Were You the One All Along?

Chapter 52: 

When Fang Huaineng opened his eyes again, it was already the next morning. The curtains in the room were still drawn, and it took him a moment to realize that the bed next to him was empty. Fang Huaineng was startled and jumped out of bed, fearing that, just like last time, he would wake up to find his little cat had run away. He hurriedly got off the bed and was about to head for the front door when he suddenly heard a sound and stopped in his tracks. Walking into the kitchen, he saw Li Ting standing at the stove, wielding a spatula as he prepared breakfast.

Hearing the noise, Li Ting merely turned his head slightly, casting a glance at Fang Huaineng's disheveled hair and dazed expression, and asked, "What are you doing?"

Fang Huaineng came to his senses and suppressed a smile, replying, "Nothing, I just wanted to let you know that there are still plenty of ingredients at home."

Li Ting already knew this; unlike the last time he returned to an empty place, this time, when he opened Fang Huaineng's fridge and cabinets, he found them packed with various foods, most of which were fresh ingredients nearing their expiration dates. This left Li Ting quite puzzled.

"You can cook?" he asked. Otherwise, why buy so much?

Fang Huaineng replied nonchalantly, "No."

Li Ting stared at him, and after a moment, responded with a dissatisfied huff.

Fang Huaineng simply smiled faintly.

When he returned from washing up, the table was already set with several breakfast dishes. Li Ting had made an egg roll, corn pancakes, and porridge. Just looking at the colors made it evident that the taste would surely be excellent. Indeed, after taking a bite, Fang Huaineng almost discarded the elegant manners he had cultivated for twenty years, feeling as if he would chew on the chopsticks and bowl along with the food.

This cooking skill… could land a job in a restaurant right away.

A little chef!

During the meal, neither of them spoke. Both lowered their heads and ate in silence.

The creamy egg roll paired with the sticky millet porridge had a soft texture that brought back to Fang Huaineng the taste of another sensation he had encountered last night – even softer and stickier – and instantly transported him to fond memories.

Feeling uneasy about showing his emotions, he cleared his throat softly in a bid to regain his composure. However, unable to conceal his true feelings, he couldn't help but express his praise, "It's delicious."

Li Ting nodded, looking far more composed than Fang Huaineng felt at the moment. Fang Huaineng couldn't help but feel that, were Li Ting not there, the intimate moments they shared last night might seem like nothing more than a dream he had concocted in his mind.

Time slipped away, alternating between proximity and distance, warmth and coldness, echoing the mercurial nature of his little cat's behavior.

When his cat is unhappy, it lashes out with its claws, but when it senses its owner is distressed, it will obediently allow itself to be cuddled.

What a cunning little creature, Fang Huaineng thought to himself, realizing he would need to be infinitely attentive in their future interactions.

Their breakfast left him with a mix of amusement and melancholy.

Li Ting had already finished his meal before Fang Huaineng was done, and he only began clearing the table after Fang Huaineng had completed his own meal. Initially wanting to lend a hand in washing the dishes, Fang Huaineng's clumsy attempts earned him a disapproving glance from Li Ting, who then dismissed him from the task.

Once Li Ting had efficiently tidied up the kitchen, he announced to Fang Huaineng, "I'm leaving."

Upon hearing these words, Fang Huaineng's expression turned glum.

He thought they would have a whole day to spend together.

Li Ting looked at him and explained, "I have my midterms today." Fang Huaining made an effort to appear less frustrated, took a few steps with him, and said, "I forgot to mention yesterday that I called your roommate after you came back." Li Ting heard this and nodded, "I know." Fang Huaining noticed him turning to leave and continued, "If you ever need to use a computer, just come over. My computer is better than the one in the library." Li Ting nodded again, bent down to put on his shoes, and just as he was about to pull open the door, Fang Huaining spoke again. "Don't forget tomorrow." Li Ting paused, and for the first time, a hint of a smile appeared in his eyes. "What?" Fang Huaining stepped forward earnestly, "Wednesday, you said you were free." They still had some practical matters to clarify. Li Ting thought for a moment, "Am I?" Fang Huaining leaned in closer, "You are." Li Ting raised an eyebrow. Fang Huaining's upper body was now right in front of Li Ting: "Five o'clock in the evening, at A University gate." Just as their breaths were about to intertwine, Li Ting instinctively took a step back, pulled the door open, and walked out. "Fine." … Li Ting wasn't lying to Fang Huaining; he really did have an exam today. He first returned to his dorm to change clothes and encountered Tian Dian, who had been waiting and hadn't attended class.

After being bombarded with anxious questions from the other party, Li Ting briefly relayed what Fang Huaining had told him the day before before managing to escape. After the exam, Li Ting went to get his phone repaired. His electric bike had sustained considerable damage and seemed to be completely totaled. The phone repair shop suggested that his phone should also be discarded since the repair costs might exceed the price of a new one. "Your memory is too small, and the screen is small too. How do you play games? Student, look at this one; although it's expensive, it offers great value for money. Larger software runs super fast on it, without any lag at all!" Li Ting stood at the counter, listening to the enthusiastic pitch, staring at the price for a long time without movement...

