The Meaning of Love

Chapter 69: 

In recent years, their city had prohibited the setting off of firecrackers. Fang Huaining and Li Ting didn't enjoy watching noisy programs, but since they decided to celebrate the New Year together, they had to think of ways to do some festive activities. In the end, at Fang Huaining's suggestion, the two made dumplings together.

Though they said they were doing it together, in reality, from rolling the dough to chopping the filling and wrapping the dumplings, it was basically all Li Ting's work.

This was because, even if a meticulous person such as him was in charge, adjusting the size of the dumpling skins and the ratio of the filling could easily take them an entire day. Conveniently, the vegetables they had brought back from Shiyi Road all found their way into their cooking. Not only was it a bit bland, but the texture was quite good. Of course, even if they were eaten raw, Fang Huaining would have found them extremely delicious, as the process from planting to harvesting to being eaten had been done entirely by his little cat's hands. How could it not taste good?

After finishing the dumplings, they settled in on the sofa together. Fang Huaining was browsing through notes on his notebook, while Li Ting had picked up a book and leaned against the side, each busy with their own tasks. With a mere glance, they could see each other's relaxed profiles; there was no need for words or actions, the air was filled with a lingering sense of intimacy.

At that moment, a phone softly chimed in the room. Since Fang Huaining had already set his to silent mode to avoid disturbances, it belonged to Li Ting. It wasn't a call, but a message. Li Ting picked it up and saw it was from Tian Dian. The content was a photo and a message.

Li Ting hesitated for a moment before gently opening it...

Kongzi.

You probably remember, your memory has always been better than mine. Four years ago today, you pulled me out of the water.

Every day for the past four years, you've continued to save me from the struggles of water and time, repeatedly proving your kindness. If I asked you directly, you would undoubtedly say it was for that initial ten thousand yuan loan you provided, but I know that's not the whole truth. Although you never lectured me on how to be more resilient, or told me what I should change or do, you've consistently protected me and cleaned up after me. Yet, it's exactly by witnessing how you face each new day that I've learned valuable lessons about how I should live.

Perhaps I still have a long way to go to become more like you, and I may never quite catch up, but in comparison to the Tian Dian of the past – a timid and emotionally fragile person who would cry at the slightest setback – the Tian Dian of today has undergone significant growth and strengthened their resolve, and all of this is due to your unwavering support.

I truly wish to express my gratitude, but I know you're not one to appreciate empty words. Therefore, I promise that from now on, I will lead a fulfilling life, both in the present and in the future, and I hope that you will do the same.

However, there's one more thing I must express my gratitude for: thank you for helping me find the perfect guy, tall, rich, and handsome – a reality I couldn't have achieved on my own even in my dreams. It's your hard work that deserves all the happiness it will bring.

And I will work hard to achieve my new dreams.

Kongzi, from now on, let's both be happy!

[Attached is the mentioned photo of two people – one tall and one short, one thin and one chubby – embracing each other tightly in front of a large acacia tree; one smiling broadly, the other smiling shyly and with an air of satisfaction.]

No words were needed; just looking at the image could evoke a deep sense of friendship.

Fang Huaining noticed that Li Ting had been staring down for a long time without moving, and couldn't help but feel a bit worried, so he leaned over. He glanced at the photo and a few hastily written words, roughly understanding the message.

Fang Huaining looked at Li Ting's expression and found him still calm, though the hand holding the phone was gripping tightly, the knuckles protruding. Fang Huaining reached out and gently pulled him into an embrace.

After a long time, when Li Ting finally moved and put down his phone, Fang Huaining leaned close to his ear and asked, "Are you okay now?"

Li Ting looked out the window at the bright red spring couplets and, after a moment, said, "I heard the building is being reinforced; we still have three months until our contract expires. If we don't move in, it would really be a waste..."

Fang Huaining's arm stiffened.

If it was just three days, he could endure it, but three months...

"So?" Fang Huaining asked cautiously.

"So," Li Ting turned to look at the slightly nervous Fang Huaining, "I've decided to ask the landlord for compensation for the rent."

Fang Huaining watched his little cat acting serious and felt a slight itch in his teeth. Taking advantage of this angle, he did something he had always wanted to do but had never attempted.

He bit Li Ting's cheek.

The bite wasn't hard, but it left Li Ting, normally calm and composed, stunned, blinking repeatedly for several seconds as if rediscovering his surroundings.

His eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief, suggesting he was concocting a witty retort, but before he could utter a word, Fang Huaining seized the opportunity to silence him, sealing his lips and leaving the cunning Li Ting no chance to retaliate.

Li Ting officially moved into Fang Huaining's home just before the new semester commenced. He bid farewell to dormitory life, and Tian Dian also departed to be with Xu Hao. The four friends agreed to meet for a proper farewell dinner at a later time. During the New Year, Fang Huaining and Li Ting spent their days together in leisure, with Fang Huaining diligently practicing on several occasions and noticing significant improvement compared to his initial attempts. However, he acknowledged that this assessment was one-sided and that mutual understanding would require more time and experience. Fang Huaining believed that patience and continued exploration were essential, and this process could not be rushed.

As the semester began, Li Ting entered his third year, while Fang Huaining approached the final semester of his undergraduate studies. With the school's course load significantly reduced, he should have been focusing on his thesis or research project. Nevertheless, Fang Huaining's mind was preoccupied—completely absorbed in thoughts of his little cat, Li Ting.

After moving in together, Li Ting continued working at the Hyacinth, and their evenings spent together were sticky and sweet, but that wasn't enough. During the day, whenever he had free time, Fang Huaining found himself unable to resist rushing to the shop, ostensibly to prepare thesis materials, but most of the time, his eyes were glued to that white, slender boy.

