Ming Yutong used to worry that Fu Yinxiu, while away, might develop feelings for other women.
Even if Fu Yinxiu wasn't pursuing anyone actively, there could still be women who approached him. She wondered if he might be swayed by a particularly outstanding or attractive woman.
Back then, Ming Yutong lacked confidence. She didn't feel particularly special or unforgettable.
In terms of appearance, she though there were many beautiful women who could match or surpass her looks.
As for her abilities, she was just an undergraduate student who had received scholarships but hadn't yet ventured into the workforce.
Compared to those battling in society, she felt insignificant. Her personality also seemed unremarkable.
Her feelings of insecurity led her to worry and overthink when they were apart. It was essentially a lack of trust between them.
Now, even though Fu Yinxiu was abroad and she wouldn't see him for a few days, she no longer had these thoughts. Her confidence and trust in him had grown.
His actions and words over time had gradually reassured her, making her believe he wouldn't be interested in anyone else.
If Fu Yinxiu knew about Ming Yutong's thoughts, he would probably be so pleased that he'd book a flight back immediately, just to be with her.
But he was unaware of her feelings. Instead, he anxiously awaited her response to the video call.
He muttered to himself, "Maybe she's fallen asleep because I took too long."
As he regretted spending so much time admiring himself in the mirror, Ming Yutong finally answered the call.
The camera angle was set to focus on Fu Yinxiu's abs and V-lines, but as Ming Yutong opened the call, she saw most of his body, with his face only partially visible.
Realizing Ming Yutong's reaction, Fu Yinxiu quickly adjusted the camera to show his face but kept the angle slightly wide to include his upper body.
"Tong Tong," he said happily, his eyes lighting up as he saw her.
Ming Yutong, dressed in a cozy, fluffy pajama set with her long hair casually tied up, looked both comfortable and cute. Her pajama set featured Totoro, complete with ears on the hood, adding an adorable touch.
Fu Yinxiu couldn't help but admire her cuteness. He regretted not being able to see her in this outfit sooner and wished he could return immediately to see her.
"Why didn't I see you wearing this yesterday?" he asked.
The previous night, she had been in more conventional cotton pajamas.
Ming Yutong looked down at her pajamas, feeling a bit self-conscious. "Do they look bad?"
"No, they look great," Fu Yinxiu said with a smile. "They're very cute."
Even through the screen, Ming Yutong could see the sincerity in his eyes. It seemed he genuinely thought so, not just flattering her to make her happy.
Ming Yutong smiled shyly, feeling a bit embarrassed about her mature age and wearing such a cute outfit.
"This is what I bought for myself and Jingshi when we went shopping tonight," she explained, pulling at the hem of her pajamas. "I saw these parent-child pajamas and got us matching ones. Jingshi insisted on wearing them tonight, so I agreed since you're not here and there's no one else around."
Fu Yinxiu, sensing her hesitation, said with even more conviction, "It really is cute."
He then added, "Can you put the hat on?"
Ming Yutong looked at him puzzled.
Fu Yinxiu eagerly explained, "The hat has two little ears on it. I bet it'll be even cuter with the hat on."
Ming Yutong's face flushed slightly, and she couldn't help but roll her eyes at him. "I'm not putting it on."
Fu Yinxiu didn't press further, "Alright, I'll just wait until I get back to see you in it."
"Let's talk about it when you come back," Ming Yutong said, neither agreeing nor immediately opposing.
Fu Yinxiu's smile grew even more delighted. "You're being so sweet to me!"
Then he asked, "Did you get one for me too?"
"What?" Ming Yutong was momentarily confused.
Fu Yinxiu pointed towards the screen, "The pajamas, the matching parent-child ones. The same set you and Jingshi have."
Ming Yutong: "…"
She averted her gaze, feeling a bit guilty.
Could she say she forgot? The pajamas weren't gender-specific, and there were sizes available for men too. If he wanted them, there would be a fitting size.
But at the time, she was focused on getting matching ones for herself and Jingshi and didn't think about Fu Yinxiu at all.
Seeing Ming Yutong's reaction, Fu Yinxiu knew immediately that she hadn't bought any for him. His face fell with disappointment.
Ming Yutong tried to explain, "It's not that I didn't think of you, it's just that this style doesn't really suit you, so I didn't buy it."
It was obvious she was trying to comfort him, but the truth was, she hadn't thought of him when buying them.
Fu Yinxiu felt deeply hurt and pouted his lips, trying to mimic Jingshi's sad expression. But he felt too embarrassed to pull it off convincingly and just looked at her with a pitiful expression.
He clutched his chest and said, "Tong Tong, it hurts here."
Because he felt neglected.
He wasn't angry, just hurt, feeling uncomfortable and out of sorts.
Ming Yutong felt a pang of guilt, which she hadn't expected.
In truth, she didn't really owe him anything. They hadn't even reconciled yet. Even if she didn't buy it for him, it wasn't a big deal.
Still, seeing his expression made her feel uneasy.
Fu Yinxiu gave her a smile that was both sad and reassuring, as if trying to comfort her even though he was the one feeling hurt.