Qing Hang almost dropped out of university because of rumors about being kept by someone, which was probably when the seeds of trouble were first sown.

He never actively offended people, but he couldn’t silence the mouths of others.

Cheng Wanyue hadn’t seen those missed calls. For several months, she had been staying in a sterile ward, with her parents keeping her phone.

“I didn’t know. Maybe my phone was turned off. Why didn’t you try calling more times?”

It had been extremely difficult for Qing Hang to take that first step. “I was afraid that if the call connected, I’d hear you telling me not to bother you.”

“Even though I’m often angry with you, I’ve never found you bothersome,” Cheng Wanyue said, nudging him with mock frustration before softening. “I’ll forgive you this time.”

In truth, she knew that Grandpa Qing was very ill.

She had never worried about money, but Qing Hang was different. No one would help him; he could only rely on himself.

“Qing Hang, how did you spend your university years?”

Li Yu had said he was dazzling during his university days, that it was the small county town that had dimmed his inherent brilliance.

Cheng Wanyue disagreed with Li Yu’s assessment. She hadn’t contradicted her at the time because she had indeed missed seeing eighteen-year-old Qing Hang. But small county towns also had moonlight and evening breezes that could blow away the dust that had settled on him. Just because some people couldn’t see his brilliance didn’t mean no one could.

When Cheng Guo’an had picked Qing Hang out of the mire, he had said that Qing Hang would certainly achieve great things someday.

The first time Qing Hang drank at the Cheng house was on Cheng Guo’an’s birthday. Cheng Guo’an had also drunk quite a bit, and after drinking, he loved to expound on principles and talk about things from long ago. Cheng Wanyue had listened with quiet fascination.

See? She wasn’t the only one who thought Qing Hang was special.

Qing Hang tried to recall those years, but the memories were bland. “Every day was very ordinary: classes, part-time jobs, studying, exams. Winning competitions would bring prize money. I spent half a year constantly competing. Later, when I didn’t need money so urgently, my life rhythm slowed down, making it even more ordinary.”

Cheng Wanyue frowned. “You’re wrong. You’re not ordinary at all!”

He thought for a moment, then answered: “It’s the me that you like who isn’t ordinary.”

Cheng Wanyue was finally satisfied. She glanced at him, a playful idea forming in her mind. “Qing Hang, do you dare to get a tattoo?”

The topic change was too abrupt. Qing Hang paused for a few seconds. “Tattooed where?”

“Somewhere only I’d know about,” she said, smiling.

Qing Hang saw the eager excitement in her eyes. “No one controls me. What wouldn’t I dare to do?”

He smiled and leaned closer, and she laughed, leaning back against him.

The light reflected in his pupils like a flame.

“Want me to go with you?” Cheng Wanyue remembered the doctor had advised her against getting tattoos. “I can’t. My mom won’t allow it, but I can use temporary tattoo stickers.”

Tattoos were painful, and Qing Hang knew she feared pain.

“You don’t need to get one with me. Just being with me is enough.”

Having her by his side was enough.

The floor was cold. Qing Hang carried her to the bed, and before long, she was yawning drowsily. She rarely suffered from insomnia, though she somewhat regretted not bringing Meiqiu along.

Qing Hang had to go to the hospital for rounds. He made breakfast before leaving.

The earring was too small; the chance of finding it was extremely slim. Still, he first went to the studio where Cheng Wanyue worked. It wasn’t there, so he searched the surrounding area for a long time but didn’t find it.

After completing his rounds, Qing Hang called Cheng Wanyue to wake up and eat breakfast.

During a break in her meeting, she took photos of the empty plates—she had eaten everything—and sent them to him.

Qing Hang sat in the conference room surrounded by colleagues from his department. Five minutes earlier, they had been discussing a patient’s surgery. The patient’s various indicators were slowly returning to normal. Although it was a minor operation, it was the first time he had been the lead surgeon.

The sense of achievement this photo gave him was no less than the grateful smile from the patient after the successful surgery.

Cheng Wanyue wanted to watch the flag-raising ceremony, which required queuing in the early morning. After finishing breakfast, she returned to her room to continue sleeping. Qing Hang finished his meeting early, so he went to the nearest shopping mall.

The first floor had many jewelry counters. He had bought a necklace there before, and the saleswoman enthusiastically introduced the design concepts of various styles, just as she had last time.

Qing Hang saw an earring inlaid with blue diamonds in the display case. The blue was very similar to the color of her hair, with tiny diamonds pieced together to form the shape of a moon, glittering softly under the lights.

She would probably like it.

After paying, he went upstairs to the sportswear section. Cheng Wanyue’s suitcase only contained one pair of high heels. To watch the flag-raising ceremony, they would have to queue for a long time in a crowded place, and high heels would not work.

Qing Hang picked out a pair of white sneakers. The clerk said they were the latest style, just received yesterday. This size also came in light pink, which he looked at, but ultimately chose white.

