“Tonight, let’s go out for dinner.”

“I’ll pick you up after work.”

During lunch break at work, Shi Sui saw the message Yan Tingli had sent.

She stared at the screen for a while.

Then suddenly sat up from her workstation and quick-stepped over to Zhao Sheng’s position: “Team leader, I’d like to request the afternoon off.”

Shi Sui didn’t know that when she said this, the anticipation in her eyes was impossible to hide.

Seeing this made Zhao Sheng’s lips curve: “What good news is about to happen?”

She opened her lips, originally about to speak, then smiled with crescent eyes and closed them: “I’ll tell you once it’s confirmed.”

Zhao Sheng: “Approved. Just get me this week’s storyboards by Monday.”

“Okay, thank you, team leader.”

Shi Sui returned to her seat, immediately grabbed her bag, took the elevator down and left the company, speed-driving home to change clothes and opening her full makeup kit in front of the vanity mirror.

After a while, another message from Yan Tingli came.

[Did you see it?]

[Reply to me]

[Now]

Shi Sui casually replied: [It’s just dinner, I saw it]

After sending, she turned her phone face down.

Pressing her lips to suppress her smile.

You couldn’t blame Yan Tingli for poor secrecy work—the blame lay with the traitor Big Mouth Gao around him.

Early this morning, Su Han and Xue Jing, even Lin Anran far away in Yu City, already knew the news and were chattering about it in the group chat.

To ensure everyone would be present so Lin Anran could join the excitement, Xue Jing even promised to video call with her for front-row melon-eating.

Su Han’s messages jumped in the group: [Do you know why we’re telling you?]

[A proposal—such an important day, you absolutely cannot be casual about it. You must dress up beautifully, understand?]

Xue Jing was confident: [Leave the photography to me, I guarantee beautiful shots]

Thinking about this, Shi Sui glanced at her quiet phone.

She couldn’t help smiling again.

Yan Tingli still didn’t know.

His proposal had become a “secret” that everyone knew.

But fortunately, having real sisters inform her of this news, otherwise with her weekday gray and drab work appearance, Shi Sui would give Yan Tingli’s proposal a low score.

After finishing her makeup, Shi Sui even got interested enough to style her hair, pairing it with a smoky pink coat and dress.

Once everything was ready, she took a taxi back to the company.

Waiting for Yan Tingli to “pick her up from work.”

Until Shi Sui got in the car and they made eye contact.

They scrutinized each other for a second.

Shi Sui’s gaze slid from Yan Tingli’s face, where even dark circles couldn’t be seen, down to his luxury suit embroidered with subtle patterns.

How exquisitely refined.

He knew to dress up, but didn’t remind her to look pretty too!

Shi Sui got a bit annoyed, only able to feel grateful she had connections who’d tipped her off in advance.

While her expression was unreadable, Yan Tingli also stared straight at her, from hairstyle to makeup to outfit.

In an instant, he immediately understood what was going on.

Both tacitly understood the situation.

The air was filled with subtle awkwardness.

But neither spoke. Yan Tingli turned his head forward with complete composure.

Then turned the key to start the engine.

It didn’t start—the car suddenly stalled.

“……”

So awkward.

Shi Sui quietly observed his expression.

Honestly, in all these years, she’d never seen Yan Tingli show nervousness about anything.

This was the first time.

After stalling.

He clicked his tongue with a cold face, seemingly angry at someone—probably the car.

Then the car roared and shot forward.

Shi Sui felt the G-force of takeoff and mentally added a string of ellipses.

“Don’t be nervous.” She really couldn’t hold back and said with a light cough.

“What am I nervous about?”

“……”

Faker.

If you’re not nervous, why did you stall?

If you’re not nervous, why are you driving so fast?

But Shi Sui gave him face and didn’t show it on her expression: “Fine.”

Finally arriving at the restaurant.

Looking at “Yi Lanshan” where she’d come n times this year, Shi Sui thought with emotion that he loved this place.

