The Sender

Chapter 65: 

When Fang Huaining video-called Li Ting this time, he found him doing a food broadcast, happily eating a sandwich. Li Ting looked at him with confusion.

Fang Huaining guessed his question and said, "My parents aren't dining with me; they've encountered some issues and need to hold a family meeting to discuss them, but it should be resolved soon."

Li Ting didn't understand but chose not to ask further. It was already nighttime on his end. Fang Huaining could see Li Ting leaning against the headboard, lazily cocooned in his blanket. His phone seemed to be resting on his stomach, and Li Ting didn't care about the angle of the camera, simply gazing down at Fang Huaining on the screen.

The angle should have provided an upward shot, but from Fang Huaining's perspective, the closer he looked, the more attractive Li Ting appeared. The lines from his jaw to neck were particularly exquisite and beautiful, especially since Li Ting seemed to be fighting off sleep; his expression looked a bit drowsy and confused, blinking slowly, making his eyelashes incredibly cute.

Fang Huaining gently brushed his fingertips along the edge of the phone, his tone remaining casual: "It's late there; get some rest."

Li Ting replied, "Oh."

However, neither of them immediately ended the video call.

Fang Huaining waited for him to speak.

Li Ting said, "You hang up first. I'll read for a bit longer; I'm not tired."

Fang Huaining stared at him and asked, "Did you not sleep well last night?"

Li Ting replied, "No."

Fang Huaining fell silent for a moment before saying, "Then just watch the video; I'll keep it running. I also have some data to sort out."

Li Ting thought for a moment, set his phone aside, and picked up a book. After Fang Huaining finished his sandwich, he opened his computer to prepare for his paper. When he looked at the screen again after a while, he saw a little cat lying at the head of the bed, seemingly asleep, with its fur draping over its cheek, looking quiet and innocent. Fang Huaining watched it for a long time and softly said, "In two days, I'll be back." Unexpectedly, the sleeping Li Ting's eyelashes fluttered, his lips moved, and he replied. "I know..." ... Fang Huaining waited until Li Ting fell asleep before leaving the room. Outside, both of his parents were already seated at the dining table for lunch, and their condition seemed no different from usual. Seeing him, Qiu Yu called the servant to serve her son, while Fang Huaining mentioned that he had already eaten. However, out of politeness, he did not leave and instead sat down, turning his gaze toward the TV on the far wall. The weather forecast was warning of strong winds and thunderstorms expected the day after tomorrow, advising residents to take precautions. Fang Father was also watching; after finishing, he remarked, "Thunderstorm weather in January should be quite rare. This climate is a bit unusual." Fang Mother added, "Although it is a bit different, we still need to deal with it as we should. After all, our home and family are here." She then turned to Fang Huaining and asked, "Right? Ning Ning?"

"Then..." Fang Huaining hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I hope you'll understand my feelings and the choices I make."

Fang Mother set down her cutlery, her expression softening. "Of course, we want you to be true to yourself. Just remember that we are always here to support you."

Fang Father leaned back in his chair, considering his son's words. "What's most important is that you communicate with us openly, no matter what happens. We might not always agree, but we can always talk things through."

Fang Huaining felt a warmth spread through him at their reassurance. "I appreciate that, really. I know this isn't easy for any of us."

"Life is full of surprises," Fang Mother said with a gentle smile. "What matters is how we handle them together."

"Exactly," Fang Father added. "It's about navigating this path as a family. We're in this together."

Fang Huaining glanced down at his plate, his thoughts swirling. He felt a mix of relief and unease, but knowing he had his parents' support made the uncertainty a little easier to bear.

"Thank you for listening," he said again, looking up to meet their eyes.

"When can we meet that child?" Fang Father asked hesitantly. Just as he spoke, Fang Mother shot him a glare. "Wasn't the serious conversation and attitude all in vain? Why the rush? Let's have lunch first. Later, Miss Mary will take us to see the sheep out front. We just need to make sure he doesn't get scared to death by the thunder tonight." The couple didn't quite understand how to manage the ranch, so they had hired locals to help run it. As they talked, quickly shifting to the subject of chickens, ducks, cows, and sheep, Fang Huaining slowly stood up and walked toward his room, a smile playing on his lips. However, just as he was about to exit the living room, he couldn't help but turn back to glance worriedly at the TV. ... When Li Ting woke up, his phone was next to his pillow and had run out of battery. Outside, the sky was dimly lit. Unable to fall back asleep, Li Ting got up, charged his phone, and went to the kitchen to make porridge. After finishing the porridge, he received a video call from Fang Huaining. When he opened it, he was surprised to see Fang Huaining looking quite disheveled. Fang Huaining was wearing a straw hat, with the sleeves of his shirt and the legs of his pants rolled up, and most of him was wet. Seeing Li Ting, he hurriedly said, "It's pouring rain here. I just went outside to lock up the sheep pen, and I still have to go out again later."

