The Only Choice - 18

The snow on Christmas Eve arrived late, delicate flakes scattering sparsely, landing on the car hood only to vanish almost instantly.

In the end, Zhou Fanfan still got into Guan Yuanbai's car, though she regretted it the moment she sat down.

Yet, when she thought of phrasing a polite "I can get back on my own," a glance at Guan Yuanbai's profile, colder than the ice and snow outside, made her swallow the words back down.

Guan Yuanbai started the car. With a low rumble, the matte black coupe pulled out of the villa district and turned onto the wide main road.

Zhou Fanfan's face was already warm from the alcohol, and sitting in the heated car now made her feel increasingly stuffy and uncomfortable.

"M-Mr. Guan."

Guan Yuanbai kept his eyes on the road. "What is it?"

Zhou Fanfan mumbled softly, "Can I open the window?"

"What?"

Raising her voice slightly, she repeated, "I said, can I open the window? I'm a bit hot."

Guan Yuanbai said, "Do you know how cold it is outside? Do you want to get your brains frozen by the wind?"

Previously, from her interactions with Guan Yuanbai, Zhou Fanfan had always thought he had a good temper and was mostly gentlemanly and polite when speaking to her.

But now... he was being quite harsh with her.

Maybe it was the alcohol amplifying her emotions, but Zhou Fanfan suddenly felt a small wave of self-pity wash over her.

She knew she deserved this, but being constantly met with a cold shoulder and clear dislike was still disheartening.

After all, there was a time when she felt she and Guan Yuanbai weren't just ‘comrades-in-arms’ but actual friends.

"I know it's cold outside, but I'm really stuffy, it's very uncomfortable," Zhou Fanfan said.

Noticing something off in her voice, a muffled quality with a faint, barely-there hint of a sob, Guan Yuanbai glanced at her during a red light.

In the dim light of the car, her watery eyes were fixed on him, her cheeks even redder than before, wearing such a wronged expression as if someone had deeply bullied her.

Guan Yuanbai was momentarily taken aback, then quickly reached over and rolled down her window. "Just open the window if you want. What are you crying for?"

The chilly wind blew in, carrying snow-white ice crystals that landed on her face, bringing a refreshing coolness that felt wonderful.

Zhou Fanfan squinted her eyes and said quietly, "I'm not crying. I just don't feel well."

Guan Yuanbai studied her for another moment, confirming no actual tears, then said disapprovingly, "You know you don't feel well? Your face is as red as a baboon's backside. Since you can't hold your liquor, don't drink a single drop from now on."

Zhou Fanfan didn't dare talk back and could only murmur a compliant, "Oh."

Silence prevailed for the rest of the journey.

The wind grew stronger as they entered the elevated highway. Even Guan Yuanbai on his side felt the chill, yet the person in the passenger seat remained leaning against the window, her forehead facing the incoming wind, completely still.

Guan Yuanbai had had enough. "Zhou Fanfan, sit properly."

Zhou Fanfan: "Huh?"

"I said, sit properly!"

The wind had cooled her face considerably, though her reactions were still a bit slow.

Once she processed his words, she stopped clinging to the window and sat back properly.

Guan Yuanbai raised the window halfway.

"Hey, don't close it all the way!"

Guan Yuanbai: "Half-open is fine. Sit still, and don't stick your head out."

Zhou Fanfan explained, "I wasn't sticking it out, I was just leaning. It wasn't dangerous."

Guan Yuanbai paused slightly, his thin lips parting. "It's not about danger... I wasn't concerned about that. I mean I'm cold."

"Oh..."

Half an hour later, Guan Yuanbai dropped Zhou Fanfan off at her home.

By the time the car reached her door, the alcohol had mostly worn off. Clear-headed again, she felt even more solemn.

"Mr. Guan, thank you for driving me home."

Guan Yuanbai gave a noncommittal "Hmm."

Zhou Fanfan reached for the door handle but pulled back, turning to look at him.

Guan Yuanbai's gaze rested calmly on her face. "Is there something else?"

