After the special scholarship defense, Ning Sui felt the tension finally leave her body and enjoyed a stretch of ease and lightness. Xie Yichen was still kept fairly busy dealing with Shanying and matters at home, but for him, it wasn’t too much to manage.

The deadline for overseas graduate school applications fell around mid-December. As the new year approached, the two of them often studied together, helping each other polish their personal statements and reviewing for their finals.

Ning Sui had revised her statement many times already, and with her grade point average and campus involvement, gaining admission to a school abroad was essentially a foregone conclusion. The only question was whether she and Xie Yichen would end up at the same school.

When they studied together, sometimes they were at Jing University, sometimes at Qing University. At Qing University, Xie Yichen would still reserve one of the private study rooms in the north building — the environment was quiet, the rooms were enclosed, and no one could see in or come in to disturb them.

Ning Sui generally chose to sit diagonally across from him, at a bit of a distance. This way she could focus better.

If she sat directly across, she couldn’t stop looking at his face. If they sat side by side, she couldn’t stop reaching for his hand.

So each time, Xie Yichen could only look at his girlfriend, seated roughly ten thousand miles away from him: “…”

Ning Sui had been about to take a break, and was now hunched over, giving her full attention to helping Ning Yue solve a math problem he had sent over.

She thought Ning Yue was genuinely in a difficult spot.

With her as a precedent to live up to, Fanghui’s expectations would only ever climb higher. She had been pushing him to study competitive math, hoping that by his second year of high school he could attempt the Chinese Mathematical Olympiad and see if he could place.

Faced with those difficult problems, Ning Yue had nearly pulled out all his hair. Whenever he got stuck, he would message Ning Sui: 【Sis, please help, I’m dying!】

In the beginning, Ning Sui would ask what was wrong. But after it happened so many times, she stopped and simply tapped his name — and he would immediately, like a loyal assistant, dutifully send both the problem and the answer: 【I can’t even understand the answer…】

She had to admit, the problems in her current university math courses were nothing like high school competition content anymore. She had forgotten quite a bit of it herself. Staring at the dense web of lemmas and formulas, she instinctively shifted her position a little closer to a certain person.

Xie Yichen had already looked up by the time she raised her eyes. He raised an eyebrow. “What?”

Ning Sui’s eyes brightened slightly, feeling him out. “Could you look at a high school math competition problem for me?”

An amused look entered his expression. “Why are you working on that?”

“My brother is studying it.”

“Sure.”

Ning Sui: “I’ll send it to you then.”

To her surprise, he said: “Don’t — come sit over here.”

Xie Yichen looked at her directly. Ning Sui’s heart gave a little jump. She made a soft sound and stood up.

The seat beside him was farther inside. Ning Sui turned sideways, just starting to move past him, when Xie Yichen suddenly caught her by the wrist and pulled her toward him.

Ning Sui landed solidly on his lap.

She sat there for two blank seconds, the tips of her ears clearly burning.

Her arms had instinctively gone around his neck. Her first impulse was to get up.

But he held her in place. A low laugh, faintly teasing, drifted past her ear. “Lose your footing again?”

Ning Sui gave him a quiet, sidelong look.

She tilted her head up toward the ceiling, saying nothing — and before she could, Xie Yichen, as though he already knew exactly what she was thinking, said: “Just checked. No cameras.”

He wouldn’t let her leave, so Ning Sui composed herself as best she could and sat where she was, pulling her laptop over and showing him the problem Ning Yue had just sent.

Xie Yichen: “Doesn’t it have an answer?”

It was a number theory problem. The solution was genuinely written out in a long, convoluted mess — one lemma cascading into another. Even though Ning Sui felt a little rusty, she was fairly sure there had to be a simpler approach.

She glanced at Xie Yichen and made absolutely no effort to conceal her meaning, her expression completely sincere: “It’s too long. I’m too lazy.”

Right, so this was her making no apologies about using him as a workhorse.

Xie Yichen fixed her with a burning look, lips curved in something between a smile and not — but said nothing, and simply held her, studying the problem seriously while letting his chin rest lazily on her shoulder.

Warm breath drifted past her ear. Something stirred pleasantly in Ning Sui’s chest as she heard him say, in an even, unhurried tone: “There’s actually a very useful approach for this kind of problem.”

“What is it?”

“When in doubt, try proof by contradiction.”

Ning Sui’s lashes fluttered — something clicked. “I think that could work.”

