The news of Ring Island AILab's establishment spread like wildfire, and on the very same day, Jing Qichi arrived as promised.
After class, Huan'er dashed downstairs, weaving through the bustling crowd in the first-floor lobby of the teaching building. Through the glass doors, she spotted him a few meters away—dark cropped pants, a white T-shirt, one hand holding a jacket while the other was tucked in his pocket, no different from the other boyfriends waiting for their girlfriends to finish class. After a moment of scanning the crowd, Jing Qichi locked eyes with her and grinned.
Sometimes, there’s that one fleeting moment when you feel life has bestowed all its luck upon you.
Generously, selflessly, brimming with vibrant anticipation.
Just like now—the person you adore is right there in your line of sight. Even if your steps slow, even if the surroundings are noisy and chaotic, even if there’s still some distance between you, you just know you’ll make it safely to his side.
No, Huan'er couldn’t wait. So she ran—shouting “Excuse me!” and “Sorry!” along the way, she sprinted toward him with the same intensity as a track meet, then leaped into his arms without a care for the onlookers. “You’re amazing.”
During the previous break, she, like everyone else, had seen the promotional video plastered across the internet—waking up at seven, washing up, biking to work, grabbing coffee and a pastry downstairs before heading up to his desk, where lines of code filled the screen. During a lunch break, a voiceover asked, “You’re the youngest in your team, with less experience than the others. Does that pressure you?”
“Of course. So much that I often can’t sleep. Sometimes I even get up in the middle of the night to open my laptop.”
“What goes through your mind then?”
“Not much. Just trying my best to do the work in front of me.”
“Why did you choose this field?”
The protagonist smiled at the camera and countered, “Haven’t you ever wanted to do something for the people around you?”
In meetings, he frowned in concentration, typing and deleting lines of code before rewriting them, engaging earnestly with colleagues who approached him. As city lights flickered to life, he biked back to his rented apartment, ordered takeout, showered, and sat back down at his computer with damp hair. Propping his chin in one hand, he pondered for a moment before suddenly covering the lens. “Stop filming. I need to text my girlfriend.”
The screen faded to black, followed by a single line of text— To every passionate soul out there.
Jing Qichi’s day was condensed into a two-and-a-half-minute video.
There wasn’t anything particularly extraordinary about it—just like every other young person grinding away in this vast city, he lived through ordinary, busy, uneventful days as the sun rose and set.
Jing Qichi chuckled as he held her. “Get down first.”
“No.” Huan'er clung tighter, wrapping her arms around him.
“I’m staying for a few days. We can’t just hang here like dried specimens without eating or drinking.”
Hearing this, Huan'er relented. “Okay, no need for that,” she said, nimbly hopping down and landing steadily on her feet.
Only then did Jing Qichi squint at her. “What’s going on?”
Classmates exiting the building behind them came over to greet them. “Huan'er, you finally got to see the real deal, huh?” One of them grinned at Jing Qichi. “We all saw your company’s promo. It was so well done.”
Another chimed in, “And you even publicly flaunted your relationship. Bold move.”
Jing Qichi silently took Huan'er’s hand, responding sheepishly, “I didn’t know they’d include that part.”
Huan'er nestled against his shoulder like a little bird.
“Alright, alright, we’re leaving,” the classmates teased, feigning disgust. “You two just keep torturing us, from online to offline.”
They all knew the hardships of a long-distance relationship. The best way to show support was to give them space.When the surroundings quieted down, Huan'er asked, "How did that last line get past the censors?"
Jing Qichi shook his head. "I only saw the final cut when it was released today. We filmed for almost a whole day, and by the end, I was so annoyed I said I wanted to send you a message. Probably Professor Jiang and Dr. Gong reviewed it beforehand—if they thought it was fine, then it's fine."
Huan'er giggled. "Maybe it makes the employees seem more relatable. It's good—having a public relationship keeps others from getting ideas."
Jing Qichi pinched her cheek with one hand. "Oh, so you're only this affectionate now that I'm famous?"
Huan'er nodded eagerly like a chick pecking at rice. "I'm afraid of losing you."
Jing Qichi froze for a moment, then quickly turned his head to kiss her pouty lips.
"Foul!" Huan'er glared at him.
When someone glanced their way, she shyly hid behind him, muttering, "What if we run into my classmates? That'd be so awkward."
Since childhood, she'd been bold among close friends but timid around strangers. Even now, she remained well-behaved and cautious in unfamiliar settings.
Jing Qichi, well aware of this trait, silently chuckled and took her hand again. "Let's go eat."
At that moment, he suddenly became certain of something.
Something important—a conclusion that had long seemed settled yet remained unresolved.
