In late spring of 2023, Cen Jin resigned from her position at Ao Xing and completed company registration, officially becoming the legal representative of C2 Advertising Co., Ltd. Besides her, the other founders were Song Ci and Chun Chang, holding 62.1%, 26.9%, and 10% of shares respectively.

In mid-June, the company’s first advertisement video caused quite a stir on the internet and within the industry. It was a sanitary pad advertisement – the brand’s marketing director was an old friend of Song Ci’s who was willing to give them a chance to prove themselves. Of course, Cen Jin’s creative concept won her over.

The video depicted a silent study hall where a girl in the front row showed signs of distress due to an unexpected period, turning around to gesture about borrowing a sanitary pad. The girls shared knowing looks, passing the message down row by row. Only in the last row did someone have extra pads, tucking one into a textbook to pass forward. And so, the girls quickly and carefully relayed it forward, one after another.

However, in the fourth row, one girl lost her grip. With a clatter, the book fell into the aisle, the sanitary pad sliding out into everyone’s view. The whole class was startled – boys and girls showed various expressions, from subtle to awkward, with some whispering and standing up to look. The entire classroom froze.

After a moment, the girl in the front row suddenly stood up, strode across several rows of desks, picked up the pad, held it high between two fingers, and walked back to her seat with her head held high, looking straight ahead. In an instant, everyone relaxed and laughed, breaking into applause and cheers. As the girl slapped the pad onto her desk, the brand name and slogan appeared in the center of the screen: “Protect yourself, no relay needed.”

The video contained no dialogue, but the background music was cleverly crafted to match the theme. The sharp whistle at the beginning, the heartbeat-like drumming during the middle suggesting a game of hot potato, and the crowd-cheering sound effects at the end created an athletic field atmosphere.

This relatable, resonant, and thoughtful advertisement garnered over ten million views, elevating the brand’s reputation and popularity to recent highs, even triggering a new wave of “breaking menstrual stigma” public welfare chain reaction. Cen Jin’s creative shop became famous overnight, making its mark.

If their operating mode in the first half of the year was careful exploration with bold innovation, then C2 became more steady and aggressive in the second half. By year’s end, the company had gradually expanded to over fifty employees, establishing its scale and successfully securing three long-term backers. The industry playfully nicknamed their company “Double C” – one C responsible for creative core magic output, the other for client core physical output, no wonder they complemented each other so well.

The intense management work inevitably led to neglect in private life. Over the past year, Cen Jin’s most frequent words to her young boyfriend were:

“I’ll probably be home very late again today.”

“I’m so busy–“

“Sister is so tired…”

“Wuwuwuwu–“

“Why didn’t anyone tell me being a boss means doing so much work–“

…

Fortunately, her young boyfriend was equally busy with his studies and incredibly considerate, rarely complaining and gladly listening to her venting. After entering his junior year, Li Wu’s schedule became even tighter as he focused on graduation. Every day he moved between the teaching building, library, and laboratory, busy from dawn to night, with only their calls, video chats, and weekend visits home for leisure.

When love was no longer life’s sole focus, the two became like balanced weights on opposite ends of a scale, achieving true stability and equilibrium.

One day, Cen Jin’s sharp eyes caught sight of “F University” in the shooting group chat and curiously asked what product required filming there. Account manager Xiao Chen replied: gaming chairs.

Cen Jin blinked: “So you decided on F University?”

Xiao Chen said: “Yes, F University has a new dormitory building with a nice environment. We’ve borrowed a student dorm as our location and already coordinated with the school.”

Cen Jin asked: “When do we leave?”

Xiao Chen answered: “Tomorrow.”

Cen Jin smiled: “Remember to bring me along, perfect chance to combine business with pleasure and see my partner.”

Xiao Chen said: “Ok.”

All employees knew Cen Jin had a talented and handsome university student boyfriend, and they teased her in the group chat. Cen Jin took it in stride, laughing it off. She didn’t tell Li Wu in advance, wanting to surprise him.

The next day, Cen Jin carefully applied her makeup and dressed particularly brightly in a navy blue coat that accentuated her curves, looking vivid and radiant – quite different from her usual cool-toned style.

The morning shoot went smoothly. Near noon, as everyone went out to find lunch, Cen Jin finally sent her location to Li Wu.

The young man was quite surprised: “You’re at school?”

Cen Jin replied: “Mm, we have a shoot.”

Li Wu said: “Why didn’t you say earlier?”

Cen Jin asked: “Where’s the fun in that? Where are you now?”

Li Wu: “Library.”

Cen Jin wanted to pinch his nose in person: “Why so studious~”

Li Wu anxiously: “Where are you? I’ll come find you.”

Cen Jin: “No, I’ll find you.”

Li Wu: “Alright.”

Despite their firm agreement, they met halfway. The young man approached from afar carrying a black backpack, tall and graceful. His gaze was initially scattered but brightened like snow the moment he spotted Cen Jin, hurriedly running to her side.

Seeing him wearing just a black hoodie, Cen Jin worried: “Aren’t you cold? You’ll catch a chill.”

Li Wu pulled her into his arms with one hand, arm locked behind her neck, seemingly determined not to let her escape: “Not cold anymore.”

“Let go, you’ll smudge my makeup.”