On Wednesday, Fang Huaining woke up early. To be precise, he hadn't slept well the previous night and had a series of strange dreams. At one moment, he dreamed of inviting a little scammer to dinner but couldn't get through to him on the phone. He used a computer to locate him, only to find that the marked location had already left Earth. Then, he dreamed that he was late for a meal, and when he arrived, he found a gray-skinned, big-eyed alien standing at the A University gate, no taller than half his height. Fang Huaining asked, "Who are you?" The alien replied, "How do you not remember me? I'm your little cousin!" After that, Fang Huaining couldn't fall back asleep.

Thinking about today's date, he tossed and turned nervously and excitedly in bed before finally getting up and heading to school. When he arrived at the research institute building, he saw Yu Yaoqing, whom he hadn't seen for a while, standing there. She had been active in the institute all along; Fang Huaining had just tried to avoid her as much as possible.

He wouldn't have paid much attention today, but coincidentally, Yu Yaoqing was talking to a boy he somewhat recognized. Fang Huaining thought for a moment and realized that the person was Liu Lei, wasn't he? It wasn't unusual for computer science students to appear in the institute, but he didn't realize that he knew Yu Yaoqing too.

Remembering those books, Fang Huaining suddenly recalled that he had once copied a book list, and on that day at the library, he ended up running into Yu Yaoqing. Did she see the book list? Could it be her who borrowed the books for him? This line of thought made sense.

As Fang Huaining pondered, he walked in and was stopped by his senior sister, Xu Miaomiao. Xu Miaomiao dressed like a literary youth, looking ethereal; she was famous for her beauty at A University and was one of Ni Weinian's most proud students. However, she was sneakier than Fang Huaining, mostly staying in the lab, and when she spoke, it sounded as if she hadn't eaten for half a year.

"Huaining, A Library just called and said there's a problem with the system. They asked me to check it. A Library is so far away..."

"And they want me to check it... don't they know what 'remote' means..." Fang Huaining paused. "I'll go in a bit." Xu Miaomiao nodded slowly and returned to the lab, where she encountered Wu Yi, who asked if she had eaten breakfast. Xu Miaomiao replied, "I haven't... the cafeteria is so far away." Wu Yi and Fang Huaining exchanged looks of disbelief.

Before heading to A Library, Fang Huaining took all the borrowed books with him. With other matters and people on his mind, he didn't spend time figuring out who had borrowed the books—whether it was Yu Yaoqing or someone else—and decided it was best to just return them.

Upon arriving at A Library, he addressed the issues with the management staff. It wasn't complicated, and Fang Huaining resolved it quickly. Thinking of his senior sister, he left his mobile number with them so they could contact him directly in case there were system issues again.

The management staff asked a work-study student to come over to take notes. The student said, "Please call the inquiry desk first; I can save your number directly in our library's contact list, so it won't get lost next time." Fang Huaining complied. However, just after he dialed the first few digits, his phone displayed a complete number, indicating that A Library had called him over a month ago.

Fang Huaining was puzzled. "You searched for me before?" he asked. But how did the A Library staff get his number?

Previously, they had always contacted the research institute directly to resolve system issues. The work-study student seemed uncertain, "Did we?" Fang Huaining also found it unusual and waited for the other party to take note of his number before hugging the books and preparing to leave. The work-study student then commented, "Hey, hasn't Senior Fang been looking for these books? You've finally borrowed them?" Fang Huaining responded with a vague "Um." The work-study student continued, "A few months ago, someone else inquired about these books, and Senior Fang acted quickly." Fang Huaining was momentarily taken aback, "Who was it? A girl?" The work-study student shook his head, "A boy." Fang Huaining's frown deepened, "Who?" The work-study student replied, "Actually, it's not someone from our school; he's a delivery guy. You probably don't know him." A delivery guy?

Fang Huaining's heart skipped a beat, and he pressed for an answer once more, "Who is it?" The work-study student, sensing the urgency in his voice, hastily replied, "His name is Li Ting. Don't worry, Fang senior; if he comes again, I'll make sure to call security to escort him out." Upon hearing this name, Fang Huaining's expression changed dramatically, his face shifting between shock and calm before settling into a cold, icy demeanor, his brows furrowed as he stared intently at the person in front of him. The work-study student was intimidated by his gaze and quickly looked down. Noticing the book in his hands, he suddenly remembered something.

"Oh right, these books... weren't they the ones Li Ting wanted to be placed here that day?" He struggled to recall anything else, but having worked here for three years, he was well-versed in remembering book titles. Remembering this, he began to recall more. "That day... he..."

"What else did he say?" Fang Huaining pressed.

"He also asked me to call someone else, saying he wanted to come and pick up the books, but I couldn't get through..." Mid-sentence, the work-study student glanced at Fang Huaining, as if suddenly realizing something.

Fang Huaining's expression grew grave, and he suddenly looked down at his feet.

He also remembered that on the day he borrowed the books, besides Yu Yaoqing, he had actually encountered someone else—someone who had stood right at his feet, staring back at him with wide eyes...

So... was it you all along?

Fang Huaining's expression shifted multiple times, but ultimately, he couldn't help himself. He arched his eyes and pressed his lips into a radiant smile.

The work-study student facing him: "!!!???"

Chapter 53: Should We? Li Ting had exams on Wednesday, two in total, and after submitting his papers right on time, he got on the bus and returned just past five.

Fortunately, when he arrived at the entrance of A University, it was almost effortless to find Fang Huaining. He spotted him standing beneath the giant sculpture at a glance.

