Entering her third summer at Aostar, Zhou Mi was officially promoted from SAE to AM. At the beginning of the year, the CNY project she managed gained widespread attention on multiple online media platforms due to an outstanding video presentation, securing impressive data and sales for the brand.

From communicating and organizing client needs, finalizing proposals and pricing, to subsequent preparation of materials, promotion, and the final work report, Zhou Mi became increasingly adept at every aspect, handling everything with ease.

Additionally, she began mentoring interns, who occasionally addressed her as “Mi-jie” with awkward gratitude. This gave Zhou Mi a sense of temporal displacement, to which she would respond with a mild smile: “It’s nothing.”

However, on the day her first promotion salary increase was deposited, she still bounced around in front of Zhang Lian like a little girl who had received a huge gift, shouting, “I’m rich, I’m rich, I’m rich!”

Zhang Lian laughed at her: “A monthly salary of less than twenty thousand, yet you’re shouting with the vigor of two million.”

Zhou Mi snorted: “Hmph, you capitalists who earn money like flowing water don’t understand the joy of us proletarians.”

When her lease expired, she moved back to Huajun. At the moment, the two were sitting on the large balcony in the living room, enjoying the night breeze, along with a cat.

Mifaso had become completely different from before, transformed from a slender, clever little cutie into a round ball of fat like in “The Cat Returns,” always clinging to people and finding opportunities to curl up in Zhang Lian’s or Zhou Mi’s lap.

Zhou Mi used the cat’s arched back as a phone stand, admiring her bank account balance for quite a while before looking up, acting lavishly: “I’ll treat you to dinner tomorrow, anywhere you want.”

Zhang Lian gave her a sidelong glance: “Alright.”

Zhou Mi asked: “Where to?”

Zhang Lian casually mentioned a Western restaurant name.

Zhou Mi squinted suspiciously and searched for it, then exploded: “Damn! 2,800 per person, I immediately take it back and flip out.”

Zhang Lian smiled: “Didn’t you say anywhere?”

Zhou Mi: “Can’t you be more considerate of how hard it is for employees to earn money?”

Zhang Lian said, “Our company’s finance department also has a hard time distributing money.”

Zhou Mi made a tiny gap with her thumb and index finger: “But at least there’s a tiny bit of ‘keeping the water in the family field,’ right?”

Zhang Lian curved his lips: “True.”

Zhou Mi scratched Mifaso’s chin for a while, murmuring: “Lian Lian gege.”

“Hmm?” Zhang Lian looked over again, eyes containing a smile.

Since resuming their cohabitation, she had started calling him various pet names and nicknames more frequently.

Of course, he was particularly receptive to this.

“Fine, let’s eat there,” she said reluctantly. “If you want to eat there, we’ll eat there. It’s just taking away nearly half my salary for one meal. I’m not that stingy. After all, we’re family now. Who doesn’t eat? It’s not like I’m not eating, too. It’s just a little over 5,000 yuan in total. I’d like to see what food worth over 2,000 per person looks like…”

Zhang Lian laughed, interrupting: “Are you reciting sutras?”

Zhou Mi immediately stopped, her big eyes darting around.

“It’s fine, I’ll treat you. After your promotion, you only had a meal at home. Tomorrow will be the formal celebration.”

Zhou Mi instantly beamed: “Boss~ You’re too kind, making me feel a bit ashamed.”

Zhang Lian particularly enjoyed her clever and mischievous manner, raising his eyes: “Come here.”

Zhou Mi lowered her head: “Mifaso is still on me.”

Zhang Lian said, “Put her down.”

Zhou Mi stroked her pointed ears, reluctantly placing her on the ground before slipping over to Zhang Lian.

Zhang Lian patted his leg: “Sit.”

Zhou Mi stood still: “Which kind of sitting do you want?”

Zhang Lian: “There are different kinds?”

Zhou Mi counted on her fingers: “Of course, there are many options—First, sitting sideways; second, straddling face-to-face; third, sitting with my back to you, so you can’t see me.”

Zhang Lian thought for a moment, then said: “Sit however you want.”

Zhou Mi quickly chose the second option, hooking her arms around his neck, not letting go.

Zhang Lian’s smile reached his eyebrows, also close: “So this is your favorite.”

Zhou Mi didn’t deny it: “Yes, this position lets me see you and kiss you.”

