In the summer of 2024, amidst the dense shade and cicada chorus, Li Wu concluded his undergraduate thesis defense ahead of schedule and officially moved into the doctoral dormitory.
What others envied as a meteoric rise was, to him, merely the planned progression of his blueprint.
The doctoral dormitories at F University offered better conditions than before—double occupancy with a relatively tranquil atmosphere. His roommate was another doctoral student who had advanced step by step from graduate studies and was three years his senior.
That holiday, Li Wu didn’t immediately return home for part-time work. To conduct high-energy experiments, he traveled out of province with his research group.
By the time he returned in August, Cen Jin, who had never been apart from him for so long, missed her boyfriend intensely. She slipped out of work early and hurried to the airport to wait for him.
She even bought a bouquet, as if welcoming a distinguished guest.
When the flight arrived, amid a crowd of talented young professionals chatting and laughing as they exited the gate, Cen Jin immediately spotted her tall, poised fiancé.
Before he noticed her, a playful, mischievous idea struck her: she held the flowers in front of her face, testing whether he could recognize her in the crowd.
A few seconds later, the bouquet was moved aside.
His face, more beautiful than the flowers, came into view, lips slightly parted as he caught his breath from hurrying: "What are you blocking for?"
Cen Jin pouted. "Wanted to see if you could recognize me."
Li Wu glanced back. "Forget about me—with that pose, it’s hard for anyone not to notice you."
Cen Jin followed his gaze and saw his entire team looking over, each wearing subtle, knowing smiles.
A blush spread across Cen Jin’s cheeks as she thrust the flowers into his arms. "Here, take them, scientist."
Li Wu cradled them with one arm, a smile curling his lips. "Thanks." Then he muttered, "Why buy flowers?"
"What?" Cen Jin retorted. "Can’t guys receive flowers?"
Li Wu pressed his lips together. "Such a big bouquet—I don’t have a free hand to hug you," he complained lightly. "And it’s blocking us."
Cen Jin laughed.
He looked down at the flowers. "This hand was supposed to be for hugging you."
Cen Jin sighed in mock exasperation. "Lift the flowers higher."
Li Wu immediately struck a pose like the Statue of Liberty.
Cen Jin wrapped her arms around his lean waist. "If you can’t hug me, can’t I hug you instead?" Li Wu beamed, embracing her along with the flowers. Who needed flowers? She was his flower—the most beautiful one.
Back in the car, free from barriers and onlookers, they could finally be intimate without restraint.
The scent of the bouquet in the back seat filled the cabin.
Even after kissing until they were breathless and damp with sweat, they didn’t fully part, still holding each other close, gazing into each other’s eyes from inches away.
Cen Jin asked, "Have you lost weight?"
Li Wu raised an eyebrow. "No, I don’t think so. The food there was great."
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."
His sudden declaration made Cen Jin burst out laughing. "Oh, a man."
"Man… man, hmph." She murmured the title twice, finding it funnier the more she thought about it.
"What’s so funny?" Li Wu asked, puzzled.
Cen Jin exhaled softly. "I don’t know why, but no matter how old you get, I always think you’re adorable—the cutest little boy in the world."
Li Wu chuckled. "Even at eighty?"
"Of course," Cen Jin narrowed her eyes. "Though by then I’d be ninety-one—might even be dead."
"Don’t say that. You’ll live a long life."
Cen Jin blinked. "Why?"Without hesitation, Li Wu replied, "Because good people live a long life."
What a corny and silly answer. Cen Jin laughed, not entirely satisfied: "Then you must be planning to live a hundred years too."
Li Wu said, "If that day ever comes, I'll follow you wherever you go."
Cen Jin slapped him lightly: "Ugh, don't say such things."
Li Wu asked, "Why not?"
Cen Jin thought for a moment: "No reason."
Li Wu looked at her: "If you're gone, I'll just be a grumpy old man. No one in this world would treat me like a little boy anymore. I want to go with you and keep being your little boy."
His words hit like tear gas. Cen Jin's eyes misted over, and she fought hard to hold back the tears, unable to argue any further: "Fine, I'll reluctantly agree."
After these two "elementary schoolers" — whose combined age exceeded fifty — made their promises, Cen Jin's mind cleared. She abruptly broke free from his embrace and patted his left shoulder: "How absurd. Why are we thinking about things after death so early?"
Li Wu smiled: "Because we'll always be together."
"Then no more talk of that."
"Alright," the young man changed the subject: "Let's discuss when we'll get our marriage license next year."