It was a bit chilly today; Fang Huaining wore a mid-length black trench coat over a white T-shirt, paired with denim jeans and sneakers. It was a very ordinary outfit, yet almost every girl passing by was glancing at him.

Li Ting slowed his brisk pace, walking over slowly. Even from a distance, Fang Huaining lifted his head, and upon seeing him, a spark suddenly appeared on his otherwise expressionless face.

As he got closer, Li Ting noticed that Fang Huaining had gotten a haircut; his bangs and sideburns were cut much shorter, accentuating his handsome features and making them more defined, almost akin to the sculpture behind him.

Li Ting looked at him twice and calmly said, "You're late."

Fang Huaining remained quite composed as well, replying with an "Mm" and adding, "I just arrived too."

Li Ting glanced at the crushed leaves under Fang Huaining's feet and nodded slightly, "Where to?"

Fang Huaining said, "Let's eat first."

He initially wanted to invite Li Ting to Xiangmitang, but given the time, it would be difficult to get a table. There were so many people in the shopping street and plenty of familiar faces; any interruptions could lead to disaster. Today must go smoothly.

So, Fang Huaining took Li Ting to another restaurant.

Before they left, he inquired friendly, "Is there anything you don't eat?"

Li Ting found this question a bit familiar and replied, "Nothing."

Fang Huaining nodded in satisfaction.

After turning down two streets, Li Ting caught sight of the sign for a distant restaurant and paused. Fang Huaining lifted his chin slightly and asked, "Do you like seafood?" Li Ting: "......" Fang Huaining was different from the typical penny-pincher; when he mentioned seafood, he truly meant it. Unlike the roadside seafood stalls, this restaurant had a pleasant atmosphere, clearly reflecting a certain level of sophistication. The two of them sat down, and Fang Huaining asked Li Ting what he wanted to eat, but Li Ting remained silent, staring at the price menu. Fang Huaining said, "You've already treated me to two big meals; it's my turn to treat you this time." Li Ting: "......" In the end, Fang Huaining ordered several signature dishes. He had clearly thought this out, considering both the restaurant's reputation and Li Ting's economic situation; after all, Li Ting was a little money-conscious and probably seldom dined at places with such prices. However, Fang Huaining was determined to bring him here for a simple reason: he wanted Li Ting to experience the flavors this place had to offer. Li Ting was mindful of money, but he wasn't intimidated by the disparities that wealth could create. He was frugal but not impoverished, cautious but not insecure; although he had held many low-level jobs, he never appeared weak in front of customers. Regardless of whether they were noble or wealthy, he maintained his composure.

The feeling of inferiority that might arise from being treated to a lavish meal was, in Fang Huaining's opinion, unlikely to affect Li Ting, given his strong sense of self-respect. As a result, Fang Huaining saw no need to humble himself or belittle Li Ting further.

As expected, Li Ting accepted the feast graciously and seemed to be savoring it. However, Fang Huaining noticed that Li Ting's preferences were limited to oysters, sashimi, and sea cucumbers, barely touching the shrimp or crabs.

"Don't you like these?" Fang Huaining asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

Li Ting chewed slowly before responding, "Too much trouble."

Li Ting's hectic schedule rarely allowed him to enjoy a leisurely meal. Over time, he had grown accustomed to quick and convenient food options, often opting for bread, pancakes, or other easily portable items. As a result, he had developed a tendency to avoid dishes like fish and shrimp, which he found time-consuming. In fact, he couldn't recall the last time he had eaten such foods, except perhaps during a visit to Li Eryang's house a few months prior, when he had done so out of necessity.

Fang Huaining paused, his chopsticks hovering in mid-air, as he realized that he hadn't considered every aspect of Li Ting's preferences. A hint of annoyance flashed within him, and he silently donned a pair of gloves before picking up the mantis shrimp in front of him.

Li Ting watched with great interest as Fang Huaining carefully shelled the shrimp, peeling one after another with precision.

By the time a small bowl was filled, Fang Huaining didn't eat but instead pushed the entire bowl in front of Li Ting. Li Ting was taken aback. "Why... did you shell so many for me? Why aren't you eating?"

The words were not spoken by Li Ting but by a sweet couple at the next table. The girl was playfully pouting as she held a crab up to the boy's mouth. The boy confidently replied, "Baby, who told you I'm your boyfriend?" As soon as he finished speaking, Fang Huaining quickly turned her gaze away. After wandering around for a moment, she cautiously looked at Li Ting, only to find him focused on eating the shrimp in his bowl, his ears slightly flushed and hidden in his hair. Fang Huaining's heart raced a little faster. After an arduous effort to finish the meal, the two left the restaurant. They strolled slowly along the long street, hardly speaking. Fang Huaining only asked with curiosity upon seeing the new phone in Li Ting's pocket, "What model did you buy?" Although it was an older version, it was already hundreds of times better than the fake ones Li Ting used to have, making it quite a splurge for someone who usually saved money. Li Ting casually replied, "It just happened to be on sale." Fang Huaining found this strange but didn't press further. The two wandered to the central park of A City, where there was a very large square with a mall and a fountain.

Although it was a weekday, the area was still teeming with people, particularly due to the presence of several nearby universities. As evening fell, the square became a popular spot for young couples.