Fang Huaining stood in the doorway, with the heavy rain behind him creating a hazy backdrop. Li Ting frowned and asked, "Aren't you cold?" "The temperature here is fine. I'll take a shower after I'm finished," Fang Huaining replied, his expression one of helplessness, as he had come for vacation but ended up laboring hard. Raising an eyebrow, Li Ting remarked, "Being a farmer isn't easy, is it?" Fang Huaining opened his mouth to agree, but then thought of how Li Ting thrived in the fields while he himself felt exhausted after only a little work. He adjusted his expression and said, "It's still manageable..." "Oh," Li Ting nodded, suddenly squinting. "Ten o'clock direction to the west." Fang Huaining looked confused. "Huh?" Li Ting clarified, "A sheep just ran out." Fang Huaining turned around. "......" Fang Huaining said, "Well, I need to go deal with that. I'll talk to you later." ... Fang Huaining claimed he would be back soon, but by evening, Li Ting still hadn't heard from him. After finishing dinner, he sat on the sofa for a while and turned on the TV. Li Ting could hardly remember the last time he had watched it; he scrolled through the channels but couldn't find anything interesting, so he turned it off again. After contemplating for a moment, he opened his computer, located the game for which Fang Huaining had given him the login details, and logged in. When Fang Huaining was around, he had smoothly completed several dungeons and performed well.

But today, just a few minutes in, he had already died three times. Li Ting found it boring and logged out. After wandering around, he picked up his phone again and logged into the little ranch. Finally, he received a message from Fang Huaining. F: The thunderstorm here is heavy; it seems to be affecting communications, and the network is unstable, so I can't start a video. Li Ting replied. L: Then don't start it. It took a long time for him to respond.

F: The news is a bit delayed. I just checked the flights, and many have been delayed or canceled. What bad luck! I hope the weather will be better when I come back. L: What if it's not? After Li Ting sent this message, there was no response for a long time. It wasn't until Li Ting lay down on the bed, half asleep, that the phone rang again. F: If it doesn't work out, I can only take my ship back[helpless]. F: I will definitely come back[serious]. Li Ting looked at the last message and slowly closed his eyes. … However, on the fourth day, he couldn't get in touch with Fang Huaining at all. Li Ting saw the news that severe weather had unexpectedly hit D Province in A Country, causing widespread disaster for the local residents. Communication networks and electricity were temporarily cut off, and 90% of flights were canceled. However, the government was working on repairs, and the situation was reported to be not too severe; there were no injuries reported, and normal supplies were expected to be restored in one to two days.

Li Ting switched through several channels and watched the news multiple times before finally turning off the television. Unlike the rest of the country, A City had been experiencing unusually sunny days over the past few days, with bright sunshine every day, completely erasing the harsh cold of the recent days.

Li Ting stood by the window, silently watching the bright red Spring Festival couplets newly pasted on the opposite neighbor's window. Colorful lanterns were also hung at the entrance of the community. At this moment, Li Ting realized that it would only be two more days until New Year's Eve.

On the other side, Fang Huaining was anxiously pacing around like an ant on a hot stove, feeling powerless due to this completely uncontrollable natural disaster and man-made calamity. Even with all the computer skills he had learned, when faced with hardware failure, he was left staring helplessly at the computer. The rain outside had slowed down, but many flights were still in line. At this speed, it would take until the day after tomorrow to possibly finish boarding, and the internet connection in D Town was intermittent at best, only allowing him to load a webpage. International communication, however, would crash when attempted.

Seeing his long messages stuck in the small chat box, Fang Huaining rubbed his brow in frustration.

Fang's mother seemed to sense her son's frustration and walked over to hand him a cup of water, saying sorrowfully, "It's our fault; if we had known, we shouldn't have chosen this time to come, nor should we have specifically asked you to come back." Fang Huaining looked at his mother and replied, "This has nothing to do with you; it's just unfortunate." "Did you… tell him? It's possible you won't be able to go back for the New Year?" Fang's mother asked cautiously. Fang Huaining furrowed his brows tightly at her words. "Not yet; I want to check the flights again." Seeing her son still holding onto hope, Fang's mother sighed helplessly, surprised but resigned. It seemed she had finally come to understand the meaning of the saying, "He is someone I really like." With a heavy heart, Fang's mother shook her head and let him be. Fang Huaining alternated between staring at the computer and his phone, finally pacing around the room in a rare display of agitation. Although he knew Li Ting wouldn't blame him, and perhaps wouldn't care too much, every time Fang Huaining thought of the day of family reunion, picturing Li Ting all alone in that house, his heart felt inexplicably heavy. He had booked a flight for early tomorrow morning, but the airline had just sent a message stating that the flight was canceled, while other flights remained in pending status. It seemed he would truly be breaking his promise to his little cat this time.

Fang Huaining closed his eyes, ready to accept this reality when suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of something that left him frozen in surprise. When he first arrived here, he had been solely focused on keeping in touch with Li Ting, and for the past two days, he had been preoccupied with helping out at the ranch. As a result, he had hardly paid attention to the room's decorations and only now noticed that there were several objects on the bookshelf. After regaining his composure for a moment, Fang Huaining slowly reached out to pick one up. It was a palm-sized little robot. Along with the others on the shelf, there were a total of five, different from the one Li Ting had, but clearly part of the same series. Fang Huaining stared at them for a long time before coming to his senses. He left the room and asked his mother downstairs. "Where did these things on the bookshelf come from?" Qiu Yu looked up, surprised. "Ah? Your dad and I brought them from Y City. This is now considered your room, even if it's just for the holidays." To create a homely atmosphere, Fang's parents had brought some of Fang Huaining's old toys and books from his childhood. Fang Huaining was puzzled: So this set of memorabilia was actually in A Country? In Y City? Why? It seemed… it had been brought over when he returned to see his parents during the winter and summer vacations, the years he had communicated with the little gray figure. The years of communication?