She followed Yan Tingli, one in front and one behind, each with their thoughts as they took the elevator upstairs to the private room.

Opening the door, the seats were almost full.

Gao Linhan, Xue Jing, Su Han, even Axel, who’d come along, plus several faces Shi Sui found somewhat familiar—she’d seen them at the last gathering, probably Yan Tingli’s company colleagues.

There was even Zhuo Haoyu.

At this moment, he was looking shocked at her and Yan Tingli, appearing one after the other, his expression drifting.

“Let me introduce my girlfriend, Shi Sui.” Yan Tingli calmly took her hand and led her to the main seats.

Gao Linhan immediately led the applause: “Welcome, welcome.”

The company atmosphere team also clapped without understanding the situation: “Welcome!”

This made even Shi Sui feel embarrassed.

She could sense Yan Tingli’s embarrassment was even greater because the hand holding hers was already slightly sweating.

“……”

Truly introvert hell.

Then Gao Linhan got a bland glance from Yan Tingli.

He choked.

Wasn’t he supposed to assist?

Yan Tingli instructed the waiters to serve food, and the dinner began.

From her peripheral vision, Shi Sui saw Su Han and Xue Jing’s eye creases about to bloom from smiling.

Her phone was also buzzing, with messages jumping in the group chat as the two performed like a comedy duo.

Su Han: [Do you know what you two look like right now?]

Xue Jing: [Like two robots forced to execute a program]

Su Han: [Still having to act with each other]

Xue Jing: [Pretending not to know]

Lin Anran sent remotely: [Applause/Applause/Applause]

Fortunately, at the dinner table, everyone finally started talking one by one.

The atmosphere gradually warmed up.

Only the two of them were mentally drifting.

Yan Tingli kept checking his watch.

Shi Sui keenly noticed the increasingly obvious anxiety emanating from him.

Simply unprecedented.

Finally, the clock in the private room ticked.

Yan Tingli suddenly stood up.

At this moment.

The lighting suddenly changed, several lights dimmed, shifting from bright white to gentle warm light.

Here it comes.

Shi Sui’s heart pounded like the nervousness before going on stage in his student days.

The several atmosphere team members Gao Linhan had brought, including Axel, didn’t know the truth and looked at Yan Tingli and Gao Linhan, whom he glanced at.

The latter was already standing by the door and, under everyone’s gaze, solemnly opened the private room door, then received a bouquet from the restaurant manager—a large bunch of red roses.

The next second, Shi Sui’s startled gaze fixed on Ping An wearing a lace dress with a small box on her back.

And what was Gao Linhan holding?

Shi Sui looked closely, and her lips twitched.

Catnip? This was allowed?

Usually temperamental Ping An could only resist catnip.

Following the route, she came to Shi Sui’s feet.

Then, with a “meow,” she grabbed the catnip from Gao Linhan’s hand.

The rebellious child hadn’t made any mistakes, so Yan Tingli’s tense expression finally relaxed slightly.

He didn’t know that from Shi Sui’s peripheral vision, Xue Jing and Su Han were almost hugging each other, laughing.

From their expressions, you could see the meaning of “teasing Yan Tingli is so fun.”

How others propose.

He copied the same way.

Others use dogs, he uses cats, even cheating with catnip.

How could he be so silly?

Shi Sui’s lips were about to curve, but didn’t, then she looked seriously at Yan Tingli.

The atmosphere was set, and the atmosphere team, led by Gao Linhan, immediately started shouting professionally: “Propose, propose, propose.”

Xue Jing also dutifully took photos and videos from the side to ensure “good shots.”

In such a noisy environment.

Shi Sui’s cheeks flushed hot, finally experiencing what Yan Tingli meant last time by feeling “watched like a monkey.”

Both of them were like failing students being punished to stand in student days.

Looking up at Yan Tingli again.

Shi Sui swore.