Li Ting and Fang Huaining stood in the square, taking in the crisp breeze while observing the couples around them, some leaning against each other and others embracing. Fang Huaining pulled her coat tighter and couldn't help but ask, "Are you cold?"

Li Ting, engrossed in reading the advertisement on the large screen, shook his head, appearing oblivious.

"Are you cold?" he asked in return.

Fang Huaining replied simply, "A little."

The temperature had dropped significantly in A City over the past two days, and Li Ting glanced at her thin coat, thinking to himself that she should have dressed more warmly.

Instead, he said aloud, "Let's do something to warm up."

Fang Huaining was taken aback.

Li Ting suddenly pointed to a tree-lined path in the distance, saying, "Let's start from there."

Fang Huaining looked uncertain.

"Running will warm you up," Li Ting suggested, looking at her. "How about twenty laps?"

Fang Huaining remained silent, seemingly unenthusiastic.

Li Ting turned and walked towards the path, and Fang Huaining, feeling frustrated, had no choice but to follow him.

The pathway behind the square lacked the vibrant music and lights, with only dim streetlights casting a warm glow on Li Ting as he strolled among the trees, creating a somber yet peaceful atmosphere.

Fang Huaining watched him, intending to remind him that her chest had hurt yesterday and that she shouldn't be exerting herself, when she noticed he had slowed down. In the half-light, the hand behind his back seemed to gently open towards her...

Fang Huaining was stunned.

Her heart raced wildly.

She held her breath, took a quick step forward, and carefully reached out into the quiet night... to hold that hand.

Li Ting's hand was warm.

Fang Huaining's was even warmer.

In the cool, deep autumn night, their palms pressed together, radiating heat against each other.

Their fingers intertwined.

The last time they walked from the Youyou neighborhood to A University, Fang Huaining found that road somewhat tiring, but today, it seemed to pass in an instant.

Standing downstairs at the community building, Fang Huaining looked at him.

Li Ting was also looking at her.

Li Ting said, "I'm leaving."

Fang Huaining replied, "Okay."

Li Ting tried to pull his hand back but was unsuccessful.

Li Ting asked, "Do you have something to say?"

Fang Huaining thought for a moment. "Originally, I had a lot of questions to ask, but other than the last one, I feel like I already know the answers to the others."

Li Ting inexplicably asked, "What other questions?"

Fang Huaining only mentioned a name: "Liu Lei..."

Li Ting chuckled, "What does that represent?"

Fang Huaining gently tugged, bringing Li Ting a few steps closer. "It means... I know how you feel."

Li Ting shook his head. "You don't know..."

Fang Huaining looked at the way his eyes curved in the moonlight, her heart fluttering with impatience. She couldn't help but blush as she wrapped her arms around Li Ting's waist, pulling him closer into her embrace.

Holding him tight again, Fang Huaining sighed, realizing that even though it had only been two days, she was already going crazy thinking about him.

"So when are you willing to tell me?"

Not receiving an answer, she suppressed her swirling thoughts and chose to ask another question.

"Do you want to... be with me?"

Even though they embraced and shared the same bed, Fang Huaining's heart still felt unsettled; she had never been in a relationship before. The complications with Cai Yang made things more confusing, but this conversation was essential, serving as confirmation of their relationship, which couldn't be vague or uncertain. She needed a clear confirmation.

Especially with someone as cunning as him, Fang Huaining wanted to hear him say it himself.

Li Ting's height brought him close to Fang Huaining's ear, and at such proximity, she couldn't help but look up to meet his gaze. Although she was looking up, her own presence did not diminish. His large eyes sparkled with vibrant energy, devoid of any gloom, making it hard for Fang Huaining to contain herself.

"Do you want to?" Fang Huaining's lips were merely a few inches from Li Ting's, yet he calmly repeated the question.

Li Ting gazed back at her, fully grasping the suppressed feelings, deep affection, and urgency in Fang Huaining's eyes. It seemed that he had finally confirmed something, slowly yet clearly whispering a "yes."

Before he had finished speaking, Fang Huaining's lips, filled with impatience, pressed against his.

This kiss was different from the last fleeting touch; it was solid and real.

Their lips moved against each other, and soon, Li Ting's tongue slipped into Fang Huaining's mouth, entwining and teasing. Li Ting had never kissed anyone before; he didn't know how Fang Huaining kissed, but he sensed that his usually clear mind was boiling over in those moments, becoming increasingly muddled, and he could only react instinctively...

Chapter 54: I Hope You Have Already Thought It Through, and I Believe You Have.

Fang Huaining rushed to the Hyacinth Cafe around noon the next day, right at twelve o'clock. He didn't have much work today; his low efficiency in the morning stemmed from waking up late, a consequence of a restless night. The cause of his poor sleep was a vivid dream that had consumed him throughout the night. The reason for that dream? He had shared an intimate moment with Li Ting downstairs in the Youyou community just before going to bed...

It was tumultuous and unrelenting.

In short, he arrived at the book bar just in time for lunch at the Hyacinth.

Fortunately, Li Ting was also busy; with the midterm exams approaching at A University, the seats in A Library had become scarce, leading to an increase in business for the Hyacinth.

Fang Huaining didn't jostle for a seat among the others; he simply stood at the bar, watching Li Ting wash cups continuously.