He believed he had been very restrained in his behavior; Li Ting never interfered with his decisions. However, from others' perspectives, the situation was far from simple.

After having seen the headliner at Windbell for at least four hours a day for two consecutive weeks, today the other party seemed hardly to move at all from the opening to the closing of the store. Finally, someone who could no longer bear the sight walked over to block his view. Fang Huaining frowned at this interruption and looked up to see Wei Ping standing in front of him. Wei Ping wiped the table and asked, "Sir, don't you think you seem to be missing something?" Fang Huaining looked down at what was in front of him: "What? My order has arrived." Moreover, it was personally prepared and delivered by his little cat. "I'm not talking about that; I'm talking about you," Wei Ping looked at him. "Me? What am I missing?" Fang Huaining was puzzled. Wei Ping replied, "Yourself." Fang Huaining was taken aback. Wei Ping continued, "I'm probably going to leave here for the company next month."

My big fool at home trains hard every day, even though he's on the verge of retirement. As for Wang Dasheng, he is diligently preparing for his exams, and Zhao Pangzi has begun his internship. Even your companion is constantly putting in the effort…"

Wei Ping paused here, but Fang Huaining understood the implication. And what about you?

The academic overachiever, always focused on his studies, was starting to lose interest in staying in the lab. His mind, once filled with codes, had quickly become occupied by the little cat, and his processing speed had significantly slowed down. The top student in the computer science department hadn't immediately fallen behind after his "rescue," but it was evident that he hadn't practiced as much as he used to; Fang Huaining couldn't possibly be unaware of this.

"Love is always the most beautiful, especially first love at our age. Li Ting is also caught up in it, reluctant to distance himself from you. However, the perspectives of those around you are different," Wei Ping said, looking at him. "You are Fang Huaining, after all. Even if an idol gets married, regardless of ideal pursuits or professional aspirations, whether for someone else or for yourself, you mustn't abandon your idol image. After all, that was the important persona that drew him to fall in love with you."

After saying this, Wei Ping left gracefully, leaving Fang Huaining in deep contemplation. ... That evening, the two of them went home together.

Fang Huaining had wanted to hail a taxi, but Li Ting was insistent on taking the bus. In the end, Fang Huaining relented. The weather was still bitterly cold, with freshly fallen snow covering the ground, and they had to walk a short distance after disembarking. As they strolled side by side through the snow, Fang Huaining held Li Ting's hand.

Fang Huaining had been quiet for most of the journey, but suddenly asked, "What do you want to do in the future?" He had been curious about this before, but had later told himself it wasn't important. Regardless of Li Ting's choices, he would always be supportive and help him achieve his goals. However, Fang Huaining now felt an overwhelming desire to understand Li Ting's true aspirations and hopes for the future.

He thought Li Ting might not have given it much thought, or perhaps wanted to maintain the status quo, or simply meander through life as he had before. But to his surprise, after a moment of contemplation, Li Ting responded earnestly, "I want to open a store."

Fang Huaining was taken aback, "What kind of store?" he asked. Li Ting replied, "A store where I can sell anything I want." Initially, the idea sounded absurd, but upon further reflection, it perfectly aligned with Li Ting's free-spirited nature. He had always disliked being bound by rules and social conventions; having his own store would likely bring him a sense of complete freedom and comfort.

Fang Huaining couldn't help but smile, "That's great." Li Ting was incredibly resourceful and possessed a multitude of skills, so he should be able to thrive regardless of the location or the products he sold.

After being asked, Fang Huaining noticed that Li Ting was looking at him, seemingly curious about his answer. True, Li Ting had asked Fang Huaining about his ideals more than once in the past, but those were all responses from their younger days. Did the current Fang Huaining still hold onto those initial aspirations? Or had he formed new goals or grand ambitions?

After a moment's contemplation, Fang Huaining replied, "I really like my major, but if I want a better life, it's still far from enough..." He realized he had previously overlooked that love, beyond binding them closer, also aims to help each other grow and improve. This, in fact, is the essence of love.

Chapter 70: Liking. As an overachiever, Fang Huaining quickly adjusted his focus in life once he realized it had become unbalanced. Studying was important, but so was his little cat. He made a conscious effort to allocate his time reasonably, doing the right things at the right moments—working diligently in the lab and studying hard even after returning home.

Very conscientious, very balanced—a qualified overachiever!

Throughout this, Li Ting had no objections; he didn't mind Fang Huaining being by his side every day. Even when Fang Huaining was busy and they only saw each other late at night, he made no complaints. He didn't ask anything, didn't say much. If Fang Huaining had known Li Ting a bit less, he might have actually thought that Li Ting didn't care much about him.

But it was precisely because he was getting to know his little cat's temperament that he could sense the contrasting reality — because he trusted the other person enough, he could indulge him freely. Li Ting was sensitive to changes in his sleeping environment, yet he could sleep soundly next to Fang Huaining. Although he himself was not particular about food, he still got up early every day to make breakfast for Fang Huaining, and even lunch. This made Fang Huaining feel both sweet and distressed; he worried about Li Ting still working so hard when he got home and always wanted to help, but most of the time, he faced the little cat's disdain and scorn. If Fang Huaining didn't help, Li Ting could manage meal prep in less than half an hour. However, when Fang Huaining did assist, Li Ting would take an extra half hour to clean up the kitchen. Unfortunately, this also meant he would need to spend additional time cleaning himself afterward. It was truly bothersome. In the evenings, Fang Huaining would try to pick Li Ting up from work, and then they would return home together for dinner. Sitting across from each other at the table, it didn't have to be gourmet food, nor did the conversation need to be engaging. Sometimes, simply sharing a bowl of soup or a piece of fish and exchanging a few glances was enough to understand how each other's day had been and whether they had thought about one another. It was warm and satisfying.

