At the end of the year, Shang Zhitao attended the agent conference with her team members. Luan Nian drove to Ice City to take her and Luke back to Beijing.

The last time Luke had traveled on this highway was the year he left Beijing. The friend who took him away said he had made the trip several times before without issues, but that time he got carsick and vomited several times.

Today, Luke was very well-behaved. He sat in the back seat watching the snowy scenery gradually change—the further they drove toward the interior, the less snow there was.

Shang Zhitao sat in the passenger seat with her laptop open, handling work. It was the end of both the quarter and the year, and the entire team was pushing for sales targets. The company staff had been divided into A and B shifts, ensuring someone was online 24 hours a day.

Sometimes seeing everyone worn out made her feel sorry for them, so she started looking to recruit more people from the market.

She told Zhang Lei: “I don’t know how other agents in your company operate, but I want my employees to be a bit happier. I want female employees to have time after work to watch a movie or go on a date; male employees to meet friends for drinks or play games.”

“So you’re not a typical capitalist,” Zhang Lei concluded.

Shang Zhitao didn’t want to be a capitalist; she hoped to reduce the hostility around her.

She was currently doing two things on her laptop: first, reviewing resumes forwarded by her employees, and second, writing next year’s plan.

As a newly introduced agent, Shang Zhitao’s company’s daily expenditure had grown from 20,000 to 300,000, with an estimated 400,000 for next year. Calculating this way, next year’s business turnover would be 140 million. She had a 7% net profit. Shang Zhitao calculated clearly that by next March, she could pay off her mortgage loan. By May, she could take out a loan to buy a car.

This comeback battle had been exhausting, but fortunately, she had correctly assessed the market, seeking a lifeline for herself and her employees.

While making business plans, she asked Luan Nian: “I know this question is sensitive… but I’m just curious, what’s your annual income?”

“Which part are you asking about?”

“? How many parts do you have?”

“If you’re talking about employment income, there’s salary, stock dividends, and fixed bonuses. Haven’t you worked at LinMei? What do you mean by ‘how many parts’?”

“So there are other sources of income?”

“Of course. I’ve always said not to put all your eggs in one basket.”

Shang Zhitao thought about it and felt he made sense. So she asked again: “Then the other income…”

“Real estate investments, stock investments, bars, and others.”

…

Shang Zhitao thought that indeed, some people in this era were ahead of the curve. When you were desperate and all-in, some people had already distributed their eggs into different baskets.

A moment later, Luan Nian said seriously, “Annual income is about 20 million. Salary doesn’t account for much.” He had just calculated it seriously.

“Good. By 2022, my annual income should match yours.”

“So I won’t make any progress, is that it?” Luan Nian glanced at her, then asked: “What will you do when you have more money?”

“Donate it,” Shang Zhitao said seriously. “I’ve talked with Lin Chuner about it. I’ll donate 15% of my income. The older I get, the more I want to do charity work.”

“How old are you again?” Luan Nian laughed at her. “But I support you. Song Qiuhan also pulled me into their organization. Maybe we’ll run into each other there someday.”

“Hehe.”

They chatted to Beijing, arriving at the residential complex late at night.

Luan Nian stopped the car at the security booth to pick up a package. As he rolled down the window, a man in a suit standing next to the security guard suddenly said: “Miss Shang, Luke!”

“You still remember me.” Shang Zhitao smiled at him: “Have you been promoted again?”

“Yes. I’ve contracted the security work for this residential complex.”

“Wow!” Shang Zhitao was genuinely happy for him. “That’s great, congratulations.”

“You’re welcome. My office is right next to the pet shop. Miss Shang, please come visit sometime.”

“Certainly! I definitely will!”

Both Shang Zhitao and the security man felt somewhat emotional. Ten years had passed since he first helped her get a taxi when she came to Luan Nian’s complex to collect materials. Society had undergone tremendous changes, and so had they.

Luan Nian got back in the car after securing the package, nodding to the security man: “I’ll come by tomorrow.”

“Alright.”

Shang Zhitao found this exchange a bit strange and asked him: “What does that mean?”