“Mm.” Xie Yichen smiled. “Have your brother try it. The solution shouldn’t take more than ten lines.”

“Got it.”

Ning Sui lowered her head and sent the message to Ning Yue.

Ning Yue: 【Got it! On it!】

He eagerly went off to try. With that settled, Ning Sui found that sitting right here was actually quite comfortable — and so she stayed, not moving.

She had barely looked up before she met Xie Yichen’s gaze again.

He was looking up at her, but his eyes held an obvious warmth with a smile running through it. Ning Sui touched her tongue to her lip, looking off to the side, trying to change the subject. “So —”

Under the table, he was playing with her hand, while on the surface he nodded with complete composure. “Mm?”

“…How do you want to spend our anniversary?”

Their anniversary fell on New Year’s Eve. The university often held large events, and their friends would all be making plans — sometimes in previous years they had all gone together, and the program had been quite lively.

Xie Yichen considered for a moment, his voice low and even: “Whatever you want. If you want the noise and the crowd, we’ll go to the event. If you want quiet, we’ll celebrate just the two of us.”

Ning Sui had a bit of a hard time making decisions.

Xie Yichen had fewer classes this semester than before, and in his free time he was mostly at Shanying, helping Du Junnian — slowly repaying the favor he owed. He had mentioned earlier that there were still some things to take care of before the year ended. She didn’t want him to be too exhausted, and after thinking it over, said: “How about we just go to the New Year’s Eve celebration together in the evening?”

— Besides, we’ll still be staying together after, so we’ll have time alone anyway.

Xie Yichen studied her, seeming to know exactly what she was thinking. He tightened his hand around hers, laughing softly, and gave it a gentle squeeze. “It’s fine. Besides the event, wherever you want to go, whatever you want to do — I’ll be there.”

“Will there be anything else coming up with Shanying?”

“Nothing much lately.”

“Oh.” She let out a small breath of relief, her attention drifting back to him. She reached up, idly playing with the drawstring on his pullover hoodie, then looked up at him a moment later with a curved smile. “Hmm… what do you want as a gift?”

Every year, they both remembered and always prepared something for each other in advance.

Ning Sui had always believed that the more time you put into something, the more sincerity it held. Over the previous anniversaries, she had made handmade things herself — a 3D picture assembled from building blocks, a scrapbook of their movie dates and travels, small crocheted keychains and trinkets. One time she made him a little coconut, and Xie Yichen had kept it hanging on his backpack ever since.

It drew a lot of second glances when they walked around together. Ning Sui had felt a little self-conscious about it, wondering whether the thing was just too cute, whether it clashed with the style of his sleek, cool dark gray bag — but Xie Yichen couldn’t have cared less, and simply strolled around letting people look.

Right now his brow arched slightly. “You’re letting me say this year? No surprise?”

“That’s not it.” Ning Sui shifted a little closer. “You can just give me a hint. What kind of thing you’re thinking.”

She gave an example: “Like — something durable that can be used for a long time, like the handmade keychains before, or a one-time experience kind of thing?”

“A one-time experience?” Xie Yichen’s tone drew out with sudden deliberateness. His expression became intriguingly suggestive. “What kind?”

Ning Sui: “…”

She had meant something like a baked cake she made herself, or going out somewhere together — and somehow he had already taken it somewhere else entirely.

“As for what I want as a gift —”

Xie Yichen looked at her from beneath raised brows, something layered in his tone. “There actually is something.”

Ning Sui watched him with her heart beginning to flutter, certain he was about to say something with some ulterior motive behind it — but his answer turned out to be entirely sincere.

“I want to hear you play a piece on the piano.”

“Huh?”

“Mm. You used to play a lot, didn’t you?” He looked at her, something quietly tender settling in his gaze. After a moment, he was patient and deliberate, reaching up to smooth back her hair, his eyes focused and intent. “I want to hear you play.”

Ning Sui’s lashes trembled. She hadn’t expected him to ask for something like this, and felt a flicker of genuine surprise.

The truth was — with all the years that had passed, the shadow the piano had cast over her had slowly faded. If she deliberately didn’t think back to that one failed performance, she could, in some hazy way, begin to remember again how much she had loved the piano when she first started. She had played difficult pieces once, and when she played alone, she had actually enjoyed the process.

When she had told Xie Yichen about that time, it had been with the attitude of unburdening herself. Now that he brought it up again, it stirred something unexpectedly warm in her — a feeling of being seen.

