The next morning, Cen Jin spent quite a while rummaging through her walk-in closet before finding a summer outfit with a higher neckline.

Last night they had both been a bit wild, spending nearly an hour in the car, getting completely sweaty. Going upstairs, from the elevator to the entryway, Li Wu clung to her back, nuzzling and sniffing like a puppy.

Cen Jin could barely withstand his affection and surging hormones, using all her willpower to maintain control, to avoid corrupting him completely too early.

Fortunately, she had to work today. If they kept fooling around like this, she might end up doing even more outrageous things to the young man.

Although he was now her boyfriend, perhaps because she had watched him grow up, even while trying to adapt to and invest in the new relationship, she couldn’t help feeling guilty at certain moments.

Cen Jin finished applying her cool setting spray, making sure her mind could stay calm and clear, before leaving the bedroom.

Li Wu sat at the dining table eating breakfast, somewhat surprised to see Cen Jin up so early.

Following that came embarrassment—in those few seconds when she looked at him, flashes of white, soft, and full moments flickered through his mind.

He noticed her choice of top today, his ears turning completely red. He quickly said “Good morning” then lowered his head to continue drinking his porridge, using the bowl’s rim to hide his uncontrollable upturned lips.

Hah, last night he was like a thirsty young beast, today immediately pure as a snowflake.

He really could switch modes effortlessly.

Cen Jin laughed internally, walking past him to fiddle with the coffee machine, asking with her back turned: “Did you sleep well last night?”

Li Wu’s face grew hotter, coughing once before answering: “Fine.”

“Really?” Cen Jin didn’t believe him.

Li Wu remembered her dating principle and corrected himself honestly: “Didn’t sleep well, didn’t sleep well all night.”

Cen Jin turned back, deliberately teasing him: “What’s going on, just starting to date and you’re already losing sleep?”

Li Wu fell silent, finishing what was left in his bowl in a few bites, then got up to ladle porridge for Cen Jin in the kitchen.

Standing side by side at the counter, Cen Jin glanced at him, raising her hand to pinch his ear: “Have your ears had any moments when they weren’t red these past two days?”

Li Wu’s heart jumped, quickly putting down the bowl to catch her hand: “Stop touching me.”

His voice had deepened compared to earlier, unclear whether pleading or warning.

Cen Jin struggled twice unsuccessfully, looking up at him: “Why can’t I touch you?”

“Don’t you need to go to work?” His threat was like a little tiger’s fur standing on end, fierce for just a second before settling down, starting to laugh, the strength in his fingers around Cen Jin’s wrist also lessening.

Cen Jin took the opportunity to punch his chest twice: “You’re getting bold, huh?”

Li Wu let go of her hand, lowered his gaze for a moment then suddenly pulled her into his arms with one hand, burying his face in her neck, breathing deeply.

Cen Jin’s whole body tingled, and she couldn’t help wanting to hang onto his neck and do something uncontrolled and inappropriate. Mainly because he smelled so good, that young, solid, and fresh scent that she couldn’t smell in the office, wouldn’t be able to smell for the rest of the day, and would miss terribly.

But she couldn’t indulge herself.

After all, there was work.

Cen Jin pushed against the young man’s chest, her tone carrying a stickiness she hadn’t noticed herself: “Enough, I need to go to work.”

Li Wu sensed it but didn’t move an inch, his nose sliding across her jaw, then very lightly pecking twice behind her ear before reluctantly straightening up.

Cen Jin’s whole body had tensed, as if she could imagine the dynamic scene—his sharp facial lines, prominent nose, and eyes intoxicated by her.

Cen Jin’s heartbeat quickened slightly.

So when Li Wu’s hand left her lower back, she immediately stepped back, a rather large step, as if drawing a wide invisible warning line.

Cen Jin continued turning to make coffee, her mind unsettled, catching Li Wu carrying his bowl back to the table in her peripheral vision, his gait natural. She couldn’t help cursing internally: little brat.

…

After breakfast, Cen Jin left with Li Wu. She dropped him at the subway station entrance, then drove to work.

As soon as she opened her computer and logged into WeChat PC, she received her little boyfriend’s greeting: Are you at the office?

Cen Jin replied: Yes.

She was considering whether she should enforce rules early and set Li Wu to “Do Not Disturb” mode.

Otherwise, this kid would probably keep chatting with her, and she might not be able to work well for the next two hours.

During this interval, he had already replied.

Li Wu: Go ahead with your work.

Li Wu: I like you.