At every pivotal moment in Jing Qichi's life—losing family, shattered dreams, changing directions and pushing forward—even during the darkest, most despairing times, Chen Huan'er had stayed by his side as his companion. Because they started as friends, he sometimes wondered if, in Huan'er's heart, he was still just that—a friend to encourage and support each other along the way.
This thought left him confused and unsettled, even fearful.
He loved her—as a grown man loves a woman. Kissing her stirred intense physical desire; working overtime, he'd think about saving his salary to buy a home; passing a kindergarten, hearing children's laughter, he'd privately imagine a future together. He was absolutely certain of this love.
Qiu Yang often teased him: "With a face that charms girls and a heart that wins over mothers-in-law."
Yes, these thoughts might not be romantic, but they were steady and profound.
Huan'er had said, "I'm afraid of losing you."
Her expression, tone, body language—everything conveyed one message: You mean to me what I mean to you.
No one knew how overjoyed Jing Qichi was at this moment.
They went to a hotpot restaurant near campus. After a long wait, they were seated but ended up sharing the meal with a group of seniors from the computer science department. Talking, drinking, and catching up stretched dinner to two hours. Afterward, they strolled around campus to walk off the meal. When Jing Qichi reminded her for the third time, "We should head back, or the dorms will close," Huan'er asked, "Where are you staying?"
He pointed casually to a nearby hotel. "Dropped my luggage there this afternoon. Don't worry."
Huan'er changed the subject, but as time grew tight, Jing Qichi wrapped an arm around her shoulders and steered her toward the pharmacy school dorms. "Hurry, or you'll have to stay with me."
Huan'er stopped, gripping his hands. "Can't I stay with you?"Like a spoiled child or awaiting permission, she swayed his arm slightly."
That sway nearly shook his heart out of his chest.
Midnight approached on the quiet campus path, a couple deeply in love.
Of course, he understood what Huan'er meant."I can, but..." Jing Qichi stumbled over his words, "I... I didn't prepare anything."
"You booked a twin room? Can't we change it?"
Had this girl lost her mind from studying too much?
Jing Qichi found it amusing as he tapped her forehead. "Safety measures."
Huan'er didn't seem bothered. "There's a 24-hour convenience store nearby."
It suddenly dawned on young Jing—he was the fool here. She had deliberately waited until now, her plan meticulously arranged down to the last detail.
"Oh, so the preparation you meant wasn't about materials but... technique? If you really haven't..." Huan'er suddenly blushed and lowered her head, "We could watch a video... learn the theory first."
What nonsense. She had guessed right about his so-called preparation but then veered off into something completely unrelated.
Jing Qichi turned his face away to stifle a laugh, composed himself, and looked back at her. "That kind of preparation isn't necessary."
Huan'er jerked her head up, slightly surprised. "So you mean..."
"What are you thinking?" Jing Qichi flicked her nose, his tone resigned. "I've never done it before."
Huan'er let out an "Oh," then suddenly grinned. "Then shouldn't we watch something to prepare?"
A certain masculine instinct flared up at that.
Jing Qichi leaned close to her ear. "If you insist on watching, you'll bear the consequences."
Under the moonlight and streetlights, he saw her ears turn bright red.
A dainty, adorable little ear, flushed crimson. Heaven knew what willpower it took not to bite it right then.
"Let's go." Jing Qichi steadied himself, wrapped an arm around her, and headed off-campus. "I booked a king-size bed."
Truth be told, Huan'er's parents hadn't exactly been pioneers in sex education. But kids who grew up in the Family Compound were naturally more open-minded about such things than their peers. After all, topics like circumcision complications had once been dinner-table discussions in the Third Hospital cafeteria. So when faced with the colorful array of condom packages at the convenience store checkout, the two of them picked up and examined them unabashedly before settling on an ultra-thin variety. Huan'er even leaned in to whisper, "Check the size. Make sure it fits."
"These are all the same size," Jing Qichi said dismissively. "As long as it's not too tight, it won't fall off."
"Some do fall off," Huan'er said seriously. "My mom mentioned a case where the patient thought it would pass naturally, but it almost caused an infection. Big hassle."
Jing Qichi laughed. "Maybe manufacturers should offer a bespoke service. Membership-based."
The cashier had seen all types of condom buyers—those in a hurry, those who avoided eye contact—but never ones who turned it into a market opportunity discussion.
"How much?"
"Uh... thirty-two," the cashier stammered, momentarily unsure if they were buying these for their intended purpose.
Jing Qichi paid and thanked him, then left with Huan'er in tow.
Another couple entered the store. The girl lingered by the door, glancing around, while the boy grabbed a box and slapped it onto the counter, silent the entire time as if terrified of being seen. They paid quickly and left arm in arm.
Now that's the proper way to do it, the cashier thought, watching them go.
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