Jiang Fuyue took the hair dryer, weighed it in her hand, and raised her chin slightly to motion at Xie Dingyuan.
The man didn’t get it and dumbly asked, “What?”
“Sit down. Otherwise, how can I reach you?”
“…Oh.”
With stiff limbs, Xie Dingyuan sat on the stool.
The next second, the dryer roared to life, warm air blasting onto his hair—followed by a cool, soft sensation on his scalp.
His body trembled.
That was…
The girl’s hand was gently combing through his hair, her fingertips inevitably brushing his scalp.
“What’s wrong?”
“N-Nothing…”
“Is the dryer too hot?”
“No.”
“Then why are you sweating?”
Xie Dingyuan: “…”
It’s just… hot.
“You have to be gentle when drying hair. Move your fingers in one general direction—got it?”
He nodded meekly.
“Okay, then do it yourself.” Jiang Fuyue handed him the dryer.
“You’re not helping me anymore?” His eyes widened in disbelief.
“Didn’t you just say you got it?”
“…Oh.” D*mn this mouth!
After drying his hair, Xie Dingyuan put the dryer away.
The suite had a private balcony. Jiang Fuyue was now lounging comfortably in a chair, enjoying the night breeze.
Beside her were two boxed desserts they’d brought back—one durian, one Oreo.
Xie Dingyuan walked over and sat across from her.
His long arms and legs had nowhere to go and looked a bit cramped in the limited space of the chair.
“Want something sweet?” Jiang Fuyue asked.
He paused, then nodded. “Sure.”
“Even durian?”
“I’ll eat that too.”
“There,” she pointed at the two desserts on the table. “Pick one.”
Xie Dingyuan thought for a moment. His eyes were incredibly sincere. “Whichever you like, I’ll give you both.”
Pfft— Jiang Fuyue couldn’t help but laugh.
The man looked utterly confused.
Was that funny?
“Xie Dingyuan, you’re a liar,” she suddenly said.
He looked even more lost.
A liar?
What…?
“You clearly don’t like sweets, but said you’re fine with them. Am I wrong to call you a liar?”
His expression turned awkward. A flush crept up his ears and spread across his cheeks.
“I wasn’t lying, I just…”
“Just what?”
“I just wanted to try what you like… maybe I’ll end up liking it too.”
Jiang Fuyue was momentarily speechless.
Then she saw him opening the boxes, measuring the portions, and cutting each dessert perfectly in half.
It was peak obsessive-compulsive behavior—precisely split, both sides identical.
He placed them neatly back into the boxes. Now they looked like purposefully made half-and-half combos.
“Half durian and half Oreo each. This is yours, this one’s mine.”
Jiang Fuyue smiled. “Sounds good.”
…
“So?” she asked.
Xie Dingyuan said, “The durian’s better. The Oreo bits are soft already.”
Jiang Fuyue nodded. “I thought so too.”
He smiled faintly.
By nearly midnight, the clothes sent for drying were finally returned, clean and folded.
The staff apologized once again.
At this point, Xie Dingyuan should have changed and left.
But unfortunately, it had started raining outside.
“Do you have an umbrella?”
Staff: “Yes, sir. One moment, I’ll bring it up.”
“Alright.”
About fifteen minutes passed. Not only did the umbrella never come, but the power in the room suddenly went out.
“What’s going on?”
“I’ll call the front desk,” Jiang Fuyue said.
Before she could dial, the landline rang first.
“Hello, we’re terribly sorry. The heavy rain has caused a power system failure. Repairs are underway. Please remain in your room and stay calm. For your safety, the hotel has locked both front and back entrances. No one may enter or leave for now. We apologize for the inconvenience.”
Now, Xie Dingyuan was truly stuck.
In the darkness, the two looked at each other.
Jiang Fuyue: “Want to stay a bit longer?”
Cough. “If you don’t mind, I don’t mind,” he said, Adam’s apple bobbing.
The room was pitch black, and it was raining on the balcony. Luckily, the master bedroom had a large bay window with a mattress, a short tea table in the center…
And to their surprise, a scented candle on top.
Jiang Fuyue checked—there was plenty of wax, and it gave off a light magnolia scent.
Xie Dingyuan reminded her, “No lighter.”
She searched around and found a box of matches in the drawer beneath the table.
