Chapter 37
Slightly Sweet You（07）
Chapter 37
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This statement makes perfect sense in the current context, but for Huo Shiheng, who had just been unintentionally teased by her words, even the strongest self-control couldn’t stop a certain… impulse. He unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, adjusted the collar to the sides, and walked to the wind-facing spot to cool down.
He effortlessly hit the matchbox in a single try. Mu He was more excited than winning five million, completely oblivious to his unusual behavior, focused solely on getting the prize. But the chubby boss dawdled for a long time before finally handing her a men’s ring.
The ring was simple and elegant, yet upon closer inspection, its design was unique. Small black obsidian stones were embedded in the silver band, the pattern delicate and clear—obviously handcrafted. Mu He didn’t expect such a boutique item from a small stall, and it was hers—a delightful surprise. “It’s really beautiful.”
The chubby boss looked at it with concern: “It’s pure silver. Over a thousand yuan!”
This was a high-end tourist spot—without spending big for a gimmick, how could you attract visitors?
Now, the biggest prize had been won for just ten yuan. Even with such high difficulty… it was his poor judgment. The man’s aura alone suggested he was no ordinary person. Why would he care about this ring?
It was probably just to make his girlfriend happy.
Moreover, losing to an expert wasn’t that shameful.
Not far away, Huo Shiheng suddenly felt the urge to smoke. Since living together, he hadn’t smoked, so naturally, he had no cigarettes.
He unclenched his fist and, seeing her glancing around, realized she was looking for him.
Huo Shiheng walked over.
“Xi Heng,” Mu He noticed his coat draped over his arm and only a thin shirt on, unbuttoned at the top. She asked in puzzlement, “Aren’t you cold?”
Huo Shiheng nodded calmly.
Mu He herself felt warm all over from excitement. Presenting the ring like a treasure, she held it out to him: “Do you like it? It’s your New Year gift from me.”
Although he had won it, and it wasn’t as uniquely thoughtful as the Eagle-Crane ring he had given, in a sense, the ring was something she had first wanted to give him, so it counted as a return gift.
Perfect logic.
“Try it on.”
Mu He tried to put the ring on his hand. It wouldn’t fit the middle finger, and slipped off the pinky. Couldn’t put it on the ring finger either—that would make it a wedding ring!
She muttered: “Why doesn’t it fit?”
The chubby boss watching them try on rings, overwhelmed with sweetness, could only think internally: It’s not custom-made, of course it won’t fit. And why not put it on his ring finger? I could even play “Wedding March” live for you two.
“All right.”
Mu He successfully slid the ring onto his index finger and turned it. There was still some space—maybe the ring finger would be a better fit?
But she wasn’t going to help him put it on.
Smiling, Mu He thanked the boss: “Happy New Year! Wishing you a prosperous business.”
During New Year, everyone loves auspicious words. The boss’s smile lit up his chubby face—truly skilled in business, spouting a long list of blessings without taking a breath.
It was late, so Mu He decided to stop shopping for now and come back another time. She rubbed her slightly reddened hands from the cold: “Let’s go home.”
Huo Shiheng shook off his coat and draped it over her shoulders. Knowing she would worry about him getting cold and refuse, he leaned closer, lips near her ear, smiling mischievously: “A rare opportunity. Miss Mu, please don’t deny me the chance to be attentive.”
Mu He’s heart pounded.
The night sky was hazy, the moon and stars hidden. The island’s darkness was scattered by colorful lights.
After a few steps, Mu He felt his hand slip under her coat to gently hold hers. The slightly cool ring pressed into her palm. She smiled secretly, symbolically struggling a little before letting him hold her hand.
By the time they got home, it was eleven. Bowl had barely seen them all day. When the door opened, it circled Mu He. She picked it up, played a bit, then went to shower.
After showering, most of her fatigue was gone. Mu He lay on the bed, playing on her phone. The WeChat group for the “Immortal Romance” crew was raining red packets. She snagged 66.7 yuan from Director Xie—luckiest hand—and threw a 200-yuan red packet into the group.
Zhong Li Fei noticed her online and messaged privately: “What are you doing, Teacher Mu?”
Mu He: “Went out during the day, just showered and lying down.”
Zhong Li Fei, sensing something: “A date?”
Mu He: “?”