In terms of professional matters, Fan Huai Ning managed to regain his passion earlier than expected, thanks to his classmate Xu Miao Miao. During their previous exchanges in the lab, she noticed that Fan Huai Ning presented many surprising arguments, which piqued her interest. She even actively sought to collaborate with him. With this genius now dedicating himself to computers, Fan Huai Ning has no time to relax.

This resurgence in his enthusiasm is also significantly attributed to his consistent daily progress, regardless of any brief moments where he might slow down. Once he gains momentum, he remains far ahead of his peers. As strong collaborators, they quickly produced foundational results, some of which could be directly applied to launch new projects and papers. Old Ni was pleased with their success, and when he sent the results to clients in U City, they were equally impressed, leading the client to increase their investment.

Fan Huai Ning's senior, Wu Yi, could not help but express admiration: "You're going to win scholarships by the handful again this year, Fan Huai Ning. Let's gear up for the special award next year."

On Valentine's Day, after a busy period, Fan Huai Ning finally got the chance to spend time with Lü Ting again, and they watched a movie together with Xiaomao.

If it were in the past, Lü Ting wouldn't have had the time, but when he saw the movie and the time, he thought about it and ended up switching shifts with Wei Ping.

Fan Huai Ning deliberately left the afternoon free, and just after lunch, he came over to Lianxin to pick up Lü Ting. He also coincidentally met Qian Kun there.

As Wei Ping was about to leave next week and her working hours would soon decrease dramatically, Qian Kun would often come over and sit with Fan Huai Ning to spend time together.

Upon seeing Fan Huai Ning, Qian Kun grinned mischievously, "You're in trouble!"

Fan Huai Ning looked puzzled.

Qian Kun gestured for Fan Huai Ning to change his focus from people to a different direction, pointing above the counter, "Look up there, at the table."

Fan Huai Ning's gaze wavered, and he finally lowered his eyes. His face suddenly changed color: "What is that?"

Qian Kun shrugged, "You're the one who knows."

Across the counter, the enormous "love" logo was visible from a distance, and Fan Huai Ning furrowed his brow.

Qian Kun threw up his hands in exasperation, "Last month, I recall you telling me to block the chocolates sent to school and intercepted by Zhao Pang in the dorm. However, who would have thought that this month Xiaomao would send them directly here, and the news was perfectly timed? It seems like next year they'll deliver them straight to your doorstep!"

Fan Huai Ning didn't care about where the chocolates were sent; what he cared about was that they were left in front of Lü Ting. Would Xiaomao be unhappy?

Of course, he wouldn't accept the chocolates either, and it would be difficult to take them to distribute to others or get rid of them, as they were originally given with someone's good intentions. Therefore, the best course of action was simply to pretend he didn't know.

Before long, Lü Ting wrapped up his tasks, and Fan Huai Ning hurried over, intending to explain something. However, someone else arrived first and blocked Lü Ting.

That person looked familiar to Fan Huai Ning.

Lü Ting also took a moment to remember who it was; it turned out to be Wang Qian.

Wang Qian hesitated before speaking, "Ah, sorry... I wanted to ask if Lü Ting has been in contact with you recently?"

Lü Ting glanced at his former so-called "boyfriend" and replied, "No."

Seeing Lü Ting's expression, Wang Qian quickly added, "Don't misunderstand; we... we don't have anything going on anymore. It's just that Lü Ting hasn't attended class for the past two weeks, and his roommate and teacher said he was sick. I'm a bit worried that there might be something else happening, so I thought I'd check in."

Lü Ting looked puzzled, "What do you mean?"

Wang Qian pulled out his phone. "He sent me this message a week ago, saying... that his family discovered our past relationship, and after that, his parents were even more upset and locked him up."

Lü Ting paused, a hint of a smile appearing on his face. "I don't know, but are you worried that his parents will hurt him?"

Wang Qian also went to Lü Ting's place and got a rough understanding of the situation, but he still felt embarrassed when he thought about it. He nodded at Lü Ting before turning and leaving.

Lü Ting watched him disappear into the distance and turned around, nearly bumping into Fan Huai Ning, who was standing frozen in place.

Lü Ting: ""

Fan Huai Ning: "Your parents... no, Lü Ting's parents haven't been in a good mood lately, have they?"

Lü Ting didn't answer but instead looked at Fan Huai Ning with a strange expression.

Fan Huai Ning snapped back to reality. "Oh, I was just asking randomly."

Thanks to this interruption, Fan Huai Ning forgot about his previous thoughts, and after Lü Ting changed back into his uniform, the two of them hurried off to the cinema.

Today, the theater was incredibly lively. After Fan Huai Ning and Lü Ting sat down, he noticed Lü Ting's eyes scanning the surroundings, and Fan Huai Ning asked, "Have you been here before?"

As Fan Huai Ning had expected, the answer was yes. Lü Ting replied, "I've come here to work before."

Fan Huai Ning nodded as the lights went out and the movie started.

Fan Huai Ning had chosen the most popular science fiction movie, which wasn't the typical bloody action type; instead, it was more literary. In this dark environment, it was easy to cultivate a romantic atmosphere.

Given Fan Huai Ning's knowledge, many classic scenes from movies, novels, and TV dramas unfold in a cinema. For someone like Fan Huai Ning, it's one of the few public spaces where he can engage in intimate actions openly.

After an extended and poetic sequence, the leading man's thoughts began to stir as he felt Lü Ting leaning softly against him, unmoving. One hand could easily encircle his waist.