“Remember when I mentioned the ‘other’ part of my income composition today?”

“You invested in his security project?”

“Mm-hmm.”

It was a coincidence. One day, Luan Nian went to the security booth on an errand and overheard him on the phone: “I just need to borrow 300,000, it will make money. It’s a contract with property management.”

So Luan Nian said to him: “I’ll invest instead. Besides the principal, give me 10% each year.” It wasn’t much money—about 50,000-60,000 per year—but Luan Nian thought this security guard was a very good person. He was good at judging people, so he made this small investment.

After hearing Luan Nian’s explanation, Shang Zhitao thought he was as peculiar as ever. Despite his cold appearance, he was generous.

Back at Luan Nian’s home, Luke was the happiest.

He ran up and down the stairs, as if returning to his territory. In his excitement, he lifted his leg.

Shang Zhitao’s voice changed with urgency: “Luke!” It was like when he first came here, determined to mark his territory by urinating indoors no matter what.

“Luke, what’s wrong with you! You can’t mark every new place you go to, you know?” Shang Zhitao began scolding him: “Can’t you hold your pee?” She even tugged at his ear, not using much force, but the intensity was frightening.

“What’s wrong with you?” Luan Nian removed her hand. “He’s a dog. If he could control everything, wouldn’t he be human? Even humans can’t control everything! Drunk people still pee outside!”

“Be gentler with Luke. How old is he? Why are you yelling at him every day?”

…

Shang Zhitao was thoroughly scolded by Luan Nian. Looking at Luke again, she saw him grinning happily.

Luan Nian said to him, “Come on, let’s go water the flowers in the complex.”

Shang Zhitao refused to move. After sitting in the car all day and looking at a computer screen all day, she was exhausted. She just reclined on the sofa, responding to work messages.

Luan Nian’s walk lasted quite a while.

Luke had left this place, suddenly returned, and started showing off again. At the end of the day, he was a dog that disdained the poor and loved the rich. He just liked Luan Nian’s place—the complex was large with many lawns and trees, and many beautifully dressed female dogs. Most importantly, Luke felt safest walking here with Luan Nian.

He was so happy that he didn’t want to go home. Luan Nian indulged him, taking him outside the complex for a long walk.

When they passed the pet shop, Luke tilted his head and stood there. After a while, he jumped on Luan Nian, barking in that direction. The general meaning was: “The bathing place! I won’t go!”

“Whether you want to go tomorrow or not, you’re going. Look how dirty you’ve become,” Luan Nian said while carrying him, pinching his ears to comfort him.

Shang Zhitao had fallen asleep on the sofa, her phone dropped on the carpet without her noticing. When Luan Nian came in, she had just turned over, curling up into the sofa. She remained in that position, not even going upstairs to look around.

She didn’t feel like this was her home.

Luan Nian pinched her face: “Go upstairs to sleep.”

Shang Zhitao responded groggily, stood up, and rested her head on his chest. Luan Nian bent down to pick her up, carrying her and Luke upstairs.

His bedroom was still the same, without much warmth, clean and tidy. But his bedding was still comfortable.

Shang Zhitao loved Luan Nian’s standards for selecting bedding, so after renovating her own house, she also bought comfortable bedding based on Luan Nian’s preferences from those years ago. No matter what, sleeping in a comfortable bed could easily wash away the day’s fatigue.

Luan Nian placed her on the bed, helped her take off her shoes, socks, and sweater. Shang Zhitao turned over and continued sleeping. When she turned again, she rolled into Luan Nian’s arms.

She still didn’t sleep peacefully. Luan Nian had to lock his legs around her to prevent her from kicking him off the bed. Back then, he found it hard to control himself from kicking back.

Familiarity was necessary. People accustomed to sleeping alone, despite deliberately sleeping together these few times, found many habits difficult to change. They had to balance each other even in dreams; sleeping felt like fighting, leaving them exhausted when they opened their eyes the next day.

