"Come, let's check out the backyard."
"Sure!"
The two soon arrived at the rear courtyard, where a decorative rockery and koi pond immediately greeted them. The pond was filled with jagged stones and flowing water, its spring bubbling clearly from the source, crystal-clear to the bottom.
The pond concealed a motor to keep the water circulating, but since no one had been around to care for it, no fish had been stocked—just a pool of pristine water.
Standing by the pond, Shen Yi pointed and asked,
"Should we tear this down and build you a swimming pool? You love swimming, after all..."
"What are you thinking? This rockery is lovely—why demolish it?"
Fu Nanzhi smacked his arm in exasperation and said,
"There must’ve been a reason the previous owners didn’t build a pool here."
"The whole design is very deliberate, everything has to match."
She gestured around them and added,
"Look at the decor—everything’s either classical or has a Republic-era aesthetic."
"Tearing down the rockery to dig a modern swimming pool? That’d be completely out of place."
Shen Yi shrugged, unfazed.
"So what? Comfort comes first."
He was a pragmatist at heart—if he liked something, that was all that mattered.
Fu Nanzhi shook her head firmly.
"Really, no need. It’s fine as it is."
Seeing her insistence, Shen Yi dropped the subject, and the two continued further in.
Rounding the southern side of the house, Fu Nanzhi’s eyes lit up.
"There’s a greenhouse here too?"
"Yep."
Shen Yi chuckled warmly in response.
"It came with the place. We can have tea here in winter."
"Or enjoy the snow when it falls."
Greenhouses—or conservatories—weren’t hard to build. The cost varied, but they were affordable enough. Most people just lacked the space for one.
Fu Nanzhi pushed the door open and stepped inside, surveying the area before remarking,
"This spot’s better. If it weren’t so small, it’d actually be perfect for a pool."
Shen Yi, of course, had no objections. With a grand wave, he declared,
"Then let’s expand it outward. We can sacrifice a bit of the lawn if needed."
The main structure didn’t take up much space, with much of the area occupied by the garden’s grassy expanse. Losing a little wouldn’t hurt.
Fu Nanzhi crossed her arms and pondered for a moment.
"We’ll see. I was just thinking out loud."
"Alright."
"Let’s keep exploring."
Soon, the two had circled the entire house, chatting as they went.
"Tired? Let’s head back and rest."
"Mhm."
Fu Nanzhi agreed, following Shen Yi into the spacious living room.
After settling her on the couch, Shen Yi disappeared briefly before returning with two glasses of water.
He sat beside her, handing one over and asking,
"Thirsty?"
"Your lips look dry—did you skip water this morning? Drink up."
"Not really. I’m fine."
Fu Nanzhi took the glass but merely held it, pursing her lips slightly.
"They’re not dry. Mom made me breakfast this morning."
"Just drink it. It’s only a small glass."
Shen Yi wasn’t letting her off. He nudged closer, insistent.
Seeing his earnestness, Fu Nanzhi relented and took a few token sips.
But when she set it down, Shen Yi pointed at the remaining half.
"You didn’t finish. Down it all in one go."
Fu Nanzhi rolled her eyes.
"Are you treating me like a kid?"
"It’s not medicine."
She wasn’t thirsty to begin with—drinking any at all was only because Shen Yi had handed it to her.
When she refused, Shen Yi switched tactics, feigning hurt.
"Fine, fine… don’t drink it then."
He sighed dramatically, looking away.
"Even though I poured it just for you… but if you don’t want it, forget it..."
Fu Nanzhi clutched the glass, suddenly feeling like a villain for refusing.
She tugged at his sleeve, laughing as she coaxed him.
"Alright, alright!"
"I’ll drink it, okay?"
Tilting her head back, she downed the rest in one go.
Afterward, she held up the empty glass.
"Happy now?"
"How do you feel?" Shen Yi watched her intently.
"Nothing special. Just a bit full..."
She smacked her lips—plain water was plain water, though the full glass had left her slightly bloated.
"Oh, well, good job then."
Satisfied, Shen Yi clapped lightly. At least she’d finished it.
"What’s the big deal? Was there even a point to this?"
Fu Nanzhi frowned.
"You made such a fuss over a glass of water for nothing?"
Shen Yi spread his hands innocently.
"What’s wrong with that? Hydration’s important."
"Ugh—you!"
Fu Nanzhi slammed the glass down, lunging at him.
"I’ll strangle you!"
"Heh, heh… can’t catch me!"
Shen Yi dodged left and right, blocking her half-heartedly between laughs, occasionally letting her break through his defenses.
Their tussle was interrupted when Shen Yi’s phone rang.
He glanced at the screen and promptly declined the call.
Fu Nanzhi, catching her breath on the couch, cracked an eyelid.
"Why’d you ignore it?"
"Was it Zhu Yun or Yunyi?"
Shen Yi set the phone aside and countered,
"How’d you know?"
Fu Nanzhi reclined lazily.
"I’m not an idiot. After last night’s… incident, of course they’d come looking for you too."
Thinking back to the surreal events of the previous night, she couldn’t help but wonder—was it divine intervention or some trick of fate?
At this point, Shen Yi saw no reason to hide it.
"It was Yunyi."
"If it’s her, why not answer?"
Fu Nanzhi’s brow furrowed as she pressed him.
Shen Yi smirked, side-eyeing her.
"Oh? Since when did you two become besties overnight? Defending her now?"
Fu Nanzhi averted her gaze, muttering,
"We’re not besties..."
"You should’ve picked up. I wouldn’t have minded. Ignoring her just makes it worse."
Amused by her contradictory tone, Shen Yi laughed.
"Alright, enough teasing. Don’t worry—I already sent her the address."
"She’s probably on her way. Explaining things in person’s better than over the phone anyway."
"That’s more like it."
Fu Nanzhi nodded, then added,
"What about Zhu Yun?"
Shen Yi shrugged.
"Obviously told her to come too. You think I’d forget?"
"Or do only you care about them?"
Flustered, Fu Nanzhi tackled him again in retaliation.
She clamped her teeth onto his ear, growling through gritted teeth,
"I’ll bite you to death!"
"You heartless jerk—who do you think I’m doing this for?!"
"Dare mock me?!"
Shen Yi couldn't help but cry out in pain, begging for mercy,
"Ah, ow ow ow...!"
"I was wrong, I was wrong!"
"Nanzhi, darling, I’m really sorry—let go, let go!"