From a distance, Wei Ping waved curiously at him: "Excuse me, sir, are you our store's newly hired spokesperson?"

Fang Huaining was reluctantly pulled back to attention by her: "Uh?"

Wei Ping replied, "Otherwise, why are you standing here? Do you think you're insignificant or lacking in presence?"

After her scolding, Fang Huaining realized he was somewhat out of place. He silently retreated to a corner, exposing only half of his body while positioning himself so he could still see the bar.

Wei Ping followed him and asked directly: "Have you two become a couple?"

Fang Huaining was taken aback.

Wei Ping stated, "Your expression tells me everything." The day he made that frantic series of calls, which led Wei Ping and Qian Kun to help find people, she sensed that the situation had changed.

Fang Huaining touched his face, slightly controlling his expression.

Wei Ping probed again: "Did you two kiss?"

Fang Huaining was even more surprised.

Wei Ping teased, "Your eyes have betrayed you."

Fang Huaining quickly averted his gaze.

Wei Ping chuckled, "You really move fast."

However, after staring at Fang Huaining for a while, she suddenly asked seriously, "At this moment, how many people do you think are sitting in our café?"

Fang Huaining was puzzled by how quickly the topic had shifted and felt somewhat confused.

Wei Ping asked again, "How many of them are girls?"

Wei Ping continued, "And how many of the girls are watching you?"

Fang Huaining remained silent.

Wei Ping gazed at him and said, "Huaining, today's young people are quite clever, especially when it comes to crushes; they have sharp eyes and immediate insight. As a friend, I'm afraid this romance won't be easy to pursue. I hope you've thought it through; of course, I believe you have. You understand what I mean, right…"

Fang Huaining's eyes shifted as he looked up at the person behind the bar for a moment, his gaze flickering like ripples creating waves, before finally settling. He looked back at Wei Ping, his tone very serious.

"I've thought it through."

Wei Ping was momentarily taken aback, then smiled and reached out to pat Fang Huaining's shoulder.

"Good son of a mother."

As she spoke, she dragged a chair over for him to sit and wait.

"Spokesperson's special seat."

Fang Huaining was speechless but sat down anyway.

Not long after, Li Ting finished. Today, he didn't have any buns in his pocket; he took off his apron and followed Fang Huaining out of the Hyacinth.

"Where to?"

It was just a meal, yet he wanted to go out to eat.

Normally, Li Ting would never have agreed to this.

Fang Huaining led him along the wooded path of A University, explaining, "To the cafeteria." As he spoke, he gently took Li Ting's hand when there was no one around. Indeed, the hand that had been soaked in cold water all morning was now wet and cold; Fang Huaining softly rubbed it in his palm, sighing silently.

Li Ting didn't mind being led, although he found it odd that this cafeteria might be somewhere Fang Huaining hadn't visited often; why had he suddenly chosen to take him there?

Indeed, ever since Fang Huaining moved away from A University, he rarely ate alone unless his former roommate insisted. Whenever he was by himself, characters like Yaoqing would often appear out of nowhere.

Before entering the cafeteria, Fang Huaining released Li Ting, chose a quiet spot for him to sit, and then went to get food, asking Li Ting what he wanted to eat.

Li Ting thought for a moment and surprisingly listed several dishes. When faced with Fang Huaining's astonished expression, Li Ting explained, "I used to come here often." However, it was always to bring food to others; he had never eaten there himself.

Fang Huaining understood and nodded, then joined the line.

Li Ting watched him from a distance. There were four cafeterias at A University, and this one was situated between the School of Computing and the Law School, so many computer science students recognized Fang Huaining.

Just as Li Ting had anticipated, everyone was surprised to see the headliner; some whispered among themselves, while others approached him directly to chat.

Fang Huaining's demeanor turned aloof again; he engaged with those he knew but merely cast glances at strangers as a form of forced politeness.

After an arduous wait in line to buy food, Fang Huaining brought what he had selected to Li Ting. Building on Li Ting's choices, he added many more dishes. As he handed over the chopsticks, he also passed the meal card to Li Ting, his expression softening once more.

Li Ting remained unmoving.

Fang Huaining took the card back and said, "When I'm here, we eat together. When I'm not, you can come over and eat by yourself. Of course, I'll be around most of the time."

Li Ting still didn't move.

Fang Huaining, feeling helpless, asked, "Do you really like eating buns that much?"

Li Ting raised an eyebrow and replied, "What do you think?"

Fang Huaining was ready with a response: "I didn't say I'd give you the card for free."

Li Ting inquired, "Why not?"

"Like Liu Lei, it's rented."

Li Ting asked, "How much?"

Fang Huaining pondered for a moment and said, "Two hundred for a month, one hundred fifty for two months... deducting my half, with a family discount, for a semester... about ten dollars."

Li Ting could only respond with a long pause.

Fang Huaining added, "I just topped it up with money; not using it would be a waste."

Saying this, he stubbornly pushed the card towards Li Ting, carefully picking out a fishbone from in front of him and placing it into Li Ting's bowl.

Uncertain whether he sensed Fang Huaining's insistence or had other plans, Li Ting finally accepted the card.

After dinner, Fang Huaining still needed to return to the research institute; it was unclear when he would finish work today, so the two couldn't return together in the evening.

