After removing her makeup and washing up briefly, Xia Li was about to leave the bathroom when she realized the strapless wrap dress she was wearing was not exactly suited for a nap.

Yan Sishi was standing at the window, seemingly gazing at the trees outside.

In the bright afternoon light, the leaves were a vivid, cheerful green. Light and shadow swayed, scattering some of it across his white shirt.

“…Could you bring me the paper bag with my clothes? I probably need to change.”

Shortly after, he came back upstairs, walked to the bathroom doorway, handed the bag in, and pulled the door closed for her.

Inside the bag were the T-shirt and jeans Xia Li had changed out of the night before, as well as a set of pajamas — the ones Lin Qingxiao had prepared for all of them to wear during their posed “pajama party” photos with the bridesmaids.

Though the pajamas were a belted bathrobe style, they were actually quite conservative — a high neckline and a length that fell to mid-calf.

She didn’t allow herself to overthink it. She opened the bedroom door and walked out.

The chair at the desk had been pulled out and turned slightly to one side. Yan Sishi was sitting in it, one arm resting on the desk, looking out the window.

Hearing the door, he turned to look.

“Mm.”

Xia Li lifted the covers and lay down on the bed.

High-thread-count cotton bedding, deep grey, carrying the clean scent of a recent wash.

She settled into the covers and watched as Yan Sishi rose from the chair and moved toward the door. On impulse, she said, “That, um…”

Yan Sishi stopped.

“I still haven’t shown you the photo.”

Yan Sishi seemed to hesitate for just a moment before walking back over to her and sitting sideways on the edge of the bed.

Xia Li reached for her phone, opened a messaging app she rarely used anymore, navigated to a private album she had locked long ago, found the large group photo she had copied from Xu Ning’s camera, and handed it to Yan Sishi.

Yan Sishi looked down at it, pinching the screen to zoom in.

Xia Li was dressed in a Republic-era student’s costume — blue top, black skirt, a hair ribbon. Her shoulder-length hair framed a small, delicate face. Her nose was refined and pretty, her brows gently curved, her almond-shaped eyes bright and smiling.

It was indeed the image he remembered — though she had seemed a little more youthful and girlish then compared to now.

Yan Sishi asked, “Can you send it to me?”

“Sure.”

He tapped the button in the lower right corner, and from the menu that appeared, he selected the option to share to a messaging contact, sending it to himself.

He took one more careful look before handing the phone back to Xia Li.

Xia Li: “…You’re done already?”

Yan Sishi nodded.

Xia Li had originally intended to use this moment as an opening to reveal all the secrets in that album.

But she hadn’t anticipated that he would be so proper — if she showed him one photo, he would look at only that one.

“…You sure you don’t want to look a little more?”

Yan Sishi paused. A moment later, a look of dawning realization crossed his face, and he reached out to take her phone again.

But then Xia Li was suddenly seized by a rare fit of shyness. She locked the screen and flung the phone far away onto the far end of the pillow. “…Never mind, we’ll look another time. I’m going to sleep.”

Yan Sishi didn’t try to retrieve it. He simply nodded and said, “Get some sleep, then.”

He was about to stand up.

A hand closed around his wrist.

He turned his head and looked down.

“I kept you company yesterday — won’t you keep me company today?” Her voice was soft and clear, and she must have yawned just as she said it, because the words came out with an unintentional coaxing lilt.

His gaze deepened by two degrees immediately.

Whatever struggle there was took place entirely within him. Outwardly his expression remained calm and composed. He reached out and rested his hand on her forehead for a moment, then said yes.

Yan Sishi lifted the covers and lay down beside her, fully clothed.

She turned on her side and pressed her forehead against his shoulder, saying nothing, only letting out another long, slow yawn.

In the air between them lingered a fragrance easily caught — it came from her hair.

Yan Sishi let her lean against him and made no further movement beyond that.

The pajamas were also silk — lightweight, thin fabric, like a second layer of skin, wholly innocent in the way it pressed against him and burned.

After a moment, he heard her breathing gradually slow and deepen.

He stared at the ceiling above them, motionless, constructing a mathematical model in his mind and working through it from the first step.

A means of enduring what would undoubtedly prove to be a very long and very trying afternoon.

On the sixth, Xia Li and Yan Sishi returned to Beicheng together.

Xia Li formally accepted the offer from Bincheng, setting a start date for mid-March the following year.

That evening after work, Xia Li didn’t go to dinner with Yan Sishi. Instead she went straight home to talk with Xu Ning about the matter.

