Lin Yiran had never heard Qiu Xing say he was afraid before. Hearing him express it so directly now, she felt nothing but heartache for him.

“I won’t, don’t be afraid,” Lin Yiran covered his arm with her hand, patting him gently, promising him, “In the future, I’ll stay far away from any fire.”

Qiu Xing fell back into silence, only holding her tightly.

In truth, Qiu Xing was still angry with her.

Lin Yiran’s first reaction had been to push Qiu Xing out and then immediately rush in herself. This left Qiu Xing with a stubbornness in his heart, not wanting to talk to her.

Finally, after having a nightmare, he was willing to speak to her, and Lin Yiran quickly tried to coax him: “Won’t you stop ignoring me?”

Qiu Xing didn’t respond, his breath hot against her neck.

Lin Yiran softly added, “I won’t do it again.”

Qiu Xing remained silent. Lin Yiran continued to soothe him gently for a while, then turned around and curled up in Qiu Xing’s arms, pressing her face against his chest.

Qiu Xing smoothed her hair behind her back to prevent it from being trapped beneath her.

“I will take good care of myself, at all times,” Lin Yiran promised slowly. “I won’t put myself in danger, I’ll always be with you, and with Aunt Fang, we’ll live well together.”

Qiu Xing placed his hand on the back of her head and finally let out an “Mm.”

“I’ll stay with you always,” Lin Yiran said, “until we’re both very old.”

Qiu Xing pressed his lips against her forehead for a long moment, then asked her, “Do you promise?”

“I do,” Lin Yiran affirmed.

After being given the cold shoulder for several days, Lin Yiran repeatedly promised, and only then managed to appease him.

After this incident, they certainly couldn’t keep this housekeeper. Actually, given Fang Min’s current condition, she didn’t need someone to take care of her; she could take care of herself quite well.

However, since both Qiu Xing and Lin Yiran were usually not home, they weren’t comfortable leaving her alone for long periods, so they would need to find someone else after the New Year.

Lin Yiran wouldn’t be leaving before the New Year, so there was no rush to find someone yet.

After Qiu Xing left, it was just the two of them at home again.

One day, Lin Yiran made a tangy fruit tea with hawthorn and some other fruits. The two of them sat on the sofa, drinking tea while watching a drama, each covered with a blanket.

They were watching a subtle Japanese drama with a gentle atmosphere that gave one a sense of tranquility and comfort.

The drama showed a mother living alone, happily cooking for her daughter when she came home. The daughter remarked how fortunate it was to have a mother.

“Indeed,” Lin Yiran agreed, looking at their comfortable situation.

Fang Min raised her hand to stroke Lin Yiran’s hair, gazing at her with maternal affection.

Lin Yiran tilted her head back, nuzzling against Fang Min’s palm, looking at her with expectant eyes, and after a while, softly asked, “Would you like to live with me?”

Fang Min looked over, meeting her gaze, looking at this gentle and kind-hearted girl.

Lin Yiran continued, “I want every day to be like this, not just coming home during holidays.”

Although Fang Min didn’t directly agree, she didn’t refuse either, only saying, “That would give you a lot of trouble.”

“No, it wouldn’t,” Lin Yiran said. “It would be you who would have more trouble, taking care of me. In a couple of years, there might even be a little girl coming here for school, occasionally staying at our home. Will you take care of us, please?”

Fang Min still seemed hesitant, but she had softened.

Lin Yiran turned away, saying gently, “Only a place with a mother can be called home.”

She no longer had a mother, but Fang Min truly regarded her as a daughter from her heart. When she expressed such sentiments with sadness, Fang Min, like a mother who cared deeply for her daughter, only wanted to fulfill her wishes and give her everything.

Later that evening, Lin Yiran secretly sent a message to Qiu Xing.

Little Boat: [Qiu Xing.]

Qiu Xing: [Here.]

Little Boat: [Aunt Fang says she’ll leave with me after the New Year!]

Little Boat: [We’ll decorate together, and we can go shopping for decoration materials, choose curtains and sofas.]

Little Boat: [We’ve agreed to make a large flower stand on the balcony, you’ll need to move all the current flowers over for her, and we’ll make one in her room too.]

Qiu Xing looked for a long time before replying: [Huh?]

Lin Yiran glanced at Aunt Fang, who was cutting fruit, and curled up on the sofa to reply: [She’s agreed to come live with me!]

