Volume One, Chapter Three: Heartbeat Value Zero

“Why? Didn’t you want me to stay with you for three months? Where are you going?”

“My grandmother twisted her ankle. I need to go back to the countryside. The environment there is poor—you definitely wouldn’t be comfortable going.”

“I’ll go with you.”

Before I could finish speaking, Fu Yunshen interrupted. I looked at him puzzled; his eyes sparkled like stars, yet were filled with unwavering resolve.

“Alright.”

The next morning, I lay in bed and was startled to find Fu Yunshen asleep beside me.

Fu Yunshen opened his eyes and glanced at me. “You’re awake, Lu Xiaoyu. Good morning!”

Since there was only one bed and considering Fu Yunshen was the crown prince of the capital circle, I had let him sleep in the bed while I took the sofa in the living room. But somehow, when I woke up, we were both in the bed.

“Why am I in the bed?”

I looked at Fu Yunshen. I couldn’t remember; only he knew.

He opened his eyes, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. “You don’t remember? In the middle of the night, you suddenly came in. I thought you were after me and got scared out of my wits. Luckily, you just lay down and fell asleep!”

I sighed, realizing I must have been sleepwalking.

“Sorry, I might be a bit sensitive to new beds.”

I apologized, knowing that seeing someone sleepwalk in the middle of the night must have startled Fu Yunshen.

“No worries!” Fu Yunshen smiled warmly, his eyes deep with amusement. He looked at me—the fair skin, the delicate face, the small features—his expression softened, completely sensing my embarrassment.

He really is gullible; he believed that explanation so easily.

Last night, he had slept on the sofa, likely waking with aches and pains. There was no way he could rest there comfortably, so he must have carried me into the room while I was asleep.

Returning to the countryside, taking the bus was the most economical and safest option.

At this time of year, most passengers on the bus were elderly or parents with infants and children.

Our seats were near the back. After leaving the city, the road became bumpy and winding. An old lady in the front row got motion sickness shortly after the bus started moving and began to vomit violently. Instantly, a strange odor filled the bus.

I instinctively glanced at Fu Yunshen. Sure enough, he lowered his head and frowned, though he tried not to show it on his face.

I had experienced this many times before and was already accustomed to it, having been the same way when I was younger—always feeling sick whenever I traveled by bus.

But Fu Yunshen was different. Being the crown prince of the capital circle, he had grown up in luxury, always chauffeured by private cars. This must have been his first time on a bus.

I rummaged through my bag and handed him a candy and a mask. “Eat this candy and put on the mask. You’ll feel much better.”

Fu Yunshen placed the candy in his mouth—a deliciously sweet and sour white peach flavor. He put on the mask, and sure enough, the discomfort eased considerably.

I handed him my earphones as well. “Close your eyes and listen to some music; it’ll make the time pass faster.”

The journey from the capital city to Yun County took three hours. Normally, I wouldn’t find it too long, but today it felt interminable. The bus seats were hard, and I worried about Fu Yunshen’s comfort.

Finally, we arrived at Yun County. Fu Yunshen stretched his arms and legs, feeling much more at ease. The bus seats were too hard and the smells too mixed for comfort.

“We’re finally here. Lu Xiaoyu, this is your hometown!” Fu Yunshen said, standing by the roadside, surveying the surroundings. Taxis were everywhere, and the rows of houses lining the street bore the marks of time, some quite old.

The roads were narrower than in the capital, and the buildings more worn-down.

Seeing Fu Yunshen’s relieved expression, I bit my lip and said, “This is the county seat. We’ll still need to take an hour-long taxi ride to the town, and then a 20-minute motorcycle ride to our home.”

Fu Yunshen’s relaxed posture stiffened. Though he tried to control his expression, his eyes betrayed his confusion.

He couldn’t fathom why going home involved so many transfers.

“Well, maybe you should take a taxi back to the capital now,” I suggested, hoping he would catch a ride before the last buses left.

Hearing this, Fu Yunshen looked reluctant. “No, I’m not leaving. I’m a man of my word. We agreed on three months, and I won’t leave a day early.”

I wanted to tell him a few days’ delay wouldn’t matter.

The taxi arrived. Apart from the driver, it was just Fu Yunshen and me, and the space was much larger and more comfortable than the bus.

The driver was quite talkative. “You two are a couple, right? A perfect match.”

As I pondered whether forced proximity counted as a couple, Fu Yunshen looked surprised and asked, “How did you figure that out?”

The driver proudly said, “I’m almost 40. You can tell who likes whom in a glance. Since you got in, this girl kept sneaking looks at you.”

Fu Yunshen shifted his gaze to me, half-smiling. “Oh, is that so?”

I was speechless, avoiding his eyes. Was I really that obvious?

The trip was rather pleasant. Fu Yunshen and the driver chatted animatedly, almost like brothers.

Fu Yunshen even asked for advice on how to win over his future in-laws and how a man should take care of children. The driver earnestly shared his lifelong experiences—it was clear he was quite knowledgeable on the subject.