Xu Ning had no interest in going out. Both of them were thoroughly tired of ordering takeout, so they decided to cook something themselves.

Neither of them had much skill in the kitchen. With work keeping them both busy, they rarely cooked.

Xia Li found a small Japanese yukihira pot in the kitchen, bought some time ago and barely used, and suggested they just cook some instant noodles.

Into the noodles went eggs, cheese slices, and luncheon meat. The whole pot, piping hot, was carried to the table, and they helped themselves with their bowls.

The temperature had plummeted over the past few days and the apartment hadn’t started heating yet, which made a steaming pot of something warm feel exactly right.

Xia Li told Xu Ning about the move to Bincheng.

Xu Ning said, “Wow, that sounds like a promotion and a raise.”

“It’s a team lead-level position over there — definitely better than what I have now.”

“That’s great. Setting aside the salary and the title — your current supervisor with the surname Song is so insufferable. Once you’re gone, you won’t have to work under him anymore. Honestly, I don’t know how you’ve put up with him for three years.”

Xia Li laughed. “But then I won’t be able to share an apartment with you anymore.”

“So what? I’ll just find someone else to share with. When are you leaving?”

“March next year. I told them I’d go over once I’ve received my year-end bonus here.”

“That’s still a long way off.”

Xu Ning cradled her bowl and took a sip of the hot broth. “To be honest, I’m quite happy for you.”

“Oh? Happy you don’t have to live with me anymore?”

“No. Happy that you didn’t give up such a good opportunity for Yan Sishi and force yourself to stay in Beicheng. You really are sensible.”

“That’s because he said he’d figure out the long-distance problem himself. Otherwise I wouldn’t have been so decisive about it.”

Xu Ning shook her head. “I think you probably would have gone regardless of whether he made any promises.”

Xia Li laughed. “Xu Laoshi, you really do know me.”

She had always believed that the foundation for being able to love someone in a healthy way was the ability to give yourself enough security — and her career was the source of all her security.

Xu Ning said, “What about that piece you owe me? Is there any progress?”

“…Can’t you just pretend you’ve forgotten? Now that I’m with him, where would I find the motivation to write something melancholy and sentimental? Don’t you think — if either the story or real life has to have an unfinished ending, isn’t it better for the story to be the unfinished one?”

“…” Xu Ning was speechless. “I’ve never heard such a high-sounding excuse for not updating. Do you want me to send the document to Yan Sishi?”

“Go right ahead,” Xia Li said with a serene smile.

“…”

They twirled their noodles and kept chatting idly.

Xia Li mentioned that Lin Qingxiao had gotten married, and that she herself was no longer single. She asked Xu Ning if she really had no thoughts about any of it.

Xu Ning shook her head firmly. “I’m quite happy on my own. I don’t have much desire for men as a category.”

Xia Li laughed. “But everything you write is romance.”

“Exactly because I’ve written so much of it — reality ends up being a letdown by comparison. And not everyone can be as lucky as you. Truly, you and Yan Sishi are an exceptionally unlikely probability.”

Xia Li couldn’t argue with that.

“All I want is a chance to land better scripts — to write a couple of dramas I’d actually be willing to post about on my social media. My parents keep pushing me to come back to Chucheng and take the civil service exam. I need to show some results before I can shut them up.”

Xia Li said, “When that happens, I’ll rally everyone in my social circle to watch.”

Outside, the north wind howled. Xia Li drank her hot noodle broth and thought — this was good too.

They were both walking along paths they had chosen with conviction, neither easily veering off course, yet neither refusing any unexpected surprise that might arise.

Xia Li and Yan Sishi spent time together the way ordinary couples do — watching films, visiting exhibitions, occasionally going for a stroll, and frequently working late together — or rather, Yan Sishi kept Xia Li company while she worked late.

The nature of their work often required them to coordinate with the time difference in the United States. It was common to leave the office at ten or eleven at night.

Xia Li complained to Yan Sishi that if she ever came into money overnight, she would buy the company she worked for and overhaul the rules — making the American departments all start work at four in the morning, aligned with the Chinese schedule.

Time slipped by, and Christmas Eve arrived.

That year, Christmas Eve brought no snow — only the dry cold of a thin, blade-like wind cutting across their cheeks.

Thanks to the American teams taking their Christmas holiday, Xia Li and the others had many days free from overtime.

After leaving the office, she met Yan Sishi in the underground parking garage.

