Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Dong Fang Atelierâ¦
Song Fengwan woke up at five in the morning. When she arrived at the entrance of the atelier, the sky was still gray and cloudy. Other than the people working the morning shift, there were only students rushing to attend their morning self-study.
She bought two steamed meat buns from a street side stall. The weather was cold now, so the doors and windows of the atelier were tightly shut. If she ate inside the atelier, the classroom would inevitably be full of the scent of the buns, so she could only eat while walking in the cold wind.
Just as she turned a corner, she saw a familiar figure.
Fu Chen was leaning sideways against the side of his car. He was wearing a long dark gray trench coat paired with a white shirt. He wasnât wearing a tie, and his hands were placed casually in his pant pockets. The street light above his head suddenly went out, so he tilted his head to take a look. His expression was relaxed, and his facial features looked a little tougher under the gray and cloudy sky.
His expression was reserved.
He looked low-key yet also exceptionally attractive.
Song Fengwan thought she mistook him for someone else. When she looked up again, Fu Chen was looking at her, and he smiled at her.
Her fingers trembled, and her half-eaten steamed meat bun fell.
Fu Chen chuckled and waved at her, gesturing for her to come over.
Song Fengwan was a little annoyed. She bent down, used the plastic bag that contained the steamed buns earlier to pick up the dropped steamed bun, and threw it into a trash can before walking toward him.
âWhy are you here?â
Fu Chen hadnât told her that he was coming to Yuncheng. At this moment, she was pleasantly surprised and didnât know what to say. She was just a little annoyed that she was actually munching on steamed buns just now.?My image is completely gone.
âCome here.â Fu Chen narrowed his eyes and sized her up.
Song Fengwan hesitantly took two steps toward him, but Fu Chen couldnât wait any longer.
He strode forward and gently held her slightly cold hands.
âThird Brother!â Her pupils dilated as she looked around frantically. This was at the entrance of the atelier, and there were people passing by from time to time. If someone saw them, it would be terrible.
Fu Chen warmed her slightly cold hands in his palms. âWhen I said I missed you last night, who was the one who dared me to come here, hmm?
âYou want to hide now?â
Song Fengwan seemed to see a classmate, but she couldnât break free from Fu Chenâs grip, so she could only bury her head in Fu Chenâs embrace. âThereâs a classmate.â
The girl was also carrying her drawing tools. The sky was still dark, so she couldnât see them clearly. When she passed by them, she even turned her head, narrowed her eyes, and looked at them a few times.
âGet in the car first.â Fu Chen watched the girl walk past and reached out to take the art portfolio bag off Song Fengwanâs shoulder. It was very heavy.
âI still have to go to class.â The on-campus examinations were about to start, and everyone was racing against time.
âCome have breakfast with me. Iâll send you back right after.â Fu Chen opened the car door for her.
***
Fu Chen wasnât familiar with Yuncheng. Under Song Fengwanâs recommendation, the two of them went to a wonton shop. The shop wasnât big, and at this time, the shop was already full of customers.
Song Fengwan said, âBoss, two small wonton bowls please, one without coriander, and a plate of pan-fried meat buns.â
The two of them found a table and sat down. The pan-fried meat buns were quickly served. Song Fengwan got a small plate and poured some vinegar on it before pushing it to Fu Chen. âI already ate steamed buns just now, so Iâm not very hungry. The meat buns are for you. This restaurantâs pan-fried meat buns are very delicious.â
Fu Chen responded and only moved his chopsticks when the small wonton bowls were served.
There was soup in pan-fried meat buns, so Song Fengwan would always make a mess whenever she ate them, yet a certain someone was able to eat them slowly and very elegantly.
She took a sip of the wonton soup. âWhy are you suddenly here?â
âSomething happened to Yuxiu, so Second Sister-in-law called Mom. I donât think sheâll be able to return to the capital any time soon, so Iâm here to pick Huai Sheng up.â
Song Fengwan raised her eyebrows.?I thought⦠n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âI couldnât wait to see you, so I came overnight,â Fu Chen added.
Song Fengwan nodded.