Fan Huai Ning let his fingers slide along the armrest to grasp Lü Ting's hand, kneading it gently and then pinching it, intending to draw Lü Ting closer by taking hold of his waist.

However, as he suddenly turned his head, Fan Huai Ning's movements froze.

Lü Ting wasn't resisting, nor was he cooperating; his focus was entirely on the giant screen before him.

Lü Ting has always approached things with seriousness—whether while cooking, reading, or working. However, much of this stems from the professionalism and habitual demeanor expected in his duties. Fan Huai Ning can hardly remember the last time he saw Lü Ting gazing at something with such curiosity. This is just an ordinary science fiction movie with a standard plot, typical dialogue, and commonplace visuals—nothing particularly remarkable compared to similar films. Yet for Lü Ting, who is always consumed by busyness, this must be one of his rare experiences. After all, working here suggests that a workaholic like him wouldn't have the time to relax and watch a movie.

The boy who only borrows reference books and once couldn't live without imagination ultimately chose to forsake it in exchange for life. This isn't so much forgetting; he has simply become accustomed to not reminiscing. Fang Huai Ning eventually withdrew his hand and instead intertwined his fingers with Li Ting's, quietly sitting beside him to finish watching the rather unexciting sci-fi film together.

Perhaps the movie is indeed average in every aspect; however, the galaxy reflected in the eyes of those around him is truly beautiful...

After the movie, the two went to the sushi restaurant they had missed during the pool rescue incident and then headed home together. The weather today was quite pleasant; although spring had not yet arrived, winter was coming to an end. The coldness in the air was minimal, and the gentle breeze felt much softer.

There were quite a few pedestrians in the evening, mostly young people around their age, likely many students from A University. Fang Huai Ning tried to hold Li Ting's hand but was evaded. Undeterred, Fang Huai Ning attempted to grab Li Ting's hand again while waiting for the traffic light to change. However, like a little fish, Li Ting's hand slipped away as soon as Fang Huai Ning touched it.

With renewed determination, Fang Huai Ning tried again, but Li Ting suddenly stopped, leaned against Fang Huai Ning's thigh, and slyly slipped his hand into Fang Huai Ning's pants pocket, giving a light squeeze.

Fang Huai Ning was startled, his muscles tensed, and just as he was about to speak, Li Ting casually withdrew his hand and asked, "When did you do this?"

Fang Huai Ning looked down and saw a membership recharge card pinched between Li Ting's fingers. It was a cinema member card. Fang Huai Ning tried to stay calm and replied, "There was a promotion, so I got it." He had seized the opportunity while Li Ting was in the restroom.

From library cards to meal cards, and now a movie card, Fang Huai Ning felt he was becoming somewhat of a collector ever since they met. Li Ting didn't say anything; he simply fidgeted with the card in his hand before placing it back into Fang Huai Ning's pocket.

"Don't waste it; let's go when we have time," Fang Huai Ning suggested. Li Ting responded with a slight glare.

However, after crossing the traffic light and reaching a tree-lined pathway, Fang Huai Ning's hand was suddenly grasped by another cold hand. He couldn't help but smile, holding on tighter as they walked side by side.

As soon as they entered the house, Fang Huai Ning pushed Li Ting against the wall and kissed him breathlessly. Fang Huai Ning's kissing skills had noticeably improved over the past few months; he seemed more proficient overall. Occasionally, Li Ting felt that his progress was a bit too fast, but his own stamina was not something ordinary people could match.

Fang Huai Ning held Li Ting tightly against his chest, kissing his way down Li Ting's neck, his hand exploring under the hem of Li Ting's sweater. In that moment, he murmured in a subdued voice, "Happy Valentine's Day..."

It was unclear whether those words brought Li Ting back to his senses or if he suddenly remembered something else. Just as he felt his legs weaken, he suddenly steadied himself and gently pushed Fang Huai Ning's head away.

Li Ting asked, "Are you hungry?"

Fang Huai Ning, who had just eaten but felt both not hungry and starved, responded with a confused, "???"

Li Ting pointed out, "You didn't eat any of the chocolate."

Fang Huai Ning exclaimed, "!!!"

Suddenly it dawned on Fang Huai Ning: "I..."

Before he could finish his thought, Li Ting turned and went straight into the kitchen, saying, "Then let's eat something else."

Fang Huai Ning watched as he pulled out… several steamed buns from his backpack.

Fang Huai Ning: "......"

Fortunately, it seemed that Li Ting intended to share, as he knew to steam them first. When they were ready, they emerged hot, plump, and looking quite lovely and delicious.

For some reason, Fang Huai Ning felt these buns were somehow different from the ones Li Ting usually ate.

Li Ting split one in half for him, and Fang Huai Ning eagerly accepted it, stressing once more, "I actually don't like chocolate."

Li Ting inquired, "What about the buns?"

With Li Ting's love for them, Fang Huai Ning, afraid of being forcefully recommended, dared not admit he liked them, remaining silent.

Li Ting didn't pressure him and began eating.

Seeing this, Fang Huai Ning decided to finish his meal first, but as soon as he took a bite, he froze.

He chewed a few times, swallowed hard, and then Li Ting glanced at him, noticing he had finished one item in just a few bites. Coolly, Li Ting asked, "Chocolate?"

Fang Huai Ning replied, "I like it."

"Steamed buns?"

Fang Huai Ning replied, "I like them too."

Li Ting's lips curled into a gentle smile.

Fang Huai Ning gently tugged Li Ting onto his lap.

