Chapter 3: Captivated by Fu Yanchen

Shen Mengxia found it unbearable to watch any longer, overwhelmed with embarrassment. Flustered and fumbling, she hurriedly tried to close her laptop, but in her haste, she lost her footing and tumbled toward the ground along with the computer.

In a swift instant, a strong hand firmly grasped her arm. With a gentle pull, her entire body felt as light as a feather, as if she were a delicate bird, and she landed perfectly balanced in Fu Yancheng’s arms.

Soft and warm against him, Fu Yancheng instinctively wanted to push her away, but an unfamiliar, enchanting sensation held him back, making it impossible to let go.

In the blink of an eye, Shen Mengxia sprang up as if her backside had caught fire. “Um, big brother, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head back to my room first,” she stammered. No sooner had she spoken than she turned on her heel and dashed off like a startled rabbit—only to be called back after a few steps by Fu Yancheng.

“Xia Xia, I need to ask you something,” Fu Yancheng said as he stood and steadily approached her. Shen Mengxia, overwhelmed with a mix of shame and anger, could only instinctively meet his deep, penetrating gaze and step backward.

Though she had lived this life anew and understood Fu Yancheng’s feelings for her, she had never truly experienced a proper romance in either life. At most, she had suffered a one-sided crush. The boundaries between men and women had never stretched beyond holding hands and hugging.

But the moment she had fallen into Fu Yancheng’s embrace just now, she had distinctly sensed something different.

No matter how innocent she was, she understood what the hardness beneath her signified. Her face flushed a deep crimson, a blend of embarrassment at the awkward encounter and frustration at her inability to conceal her emotions.

“Xia Xia, why is your face so red?” Fu Yancheng’s voice was low and husky as he closed in, eventually cornering her beneath the cherry blossom tree in the garden.

He leaned one hand against the trunk, head bowed slightly, gazing steadily at her. His warm breath stirred between them, their hearts pounding like heavy drums.

The cherry blossoms in full bloom, stirred by Shen Mengxia’s presence, scattered a flurry of pink and white petals around them, casting a dreamy glow over the pair beneath the tree.

Shen Mengxia felt the pose was undeniably intimate, tinged with a touch of romance. Silently, she thought to herself, Who would have guessed that the usually serious Fu Yancheng could be so charming—like a scene from a romantic drama.

“What’s going on between you and Xiao Ting?” Fu Yancheng cut straight to the point.

“There’s nothing between Ye Huaiting and me. He has his white moonlight; I have my white knight. There’s no connection between us anymore,” Shen Mengxia replied, only to hear a voice not far off say, “I hope you mean that. Don’t come bothering me again in a few days.” It was Ye Huaiting.

At some point, Ye Huaiting and his white moonlight, Qiao Wannian, had arrived in the garden and overheard Shen Mengxia’s words.

Watching Qiao Wannian cling to Ye Huaiting as if her life depended on it, Shen Mengxia felt a pang of disgust, her eyes stinging.

She shot them both a glare. “Don’t worry. These years, I was naive, mistaking kinship for love. But rest assured, my boyfriend is a thousand times better than you.”

Fu Yancheng’s gaze darkened slightly. He said faintly, “Xia Xia, you have a boyfriend?” Then he slowly withdrew his hand from the tree, returning to his usual aloof demeanor. “You’re no longer children. Handle your relationships properly.”

Watching Fu Yancheng’s retreating figure, Shen Mengxia remained lost in thought. Was he worried she had a new boyfriend? Was he jealous?