As if even in something that wasn’t her strength, he was willing to listen, and had held it quietly in his heart all this time.

“Okay.” Something in her softened, just a little. She pressed her lips together. “I might need to practice first, to get it back.”

Xie Yichen: “No rush. Take your time.”

Ning Sui: “What piece do you want to hear?”

“Anything.” He smiled. “Play whatever you like.”

There was, in fact, a piece Ning Sui loved very much. It was from the film The Legend of 1900 — in that scene, on a stormy night, 1900 releases the locks holding the piano in place. The great ship pitches and rolls, and he glides with the piano across the deck, playing a piece of utterly beautiful, nimble jazz with perfect ease.

Ning Sui had never been able to forget how breathtaking that scene was the first time she saw it — like even her soul had felt free.

At the time, though she had already stopped taking piano lessons, she had still learned the sheet music on her own. She had never had the chance to practice it properly, let alone play it for anyone other than herself.

Her eyes brightened: “Alright.”

New Year’s Eve. Both universities were holding large celebrations. Jing University’s started earlier — at seven in the evening — and Lin Shuyu and Hu Ke’er both wanted to go. The program was more or less the same as every year, but the atmosphere was what really mattered, and after thinking it over, Ning Sui decided to go along with them.

Xie Yichen naturally had no objections — but as the afternoon arrived, Du Junnian reached out to him unexpectedly. He said there was a technical matter he wanted to discuss, though it wasn’t a formal meeting. He happened to be near the university right now, and asked whether all three of them might have a simple dinner together.

Xie Yichen asked if it was alright with her. Ning Sui had absolutely no objection, so they picked a restaurant in a nearby shopping center and went.

The last time she had seen Du Junnian had been a brief glimpse at Shanying — there hadn’t been a chance for any real conversation. He didn’t seem much changed from the music festival in their first year. He was dressed in a casually elegant, well-fitted style. Nearly thirty, and he still looked remarkably young — well-defined, deep-set features, and now with a pair of glasses, his air had become even more settled and quietly refined.

She had heard he was planning to study abroad for a graduate degree too, and before they got into the actual Shanying business, the three of them chatted briefly. Du Junnian mentioned that earlier in the year he had flown to the United States several times to expand the company’s international presence.

Du Junnian had a very easygoing temperament, but when it came to building his company, he had his own clear perspective and vision. Even in casual conversation, Ning Sui could feel his ambition and the scope of what he was reaching for — it was clearly about far more than simply building an internet media company.

Ning Sui, out of curiosity: “Brother Du, you’ve taken Shanying from zero to where it is now. What’s your secret?”

There were certainly plenty of secrets. Du Junnian had appeared in various new media interviews in recent years, and Ning Sui had come across some of them herself while scrolling.

Unlike those formal occasions where you ended up saying polished, expected things, this was just a casual conversation. The man smiled slightly and considered for a moment: “For me, the two most important things — one is reading the direction of the market, meaning whether you can build a product that actually adapts to what users need, and creative ideas matter enormously here. The second is finding the right partners, especially on the technical side — people who can focus their energy in the same direction. That’s what keeps a company moving forward without running dry.”

Ning Sui was genuinely moved by it, and genuinely impressed. Du Junnian talked about how in the early days of building the company, they regularly worked through the night until dawn, sometimes eating only once a day, often nothing but instant noodles — but everyone was driven with incredible energy, feeling that what they were doing with their hands actually mattered.

He had truly known hardship. That was why he could look at Xie Yichen’s situation now with such understanding.

Du Junnian inclined his head toward her: “I’m sorry, Ning — I’ve probably been asking quite a lot of A’Chen during this period. Thank you for being understanding.”

Ning Sui quickly said: “Not at all, really. It’s the right thing.”

She paused, then said with quiet sincerity: “Actually, I’m truly grateful to you, Brother Du…”

Du Junnian didn’t need to think long to know what the girl was trying to say — even the unspoken part. He could see it plainly: across the table, two people’s fingers were barely touching, and that unselfconscious sweetness of young love made the whole thing feel warm. He gave her a long look, then smiled. “We’re all family here. No need for those words.”

The atmosphere throughout the meal remained easy and warm. The restaurant took great care with its dishes, and they had been waiting a while for the food to arrive, so Xie Yichen and Du Junnian began discussing business matters. Ning Sui, meanwhile, took the opportunity to glance at her phone.

She found a new message from Hu Ke’er.