This was the first time in her life she’d seen Yan Tingli blush from embarrassment.

But it wasn’t obvious—just a faint pink.

Being looked at like this by her, Yan Tingli averted his gaze, realized this wasn’t good, and turned back to look at her.

Then, with stiff body movements, he crouched down and took the ring box from Ping An’s back.

He handed her the flowers, and Shi Sui accepted them.

Yan Tingli finally spoke with difficulty: “Sui Sui.”

“Louder, we can’t hear!” Su Han was still unsatisfied and shouted with a mischievous smile, “Also, proposals require kneeling—why aren’t you kneeling?”

“……”

Yan Tingli’s expression looked like he was searching for a hole to crawl into.

Last time, when it was just the two of them, Yan Tingli would kneel immediately to achieve his goal.

This time with so many people’s burning gazes, Yan Tingli’s face seemed suddenly thin as tissue paper.

Shi Sui seemed to suddenly understand.

Even though Yan Tingli was domineering and obsessive in private, completely unrestrained.

But someone who had never been treated with solemn ceremony, was suddenly forced to display his love openly.

With applause, flowers, being watched by everyone, following worldly blessings, he would immediately become awkwardly at a loss.

This was like gloomy moss suddenly exposed to sunlight, not knowing whether to stretch or contract.

Shi Sui could only relax her brows and look at him gently, encouraging him with her eyes.

Watching him finally restrain all his sharp edges, rein himself in, and under everyone’s gaze, constrain himself with rules.

His right knee touched the ground as he looked up at her.

At this moment, Yan Tingli’s faintly anxious eyes also calmed down.

This time, his voice was very clear: “Sui Sui.”

Shi Sui gently guided: “Mm.”

“I want to marry you.”

“Very much.”

“Mm.” Shi Sui waited for him to say, “Please agree to marry me.”

Because Yan Tingli rarely used question forms—he was always self-willed, most times only expressing his own thoughts.

This was a habit, more so a thinking pattern that couldn’t be changed.

But this time, Yan Tingli paused before raising his eyelashes and slowly asking: “Will you agree to my proposal?”

The atmosphere team beside them burst into screams.

In such a noisy atmosphere, Shi Sui was dazed for a few seconds.

Regarding the ceremony of proposal, she once didn’t understand its meaning.

The reason for insisting on ceremony even came more from following the crowd and that little bit of unwillingness in her heart.

But at this moment, with emotions connecting, Shi Sui finally fully experienced the feeling of being embraced by happiness.

With tears in her eyes, she extended her finger.

Finally, solemnly saying to him, “I do.”

I’m willing to marry you.

I’m also willing to have a home with you.

Yan Tingli lowered his eyes, carefully putting the ring on her finger.

His breath and movements were very light, but his fingertips were burning hot.

His fingers were still moist with sweat.

Then he stood up and finally, completely relaxed, held her tightly, burying his head in her neck.

“Sui Sui.”

“Sui Sui.”

Yan Tingli called her name over and over, as if confirming her existence.

Shi Sui also embraced him, saying with some emotion: “Getting to this point feels like a dream.”

“It’s not a dream.” Yan Tingli said firmly.

He had never dreamed of such happiness.

In his dreams, she always left him again and again.

He tried everything but couldn’t hold onto anything in the end.

Fortunately, it wasn’t a dream.

And fortunately, those were only dreams.

“Summer vacation?” Li Yin was somewhat surprised to hear the news and asked Yan Tingli, “Are you planning to get married as soon as Sui Sui gets her graduation certificate?”

“So soon?” Shi Yue also hadn’t expected this.

Yan Tingli nodded, his expression looking sincere: “Yes, Sui Sui discussed this with me—we both don’t want to wait anymore.”

Shi Sui helplessly rested her chin on her hand and glanced at him.

Yes, they had “agreed.”

But it was based on Yan Tingli’s persistent pestering and unreasonable demands.

