Similarly, when Fang Ya’en learned that Ye Meng had successfully captured Li Jin Yu, she also asked the same soul-searching question: “What’s it like dating a brother like that?”
They were in the car at the time, along with Fang Ya’en’s husband, parked in the hospital’s underground garage, waiting for Li Jin Yu to come down from upstairs. The four of them were planning a couples’ weekend date.
Ye Meng sat in the passenger seat, looking down at her phone to send Li Jin Yu their location. She smiled, “A brother like what?”
Fang Ya’en had her window open and lit a cigarette, saying: “You know, the kind who’s tall and handsome, yet innocent, seems full of stories, a bit depressed and weary, but damn still has a touch of sexiness, and from a distance, even looks cold and abstinent—that kind of premium brother.”
Ye Meng couldn’t stop laughing and pointed to the back seat, “Aren’t you afraid your husband will deal with you when you get home?”
Fang Ya’en’s husband worked at a government agency, was very sociable, and had a proper appearance. Wearing rimless glasses, he heard Ye Meng’s teasing and smiled without speaking.
Ye Meng put away her phone, looking like she was soaking in honey: “It just feels like being both a big sister and a little sister.”
Fang Ya’en tapped her cigarette, feigning disdain: “Tsk, look how smitten you are.”
As she spoke, Li Jin Yu emerged from the elevator. Ye Meng spotted him immediately. After not seeing him for two days, the sight of that tall, cool figure made her heart race uncontrollably.
Fang Ya’en put out her cigarette, solemnly welcoming this first boyfriend after Ye Meng’s long period of singlehood.
As the rear door opened, before Li Jin Yu could get in, Fang Ya’en introduced first: “This is my husband, Chen Jian, who works at the Investment Promotion Bureau. From now on, you two are also ‘girlfriends’.”
The bizarre atmosphere between the two men nearly made Ye Meng laugh out loud in the passenger seat. Afraid that Li Jin Yu might feel awkward, she added: “Li Jin Yu, just call him brother-in-law.”
After an awkward greeting, the two men who had been forcibly made “girlfriends” fell silent, quiet as a painting. Especially Li Jin Yu—looking at him through the rearview mirror, his features were clear, his five features so standardly handsome that he resembled a living sculpture.
Since her marriage, Fang Ya’en truly hadn’t seen many decent-looking handsome men for years. Now, thanks to her best friend, she’d even picked up such a premium specimen.
After some idle chat along the way, the atmosphere finally became less awkward. Chen Jian, with his government agency background, was indeed a people person. He quickly warmed up the atmosphere, and Li Jin Yu wasn’t a cold person either. With Fang Ya’en’s help pushing things along, the two men soon became familiar with each other.
Mostly, Li Jin Yu followed Chen Jian’s topics, rarely initiating his own. Whatever Chen Jian mentioned, he could respond with a couple of sentences. Chen Jian found that Li Jin Yu was quite easygoing and could engage in any topic, yet he gave off a faint sense of distance, a feeling that you could never truly get close to him.
If such a person weren’t Ye Meng’s boyfriend, Chen Jian would most dislike dealing with this type at work. Being talkative, Chen Jian couldn’t help but whisper in Fang Ya’en’s ear once they got out of the car: “I think this guy is a bit difficult to get along with.”
Fang Ya’en gave him a cold side-eye. “Not everyone’s as easy to get along with as you. Any woman can strike up a conversation with you.”
Chen Jian spat and asserted confidently: “I’m telling you now, they won’t last long.”
“No need for your concern. When my girl gets tired of him, maybe the next one will be even taller and more handsome. But if you say anything inappropriate in front of them, be careful—I’ll confiscate all your secret money hidden in the hair dryer when we get home!”
The restaurant was famous in town, with large crowds queuing every day. This meal was arranged very last minute, and Ye Meng had struggled to get a number in advance.
Their table was by the window in the main hall. Ye Meng had paid three times the price to exchange for it because it overlooked the entire serene Ningsu Lake like a mirror. This spot was impossible to book without three or four days’ notice, but Ye Meng had sweet-talked and pleaded all afternoon, finally agreeing to pay 300 yuan for the exchange.
One can only say that people these days are truly cold-hearted.
If it weren’t to celebrate Li Jin Yu’s belated birthday, she wouldn’t have wanted to be such a sucker. She had only found out yesterday that Li Jin Yu’s birthday had passed last month. According to Qiao Mai Mai, he had locked himself at home that day and hadn’t even gone out.
The hall was packed with people, with no empty tables, and a long queue of people at the door, watching vigilantly for anyone about to finish. As soon as Li Jin Yu and Ye Meng entered, they instantly attracted some glances.
This was the first time Chen Jian experienced what it meant to “stop traffic”—wherever they passed, wandering gazes followed. Fang Ya’en, probably used to being around them, seemed quite comfortable, and that couple, likely accustomed to being stared at since childhood, didn’t even notice.
Only he felt timid and awkward under those gazes.
Perhaps it was this emotion that made Chen Jian somewhat unbalanced later. He was now a small leader in a government agency, with a house, car, and child. His parents were healthy, his family harmonious, and he looked presentable. From childhood to adulthood, he had always been the center of attention, and even now, among his peers, he was considered a winner in life.
However, among these four people, he discovered that everyone’s focus seemed to have shifted, and so, not quite sure of his motives, he began to interrogate Li Jin Yu.
“Little Li, have you bought a house in town?” Chen Jian asked casually after ordering, handing the menu to Li Jin Yu.