Qiu Xing was discussing something with someone at the time, checking his phone when he could. When he saw the message, he was surprised for a moment and replied: [How impressive?]

Lin Yiran was extremely happy inside, smiling as she replied: [Of course, who am I after all?]

Qiu Xing’s message came a few minutes later, and Lin Yiran glanced at it.

Qiu Xing: [My wife.]

Lin Yiran immediately straightened her back, put down her phone, and stopped talking to him.

So shameless, Lin Yiran thought.

Before the New Year, friends from out of town were returning, and those close to them wanted to get together.

Before the formal gathering, Lin Yiran first contacted Zhou Keke, saying she wanted to have a meal with her and would bring her boyfriend.

Zhou Keke was very happy on the phone and said, “No problem, I won’t bring a meeting gift since we’re all familiar.”

Lin Yiran glanced at Qiu Xing and said with a smile, “All right.”

However, on the day of the meal, Zhou Keke had something urgent come up, so the meal couldn’t happen. Zhou Keke told her on the phone, “Tomorrow I’m having dinner with Qiu Xing and the others, will probably be drinking. I’ll see how I feel the day after, if not, let’s meet then?”

Lin Yiran could only say, “That works… though you might not want to see me by then.”

“No way, I won’t drink that much,” Zhou Keke said. “Wait for me, okay?”

Zhou Keke still thought Lin Yiran was with her senior from school. Even when Qiu Xing had asked her about the location of the mountain school last time, she hadn’t considered this possibility.

Since they couldn’t meet beforehand, Zhou Keke was completely unprepared. On the day of the high school classmates’ dinner, when she saw Qiu Xing holding Lin Yiran’s hand as they entered, introducing her as his girlfriend, Zhou Keke’s mouth hung open.

Lin Yiran saw Lin Yiran and waved at her in greeting, smiling apologetically, and called her “Sister Keke.”

“What… what’s going on with you two?” Zhou Keke’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Are you joking?”

Qiu Xing led Lin Yiran in, letting her sit next to Zhou Keke, while he sat on her other side.

“Yiran, what are you thinking?” Zhou Keke couldn’t accept it at all. Whether it was Lin Yiran’s genius senior from school or Fang Tingzhao from her major, either would have been more acceptable to Zhou Keke than Qiu Xing.

She asked Lin Yiran, “Did Qiu Xing trick you? Don’t let him fool you.”

Lin Yiran smiled and shook her head, saying to her, “I’ve always liked him.”

“What do you like about him?” Zhou Keke asked, devastated.

Lin Yiran answered, “Many things.”

“I think you’ve been tricked,” Zhou Keke said.

Lin Yiran looked at her seriously and honestly said, “I’ve liked him for six years.”

Zhou Keke looked at Qiu Xing in disbelief and asked, “On what grounds, Qiu Xing!”

Qiu Xing shrugged, with a smug expression that suggested he didn’t want to say more.

Although Zhou Keke verbally said Lin Yiran had been tricked, after drinking for a while, when she spoke about the two of them again, she was more heartfelt.

She didn’t say many more words, only her eyes were moist as she looked at Lin Yiran, then at Qiu Xing.

She felt that this was good.

They were both good people, excellent people, who would treat life well.

*

That Spring Festival, the family of three spent quietly at home.

This wasn’t the first time they had celebrated the holiday together, but this year seemed to have a different meaning than before.

From this year onward, they were truly a family. Life was beginning to become stable; no matter how far they went, there would be a small home behind them.

After the New Year, as she had promised, Fang Min left the city where she had lived for so very long.

Perhaps she still had attachments in her heart; she still missed her former family of three, but as her condition became increasingly stable, she gradually became willing to let go of Yangzheng. Perhaps it wasn’t letting go, but rather keeping him in her heart, willing to spend more time with her now grown-up son and gentle Little Boat.

Yangzheng was in the past, but they had to look forward.

Yet the longing would not cease. Time and space would not sever a pair of lovers; as time flowed on endlessly, love would not perish, only become somewhat distant, a little antiquated.

Occasionally, in her lucid moments, she still felt grateful for the home and stable life that Qiu Yangzheng had once given her. It was precisely because his love had been so solid that she lacked strength, and fell apart and collapsed when she lost him.

