As soon as he finished speaking, Cen Jin bent over laughing, unable to close her mouth.

Li Wu held her shoulders, his expression darkening: “Is it that funny?”

Cen Jin pursed her lips high: “Can’t I be happy? A handsome, wonderful young man is proposing to me.”

The young man’s face instantly brightened like spring: “So you’re agreeing?”

Cen Jin rubbed her aching cheeks: “Are you referring to this year’s gift or next year’s gift?”

Unable to tell if she was making a double entendre, Li Wu asked: “Which ‘gift’ (li wu)?”

Cen Jin thought for a moment: “Is there a difference?”

“I suppose there isn’t.”

“Can I agree to both?”

“Really?” The young man’s eyes were incredibly clear with joy.

“Who would joke about something like this.” She pretended to be helpless.

Li Wu was overjoyed, leaning forward to kiss her hard.

He came in too forcefully, causing Cen Jin’s front teeth to hit her lip, making her whimper in pain.

She punched him: “Can’t you be gentler?”

The silly boy could only grin foolishly: “I thought you–“

Cen Jin asked: “You thought what?”

He stared at her intently: “I thought you wouldn’t agree so quickly.”

Cen Jin gave him a sidelong glance: “Look how impatient you’ve become.”

Li Wu collected himself: “But I still hope you’re not doing this because of my pressure and rushing, but because it’s truly your choice.”

Cen Jin met his gaze and stated clearly: “This is my choice.” The young man never hesitated to write a love full of security in his eyes: “You trust me, don’t you?”

Cen Jin said firmly: “Yes, I trust you. After my last marriage failed, I thought I would never have expectations for love again. I thought my jar of sweetness was completely spent, that it would be empty until death, but you’re so amazing, you filled it up in an instant.”

He was confident and unwavering, repeating: “You trust me.”

She smiled knowingly, nodding: “I trust you.”

“I like you so much,” Li Wu exploded with happiness, holding her, nuzzling affectionately, pouring out his feelings all at once: “Love you so much, Cen Jin, my sister, you don’t know how much I love you.”

Cen Jin knew she would never be able to push away this clingy egg in this lifetime: “I love you too.”

Li Wu’s voice lowered: “How did I get so lucky… to meet you.”

Cen Jin’s chest vibrated; wasn’t she the same?

Cen Jin felt his shoulders trembling slightly and quickly pulled back to check his expression: “Why are you crying, baby?”

Li Wu’s eyes were red and wet as he messily wiped his face with his wrist: “Too happy.”

The young man’s tears were like shattered diamonds, piercing her heart with pain. Cen Jin began crying too: “Then smile, don’t cry.”

Li Wu broke into a smile through his tears, his voice muffled: “You don’t cry either.”

They wiped each other’s tears, then looked at each other and started laughing.

Love is a contagious disease of joy and tenderness combined, few in the world are immune.

Li Wu suddenly remembered something: “I want to go back to the dorm to get something, can you wait for me?”

“Now?”

He added: “Or you could come with me?”

Cen Jin asked: “What exactly are you doing?”

Li Wu said: “Just saying the proposal out loud isn’t sincere enough.”

“What are you getting?” Cen Jin frowned, then suddenly realized: “Oh– looks like you were prepared.”

Li Wu nodded: “Mm.”

Cen Jin beamed: “You’ve been plotting this for a while?”

Li Wu smiled too: “You said it yourself, opportunities favor the prepared.”

Cen Jin nodded: “I’ll go with you.”

Li Wu asked: “What style do you want?”

Cen Jin laughed: “What what style?”

He spoke seriously: “Do you want a private proposal or a public one?”

“I don’t want any particular style, I just want sincerity,” Cen Jin cupped his handsome, loving face: “I just want you.”

Li Wu embraced her again.

―

When she returned to the company, Cen Jin’s right ring finger bore a diamond ring, simple but striking in style, like a lone star finally adorning a long-empty sky.

Chun Chang was the first to notice, following her to the office, closing the doors and windows, opening her mouth wide enough to swallow two eggs: “Aaah my Jin Jin what’s that on your hand?”

“What?” Cen Jin raised her hand, glancing casually: “Oh, a deed of sale.”

Chun Chang lifted her hand for careful examination, then started bouncing: “The deed of sale for your child’s husband?”

Cen Jin flicked her away: “What nonsense, it’s an equal exchange.”

Chun Chang was nearly ready to spin in circles with her: “Are you getting your marriage certificate this year? Is Li Wu old enough legally?”

Cen Jin gave her a cool sidelong glance: “He’s not even 21 yet.”

“Then why are you rushing?”

“You should ask him why he’s rushing.”

Chun Chang cackled: “I’m not surprised at all.”

Cen Jin asked: “Not surprised about what?”

Chun Chang said: “Not surprised that Li Wu won you over.”

Cen Jin was curious: “Why?”

Chun Chang started speaking with hindsight: “Because when he was seventeen, he could call you nearly ten times, and when you didn’t answer, he knew to call your friend. You could tell right away he was someone who wouldn’t give up easily and was very smart.”

Cen Jin spat at her: “Isn’t it because he’s handsome?”

“That too,” Chun Chang pulled out her phone and scrolled: “But since we’re at this point, I must confess, he privately asked me at the beginning of the year what brand and style of diamond ring you liked.”

Cen Jin was surprised: “What! You two were conducting such underground transactions behind my back?”

Chun Chang laughed loudly: “You probably can’t imagine how long he’s been holding onto that thing in your hand.”

Cen Jin was incredulous.

She had refused crowds and spectators, standing only in the quiet campus as the wind passed through the trees, letting him slip this promise ring of life and love onto her finger.