Cen Jin pushed him slightly, which looked more like flirting than anything else and was completely useless. The young man remained immovable as stone, his voice tinged with complaint: “Haven’t seen you for days, what’s wrong with a hug?”

Cen Jin helplessly: “Class is about to end, there’ll be people everywhere, it doesn’t look good.”

Li Wu lifted his wrist for a glance: “Then I’ll let go later.”

Cen Jin gave up and hugged him back, responding to his specialty of physical displays of affection.

Three minutes later, the class dismissal music echoed across campus.

Li Wu obediently released his girlfriend, adjusted his backpack, and switched to holding her hand, fingers firmly intertwined.

Walking side by side under the phoenix trees, even the dry winter cold felt peaceful and gentle.

Cen Jin casually watched the passing students: “Do you have afternoon classes?”

“Yes,” Li Wu replied, “You?”

Cen Jin acted weak: “Naturally have to return to the company.”

The young man’s face fell slightly as he sighed.

Cen Jin glanced at him: “What’s wrong?”

Li Wu lowered his eyes: “Meeting like this, stealing moments when we can, feels like having an affair.”

Cen Jin laughed at his words: “Then who are our legitimate spouses?”

Li Wu said: “Your work, my studies.”

Cen Jin nodded in deep agreement.

She looked at his straight profile again and tugged his hand.

When the young man leaned in close, she whispered in his ear, her breath light: “Want to do something more affair-like?”

Li Wu’s ears turned completely red, but the emotion in his eyes showed complete agreement.

Their nearly long-distance relationship mode made them yearn for each other day and night, each meeting filled with intense desire.

After entering the room, before Cen Jin could insert the key card, she was already pressed against the wall from behind by the young man.

His lips and hands moved skillfully, familiar with the territory.

“Turn on… the AC first…” The card dug into her fingertips, Cen Jin couldn’t see him but felt completely controlled, only able to whimper disconnected words as a reminder: “The curtains…”

With a swoosh, broad daylight turned to deep night.

Inside the room their bodies intertwined passionately, their heavy breathing audible. Their clothes quickly scattered across the floor as they moved together with urgent needs. Li Wu’s experienced touches and kisses traced familiar paths across her skin, drawing out soft moans of pleasure. The heat between them built rapidly despite the room’s initial chill.

Cen Jin complained: “Your hands are so cold…”

Following the principle that the sister’s experience matters most, Li Wu immediately shifted position, changing to a different form of foreplay. His warm mouth replaced his cold hands, moving lower with deliberate intent.

Cen Jin couldn’t have expected this type of approach, feeling both ticklish and intensely stimulated. She kicked twice but was restrained by his firm grip, finally arching her back and surrendering to the waves of sensation as he tasted and savored her most intimate places.

Their passion peaked together in a rush of heat and pleasure, leaving them both breathless and satisfied.

Afterward, Li Wu and Cen Jin dressed properly, transforming back into the dignified good student and pure-hearted female manager, ordering takeout to the hotel room.

When they received the food, these two able-bodied people acted as if they had no hands, feeding each other throughout.

With the same set of meals, they still praised like they’d lost their sense of taste: “Yours tastes so good.”

Hearing this, Li Wu immediately, just like before, carefully removed bones with his chopsticks and delivered another piece to Cen Jin’s mouth.

After chewing, Cen Jin carefully selected from her bowl, picking out a nicely shaped piece of green pepper for him: “Here, ah– eat more vegetables to grow taller.”

Her occasional teasing only made Li Wu laugh as he obediently took it into his mouth.

The meal took half an hour with their back-and-forth feeding.

Without the dishes between them, they stuck together again.

Li Wu sat in the single armchair, while Cen Jin used Li Wu as her armchair, straddling his legs and being held in front of him, occasionally pinching his ears, occasionally kissing his lips, earning his ticklish or happy smiles in return.

She loved seeing him smile the most – his eyes bright and sparkling, teeth white and clean, his whole face radiantly dazzling.

Cen Jin hooked her arms around his neck, asking without blinking: “University student, it’s almost your birthday again, what gift do you want this year?”

Li Wu said: “Don’t know.”

His black pupils turned slightly, seeming to have another idea: “Can I hint at next year’s birthday gift in advance?”

Cen Jin had already guessed his little scheme: “Go ahead.”

Li Wu cleared his throat, speaking solemnly: “Next year someone will turn 22.”

Cen Jin frowned: “Who?”

Li Wu said: “You know them.”

Cen Jin asked: “What’s their name?”

Li Wu replied: “Li Wu.”

“Oh,” Cen Jin suddenly realized, “That little brat.”

Li Wu laughed and objected: “How am I still a little brat?”

“If not a little brat, then what, a big brat?”

“Mm…” the young man’s voice deepened as he quietly gritted his teeth.

Finally giving up beating around the bush, he went straight to the point: “Sister, I’ve decided what I want for my birthday this year.”

Cen Jin asked: “What?”

Li Wu said seriously: “Will you agree to whatever it is?”

Cen Jin thought for a moment: “Probably.”

“Give me a spreadsheet of your marriage conditions, I’ll work to meet them all this year,” Li Wu pulled her closer, his serious big eyes able to see through to one’s heart:

“By my birthday next year, I must become your husband.”