Holding him close, pressing against his lips, Fang Huai Ning could smell the sweet, creamy aroma of chocolate from Li Ting's mouth. He lowered his head to lick his lips and said, "On Valentine's Day, I also like them."

"What else?" Li Ting asked.

Fang Huai Ning hesitated momentarily, and then his trailing words merged into the deep entanglement of their lips. However, Li Ting heard it, and he leaned in, deepening the kiss.

And you...

I really like you a lot...

In April, Fang Huai Ning's graduation thesis entered its mid-review phase, and he shifted most of his focus onto it. Temporarily setting aside his experiments, he dedicated himself to working diligently on the thesis. During this busy period, he received a phone call from someone—unexpectedly, it was Li Yue, a senior he had met just a few months earlier. They had exchanged contact information, and seeing the incoming number caught Fang Huai Ning off guard.

Fang Huaining initially thought the contact was regarding the school's mentor or an internship opportunity, but Li Yue's purpose was about the U City project he was managing.

While the research directions of several prominent figures and some projects weren't exactly secrets, the specifics were meant to be known only to the team. However, Li Yue immediately highlighted the key points of the project, some of which Fang Huaining had only documented in the materials and presented to the investors the previous month. What was going on?

Fang Huaining fell silent.

Sensing his surprise and wariness, Senior Li quickly reassured him, "Don't be nervous; this information wasn't leaked from your group. I heard it from U City. Ah, perhaps that's not quite correct..."

Li Yue paused for a moment to reorganize his thoughts.

"What I mean is that you sent the materials to the U City company. Besides the company representatives being very pleased, there was another person who was also quite satisfied. He is looking for someone to develop a similar system, so he reached out to me, a graduate from the A University School of Management. Since I knew you were in this group, I contacted you."

After the convolutions of the conversation, Fang Huaining remained composed and asked, "Who is that person?"

Not to mention that it would breach the contract for the U City company to casually leak research materials. Even setting that aside, if that person wants to seek our help with development, shouldn't he contact Teacher Ni or someone at A University instead? Why would he come to someone with little decision-making power like me? "Do you think I don't understand the law or that I don't know the basic procedures?" Li Yue laughed. "The reason I'm bypassing those steps to contact you is for my own reasons. Huaining, I won't harm you. If you feel uneasy, I can call your mentor right now. If anything goes wrong, I'll be the first to vouch for you. And if this project goes through, all the necessary procedures will be followed." Fang Huaining had a very good impression of Li Yue from their previous encounter. This honorable alumnus and successful individual had no need to resort to any tricks on him. After some thought, Fang Huaining asked, "So what does this mean now?" "It doesn't mean much; it's just that the other side wants to talk to you first. Are you willing? I'm not just rambling; this is genuinely a good opportunity." Listening to Li Yue's repeated persuasion piqued Fang Huaining's curiosity, and after weighing his options, he finally agreed. ... The next day, he arrived at the company based on the address Li Yue provided. Li Yue was already there, attentively guiding Fang Huaining inside and then to the upper floor.

The studio, which occupied about two floors, was not large, but Fang Huaining, who was a homebody, had indeed heard of its name. It had been established for several years, and Wang Fuliang and Zhao Bang had played several games from this company, with very high praise, which eased Fang Huaining's initial skepticism.

The secretary escorted the two to the general manager's office, instructing them to wait for a moment. Li Yue nodded hurriedly, showing politeness and indicating it was understandable for them to wait since the general manager was busy. However, Li Yue's demeanor seemed less submissive and more like he was trying to curry favor, which only deepened Fang Huaining's confusion.

As he sat on the visitor's sofa, Fang Huaining observed Li Yue's visibly tense posture while, strangely, feeling a familiar sound coming from the nearby office, reminiscent of the chaotic yet comforting noise he heard during winter and summer vacations at his aunt's house.

Pitter-patter... Bang!

At that moment, the secretary brought in a cup of coffee to the office, though the door was only partially closed, and Fang Huaining caught a glimpse of the scene inside.

He saw a man with very short hair and a somewhat fierce appearance, his shirt collar wide open, sitting in a chair with one leg crossed over the other. He was holding a cigarette in one hand and touching a Mahjong tile with the other. Currently, the other person at the table was in the middle of his turn, but the man was... playing Mahjong out of turn.

"Hey, I told you he's a dealer, and you still went out of turn... Are you blind?"

With a cry from beside him, the man smirked, placing the cigarette in his mouth and lightly pushing a tile aside. "I'm out," he said. "Oh man..." "Which round are we in? Just tell me..." As the secretary hurriedly finished delivering coffee, she quickly exited, closing the office door and sealing off the noise inside. Fang Huaining turned slightly to look at Li Yue, only to find him gazing straight ahead, as if he hadn't heard anything at all. Fang Huaining: "......" However, things soon changed. The phone at the secretary's desk suddenly rang. She answered it and then quickly returned to knock on the office door. "Mr. Liao, Mr. Wang is coming up in the elevator." After saying that, she nonchalantly stepped back. Just as Fang Huaining was still a bit confused, Li Yue, who had been distracted, quickly stood up and walked with the secretary toward the elevator. A minute later, the elevator doors opened, and a remarkably elegant and handsome man stepped out. The secretary and Li Yue immediately nodded in greeting. "Mr. Wang..." In contrast to the previous cold reception Fang Huaining had experienced, this "Mr. Wang" was very courteous and shook hands with him once he learned his identity. "You're Fang, right? Thank you very much for coming over. I really like your design; let's sit down and have a good chat." Mr. Wang said as he led the two into the office. As he reached for the doorknob, Fang Huaining couldn't help but hold his breath.

