Cen Jin's last social media earthquake was three years ago, when she announced her divorce on her Moments and received the highest number of likes and comments since she started using WeChat.
The comments ranged from shock and admiration to regret and encouragement.
Today's situation was no less intense. After posting, she went to the restroom and returned to find the likes already too many to scroll through.
――? Holy shit?
――Wow, so handsome!
――Ahhhhhhh suddenly so excited!
――What kind of gift? Government-issued?
――Wishing you 99 (forever)!
――Your boyfriend looks familiar.
――[Strong][Strong]
...
The company group chat was exploding, with several familiar female colleagues @-ing her, calling for the person involved, urgently needing her to explain everything clearly.
Cen Jin knew that from the moment she went public, she was tacitly allowing herself to become the subject of gossip.
But unexpectedly, everyone's reaction was slightly better than she had imagined.
Perhaps it was because Li Wu's youthful face easily shifted the focus. Cen Jin raised an eyebrow and was about to reply to a few comments when her phone screen went dark—the male protagonist at the center of the event had already called.
Cen Jin curved her lips, answered the call, but didn't speak immediately.
On the other end, his breathing was slightly heavy, accompanied by the sound of rustling wind.
Cen Jin asked, "Are you still outside?"
"Just came downstairs. Why did you suddenly—" He trailed off, his voice betraying unconcealed astonishment and elation, seeping through the receiver like syrup, soaking Cen Jin as well. She couldn't help but smile along.
She deliberately asked, "What's wrong?"
A short, bright laugh echoed in her ear, like stars scattering: "Suddenly posting on Moments."
Cen Jin brushed it off: "Can't I? Do I need to report to you in advance?"
The young man hummed in agreement: "My heart was beating so fast I almost died."
"Exaggerating much?"
He hummed again: "It's still beating fast now, and I'm having trouble breathing."
Cen Jin scoffed lightly: "Tachycardia and shortness of breath are because you just ran downstairs—strenuous exercise."
"It's because of you," he emphasized the last word heavily, as if arguing, with absolute certainty.
Cen Jin grinned, taking the blame: "Fine, because of me."
"I'm so nervous," Li Wu's tone was like an ant on a hot pan, spinning in circles. "Did you block your family?"
Cen Jin coughed lightly: "I didn't block anyone."
"...No way." The young man grew even more anxious.
Cen Jin said nonchalantly: "If you're going to block this person and that person, you might as well not post at all or set it to 'only visible to you.'"
There was a long silence on the other end, filled only with the sound of wind and the young man's breathing.
Suddenly, he spoke solemnly: "I'm coming to find you right now."
Cen Jin was taken aback: "Don't you have class tomorrow?"
"I want to—" he paused to choose his words—"face this with you."
Cen Jin burst out laughing: "Face what? Is it a war? Are you going to take on the whole world with me?"
He was so agitated he stumbled over his words: "I'm afraid people will say things, afraid your parents will criticize you, afraid you'll be unhappy. I want to be by your side, to stand in front of you."
Cen Jin was utterly charmed by this reckless little fool. Suppressing her laughter, she asked with amusement, "How will you stand in front of me?"
Li Wu fell silent for a few seconds, his tone slightly downcast: "I don't know either... I'll tell them it's all my fault, that I pursued you, that I forced you to be with me. I'll treat you well, include you in every step of my future life, and ask them not to blame you. They can even beat me up—I don't mind.""Silly, are my parents some kind of underworld figures?" Cen Jin was somewhat moved. "No one can force me to do anything, including today's social media post—it's only because I want to."
"Sis," Li Wu stopped walking, trying to steady his breathing. "Next time, can you post when I'm with you?"
"Why?" She paused, then broke into a wide grin. "And didn't I tell you before not to call me sis..."
"Cen Jin," his voice grew serious and calm, "I miss you so much right now, I really want to see you, to hold you tight. But I can't—it's torture."
Cen Jin's heart trembled slightly, though she stubbornly retorted, "Eww, that's so cheesy."
Then she asked, "And what do you mean by 'next time'? How many times do you want me to publicly announce our relationship? Once for every argument?"
The young man boldly declared, "Next time will be our marriage certificate."
