make wishes in tens of seconds, how come you took nearly five minutes? You have quite a lot of wishes, huh? Will the heavens agree to them all?”
Yu Nuo thought he was saying she was greedy and smiled a bit embarrassedly: “I didn’t wish for too much, I just thought for a few minutes.”
“What did you wish for?”
Yu Nuo was very serious: “I can’t say that, it won’t come true if I say it.”
Chen Yuzheng: “Was I in it?”
Yu Nuo hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
He shamelessly said: “Did you secretly pray to heaven to keep this hard-won little brother forever by your side?”
Yu Nuo: “……..”
“Those weren’t the exact words.” She handed him the cut cake, smiling, “But the meaning was similar.”
This time it was Chen Yuzheng’s turn to be stunned.
Yu Nuo looked back at him: “Actually, until now, I still feel like I’m dreaming.” She paused, speaking seriously: “So I secretly told heaven that if I really am dreaming, I hope they can let me dream a little longer.”
—
The next morning.
Chen Yuzheng drove her back to school to get her key.
The car stopped, and Yu Nuo unfastened her seatbelt, seeing his obvious fatigue with dark circles under his eyes, somewhat worried: “Don’t drive back, take a taxi, and come back for the car after you’ve slept.”
Chen Yuzheng didn’t care much: “It’s fine.”
“No.” Yu Nuo leaned over, turned the car key, forcibly shutting off the engine, “I’ll take you to get a taxi, it’s too dangerous for you to drive now.”
Yu Nuo took Chen Yuzheng to the neighborhood entrance, and only after seeing the taxi drive away did she feel relieved enough to go home.
After taking a shower, she felt completely drained of energy. But her mind was very clear. Fiddling with the smiley bracelet on her wrist, she lay on the bed waiting for Chen Yuzheng’s message.
As she waited, drowsiness crept up, and she unknowingly fell asleep.
Sleep after staying up all night wasn’t very peaceful. Yu Nuo woke up to find it was only three or four in the afternoon.
The first thing she did was grab her phone from beside her pillow.
The latest message was from Chen Yuzheng telling her he had arrived.
Looking back up, last night’s moon was still there. She breathed a sigh of relief, and after a few minutes, now finally had a sense of reality that this wasn’t all a dream.
Chen Yuzheng was now really her boyfriend…
Yu Nuo also replied to him: “I’m awake”
He didn’t reply, probably still sleeping.
Yu Nuo lay on her back, feeling happy while staring at the ceiling for a while, then thought of something and buried her face in her shark plush. She couldn’t sleep anymore and got up from bed.
A few days ago when Yu Ge came home, there were still some crabs left uneaten in the freezer.
Yu Nuo thought for a moment, first messaging Yu Ge: “Brother, I’m planning to eat the crabs in the fridge, do you want any? I can make them and bring some to you?”
Fish: “No need, eat them yourself.”
Yu Nuo: “If you’re not eating them, I’ll bring some to a friend later”
Fish: “Whatever you want”
Yu Nuo hummed a tune while washing the crabs slightly and putting them in the pressure cooker.
She had to go back to school these days too, so Yu Nuo threw all the bedding into the washing machine and did some cleaning.
When the phone alarm rang, Yu Nuo ran to the kitchen, took out the cooked crabs and put them in a thermal container.
Right on time, she changed clothes and left carrying the crabs. On the bus ride to TG’s base, Yu Nuo’s joyful mood dropped a little as worry suddenly surged.
They had only been apart for half a day, would she seem too clingy like this…?
—
At this time, TG’s people were mostly up. She went directly to the second floor training room to find them.
Seeing Yu Nuo come in with a thermal container, Killer was somewhat delighted and immediately took off his headphones: “Wow, Yu Nuo what did you bring?”
Yu Nuo opened the lid: “Bought some crabs a few days ago, couldn’t finish them, so thought of bringing some to you all.”
The others hadn’t arrived yet, only Ultraman and Killer were in the training room.
Yu Nuo asked: “Is Chen Yuzheng not up yet?”
Ultraman spoke while chewing: “Don’t know what he was doing yesterday, went out early in the morning, didn’t come back until almost noon today, he’s still catching up on sleep.”