After the proposal, Yan Tingli immediately found someone to calculate auspicious dates, though he didn’t believe in these things. Under 3.0’s brainwashing, he learned these were common folk customs that could easily convince elders. Among dates within the next six months, he calculated back and forth.

Finally finding suitable dates for “getting the certificate” and “wedding day.”

He even seriously told Shi Sui that if they missed these two dates, there wouldn’t be another auspicious time for three years.

Shi Sui wasn’t falling for it and said carelessly, “Then let’s find dates three years later. I’m not in a hurry.”

This statement directly made Yan Tingli explode—not only did he have a small tantrum, he even took it out on Ping An.

He heard there were durian meal boxes online, so he very maliciously added durian meat to Ping An’s cat food for the new week.

This made Ping An claw at her food and sniff everywhere with a confused expression like she’d seen feces.

Shi Sui almost gave herself internal injuries from laughing.

Shi Sui also disliked durian smell. Although Yan Tingli hated it even more, this didn’t stop him from harming the enemy eight hundred while losing one thousand himself.

After tormenting Ping An, he pinned her down and evilly brought durian to her nose, forcing her to smell it: “June 18th, I want to get the certificate.”

“Getting it or not?”

“Hmm?”

“If you don’t, you’ll keep smelling this.”

Shi Sui held her breath but wanted to laugh.

Getting internal injuries from holding it in: “Getting it, getting it, getting it.”

But she immediately retaliated by forcibly stuffing the durian meat back in his mouth.

Yan Tingli’s expression then was identical to Ping An burying in sand.

Then Shi Sui hugged a pillow and laughed until her stomach hurt.

The certificate date was thus jokingly decided.

At the end of May, Shi Sui flew to America.

She went to school for the graduation ceremony and received her degree certificate.

This also meant she could finally transition from intern to full-time and earn a five-figure salary.

On the car ride back from landing, Shi Sui happily shared this good news with Yan Tingli.

A five-figure monthly income was practically a curse to Yan Tingli.

But he said without blushing or skipping a beat: “Give it all to me from now on.”

Shi Sui was shocked.

Yan Tingli continued: “I’ll give you what I earn, you give me what you earn.”

“Are you sure?” Shi Sui was confused.

He said matter-of-factly: “Of course, I want everything of yours, including your money.”

Shi Sui just thought he was making another childish joke.

But until her last month’s salary came in and Yan Tingli transferred away every cent in front of her.

Shi Sui was so angry that she deformed.

“You, you, you,” she glared at him furiously, “you’re even taking away my little bit of money?”

Then a document was stuffed into her hands.

Looking down.

The black text on white paper clearly showed [Prenuptial Property Gift Agreement].

Shi Sui’s eyes widened.

Her fingers flipped through the thick stack of documents.

Each page with dense money and real estate, even equity dividends, made her jaw drop.

Shi Sui was dizzy and incoherent: “…What are you doing? How do you have so much money?”

“You’re giving it all to me?”

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll take the money and run away…” she asked weakly.

Yan Tingli lifted his eyelids and looked at her calmly: “Would you bear to?”

“Bear to what?”

“Me.” He was frank.

Yan Tingli’s eyes sparkled, eye corners upturned.

In this matter, he finally had a little confidence.

Shi Sui looked at him for a long time, then burst into laughter, reaching out to embrace his neck: “Of course I couldn’t bear to.”

Soon, the time came in June.

A few days before getting the certificate, Yan Tingli suddenly said, “I want to go to the small town.”

Shi Sui was puzzled: “What for?”

“To fulfill a vow.”

Shi Sui understood—he wanted to personally visit that small temple before marriage.

“Then I’ll go with you.”

Shi Yue still had someone come clean once a month.

When they returned to the small courtyard, the old house’s wall paint showed more age and visible traces of time.

The trendy appliances Yan Tingli had once bought had also become outdated products.

Fortunately, they still functioned well.