We finally reached the town, and Fu Yunshen exchanged contact information with the driver, reluctant to part ways.

“Take me to a nearby shop. Let’s buy something to bring back to Grandpa and Grandma,” Fu Yunshen said brightly.

I looked at him in surprise. “You heard what the driver said about making a good impression on your first visit?”

Fu Yunshen beamed. “Of course! You didn’t hear? First visits require lots of gifts.”

I was speechless. They had been talking so loudly about this, but I wondered why Fu Yunshen cared so much.

Could it be… he’s interested in me?

While Fu Yunshen went into the supermarket, I summoned the system.

“Xiaobai, what’s Fu Yunshen’s current attraction level toward me?”

“Report to host: The target’s attraction level is zero.”

The flicker of hope vanished instantly. Of course, I was overthinking. How could the crown prince of the capital circle be interested in me?

Fu Yunshen bought a bunch of things. I called three motorcycles: one for him, one for me, and one for the groceries and my suitcase.

Seeing the familiar single-story house, a twinge of bitterness welled up inside me.

I had promised Grandpa and Grandma that I would turn this small one-story house into a three-story home and let them enjoy their old age.

Hearing the motorcycles, Grandpa immediately came out.

I saw the stooped, aged figure, looking even older than before. I called out, “Grandpa!”

His eyes sparkled with joy, and he called inside, “Wife, come out quickly! Xiaoyu is back!”

Just then, a kind-looking old lady stepped out. I hurried over to help her. “Grandma, how’s your foot? You promised you wouldn’t hide anything from me. If it weren’t for Uncle slipping up, I wouldn’t have known you twisted your ankle!”

Grandma looked guilty. “I’m fine. Just a slight sprain. It’s better now. Want me to walk and show you?”

Grandma took a few steps, which looked normal. I examined her carefully and only relaxed after confirming she was truly okay.

Grandpa and Grandma led me on a tour, speaking the familiar dialect again.

“You’ve lost weight, Xiaoyu! Haven’t you been listening to Grandpa and eating more meat?”

“Grandma will cook ham to help you regain your strength!”

Every time I came back, they said the same thing. Even though I had gained a few pounds, they still insisted I was thin.

Grandpa’s sharp eyes caught sight of Fu Yunshen behind me. “Xiaoyu, is this your boyfriend?”

My heart skipped a beat. Oh no, yesterday I only told them I was coming back—I hadn’t mentioned bringing a man.

Before I could answer, Fu Yunshen stepped forward, smiling gently. “Grandpa, Grandma, hello. I’m Xiaoyu’s boyfriend, Fu Yunshen.”

I silently gave him a thumbs-up for getting into character so quickly. Then I thought of the system’s report—ah, pursuing the crown prince of the capital circle is no easy task!

Grandpa and Grandma exchanged a glance and smiled knowingly. “Come inside quickly. Don’t stand out there; let’s talk inside.”

Fu Yunshen had bought quite a lot, and carrying it all alone required multiple trips. Just as I was about to help, Grandma stopped me. “Xiaoyu, sit by the fire. Little Fu can carry everything himself.”

Fu Yunshen made four or five trips before everything was inside. Grandpa beckoned him over. “Little Fu, come warm yourself.”

Fu Yunshen smiled. “Yes, Grandpa.”

The floor was cement, and in front of us was an iron basin with burning charcoal. The stools were hard, wooden, short, and small. I watched Fu Yunshen awkwardly bend his long legs, clearly uncomfortable but trying to appear at ease.

“Little Fu, do you play chess?” Grandpa asked, clearly starting to test him as if he were really my boyfriend.

Grandma’s earlier refusal to let me help was also a test.

Fu Yunshen and Grandpa played chess until dinner, winning some games and losing others.

In the countryside, bedtime was early. After making Fu Yunshen’s bed, I looked at him, hesitant.

“Say what you want to say,” he encouraged, leaning against the wall with hands in his pockets.

“Well, Grandpa and Grandma really took you as my boyfriend. You might have to help out a bit tomorrow.”

Fu Yunshen sneered slightly, raising his eyebrows. “No problem. It’s just some heavy lifting—I’ve got plenty of strength.”

“All right, then get some rest. I’m leaving.”

That night, Fu Yunshen sat on the bed and took out his phone. “How’s the situation with the Fu family?”

“The old man lost his temper when he couldn’t find you. He’s planning to let your eldest brother take your place and bring your younger brothers from the second branch into the Fu family.”

“Understood.”

Fu Yunshen lowered his gaze, his eyes filled with helplessness. “Help my brother as much as you can. That’s something I owe him. If he wants that position, don’t stop him.”

Fang Yanzhou was silent for a moment, feeling reluctant but knowing he couldn’t interfere in the brothers’ affairs as an outsider.

“Understood.”

After hanging up, Fu Yunshen got into bed. The bedding was soft and thoughtfully arranged. Relaxed in body and mind, he gradually drifted into sleep.