Yu Nuo smiled a bit guiltily, watched them eat for a while, and seemed to have no reason to stay longer.
She had specially come over mainly because she had to see Chen Yuzheng. Just feeling that being able to be closer to him was enough.
Yu Nuo stood up: “Well, I’ll go now, enjoy the food.”
Ultraman made a sound, wiping his greasy mouth: “Leaving already? Stay for dinner. Xiang Jiajia is here too, you can hang out with her.”
Yu Nuo shook her head: “No need, I have to go back to school today.”
But as soon as she went out the door she ran into Chen Yuzheng, who was coming up the stairs, wearing loose pants and also looking like he had just woken up.
Before Yu Nuo could speak.
Ultraman came chasing from behind: “Sister Nuo, Sister Nuo, wait, want me to see you off?”
Chen Yuzheng woke up a bit more: “Why did you come over?”
“I came to bring you all some crabs.”
Not noticing anything unusual in the atmosphere between the two, Ultraman said: “Come on, I’ll walk you to get a taxi.”
Yu Nuo smiled and declined politely: “I can manage myself.”
Chen Yuzheng frowned: “What’s it to you? Get lost.”
Ultraman had no idea why he was angry, confused: “What’s wrong with you, is your morning temper that bad? What’s wrong with me seeing someone off? It’s basic courtesy, you know?”
“Since when is it your place to see her off?”
Ultraman felt something was odd, but he was slow on the uptake and couldn’t quite figure out what was wrong with that statement. He watched as Chen Yuzheng accompanied Yu Nuo downstairs.
He followed them, “I’ll see her off too, what’s wrong?”
—
Neither noticed Ultraman trailing behind them. Chen Yuzheng asked her: “Why did you come and leave so quickly? Trying to tease me?”
Yu Nuo explained: “No, I just came to drop off the crabs, I have some things at school.”
While waiting for a taxi by the roadside, Yu Nuo kept feeling Chen Yuzheng’s eyes on her.
She felt a bit awkward, hesitated for a while before turning to meet his gaze.
Chen Yuzheng was smiling, watching her without speaking.
Empty taxis passed by, but neither reached out to flag one down. Yu Nuo’s heart bubbled with sweet and sour little bubbles, and she couldn’t help asking: “What are you thinking about?”
Chen Yuzheng said casually: “Thinking… about where I want to take you.”
She was confused: “Where?”
Chen Yuzheng confirmed with her: “Do you want me to tell you?”
Yu Nuo was still confused: “Sure, go ahead.”
He leaned close to her ear and whispered, in a voice only they could hear, “A place… where I can make sister cry.”
Yu Nuo: “…….”
He was definitely doing it on purpose, coming right out with such direct flirting. Yu Nuo felt like she was about to burn up, even redder than the freshly cooked crabs.
Yu Nuo and Chen Yuzheng’s relationship had just changed, and she hadn’t fully adjusted yet. At this moment she really couldn’t handle his words.
Chen Yuzheng toned down his expression and stopped teasing her, “Just joking with you.”
Her voice was muffled: “I know you’re joking.”
Seeing she wasn’t angry, Chen Yuzheng pushed further: “Or, if sister wants to make me cry instead, that’s fine too.”
Yu Nuo mumbled: “Why would I want to make you cry.”
He answered seriously: “You bully me a bit, I bully you a bit, isn’t that how we deepen our relationship?”
Yu Nuo was speechless.
When she first met him, Chen Yuzheng was arrogant towards everyone, with a look of disdaining everything. Yu Nuo barely dared to say two words to him.
Back then, how could she have imagined that one day he would so naturally and matter-of-factly say such shameless things to tease her.
After dawdling for another ten minutes or so, although reluctant, Yu Nuo still said to him: “You should go back inside now, I need to return to school too. By the way, I might be busy preparing for my graduation defense during this time and won’t have time to visit you. If you need anything, you can message me, or call.”
After hearing her ramble, Chen Yuzheng asked: “Just got me and now leaving me to be a widower?”
Yu Nuo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, somewhat helplessly: “How did I trick you, what widower? Isn’t the summer season starting soon? You should focus on training too.”
