Chapter 44: You, Radiant

Chapter 44: The Dazzling You

No one can resist a man who treats them with tenderness and excels in every aspect. Bai Li was no exception.

She thought she was probably doomed. She felt herself uncontrollably resisting the idea of treating Fang Ye as a brother, yet he seemed to treat her consistently as a little sister to be looked after. In novels, the female supporting character who falls for her non-blood-related brother rarely meets a happy ending. Bai Li knew she didn't necessarily want to be in a romantic relationship with Fang Ye; she was simply terrified that this hidden sentiment would one day be seen through by him.

There was no doubt about it—she could never hide anything from him. She feared that if he discovered her feelings, he would distance himself, viewing her as a strange and taboo existence.

But soon, Bai Li stopped thinking about it. She knew clearly that she could not control her emotions and could only leave them to fate. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest. She lowered her eyelashes, missing Lingjiang, thousands of kilometers away.

For a long time after that, Fang Ye did not contact her. Bai Li simply turned off her phone and immersed herself in her studies. Defying the wishes of Mrs. Hu, she stayed away from home as much as possible, always using the same excuse: she could not afford to let her studies suffer.

...

In Jiangcheng, the leaves turned yellow before anyone noticed, and ginkgo leaves carpeted the ground. With every autumn rain came a deeper chill. The last day of December, a Friday, was also Bai Li's birthday.

In the past, no one would have kept this date in mind. It happened to snow that day, and the rest of the family went out to visit the nearby Lake Bay. Bai Li stood in her dormitory, packing her bags to head home; she also needed to pick up some warmer clothes.

Just as she walked out of the school gate, the dormitory warden spotted her and stopped her, handing her a package. "Are you Bai Li? Your parcel has been sitting here for days. Take it back today; I’m heading home soon."

Bai Li was about to protest that she hadn't ordered anything, but seeing her own name on the shipping label, she swallowed the words and offered a thank you.

The first snow of winter fell on her birthday, and Bai Li’s mood brightened. Once she returned home, she found a small knife and opened the parcel. Inside was a beautiful jade bracelet. Bai Li knew nothing about jade, but she could tell the quality was excellent; the color was subtle and understated, perfect for a young girl to wear.

She picked up the bracelet with great care. In that instant, only one person came to mind. To verify her hunch, she took a photo of the bracelet and sent it to Fang Ye, asking: "Brother, did you send this to me?"

The return address on the package had been blurred by moisture, otherwise she wouldn't have needed to ask.

Within a few minutes, her phone vibrated. She picked it up to see a video call from Fang Ye.

...

Bai Li felt that long-dormant heartbeat start to accelerate again. After a moment of hesitation, she hurriedly tapped the green answer button and quickly found a flattering angle.

As she looked up, Fang Ye’s face appeared on the screen. The corners of his lips were curled into a handsome arc, his eyes cold and clear. The phone screen did not diminish his features—his high-bridged nose and the smooth contours of his face were striking from every angle.

Before she could speak, Fang Ye had already started. His lazy voice sounded slightly surreal through the electronic connection.

"Bai Li, happy birthday. Do you like the bracelet?"

"Yes! I love it. Thank you, Brother."

Bai Li’s heart was in her throat, her voice slightly breathless. She carefully held the bracelet up to the screen to show him. Having heard that jade bracelets were expensive, she didn't want him to spend too much, so she couldn't help but ask, "Brother, is this bracelet expensive?"

Fang Ye raised an eyebrow in surprise. His long, slender fingers tapped the screen as he teased her gently, "Who taught you to ask about the price of a gift? What, do you want to sell it?"

There was a hint of playfulness in his tone. Fearing a misunderstanding, Bai Li shook her head quickly, her face serious. "No, I wouldn't sell it! I mean, if it's too expensive, I want to reimburse you. After all, you didn't get to eat my birthday cake, so it doesn't feel right for me to accept your gift unilaterally."

"..."

After hearing this, Fang Ye laughed. His eyes drifted to the dim lighting in the room behind her, and he asked softly, "Then, did you have cake today?"

Bai Li was stunned; she hadn't expected him to ask that. She thought of the breakfast she’d had in the cafeteria—a two-yuan piece of sponge cake, triangular and a bit dry, but sweet. It counted as cake, right? It wasn't really a lie, was it?

With that thought, Bai Li felt more confident. She nodded firmly. "Yes, I had cake today."

Fang Ye’s gaze remained fixed on her, gentle and warm. It was only when facing Bai Li that he became such a tender brother. He raised his hand and smiled. "Come back to Lingjiang next time, and Brother will buy you a delicious cake."

"Okay."

Watching the girl's expectant eyes, Fang Ye swiped over to a food delivery app. On it was an order he had placed that morning for delivery to the First Private High School, which no rider had picked up all afternoon. The snowstorm in Jiangcheng was too severe; traffic was gridlocked, and many riders were unwilling to work in such dangerous conditions.

Bai Li suddenly thought of something. She stepped away from the screen for a moment and returned with several test papers from her monthly exams, holding them up to the camera.

"Brother."

"Hmm?"

Bai Li pointed to her name on the papers and smiled. "I ranked in the top ten in the whole grade. I heard you’re at Qing University—I’ve looked it up, it’s a great school. I’m working hard to get into the same school as you. Next summer, I will definitely bring my report card to find you."

She exchanged this promise with Fang Ye solemnly, every word spoken with earnest dedication. She thought that by then, she would be able to control her own life, be closer to her goals, and… be closer to Fang Ye.

Fang Ye paused, looking closely at the report card. He was suddenly reminded of the day the girl first arrived in Lingjiang, drenched in wind and rain, yet possessing that same resolute gaze.

His eyes softened further. He stubbed out his cigarette, a scar on his wrist—one he hadn't had time to hide—visible as he met her eyes.

"Little Bai Li, I'll be waiting."

...

As her birthday neared midnight and drew to a close, Bai Li lay in bed clutching her quilt. With the jade bracelet Fang Ye had given her resting on her wrist, its cool, smooth touch made her smile.

Her thoughts drifted to that dream about the future. If it were true, the future Fang Ye would surely be dazzling beyond measure.

Although, even now, Fang Ye was already dazzling enough.

Humans are phototropic; we subconsciously want to draw near to things that are bright and warm. She couldn't be selfish and demand that her brother belong only to her, but she wanted to chase his footsteps for as long as she possibly could.

She wanted to hear him say "Happy Birthday" every single year.