A social phobic can also fall in love.

Time flew by, and it was already January 7th.

Yan Tingmo and his roommates had finished their exams and officially welcomed the winter break.

Zhang Miao had already packed his luggage and was sitting on his bed making a phone call to his parents: “Yeah, I’m done packing.”

“Alright, I’ll wait for you. Drive slowly.”

After hanging up, he bent down and tried to remove the outer layer of the cast, shaking it left and right, slowly taking off the plaster.

There was a thin layer of dirt in the areas that hadn’t been cleaned for a long time, and he was disgusted, about to jump into the bathroom to wash it off.

Yan Tingmo placed his suitcase on the floor and was slowly folding clothes. Zhang Miao, not paying attention, tripped over the suitcase and fell onto the ground, re-injuring his leg that had just been freed from the cast.

“Ouch…” he gasped, clutching his leg in pain. “That hurts so much!”

Yan Tingmo was startled and immediately dropped his clothes, rushing to help him. “Sorry, sorry! I shouldn’t have left the suitcase on the floor. Is your leg… alright?”

Zhang Miao used his support to get up, shaking his head. “It’s fine.”

Yan Tingmo felt guilty. Zhang Miao smiled and said, “help me to the bathroom, please. It’s a hassle.”

“It’s no hassle, no hassle,” Yan Tingmo trembled as he helped the taller Zhang Miao to the bathroom to wash his feet.

Zhang Miao wasn’t picky. He stretched out his leg and turned on the tap to wash. Yan Tingmo, watching nervously, said, “Should I get you some hot water?”

It was five degrees below zero, and he was worried he might catch a cold.

“No worries,” Zhang Miao rubbed the dirt off his leg. “I’m tough, don’t worry.”

Since he said so, Yan Tingmo didn’t argue further.

Zhang Miao’s parents later arrived at the dormitory, with one helping their son downstairs and the other carrying the suitcase.

Yan Tingmo had already booked his high-speed rail ticket two days ago. After his roommates left, he was finally on his way home.

By 6 PM, he finally arrived home just in time for dinner.

Wu Shuyi had taken the day off on purpose, and when he opened the door, he was greeted with a warm hug.

“Welcome home!” she said cheerfully.

Yan Tingmo, infected by her happiness, smiled back. “Yeah!”

“Alright, put your luggage away, wash your hands, and get ready for dinner,” his mother released him and took his backpack.

Yan Tingmo dragged his suitcase to his room and came out to help her serve the rice.

“Here, eat more,” she put a lot of crispy shrimp on his plate. “Your favorite.”

“Mm.” Yan Tingmo obediently finished his food. “You eat too, Mom.”

Wu Shuyi smiled. “Don’t worry about me.”

“By the way,” she said, “your grandma called me yesterday and asked when your holiday starts. She wants me to bring you over to visit her.”

Yan Tingmo missed his grandma. “But you have work.”

Wu Shuyi lowered her eyes. “I can take time off.”

Yan Tingmo looked at her, and she added, “It’s okay. I haven’t been back in a long time either.”

“Mm.”

She gazed at him softly. “After you rest for two days, we’ll go, okay?”

Yan Tingmo nodded. “Okay.”

His mother smiled. “So obedient.”

After dinner, Yan Tingmo went to wash the dishes, but his mother rolled up her sleeves and shooed him away. “No need, you go watch TV. I’ll wash.”

“It’s fine,” he insisted. “It’s just a few dishes.”

Wu Shuyi couldn’t win, so she let him go.

The way they interacted was always like that of friends—supporting and taking care of each other. It was as if they were two transparent people huddling together for warmth.

Yes, Yan Tingmo had inherited her introversion. He didn’t like noise or socializing, but she was different. She had to socialize and face all kinds of people for work.

Sometimes Yan Tingmo wondered what his father had been like. Was he cheerful and helpful?

His father had died in a work accident when he was two, leaving his young son and devastated wife to face life alone.

As time passed, the two introverted people became more socially anxious. As Yan Tingmo grew older and was ready for school, Wu Shuyi, to support his education, had to go into society, learning to please others with a smile. But when she returned home, she would return to her gentle and introverted self.

Yan Tingmo sighed quietly as he hugged his pajamas and prepared for a shower and bed.

Two days later.

Yan Tingmo and Wu Shuyi took a taxi toward Bailu Town.

His grandma couldn’t get used to city life and preferred the rural way of living. Even though Wu Shuyi had rented an apartment in Jinnan, she refused to leave their hometown and come to the crowded city.

At 2:33 PM, the taxi arrived in Bailu Town.

Since the taxi didn’t take the mountain roads, they had to drag their suitcases across the bumpy dirt road.

“Slow down,” Wu Shuyi reminded Yan Tingmo. “Don’t step in the puddles.”

He dragged his suitcase, carefully avoiding the water puddles. His shoes were covered with thick yellow mud, making walking heavy and tiring.

They walked for half an hour, and both of their pants were splattered with mud.

Looking at the long stretch of mud, Yan Tingmo wondered if they would make it before dark.

Wu Shuyi was exhausted too, leaning on her knees, panting.

“Let’s take a break,” she called out to him. “I’m too tired.”