As they emerged from the cafeteria and stood under the tree, Fang Huaining bid farewell to Li Ting. During dinner, he had asked Li Ting for his new phone, which Li Ting had happily handed over. After fiddling with it for a while, Fang Huaining returned it to him.

"I'm leaving." "Mm." "See you tomorrow." "Mm."

After saying this, neither of them moved. They stood there for a little longer. Li Ting's lunch break was short, and he had to hurry back to work. Just as he was about to turn around, he suddenly stumbled and lost his balance after stepping on something behind him.

Given Li Ting's agility, it shouldn't have been so easy for him to trip, but he didn't expect Fang Huaining, who was standing behind him. As he leaned forward, hands reached out steadily, quickly supporting Li Ting's arm, then wrapping around his waist, giving him a firm hug before casually releasing him. The whole action was executed in one fluid motion.

"Be careful," Fang Huaining reminded him seriously, amid the passersby.

Li Ting turned back quickly, his gaze locking onto the serious face before him for a moment, before he gave a faint nod. As he was about to turn away, he suddenly halted and extended his hand, fingertips tracing along Fang Huaining's slightly flushed ear, down the back of his neck. His icy fingers then slipped into the collar of Fang Huaining's shirt, brushed against his collarbone, before withdrawing them back out. Discarding what seemed like a fallen leaf from Fang Huaining's hand, Li Ting kept his serious expression and said, "You too." The feeling of a heat rising in his chest made Fang Huaining's face fall into a stunned silence: "......"

Returning to the dormitory after work, Li Ting found that it was already dark. Surprisingly, Tian Dian hadn't come back yet. Li Ting waited until the other coworkers had finished showering before getting ready to wash up himself, only getting into bed afterwards to open his phone. His phone had been handled by someone in the afternoon, and the new home screen indeed displayed a familiar grapefruit logo. Li Ting tapped it open. The interface seemed a bit different from before, and while he was about to examine it more closely, a dialogue box popped up from the top with a message from a lemon avatar. F: Still not asleep? Li Ting typed out a response. L: What's this? F: I made a slight revision and added a chat function. "Can the chat function be added just like that?" Li Ting asked, his curiosity piqued.

Li Ting found it a bit unbelievable. F: Besides that, there are some other changes. You can try it out first, and if you don't understand anything, just ask me; it shouldn't be difficult. L: Oh. L: [Eye Roll] L: Eye Roll L: Eye Roll[Eye Roll] F: ? L: Trying it out. F: ... F: [Heart] F: Heart F: HeartHeartHeartHeart F: I'll try it too. L: ..... F: It got colder again today. Is it cold in the dorm? L: Not cold. F: Is there air conditioning? Did the place you lived before have air conditioning? L: What is air conditioning? F: …An invention on Earth. Doesn't your planet use it? L: No, we have natural energy for heating, like making fire by rubbing wood. F: Well, we have natural methods on Earth too. L: ? F: People. L: [Eye Roll] Usually, the two of them face each other—one cold and aloof, the other solitary. While they could talk, those subtle and ambiguous silences occasionally crept in. However, right now, in this little online space, they chatted casually, as if they had returned to some moment in the past when everything was just as it had been. On the other end of the text was still that imaginative and clever extraterrestrial boy… Before they knew it, it was nearly midnight.

Considering that Li Ting had to work the next day and fearing that he might not get enough rest, Fang Huaining spoke up first to say goodnight. After receiving a reply, he reluctantly closed the chat window and opened the notes app.

The new version of the notes app had been modified into a dual-person format, with L-kun and F-kun each occupying one side. They could update their schedules and also view each other's. Since both of them were quite busy, this feature allowed them to fill in their upcoming arrangements anytime and anywhere, making it easy for the other to know when they would meet. Fang Huaining also took privacy into account, adding a lock button for the notes so that if Li Ting had any plans he didn't want Fang Huaining to know about, he could choose to hide them—this was quite considerate.

After browsing through and feeling satisfied, Fang Huaining wrote his first official entry in F-kun's notes section.

F-kun: November 10, 201X My little gray alien is back.

Just as he was about to close it, he noticed that L-kun had also updated his notes. Fang Huaining opened it, surprised for a moment, then smiled faintly.

L-kun: November 10, 201X The "World of Li Ting" is back in publication.

Chapter 55: Thinking of You All the Time.

After not seeing each other the previous night, Fang Huaining woke up early the next day to buy breakfast and waited at the entrance of Youyou Community for Li Ting so they could walk to A University together. Following their usual brief farewell, Fang Huaining headed to the computer lab.

He had class today, and coincidentally, it seemed that the Information Engineering department also had classes, leading him to run into a boy named Liu Lei in the hallway. Liu Lei was eating breakfast, and a petite girl was standing beside him, likely his girlfriend.

Liu Lei spotted him immediately and greeted Fang Huaining with enthusiasm. Perhaps recalling Li Ting's library card, Fang Huaining felt positively toward this boy; instead of his usual cold demeanor towards strangers, he politely nodded in response.

Noticing this interaction, the girl beside Liu Lei asked a couple of surprised questions.

"So you are Fang Huaining?" she inquired. Liu Lei continued, "We're in the student union, and we're about to develop a system. We will probably need your help."

Fang Huaining initially didn't understand, but soon grasped the situation.