âSecond Brotherâs business has been overseas all these years, and Second Sister-in-Law plans to take Yuxiu overseas to settle down over there.â
âAt this time? Because of Jiang Fengya?â
âThatâs one of the reasons. Second Sister-in-Law thinks that fighting with her seriously will be self-degrading, and itâs better to just change environments for Yuxiu.â
Song Fengwan lowered her head and ate a wonton. âWill Fu Yuxiu agree?â
âItâs already been decided, and she has already contacted the school. Second Sister-in-Law is very domineering. He will compromise.â
âThatâs pretty good too.â
After the two of them finished eating, Fu Chen drove her back to the atelier. When the car stopped at the entrance of the atelier, Song Fengwan reached out to open the door. It was locked and couldnât be opened.
Even sitting quietly in the car and looking at each other, their hearts felt comfortable and warm.
But it was almost time for class.
âWhat should I do?â Fu Chen reached out his hand and rubbed the top of her head. His tone was affectionate. âI donât want to let you go.â
âI need to go to class. The exams are soon.â Song Fengwan blushed shyly as he rubbed her hair.
âI drove here overnight, but you donât seem to pity me at all. All you know is that you have exams?â Fu Chen picked up the thermos flask at the side and drank some water to ease some of his depressed feelings.
Song Fengwan lowered her head and didnât speak.
âDo you have time to eat lunch and dinner with me?â Fu Chen turned his head and looked at her.
âUncle Yan said he wants to send Grandma Yan back to Nanjiang. Heâs treating me to lunch.â
âLeave your time tonight for me.â Fu Chenâs tone was firm, leaving her no space to decline.
Song Fengwan nodded with a red face. âThen Iâll go in first.â
Fu Chen unlocked the car door on her side. âShall I send you in?â
âNo need.â Song Fengwan opened the door and got out of the car. She took the drawing tools placed at the back of the car, bid Fu Chen goodbye, and ran into the atelier.
An atelier wasnât like a proper school after all, and the time wasnât fixed. Some schoolsâ on-campus examinations had already started, so many students had gone out for the examinations and no longer came to the atelier. Naturally, it didnât matter whether they arrived late or left early.
Just as she sat down, a classmate immediately leaned over. âSong Fengwan, when I came in the morning, I saw a girl hugging a man outside the atelier.â
Her face flushed red, and she didnât dare to look at her. âReally?â
âItâs just that it was still dark, so I didnât see her clearly. But she must be from our atelier. She was carrying her art tools, and her body figure looks a little similar to yours.â
âI just got here.â Song Fengwan smiled bitterly.?I have to get Third Brother to wait for me in the alley tonight instead of at the entrance of the atelier. Itâs too high-profile, and something will happen sooner or later.
***
After separating from Song Fengwan, Fu Chen went straight to the Fu residence.
Fu Yuxiu only suffered some flesh wounds. His face looked horribly bruised, but he wasnât seriously injured. Sun Qionghua didnât transfer him to another hospital but instead brought him home directly and got a private doctor to treat him.
Before even entering the house, Fu Chen heard the sound of an argument coming from inside.
â⦠I already told you that Iâm not going! I donât want to go overseas!â Fu Yuxiu shouted slightly hysterically.
âIâve already contacted the school for you. We leave in three days.â Sun Qionghuaâs voice was calm as usual.
âYou didnât even discuss it with me! Iâm not goingâ¦â Then there was the sound of things hitting the floor. âGet lost! Get lost!â
Fu Chen was about to knock on the door when a doctor carrying a medical bag hurriedly rushed out. He didnât know Fu Chen, so when he saw him, he was slightly embarrassed and ran off in a hurry.
Fu Chen just opened the door and entered the house.
âHow can you talk to the doctor like that?! Fu Yuxiu, where are your manners?!â Sun Qionghua raised her voice, obviously infuriated.
âI said Iâm not going!â Fu Yuxiu was pressed past his breaking point.
Fu Chen walked through the entryway and into the living room, just in time to see Sun Qionghua walking up to Fu Yuxiu. âSay that again?â
âIâm not going.â
Smack!?Sun Qionghua directly raised her hand and slapped his face hard. âYou scoundrel! Look at what youâve become because of a woman!â
Fu Chen raised his eyebrows.?Second Sister-in-Law has always doted on her child. This should be the first time sheâs hit Fu Yuxiu.
Sheâs really been forced past her breaking point.