Li Wu: Today’s portion, forgot to say it in person this morning.

These three messages immediately made Cen Jin’s eyes curve with a smile, her cheekbones rising. If there weren’t colleagues nearby, she would have wanted to cup her face and look at them forty or fifty times.

She glanced sideways at Lu Qiqi’s gloomy face as she edited photos, propped her lips, and mentally switched from “Do Not Disturb” back to “Message me”:

Cen Jin: What about you, are you at school?

Li Wu: Three stops away.

Cen Jin asked: Going to the lab today too?

Li Wu replied: Yes, might be later today, after five o’clock.

Cen Jin paused: Then don’t come back, I’ll probably work overtime too.

Li Wu said: I can wait for you at home.

Cen Jin’s lips twisted: How are you going to wait at home when you can’t get in?

Li Wu asked: Did you delete my fingerprint?

Cen Jin lied: Yes.

The other side was silent for a while: Then I’ll wait for you downstairs.

His “playing pitiful” ability hadn’t declined in three years. Cen Jin couldn’t handle him: I didn’t delete it, come home if you want, but I can’t guarantee when I’ll be back.

Li Wu: Okay.

Cen Jin prepared to work, sending a goodbye sticker: Bye~ Sister has to go make money!

Li Wu stopped her: One more thing.

Cen Jin: Say it.

Li Wu: Did you look at my gift?

Cen Jin was stunned for a moment. These past two days she had been stuck to Li Wu except when sleeping, completely forgetting about this.

Fortunately, she had the same bag as the first, so she quickly turned to search, finding the small gift box at the bottom.

The packaging was noticeably pink, drawing some of Lu Qiqi’s attention.

Cen Jin noticed this and didn’t open it immediately, but curiosity kept nagging at her. She sat restlessly for a while, then grabbed the box and, using a cup as cover, went to the break room.

The whole way, she walked like she was in a spy operation.

Successfully infiltrating the break room, she hooked back her hair, removed the small flower, and deftly unwrapped the packaging. Inside was an off-white velvet box. Cen Jin opened it to find an exceptionally delicate ladies’ wristwatch.

Rose gold, vintage style, not an extremely luxury brand, but carefully selected. The hour markers were twelve differently colored small gemstones, showing unique craftsmanship.

Cen Jin took it out and tried it on her wrist. The dial was elegant, the strap narrow, like a distinctive bracelet.

The watch was a kind of “token” between them, its meaning self-evident.

Cen Jin secretly praised his good taste, then thought, it was all thanks to her cultivating his aesthetic sense.

Standing there, she liked it more and more, became happier and happier, and decided to take off her VCA watch and put on this one from Li Wu. She wanted to keep this joy with her every moment, to be bound by it.

Just then, hearing footsteps approaching, Cen Jin quickly took out her phone, raised her wrist for a quick photo, packed everything away, and hurried back to her desk.

She sent the picture to Li Wu, imitating his response from years ago: The watch is very beautiful, thank you, little brother.

The young man seemed disbelieving: You’re already wearing it?

Cen Jin replied: Why not? It’s from my boyfriend, why wouldn’t I wear it? Unlike someone who was so awkward back then.

Li Wu seemed dizzy with happiness, sending three laughing emojis in a row.

Cen Jin was amused by this fool, also curving her lips in a smile.

Li Wu then said directly: I want to kiss you right now.

So mushy, Cen Jin retorted: What’s wrong with you, are you at school?

Li Wu: Just entered the gate.

Cen Jin: OK, the child’s in kindergarten, I can relax now. I need to work, please focus on your research and stop thinking about everything else.

Li Wu was obedient as always: Okay.

Closing the chat window, Cen Jin pressed her lips hard, as if trying to force back her overflowing smile.

Switching back to her document, she glanced sideways and met Lu Qiqi’s watchful eyes.

Cen Jin: “…”

Lu Qiqi curved a meaningful smile: “You’ve got something going on.”

Cen Jin’s face fell slightly, eyebrow raised: “What’s going on?”

Lu Qiqi began deducing: “You’ve been smiling at your computer since you sat down, and acting all sneaky. Who are you trying to fool?”

To prevent too many questions from colleagues after coming clean, Cen Jin pretended to be composed, her facial acting Oscar-worthy: “Can’t I smile while chatting with friends?”

Lu Qiqi’s eyes were like searchlights, half-believing, moving back to her computer.

Cen Jin let out a light sigh, moved her neck a couple of times, and focused on coding the video script.