During the second period, the research institute called him back. As he went upstairs, he heard Wu Yi say, "Teacher Guo is looking for you."

Fang Huaining was puzzled. Wu Yi added, "It's a new case, a small system for the student union. You know who applied for it, right?"

"The asset management office approved it so quickly this time and specifically requested you. Yu Demeiren really pulled some strings to get you on board this time." Fang Huaining frowned slightly. Wu Yi comforted him, "Hey, are you really reluctant? If you don't want to, just treat it as some extra cash. It won't take long to sort out anyway." As soon as he finished speaking, Teacher Guo came downstairs to find Fang Huaining, with Yu Yaoqing following by his side. It's quite normal for the school to need help from the research institute for new systems and projects. Generally, students would be eager to take on such tasks, as they get to earn money and gain experience. Even if they have other commitments, they usually find a way to make time. Yu Yaoqing also thought that Fang Huaining wouldn't refuse. Although he seemed aloof, he was very serious about academic matters. Unexpectedly, before Teacher Guo could finish introducing the situation, Fang Huaining, the main person involved, shook his head and said, "Sorry." Teacher Guo was taken aback. "What's wrong? Are you having difficulties?" Fang Huaining nodded. "I'm a bit busy." Teacher Guo replied, "Is Old Ni's project really that tight? Didn't he usually leave you all with plenty of free time? Or is it a personal issue?" Fang Huaining continued nodding. "It's personal." Teacher Guo didn't press him. "Alright, Huaining, think it over. If you don't take this task, I'll assign it to someone else." Fang Huaining said, "Mm."

Teacher Guo left, and Yu Yaoqing beside him looked a little pale and awkward. "Are you really that busy?" she asked, not giving up. Fang Huaining replied firmly, "Yes." Wu Yi watched the lonely beauty turning to leave and lamented, "Our male god is so cold..." Fang Huaining's phone vibrated slightly. He took it out and saw that Xiao Muchang had reminded him that L-Jun had updated a memo. "I didn't lie to her," Fang Huaining said. The U City project had not started yet; Fang Huaining was left with some miscellaneous tasks. Wu Yi was puzzled. "What are you busy with?" (Off work at eleven, swimming pool shift at one-thirty.) Looking at L-Jun's work schedule for today, Fang Huaining smiled, and his expression softened as he walked out, leaving behind a note. "Dating..." "Oh..." Wu Yi responded, feeling something was off, and suddenly looked up! Fang Huaining's three words were not loud, but the experimental area was very quiet. Wu Yi stared at the person walking away, then slowly turned back to find a group of senior students around him, all sharing expressions of shock. Including Yu Yaoqing, who hadn't completely left yet. Everyone: "!!!!" ... Fang Huaining arrived at the Hyacinth Café. Today he had a seat since Qian Kun was occupying one there. Upon seeing him, Qian Kun looked pained and pointed to the strangely colored drink in front of him, saying, "If we're brothers, help me out a bit..."

Fang Huaining scanned the café and, successfully spotting someone in the corner, turned his attention back. "What is this?" he asked.

"Poison... supplement." Qian Kun quickly corrected himself as he noticed Wei Ping approaching.

Wei Ping was holding a bunch of small gift boxes and was distributing them across the tables. When she reached Fang Huaining's table, she happily asked Qian Kun, "How's the new flavor I created? Wait, let me add some milk for you." With that, she opened a box and poured it into the cup that already had half a drink in it, filling it up again.

Qian Kun looked despairing.

Li Ting also walked over, placing a cup of a clear drink in front of Fang Huaining.

Fang Huaining gently took the young server's hand under the table and casually asked, "What's this?"

Li Ting replied, "New product."

Fang Huaining exclaimed, "You made this?"

Li Ting nodded.

Fang Huaining took a sip.

Li Ting watched him intently.

Fang Huaining squeezed her soft palm, his eyes radiating enjoyment as he said, "Delicious."

Although Fang Huaining had previously given Qian Kun a stern admonition about a life-and-death drink, the oblivious sports therapy guy didn't think much of it; he was just surprised at how well Fang Huaining and Li Ting were getting along now.

He glanced at the murky drink in front of him, then back at Fang Huaining's clear one.

Qian Kun felt a pang of jealousy.

Wei Ping asked, "I'm asking you something?"

Qian Kun, in pain, replied, "Tasty... delicious..."

Wei Ping left, satisfied.

Qian Kun regained his composure: "Hey, babe, what are you giving away? Why doesn't our table have any?" "Single's Day gifts; your table..." Wei Ping glanced around, her eyes landing on the two intertwined pairs of fingers beneath the table, and said, "Doesn't meet the criteria." "What do you mean it doesn't meet the criteria?" After two cups of strong drinks had him feeling lively, Qian Kun found a release for his frustrations, stubbornly asserting his rights, "Even if I'm single, those two aren't exactly human..." Wei Ping: "What about them?" Qian Kun: "They're singles." Fearing his girlfriend wouldn't grasp his point, Qian Kun fumbled around the table for a long time but couldn't find any chopsticks. In frustration, he grabbed a straw instead, pulling out one, then another, and slapping them down in front of himself. Wei Ping stared at the straws for a moment, reached out to take one, and after a brief pause, she replaced it with the straw from the empty milk carton in her hand. Looking at the dual-layer straw on the table... Qian Kun: "???" Li Ting: "......" Fang Huaining: "..............." … Li Ting had a shift at the swimming pool in the afternoon, and Fang Huaining needed to head back to school, so he made his way there first.