As he drove out, he mentioned, “Wen Shubai’s parents have invited us to spend the holiday at their home. Would you like to go?”

“Won’t we be intruding?”

“No. Wen Shubai says his parents prefer a lively atmosphere now that they’re older.”

Xia Li tilted her head to look at Yan Sishi. “You must be quite close with them.”

“I used to eat at their house regularly before high school.” Yan Sishi kept his eyes on the road, his expression composed. “His parents are very loving — a genuinely exemplary couple.”

Which was perhaps why Wen Shubai had grown up with a kind of unspoiled optimism, Xia Li thought.

On the way to the Wen family home, they stopped at an import supermarket and bought a fine bottle of red wine and a box of chocolates as a gift.

They pulled up at the front of the house. Wen Shubai’s mother was already waiting at the door, waving with unmistakable warmth — the way one might wait for their own child to come home for dinner.

When they got out of the car, Mrs. Wen came forward to meet them, greeted Yan Sishi, then looked Xia Li over with a smile, asking her name.

Yan Sishi made the introduction. Mrs. Wen smiled and asked, “May I call you Little Xia?”

Xia Li smiled back. “Of course. That’s what most elders call me.”

Through the main gate was a small courtyard, planted with many flowering trees and shrubs. In the cold weather most had gone bare, but along the base of one wall a cluster of roses was still in bloom.

Passing through the courtyard and into the house, the warm air carried the faint, clean fragrance of wintersweet flowers.

Mrs. Wen took their gift, collected the coats they had removed, and hung them up herself, then ushered them to the sofa and instructed the household housekeeper to pour tea.

“Xiao Yan, send Wen Shubai a message and ask where he’s gone. I only sent him out to buy a jar of blueberry jam, and he’s been gone half an hour already.” Mrs. Wen said.

Xia Li watched as Yan Sishi actually did take out his phone.

She glanced over at the screen and saw that he had sent: Get back now.

It had the feeling of two children passing secret notes. She stifled a laugh.

A moment later, Wen Shubai’s father returned first. He came through the door with an expression of quiet gravity, but the moment he saw the two young guests, three parts of warmth softened his face.

Mr. Wen washed his hands, changed his clothes, and came to the living room to sit and have tea. In the manner of an elder, he asked after Yan Sishi’s recent circumstances, then inquired: “Have you been home lately?”

Yan Sishi’s eyes dropped slightly. “Not much, Uncle.”

“Your grandfather — his health hasn’t been great lately, from what I hear.”

“I’ve heard.”

Mr. Wen said, “…Better not to go back and get involved in all that.”

People always said family shame should not be aired publicly — but what Yan Suizhang had been up to could hardly be kept hidden, especially since he now seemed utterly determined to recapture something of his youth.

The social circle was full of talk: no one could understand what spell this woman surnamed Xu had cast on Yan Suizhang, to bring a man who seemed so refined and proper to the brink of what everyone was calling a spectacular fall from grace.

His grandfather refused to relent, Yan Suizhang persisted in his recklessness, and the Xu woman’s belly grew larger with each passing day.

The whole sordid affair within the family — Yan Sishi found even hearing a single word of it tiresome, so he naturally had no intention of engaging with any of it.

Xia Li sat listening to the exchange and caught a glimpse of Yan Sishi’s expression — a slight knitting of the brows, a faint weariness in his eyes.

In the middle of all this, Wen Shubai came home.

Before his mother could say a word of reproach, he got in first: “Do you have any idea how hard it was to find your particular brand of blueberry jam? I went to three supermarkets before I found it. And then the traffic today, and it’s freezing outside…”

Mrs. Wen couldn’t find it in herself to scold him further. She took the blueberry jam and sent Wen Shubai to the living room to keep his classmates company.

Wen Shubai found a seat, picked up a tangerine from the plate on the coffee table, and greeted Xia Li first with a smile: “I was worried you might not come.”

Xia Li laughed. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“My mom saw photos from Yan Sishi’s social media and has been going on about wanting to see him in person. She said she’s never seen Yan Sishi in a relationship before — it must be such a novelty…”

At that moment, Mrs. Wen came hurrying over. “Don’t talk nonsense!”

Wen Shubai immediately said, “Right, right, I made it up — you didn’t think it was a novelty at all.”

Mrs. Wen fixed him with a warning look. “…I’ll deal with you later.”

Xia Li caught the key detail in that sentence: social media photos.

Yan Sishi’s social media profile was set to private — when had he ever posted any photos?