After saying this, she suddenly launched a sneak attack, quickly turning her second reason into action.

Zhang Lian chuckled softly, his arms encircling her, pulling her forward sharply, making them fit together perfectly.

“I like this the best, too.”

He deepened the kiss.

—

The next day, Zhang Lian took her to this restaurant that resembled a palace in the sky. It was only upon arrival that Zhou Mi learned that its private rooms for two needed to be booked in advance, and they only accepted two reservations per night.

The hanging lamps overhead dangled down like numerous small full moons. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was the river, comparable to the Milky Way, with ships shuttling back and forth. The symbolic buildings of the city center stood on the shore, colorful like strings of jewels and pagodas, gleaming brilliantly.

After the third course was served, Zhou Mi scooped the white truffle from a small dish into her mouth and glanced at the pretty girl in a black formal dress who came in to play the violin: “Is this where the upper class dines every day?”

Zhang Lian smiled: “No one comes here daily.”

Zhou Mi looked at him, asking softly: “Then, when do people usually come?”

Zhang Lian was quiet for two seconds: “When proposing.”

Zhou Mi grinned, incredulous: “Huh? Really?”

Zhang Lian said: “Mm.”

Zhou Mi took a sip of wine, seemingly regretful: “But we… have already gone through that process.”

Zhang Lian made an affirmative sound: “I had originally planned to bring you here to propose.”

Zhou Mi criticized, though her lips curved upward: “You’re so cliché.”

Zhang Lian glanced at the sea of lights outside the window: “Isn’t this place nice?”

“It’s nice, but I prefer the way it happened before—spontaneous and unexpected…” she propped her cheek on one hand: “It’s as if that moment suddenly arrived, an opportunity not to be missed, more ceremonial than any ceremony, you know? I think love and everything related to love is a flash of insight, improvisation, like a wild horse breaking free.”

Zhang Lian nodded, agreeing with this statement.

They exchanged smiles.

The next moment, Zhang Lian suddenly spoke up: “Shall we get our marriage license on the 15th of this month?”

His tone was casual, but it was enough to make Zhou Mi’s jaw drop: “What?”

Zhang Lian laughed: “What’s so surprising?”

Zhou Mi touched her forehead with one hand, her ears already reddening with joy: “It’s just so sudden.”

Zhang Lian looked at her: “You said suddenness is more ceremonial than any ceremony.”

The violinist noticed the commotion and tactfully stopped playing, temporarily leaving the private room.

“Well…” Zhou Mi’s face also grew hot, her whole body fidgeting: “Wait a moment…”

She put down the silver spoon and formally held her phone with both hands, looking serious: “Let me first check if that day is auspicious, if it’s suitable for marriage.”

Zhang Lian sighed: “You’re superstitious.”

Zhou Mi glared at him: “What do you know? The end of science is metaphysics, not superstition.”

Zhang Lian leaned back on the sofa: “Fine, take your time.”

Zhou Mi happily scrolled and tapped, suddenly giggling: “It seems pretty good.”

Zhang Lian’s gaze contained a hint of profound understanding: “Is that so?”

Zhou Mi’s smile spread wider, like water rippling in the wind: “Looks like we picked a good day back then.”

Zhang Lian watched her intently, his lips curving upward.

She also checked a few other nearby dates and found none better than the 15th. Zhou Mi became even more delighted, turning off her phone and looking at him: “Are we getting the license?”

Zhang Lian nodded: “It’s time.”

Zhou Mi suddenly warned like a little witch, ominously: “Once we get the license, it’s hard to change your mind, hehe, former anti-marriage advocate.”

Zhang Lian said, “I don’t mind, but what about you? Didn’t you say you wanted to wait another year or two?”

Zhou Mi said, “Who knew I’d be so excellent and get promoted early? My goal was to become an AM before marrying you, to become a small leader, to be more compatible with the big MD.”

Zhang Lian frowned: “Do people at the company think we’re not compatible?”

Zhou Mi pouted: “Who knows?”

Zhang Lian’s expression became slightly more serious: “Even without those past events, I would still be attracted to you.”

“Keep bragging,” she immediately put on a “do you think I believe you” face.

Zhang Lian laughed: “Believe it or not.”

Zhou Mi quickly finished the exquisite food in front of her: “Can we go take ID photos tonight? I don’t want to take them on-site since they can’t be edited.”

