Have you been longing to see me?

October 1st.
National Day.

On this day, Su Yunjin concluded three months of live broadcasts as the lead member of a girl group, securing the overall champion title among the team mentors.

It was also on this day that Su Yunjin accompanied her Fifth Grandfather to the Fu family.

The décor remained as understated and restrained as ever, the tea table fashioned from rosewood exuding its natural fragrance.

Seated at the head of the tea table, Fu Xingguo was smiling as he twirled a string of small-leaf rosewood prayer beads in his hand, casually chatting with the elder.

As the junior, Su Yunjin was occasionally drawn into the conversation by Fu Xingguo’s care, but more often she played the role of a listener.

“Today is National Day. Fu Lin’s school is busy too—this is always the busiest time of year. National flag teams, parades—they go through it all at his academy,” Fu Xingguo remarked, directing his words toward Su Yunjin.

Su Yunjin maintained a polite smile and nodded. Before she needed to respond, her Fifth Grandfather spoke up, “Filial piety should be exerted to the utmost; loyalty even unto death. A-Lin has not disgraced the Fu family’s tradition; he has the bearing of a great leader.”

Hearing Fu Lin praised, Fu Xingguo’s face glowed with pride, though his words remained modest. “Old Five, you flatter him. That boy still has a long way to go. I’m thinking, once his studies lighten and his work stabilizes, he should take a year to further his studies at the Seven Sects. The lad can be rather impulsive; he needs teachers like you to set him straight.”

“Fu, you’re too serious. That child A-Lin grew up before our eyes. Outstanding in both character and learning, virtuous and humble—a true gentleman, neither arrogant nor impetuous. Of course, if he wants to experience life in the mountains with the sect, he’s always welcome. But as for ‘setting him straight,’ you’re being far too modest, my friend.”

“Haha, better not let the boy hear you say that. His temperament is not yet steady.”

“Young people are all like that, and the times have changed. We were steady in our youth, but perhaps a bit dull as well.”

Both men laughed.

Fu Xingguo took great pleasure in hearing his grandson praised by the elder. After a hearty laugh, he turned to Su Yunjin, his expression sobering as he addressed the elder, “Old Five, I heard the engagement between the Seven Sects and the Lu family has been called off?”

Fu Xingguo had already investigated—there was no doubt the engagement was over. In their circle, such things were posted on the appropriate notice boards, making it official and irreversible. Still, he wished to hear the inside story from the elder himself.

Su Yunjin glanced at her Fifth Grandfather.

The old man looked back at her, his eyes full of indulgent warmth. Stroking Su Yunjin’s head, his smile grew heavy with sorrow. “It’s a cruel story, Fu, but let me tell you. The engagement truly is over. Not long ago, I went to the Lu family myself. Their child refused, knelt in the main hall, and would not consent to the marriage. We seven raised Yun’er with great effort; we can’t just throw her into the fire for the sake of an old promise. It’s better for everyone to go their own way.”

“That’s true. Times have changed, and the children’s marriages are matters of utmost importance,” Fu Xingguo nodded in agreement. His gaze then shifted to Su Yunjin. “Yun’er, is there anyone you like? Would you like Grandpa Fu to help you choose?”

“Grandpa Fu, you must be joking. I don’t have anyone I like yet.”

Caught off guard by the conversation turning to her, Su Yunjin managed a gentle, polite smile as she replied, though inwardly she smiled ruefully.

“It’s good not to have anyone yet; you can take your time to find the right person, no need to rush. When looking for a boyfriend, you must consider character, family background, and fate. With our Yun’er being so lovely, I’m sure finding a boyfriend will never be a problem.”

Fu Xingguo’s eyes were full of good humor, though his words left Su Yunjin feeling slightly embarrassed.

“Thank you for your advice, Grandpa Fu.”

She nodded slightly in gratitude.

At that moment, the sound of the housekeeper’s voice came from outside. “Young master is back!”

A moment later, the door opened and shut, followed soon after by the housekeeper’s voice again.

“Master and the guest are in the reception room. Master asks that you join him.”

“All right.”

A deep voice answered, and Su Yunjin felt her mind go blank, as if something exploded inside.

Almost simultaneously, an image flashed in her memory, but before she could focus, a tall, slender man, standing about six feet, dressed in a green military uniform with a buzz cut that somehow made him look especially clean and radiant, walked in.

The moment he stepped inside, his gaze went straight to Su Yunjin.

She looked at him as well.

Their eyes met, and for the usually composed Su Yunjin, her pupils dilated sharply and her lips parted slightly. Before she could say anything, the man spoke.

“Grandpa, I’m home.”

Fu Lin saluted Fu Xingguo.

Fu Xingguo nodded and gestured toward the elder. “Come greet your Fifth Grandfather.”

“Good afternoon, Fifth Grandfather.”

Fu Lin saluted the elder as well.

The elder chuckled warmly, “Good, good. A-Lin grows more manly by the day.”

“Yunjin, this is your Grandpa Fu’s grandson—the one you always said you wished to meet.”

“Fifth Grandfather!”

Even with all her composure, Su Yunjin could hardly keep it together. What did he mean by ‘always wished to meet’? She’d only been a little curious, how had it turned into ‘always wishing’?

And if this had been in the past, she might have laughed it off. But this guy… he’d confessed to her twice!

Thinking of the time at the fire station, and again at the conservatory, Su Yunjin felt the awkwardness of this meeting climb to unbearable heights.

She’d always found Fu Lin’s enthusiasm a bit overwhelming. And now, knowing he was aware of her curiosity about him, wouldn’t he be even more smug?

“Really? Fifth Grandfather, Yunjin used to talk about wanting to meet me?”

Sure enough, no sooner had her Fifth Grandfather spoken than Fu Lin’s excited voice rang out.

Anyone could see something unusual was afoot.

The elder thought so too. Though he didn’t know what had happened between Su Yunjin and Fu Lin, one look at her expression and Fu Lin’s delight told him enough. The old man’s expression froze as he looked at Fu Lin. “A-Lin, you know Yunjin?”

“Yes, she once saved my life. Later, her show invited us to be instructors.”

Fu Lin sat at the end of the table, back straight, his gaze at Su Yunjin full of happiness.

“I didn’t know Yunjin had been asking about me. If I’d known, I’d have told her who I was sooner.”

“You see, Old Five, isn’t this fate? Little Yunjin wanted to meet A-Lin, and A-Lin was saved by her early on. If our families hadn’t called off that earlier engagement, wouldn’t this be destiny?”

Fu Xingguo laughed as he mentioned the engagement he’d once declined, his meaning all too clear.

Now that Su Yunjin was unattached, and given the longstanding friendship between the Fu family and the Seven Sects, an engagement would be the best of both worlds.

Especially since his grandson was so eager in his pursuit.

The old man could choose not to say it outright, but he couldn’t simply ignore it either. When the opportunity arose, it was worth a mention.