Strike—
A match flared to life.
Warm yellow light flickered across their faces, casting soft shadows.
Jiang Fuyue lit the candle and blew out the match.
In that instant, their little corner was bathed in gentle glow.
“Xie Dingyuan.”
“Yeah?”
“What’s your dream?”
He froze, then answered without much thought, “…To help build the country. What about you?”
“…”
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Her eyes shimmered under the candlelight, full of warmth, affection, and spirit.
“…Same as yours.”
But her vision was more specific—she wanted to help build the most impoverished, remote, and discriminated region of the country.
Now it was his turn to be stunned. He opened his mouth, and after a while, managed a single word: “You…”
“What? You don’t believe me?” she smirked.
Maybe it was the candlelight—or maybe something else—but in that moment, he saw softness and warmth in her eyes, and even a kind of smoldering intensity.
“…No, I believe you. I just think… you’re still young, you shouldn’t…”
What do girls her age normally dream of?
Food. Scenery. Fashion. Beauty…
Friendship. Love. Family…
A good university. A nice job. A bright future…
Mostly things about themselves. Rarely about others, let alone their country or people.
His heart thumped rapidly.
They shared so many similarities, so many values and ways of thinking.
Every kind of affection has its reason.
Every heartbeat, too, has its cause.
He never liked her for her looks—he liked her proud and unyielding spirit, her clear sense of right and wrong.
“What do you mean ‘I’m still young’? Are you that old?”
He lowered his eyes. “…I’m almost ten years older than you.”
Jiang Fuyue thought, Including my last life, I’m more than ten years older than you.
Outside, the rain didn’t stop. Inside, the power never came back.
When the candle finally burned out, darkness returned to the room.
Jiang Fuyue yawned, got off the bay window, and used her phone light to find the bed.
“No point waiting. If you don’t mind, you can sleep in the other room. I’m turning in.”
“…Okay.” Xie Dingyuan quietly left the room.
Before closing the door, he looked toward the bed. All he saw was darkness, but his voice came low and gentle:
“Good night, Yueyue.”
Silence lingered for five seconds—
Then—
“Xie Dingyuan, good night.”
He smiled.
…
That night, although Jiang Fuyue didn’t lock the door, she still slept soundly.
The next morning, the sky was bright, the rain had stopped, and cold air brushed her face with a crisp scent.
She took a deep breath—refreshingly cold.
Then she remembered Xie Dingyuan. Had he stayed or left last night?
She turned and headed for the guest room.
Knocked. Waited two seconds. No response.
She twisted the doorknob. The bed was neatly made—not a single wrinkle. Looked like no one had slept there.
Maybe once power was restored and the lockdown lifted, he’d left.
She didn’t think much of it. She began changing, washing up, and packing.
Then—the doorbell rang.
“Who is it?”
“Room service.”
Jiang Fuyue frowned. “No need for now, thank you.”
“But someone ordered breakfast for you.”
She opened the door, only to be smacked in the face with a bouquet.
“You—”
“Surprise!” Han Heng, wearing a mask and baseball cap, grinned brightly while holding a bunch of pink roses.
Jiang Fuyue: “…”
“Little Yueyue, surprised?”
“You’re just waltzing into a hotel in broad daylight? Not afraid of the paparazzi?”
She let go of the doorknob and walked back inside.
Han Heng chuckled and followed, closing the door behind him—after carefully checking the hallway.
“Relax, your dear uncle is careful. Not to brag, but most paparazzi can’t get me. If they do, it’s because I let them.”
Jiang Fuyue poured him a glass of water. “Sit. Why are you here?”
“Oh, something came up at the company. Big bro had to go deal with it. Second bro’s watching the market. So I volunteered to pick you up! And I brought you flowers too—like them?”
He held out the bouquet and took off his sunglasses. His eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Jiang Fuyue accepted them and smiled. “Thanks, little uncle. They’re beautiful.”
His grin widened. “Glad you like them. Your mom liked pink roses too.”
Just then—a soft sound came from the guest room.
Jiang Fuyue paused.
Han Heng: “What was that?”
“I’ll check…”
She pushed open the door—
And her eyes went wide. “You didn’t leave?!”
—
Things are about to get spicy, hehe~
Bonus quiz: Will Little Uncle run into Xie99?
A. Yes
B. No