But if she could do it all over again, she would still choose without hesitation those twenty-some years of love with him.

Although they said they would live together, Qiu Xing still bought a small two-bedroom apartment in Lin Yiran’s residential complex, in the adjacent building unit.

Lin Yiran didn’t agree with him buying it, but couldn’t stop him.

Qiu Xing said she needed her own space. No matter how good or close a relationship was, there would be times when one wanted to be alone.

Lin Yiran felt Qiu Xing was overthinking.

Qiu Xing completed the purchase within a few days, finished the paperwork, placed the key in Lin Yiran’s hand, and told her to decorate both houses together.

“You can stay at my mother’s if you want, or go back to your place. Whenever you want to be alone, that’s fine too. That house is yours alone, you don’t have to share it with anyone,” Qiu Xing told her.

Although Lin Yiran felt she didn’t need it, her heart was filled to the brim. Qiu Xing always wanted to give her maximum freedom.

“I originally thought of it as our little home, to live together,” Lin Yiran said, looking at Qiu Xing.

“That’s the home Aunt Shen left for you,” Qiu Xing said.

Lin Yiran added, “But I also used the money you gave me.”

Qiu Xing raised an eyebrow and countered, “Isn’t that only natural?”

Lin Yiran laughed, “What are you saying…”

Qiu Xing pecked her lips and said, “All the money I earn is for my wife to spend.”

Originally, the money Qiu Xing transferred to Lin Yiran, she would send it back to him. Since Qiu Xing was in business, money always needed to be moved around, and Lin Yiran never intended to take his money.

But Qiu Xing would still frequently transfer sums to Lin Yiran’s account. Later, Lin Yiran stopped sending it back; when Qiu Xing transferred it, she would accept it, and when Qiu Xing needed to use it, he would ask her for it anyway.

He didn’t mind the trouble, so neither did Lin Yiran, and transferring back and forth like this felt quite blissful.

That summer, Lin Yiran completed her master’s degree and directly began her doctorate under her teacher.

Qiu Xing had absolutely no objections to this; he would support Lin Yiran studying for her entire life.

For Lin Yiran’s house, at Qiu Xing’s insistence, only one room was made into a bedroom, while the other two were decorated as a study and a workroom.

She spent only a small portion of her time living there; the rest of the time she stayed at Aunt Fang’s place.

Qiu Xing still traveled frequently for work, with many responsibilities he couldn’t let go of, but when he was away, he called Lin Yiran every day, checking in morning and night, and sending messages in between.

Qiu Xing: [About to go out.]

Little Boat: [Okay.]

Qiu Xing: [Going out to handle some business in a bit, will call you at noon.]

Little Boat: [Okay.]

Qiu Xing: [Don’t you have anything else to say?]

Lin Yiran could imagine Qiu Xing’s fierce expression and quickly replied: [I miss you!]

Qiu Xing: [Coming back the day after tomorrow.]

In the evening, Qiu Xing returned to his lodging early and video called Lin Yiran.

Lin Yiran was at her teacher’s home and couldn’t answer, so she hung up.

Qiu Xing: [I need an explanation.]

Lin Yiran replied with a smile, secretly: [At teacher’s home.]

Qiu Xing: [Acceptable.]

Little Boat: [Muah muah.]

When Lin Yiran returned home, drank the warm milk Aunt Fang had prepared for her, and showered, she was all settled and video called Qiu Xing.

Qiu Xing had also just showered, his hair still a bit damp.

Lin Yiran first obediently called him “husband,” and Qiu Xing pretentiously responded with an “Mm.”

“Today I ate at the teacher’s home, then she had guests, so she kept us there to chat together,” Lin Yiran said.

“Us?” Qiu Xing caught the key point. “Including that senior of yours?”

“Yes,” Lin Yiran was honest, adding with a smile, “And a senior female student.”

“Did your senior take you home?” Qiu Xing asked again.

Lin Yiran knew he wasn’t concerned, just deliberately teasing her, so she kept smiling: “Yes, the car held four people, and I was the first to be dropped off.”

Qiu Xing asked, “When will you finish getting your driver’s license? Can you do it this month?”

“I can!” Lin Yiran’s attitude was very proper. “I’ll never let anyone else drive me again.”

Qiu Xing pretended to be satisfied and said, “Good.”

When Qiu Xing wasn’t at home, they always chatted for a while before bed at night.