―

After working in the industry for so long, my intuition becomes sharp and precise. Cen Jin rushed home after working overtime until ten.

All day, she had barely talked to Li Wu.

Of course, this good child hadn’t disturbed her either.

He only asked at noon if she had eaten on time. Cen Jin hurriedly ordered takeout to satisfy this nineteen-year-old paternal man’s inspection.

At that moment, Cen Jin had a strange feeling.

Her and Li Wu’s roles had reversed.

This wasn’t a good sign. Cen Jin didn’t like being easily manipulated or controlled by others, which would make her feel like walking a tightrope in a relationship—precarious and lacking security. On her way home, she realized she needed to correct this, so she called Li Wu, asking if he wanted any late-night snacks that she could bring back.

Li Wu: “I made you a late-night snack.”

Cen Jin was speechless, silent for a few seconds before asking: “What snack?”

Li Wu said: “The bean sprout soup you loved during the pandemic.”

Cen Jin paused: “I’ll be home right away.”

Waiting at a red light, Cen Jin suddenly understood why she couldn’t naturally develop a romance with this boy at this time last year. Besides personality factors, they were too familiar with each other, unable to generate the mystery and novelty of male-female attraction and testing.

Usually, relationships develop from lovers to family, but theirs was exactly the opposite, making it more sensitive and difficult.

Maybe it was her nature, or perhaps related to her upbringing, but Cen Jin always unconsciously fell into a kind of empathy.

She began imagining what Li Wu had experienced these two years, remembering her pressure on him, cold treatment, bad temper, and even taking him for granted.

She had treated this quiet, careful, pure young boy who liked her this way.

She glanced at the buildings bathed in cocktail-blue light outside, feeling as arrogant and cold as this city.

Unbelievable.

Cen Jin.

She cursed herself.

After returning home, this feeling became more concrete in Cen Jin’s heart. Because the first thing she saw was her slippers already placed on the entrance mat, facing her incoming direction—they seemed to finally be rightfully arranged there, without making their owner overthink.

How meticulous he was showed how much he had suppressed himself these years.

Cen Jin’s eyes grew warm. Slipping on the slippers, instead of walking in, she just called out loudly: “Li Wu!”

The young man immediately rushed out from the study, almost sliding to a stop in front of her, his eyes asking “What’s wrong?”

Cen Jin looked into his eyes: “Come here, let me hug you.”

He immediately stepped forward, pulling her to his chest, lowering his head to press against her temple asking: “Was work very tiring today?”

Cen Jin didn’t answer, just patting his back, one after another, slow and light, as if soothing a child to sleep, even though this child was more than a head taller than her; also like comforting herself. After a moment she said in a muffled voice: “Sweetheart, cutie, good boy, precious little brother, we must have a good relationship, okay?”

Her string of pet names pleased Li Wu greatly, his lips rising high: “Of course.” Then he tightened his arms, holding Cen Jin close.

The two hugged for quite a while, reluctant to part, finally moving step by step to the kitchen like conjoined twins with synchronized footsteps. Only then did Cen Jin let go.

Li Wu wouldn’t let her leave, instead raising her wrist, glancing at the watch he bought, repeatedly confirming: “You really like it?”

“Of course I like it, why would I wear it if I didn’t,” Cen Jin used her other hand to pinch his nose: “Have some confidence, okay? Your taste is so good.”

Even while praising him she didn’t forget to include herself. Li Wu laughed, eagerly turning to the stove to heat the soup, showing off his various talents to please her.

Cen Jin sat back at the dining table, propping her chin to watch him busy in the kitchen, occasionally exchanging smiles, unconsciously feeling a sense of peaceful contentment.

Suddenly, her phone vibrated, awakening Cen Jin from her reverie. She slid it open to look, the smile on her lips instantly freezing.

There was a message from Wu Fu, an electronic wedding invitation.

This invitation, worthy of coming from a 4A creative director’s hand, opened with an engaging twenty-second animated video segment, captivating, finally freezing on two playful wedding photos of the bride and groom, overflowing with happiness.

The names of the newlyweds were engraved below, the writing round and cute.

Cen Jin’s gaze fell on the bride’s name “Bian Xinran,” momentarily dazed. This somewhat dramatic scene made the invitation seem either a sincere invitation or a veiled challenge, or perhaps the finale, her marriage story with Wu Fu finally reaching its true ending, with her as the complete loser, unable to enter another perfect relationship as quickly as her ex-husband.

Cen Jin looked at it with mixed feelings for a while, then curved her lips coldly and turned off her phone.