Yan Tingmo, also feeling his energy drain, turned around, giving her a comforting pat on the back.

After a short break, he supported her, and they continued their journey.

Just then, Wu Shuyi’s phone rang.

She waved her hand, took out her phone, and answered.

“Hello?”

“Auntie, where are you now?” A deep, slightly hoarse male voice came from the other end.

“Xiao Pei?” Wu Shuyi was surprised for a moment, then truthfully said, “We’ve reached the alley.”On the other end, there was a brief silence before the voice asked, “Are you walking or driving?”

Wu Shuyi replied, “Walking. The driver refuses to go up the mountain road.”

“I’ll drive over to pick you up.”

Looking at the narrow, endless road, Wu Shuyi responded, “Okay.”

Yan Tingmo quietly listened for a moment, then, after she hung up the phone, he asked, “Was that Pei Min?”

Wu Shuyi nodded. “He said he’ll come to pick us up.”

Yan Tingmo raised an eyebrow. “When did he buy a car?”

Wu Shuyi shrugged. “I don’t know either.”

Pei Min was Wu Shuyi’s sister’s son, three years older than Yan Tingmo. The two had grown up together, like childhood sweethearts. However, he had gone abroad for studies three years ago.

Now, out of nowhere, he was back in the country, and even had a car.

But when he actually drove the car up to them, it was still a surprise for Yan Tingmo.

“This is… a car?” he blinked, his expression full of disbelief.

Pei Min, perched on a motorcycle, raised an eyebrow. “What, isn’t it?”

Yan Tingmo fell silent.

Wu Shuyi sighed. “Who cares what kind of vehicle it is, having one is better than not having one at all.”

Yan Tingmo thought she had a point, but still said, “But how are the two of us, plus one suitcase, going to fit on this?”

Pei Min smirked. “This is easy.”

Two minutes later, Yan Tingmo was sitting in the middle, Wu Shuyi behind him, both holding the suitcase as the motorcycle made its “vroom vroom” noise, slowly moving forward.

They barely managed to arrive at Grandma’s house. Just as they were about to enter, heavy snow began to fall. Yan Tingmo shivered in the cold, struggling with the suitcase.

“Give it to me,” Pei Min said, taking off his plush gloves and forcefully taking the suitcase from him, carrying it inside.

“Grandma, they’re here,” he called into the house.

Grandpa and Grandma came out in response, their wrinkled faces full of smiles.

“My good grandson!” Grandma ignored Wu Shuyi and ran straight to Yan Tingmo.

Yan Tingmo obediently greeted, “Grandpa, Grandma.”

His grandpa, standing to the side, chuckled, “It’s good you’re back, it’s good.”

His grandma held his face, inspecting him from left to right. “Look at my good grandson, has he lost weight? Hmm, no, he’s actually gotten fatter, my baby.”

Grandpa spoke up again, “Go inside, don’t freeze the child.”

“Right, right!” his grandma patted his hand. “Grandma’s getting old and forgetful. Come, let’s go inside and warm up.”

They ushered Yan Tingmo inside, leaving Wu Shuyi helplessly shaking her head.

As expected, it was the love of grandparents for their grandchildren.

The countryside was far better than the city in one way—there was firewood to burn. The family gathered in the stove room, sitting around the brazier, chatting, and eating snacks.

This year, Pei Min’s parents were also there, preparing dinner at the time.

Yan Tingmo barely warmed up by the fire before he was about to get up to help.

Pei Min, pressing him back into his seat with one hand on his shoulder, said, “No need for you, I’ll do it. You just got back, rest well.”

“That’s right,” Aunt said, cutting potatoes, “It’s fine with me and your uncle here.”

Yan Tingmo smiled shyly and quietly stayed seated by the fire, chatting with his grandpa and Grandma.

As they talked, the topic gradually shifted to relationships. The first one to be asked was Pei Min: “Has Pei Min started dating?”

Pei Min, stirring the dish, laughed and looked back. “Not yet.”

“You’re not that young anymore, you can start dating now,” Grandma said. “Once you pass this age, it’ll be harder to find someone.”

Pei Min replied, “I haven’t met anyone I like yet. When I do, I’ll start dating.”

Grandma shook her head helplessly and then turned to Yan Tingmo. “What about you, Mo Mo? Are you dating anyone at school?”

Yan Tingmo’s face immediately turned bright red, and in an awkward moment, Qi Xing’s face popped into his mind. “No, I’m not.”

She asked again, “Do you have someone you like?”

Yan Tingmo hesitated for a couple of seconds before denying it. “No.”

“That’s okay,” she said, pampering him endlessly. “My little treasure is still young, no rush, no rush.”

Hearing this, Pei Min deliberately acted coy and said, “Grandma, I’m not that old either. I’m only three years older than him.”

“Oh, you know you’re three years older,” Grandma replied, showing obvious favoritism. “Mo Mo is still a child, how can he be compared to you?”

“Alright,” Pei Min conceded. “I’m older, I’ve already entered middle age.”

“Look at you,” Aunt laughed as she slapped him lightly.

Yan Tingmo’s already flushed face grew even redder from the warmth of the fire. He looked around at the cozy little room filled with life, feeling at ease and comfortable.

He really liked this kind of atmosphere.

There was home, there was love.