Paopao Ke: 【Where are you and CEO Xie having dinner, babe?】

Paopao Ke: 【We’re still going to the New Year’s event at seven, right!】

Ning Sui sent over the restaurant name: 【Yep! We’re at the Zhongguancun shopping center~】

No reply came for a while.

She closed the chat and sent a message to the upperclassman who managed the practice rooms, confirming she’d be coming sometime around nine or ten that evening.

It had taken Ning Sui nearly a month of practice to fully master the insert from The Legend of 1900, and she was thinking that tonight, whenever the time was right, she would play it for Xie Yichen.

After all, it had been several years since she had touched a piano. In the beginning, her finger control had clearly dulled, her reactions not as responsive as they once were. But as she kept at it, she noticed something — setting aside the less pleasant memories, she still genuinely loved this kind of pure, uncomplicated music.

When her fingertips jumped and traveled across the keys, it felt like rediscovering the beautiful feeling of being completely absorbed in a piece of music.

She was both nervous and eager to see how Xie Yichen would react to hearing this piece.

At that moment, the dishes finally arrived. Before she put her phone away, she glanced at it once more — and found that Hu Ke’er had sent a whole string of messages.

Paopao Ke: 【!】

Paopao Ke: 【Your little cutie is here shopping hehe!】

Paopao Ke: 【Looks like I’m out of time, I haven’t had dinner yet either, I’m STARVING, can I come mooch a bite?!】

Paopao Ke: 【You won’t turn me away right 🥺🥺🥺】

Paopao Ke: 【Fine! No response means you agree!】

Paopao Ke: 【Mwah mwah Coconut Princess! 😘】

Paopao Ke: 【I’m here! Send me the table number!】

She had to admit — this girl moved fast.

Ning Sui quietly looked up at the strikingly handsome man sitting across the table, thinking: she can come, sure — but she’s not the only one who might feel awkward.

After all, it wasn’t as though Ning Sui had forgotten whose small account had been made an example of, right there on stage, in front of everyone.

Ning Sui instinctively looked up, scanning for Hu Ke’er — and spotted her in the same moment, already casting her own eyes around the room, heading straight toward her from across the restaurant.

Look at who’s sitting across from us before you say a word.

The sentence was still stuck in her throat, unspoken, when Hu Ke’er called out with delight: “Oh thank goodness, Sui babe! Finally found you guys!”

All three heads turned to look at her.

Hu Ke’er registered — only after she’d already spoken — that this booth had more than two occupants.

Du Junnian today was wearing a light camel-colored wool coat over a plain white T-shirt. Compared to something as formal as the Rising Stars competition, his hair wasn’t slicked back — it fell softly across his forehead, carrying an air of quiet ease. He had just taken off his glasses and was pressing the bridge of his nose with two fingers. At the sound, he glanced sideways.

Hu Ke’er’s steps froze as though she had been rooted to the spot.

After a few seconds, she pulled herself together gracefully, gave a light clap, and started pivoting to move past: “Ah — my mistake, wrong people, ha ha ha —”

Ning Sui: “…”

Did she think Du Junnian was somehow oblivious to who she was?

At that moment, Du Junnian’s gaze landed on the retreating figure attempting to quietly disappear, and his lashes lifted slightly. His voice came out calm, unhurried, carrying a quiet depth: “Hu Ke’er.”

Hu Ke’er went stiff. She struggled for a moment, then turned around.

“Come here,” he said.

Hu Ke’er swallowed, hovering anxiously between options for two seconds — and then, decisively lacking the nerve to refuse, shuffled her feet over.

Ning Sui and Xie Yichen were sharing one side. It seemed…the only open seat was right beside him.

Hu Ke’er sent a desperate look to Ning Sui. But this woman had already conveniently lowered her head and gone back to her porridge, a model of absolute unhelpfulness. Not daring to make it too obvious by looking over either, Hu Ke’er braced herself and sat down.

Then she adjusted her eyes slightly and, also bracing herself, offered a greeting: “Mr. Du…”

Her expression was earnest and impeccably professional: “— How do you do.”

From somewhere very close came what seemed like a soft laugh — subtle and barely there, but low and resonant. Hu Ke’er’s heart inexplicably quickened. There was a cup of tea in front of her. She was about to reach for it as a convenient distraction when she heard the man say without hurry: “Am I imagining things?”

Hu Ke’er: “?”

“It seems like you weren’t this formal with me before.”

She nearly choked on a sip of water right then and there. “…………”

Ha! Someone’s pressing on exactly the right nerve!