Feng Yi didn't really want to go home just yet. He kept glancing at Qiao Li, hoping to find an excuse to linger a little longer, but Qiao Li stopped him with a single sentence, "Don't you want to go home and shower? You're a sticky mess."

He hadn't thought about it before, but as soon as she mentioned it, Feng Yi felt uncomfortable all over. Remembering what had just happened, he blushed furiously and instantly became quiet.

When they arrived at his apartment building, Feng Yi reluctantly got out of the car.

As soon as he closed the door, he leaned in, placing both hands on the car window, his dark eyes wide and bright. "Can I text you?"

Qiao Li couldn't help but laugh. "Would you not text me if I said no?"

Feng Yi pretended not to hear, flashing a bright, sunny smile. "Then it's settled. You have to reply!" With a determined "I'm going to hold you to that" look, he quickly hopped back, standing a few steps away, waving as Qiao Li drove off.

Qiao Li put her hand to her forehead. She really couldn't handle him.

Not long after she got home, Feng Yi texted.

[Home yet?]

Before Qiao Li could reply, he quickly sent another. [Um… do you… maybe… like me too?]

He immediately deleted it.

[I like you. What about you? [Heart][Heart][Heart]]

Deleted again.

[Does what happened at the cinema today mean you don’t actually hate me?]

[Stop deleting them. I saw them all.]

Then he went silent. By the time she'd finished her shower and come out, Feng Yi had sent a new message.

[abcdYifg: So… what’s your answer? [Fingers crossed]]

Qiao Li considered it. Since she had been the one to initiate things with Feng Yi today, she at least had a strong fondness for him.

She replied, [Yes.]

Then silence again. Five minutes later, Qiao Li's WeChat notifications began to explode.

[abcdYifg: [Heart][Heart][Heart][Heart]]

[abcdYifg: [Heart][Heart]]

[abcdYi fg: So will you be my girlfriend? No reply means yes.]

[abcdYi fg: [Heart]]

[abcdYi fg: [Heart][Heart][Heart]]

Qiao Li, with incredible precision, found the crucial question hidden within the sea of hearts.

[Stop it.]

Feng Yi stopped spamming, his scheme exposed, deflated.

Over the next few days, Feng Yi constantly made his presence known, while Qiao Li only replied after work in the evenings. After receiving a reply, he'd become even more persistent, like he'd been given a shot of adrenaline.

Qiao Li's previous relationship had been lukewarm from the moment they officially got together. Feng Yi's fiery enthusiasm, on the other hand, gave her a taste of what a passionate romance could be like, even if they weren't officially boyfriend and girlfriend yet.

Thinking of Zhou Zhe, Qiao Li felt mentally and emotionally exhausted. It was a tangled mess she couldn't seem to unravel.

Meanwhile, the spirited Feng Yi had launched his full courtship plan.

Although he usually acted like a goofball, he wasn't stupid. When he put his mind to it, he could be surprisingly strategic.

First, fully integrate into Qiao Li's life. Maintain daily contact with her on WeChat and arrange opportune real-life meetings.

So, after confirming the previous night that Qiao Li was free and staying home that weekend, Feng Yi arrived at her door the next morning, right on time, carrying bags of groceries.

Qiao Li had initially thought Feng Yi might ask her out, but he'd changed the subject, so she assumed he was just making casual conversation. She never expected him to show up at her doorstep the very next morning.

"Surprise!" Feng Yi's beaming face greeted her as she opened the door.

Seeing her expressionless silence, Feng Yi's heart skipped a beat.

He hadn't been confident about showing up like this. He was afraid Qiao Li would find him annoying and clingy, but after tossing and turning all night, he'd decided to come anyway. From their interactions so far, he realized Qiao Li was someone who kept to herself. If he didn't actively enter her life, they would have zero chance of being together.

Anxious, he apologized obediently, "I'm sorry."