He wasn't afraid for the person inside, but felt embarrassed on their behalf, thinking it was absolutely not a positive impression for outsiders to witness a leader behaving so unprofessionally.

But, when the door opened, what Mr. Wang saw inside surprised him – four men working diligently, with the general manager at the helm, whose clothes were slightly disheveled and his expression grave. Various documents were piled in front of him, and he was fully focused.

Seeing the visitors, he was quite taken aback, stubbed out his cigarette, and asked, "What brings you here? Didn't I say to just let me know if there were any problems?"

Mr. Wang chuckled, turned to motion for Fang Huaining and the others to sit down, and said, "I was worried you were overworking yourselves."

General Manager Liao replied, "Not too bad, I can manage."

Fang Huaining remained silent.

Mr. Wang arrived. The other three business partners made up excuses to temporarily leave, leaving Mr. Wang alone to discuss his intentions with Fan Haitang.

Initially, Fan Haitang had lost all hope. However, this Mr. Wang, despite being an outsider, showed a lot of sincerity in his approach and expressed genuine appreciation for Fan Haitang. The conditions he presented were extremely generous, to the point where Fan Haitang was hesitant to accept.

However, General Manager Liao remained silent from start to finish. After Mr. Wang said he needed time to consider, he gazed at Li Yue meaningfully while smoking a cigarette with a smile. For a moment, he almost frightened Li Yue.

Fan Haitang sensed a sinister aura emanating from Mr. Liao and turned his gaze toward Mr. Wang.

Mr. Wang continued to smile and bent down to pick something up from the ground.

With his keen eyes, Fan Haitang noticed that it was a mahjong tile.

Mr. Liao also caught sight of it and quickly lowered his head to look at the file, trying to make himself as unnoticeable as possible.

Mr. Wang stuffed the mahjong tile into his palm and said, "Mr. Fan, take your time to think it over. There's no rush."

Fan Haitang observed Mr. Wang's unchanged expression and suddenly felt a sense of admiration for him. "I will," he replied.

Mr. Wang appeared satisfied and personally escorted them out. As they were leaving, Fan Haitang noticed that Mr. Wang had discreetly tossed the mahjong tile into Mr. Liao's coffee cup before Mr. Liao could even take a sip.

Mr. Liao was left speechless.

After leaving the gaming company, Li Yue remained silent, still somewhat shaken by the earlier encounter. It wasn't until they parted ways that Fan Haitang said, "Li Scholar..."

Li Yue interrupted him, saying, "Fan Haitang, I'll be honest with you. The company's headquarters is in U City, and Mr. Liao isn't the boss; he's just a partner. Although he's somewhat careless, the others are very serious. Their background isn't ordinary, and this company's prospects are quite promising. Collaborating with them would definitely be a good deal and could greatly benefit your future endeavors."

Fan Haitang replied, "Li Scholar, you don't need to worry about it. I'll think it over carefully."

"I wanted to ask you something else."

Li Yue looked at Fan Haitang, puzzled.

Fan Haitang continued, "What's the situation with the online lending company you introduced me to the other day?"

Li Yue's expression changed, surprise quickly giving way to regret. "You should have told me sooner. I might have been able to remind you. But now, it's too late."

"Oh?"

Li Yue explained, "The company's manager actually came to our company to solicit business a while back, so my employees are somewhat familiar with them. The online lending company was shut down last month, with its manager fleeing and the remaining staff and major shareholder encountering serious financial issues. They've been arrested by the authorities."

"Do you know anyone who invested in the company? You should hurry and file a complaint. It's unlikely you'll get your money back, but if they're shareholders…"

Li Yue left the thought unfinished, but Fan Haitang understood the implication: if they were shareholders, they could also become entangled in the case.

After bidding farewell to Li Yue, Fan Haitang got into the car headed for Juuyi Private Kitchen. Tonight, they were scheduled to meet Tian Dian and the chef, Xu Kui, for dinner. Xu Kui lived nearby.

As he drove, Fan Haitang debated whether to inform Li Qitian about the troubles with the online lending company. Deep down, he hoped that the couple wouldn't have any further connections, which would spare him complications. However, if the couple was indeed facing serious problems, Fan Haitang felt that Li Qitian had the right to be informed.

As for Li Qitian wanting to handle it, that was his own choice.

When Fan Haitang arrived, he was carrying watermelon and food he had bought along the way. Li Qitian was already there, sitting at the table, helping the chef in the kitchen with vegetable preparation.

Fan Haitang was about to speak, but Tian Dian pulled him aside.

Tian Dian took out his phone to show Fan Haitang: "Yesterday's news."

Fan Haitang was taken aback.

— A university professor had embezzled project funds to invest in online lending and was recently arrested, with his family also implicated...

He hadn't expected reality to have made its decision before he could speak. Fan Haitang glanced at Li Qitian's back in the distance.

Tian Dian silently communicated to Fan Haitang: He knows.

Fan Haitang thought for a moment: Let's not bring it up. He'll say what he wants to say, and if he doesn't, we'll just pretend it never happened.

Tian Dian was surprised but moved by Fan Haitang's decision: Okay.

During dinner, everyone behaved as usual, and Li Qitian's demeanor was normal as well. Tian Dian offered him shrimp, but he declined, throwing it back into the bowl. It wasn't until Fan Haitang re-served it, peeled, that Li Qitian ate it without any emotional baggage.

Chef Xu Kui's cooking was excellent, and he treated Tian Dian very kindly. As for Li Qitian, his only friend, Chef Xu Kui poured his heart and soul into the meal.

Although the ingredients weren't expensive, the attention to detail reflected his love and respect for Tian Dian. This small family might only have one room, an outdoor area, a bathroom, and a kitchen, but the couple's occasional glances were enough to show that they lived happily together.