Because there was very little content during the time he looked back at the emails, Fang Huaining had forgotten much. However, he had indeed been in contact with the little gray person; why had their communication decreased during the winter and summer vacations? Fang Huaining felt as if he had overlooked something. He pondered deeply and suddenly had an epiphany. Fang Huaining remembered! It was also due to communication issues; his email often experienced delays when he was abroad, so he had once used a different email to contact the little gray person. Realizing this, Fang Huaining hurried back to his room. After all these years, his habit of registering emails had seen only a few variations; although his memory was hazy, he successfully recalled the email address by piecing together familiar letters and numbers. As luck would have it, he was able to access it just as he had the first time. These were undoubtedly beautiful memories he shared with Li Ting, so Fang Huaining was naturally very happy to find them again. However, when the page refreshed, Fang Huaining was stunned once more. Inside lay numerous old letters, but beyond those, there were also several unread emails… and the most recent one was from three years ago. Sender — Little Gray Person.

Chapter 66 You Don't Know. July 9, 200X Sunny

Yes, I'll come visit my dad and mom when school lets out for summer. We'll use this email address from now on, okay?

I sent you a lot of emails before, but it seems you never received any of them—that's really strange.

I've been told the Pacific Ocean is huge. However, I've never actually seen it. My plane flies from the edge of the land and circles the Earth. Dad said we do that so that if we crash, we won't die immediately; I'm not quite clear on that, so I need to study more.

The World of Mystery series just covered the Pacific Ocean; did you buy that issue?

By Fan Hui Ning

200X year 7/12, rainy

I know why planes always fly close to the land; I've done some research. It's to avoid crashing into a spaceship in the ocean! Have you ever thought about why they call a ship a "ship"? It's because it can fly in the sky and also sail in the sea—that's why it's called a "ship" in English. If there's no special reason for it, a ship and a plane can never meet, just like how humans and aliens can never meet.

I buy a copy of every magazine, and this time there's even a contest where you can win a small robot. I've already ordered one.

By Xiao Hui Ren

200X year 7/20, sunny

Is that the reason why the plane did that? But I've read a different explanation before, although what you said makes sense too... I'll ask Dad about it.

I love machines, so when I received a little robot last week, I was really happy. Everything else is cool too, but when it arrived, it seemed like one part was broken. I even used glue, but that didn't work either...

it's really a pity.

By the way, you asked me something before, but I forgot to answer. My idol is, of course, Alan Turing. Lately, I've been working on some math puzzle questions, and there was one about the Turing machine—do you know what a Turing machine is? If we had a Turing machine, we could solve all algorithms; that's incredible! We built a computer, which makes humans the smartest of all, and my dream is to study Alan Turing, become a computer engineer, and create the smartest computer-human hybrid!

By Fan Hui Ning

200X year 8/4/ partly cloudy

I've ordered two sets of commemorative magazines and two little robots. I was thinking of sending one to you, but after our conversation about math, I've decided not to give it to you for now.

I absolutely hate math!!!

In the future, I want to attend a school that doesn't teach math, and I want to study subjects that don't involve math.

Goodbye.

By Xiao Hui Ren

200X year 8/12/ sunny

Sorry, I didn't know you hated math; math is so much fun... I won't mention it again next time.

If you're still upset, just don't send me the robot, and we can talk about it later.

To make up for it, I helped Auntie make an apple pie this morning, and we even made one for you.

[photo]

Do you see that? It has your name on it.

I have to go back to school, so I'll be leaving soon. I'm a bit sad about leaving here, but I also miss my grandparents; it's a complicated feeling.

This place has beautiful scenery; maybe you can come and visit too.

photo

By Fan Hui Ning

August 17, 200X - Heavy Rain

This food looks like the cushions on my sofa, but thank you anyway.

Why is there still so much food left in your bowl? Is that a carrot? Don't you like carrots? Are you a picky eater?

I'm not angry anymore; I promise I won't let math defeat me. When you get back, I'll give you the little robot, and you have to take good care of it.

Your place is nice too, about the same as mine. But I still can't visit you. I can read the original text, but my spoken Chinese still isn't very good.

By Xiao Hui Ren

August 20, 200X - Sunny

This is actually a carrot my mom made. I'm not sure if she made it weird or if this is just how carrots taste here.

So I'm not a picky eater; I like most vegetables. I especially enjoy broccoli, green peppers, celery, and carrots.

Thanks for giving me the little robot; I'll take good care of it.

When you can speak Mandarin fluently, I'll invite you to visit.

I have a flight to catch tomorrow morning, so I need to go to bed early. I'll talk to you when I get back.

Goodbye.

By Fan Hui Ning

The old unread emails stopped here. When Fan Hui Ning went back to China, he started using his old email address again. However, he hadn't exchanged emails with Xiao Hui Ren for a while, so he never thought that Xiao Hui Ren would send him emails again.

Then he discovered that there were a few unread emails left, and some of them were sent by Xiao Hui Ren before he sent his farewell email to a different address.

The mouse pointer moved to the first unread email, and Fan Hui Ning took a deep breath to calm himself down before opening it.

Unlike the previous emails, which were full of playful writing, the subsequent emails were much shorter, consisting of only two or three sentences.

200X year 4/1

Is there a heaven in this world? Is the universe outside the Earth? Will the outside of the universe be heaven? Can a spaceship reach the universe, and can it reach heaven?

Fan Hui Ning was stunned, and his finger hesitated for a moment before clicking to open the next email.

200X year 5/3

Sorry, I couldn't give you the little robot. I moved houses, and when I was leaving, I lost many things, including the robot - I only managed to save one. Sorry.

200X year 7/21

I don't like my new house, and I want to move. I snuck back to my old house once, but I couldn't find it. Where did Time Road go?