She was quite curious. While the conversation moved on to another topic, she slipped her hand into her pocket, drew out her phone, hid it just behind Yan Sishi’s back, and quietly opened his profile.

It was still set to private — but the cover image had been changed.

She had no idea when.

The deep midnight blue of a dark sea was gone, replaced by their instant photograph together.

His profile description had also been updated:

My eternal sur.

My eternal summer.

Perhaps Yan Sishi noticed her furtive movement, because he turned his head to glance at her, then let out a quiet laugh.

Xia Li felt her face grow warm for no particular reason.

She had never officially announced anything on social media — she felt that a relationship was between two people, and there was no need to declare it to the world.

She hadn’t anticipated that Yan Sishi had already staked his claim in the most conspicuous way possible — because only those who were interested in him would take the trouble to visit his profile directly.

…This person, always making quiet gestures of devotion without telling her.

After a little more conversation, it was time for dinner.

Mr. and Mrs. Wen were not particularly given to celebrating this foreign holiday, but today they had indulged the preferences of the younger generation.

The dining table had been specially decorated — a red-and-green table runner laid across it. When the roast chicken, lamb chops, and a charcuterie board were brought to the table and the candles were lit, the whole scene took on a warm, festive air.

The mood during dinner was even more relaxed.

Mrs. Wen happened to mention that one year in middle school — around Christmas Eve or Halloween — Yan Sishi had also spent the occasion here.

Yan Sishi said, “Halloween.”

Mrs. Wen smiled. “You still remember, Xiao Yan?”

Yan Sishi gave a quiet affirmation.

Prompted by Yan Sishi’s correction, Mrs. Wen slipped into reminiscing mode as well. She told Xia Li: “At the time, Xiao Yan accidentally broke a carved pumpkin lantern. He must have thought I’d made it by hand and was afraid I’d be heartbroken, because he went home and made a replacement from scratch to give back to me. I never had the heart to tell him — I have terribly clumsy hands and could never do that sort of craft properly. I had actually bought the lantern.”

Wen Shubai spoke up with a grin: “Well, here’s what you didn’t know — it was me who broke it. Yan Sishi was taking the blame for me.”

“…” Mrs. Wen shot him a look. “Now that you say it, I did think: someone as careful and precise as Xiao Yan — how would he ever break something carelessly?”

Xia Li listened, unable to hold back a quiet smile.

Taking the blame without a word, never betraying his friend, and then going home to laboriously carve a pumpkin lantern from scratch…

How could someone be this endearing.

Xia Li spoke up: “I heard from Wen Shubai that Yan Sishi ran away from home when he was in primary school and came to you asking to be taken in…”

It was evidently a story Mrs. Wen found deeply delightful. The moment it was mentioned, she lit up: “Yes! And he even paid me a living allowance. Such a tiny child, and yet his manners were more formal than an adult’s. At the same age, Wen Shubai was nowhere near him.”

Xia Li smiled. “And what happened after?”

“He stayed with us a few days and then was sent home.”

Wen Shubai added: “My mom was heartbroken to let him go. She practically wanted to swap us.”

Xia Li stole a glance at Yan Sishi. In the soft amber of the lamplight, his gaze was gentle — an expression she rarely saw on him.

She quietly slipped her hand under the table and gave his hand a small squeeze.

As she was drawing it back, Yan Sishi caught it and held on, fingers interlocked.

He didn’t look at her, still listening to Mrs. Wen speak — but everything left unsaid was held between their intertwined fingers.

After dinner, Mr. Wen received a work call and withdrew to the study.

Xia Li followed Mrs. Wen to the kitchen to bring out dessert, leaving Yan Sishi and Wen Shubai alone in the living room.

Yan Sishi said, “I want to discuss a business matter with you.”

Wen Shubai stared. “Right now? Here? You want to talk business?”

“We can arrange a proper meeting another time if you prefer.”

That, paradoxically, made Wen Shubai more curious about what he wanted to say.

Yan Sishi said, “You’ve been wanting to invest in artificial intelligence.”

Wen Shubai nodded. “I’ve evaluated a lot of studios and projects, but nothing conclusive. Most of them are just using artificial intelligence as a selling point — all packaging, no substance.”

Yan Sishi said, “My suggestion is: don’t invest in someone else’s team. Build your own.”

Wen Shubai blinked and looked at Yan Sishi. “What do you mean?”

Yan Sishi nodded. “I’ll contribute technology as equity — responsible for identifying and recruiting the core research and algorithm talent. Everything else, especially funding, would fall to you.”