Because white matched best with black.

On the way home, he passed a flower shop. The light blue hydrangeas displayed in the window were very fresh, so he went in and bought several stems.

He had left home empty-handed, but returned with both hands full.

Cheng Wanyue was video chatting with Huo Zhi in her room. “Zhi-zhi, let me see Meiqiu.”

Huo Zhi had also just gotten up. She was leaning against the kitchen door, and Cheng Yanqing could be seen washing vegetables in the frame. “It’s only been one night. Are you worried your brother is mistreating it?”

She was wearing Cheng Yanqing’s clothes, which Cheng Wanyue could tell.

Meiqiu usually slept in Cheng Yanqing’s room, and even if taken outside, would scratch at the door in the middle of the night. Cheng Wanyue teased her about staying over.

“I’m afraid he’ll teach Meiqiu bad habits. Meiqiu is still young.”

“It probably misses you. It’s been in your room the whole time,” Huo Zhi didn’t move, just adjusted the camera angle so Cheng Wanyue could see Meiqiu.

Meiqiu sat at the foot of the bed, just bathed in a beam of light, its white fur seeming to glow, looking very noble.

Cheng Wanyue thought, My love hasn’t been wasted.

Huo Zhi said, “Your brother bought a lot of groceries. Coming back for lunch?”

Cheng Wanyue had no intention of being a third wheel. “You two go ahead. I’ll wait for Qing Hang. See you tonight.”

The bedroom door was open. Cheng Wanyue lay on her pillow watching the cat, while Qing Hang watched her.

Although she hadn’t heard the door open, she had already spotted him on the phone’s video screen. He took off his coat and sat on the edge of the bed, causing the mattress to sink.

In the last second before the video ended, Meiqiu’s paw had just stepped on the camera.

She had brought pajamas, but after showering, she still wore his clothes.

The temperature rose at noon. She was wearing little, so Qing Hang pulled the quilt to cover her legs, his hand resting gently at her ankle.

She turned to lie flat on the pillow. Sunlight fell across her collar, softening her expression.

He bent down and kissed her shoulder, his arm scooping under her waist to help her sit up.

“I couldn’t find it, but I bought new ones,” Qing Hang said, untying the ribbon on the box.

When he took out the pair of earrings, all his attention was on Cheng Wanyue.

Would she like them?

She must like them.

“If you couldn’t find it, then forget it. A’Yu won’t blame me. This blue is so beautiful, too. Help me try it on,” Cheng Wanyue brushed her hair behind her ear. “Keep the other one for me. In case I lose this one too, you’ll still have one here.”

“Mm, I’ll put it in the drawer.”

Qing Hang went to wash his hands to prepare food. After putting the flowers in a vase, Cheng Wanyue also went to the kitchen to help. She wanted dumplings. Qing Hang prepared the filling and was about to start rolling out the dumpling wrappers.

She had flour on her face. His hands were wet, so he could only rub his face against hers, laughing.

The flour wasn’t wiped clean, but their lips met anyway.

Cheng Wanyue sat on the counter, and Qing Hang stood close, sharing quiet laughter with her. Her hands slipped over his shoulders as he leaned in. For a moment they simply held each other, foreheads touching, the kitchen forgotten.

The building opposite the kitchen also housed residents. It was lunchtime, and Cheng Wanyue could still hear the neighbors talking, which made her laugh softly against his collar.

Her cheek was slightly heated from the sun. She tugged at Qing Hang’s short hair, pulling him back just enough to look at him.

His breathing was a little uneven. He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against her shoulder.

“Shall we… take a break from cooking?” she asked, a teasing note in her voice.

Qing Hang laughed quietly. “If that’s what you want.”

They ended up back in the living room, the dumplings forgotten for the moment. This was where they had first met.

That day, one sat on the left, one on the right, with a large space in between.

Several months later, they were inseparable.

Just like that shabby little cabin in White City, she always complained that the cool chair was too hard, but he never laid a cushion. This sofa was the same, still with the summer cool mat.

The afternoon slipped by in soft laughter and quiet closeness, the kind of ease that came from two people who trusted each other completely. Later, wrapped in the warmth of the moment, she rested her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat slow.

Soft kisses fell on her shoulder. Qing Hang pressed his lips to her hair and caressed her flushed cheek.

“Qing Hang,” she murmured, tracing a lazy pattern against his arm.

“Mm?” He tightened his hold on her slightly.

“Nothing. Just wanted to say your name.”

He smiled against her hair. Outside, the afternoon light shifted slowly across the room, and neither of them moved to chase it.

Eventually she stirred, stretching like a cat waking from a nap. “No more napping. Let’s actually eat something, and then we can figure out the rest of the day.”

After all, they wouldn’t need to leave until early morning. There was still plenty of time today.

Qing Hang brushed a strand of hair from her face, his gaze drifting to the two shoe boxes still sitting in the living room.

If he asked her to try them on now, she probably wouldn’t mind at all.