But watching Yan Tingli relying on the air conditioner for life, Shi Sui still couldn’t help turning up the temperature: “Don’t get a fever again.”

“Of course that’s impossible.” He was very bothered by her questioning his physical constitution.

In the evening, Yan Tingli wandered around the small courtyard.

Staring gloomily at the weeds in the vegetable garden, his expression wasn’t good.

Shi Sui knew he was annoyed by those weeds again.

“What about those little tomatoes from back then?” She remembered something and asked curiously, “…When you came, had they grown well?”

Yan Tingli crouched down and didn’t speak.

Shi Sui pulled a weed and poked his arm: “I’m asking you—where are the tomatoes?”

“Got angry and stomped them flat.” After a long while, he finally spat out a few words.

“……”

Fine.

Shi Sui was slightly disappointed.

But given Yan Tingli’s nasty temper, this was normal.

“Annoying.” He suddenly said again.

“Annoyed about what now?”

Yan Tingli: “I want a vacation.”

“……”

Shi Sui: “Aren’t you on vacation now?”

He was too busy—these two days were already considered vacation time.

“Just these two days,” Yan Tingli listlessly pulled weeds, “not enough to plant tomatoes again.”

Shi Sui’s heart immediately melted into a puddle.

“We could plant seeds and ask someone to tend them—give some money and Grandma Zhao would be very happy,” she racked her brains to comfort him, “by August we could come and harvest them.”

Yan Tingli suddenly looked at her.

Said and done.

He immediately went to the small store to buy seedlings, turned on the lights to pull weeds and plant, stubbornly filling the entire vegetable garden with tomatoes before sleep.

Like a commanding general making battle preparations.

Yan Tingli said seriously, “Please grow quickly.”

Shi Sui: “……”

The next morning, while the temperature hadn’t risen yet.

The two of them got up and walked along the small town’s river, climbing the mountain to the temple.

The mountain path was winding and steep.

The narrow path, less than a meter wide, had high earth slopes beside it—falling could cause injury anytime.

Yan Tingli had never climbed this kind of mountain and stepped carefully.

His hand never forgot to hold hers.

Gripping tighter and tighter.

His physical strength was much better than hers. When Shi Sui really couldn’t climb anymore, Yan Tingli simply carried her up the mountain.

But as the sun rose, the temperature got higher and higher.

Yan Tingli’s lips cracked, and his skin was burning.

Shi Sui felt sorry for him: “Why don’t you put me down?”

He seemed unable to hear.

Only asking in a low voice: “How did you climb up back then?”

That was August—it would have been even hotter than now.

Shi Sui was silent for a while before saying, “I had better stamina then.”

But Yan Tingli stopped talking.

Only tightening his hands, and carried her even closer.

At Yan Tingli’s pace, it still took nearly three hours of climbing before they finally saw the small temple.

An old master smiled at them.

Shi Sui recognized him—this was the abbot who had given her the sachet back then.

She bowed to him in a Buddhist greeting.

Before leaving, the abbot gave them each a sachet.

Yan Tingli held the sachet and, copying her movements, solemnly returned the bow.

“You knelt on that prayer mat for so long just now,” before going down the mountain, Shi Sui asked him, “how many wishes did you make?”

Yan Tingli: “I didn’t make wishes.”

“Hmm? Then what were you doing—meditating?”

“Giving thanks.” He said, holding her hand.

Shi Sui couldn’t help asking: “Thanks for what?”

“Thanks.”

Yan Tingli paused, then crouched down to put her on his back again, settling her securely before walking down, “that I have a home.”

His voice was like willow catkins gently falling to the ground—very light and peaceful.

When the cup overflows, it spills; when too full, it diminishes.

A life of modest contentment is perfect completeness.

And his life had long exceeded modest contentment.

No longer greedy for more, only gratitude remained.

Shi Sui closed her eyes and hugged him tightly back.

Gently and firmly responding: “Yes, it’s me and A Li’s home.”

【End of Main Text】