Another empty taxi appeared in the distance. Yu Nuo felt if they delayed any longer they might end up dawdling for another half hour, so she waved to flag it down.
The taxi slowly reduced speed and pulled over to the curb.
Before getting in the taxi, Yu Nuo turned to look at Chen Yuzheng. As she was about to open the car door, she paused, quickly walked up to him.
Not daring to look at his expression, Yu Nuo awkwardly opened her arms and hugged his waist. Just for one or two seconds, then quickly sprung back, hiding her blushing face as she hurriedly said to him, “I’m going now.”
Before Chen Yuzheng could react, the taxi door slammed shut, leaving only a trail of exhaust.
After a moment, he smiled and lazily took out his phone, sending her a message:
Conquer: “Taking advantage of me and running away?”
After a few minutes, Yu Nuo replied: “…Next time I’ll let you take advantage back”
—
Chen Yuzheng walked back towards the base, swaying up a few steps while playing with Chen Tony circling at his feet.
He held his phone, looking at Yu Nuo’s message, and looked up. Ultraman was leaning against the doorframe, holding an apple in his right hand, looking at him with an indescribable expression.
Chen Yuzheng asked in a very good mood: “Do you need something?”
“Did you… did you see Yu Nuo off?”
“Yeah.”
He was about to go in when Ultraman grabbed him.
Chen Yuzheng shook his arm but couldn’t shake him off. He lazily lifted his eyelids: “What are you doing? Don’t get handsy with me, it’s annoying.”
Ultraman looked sick: “I just saw you getting handsy with Yu Nuo at the door, practically whispering in her ear, what’s wrong with you? Chen Tony hasn’t even gone into heat but you’re already there?”
Seeing Chen Yuzheng’s expression was still as carefree as ever, Ultraman heavily added: “I know you have a secret crush, but this is basically sexual harassment, isn’t it? It’s quite disrespectful to girls. You might think you’re handsome, but girls will just find you creepy.”
“What’s creepy?” Chen Yuzheng was unhappy now, “What I do with my girlfriend is none of your business, can you stop peeping?”
Ultraman thought he had gone deaf: “Your what friend?”
Chen Yuzheng told him word by word: “My. Girl. Friend.”
The half-eaten apple in his hand fell to the ground as Ultraman’s jaw dropped. His voice almost cracking as he exclaimed, “What?? Your what???”
“Girlfriend, did you hear?” Chen Yuzheng was quite patient, “If you didn’t understand I’ll tell you again, she is now my, Chen Yuzheng’s, girlfriend, get it?”
“………….”
Ultraman was completely stunned by this sudden bombshell.
Chen Yuzheng didn’t leave either, also leaning against the other side of the door, enjoying his expression.
After a while, Chen Yuzheng was a bit confused: “Ultraman, why do you look so desperate, don’t tell me you also had a secret crush on my girlfriend?”
He deliberately emphasized “my girlfriend” heavily.
Ultraman remained frozen for a moment, eyes straight ahead, somewhat excitedly howling: “I really never imagined… never imagined you’d actually dare to do it?? Do you know who your girlfriend’s brother is? Do you know??? When he finds out and gets angry, his fans’ spit alone could flood our base, you know that!!!!”
Chen Yuzheng impatiently cleaned his ear, his tone still provocative: “Who doesn’t have fans?”
Ultraman: “?”
“You dare compare your pathetic number of fans with others?”
“Do you have some misunderstanding about my current popularity?” Chen Yuzheng laughed and asked back: “Do you even have the pathetic number of fans I have?”
“………”
He was left speechless by Chen Yuzheng’s repeated rebuttals, and had invisibly been mocked and stepped on. Ultraman was so angry he said: “Fine, you’re amazing, Chen Yuzheng you’re amazing, with this mental fortitude, no wonder you’re a pro player.”
Ultraman nodded several times in succession, taking out his phone from his pocket.
Chen Yuzheng glanced at him, seeing him open Weibo, and smugly asked: “What are you doing? Planning to announce my relationship?”
Ultraman gave a cold laugh: “I’m going to DM Fish right now, notify him of this earth-shattering good news.”
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