200X year 8/29

You probably can't read this email either, which is good enough. I'm going to a new school now, and I'll see you off at the original place. Lian Ning had looked it up - the calm tone and word choice were no longer those of a small, gray-clad Xiao Hui Ren, but today's Li Ting. It wasn't until a year later that Li Ting came again, probably because the junior high school he attended was very isolated, with no internet access.

Until three years later, letters began to arrive again, but they were very infrequent, almost a year apart from each other. From Lian Ning's perspective, each of these letters represents a significant moment in Li Ting's life. Although he believes Lian Ning cannot see these letters, he seems to be writing to Lian Ning while, in fact, he is also writing for himself.

June 21, 200X I graduated and returned to A City. Now I need to attend high school, and this high school is quite good.

April 8, 201X I started working. It's a bit tiring, but not too hard. Today I made fifty yuan.

July 1, 201X The World of Mystery has been revised. It doesn't look good at all, but I still bought it. Did you buy it?

January 2, 201X I have already decided which school to attend, and it doesn't have a math department. But I probably can't go there.

May 7, 201X I moved again. My new roommate is an idiot.

At this point, Lian Ning felt powerless as he noticed there were three letters left. He still hesitated to continue reading, toggling the small robot in his palm on and off for a long time. After several moments of self-talk, Lian Ning finally gritted his teeth and decided to continue reading.

June 7, 201X Today is graduation day. Farewell to A University.

November 5, 201X After half a year of university, My spoken English has improved significantly.

December 30, 201X I saw you today. You haven't changed at all. With a few words written down, Lian Ning looked at the date from three years ago and buried his face in his hands, trying to keep the tears in his eyes from falling. Suddenly, he remembered the day he had broken the news about stealing Liu Lei's borrowing card and using it to check out books. He had run to tell Li Ting excitedly, saying, "I know how you feel." How did Li Ting respond back then? Li Ting had smiled faintly but said, "You don't know." At that time, Lian Ning didn't understand, but now it seemed he finally grasped the meaning. Yes, compared to Li Ting, he really knows nothing.

In the past two days, Li Ting usually woke up at sunrise, but today he stayed in bed, staring at the ceiling for a long time without any sunlight filtering in. He got up and walked to the window, discovering that while A City had been bathed in bright sunlight yesterday, today it had suddenly started to snow. Snowflakes floated through the air like cotton. Li Ting watched them for a moment before going back inside to change his clothes. Afterward, he opened an umbrella and left the house he had been away from for a few days to step outside. Compared to usual, there were fewer people on the road, and most of the shops along the street were closed. Only a few remained open, adorned with colorful decorations and a joyful atmosphere.

Li Ting walked to the bus station and took a long time to finally catch the bus, but after a bumpy ride, he got off at the familiar station. In the distance, he saw a figure standing in the field, and the falling snowflakes blurred his vision, making Li Ting's heart jump with excitement.

But as he drew closer, he found out that the person in front of him was actually Ah Chang. "You knew I was coming?" Li Ting asked him.

Ah Chang sighed, thinking which festival hadn't he come, and he had thought that this time would be different... "There's nothing at home," Ah Chang said quietly, "I happened to be out here."

Li Ting nodded, folding up his umbrella. Ah Chang saw him start to roll up his sleeves and pant legs, and seemed to be in a hurry. "It's getting late, the weather is bad," Ah Chang said, "Why don't you rest early?"

Li Ting said, "The weather is bad; indeed, if it weren't like this, after the snow, the vegetables would all freeze."

Ah Chang saw this and immediately helped him carry some of the vegetables. Li Ting allowed him to help, but soon it was getting late, and he had to hurry. Ah Chang hesitated and didn't leave until he heard Li Ting coldly say, "If you don't leave, I'll have to bring you vegetables. That's enough for you to take back home." Forced to comply, Ah Chang hurried away.

After a busy half-day, Li Ting finally collected some frozen vegetables and then realized he was hungry. He sat down on a stone by the roadside, took out a piece of bread that had been tucked into his waistband, and slowly ate it. "The one I said I'd eat well, isn't it?"

Li Ting's hand paused, holding the bread in place for a long moment without moving. Then, hearing a rustling sound from behind, he looked back and came to his senses. The snow was falling even thicker, covering the entire road in a layer of silver. Not far away stood a figure, clothes a bit disheveled, face pale, next to them a luggage box, staring at Li Ting.

"What... how..."

Faced with Li Ting's confusion, Lian Ning walked closer with a smile. "I said if it can't be, I'll sail back."

Chapter 67 - Met Again

In fact, Lian Ning had been sitting in front of the computer for half a day after reading those letters. Then, suddenly, he jumped up and started looking for all available transportation to leave D Town.

Eventually, he found two morning trains and was fortunate to come across a few leftover tickets. Lian Ning quickly booked them, packed all his luggage, and with an apologetic farewell to his parents, hurriedly left.

As he was about to depart, Mother Qiu Yu hesitated for a moment but then reminded him, "Nian Nian, even though we're still observing your emotions right now, it doesn't mean we'll just stand by and do nothing. Domestic conditions may have improved a lot over the past few years, but the challenges remain significant. If you ever find yourself in a situation you can't handle, please remember to reach out to us."

Fang Xiali Nian's heart warmed as he looked at his mother and nodded seriously, "Thanks, I'll take care of it... Dad, Mom, Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year."

After sitting on the train all night, spending several hours at the airport, and changing flights twice, Fang Xiali Nian spent nearly two days traveling back from the other side of the ocean. With almost 40 hours without proper rest, he surprisingly felt alert, though his clothes appeared somewhat wrinkled from the repeated wet and dry conditions.

