As soon as the words fell, Cen Jin burst into laughter, bending forward and backward with her mouth unable to close.
Li Wu held her shoulders, his expression darkening: "Is it that funny?"
Cen Jin pursed her lips upward: "Can't I be happy? A young boy proposed to me, and he's so handsome, so good."
The young man instantly brightened like spring sunshine: "So you agreed?"
Cen Jin rubbed her sore cheeks: "Are you referring to this year's gift or next year's gift?"
Unable to tell if she was being ambiguous, Li Wu asked: "Which lǐwù?"
Cen Jin thought for a moment: "Is there a difference?"
"Seems like there isn't."
"Can I agree to both?"
"Really?" The young man's eyes sparkled with unparalleled delight.
"Who would joke about something like this," she feigned helplessness.
Li Wu was overjoyed and leaned in to kiss her fiercely.
His sudden move caused Cen Jin's front teeth to bump against her lips, and she whimpered in pain.
She punched him: "Can't you be gentler?"
The silly boy could only chuckle foolishly: "I thought you—"
Cen Jin asked: "What did you think?"
He stared intently: "I thought you wouldn't agree so quickly."
Cen Jin glanced at him sideways: "Look how impatient you've become."
Li Wu composed himself: "But I still hope it's not because I forced or rushed you, but your genuine choice from the heart."
Cen Jin met his gaze and stated clearly: "This is my choice." The young man never hesitated to express a love full of security in his eyes: "You believe in me, right?"
Cen Jin affirmed: "Yes, I believe in you. After my last marriage ended in failure, I thought I would never have expectations for love again. I thought the jar of sweetness that belonged to me had been completely exhausted, and it would remain that way until death, but you're amazing—you filled it up all at once."
Confidently, he repeated: "You believe in me."
She smiled knowingly and nodded: "I believe in you."
"I like you so much," Li Wu exploded with joy, hugging her, nuzzling affectionately, and pouring out his feelings: "I love you so much, Cen Jin, my sister. You have no idea how much I love you."
Cen Jin knew she could never push away this clingy fool in this lifetime: "I love you too."
Li Wu's voice softened: "How did I get so lucky... to meet you."
Cen Jin's chest trembled—she felt exactly the same.
Noticing his shoulders trembling slightly, Cen Jin quickly pulled back to observe his expression: "Why are you crying, baby?"
Li Wu's eyes were wet and red as he wiped his face haphazardly with his wrist: "I'm just too happy."
The young man's tears were like crushed diamonds, piercing her heart with pain. Cen Jin began to weep as well: "Then laugh, don't cry."
Li Wu laughed through his tears, his voice muffled: "You don't cry either."
They wiped each other's tears away and laughed together.
Love is an infectious disease of joy and tenderness, one that few in this world are immune to.
Li Wu suddenly remembered something: "I want to go back to the dorm to get something. Can you wait for me?"
"Now?"
He added: "Or you could come with me?"
Cen Jin asked: "What exactly are you going to do?"
Li Wu said: "A proposal with just words isn't sincere enough."
"What are you getting?" Cen Jin frowned, then suddenly understood: "Oh—it seems you've been prepared all along."
Li Wu nodded: "Yes."
Cen Jin beamed: "You've been scheming for so long?"
Li Wu laughed too: "You said it yourself—opportunities always favor those who are prepared."Cen Jin nodded: "I'll go with you."
Li Wu asked: "What kind of proposal do you want?"
Cen Jin laughed: "What do you mean what kind?"
He said seriously: "Do you want a secret proposal, or a public one?"
"I don't care about the form, I only care about sincerity," Cen Jin cupped his handsome, affectionate face: "I only want you."
Li Wu embraced her once more.
―
When she returned to the company, a diamond ring adorned Cen Jin's right ring finger - simple yet striking in design, like the first star finally appearing in a long-empty sky.
Chun Chang was the first to notice, following her into the office and closing the door before gaping as if she could swallow two eggs whole: "Ahhh! My Jin, what's that on your hand?"
"What?" Cen Jin raised her hand for a casual glance: "Oh, just my Deed of Indenture."
Chun Chang lifted her hand for closer inspection, bouncing excitedly: "Your Childhood Husband's Deed of Indenture?"
Cen Jin pushed her away: "Nonsense, it's clearly an equivalent exchange."
Chun Chang nearly pulled her into a spin: "Are you registering your marriage this year? Is Li Wu old enough for legal marriage?"
Cen Jin gave her a cool sidelong glance: "He's not even twenty-one yet."
"Then why the rush?"
"You should ask him why he's in such a hurry."
Chun Chang cackled: "I'm not surprised at all."
Cen Jin asked: "Not surprised about what?"
Chun Chang said: "Not surprised that Li Wu won you over."
Cen Jin wondered: "Why?"
Chun Chang began her hindsight analysis: "Because when he was seventeen, he could call you nearly ten times in a row, and when you didn't answer, he knew to call your friends. He's clearly the persistent and resourceful type."
Cen Jin scoffed: "Isn't it because he's handsome?"
"That too," Chun Chang pulled out her phone, scrolling: "But since we're here, I must confess - he privately asked me early this year what brand and style of diamond ring you preferred."
Cen Jin gasped: "Damn, you two actually conducted this underground transaction behind my back."
Chun Chang laughed heartily: "You'd never guess how long he's been holding onto that thing on your finger."
Cen Jin was astonished.
She had refused spectators, refused crowds, standing only in the quiet campus where wind whispered through trees, letting him slip this promise of life and love onto her finger.
Like a young girl, eyes brimming with joy, she asked him: "When did you buy this?"
The youth simply replied: "Not long ago."
He asked in return: "Do you like it?"