After eating a mutually disagreeable meal, Li Qitian and Fan Haitang finally parted ways.

Chapter 72: Would it hurt their pride?

Leaving Tian Dian's place, only Fan Haitang and Li Qitian were left. Li Qitian's emotions didn't seem significantly affected, and he even asked about Fan Haitang's visit to that company. After hearing about what Fan Haitang saw and heard, Li Qitian thought for a moment and said, "If you're willing to take on the design, you can send the initial framework to Mr. Liao for review at any time."

Fan Haitang was perplexed: "Why?"

Li Qitian blinked and said, "He puts so much pressure on that senior Li to recruit you, but he's busy playing mahjong and isn't focused on the company. So the proposal you put forth will definitely be approved, but he won't actually look at it. Once it gets into Mr. Wang's hands, he'll have a different opinion. He'll ask you to revise it. If they really have influential connections and plenty of money, you should be able to get double paid: one payment for your hard work, and another for the trouble they caused by taking shortcuts."

Fang Huaining looked at Li Ting's serious yet cunning little expression, barely able to restrain himself from pulling Li Ting into his arms right there on the street. How could someone so mischievous yet adorable exist?!

However, that enthusiasm faded after Fang Huaining returned from his shower to find Li Ting lying on the bed, his head tilted, seemingly asleep. Li Ting had only worked half a day today, and he'd taken a day off yesterday; he shouldn't be that tired.

Fang Huaining watched Li Ting's peaceful sleeping face for a moment before quietly crawling to the other side of the bed and wrapping his arms around him, intending to sleep. But just as he turned off the light, a cool little hand gently rested on Fang Huaining's waist in the darkness.

Fang Huaining's heart skipped a beat as he grasped that hand.

Li Ting asked, "Did you open the window?"

Fang Huaining confirmed with a soft sound, bringing his hand to Li Ting's lips for a light kiss: "Cold?"

Li Ting softly hummed in agreement and then stretched his foot over as well.

It was a bit chilly, but with the weather nearing May, how cold could it really be at night? As Fang Huaining felt Li Ting moving closer—from his hand sliding to Li Ting's shoulder, then from his waist down to the little cat's thigh—he immediately broke into a sweat, reigniting the fire that had just subsided.

Feeling a foot lightly moving under the blanket, occasionally sliding against his calf, Fang Huaining's breath caught. Ultimately, he couldn't resist and rolled over, pressing down. "It'll get warm soon…" His words faded into their tightly pressed lips. The moonlight was crystal clear tonight, reflecting the lush, undulating shadows of the trees outside the window, casting two intertwined, swaying figures within... ... By the time the bright moon crawled from the trunk of the tree to its branches, the night had deepened, and the people were quiet. Fang Huaining held the soft Li Ting in his arms for a long time until his restless breathing calmed down, their chests pressed together, their sweat mingling. Fang Huaining lingered for a moment, savoring their inseparable touch, before slowly getting up and heading to the shower room to grab a towel for Li Ting to wipe off the sweat. Li Ting allowed him to do so, his arms and legs dangling, his long limbs and fair skin appearing even more slender and graceful in the moonlight. As Fang Huaining wiped the towel from Li Ting's ankle upward, in the stillness, a soft, sticky voice broke the silence. "Li Eryang had a stroke." Fang Huaining paused with the towel. "When?" "Just in the last couple of days, triggered by high blood pressure." Li Ting's tone was very calm.

"Di Wei, Li Han's mother, has been making investments for years and has been quite successful, but over the past year, she chose the wrong projects and partners, some of which seemed to border on illegality, resulting in significant losses. In an attempt to recover, she misappropriated project funds from Li Eryang's account to cover these losses. When Li Eryang later discovered this, he chose to protect her for the sake of his reputation and his job. Little did he expect that the situation would escalate rapidly, ultimately costing him both his family fortune and his future."

Fang Huaining looked into Li Ting's clear eyes in the darkness. "Did your brother... Li Han tell you?"

"Yeah," Li Ting readily admitted. "He called this morning."

With a shift of his gaze, he said amusedly to Fang Huaining, "Do you know where he called from?"

If it were a regular place, the other person wouldn't ask like that. After a moment of thought, Fang Huaining shook his head.

Li Ting replied, "From the detention center."

Fang Huaining froze, feeling bewildered.

Li Ting, however, was clear-headed: "This has been going on for nearly two weeks. With Li Han's temperament, if he had known earlier, he wouldn't have waited until now to tell me, unless…"

Fang Huaining understood.

Unless their parents had forbidden him from speaking. He recalled the boy named Wang Qin who had come looking for Li Ting, saying that Li Han had been missing for a week; this surely indicated that he was confined at home, and it wasn't merely a case of their parents being angry about his dating.

"Before the police knocked on their door, they were already brainstorming coping strategies, fearing that Li Han would talk. Li Han himself must have felt embarrassed and didn't want to go out," Li Ting understood this family too well. But now, Li Han had called Li Ting from the detention center... Fang Huaining frowned: "Did his mother make him call?" The intention was clear, and Fang Huaining was merely surprised by the other party's shamelessness. In that moment, he suddenly thought of someone at home who could help. Fang Huaining's towel lingered around Li Ting's waist, easily within reach: "Then..." What did Li Ting think? "I hung up," Li Ting replied directly. He had talked about honoring the promise he made to his mother back then; he hadn't taken revenge, nor had he pursued the old grievances of previous generations; he just lived his own life. He hadn't even held any resentment for those people back then, so naturally, he wouldn't give what didn't exist, like love and care, now. This response didn't surprise Fang Huaining. In fact, he believed he could understand whatever choice Li Ting made, but hearing this made him feel a little sour inside—not for that couple, but for his little cat. Compared to resentment, indifference was the best attitude towards those who brought you misfortune and harm, a kind of laziness that prevented one from exhausting effort worrying over it. But how many people in this world could achieve such generosity and nonchalance? And his little cat...

