In the summer of 2024, amid the dense shade filled with cicada songs, Li Wu completed his undergraduate thesis defense early and officially moved into the doctoral student dormitory. What peers saw as an enviable rapid rise was simply following his planned steps one by one.
F University’s doctoral dorms were better than before, with double rooms and a relatively quiet atmosphere. His roommate was another doctoral student who had worked his way up from graduate school and was three years older.
This holiday, Li Wu didn’t immediately return home for part-time work. For high-energy experiments, he followed his group on a business trip to another province.
By the time he returned in August, Cen Jin had never been apart from him for so long. Missing her boyfriend intensely, she snuck out of the company early to wait at the airport.
She even bought a bouquet, as if welcoming an honored guest.
When the flight arrived on time, among the group of talented young people walking out of the arrival gate chatting and laughing, Cen Jin immediately spotted her tall young fiancé.
Before he noticed her, she felt playful and mischievously held the flowers in front of her face, seeing if he could pick her out from the crowd.
Seconds later, the bouquet was moved aside.
His face, more beautiful than the flowers, came into view, mouth slightly open, breathing lightly from rushing over: “What are you hiding behind?”
Cen Jin pursed her lips: “Wanted to see if you could recognize me.”
Li Wu looked back: “Never mind me, in that pose, it would be hard for anyone not to notice you.”
Cen Jin followed his gaze and indeed, everyone in his team was looking their way, showing subtle smiles.
Cen Jin’s face flushed as she stuffed the flowers into his arms: “Here you go, scientist.”
Li Wu took them with one hand, mouth curved: “Thank you.”
Then muttered: “Why buy flowers?”
“What,” Cen Jin retorted, “Men can’t receive flowers?”
Li Wu pressed his lips together: “Such a big bouquet, I can’t even hug you,” he said somewhat dissatisfied: “It’s blocking us.”
Cen Jin broke into a smile.
He lowered his eyes to look at the flowers: “This hand was supposed to be for hugging you.”
Cen Jin sighed helplessly: “Hold the flowers up high.”
Li Wu immediately transformed into a Statue of Liberty.
Cen Jin stepped forward, wrapping her arms around his lean waist: “If you can’t hug me, can’t I hug you?” Li Wu’s smile bloomed as he held her while clutching the flowers. Who needed flowers? She was his flower, the most beautiful one.
Back in the car, without barriers or audience, they could finally be intimate without worry.
The fragrance from the bouquet in the back seat filled the car.
Even after kissing until they were sweating, they didn’t fully separate, still embracing while gazing at each other from close range.
Cen Jin asked: “Have you lost weight?”
Li Wu raised an eyebrow: “Don’t think so, there was lots of good food there.”
Cen Jin tilted her head: “Your cheeks aren’t as chubby as before.”
Li Wu said: “I’m a man now, of course, I don’t have baby fat anymore.”
His sudden grand declaration made Cen Jin laugh out loud: “Oh, a man.”
“Man… man, hmph.” She murmured the title twice, finding it increasingly amusing.
“What’s so funny?” Li Wu didn’t understand.
Cen Jin exhaled: “I don’t know why, but no matter how old you get, I still find you so cute, the cutest little boy in the whole world.”
Li Wu laughed: “Even at eighty?”
“Of course,” Cen Jin narrowed her eyes: “Though by then I’ll be ninety-one, we might both be dead.”
“Don’t say that, you’ll live a long life.”
Cen Jin blinked: “Why?”
Li Wu answered without hesitation: “Because good people live to be a hundred.”
What a corny and silly answer. Cen Jin laughed, not quite satisfied: “Then wouldn’t you also live to be a hundred?”
Li Wu said: “When that day comes, I’ll leave with you.”
Cen Jin smacked him with a “pa”: “Pei pei pei, not allowed.”
Li Wu asked: “Why not?”
Cen Jin thought for a moment: “No reason.”
Li Wu looked at her: “After you’re gone, I’ll just be a grumpy old man. No one in this world will treat me like a little boy anymore. I want to follow you to continue being your little boy.”
Like a tear gas bomb, those words brought mist to Cen Jin’s eyes. She fought to hold it back, unable to argue anymore: “Fine, I reluctantly agree.”
After these two “elementary school students” with a combined age of over fifty made their promises to each other, Cen Jin’s brain cleared up and she suddenly broke away from him, patting his left shoulder: “How strange, why are we thinking about after death so early?”
Li Wu started laughing: “Because we’ll always be together.”
“Still not allowed to talk about it anymore.”
“Okay,” the young man changed topics: “Let’s talk about when to get our marriage certificate next year?”
Cen Jin paused: “Isn’t it on your birthday?”