Volumе 1 Сhарtеr 8: The Tеа-Scentеd Fu Huaiхu
【Рlеаsе sеnd me уоur аddress, I’ll mаil it to уou.】
【Xingхing, sоmeоne likеs mу рainting, I’m sо hаpру (littlе саt sрinning in сirclеs.jpg)】
Тwо completеly diffеrent tоnеs—оnе intimate, thе other distаnt—саmе from thе samе persоn. Fu Нuаiхu lеanеd his head lazilу аgаinst his hаnd, а soft warmth sprеаding in his еyеs.
【Thаnk you, Меngmеng. Тhe addrеss is…】
Аfter reрlying brieflу, Fu Нuаiхu switchеd bаck to WeChat and madе a vidео саll.
Аfter а few rings, the scrеen lit uр, revеaling а girl with her hair down, the ends still damp, as if she had just finished showering.
“Xingxing, are you still awake?”
The late autumn night had grown chilly. Jiang Xining, who was sensitive to the cold, had long bundled herself up in fluffy layers and curled up on the bed, looking incredibly soft.
Fu Huaixu held up a document beside him, smiling gently. “I haven’t finished work yet.”
Jiang Xining frowned. “Don’t overwork yourself. There’s always more to do.”
Then she added, “The doctor said staying up late makes you lose hair, and it looks terrible.”
Dou Dou had Grandpa Fu and Uncle Fu backing him, but Xingxing only had himself. Starting a business abroad often meant working late into the night, and Jiang Xining’s heart ached just thinking about it.
Fu Huaixu chuckled softly. “It won’t fall out that quickly. Jiaojiao, you’re still awake too. How’s your foot feeling?”
“It’s been fine for a while now. I don’t need bandages anymore.” Jiang Xining stuck her foot out from under the blanket, wiggling her toes for emphasis as she pointed the camera at it.
Fu Huaixu’s eyes darkened slightly, and he subtly shifted his gaze away.
“What did you paint during your livestream today?”
At this, Jiang Xining perked up. “Today, I painted an angel. One of my fans really liked it and said they’d treasure it. I’m so happy!”
“That proves they have good taste,” Fu Huaixu said. “Jiaojiao, your paintings are so beautiful. Of course, everyone should love them.”
“Hehe!” Jiang Xining grinned, her eyes crinkling like a contented, squinting kitten.
Fu Huaixu watched her quietly before suddenly asking, “Jiaojiao, have you started working on the light painting you promised me?”
“…Not yet.”
Jiang Xining paused, her eyes flickering with guilt. “I’m sorry, Xingxing. I’ve been too busy.”
She had been busy eating, sleeping, and watching short videos, leaving no time for it just yet.
Fu Huaixu’s lips curved slightly. “I’m not rushing you. I just wanted to make a small request.”
Jiang Xining said, “Go ahead.”
Fu Huaixu spoke casually, “The one you gave Jinghao looks really nice. I’d like one just like it.”
“The same one?” Jiang Xining hesitated. “But Aunt Tang said a little baby can only be born to one person…”
“Is that not allowed?”
Fu Huaixu’s tone carried a hint of disappointment. “Forget it, then. Jiaojiao, you and Jinghao are getting engaged. I’m the extra one here. I shouldn’t ask for too much.”
Jiang Xining grew anxious. “Xingxing, that’s not what I meant!”
Fu Huaixu’s brow was deep-set, his eye sockets shadowed. Now, half-hidden in the dim light with his bangs hanging low, he looked inexplicably lonely and pitiable.
“Jiaojiao, you don’t have to comfort me. I understand. No one is happy I’m back. Dad wishes he never had a son like me… I should’ve just stayed quietly abroad. Once you two are engaged, I’ll go back to the U.S…”
Jiang Xining grew even more frantic, tears welling in her eyes. “Xingxing, that’s not what I meant. Please don’t go!”
Dou Dou was always busy with work and often disappeared for days. Only Xingxing was willing to play with her. Even from so far away, he always replied to her messages right away.
He even sent her gifts on New Year’s and her birthday. Now that he was finally back, she didn’t want him to go so far away again.”I’ll make it for you, don’t go…”
Fu Huaixu comforted her, “Don’t cry, Jiaojiao. I didn’t mean to make you sad.”
Jiang Xining wished she could rush to Fu Huaixu’s house right now, tie him up securely, and keep him by her side so he could never go abroad again.
“You’re not allowed to leave!”