Even though Fang Xiali Nian didn't elaborate on the hardships he faced, Shi Ting wasn't naive. How could he not sense the effort Fang Xiali Nian had put into it? Observing Fang Xiali Nian's pale and fatigued appearance, Shi Ting frowned and muttered, "Just because it's New Year, you spent so much on airline tickets?"

Not to mention the hefty sum, during this special time and occasion, Fang Xiali Nian considered the possibility of flight delays. Therefore, he purchased tickets for several countries during that time slot. While it seemed like a significant amount of money, he wouldn't be foolish enough to mention it to Shi Ting.

Fang Xiali Nian looked directly at him and said quietly, "Because I want to spend New Year's with you, just you. I can't even wait for a day."

He could have made a joke or dismissed the moment casually, and Shi Ting might have responded in kind. However, Fang Xiali Nian spoke so earnestly that Shi Ting was left momentarily stunned, awkwardly looking away from those penetrating eyes.

Fortunately, Fang Xiali Nian didn't continue to be overly sentimental. Although he had much he wanted to convey, the weather was too cold, Shi Ting was still hungry, and he felt it was better to head back first.

Suddenly, he pulled something out and handed it to Shi Ting.

Shi Ting felt warmth in his hands, looked down, and saw a cake wrapped in glutinous rice paper, along with a soft-boiled egg.

Fang Xiali Nian said, "I bought this at the airport; even though it's cold, it's definitely better than steamed bread. Let's just eat it for now."

Shi Ting held the cake in his hand, internally acknowledging that this guy was quite thoughtful, and then asked, "How did you know I'd be here?"

Fang Xiali Nian responded, "I called my family a few times, but no one answered."

"Since I knew you'd probably be somewhere around, I took my luggage and came here."

Shi Ting squeezed the cake in his hand and contemplated for a moment before taking a bite. He decided to forgo eating the steamed bread.

While Small Mouse was eating, Fang Xiali Nien noticed two bags on the ground and thought about taking one for Shi Ting. However, when he picked them up, he discovered they were filled with vegetables.

Seeing Fang Xiali Nien standing there frozen, Shi Ting was a bit surprised but still explained, "Most of them haven't grown yet; I didn't set up a greenhouse. If it gets frozen, they'll deteriorate further, so I just picked what I could."

Fang Xiali Nien looked up, about to ask why the vegetables looked different from the ones he had planted last time, why he didn't see the leeks, garlic, and onions that Small Mouse had mentioned, but instead saw bunches of spinach, green peppers, lettuce, and carrots. Why was that?

A few days ago, Fang Xiali Nien might not have given it much thought, but now, filled with the resentment from those messages and the realization of the depth of Small Mouse's affection, Fang Xiali Nien would never forget it. He believed he had concealed his true feelings deeply, but upon closer examination, he realized that every second, every moment, he had been there, it was he who had ignored them.

"Ting Ting…"

Fang Xiali Nien's voice trembled, but before he could finish speaking, he accidentally coughed due to the cold wind, and tears welled up in his eyes.

Shi Ting had to reach out and lightly pat him on the back, then glance at the two heavy bags and Fang Xialin's luggage with an annoyed expression and said, "Let's just drop it, I don't think it'll be very good, how about we just..."

But Fang Xialin snatched the vegetables out of his hands and held them tightly to his chest.

"It'll be delicious, it'll be delicious!"

Shi Ting was a bit perplexed, but since he didn't like waste, he finally decided to take his bags and walk ahead.

It was strange that every time they reached the bus station, it seemed like they were plagued by bad luck – either bad weather or unfavorable timing – and they never managed to get a taxi.

Today was no exception; even though it was New Year's Eve, a time when fewer drivers were working, and they were in a relatively remote area, Fang Xialin and Shi Ting were forced to head back to the public transportation station to wait for a bus.

The snow had fallen even more heavily than before, covering the ground in a thick layer of silver, and the sun was setting. The two of them stood together in the small station, their shoulders leaning against each other.

Fang Xialin took the bag from Shi Ting and hung it on his expensive luggage, then slipped his hand into Shi Ting's jacket pocket and held his hand tightly as their fingers intertwined.

Shi Ting didn't struggle until he saw someone approaching from a distance. Spotting Fang Xiali Nien, he waved at him; it turned out to be some colleagues from their department who had helped him set up the system. Shi Ting then twisted his hands, trying to break free.

However, Fang Xiali Nien didn't let go, maintaining his grip and nodding at the approaching person.

Fortunately, the heavy clothing and harsh weather seemed to make everyone overlook the tension between them. Before long, the bus arrived, and everyone quickly boarded.

Fang Xiali Nien managed his luggage and vegetables before getting on the bus. He then took his time to position Shi Ting safely, placing him behind the crowd and near the door.

Once on the bus, Fang Xiali Nien sat down and carefully ensured Shi Ting was tucked between the crowd and the car door.

Fang Xiali Nien's hunger was finally satisfied, and he diligently secured Shi Ting in a safe spot, shielded by the crowd and the door.

As the bus was on its way, everything felt as if time had turned back, despite the change in seasons. The same place, the same people, the same perspective, yet with completely different emotions. Perhaps it had been too cold earlier; now, in the crowded bus, the stifling warmth was palpable, especially with the tall figure pressed tightly against him. Even through their thick clothing, he could feel the heat radiating from that person.