Cen Jin held her hand to the light, gazing at it repeatedly: "I like it, I really do."
She truly adored it.
She wanted to marry again, dared to marry again.
Only because it was him - a boy she was certain loved and was loved by her. Her world dawned anew, clouds radiant with color.
Returning to her desk, she messaged Li Wu: You really played your cards well, even conducting a Secret plot with my friend.
Li Wu was probably smiling: She told you, huh.
Cen Jin: Hmph.
Li Wu: I just asked for reference, mainly picked it out myself.
Cen Jin: Then I must punish you.
Li Wu remained composed: I'm at your mercy.
Cen Jin replied: There's an industry party before New Year, will you be my plus-one?
Li Wu: No problem.
―
On December 28th, as Creative Partner of Double C, Cen Jin was invited to represent her company at the annual gathering of the Local Advertising Creative Alliance members.
The evening drew a large crowd, with Cen Jin wearing a black evening gown - a bustier style that hugged her delicate figure.Her slender neck arched gracefully as she moved through the perfumed crowd, reminiscent of a black swan gliding across a moonlit lake.
Beyond her own radiant presence, her male companion was equally striking. Dressed in a sharply tailored black suit, his youthful features carried a touch of aloofness, like a Black Knight standing guard by her side.
The Black Knight wasn't intentionally maintaining a frosty demeanor.
Attending such a grand occasion for the first time, surrounded by glamorous men and women, his nervousness was inevitable.
A familiar female client paused before them, greeting Cen Jin.
Having collaborated on projects across two different companies, Cen Jin remembered her well and returned the smile warmly.
The client made small talk about Cen Jin's new venture, expressing encouragement and admiration, before glancing at the young man beside her. "And this is...?"
Cen Jin smiled slightly, uttering three words: "My husband."
Li Wu stiffened, shooting her a quick glance, his heart pounding like a bungee jump.
Restrained by the setting, he dared not show exaggerated reactions, offering only a faint nod.
The woman praised, "So handsome and young."
Cen Jin agreed lightly, "Is that so? I think so too."
After the client left, Li Wu broke into his first genuinely unrestrained smile of the evening, whispering closely, "How did you introduce me just now?"
Cen Jin chuckled, "As my husband. What's wrong?"
"But we're not officially married yet," Li Wu stammered incoherently. "I almost felt embarrassed."
Cen Jin raised her hand, indicating the ring on her finger. "We're being this obvious already. Why pretend to be secretly married?"
Li Wu coughed softly, joking, "Boss Cen, I just didn't want to embarrass you."
Cen Jin's eyes curved with amusement. "Cut it out. Your mere presence here already makes me proud."
She added with a light snort, "Haven't you noticed how many more women have been greeting me today? If I didn't quickly claim you as my husband, they might think you're just an employee and start plotting to steal you away."
As they bantered, another couple approached—not unfamiliar faces. The woman in a white dress and the man in formal attire strongly resembled the pair from a wedding over a year ago.
Li Wu's expression tightened slightly, shifting to vigilance.
He held Cen Jin's arm, watching her reaction, but found her completely unruffled. Instead, she raised her eyebrows slightly, exuding defiance.
The woman approached with her companion, smiling as she addressed them. "Ah, Sister Jin, hello! I was just wondering if I might run into you."
Cen Jin responded warmly, "Hello, Xinran."
Wu Fu stood beside her. Cen Jin glanced at him with a smile. "Hello."
The man returned a faint smile and nodded in greeting.
Bian Xinran asked, "Managing your own company must be exhausting, right?"
Cen Jin replied casually, "It's manageable." She tilted her chin slightly. "Your husband always said I wasn't cut out for working under others and suggested I start my own business. Good thing I listened. Stepping out of my comfort zone feels amazing—I should thank him."
"Really?" Bian Xinran glanced back at Wu Fu. "Why do you encourage others to start businesses but never open one yourself?"
His wife's sarcastic remark darkened Wu Fu's expression. "Why don't you start one?" he retorted.
Bian Xinran faltered, dropping the topic as she turned to Li Wu. "So this is your boyfriend, right?"
Cen Jin smiled like a little girl showing off her prized possession. "Handsome, isn't he?"
Caught off guard by her directness, Bian Xinran paused before replying, "Very handsome."
Li Wu's ears warmed slightly as he tightened his grip on her hand.Cen Jin turned her head to shoot him a reproachful look with her eyes.
"You two look so perfect together," Bian Xinran remarked, genuinely envious as she witnessed their intimate gestures as if no one else was around.
She had expected to see some odd pairing, but the vast difference between them seemed to vanish entirely. Pure love truly brings harmony in atmosphere and a tacit understanding in aura.
Suddenly, she noticed the diamond ring on Cen Jin's right hand and gasped in surprise, "Are you two getting married?"
Wu Fu, who had been watching coldly from the sidelines, sharpened his gaze.
Li Wu curved his lips into a smile, "Not that soon. She just agreed to my proposal."
Since someone had answered for her first, Cen Jin simply smiled in silent agreement.
Bian Xinran clasped her hands together, "Congratulations in advance then."
Cen Jin smiled cleverly, "If we hold a wedding, remember to come," she glanced at Wu Fu whose expression grew increasingly unpleasant, "and don't forget to bring your husband."
...
―
On his 21st birthday, Li Wu finally received the gift he had been longing for.
His fiancée prepared a beautiful and exquisite envelope, announcing with great seriousness that it contained the marriage conditions she had pondered over for several days.
Li Wu accepted it with both hands, carefully opening it in front of her and unfolding the letter.
The next moment, he laughed—both delighted and helpless—
In the very center of the blank paper, there was only one oversized handwritten character:
"You"
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