Yu Zhiling woke up early in the morning to see Mo Zhu off, while Yu Xiangrong and Jiang Yingchen were still resting, as both had late shifts that day.
She deliberately moved quietly when leaving, only letting out a sigh of relief once she slipped out of the apartment building. For a moment, she found herself amusing—why did she have to tiptoe around just to send someone off? It felt like she was sneaking around like a thief.
She arrived at the high-speed rail station just before eleven. Yu Zhiling had already booked a restaurant beforehand and then went to find Mo Zhu.
She spotted him from afar, and he noticed her too. His initially indifferent gaze instantly softened into a smile as he walked toward her.
"Where’s your luggage?" Yu Zhiling asked.
Mo Zhu replied, "Left it at the service desk. Aren’t we eating first?"
Yu Zhiling nodded and showed him her phone. "I booked this place—their grilled fish is amazing. It’s two kilometers from here, so we’ll take a taxi."
Before Mo Zhu could respond, she preemptively cut him off, "You’re leaving soon, so as your host, I have to treat you. Don’t even think about sending me money."
Mo Zhu, who had just pulled out his phone, paused and chuckled under her warning glare before slipping it back into his coat pocket.
"Alright, then I’ll let my senior treat me."
Over the past ten days, they had shared many meals together, and this time was no different—chatting casually as they ate.
His train was scheduled for 1:30 PM, so after retrieving his luggage, Yu Zhiling stood by the ticket gate to see him off.
Just as he was about to scan his ID to enter, Mo Zhu suddenly stopped. Yu Zhiling blinked in confusion as he turned around and strode back toward her, pulling his suitcase behind him.
"What—what are you doing? Why aren’t you going in?"
His tall frame loomed over her like an unyielding wall, radiating an undeniable presence.
With a playful grin, he bargained, "Senior, what if I stay here and spend New Year’s with you? I don’t want to leave."
Yu Zhiling immediately grasped the implication behind his words, her ears warming. She nudged him lightly. "Don’t be ridiculous. Go home and celebrate with your parents. The semester starts after the fifteenth of the first lunar month anyway."
It was only twenty days apart. They’d see each other again soon.
Mo Zhu lowered his voice, coaxing, "Then can I at least have a hug?"
Yu Zhiling’s throat tightened, as if something were lodged there. She looked up at him. Throughout this time, he had always been respectful—no holding hands, no embraces. The closest they’d gotten was walking side by side. Even after confessing his feelings, he never overstepped without her permission.
And now was no different—he always asked first.
Yu Zhiling pressed her lips together, her hands hidden in her sleeves, clenching and unclenching. Finally, as if steeling herself, she took a step forward and wrapped her arms loosely around his waist.
It wasn’t a tight embrace, just a polite one.
But the next second, a large hand pressed against the small of her back, firm and insistent, pulling her closer into his chest.
Yu Zhiling’s cheek brushed against the fabric of his coat. It wasn’t particularly cold today, so he hadn’t worn a down jacket—just a fresh overcoat that carried the faint, clean scent of pine from laundry detergent, crisp and refreshing like mountain springwater.
Mo Zhu bent down, enveloping her in his arms. He rested his chin on her shoulder, his nose lightly brushing her ear as he inhaled her familiar warmth.
Yu Zhiling didn’t push him away or say a word, letting him hold her in silence.
Two full minutes passed before she finally tapped his waist. "You should go. You’ll miss your train."
"Alright." Mo Zhu ruffled the back of her hair, nuzzling her cheek like an affectionate kitten before finally releasing her—only after her face had flushed completely red.
Yu Zhiling took a step back, flustered, and urged, "Hurry up. Message me when you get home safe."
"I’m leaving now."
"...Mm. Go on."
After watching him swipe his ticket and disappear into the station, Yu Zhiling left. Her phone buzzed with a message from Mo Zhu:
MZ: [I’m gone, Senior. Don’t forget to miss me.]
Yu Zhiling replied with a cartoon fish emoji giving a disdainful look.
On the other end, he whined and pouted like a three-year-old throwing a tantrum.
Three hours later, another message arrived:
[I’m back in Beicheng, Senior.]
Yu Zhiling exhaled in relief. She had worried he might skip going home and just book a hotel in a nearby city. But with the holidays, it was better for him to be with his parents.
She returned to her usual holiday routine—staying up until 2 AM, sleeping until noon, wandering outside for a bit before coming back to scroll on her phone or play games.
But something was different now.
This time, she had a little snake who messaged her constantly.
[Senior, awake yet?]
[Senior, just had lunch.]
[Senior, wanna game? I’m online.]
[Senior, saw a kitten. Do you like it?]
[Senior, goodnight.]
Talking to him daily had become a habit. The first message she saw every morning was from Mo Zhu, her daily dose of amusement came from him, and the last "goodnight" before bed was always his.
On New Year’s Eve, right after midnight, a new message popped up:
[Senior, Happy New Year.]
Yu Zhiling replied with the same:
[Mo Zhu, Happy New Year.]
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Yu Zhiling’s parents were suddenly called to the hospital. Doctors were always busy—even during holidays, it was rare for the family to gather. She had grown used to it since childhood. After seeing them off, she curled up at home watching TV.