Li Ting wanted to turn around and glare at him, to tell Fang Huaining not to squash him, but he met that person's gaze directly—deep and profound, with eyes like ripples that seemed to conceal a brewing storm, leaving Li Ting feeling somewhat dazed.

Just as he was about to speak, the car lights suddenly went out, plunging the interior into darkness. Li Ting felt the hand that had been resting beside him slowly wrap around his waist, and the person behind him pressed even closer. Although the young men from the He Xin Industrial Company stood right beside them, and visibility was poor, anyone paying attention could still notice their unusual movements.

Li Ting twisted his waist, trying to escape, but Fang Huaining, who usually went along with him, didn't comply this time. Instead, he tightened his hold even more, and as they brushed against each other, Li Ting suddenly heard Fang Huaining let out a soft hum.

The sound was incredibly quiet, more like a gasp, but it froze Li Ting in place, leaving him completely stiff.

However, the next moment, he felt Fang Huaining's breath getting closer, sweeping across the nape of his neck, slowly moving up along his ear—hot and intense—and the hand on his waist gently rubbed before gradually drifting down.

While they had already shared some intimate moments before, Li Ting still felt his heart race, and his legs go a little weak.

Just when Li Ting thought Fang Huaining was about to do something reckless, Fang Huaining stopped, his lips merely brushing against Li Ting's cheek before gently placing a soft kiss.

Fang Huaining's restrained voice whispered in his ear, "Every time I pass this road, I want to do this... I've wanted to do this for a long, long time..."

After saying this, Fang Huaining pulled back slightly, as the car lights illuminated the interior again, leaving Li Ting leaning against the door with a flushed face.

No one spoke for the rest of the journey, but Li Ting could feel Fang Huaining holding back something he had been concealing since they met.

Over an hour later, the car stopped near their community. Fang Huaining tugged at Li Ting to get out, and they made their way home through the crunching snow, passing by the cheerful houses.

When Li Ting opened the door, Fang Huaining suddenly grasped his hand, turning the key in unison to unlock it.

Once inside, Li Ting was about to suggest that Fang Huaining take a proper rest, but he noticed Fang Huaining heading straight to the desk, opening his luggage, and carefully organizing its contents.

Satisfied after arranging everything, Fang Huaining turned to look at Li Ting and extended his hand toward him.

Li Ting was momentarily stunned, seemingly forgetting what to do. Fang Huaining took the initiative, rummaging through his pocket for the keys, carefully detaching a small robot that was attached to them, and gathering it with the five others he had.

was at the bookstore. I was browsing through the shelves when I caught sight of you flipping through a comic book, completely absorbed." Li Ting paused, memories flooding back to him, each moment crystal clear despite the passage of time. "The fifth time was during midterms. I saw you in the library again, studying alone at a corner table, surrounded by stacks of books. You looked so focused." Fang Huaining smiled, his eyes brightening with each recollection. "And the sixth time..." Li Ting hesitated, taking a deep breath as his cheeks flushed slightly. "It was during the spring festival celebration when we ended up on the same team for a project." Fang Huaining chuckled softly, brushing a loose strand of hair behind Li Ting's ear. "So, it seems fate was pushing us together long before we even realized it." Li Ting nodded, his heart warm with the realization that these seemingly random encounters had woven an unbreakable bond between them. "And now, here we are," Fang Huaining continued, his voice low and tender, "finally together." "Yes," Li Ting replied, his heart racing. "Finally together."

Li Ting couldn't remember how many times he'd said it, only knowing that his words were ultimately silenced by Fang Huaining's fervently passionate, excited lips, which carried an earnest sense of melancholy, joy, and sadness. "Right...?" Fang Huaining wanted to apologize for his negligence, which had led him to find his precious one so late. But as he spoke, Li Ting placed his palm over Fang Huaining's mouth. "You don't need to take responsibility for my past..." Li Ting said lightly, indicating that his concern for Fang Huaining was merely his own personal matter. Fang Huaining's chest tightened as he grabbed Li Ting's hand: "Okay, the past is the past, but your future... belongs entirely to me!" With that, he kissed Li Ting deeply again. This kiss felt different to Li Ting; amidst the fervent entanglement of their lips, it was filled with possession and longing. Li Ting breathed rapidly, his limbs tingling as he struggled to reach out and touch Fang Huaining's face, feeling an unusual heat. Between breaths, he managed to say, "Do you know... you have a fever?" Fang Huaining's response was to effortlessly lift Li Ting into his arms and head towards the bedroom. "I know... it's been two days, no, two months; I couldn't wait any longer," Fang Huaining said, throwing Li Ting onto the bed before leaning over him.

Chapter 68 When did Li Ting's feelings for Fang Huaining begin to change? Li Ting woke up because of the heat.

In a daze, I felt as though I was immersed in rolling lava, my entire body enveloped by the searing heat. When I finally opened my eyes, I discovered that everything around me was still cloaked in darkness, with only a faint moonlight filtering in through the window.

A pair of bare arms were wrapped around my equally bare body. Lu Ting wanted to push the other person away, but as soon as he raised his hand, he suddenly felt the strain from his half-turned position, triggering a chain reaction of soreness in certain areas. Taking a deep breath, Lu Ting attempted to reach out and touch the person beside him, starting from the back, moving upward to the nape, and finally resting his palm on the other's forehead, which was indeed dry but burning.

Actually, Lu Ting had already felt somewhat dazed before falling asleep. Such experiences didn't provoke much of a reaction from him; for him, they were merely different stages in a relationship, akin to hugging or kissing, with Fang Huaining always being his partner. Lu Ting was indifferent to when or how long they could remain in any position.