Shang Zhitao checked the time. The agent conference was in the afternoon, so after Luan Nian got up, she slept for another hour before finally feeling less tired. Luan Nian left her a note: “Breakfast is downstairs. I’ve taken Luke for a bath.”

As if taking Luke for a bath was something important and worth commemorating.

Shang Zhitao ate and then lay back on the bed. Seeing a book on Luan Nian’s nightstand, she picked it up to read. Inside the book was a torn piece of paper. Shang Zhitao glanced at it and froze.

“Shang Zhitao, that is, my wishlist before turning thirty:

1. Travel with parents

2. Learn English well

3. Learn to drive

4. Learn French well

5. Go to Tibet

6. Go abroad

7. Read 200 books

8. Buy a car

9. Buy a small house in Beijing

10. Be with the person I love”

Doesn’t every girl have such a wishlist? Written on paper or kept in the heart.

On Shang Zhitao’s last day at LinMei, before leaving, she cleaned her desk one final time. She took away her reference books and office supplies. At the bottom of the drawer, pressed down, was this wishlist. She took it out and looked at it for a very long time, but ultimately left it there. She had achieved many wishes, but the last three remained unchecked, which she always found regrettable whenever she thought about it.

One day after Luan Nian returned from America that year, he stayed at the company until midnight. The office was empty. He sat there looking out the window toward Shang Zhitao’s workstation for a long time. Finally, he walked over, sat in the chair she once occupied, and looked up at his office. For six years, countless times, she had sat here, gazing at him.

Her desk was clean—the cleaner wiped it daily. In a few more days, someone new would sit here. Luan Nian sat for a long time. Before getting up, he opened her drawer and found her wishlist.

Shang Zhitao had beautiful handwriting, the most beautiful among all the people he knew. While others learned piano, singing, or dancing, she learned calligraphy—quietly writing character by character. She had checked off most items on her wishlist, but before turning thirty, she had neither a small house nor was she with the person she loved.

Luan Nian could almost see the 22-year-old her sitting here in the dead of night, writing her wishes. Each wish must have been thought about many times in her heart before being written down so earnestly.

That day, he was very sad.

Luan Nian took the note and tucked it into his bedside book. This wishlist had accompanied him through many books.

Shang Zhitao never thought Luan Nian was this kind of person. He was clear about his likes and dislikes, never dragging things out. He always let people come and go freely without trying to keep them, even on the day she broke up with him, his only attempt to keep her was to say: Think carefully, if you leave, don’t come back.

But he had kept her wishlist, right in his bedside book.

Shang Zhitao secretly put it back, returned the book to its place, and prepared to go to the agent conference.

“Take my car,” Luan Nian called her. “I’m not going out today.”

“No thanks. I’m meeting Sun Yu for drinks tonight, so I won’t drive.”

Shang Zhitao arranged to meet Sun Yu at the conference venue. Because Sun Yu was a key account customer, she was invited as a forum guest—Zhang Lei personally invited her. It wasn’t an invitation; he sent an online invitation form and told her: “You can’t not come.”

Sun Yu shared the positive impact of online advertising on her company during the forum. Shang Zhitao sat quietly listening. After the conference, there was an agent dinner. She attended for a while, met some agent bosses, and heard about some new approaches.

Around eight o’clock, she and Sun Yu escaped from the dinner and headed straight to their favorite barbecue restaurant from before.

The barbecue restaurant was still open, though business was much slower than before. The two of them chose a seat by the window and each ordered a small bottle of beer.

The glass rim was damaged, and they laughed as they clinked their glasses: “It’s only perfect with imperfections.”

Perhaps because they were sitting in a familiar place after several years, that day they drank a lot, talked about many old stories, and neither deliberately avoided that name.

They both drank a bit too much. After leaving the barbecue place, they walked straight, turned left, then right, and arrived at that doorway.

Sun Yu had finished vomiting and tilted her head to look at that window for a very long time. She said to Shang Zhitao: “Why don’t I buy it?”

“Let it be,” Shang Zhitao said, hugging her tightly. “Let the past stay in the past.”

“He’s in the clouds, and also in my heart.”