Zhong Li Fei: “Okay, got it.”
Mu He: “?”
What did I say that you just ‘got it’?
Zhong Li Fei: “Still that eight-year friend?”
Brainwashed by Tan Mian’s “breakup,” Mu He reflexively thought of anything labeled ‘friend.’ No one else could share her girlish thoughts. She turned sideways and sent a voice message: “Fei Fei, did you know? He likes me too, and said he wants to chase me.”
“What happened?!”
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“Just last night, New Year’s Eve. I finished the CCTV program and returned to my place. Guess what?
He was standing downstairs waiting for me, probably for a long time. He came all the way from home to find me.
At the time, it felt like a dream. I had planned to confess, but didn’t get the chance. He confessed first.”
Zhong Li Fei: “That’s a real man.”
He asked again: “Did you say yes immediately?”
Mu He: “…”
Zhong Li Fei: “I guessed it right.”
Mu He tried to save face: “But I quickly regretted it.”
Zhong Li Fei replied flatly: “Oh, you’re really something.”
Thinking of Mu He’s previous “love him for a lifetime” words, he warned: “I’m telling you, don’t easily say yes. Keep him on edge. Men are all the same—once they have you, the novelty fades, and they won’t cherish you.”
Mu He: “Got it, Teacher Zhong Li.”
“So when do you think I should agree?”
Zhong Li Fei joked: “He wasted eight years. Should chase for three or five more years.
Wait, Mu Yangyang, you were only 14 eight years ago?
Second year of middle school?
Early to fall in love, huh.”
Mu He: “I was just too young back then, had no feelings for him.
Also, I was 14, in first year of high school.”
“Top student, respect.”
Mu He: “A poor mountain kid, had to take responsibility early, went to school early too.”
Zhong Li Fei: “Keep bragging.”
She had gone to teach in a remote southern village during sophomore summer. Girls usually dropped out after middle school—either helping at home or getting married. Someone like Mu He, skipping grades to high school, could only be exceptional, top of the top.
Mu He returned the topic: “Fei Fei, you may think it’s ridiculous, but I feel… he’s the one for me. I’ll never find anyone better.”
Zhong Li Fei: “Not ridiculous, I’m serious.
As the poem says, a lifetime is only enough to love one person. That’s the purest form of love.”
“As for when to say yes, just follow your heart.”
Her words struck straight to Mu He’s heart: “Mm-hmm!”
Zhong Li Fei: “Tomorrow I have to accompany my mom back to my grandfather’s. Sleep early, and you don’t stay up too late either.”
Mu He: “Good night 🌙”
She wasn’t ready to sleep yet, so she logged onto her main Weibo account: “Picking a thousand paper cranes from reposts to treat me to her family’s New Year’s Eve dinner 😳”
“Ahhh, here it comes, first!”
“Come, open your mouth, here, eat it 🍴”
“Mu Yangyang, you’re no longer a 22-year-old kid, please continue to stay mischievous, thanks.”
“Her family? Please, goddess, consider the male fans’ feelings and treat everyone fairly, okay?”
[Replies] 698 [Likes] 2333
Mu He was surprised—she had so many male fans! That comment became their gathering place. The thread was so high, she climbed through layer by layer, exhausted. She tossed her phone aside and rubbed her dry, tired eyes.
Had she forgotten something important?
She sat up again.
Previously at the Jin Ye Club, he, in the role of a senior, had kissed her three times on the cheeks. Now that it was New Year, didn’t he have to give this junior a red envelope as a New Year’s gift?
Mu He sneaked into the next room to explain her intentions.
Huo Shiheng had just come out of the bathroom, his short hair still slightly damp, a few strands falling messily across his forehead. Rather than looking unkempt, it gave him a cozy, at-home vibe. That deep, handsome face carried a faint smile: “No red envelope, but I do have someone.”
Goodbye.
Mu He wanted to bolt, but her feet felt nailed to the ground: “That attitude of yours could easily ruin your likability.”
“Then can I make it up? Is it too late?”
How…
He suddenly leaned down and lightly kissed her lips, barely touching before pulling away.
“Xi Heng,” Mu He’s heart softened, “I feel like you…” He seemed to be getting more skilled at taking advantage, and yet she really fell for it, completely defenseless.
“Hm?”