However, experiencing it firsthand made Lu Ting realize that there was indeed a significant difference. Besides the physiological effects, he felt a psychological jolt that was markedly distinct from the usual.

When facing Fang Huaining, he had long since cast away his defenses, yet in that moment of mutual openness, he felt as though he had laid all of his inner self bare before this person, allowing them to delve and possess without any concealment. That all-encompassing intimacy, built on mutual dependence and trust, could be regarded as a genuine fusion of spirit and flesh. This left Lu Ting in a state of utter emotional numbness during the peak and nearly succumbed to a fractured disconnection; by the time he regained his senses, he had already been bathed by Fang Huaining and returned to bed, where they continued to hold each other until now.

Lu Ting turned to check the time; it was three o'clock in the morning.

Fang Huaining was extremely exhausted, but he awoke as soon as Lu Ting moved. Feeling the cool, little hand gently stroking his skin, Fang Huaining let out a contented sigh; having his desires met made him feel as though he owned the world, with not a hint of discomfort.

His lips brushed against Lu Ting's forehead as he hoarsely asked, "Do you feel unwell?" Was it because he hadn't been gentle enough earlier?

Lu Ting looked at him and said, "It's you who's unwell."

Fang Huaining opened his eyes listlessly.

Lu Ting said, "Get up and see a doctor."

Fang Huaining replied, "I'm fine." To be carted off to the hospital in the middle of the night just after the New Year, no matter the reason, felt like an unbearable loss of face.

In the dim light, Lu Ting's bright eyes sparkled; he seemed a bit displeased, which prompted Fang Huaining to soften his tone once more.

"I'm just a little tired and don't have any other cold symptoms, so I'll be fine after some sleep. I want to rest; you should rest well, too. Let's wait until tomorrow... If I'm still not feeling well then, we can go to the hospital, alright?"

The fever lent a deeper timbre to his voice, and in the quiet of the night, it carried an inexplicable hint of a spoiled, sickly tone that seemed to weaken Lu Ting's resolve.

Noticing that Lu Ting was unresponsive, Fang Huaining hugged him tightly again, burying his head into Lu Ting's shoulder, as if holding a large doll, and gently patting Lu Ting's back, comforting both him and himself.

Before long, Fang Huaining truly fell asleep again.

However, Lu Ting lay awake, staring at the ceiling and feeling the heat radiating from Fang Huaining's neck. After a while, he gently pushed Fang Huaining away.

"I'm going to the bathroom," Lu Ting said.

Fang Huaining loosened his grip and asked drowsily, "Do you want me to help you...?"

Ignoring him, Lu Ting supported his waist to sit up, put on the pajamas at the head of the bed, and then shuffled out in his slippers.

Fang Huaining wanted to follow him but felt too heavy and weak. He sensed a strange noise near his ear but, in his drowsiness, drifted back to sleep until he was awakened once more by Lu Ting's gentle touch.

Lu Ting stood by the bed holding a bowl.

"Eat," he said succinctly.

"What is it?"

Fang Huaining wasn't annoyed at all; he forced himself to lift his head and saw a bowl of steaming scallion porridge, the result of Lu Ting's efforts outside for half the day.

"Drink this before sleeping; you have to drink it even if you don't want to." Lu Ting was rarely so assertive. Fang Huaining had rushed straight home after getting off the plane, remembering to bring food for himself, but little did he know he wouldn't eat well.

Fang Huaining indeed had no appetite and didn't want to eat, but seeing Lu Ting's serious expression made him feel deeply enchanted. Propping himself up slightly, he asked Lu Ting if he was hungry. Learning that Lu Ting had already scarfed down a big bowl of porridge before coming in, Fang Huaining finally reached out for the bowl.

However, he nearly fumbled it, almost spilling it all over the bed, but Lu Ting held on tightly, pulling it back just in time.

He shot a helpless glare at Fang Huaining, recalling how strong he had been when pressing down on him before; after two days of exertion, it felt like all that pent-up energy had burst forth, and now it felt completely deflated.

Lu Ting had no choice but to grab a spoon and sit at the edge of the bed, scooping up a spoonful and offering it to Fang Huaining's mouth.

In the past, if Lu Ting had been this proactive, Fang Huaining would have been overjoyed.

But now, Fang Huaining felt a twinge of guilt for Lu Ting, who had endured such profound experiences; even considering his own condition, he held back from being overly indulgent or intense. After all, genuine emotions can easily turn into clumsiness and a loss of control, a process that often dragged on for quite some time. The fact that Lu Ting was now caring for him only deepened Fang Huaining's sense of guilt.

"I'd better do it myself; you shouldn't just sit there..."

Fang Huaining reached to grab a pillow for Lu Ting to lean on, but Lu Ting quickly scooped some porridge, blowing on it to cool it down, effectively cutting off his words.

With a slight shift, Lu Ting calmly said, "I'm fine."

Though he felt some soreness, numbness, and discomfort in certain areas, this sensation was easily bearable compared to the torment of juggling four jobs a day and over ten jobs a week during his busiest years.

"It's nothing serious."

Lu Ting intended to reassure Fang Huaining not to feel guilty about his care, but noticing Fang Huaining's expression stiffen and his cheeks twitch slightly made him wonder.

Was this really how things were supposed to go in the instructional videos?!

Fang Huaining deeply questioned his own ability to learn for the first time.

Feeling drowsy after finishing his gruel, Lu Ting pulled out some fever-reducing medication from the medical cabinet in Fang Xianling's home and fed him two pills. It was only then that the two of them lay back down.