Ningsu Town’s housing prices had approached 20,000 yuan per square meter this year. The new development that opened at the beginning of the year was already over 20,000 and still in high demand. Without connections, it was difficult to get a good floor. For civil servants like Chen Jian, as long as parents provided the down payment, the housing fund could cover the mortgage, and with low town consumption, the pressure wasn’t too great.
Li Jin Yu took the menu, paused, and said: “No.”
Chen Jian nodded, providing what he considered useful information: “Interested in looking at some properties? A complex just opened for sale recently. I have a friend who has a good relationship with the boss and can help you get a better floor. If you’re planning to marry Ye Meng, you should prepare early. There’s not much good land left in town; most of it has already been developed.”
How could he afford a house? His life was already tight enough.
Li Jin Yu glanced at Ye Meng but still politely replied: “Okay.”
Fang Ya’en gave him a fierce look, but Chen Jian felt the question was harmless and followed up with: “What about your job?”
If Li Jin Yu couldn’t detect the ill intentions behind this, then he would have wasted these years of life experience. Before he could speak, Ye Meng, holding the menu, suddenly asked: “Brother-in-law, do you eat meatballs?”
“No,” Chen Jian noticed a warning in Ye Meng’s eyes. He was quite afraid of this girl—she seemed harmless, but she was fierce. So, he awkwardly closed his mouth.
Unexpectedly, Li Jin Yu lowered his head and smiled, “I’m an unemployed wanderer.”
Chen Jian’s expression said “Not my fault, he said it himself,” and he felt quite relieved. See, what’s the use of just being handsome? A person needs brains to live, so he sincerely began his official speech: “You could try taking the civil service exam. At your age, you can still enroll in a prep class.”
Fang Ya’en was extremely annoyed, “Can you not suggest the civil service exam to everyone you meet? Are you the only ones with iron rice bowls?”
Chen Jian wore an aggrieved expression, “I was just saying.”
Li Jin Yu removed the scarf from his neck and said: “I can’t take it.”
“Why?” Now even Fang Ya’en was curious. Had he been in prison?
“I only have a high school diploma.”
Tsk, Chen Jian sighed inwardly, probably a vocational high school too. Indeed, God had only left him with one window.
Chen Jian said: “There are still very few provincial exams you can take. You might want to check next year.”
Li Jin Yu wasn’t too interested; working would mean less time to care for his grandmother. But he still politely said: “Okay.”
At the same time, Li Jin Yu’s phone on the table dinged once. He looked down.
Ye Meng: [Look outside.]
“Bang bang—” A deafening explosion, almost simultaneous with his turning head. Ye Meng suddenly leaned in, and in full view of the two stunned people across and perhaps many more watching eyes around, she straightforwardly kissed him on the lips. The moment of Li Jin Yu’s astonishment, he saw behind him what looked like a silver snake shooting into the night sky from the serene lake, exploding in the air.
At the same time, the restaurant thoughtfully provided a background track.
Outside the window, fireworks like a series of shooting stars flew into the sky one after another, forming brilliant flowers in the air. Even the wind couldn’t suppress the sparks, which rose and fell in profusion. Even the flowers in the corners couldn’t contain their brilliance.
The whole world seemed to suddenly light up.
And in the restaurant, the music flowed, soaring with passion.
“Our hearts are like fireworks One flower connected to another Not falling alone Driving away loneliness Turning around, you’re waiting for me in the same place Perhaps occasionally stopping Ending thoughts of moving forward Not afraid of loneliness And the vastness of sky and sea Wanting to add flowers to your brocade, a grand feast…”
Then, he heard Ye Meng whisper in his ear— “Do you know how much I envy your high school diploma?” “Hmm?” “Because it met you earlier than I did. Happy birthday, baby.”
Fang Ya’en was impressed. Chen Jian was also impressed. When it came to charming younger men, if Ye Meng claimed second place, no one would dare claim first.
After dinner, Fang Ya’en dragged Chen Jian straight away, while Ye Meng held Li Jin Yu’s hand to stroll around Ningsu Lake. The lamps by the lake still glowed one by one, casting a green, dim light that made the calm lake surface shimmer.
The two stopped at the railing where they had first met. Ye Meng said: “Why are you so quiet? Aren’t you moved?”
Li Jin Yu leaned against the railing, and looked down at her, “You’re going to live in the city now?”
“Mmm, I need to go to work. Can’t just eat and do nothing.” Ye Meng sighed, both hands on the railing.
Li Jin Yu didn’t speak, his gaze never leaving her, quietly leaning against the railing, still not responding.
Ye Meng couldn’t stand this kind of gaze from him. She moved forward to hug him, burying her head against his chest, feeling the vibrant life force and heartbeat of the young man.
Li Jin Yu, leaning against the railing, held her in his arms, bowed his head to look at her deeply, and said in a suppressed low voice: “I may never get better.”
Ye Meng froze, instinctively looking up from his embrace to see him, but he covered her eyes. Ye Meng moved his hand away, and he said: “Don’t look, I’m confessing.”
The next second, she felt her lips being gently bitten, sipped little by little.
“I’ve always hoped someone could help me get through this, but I especially didn’t want that person to be you.”
There were few people by the lake, but occasionally night joggers passed by. Li Jin Yu, as if no one else existed, kissed her neck, her earlobes…
Ye Meng’s entire body seemed to burn, getting hotter and hotter. Her spine tingled down to her feet. She heard her own heart pounding like a drum, heard him say in her ear:
“Because I know I will fall for you, without exception.”