How much had he surrendered to achieve such calmness?

The towel finally slid down from his neck, and Fang Huaining lowered his head, pressing a gentle kiss on Li Ting's shoulder.

"Yeah, if you're going to hang up, just hang up."

Saying this, he too lay back on the bed, reaching out to embrace the person beside him. He gently rubbed at his hip, deftly steering the conversation to a less troubled topic.

"Is there any back pain?" Li Ting asked, looking slightly puzzled.

Fang Huaining whispered close to his ear: "That position was quite taxing just now..."

Li Ting turned his head, and a faint smile began to form. "Tiring? Do you think that?"

Fang Huaining hastened to say: "No, I didn't mean that."

Li Ting: "Oh."

Fang Huaining: "Really."

Li Ting: "Oh."

Fang Huaining fell silent, struggling to respond.

Two weeks ago, Wei Ping left Hyacinth. Her interactions with Li Ting, whom she had worked with at the book café, had generally been lukewarm, but they were close compared to Li Ting's relationships with other colleagues.

On her last day, many colleagues prepared small gifts, and Wei Ping also brought a return gift. When it came to Li Ting, Wei Ping took out a pack of adhesive bandages and handed them over. "It's getting hot, and your collar looks a bit low, so I thought you might need this."

Li Ting paused briefly before accepting the gift.

Wei Ping thought this tight-fisted person would show no appreciation, but to her surprise, Li Ting also pulled out a gift wrapped in newspaper.

When Wei Ping opened the box, it turned out to be a book; the sticker on the back indicated that it was purchased from their store, likely at a discount by an employee.

Li Ting said, "Whether it's hot or cold outside, I think you'll still need this." Wei Ping held up the book titled "Basic Training in Meal Preparation."

Previously, the book café's delivery service for the Foreign Language Department had been very successful, so this business was retained. Occasionally, when the order volume was low, long-time customers from other departments would also place orders.

However, with some part-time waitstaff at A University unwilling to run errands, most of this work fell to Li Ting after Wei Ping left. Fortunately, compared to before, this amount of work wasn't as tiring now, and during less busy times, Li Ting could take the opportunity to stroll around the campus.

That day, A University had another event; the student council had reserved ten small cakes in the hopes that the café staff could help with the delivery. The students had made an early appointment, paid a deposit, and were polite, so the manager agreed to the request.

Li Ting and another sophomore female colleague from the café went with the cakes, but instead of delivering them to the student council as they had intended, they found themselves at the back of the auditorium.

It turned out that today was A University's end-of-semester awards ceremony, honoring outstanding students from various departments.

Students were constantly going up to receive awards, while backstage was a flurry of activity as everyone practiced the proceedings. Li Ting and his colleague had to circle around several times before they found the person who had ordered the cakes. "Ah, sorry, sorry! I got busy and forgot. Just leave the things here, and I'll transfer the money to the store later. I have to go on stage now, see you!" That seemed to be the female host for the day, and after dropping this line, she hurriedly rushed out. Li Ting and his female colleague could only leave temporarily; they couldn't follow her and had to circle around the stage to exit. Coincidentally, just as Li Ting stepped outside, his female colleague pulled him and whispered, "Look... over there." Li Ting looked up, following her fingertip, and saw a strikingly tall guy sitting in the second row. At that moment, a student on stage finished receiving an award, and the host returned to her spot and began her script. "Next, please welcome the leadership of the Computer Science Department..." After a long string of meaningless words, she added, "And this year's outstanding undergraduate students from the Computer Science Department—Fang Huaining, please come up to accept your award." As soon as she finished speaking, the boy in the second row stood up and walked to the stage under the spotlight.

Applause erupted in the auditorium, evidently much more enthusiastic than for the previous group, with several people raising their phones to capture his ascent. "This award is quite impressive. Every year, there are only one or two recipients from each department," a female colleague exclaimed. "Students from other schools often perceive A University students as remarkable, but in reality, the better the university, the more pronounced the hierarchies among students—the outstanding and the ordinary. The differences can be so vast that they might cause one to question their own intelligence. That sense of loss can be the most daunting; although it's the same environment—attending classes and living under the same roof—the future is not necessarily the same... The top student is likely to shine the brightest, leaving others struggling to catch up." Although Fang Huaining on stage wore a blank expression, he moved gracefully, remaining calm in the face of compliments from the host and department leaders, until he was prompted to speak. He took the microphone, simply thanking his mentor and leaders, yet his outstanding demeanor and charm were already evident. Noticing that Li Ting had not said anything and was just staring at someone in the distance, the female colleague felt that her comments might have been inappropriate.

She had only known Fang Huaining for a few weeks at Hyacinth, but she recognized him from his frequent visits to the book café and knew he had a good relationship with the top student from the Computer Science Department. Moreover, it seemed Li Ting wasn't from A University... Would this hurt his self-esteem? After all, not every guy was that magnanimous, especially someone like Li Ting, who was notorious for being stingy.

As she was about to say something to ease the awkward atmosphere, Li Ting had already turned to leave.

In that moment, the female colleague caught a glimpse of the expression in his eyes; it was not the jealousy or envy she had anticipated, nor did it carry the usual coldness associated with Li Ting. Instead, it expressed an emotion that surprised even her—a gaze that seemed appreciative, more akin to joyful pride...