Like a young girl, her eyes full of joy, she asked him: “When did you buy it?”

The young man only replied: “Not long ago.”

He also asked: “Do you like it?”

Cen Jin held her hand up to the light, looking again and again: “I like it, I like it.”

She did like it.

She wanted to get married again but dared to get married again.

Only because it was him, a boy she was certainly loved and loved by her. Her world dawned from this moment, clouds brilliant.

Back at her desk, she messaged Li Wu: You planned this well, even conspiring with my friend behind my back.

Li Wu was probably smiling: She told you?

Cen Jin: Hmph.

Li Wu: I just asked for a reference, mainly chose it myself.

Cen Jin: Then I must punish you.

Li Wu was composed: At your service.

Cen Jin replied: There’s an industry party before the new year, will you be my date?

Li Wu: No problem.

―

On December 28th, as C2’s creative partner, Cen Jin was invited to represent the company at the local advertising creative alliance’s annual meeting.

Many people attended that night. Cen Jin wore a black evening gown, strapless style, wrapping her graceful figure.

Her neck was slender as she walked among the perfumed crowd, like a black swan on a lake.

Besides her dazzling presence, her date was equally eye-catching in a black suit, tall and straight, with a young face carrying a hint of coolness, like a black knight standing guard.

The black knight wasn’t intentionally wearing a cold expression.

This was his first time attending such a large gathering, and nervousness was inevitable with fashionable people everywhere he looked.

A familiar female client stopped in front of them to greet Cen Jin.

Having worked on projects with her at both previous companies, Cen Jin also had a deep impression of her and smiled in greeting.

The client made small talk about her new company and looked forward to cooperation, her words full of encouragement and envy. Finally, she glanced at the young man beside her: “And this is…?”

Cen Jin smiled slightly and uttered three words: “My husband.”

Li Wu’s whole body stiffened, quickly glancing at Cen Jin, his heart pounding like he was bungee jumping.

Limited by the occasion, he dared not show exaggerated expressions, only nodding slightly.

The woman praised: “So handsome and young.”

Cen Jin agreed: “Isn’t he? I think so too.”

After seeing the client off, Li Wu broke into his first uncontrolled bright smile since arriving: “How did you just introduce me?”

Cen Jin smiled: “As my husband, what’s wrong?”

“But we’re not married yet,” Li Wu spoke incoherently: “I feel a bit embarrassed.”

Cen Jin raised her hand, showing the ring on her finger: “We’re already this obvious, why pretend to be secretly married?”

Li Wu coughed lightly, joking: “CEO Cen, I just don’t want to embarrass you.”

Cen Jin’s eyes curved: “Come on, you’re making me look good just standing here.”

She snorted: “Haven’t you noticed how many more women are coming to greet me today? If I don’t quickly say you’re my husband, they might think you’re my company employee and try to steal you away.”

As they were joking, another couple approached – not strangers, the woman in a white dress, the man in formal wear, quite like that wedding over a year ago.

Li Wu’s expression consequently grew slightly tense, turning vigilant.

He held Cen Jin’s arm, watching her expression, but found the woman unperturbed, instead raising her eyebrows more prominently in challenge.

The woman approached with her man, smiling as she spoke to them: “Ah, Sister Jin, hello, I was just wondering if I’d run into you.”

Cen Jin said warmly: “Hello, Xin Ran.”

Wu Fu stood beside her, and Cen Jin glanced at him with a smile: “Hello.”

The man smiled faintly and nodded in greeting.

Bian Xin Ran asked: “Must be tough managing your own company now?”

Cen Jin said lightly: “It’s alright,” she lifted her chin: “Your husband used to always say I wasn’t suited for working for others, suggested I start my own company. Good thing I listened. The feeling of stepping out of my comfort zone is amazing, I should thank him.”

“Is that so,” Bian Xin Ran looked back at Wu Fu: “Why do you only encourage others to start companies but not start one yourself?”

The wife’s sarcastic words made Wu Fu’s expression fall slightly as he countered: “Why don’t you start one?”

Bian Xin Ran was suddenly stuck, no longer pursuing that topic, turning to look at Li Wu: “This must be your boyfriend?”

Cen Jin smiled, like a little girl showing off her possession: “Handsome, right?”

Caught off guard by her directness, Bian Xin Ran paused before answering: “Yes, very handsome.”

Li Wu’s ears grew warm as he squeezed her hand.

Cen Jin turned back to give him a reproachful look.

“You two look so well-matched.” Witnessing their intimate gestures oblivious to others, Bian Xin Ran felt genuine envy.

She had expected to see some odd pairing, but the vast difference she imagined was completely absent between them. Pure love really could bring atmospheric harmony and spiritual resonance.

Suddenly, she noticed the diamond ring on Cen Jin’s right hand and was shocked: “You’re getting married?”

Wu Fu, who had been coldly observing from the side, had a flash of sharp light in his eyes.

Li Wu’s lips curved slightly: “Not so fast, she just agreed to my proposal.”

Since someone had answered for her, Cen Jin just smiled in confirmation.

Bian Xin Ran clasped her hands together: “Congratulations in advance then.”

Cen Jin smiled cleverly: “If we have a wedding, remember to come,” she glanced at Wu Fu whose expression was growing increasingly unpleasant: “Don’t forget to bring your husband.”

……

―

On his 21st birthday, Li Wu got exactly the gift he wanted.

His fiancée prepared a beautiful, elaborate envelope, saying with great ceremony that inside were her carefully considered marriage conditions that she had thought about for several days.

Li Wu held it with both hands, carefully opening the envelope in front of her and unfolding the letter.

The next moment, he broke into a smile, both delighted and helpless――

In the center of the white paper was just one super-sized handwritten character:

「You」