Fu Yinxiu was working on his laptop, propped up on his knees, and upon hearing her words, he showed no interest. "What's so great about those superficial holidays? But... are we not a couple?"
Ming Yutong didn't like the term "couple". By now, it had acquired too many negative connotations.
"We're lovers, not just a couple," Ming Yutong said seriously.
Finally lifting his gaze from the laptop, Fu Yinxiu turned to look at Ming Yutong, a faintly mocking smile on his face.
He reached out, his long fingers gently stroking her delicate cheekbone. "But you've always been my valentine."
Wasn't she the one who always insisted on celebrating Valentine's Day?
That's what a valentine was.
He didn't say the implied meaning behind those words.
Ming Yutong's face showed disbelief, then dimmed, and she left despondently, hanging her head.
For the next few days, she seemed unable to muster any enthusiasm.
She didn't mention celebrating Valentine's Day again, but sometimes, facing Fu Yinxiu, she would falter in her words.
Fu Yinxiu knew what she wanted to ask.
Seeing the person who used to chirp incessantly like a little bird, now so listless and devoid of spirit, he furrowed his brows.
Finally, the day before Valentine's Day, Fu Yinxiu sighed and conceded defeat to Ming Yutong.
On Valentine's Day itself, Ming Yutong finished her classes at school around four in the afternoon.
Unexpectedly, as she exited the teaching building, she saw Fu Yinxiu holding a huge bouquet of roses.
The bouquet covered his entire upper body, revealing only his handsome face.
Ming Yutong stood on the steps dumbfounded, staring at him below as if she were a princess on a castle balcony, looking down at her knight.
Fu Yinxiu smiled at her and extended his hand. "Come."
As if under a spell, under his summoning, Ming Yutong's eyes were fixed on Fu Yinxiu's face, and step by step, she walked towards him.
She hadn't forgotten.
It was Valentine's Day.
This man who found holidays boring had ultimately held such a large bouquet of blood-red roses, waiting for her under everyone's gaze.
It seemed that this man, who seemed indifferent to everything and always centered on himself, had compromised with her time and time again.
He also proved to her that he was worthy of her affection.
That day, besides the flowers, he also arranged a romantic Valentine's Day date for her.
That evening, when she thought back on those gloomy days, he lightly laughed and explained to her, "When you think of Valentine's Day, isn't that me being your valentine?"
This valentine was different from the usual.
In Ming Yutong's eyes, Fu Yinxiu had many merits, not just his good looks.
But now, these merits, which emerged because of her, no longer belonged to her.
Ming Yutong smiled and said, "I still prefer Jingshi. No one can compare to him."
Ming Yuqian raised an eyebrow, visibly jealous as her little brother. He stood in front of Ming Yutong, crossing his arms and pouting!
Ming Yutong said, "..."
"Oh, Tong Tong, Dad's back. I'll talk to you later," Little Jingshi said suddenly.
"All right," Ming Yutong nodded, hearing the words 'Fu Yinxiu' made her heartbeat skip.
She then hung up the phone, then saw Ming Yuqian raised his eyebrows: "Is this my little nephew?"
"Yeah, are you jealous of him?" Ming Yutong asked, amused.
Ming Yuqian shrugged, "I admit he's just like me, but you can't put Fu Yinxiu in front of me."
Ming Yutong gave him a look, but didn't say anything, it was obvious what she meant: You're overthinking it!
"Sister, didn't you hear what I said when I came in?" Ming Yuqian asked, taking off his shoes and lounging on Ming Yutong's bed.
Ming Yutong took out a pack of five-flavored melon seeds from the drawer for Ming Yuqian, and placed a trash could next to his feet for convenience.
She didn't mind him dirtying her bed, and even cooperated to make him more comfortable.
Ming Yuqian happily accepted it, always indulged by Ming Yutong.
So when he heard someone was ranked higher than him in Ming Yutong's heart, he felt jealous.
"Why do you still have melon seeds in your drawer?" Ming Yuqian tore open the bag and started crunching on them.
"I knew you were coming back today, so I asked Aunt Sun to buy some snacks you like and put them in my drawer," Ming Yutong said, not closing the drawer, lowering her eyes and fiddling with it, "There are also spicy duck necks, pickled chicken feet, spicy fish balls, garlic pork trotters, barbecue fish tofu."
"You're my real sister," Ming Yuqian said joyously, reaching out and taking out a pack of spicy fish balls.
He opened the packaging and threw one into his mouth, saying as he ate, "Just as I arrived, I happened to see Ming Siling and Jiang Lulian outside. Ming Siling looked at Jiang Lulian in that way, tsk tsk, as if I couldn't see it. Jiang Lulian isn't a fool and can't see Ming Siling's intention."
Ming Yuqian threw away the packaging paper: "Sister, is there any water?"
Ming Yutong, again laughing, took out a can of juice from the mini-fridge under the table for him.
"Oh, you're like a treasure trove. Whatever I ask for, you can find it for me. Why don't I just move in with you?" Ming Yuqian said thoughtfully, rubbing his chin.