Wen Shubai laughed. “With the Yan family as a massive resource behind you, you bypass all of that and come to me for investment instead.”

Yan Sishi raised an eyebrow slightly. “If you’re not interested, I can approach someone else.”

Wen Shubai said quickly, “Who said I wasn’t interested? I’m just curious — what finally made you want to go out on your own? I tried to convince you so many times before and you never budged.”

Yan Sishi said calmly, “Because I have one condition.”

“What condition?”

“The office location has to be in Bincheng.”

“…” Wen Shubai let out a helpless laugh. “So all of this is for your girlfriend’s sake. You’ve truly broadened my horizons today.”

Earlier in the conversation, Xia Li had mentioned that she would be moving to Bincheng for work after the new year. Mrs. Wen had even expressed concern that long-distance relationships were prone to problems.

Yan Sishi only said, “If you’re interested, we’ll find another time to discuss the details.”

Of course Wen Shubai wasn’t going to pass up an opportunity like this. Everything else aside, truly exceptional talent was worth its weight in gold — and influenced by his father’s values, Wen Shubai had always felt that the projects he’d invested in — food, drink, entertainment — made money, certainly, but didn’t amount to much.

If they could build a leading artificial intelligence company, that would be genuinely contributing something to the country and to society.

Then he’d really be able to hold his head up in front of the old man.

“Does it absolutely have to be Bincheng?” That was Wen Shubai’s last hesitation. He was a northerner born and raised — he wasn’t sure he could adapt to a coastal southern city like that. Even if Yan Sishi would be the one running the actual operations day to day, he couldn’t simply be a completely hands-off investor.

Yan Sishi said, “The industry cluster effects in Bincheng are stronger in this field, and policy support there is more robust as well. I’ve done some preliminary research over this period — I’ll send you the materials.”

Wen Shubai was satisfied that Yan Sishi wasn’t acting purely on the sentimentality of love, nor on a passing whim.

It was always his character: to plan carefully before moving, and to strike precisely when he did.

And clearly this venture was no different.

Wen Shubai considered for only a moment before saying, “Alright. Let’s find a time to talk more.”

Yan Sishi glanced toward the kitchen doorway and saw Xia Li carrying a porcelain plate holding a cake, walking out alongside Mrs. Wen.

He added one more word of caution to Wen Shubai: “If, after my evaluation, I think your qualifications aren’t sufficient, then the plan falls through and I’ll accept the offer from Bincheng and just go back to being an employee. Nothing is final yet — don’t say anything to Xia Li for now.”

Wen Shubai stared. “You’re going to evaluate my qualifications?”

Yan Sishi: “Shouldn’t I?”

Wen Shubai felt a reluctant admiration.

The fruit cake was Mrs. Wen’s own handiwork. She had only recently taken up baking and was not satisfied with her results, so she had been dragging her feet for quite a while before bringing it out.

It was only after Xia Li tasted it and repeatedly assured her that it was genuinely delicious that she relented.

Mrs. Wen set the already-sliced cake on the coffee table and handed silver forks to Wen Shubai and Yan Sishi.

Xia Li knew Yan Sishi disliked sweet things.

But he accepted the fork, sliced off a small bite, tasted it thoughtfully, and said: “It’s very good.”

Mrs. Wen broke into a radiant smile.

After the cake, they chatted idly for quite some time. When it was past ten o’clock at night, Yan Sishi and Xia Li prepared to say their goodbyes.

Mrs. Wen walked them all the way to the front door and warmly urged them to visit again whenever they had the chance.

Xia Li smiled and promised they would.

They returned to the car.

Yan Sishi hadn’t drunk any wine that evening. Xia Li had had less than half a glass of red wine — not enough to make her drunk, but the alcohol kept a persistent warmth in her cheeks.

She hadn’t put her coat back on; it was in the back seat. Wearing only her white sweater, she felt particularly warm.

She cracked the window open a little. Seeing Yan Sishi reach to press the ignition button, she suddenly reached out and caught his hand.

He didn’t understand at first.

Then her flushed cheek pressed against the back of his hand.

The back of his hand was slightly cool.

Though perhaps it was just that her skin was too warm.

Yan Sishi kept still for the moment and looked down at her.

Her cheeks were rosy, her skin soft, and there was something wordless and lingering in the way her face rested against his hand — something tender that made his chest feel faintly stirred.

He turned his hand and gave her cheek a gentle pinch. “Come with me somewhere.”