Jiang Xining said with a muffled voice, “I’ll make it for you. If you leave, I won’t talk to you anymore…”
“I won’t leave. Having Jiaojiao care for me is enough to make me happy.”
Fu Huaixu asked softly, “I’m not that unwelcome, am I?”
Jiang Xining replied, “Of course not! Xingxing is the best person in the whole world. I like you the most!”
Even though he knew the girl’s “like” was no different from how she liked her parents or friends, and she might have said the same to Fu Jinghao, Fu Huaixu’s heart still softened.
“Really?”
Jiang Xining nodded emphatically, “Really!”
“As long as Jiaojiao doesn’t dislike me, I won’t leave.” Fu Huaixu glanced at the time in the upper right corner and said gently, “It’s very late. Jiaojiao should go to sleep.”
Tears still lingered at the corners of Jiang Xining’s eyes as she pouted, “You can’t leave secretly. I’ll be angry.”
“I won’t. I promised Jiaojiao, and I never break my promises.”
Jiang Xining retreated under the covers, revealing only two large, teary eyes. “Then I’ll go to sleep. Goodnight, Xingxing!”
“Goodnight.”
The screen went dark, but Fu Huaixu remained in the same position. The warmth in his dark eyes vanished, replaced by a heavy, somber expression.
How could he possibly give up such a wonderful Jiaojiao to someone else?
Besides, Jiaojiao had promised to marry him. She was his from the start.
That year, Jiang Xining was 9 years old, and Fu Huaixu was 15.
Because of an insignificant reason, Old Master Fu flew into a rage, injuring Fu Huaixu’s head. A hematoma pressed against his optic nerve, causing him to lose his sight in both eyes.
His father showed no affection, and even the servants looked down on him. Despite being a young master of the Fu family, he was forced to live in the servants’ quarters, existing like a transparent outsider.
When Jiang Xining returned from a trip and learned of his blindness, she cried and rushed to the Fu family home, barging into the dimly lit room to find him.
“Xingxing!”
The room’s curtains were tightly drawn, with no light anywhere. Jiang Xining searched everywhere until she finally found Fu Huaixu curled up in the closet, burning with a high fever.
That was the first time Jiang Xining lost her temper at the Fu family. Though she was small herself, she dared to stand up to so many elders for his sake.
After that, Fu Huaixu moved out of the Fu family and lived with the Jiang family for two years.
At first, Fu Huaixu was deeply despondent. He would either sit all day or sleep all day, rarely speaking. It was Jiang Xining who stayed by his side, even giving him her favorite spare ribs at mealtimes.
Gradually, he began to resemble a person again.
“Xingxing, there are so many stars in the sky tonight, bright and beautiful.” Just like his eyes…
Jiang Xining didn’t say that last part out loud.
Even though her mind worked slowly, she knew those words shouldn’t be spoken.
In truth, Fu Huaixu didn’t have a nickname. It was Jiang Xining who thought his eyes resembled sparkling stars and started calling him “Xingxing.” She was the only one who ever called him that.
Fu Huaixu leaned on his white cane, his dark, dull eyes gazing toward the sky. He remained silent for a long time.
“I can’t see…”
“You’ll see them eventually. The stars are always in the sky. Just look up, and you’ll see them!”
“Grandpa has found many doctors. Xingxing, if you follow the treatment obediently, you’ll get better.” Jiang Xining bit her lip, trying hard to suppress the sadness in her heart. “Even if you really can’t see, I’ll describe everything to you. I’ll be your eyes!”Hearing this, Fu Huaixu remained silent for a long time.
A moment later, he gave a faint smile, the corner of his lips lifting slightly. “Jiaojiao will get married when she grows up and start a family with someone else. How could she be my eyes then?”
“Couldn’t she take me along when she gets married?”
“Isn’t that possible?”
Jiang Xining, who had just turned ten, was already very beautiful, like an exquisite doll. Even her silly expression at that moment was adorable.
“Of course not,” Fu Huaixu said. “Marriage isn’t like making friends. It’s something you do with just one person, for a lifetime.”
“Then…” Jiang Xining’s mind struggled to process it.
She looked up at Fu Huaixu’s delicate profile, feeling as though a thread was tangled chaotically in her heart. Suddenly, she grasped the end of that thread and gave it a firm tug.
All confusion and uncertainty vanished in that instant.
“Then when I grow up, I’ll marry you, and we’ll never have to be apart.”