Huo Shiheng’s tone lifted slightly. “What?”
“Getting more shameless.”
His smile deepened: “Flattering me.”
Mu He wanted to linger another night, but realized if she slept, he’d only get bolder.
She changed her mind and waved vaguely: “Good night.”
Back in the master bedroom, Mu He found a red envelope in her pajama pocket. Had he slipped it in when kissing her?
She couldn’t sleep any more and continued scrolling her phone.
In her friend circle, everyone was celebrating the New Year joyfully. A high school classmate had a baby girl on New Year’s Eve. Mu He liked and commented, then visited the profile and unexpectedly saw a reposted charity message.
Whenever she saw these fundraising posts, she would donate something, regardless of her finances. Clicking in, a familiar name caught her eye—
You Fenfang
Seeing the address matched the one on the ID, she was certain it was that woman. Before her father passed away, he instructed her to try to send 300 yuan monthly to that address if financially possible. She had done so, though puzzled, until last year during Qingming, she learned the reason from her father’s diary.
You Fenfang was in the late stage of uremia, urgently needing a kidney transplant. The fundraising goal was 500,000 yuan, but due to low reach, only a little over 20,000 was raised in a week. Mu He remembered this, and the next day, through a middle school classmate in Shancheng, contacted You Fenfang’s son and anonymously transferred 500,000 yuan.
During the days Huo Shiheng was away before the New Year, Mu He’s schedule was packed. Her spring break only ended on the sixth day of the lunar New Year. On the seventh, she received a generous opening-of-work red envelope at the company and officially returned to her busy work.
On the tenth, Mu He set off to South City for Fashion Week events and filming advertisements, expecting to return only by the Lantern Festival.
Thinking of not seeing Huo Shiheng for five days, she felt reluctant. She also resolved to work hard to earn a golden home for him—sacrifice now for a better life later.
Before leaving, Mu He hugged him, taking all the advantages she could, only to be taken by him for a parting kiss, before descending the stairs to meet Tan Mian.
Since Ye Xi had a family matter and took leave, Tan Mian accompanied Mu He to South City. The flight didn’t have first-class seats, so Mu He upgraded her to business class, matching her own.
Tan Mian, touched, wiped non-existent tears: “Yangyang, you’re amazing! I’ll be your assistant for life!”
Mu He laughed at her: “Can your acting be even more exaggerated?”
Tan Mian chuckled, the words exaggerated, but her gratitude was genuine. Being a celebrity assistant sounds glamorous, but in reality, it’s full-time nanny work—tiring for anyone.
Mu He, gentle and considerate, made her tired but happy.
The business class layout was staggered, beige, simple, and elegant. They found adjacent seats and lowered their voices to chat.
Tan Mian suddenly widened her eyes: “Yangyang, look!”
Mu He turned her head. To the front right, near a window, stood a tall figure, deep eyes, straight nose, thin lips pressed slightly. Her gaze froze—he, he was here?
Tan Mian, even more excited, tugged her sleeve and gestured: “This is the man I told you about, the one we saw downstairs at Jin Yue Bay. Handsome, right?”
! Even on a flight, they meet again—what a coincidence!
Tan Mian saw the ring on his left ring finger; her eyes almost glowed. She guessed correctly—he was really married! My, his hands were too beautiful—slender with defined joints, nails clean and neat. Even non-hand enthusiasts would be captivated.
She had never seen a man wear a ring so well!
Mu He noticed too, her cheeks warming. When did he move the ring from the index finger?
Her heart stirred, but the man sat leisurely, staring straight ahead, as if a complete stranger.
Being in public and with Tan Mian beside her, Mu He had to resist her impulses, retreating her gaze and treating him as a stranger.
She tried focusing on the screen ahead, but his presence was too strong. The video entered her eyes but not her heart.
Once the flight leveled off, Mu He finally calmed. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him subtly, eyebrow slightly raised, left hand resting along the chair, ring finger gesturing toward her—an invitation of sorts.
They were only half an arm apart.
He casually moved his coat bit by bit, almost touching her armrest.
Mu He glanced at Tan Mian and the other passengers—no one noticed. She quietly extended her hand under his coat; halfway through, he grasped it, interlocking their fingers.
Her heart raced to an unprecedented peak, almost bursting from her chest.
Sweet and thrilling.