Charming Little Fish

Qinglian Residential Complex

"Yuwei, I'm waiting for you downstairs."

After hanging up the phone, Ye Lifeng stepped out of the car, leaning casually against the passenger door. A gentle smile played on his lips as he fixed his gaze on the entrance of the building where Xia Yuwei lived, eager to be the first to witness her captivating presence when she appeared.

There was something about her that drew him in at first glance—a strange and enchanting combination. She was pure and sweet, yet irresistibly alluring, her every gesture suffused with an effortless charm unmarred by any trace of artifice. It was precisely this naturalness that made her all the more mesmerizing.

She was sensible and considerate, yet possessed a streak of willfulness. Methodical in her actions, she never forced herself to exhaustion, simply moving forward at her own steady pace. As for the outcome, she seemed almost indifferent.

She was an exemplary student, yet never rigid; on the contrary, she carried a touch of girlish caprice. He recalled several times when he had gone to her classroom after class only to find her absent—calling her, he would discover she had skipped the lesson to sleep at home. Her voice on the phone would be languid and cat-like: "Hello... Who is it..."—a petulant tone unmistakably betraying the annoyance of being roused from a deep slumber. The sound always made his heart itch with tenderness, stirring a longing to gather her into his arms, to stroke her back and let her sleep peacefully nestled against him.

If, in the days to come, he could spend his life with such a person, what a wondrous thing that would be!

He could not imagine anyone but her who could soften his heart and fill him with such aching affection at the mere thought of her. He was certain he could bring her happiness, shield her from all harm, and let her live the most beautiful, carefree life under his protection—because he loved to see her smile.

And so, he was determined. She was his to win.

He saw Xia Yuwei emerge gracefully from the stairwell. She wore a smoky-grey dress, a slender silver satin belt accentuating her lithe figure. Her long, ebony hair cascaded over her shoulders, and a scarf of smoky grey and magenta stripes adorned her neck. Her face, untouched by makeup, was as fresh as a dewy morning rose. Everything about her merged perfectly with her aura—neither contrived nor careless—making his heart sway with longing.

"Senior Ye! Have you been waiting long?" Xia Yuwei came up to him, a charming smile lighting her face.

"What can I say? Girls are always this much trouble. I’m used to it..." Ye Lifeng joked, shrugging as he opened the car door and gestured for her to enter with impeccable courtesy.

He didn't mind presenting himself as a popular heartthrob in front of her—it put her at ease, made her lower her guard, and spared her the pressure that might make her slip away like a wary little fish.

This time, he was determined to give his all—no matter what, he would not let this enchanting little fish escape his grasp.