Chapter 63: Mr. Fang Ye

Such a threat made Hu Qingmei weigh her options in her heart. For the sake of the prosperous life she had worked so hard to attain, she ultimately decided that protecting herself was far more important.

Though annoyed, she was a smart woman.

She would not let any factor jeopardize the marriage she had maintained with such difficulty.

In the hazy, misty weather, the phone call was hung up quietly.

Baili took a deep breath and neatly placed her phone back on the table.

She was not naturally timid or cowardly; it was simply that she had lacked the ability before, leaving her no choice but to protect herself in the best way she could.

Only...

A wave of bitterness surged into her heart.

What should she do?

For a moment, she truly did not know how to face Fang Ye, so she simply lowered her head and said with a choked voice, "Brother, I'm sorry. Really... I'm so, so sorry."

This apology was meant for Ms. Hu's abrupt intrusion.

It was also for the pension of the uncle who had once been a soldier.

A few drops of water had spilled from the glass on the table. Fang Ye pulled out a tissue, wiped it dry, and then cast his gaze toward her, lifting his chin with a smile. "What's there to be sorry for? You didn't do anything, did you?"

Despite his words, Baili still felt a pang of guilt. When all was said and done, she had indeed returned a portion of that money back then.

Fang Ye sat there on the sofa, quietly gazing into her eyes.

There was no anger in those clear, distinct eyes—only a profound helplessness.

"Little Baili, you don't need to apologize to me. Don't always try to repay things that were never yours to bear, and don't blame yourself either. I know you worked very hard to get to where you are now."

The man's tone was gentle and low, acting like a spring breeze in March that continually soothed her emotions.

The distance between them was not far. Fang Ye raised his hand to gently stroke her hair, then wiped away her tears. His movements were extremely light, as if he were afraid of causing her pain.

"If you feel too tired, go take a nap. When you open your eyes, nothing will have changed. You are Baili; you aren't any other identity."

Whether it was because his words held some special kind of magic, Baili's fragmented heart actually settled down just like that.

She stared blankly at Fang Ye, opening her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but stopped.

Fang Ye smiled, just like on the night they first met. His aura was aloof, yet his voice carried a trace of amusement. "Tsk, why are you always so awkward? I said it has nothing to do with you. Go wash your face; your eyes are as red as a rabbit's."

---

Before August arrived,

the rain in Lingjiang finally stopped.

Bright sunlight poured over the shimmering surface of Lingshuo Lake, making it look as though it had been covered with a layer of iridescent, reflective plastic.

Baili worked diligently at the teahouse every day. The travelers who came during the day came to drink tea or coffee, and Baili listened to accents from all over the country.

With the troubles brought by Ms. Hu's family gone from her life, genuine smiles gradually returned to Baili's face.

Occasionally, when she was at home, Baili could still frequently hear Fang Ye making phone calls.

The voice on the other end of the line was completely unfamiliar. From the fragments she overheard, she could only make out someone urging him to go to Beicheng.

Yet Fang Ye's reply was always to wait a little longer.

Baili knew that this "waiting" was because of her.

However, she did not wish for Fang Ye to delay his own matters on her account. She could also sense that Fang Ye's life wasn't particularly easy; he smoked cigarettes that cost ten yuan a pack, yet he readily bought her strawberry mousse cakes that cost eighty yuan a piece.

He gave her the best life he possibly could within his means.

Therefore, she could not truly act like a childish burden who required twenty-four-hour care from Fang Ye.

Prompted by yet another phone call,

Baili tugged at Fang Ye's sleeve and said softly, "Brother, you should go. I'll be fine by myself in Lingjiang. If I need anything, I'll talk to Brother Cheng; he'll definitely take care of me."

She had no intention of shamelessly following Fang Ye to Beicheng. There was still plenty of time before Qingda University started, and she had her own part-time jobs. Tagging along would only cause Fang Ye even more trouble.

She was already immensely grateful to the heavens for allowing someone like this to appear in her barren life, to save her and embrace her.

The summer wind wasn't particularly cool. Because Baili had a slight cold, they hadn't turned on the air conditioning at home. Waves of heat rolled in from the balcony one after another, filling the air with a humid, fragrant warmth.

Fang Ye put down his phone, looked into the young girl's resolute eyes, and finally agreed.

Afterward, he wanted to leave some money for Baili.

Baili took out that bank card and refused with a troubled expression, "Stop giving me money. I haven't even had the chance to use what's already here."

Fang Ye looked at her amusedly. "Who on earth complains about having too much money?"

Baili shook her head firmly. "Brother, I don't want it."

Fang Ye did not press the issue further.

Having spent this much time together, he had come to understand the young girl's personality and temperament. People change, and she was no longer the soft, delicate child of her early years. Though she looked gentle, sensible, and well-behaved, she was actually someone with a very strong sense of autonomy and exceptionally strict personal boundaries.

If she said she didn't want it, she truly didn't want it.

Fang Ye could only say calmly to Baili, "Don't stand on ceremony with your brother."

Baili nodded. "Mm."

She wasn't really standing on ceremony; it was simply that in front of the person she liked, she had never learned how to make demands.

...

On August 5th, under a blazing sun, Fang Ye left Lingjiang.

Baili still went to her part-time job every day.

She cherished this apartment and kept it very clean. Occasionally, she would take pictures of the blossoms of jasmine, roses, and corn marigolds and send them to Fang Ye.

He would reply to her messages only after a full day had passed.

It seemed he really was too busy.

Being sensible, Baili did not continue to disturb him. Instead, whenever she missed him, she would take out her sketch pad and draw.

This was a habit she had cultivated over the past dozen years or so.

By August 20th, she had accumulated a total of ten portraits—a touching level of efficiency.

Every time she finished a drawing, she would casually write a line of text on the back of the portrait.

[Mr. Fang Ye, I have someone I like. He has a pair of very beautiful eyes.]

[Mr. Fang Ye, I am waiting to turn eighteen.]

[Mr. Fang Ye, falling in love with him is a very happy thing. Even though it feels out of reach and occasionally brings a touch of bitterness, most of the time, it is sweet.]

Because these drawings harbored her secret affection, she had no intention of giving them to Fang Ye, which made her even more reckless in calling him "Mr. Fang Ye" in her writings.

It was as if by doing so, she could temporarily shed the identity of being his younger sister and give her heart a sense of peace.

The eleventh drawing was completed on a night in late August.

Baili laid down her final stroke. The image depicted Fang Ye's back as he stood amidst a torrential downpour—the very first time she had seen him when she arrived in Lingjiang, standing in the rain like a deity.

Music was still playing in her headphones.

At this moment, the shuffled playlist rolled over to a song about unrequited love, a deep male voice singing lyrics that pierced straight to the heart, stirring the young girl's deepest thoughts.

[How much further before I can enter your heart?]

[How much longer before I can grow close to you?]

[The person who is inches away yet impossible to reach.]

Baili stared blankly at the paper on the back of the drawing.

Acting on a sudden impulse, she picked up her charcoal pencil and left a tiny line of text in the very corner of the page.

[Mr. Fang Ye, I like you.]