Cen Jin rubbed her slightly stiff cheek muscles that had been smiling too much. "Are you even old enough?" "I don't care," he began acting willful, then grumbled in frustration at himself, "Why am I only nineteen?"
Cen Jin comforted him, "It's fine, you'll be twenty in a few days."
Li Wu glanced up at the starless, moonless dark sky and sighed a puff of white air in distress. "But I have nothing right now."
"Here we go again," Cen Jin lightly tapped her forehead. "How do you have nothing? You have me."
"Oh, right." He truly was the happiest and luckiest person in the world. Li Wu laughed again, his emotions swinging wildly as if his central nervous system had short-circuited.
Cen Jin estimated he wouldn't calm down anytime soon. "You should head back to the dorm first. Aren't you cold?"
"Not cold. Believe it or not, I'm sweating all over." "..." Was that even worth asking 'believe it or not'? Cen Jin was fairly certain his brain was approaching delirium. She decided to change the subject. "Li Wu, do you know why I wrote that caption today?"
Li Wu pondered briefly before replying, "Because of my name? Or is it a gift for me?"
Cen Jin smiled. "Do you remember when you called me from Yunfeng Village because you wanted to go to school? When I asked who it was, you said 'Li Wu.' Your voice was so pleasant, I didn't process it immediately and thought you said 'the gift'—like Chun Chang had ordered me a virtual boyfriend online to comfort my broken heart during my divorce."
Cen Jin twirled the slightly curled ends of her hair, her body and mind feeling soft. "But you really did become a special gift, my actual boyfriend."
Li Wu sighed with emotion. "Heaven has been so good to me, letting me meet you."
Cen Jin responded, "Heaven has been good to me."
"No, to me."
She turned slightly fierce. "If I say it's me, then it's me."
"Okay, I won't argue with you." He'd keep the truth to himself anyway.
His compliance made her heart melt completely. "Oh no, now I really want to hug you too."
Li Wu said, "I'm coming home."
"Absolutely not, it's too late."
"I'm already at the school gate."
Cen Jin's voice turned cold as she tried to stop him. "Just when I thought you were being obedient, you defy me."
"If I were truly obedient, I couldn't be your boyfriend—only your little brother." He deliberately provoked her, knowing full well her anger wouldn't be loaded with real bullets but with flowers, confetti, and candy.
He had only meant to rush out of the dorm to call and get answers, but his legs had developed a mind of their own, carrying him straight back to her. His only regret was taking a taxi instead of a rocket.As if approaching her was his instinct, the magnetic field fate had destined for him.
When the two embraced in the entryway like opposite poles of magnets drawn together, Cen Jin pressed against his chest, murmuring affectionately yet grumbling: "Had I known you'd be this stubborn and rebellious, I'd have waited until next weekend to post on Moments."
"Today is best, just today," Li Wu rested his chin on her head, unwilling to move an inch: "In a few days this momentum would fade."
"You think you know?" Cen Jin let out a scoff.
He lifted her chin, his gaze like a rainy spring night, thick with lingering tenderness: "Did anyone say anything bad about you because of me?"
This was what concerned him most.
His infatuated eyes always made her feel deeply loved. Cen Jin shook her head: "No."
Then she blinked mischievously, looking utterly girlish: "I turned off my phone."
Li Wu was taken aback, frowning as he adopted a serious tone, like a kid pretending to be grown-up: "Why are you being disobedient too?"
Cen Jin deliberately pondered for a moment before feigning sudden enlightenment: "If I were truly obedient, I couldn't be your girlfriend—only your sister."
Li Wu's smile blossomed, and he pulled his phone from his pocket. Without even unlocking it, he powered it off and tossed it onto the sofa.
Gazing into each other's eyes, they reached a silent understanding; they were each other's strategists and accomplices; perfectly matched in affection, they were partners in crime.
They were so certain—they were in love, truly and deeply in love.
Li Wu lifted Cen Jin high and spun her around several times, venting his excitement and satisfaction.
In this weightless dizziness akin to love itself, she cupped his cheeks and leaned in for a deep kiss.
To hell with it all, damn everything—no one could disturb them tonight. This night, they belonged only to themselves, to each other, two bodies, one heart.
OpenNovel