Mo Zhu sent another message:
[Senior, eaten yet?]
Yu Zhiling answered honestly: [No. My parents had an emergency at the hospital. They won’t be back today. I’ll just order takeout later.]
Mo Zhu replied with a nodding snake sticker.
They chatted for a bit and played a couple of rounds of games before her sleep schedule caught up with her. As soon as they logged off, she retreated to her room for a nap.
She woke up at 7 PM to a dark, silent house. Lying in bed, Yu Zhiling felt an inexplicable emptiness in her chest.
Then her phone buzzed—Mo Zhu’s message lit up the screen:
[Senior, I’m here.]
Yu Zhiling thought he must have mistyped.
Little Fish: [You’re here? Where?]
MZ: [Photo.]
It was a picture of the entrance to her residential complex.
MZ: [I drove. The guard wouldn’t let me in, so I’m parked by this oden stall.]
Yu Zhiling bolted upright.
[You came?]
[Yeah. Couldn’t get train or plane tickets, so I drove.]
During the holidays, tickets were nearly impossible to secure. The drive from Beicheng to her city took six hours—meaning he must have left right after their gaming session.
She threw on her coat and dashed downstairs without even replying. At the gate, she spotted Mo Zhu’s car parked near the oden stand. Yu Zhiling hurried over and slid into the passenger seat.
"You can’t park here long. Let’s go to the garage—my family’s spot is empty right now. You can park there."
Mo Zhu obeyed without protest. "Alright."
The security guard recognized Yu Zhiling and let her in without question. Her mind was in turmoil as she walked through the complex. When the car stopped, she stepped out without a word and headed straight for the elevator, with Mo Zhu following closely behind.
The elevator halted on the fourteenth floor. Yu Zhiling unlocked the door with her fingerprint and handed him the same pair of cotton slippers he’d worn before.
"Come in first. There’s no one home."
"Okay."
Mo Zhu took the slippers and slipped them on. The living room was dark, the entire apartment devoid of any warmth.
Only then did he feel certain—coming here was the right decision.
Yu Zhiling flicked on the lights. She stood with her back to him for a moment before finally turning to face him.
He was dressed lightly—just a black knit sweater beneath a thin overcoat, paired with loose lounge pants. The outfit was haphazard, completely unlike the polished image he usually presented to her. It was as if he’d thrown on his coat in a hurry and rushed out the door.
Even so, he was effortlessly handsome. But the haste was unmistakable.
Yu Zhiling asked, "Did you come because I mentioned I’d be home alone today?"
Mo Zhu’s throat bobbed as he answered in a low voice, "Yes."
"What about your family?"
"I told them. My parents agreed."
In fact, they’d urged him to go. Their son, who’d never shown interest in romance before, now had them constantly pestering him for updates on his pursuit.
Yu Zhiling frowned slightly. "I only mentioned it casually. My parents are busy with work—I respect that, and I know they’re working hard. I wasn’t hinting for you to come keep me company. Did you misunderstand?"
"You’re the one misunderstanding, Senior." Mo Zhu stepped closer, bending slightly to meet her gaze. "I didn’t think you were hinting at anything. I just couldn’t stand the thought of you eating New Year’s dinner alone."
"I decided to come the moment we were playing that game. I timed it so you’d be awake by now, drove straight here without stopping. Glad I made it."
He reached out, cupping her cheek, his thumb brushing gently against her skin. His voice softened. "Are you hungry? Let’s go eat."
His eyes were fixed entirely on her. Six hours of nonstop driving had left them bloodshot, and Yu Zhiling saw it all clearly.
She couldn’t deny the wild pounding of her heart. His breath lingered near her, his palm warm against her face, the faint roughness of his skin noticeable. She could even catch his scent.
Her fingers wrapped around his wrist, feeling the steady pulse beneath.
In a quiet voice, she asked, "Does your family know about my situation?"
Mo Zhu understood her meaning instantly. A realization struck him, and he took another step forward, his usually calm tone now edged with urgency.
"They know. All of them. I’m not lying—no one in my family objects. Not a single person has any issue with you. Don’t overthink it, okay?"
Age was her biggest concern, the barrier between them.
When she stayed silent, Mo Zhu straightened and pulled out his phone.
"My parents are home right now. I can call them on video."
Yu Zhiling stopped his hand. "No need. I believe you."
Mo Zhu said nothing, simply watching her, waiting for her response.
Yu Zhiling kept her head lowered, her grip on his wrist tightening slightly, as if steeling herself. Finally, she spoke firmly. "I think you’re a good person. And… I won’t deny that what I’m about to say might be impulsive. But everyone deserves to act on impulse once in their life."
She lifted her gaze, meeting his eyes directly. "Mo Zhu, do you want to try this with me?"
His throat moved as he blinked, processing her words. His voice came out rough. "Try what?"
"Try… being together?" Yu Zhiling ventured cautiously. "If we find it doesn’t work, we can end things amicably—"
"I’ll try. I will." Mo Zhu cut her off, his other hand settling at her waist as he leaned closer. "It’ll work. If there’s anything about me you don’t like, I’ll change it. I’ll listen to you."
He was so willing—couldn’t she like him just a little more?