Zhou Fanfan gathered her thoughts and blurted out, "Actually, I know you're still very angry, but I didn't get to say everything last time. I wasn't just using you as a delivery service, and the gifts for you weren't just in passing... I gave them to you sincerely because you helped me with a lot of things. The painting I made for you, the pastries... I put real effort into them."

Guan Yuanbai didn't speak, just watched her quietly.

Zhou Fanfan grew increasingly nervous under his gaze and stammered, "Anyway, I still want to say I'm sorry. After all, I did hide a lot from you and used you a great deal... Mr. Guan, I hope you won't be angry anymore. I won't do it again. Um... well, I'll go now."

"Wait."

Zhou Fanfan: "What is it?"

Guan Yuanbai leaned slightly closer, looking somewhat dissatisfied. "Is your apology just empty words?"

Zhou Fanfan was stunned. "Then... what should I do?"

Guan Yuanbai was silent for a moment, then sat back. "Haven't decided yet."

He added after a pause, "I'll let you know when I have."

Zhou Fanfan hesitated, her hand on the door handle. Guan Yuanbai shot her a glance. "What, was your apology just a formality after all?"

Zhou Fanfan quickly shook her head. "No! I'm sincerely apologizing! Then how about this... in the future, if there's anything you need my help with, as long as I can do it, I promise I'll agree!"

A slight eyebrow raise from Guan Yuanbai. "Really?"

"Really!"

Guan Yuanbai turned his gaze back to the road ahead, a faint smile touching his lips. "Good. I hope you keep your word. You can go now."

Zhou Fanfan nodded vigorously and got out of the car.

After the door closed, the black coupe sped away. Zhou Fanfan let out a sigh and turned to enter her house.

Although she didn't know what Guan Yuanbai would ask of her, her promise just now was completely sincere.

On one hand, she truly felt guilty towards him; on the other, she really didn't want to leave a bad impression with Guan Zhiyi.

"Fanfan, you're back?"

Zhao Dezhen knocked and entered Zhou Fanfan's room, carrying a plate of cut fruit.

Zhou Fanfan was sitting at her computer. "Grandma, you're still up?"

"Couldn't sleep, waiting for you to come back," Zhao Dezhen said. "Was the party fun today?"

Zhou Fanfan nodded. "It was quite fun, very lively."

Zhao Dezhen: "See, I told you before, make more friends, go out and have fun with everyone more often."

"I have plenty of friends…"

"Friends you run around outside with, right? Grandma isn't saying you shouldn't be friends with them. I mean, you should also get to know the young ladies and gentlemen from established families."

Zhou Fanfan: "Grandma, I know."

"Good, good, as long as you know. Here, have an apple first. It's that thing you young people celebrate... Christmas Eve, right?"

Zhou Fanfan found it amusing. "How could you cut up the Christmas Eve apple?"

"It all gets eaten anyway, what's wrong with cutting it up?"

"Fine then. Grandma, you have some too."

"Alright."

Grandmother and granddaughter sat together and finished the sliced apple piece by piece.

After Zhao Dezhen left, Zhou Fanfan took a shower, lay in bed checking Guan Zhiyi's fan supertopic, browsed online for a while, and then turned off the light to sleep.

---

Guan Yuanbai had moved out of the family home completely not long ago and now lived alone in a villa at Xinghe Bay.

His villa was located near the center, close to the garden and lake. The neighboring villa belonged to his good friend Qi Chengyan, who now lived there with his sister, Guan Zhiyi.

Guan Yuanbai used to frequently drop by their place for meals because he didn't have a live-in cook at his house.

One day, returning from work close to 9 p.m., Guan Yuanbai, too hungry to wait for delivery, called Qi Chengyan to ask what they were having for dinner.

Guan Zhiyi took the phone: "Brother, it's so late, we finished dinner ages ago. You haven't eaten yet?"

Guan Yuanbai: "Busy. Just got out of a meeting."

Guan Zhiyi: "But Auntie isn't here today. We cooked dinner ourselves, and it's all gone."

Guan Yuanbai joked, "A married-out daughter is like spilled water. Didn't even think to save some for me."

"How was I supposed to know you hadn't eaten?"

Guan Yuanbai said, "Fine, I'll figure it out myself."