Sometimes they would talk until Lin Yiran became drowsy, but she wouldn’t hang up. Qiu Xing would stay on the line, accompanying her until she fell asleep.

“I’m sleepy, husband,” Lin Yiran said with her eyes closed.

Qiu Xing said, “Sleep.”

Listening to Qiu Xing’s steady breathing, Lin Yiran fell peacefully asleep.

Only after she had been asleep for a while did Qiu Xing end the video call, typing something on his phone before locking the screen and putting it aside.

Lin Yiran woke up in the night and saw the message Qiu Xing had sent after ending the video call. She smiled, wearing Qiu Xing’s T-shirt, turned over and went back to sleep—

Sleep well. I love you.]

On Lin Yiran’s birthday that year, Aunt Fang prepared a table full of dishes. Qiu Xing only managed to return before dinner; he should have arrived home yesterday, but due to weather conditions, his flight couldn’t take off. Qiu Xing had taken a high-speed train for a day to get back.

Lin Yiran never got upset about such things. Instead, she repeatedly urged him not to come back, saying the train journey was too long, telling him to wait until flights resumed and return the next day to make it up.

Qiu Xing didn’t listen to her and still managed to return before evening.

After dinner, Qiu Xing and Lin Yiran returned to her house.

Qiu Xing placed the cake on the coffee table, with two identical black boxes beside it.

The room had no lights on, only lit candles.

Lin Yiran sat on the sofa with her eyes closed, making a wish, while Qiu Xing crouched on the other side of the coffee table, watching her.

The candlelight illuminated Lin Yiran’s face as she pressed her palms together, devoutly making her wish.

After blowing out the candles, the room had only one night light on, still dim but warm.

Qiu Xing crouched on the opposite side, nodding his chin toward the two boxes: “Choose one.”

“Just one?” Lin Yiran blinked. “I thought both were for me.”

“Only one,” Qiu Xing said.

Lin Yiran deliberated for a long time, picking up each box, and after much thought, chose the lighter one.

“Made your choice?” Qiu Xing asked her.

“Mm-hmm,” Lin Yiran nodded.

Qiu Xing then took the other one away. Lin Yiran’s gaze followed his hand until Qiu Xing pocketed it; only then did she look down at the one in her hand.

She held her breath as she opened it, finding a car key inside.

Lin Yiran immediately closed the lid and handed it back to Qiu Xing: “I want to switch.”

Qiu Xing laughed, “Once you’ve chosen, there’s no switching.”

“I want that one,” Lin Yiran pointed at his pocket. “Make an exception.”

“No,” Qiu Xing said.

“Switch,” Lin Yiran forcefully tried to push her box into Qiu Xing’s hand.

Qiu Xing raised his hand with a smile, refusing to play along.

They both knew what was in Qiu Xing’s other box.

Lin Yiran had thought long and hard before making her choice, not expecting to choose wrong.

A ring is light, so Lin Yiran had chosen the lighter one.

Who could have guessed that Qiu Xing had included the box in the weight?

The box in Qiu Xing’s pocket contained a diamond ring.

If Lin Yiran had chosen that box, the moment she opened it, Qiu Xing would have spoken the words he had prepared, proposing to her.

Lin Yiran couldn’t return her choice, and Qiu Xing wouldn’t let her switch.

She tried both negotiating and coaxing, but Qiu Xing wouldn’t budge.

“Give it here.” When soft methods failed, Lin Yiran raised her chin and commanded Qiu Xing. “I want both, give it to me.”

Qiu Xing was constantly amused by her, finding it truly entertaining.

He reached over and cupped her face, giving it a gentle squeeze, and said, “Alright.”

Qiu Xing took the box from his pocket and handed it over.

Lin Yiran accepted it, holding it with both hands.

She knew what would happen the moment she opened the box, yet she didn’t rush to open it.

She simply focused intently on Qiu Xing, and Qiu Xing gazed back at her gently.

“I just made a wish,” Lin Yiran told him.

Instead of opening the box first, she looked at the man who had accompanied her for many years, gazed into his eyes: “In that dark year of my life, someone rebuilt a world for me. I am forever grateful. Grateful to him, and grateful to fate for giving him to me after shattering my life.”

She looked at Qiu Xing with a smile, gentle yet resolute, and said, “This is the seventh year I’ve loved him, and I want to marry him.”