“Now?”

“Yes.”

“You look very good, Zhou Mi. Don’t be so hung up on appearances.”

“I just want to—after all, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing, of course, I want to edit the photos. When we’re old and look at them again, I want to see the most perfect version of myself,” she began a coquettish attack, shaking his arm: “Today, right now, a flash of insight, a wild horse breaking free, improvisation.”

Zhang Lian was amused by her reasoning and agreed to this seemingly unreasonable yet somewhat reasonable request.

—

Mid-month, Zhou Mi took a day off, and on the same day, Zhang Lian did not come to the company either. Their simultaneous absence sparked various speculations at Aostar.

Though there were many talks, the guesses mainly fell into two categories:

One, they went to get their marriage license;

Two, they went for a prenatal check-up.

In the evening, the warrior who was always at the forefront of gossip—Yuan Zhen—once again took the lead by tagging the parties involved in the large group chat: @Fabian @Aostar-Minnie What did you do today? Be honest, did you go for that?

Everyone echoed, waiting for the good news.

Zhang Lian was the first to appear, seemingly calm: Which one?

Yuan appropriately attached an emoji: [Many people hope these two get married]

Zhang Lian still casually dropped the bombshell: Mm.

The group chat began to “ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh” frantically like a crazy flood of messages, screaming endlessly like firecrackers.

Fortunately, the Creative Director intervened in the group, ending this tribal regression behavior: @Fabian Why don’t you post on your WeChat Moments? You’re keeping it too secret, aren’t you afraid of making the boss’s wife unhappy???

Zhang Lian in the group: Warning you all, don’t call her the boss’s wife.

Someone asked: Then what should we call her?

Another person shouted: Call her boss! Aostar has a new owner!!!

Zhou Mi, holding a large bouquet in one hand and secretly watching the group chat with the other, stopped directly because of this sentence, laughing so hard she couldn’t walk.

From the morning when they entered the civil affairs bureau with their household registration books and ID photos, to the evening when they finished dinner and walked home side by side, her face had been frozen, walking with an air of not recognizing anyone.

Zhang Lian was also smiling, typing: What you called her before, call her the same in the future.

He added the reason: I don’t want Minnie to sound like my accessory.

As soon as he sent it, his arm was hit by Zhou Mi with the bouquet. Zhang Lian looked down: “What’s wrong?”

Zhou Mi snorted: “You always know what to say.”

Zhang Lian said, “If I don’t clarify at the beginning, it might become a bad habit later.”

Zhou Mi: “What habit? The habit of borrowing your power to act like a crab, sideways and domineering in the company?”

Zhang Lian asked: “Do you want that?”

Zhou Mi: “Of course not,” she raised her face, her eyelids playfully fluttering twice: “But I want other privileges.”

Zhang Lian looked at her: “What?”

“Just—” she puckered her lips, her face slightly reddened, muttering: “Need to seal the private stamp every day.”

Zhang Lian laughed softly, granting her wish.

Looking back at the group chat, unsurprisingly, there was another long string of “Eww—”, “I’m full, no need for supper tonight”, “I was raised on dog food”, “Good thing I can’t read”, “Aostar is now renamed Dog Killing Field”, “How are we supposed to live the coming days”…

After returning home, Zhang Lian chose to make public the news of their marriage registration.

Their red-background ID photos were openly posted on his WeChat Moments, which was also the first time Zhou Mi formally appeared completely exposed, becoming known to others.

A perfect couple, with beautiful smiles, matching as if made in heaven.

Even without a single word, this self-evident update was like a depth charge, shocking to the eyes, causing an earthquake in Zhang Lian’s social circle.

Whether scrutinized or blessed, it didn’t matter; some viewed it as a crime, some saw it as a destination, while others viewed it as a passage and permission, allowing them to enter and obtain a deeper level of love.

Wen Liangcai quickly jumped out and sent it to the roommate group: ???? Is today not April Fool’s Day?

Another roommate was also very surprised: Checked, it’s not.

Wen Liangcai: @Zhang Lian! What happened to the anti-marriage, playing the field, lonely till death plan? It’s only been a short time, and you’ve already compromised with reality?

Zhang Lian denied: How could it be compromising with reality?

Wen Liangcai asked: Then what is it?

Zhang Lian replied with four concise words: Reformed by love.