After hanging up, Guan Yuanbai went into the kitchen and opened the fridge, looking for something convenient and quick to make. But after looking for a long time, he couldn't bring himself to start; the fridge was too bare, and nothing appealed to him.

A moment later, the doorbell rang.

Guan Yuanbai went to open the door and saw Qi Chengyan standing there holding a bowl of noodles. "Move aside. It's hot."

Seeing this, Guan Yuanbai said with satisfaction, "You've got some conscience after all, knowing to show respect to your elders."

Qi Chengyan shot him a look. "Do you believe I'll smash this bowl of noodles in your face?"

Guan Yuanbai was unperturbed, even a bit provocatively so. "Oh, go ahead."

The two had grown up practically inseparable, the best of brothers.

However, when Guan Yuanbai first found out Qi Chengyan had quietly won over his little sister, he was so furious he almost threw punches, thinking him a beast for making a move on the little sister he'd watched grow up.

Later, after reluctantly accepting reality, he decided that having Qi Chengyan as his brother-in-law wasn't so bad, because it meant he could pull rank with phrases like "I'm your elder" or "Call me Big Brother."

After all, among brothers, if I can't be your dad, being your big brother is the next best thing.

"Smash what? These are noodles I made. You'd dare smash them?" Guan Zhiyi came in from outside.

Qi Chengyan turned to her with a smile. "No, of course I wouldn't dare."

Guan Yuanbai made a face of exaggerated disgust at their sappiness, sat down at the dining table, and started eating the loving supper delivered by the couple.

Guan Zhiyi casually sat down in the living room, turned on the TV for a bit, and waited for Guan Yuanbai to finish eating before saying, "Brother, I still think you should hire a live-in auntie. Chengyan and I aren't always home either."

"Don't want to hire someone I'm not familiar with."

"Then ask Auntie Chen to come?"

Auntie Chen was the nanny who had taken care of them since they were children.

Guan Yuanbai shook his head. "Forget it. Auntie Chen prefers staying there, and Dad needs someone to look after him too."

"Alright. But it's really inconvenient for you to come home with no food ready every time. You should hire someone to prepare your meals soon."

Qi Chengyan nodded in agreement. "Yes, otherwise, being all alone with no one to cook for you is just pitiful."

Guan Yuanbai: "..."

Pitiful? Who said no one cooks for me?

Someone was cooking for me before, okay? It's just that later, because...

Guan Yuanbai's expression suddenly froze as a thought struck him.

The other two didn't notice his change in demeanor. Guan Zhiyi, watching TV, continued, "How about I ask sister for you? She's very picky; she's hired many home cooks before, and they were all excellent. Besides..."

"No need."

"Huh?"

Guan Yuanbai narrowed his eyes slightly and suddenly said, "I think... I might have found someone."

---

The next day, Thursday.

After leaving her advisor's office, Zhou Fanfan met up with Xu Xiaoqian to eat at the cafeteria.

Xu Xiaoqian was currently in a cold war with her boyfriend and spent the entire meal venting about him.

Zhou Fanfan listened, frowning deeply, angrily denouncing the boyfriend for having time to help other girls with their homework but no time to date his girlfriend!

How outrageous!

Just as she was joining Xu Xiaoqian in condemning him, her phone suddenly rang. Seeing the caller ID, Zhou Fanfan's angry expression instantly stiffened.

Xu Xiaoqian: "What's wrong?"

Zhou Fanfan's expression relaxed slightly. "I need to take this call."

"Okay."

Zhou Fanfan cleared her throat and answered the phone. "Hello?"

"The promise you made me last time, does it still stand?" The caller was Guan Yuanbai, getting straight to the point.

Zhou Fanfan was a bit confused. "What?"

"You said you were sincerely sorry and that in the future, if I needed your help with anything, as long as you could do it, you would agree."

Zhou Fanfan remembered and quickly said, "Of course! I keep my word."

"Good." Guan Yuanbai's voice was calm and measured. "Right now, I happen to need something from you."

Zhou Fanfan straightened up. "What do you need me to do? Tell me."

A faint smile touched Guan Yuanbai's lips. "Take me out to dinner."

---

Author's Note:

The 100-Meal Journey officially begins…

---

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