Despite being only three stories high, Li Ting opted for the emergency stairs instead of the elevator. After climbing just two floors, he heard someone talking.

He paused, leaned down to look, and spotted a familiar figure chatting with another man at the corner of the stairwell—one was thin, the other plump; one had long hair, the other short; both wore bright smiles on their faces. Li Ting watched for a moment before continuing upstairs without saying a word. After changing clothes and sitting on the observation deck for a few hours, Fang Huaining also made his appearance in the hall. Li Ting observed him as he approached, and after exchanging a few glances, Fang Huaining began his warm-up exercises: bending down, flexing his legs, and stretching his arms—an impressively complete routine. To be honest, Fang Huaining had a remarkable physique, superior to Li Ting's. He had broad shoulders and long legs, with a well-proportioned build, while Li Ting was naturally strong yet very slim, with almost no visible muscle definition. Added to this was Fang's attractive face, which made for quite a sight. Fang Huaining noticed that Li Ting had been casually swinging his legs moments earlier, occasionally glancing over, but suddenly his expression turned serious. Then, a sharp whistle pierced the air of the swimming pool. As Fang Huaining entered the water and looked up, he saw a small lifeguard above pointing sternly at two girls attempting to swim over with float boards and swim rings from the shore, her gaze icy. "Stay away…" Li Ting warned bluntly. After successfully scaring them off, he turned and glared at Fang Huaining.

Fang Huaining smiled and submerged himself underwater. Qian Kun arrived shortly after. Fang Huaining swam a few laps with him, seemingly engaged in a friendly competition. In the first round of fifty meters back and forth, Fang Huaining lost; Qian Kun was a sprinter with great explosive power, and Fang Huaining couldn't keep up, finishing far behind. As they continued to swim in the second and third rounds, by the fourth round, they had been going for quite a while. It was unclear whether Fang Huaining was too excited or if Qian Kun was not at his best today, but in the last round of eight hundred meters, Fang Huaining surprisingly won by a narrow margin against the formidable athlete. Li Ting watched as Fang Huaining emerged from the water, breathing heavily, ignoring the displeased Qian Kun at his side, and instead looked over at Li Ting, his expression not very animated except for a slight raising of the brows that hinted at pride. Li Ting rolled his eyes in response. After watching Fang Huaining splash around for a while, it was finally time for Li Ting to clock out. He didn't have time to change and headed straight to the shower room. Just as he stood at the sink, the bathroom door behind him opened, and a hand reached out, pulling him inside. It was the same place, the same person, and the same position as last time, with the tall figure pushing him against the wall. Li Ting calmly asked, "What are you doing?"

Whether it was from engaging in intense physical activity or just the heat of the moment, Fang Huaining's cheeks were a bit flushed, but his gaze toward Li Ting remained resolute.

Fang Huaining hesitated for a moment, looking somewhat shy, and said, "I think I might have a bit of… a strain."

Li Ting thought to himself that this was what happened when you acted recklessly, but he furrowed his brows and asked on the surface, "Where?"

In reality, it wasn't serious; it was just mild muscle soreness. Fang Huaining replied, "On my back."

Li Ting stared at him, and after a moment, he slowly reached out to touch Fang Huaining's bare back. He slid his hand a few times over the cool skin before suddenly pinching.

Fang Huaining straightened his back, and his breathing quickened slightly.

Li Ting said, "Just a little."

Fang Huaining's eyes darkened, and he leaned closer to Li Ting, asking, "...What should we do?"

Even though Li Ting's head was already pushed against the wall, his tone remained calm. "Just sleep it off."

Fang Huaining seemed to think of something, and a flush crept up to his ears. "Not just yet; let's do something else..."

Li Ting hadn't quite understood what that meant when Fang Huaining leaned in for a kiss.

Li Ting was momentarily stunned, initially keeping his mouth closed and refusing to give in to Fang Huaining, until Fang Huaining's breath became ragged and his movements grew a bit impatient. Only then did Li Ting slightly part his lips, obediently accepting the deep kiss.

This was their second intimate encounter. With a bit more experience, Fang Huaining's kisses were even more passionate than before. He couldn't fathom what magic Li Ting possessed, or if it was just a universal experience for couples - the longing when apart, the urge to draw closer when together, the desire to hold each other tightly, followed by fierce kisses. It was something he couldn't control at all.

As they explored each other's mouths, Fang Huaining gently nipped at Li Ting's slippery tongue. When he noticed Li Ting's breathing becoming erratic, he still felt unsatisfied.

Meanwhile, Qian Kun emerged from the water and hastily called out to Wei Ping as he walked. "Wife, are you sure that drink is okay? Not that it's bad, but I think it's a bit too stimulating. I'm concerned it might have affected my nervous system. I just felt a wave of dizziness, and I even lost to Huaining in swimming. Of course, it's not because I'm weak; how could Fang Huaining's stamina compare to mine?"

Qian Kun suddenly stopped, his gaze fixed on the accidentally opened shower room door, which revealed the two people inside, engrossed in each other. He silently closed the door again and turned to leave. "Wife, is that drink really okay? I think I'm starting to hallucinate."