Before they fell asleep...

Li Ting, who was tightly embracing Fang Xianling, quietly thought to himself, "Tomorrow, if he doesn't have a fever, I'll take him to the hospital."

Fang Xianling, who was also tightly embracing another person, murmured to himself, "Tomorrow, I'll probably still have some time to study..."

What a lovely night, perfect for dreaming sweet dreams.

When Li Ting woke up again, he noticed that the person beside him was gone.

To be honest, Li Ting had barely slept for four or five days, and it was only last night that he finally fell into a deep sleep, replenishing the fatigue of the previous few days. When he woke up, he didn't even realize that the person beside him had already woken up.

After getting up and washing his face, he came out to find Fang Xianling standing at the cooking counter, preparing breakfast. When he noticed Li Ting, he smiled and said, "Did you wake up?"

Fang Xianling looked well, as if he had recovered from his fever and was back to his usual energetic self.

Li Ting asked, "What are you doing?"

Fang Xianling replied, "I'm frying two eggs."

He had thought of asking Li Ting if he felt any better, but perhaps he just kept that thought to himself and decided to put it off again. He resolved to take care of Li Ting as usual, even if it meant pretending that everything was fine.

After a moment's thought, he leaned over and gave Li Ting a sweet good morning kiss.

While they were kissing, Li Ting was compliant, and Fang Xianling looked down to see purplish-red marks on his chest, extending from his ear all the way down, visible through his t-shirt. A sense of relief washed over Fang Xianling.

"It'll be over soon; you can go sit down," Fang Xianling said, releasing Li Ting and gently pushing him toward the living room.

Li Ting wasn't particularly fond of Fang Xianling's cooking skills, but since he was willing to make an effort for him, he didn't mind. So, he cooperated and sat down on the other side of the table.

Once settled at his desk, Li Ting carefully examined the small robot that Fang Xianling had brought over, his eyes scanning the machine twice before shifting to the kitchen.

Fang Xianling, standing in the kitchen, looked particularly handsome even in a simple home shirt. He awkwardly held a pot, yet the scene was striking and captivating, resembling a TV advertisement. When he turned slightly, Li Ting caught a glimpse of his expression—his usual calm and serious demeanor, with a slight frown on his brow. Even while chopping scallions, he resembled someone grappling with a complex academic problem. Li Ting reflected that this posture reminded him of the Fang Xianling he had known over the past few years—the aloof and esteemed individual from the A Big Institute, who exuded an air of distance and restraint, appearing cold and difficult to approach.

Many people were smitten with him, but few could get close to him. However, this time, Fang Xianling seemed to have caught Li Ting's gaze, and he suddenly turned to look in his direction.

The instant their eyes met, the coldness in Fang Xianling's eyes melted away, and a warm and gentle light shone from his eyes as he looked at Li Ting, as if he was seeing a completely different person.

Li Ting felt his heart skip a beat.

Li Ting was accustomed to being alone due to his mother's situation. He had grown up on the Xiamen Peninsula, a rural area where the nearest school was far away and there were limited educational resources. His grandmother would often care for his mother, and sometimes she would send a servant to send him to school. During these times, the mischievous Li Ting would often play truant, play pranks on his way back, and sneak back home to play without anyone noticing.

As for why he suddenly decided to write to the author of the magazine, Li Ting couldn't recall. He thought it was probably just an impulsive decision. With few kids around and no close friends, he had simply sent a letter out of curiosity, pouring out his thoughts in a rambling manner. He never expected the author to respond with a lengthy and sincere letter, thanking him and showing him courtesy. The treatment was unprecedented for Li Ting, and it left him overwhelmed.

They ended up keeping in touch, and that person likely became Li Ting's first friend.

As for what Fang Xianling meant to Li Ting, initially, it was merely a way to pass the time, and he probably felt the same about Li Ting. However, through time and effort, they gradually nurtured a strong emotional bond.

Words and photos are two-dimensional, and the person who was far away became more vivid and alive in Li Ting's imagination. Fang Xianling's little grey man and Li Ting's little grey man were reflections of each other, encompassing half of the other person while also representing themselves.

So, when they suddenly parted ways, Li Ting felt as though he was letting go of something precious.

He was letting go of Fang Xianling, and he was letting go of a piece of his past self.

But people ultimately grow up, and Li Ting eventually learned to confront reality in his memories and to release those memories in reality. He had always been moving forward, yet the memory of Fang Xianling remained anchored in the past, much like the Xiamen Peninsula, perpetually waiting for him to turn back the clock.

This was why, when he saw Fang Xianling again in reality, Li Ting was so shocked and curious.

The little grey man was no longer just a little grey man; was the Uav Admiral still the Uav Admiral?

Of course not.

So Li Ting simply observed, not expecting that they would have anything to do with each other.

Li Ting told Fang Xianling that there was no need to apologize, and he truly believed that.

Fang Xianling was to him just a childhood friend, a childhood pen pal. Those three years had been wonderful, but the bond between them was deepening, and he felt no sense of responsibility for it.

As for whether their past was filled with nostalgia and sentiment, but not love, Li Ting had once asked himself, was it because of the past him, or was it because of the current him? However, he could never pinpoint a specific moment.

However, now, when Fang Xianling looked at him, Li Ting suddenly felt a sense of clarity.

The seed of love, which he had called love, was sown deep in his heart through the exchange of letters when he was young, nurtured and grown in the passage of time, and finally bloomed and flourished with the endless gaze and affectionate glances between them.