Cen Jin paused: "Isn't it your birthday?"
Li Wu scratched his temple: "But that day is a public holiday."
"Oh, right," Cen Jin finally realized: "It's your fault for having a birthday on New Year's Day."
Li Wu chuckled: "Isn't it good? The second day of the new year — full of hope. We don't have to wait another three to five months."
Such logic. Cen Jin had to concede.
―
That year, when all trees stood bare and the world was blanketed in white, the two found time to return home. They retrieved Cen Jin's household registration booklet and informed her parents they would soon be registering their marriage.
Yes, informed.
This was never a matter for discussion — it was an unquestionable certainty between them.
At the dinner table, Cen's Father beamed: "Have you thought it through?"
"Of course."
They answered in unison, startling Cen's Mother, who then sighed with a helpless laugh.
After the meal, the four sat around the room. Li Wu began outlining his new plans, stating he would save enough for a down payment within three years of his PhD program to buy an apartment in Yishi.
Cen's Mother said: "How many apartments do you need? What a waste of money. Just live in Jinjin's place."
But her real concern lay elsewhere: "When are you planning to have children?"
After a moment of silence, Cen Jin said: "We don't want any in the short term."
Cen's Mother countered: "How old are you already? You're not young like Li Wu. The older you get, the more dangerous childbirth becomes."
Cen's Father advised: "Why bother them? One's busy with the company, the other with research. Having a child now would only add chaos to their lives and be irresponsible toward the child."
He added quietly: "Haven't you learned your lesson?"
Then he turned to Li Wu: "Xiao Wu, what do you think?"
Li Wu sat upright, expression serious: "I'll follow Cen Jin's lead. It's fine if we don't have children. If we do, I'd prefer the child to take Cen Jin's surname."
His shocking statement left the three members of the Cen family stunned.
Cen's Father spoke gravely: "Child, you're not a live-in son-in-law. Don't compromise yourself out of gratitude or repayment."
Recovering from her shock, Cen's Mother agreed: "Yes, we've been together long enough. You know we're not the kind of elders who bully others with our status.""That's not what I meant," Li Wu smiled lightly, his tone casual: "It's just that I never cared about these things to begin with, nor do I need any clan continuation. I am who I am. Having Cen Jin and you two as family in my remaining years is more than enough for me to be grateful and satisfied. My current life goal is to give my all to become a devoted and responsible husband. If Cen Jin needs it, I'll also strive to be a good father."
Cen Jin took a deep breath: "I don't want that."
"Don't want what?" Please don't let it be not wanting him.
"Don't want the child to take my surname."
Li Wu asked: "Why?"
Cen Jin rambled nonsense: "Feels like I'd have to take full responsibility, and you'd just be a hands-off parent."
Li Wu said: "How could that be? If we really have a child, it would be our shared child regardless of the surname."
Cen Jin remained unwilling, lowering her head to fiddle with her fingers.
Li Wu said nothing more.
Cen's Father sighed: "You two should discuss this matter yourselves. We won't interfere."
Cen's Mother nodded in agreement.
On the way back, Li Wu was driving while Cen Jin leaned her head against the window, complaining irritably: "Do you realize what shocking statements you made today?"
Gripping the steering wheel, Li Wu smiled faintly: "It wasn't that bad."
Cen Jin also laughed: "You didn't see my mom - her face turned red then pale. She was probably thinking, 'What kind of unlucky son-in-law is this? Will I ever get to hold a grandchild in this lifetime?'"
Li Wu had never looked into these matters before and couldn't help his curiosity: "Is it really dangerous to have children at an older age?"
Cen Jin exhaled: "Yeah, after thirty-five you're considered an advanced maternal age."
"Then let's just not have any. You before..." He trailed off.
"Before what?"
Li Wu's chest rose and fell: "After I came to Yi City for school, I overheard you on the phone one weekend." "You know I had a miscarriage?" She thought for a moment, not avoiding the topic.
Li Wu made an affirming sound.
Cen Jin sat up straight: "Wow, eavesdropping at such a young age."
Li Wu felt slightly flustered: "It wasn't intentional."
Cen Jin asked: "So? What were your thoughts?"
Li Wu said: "I thought I must never let you go through that."
"You were thinking about having children with me at seventeen?" Cen Jin feigned shock.
"No, that's not it," he struggled to explain: "I just felt heartbroken for you."
"Are you sure it wasn't—" Cen Jin squeezed out three words through gritted teeth: "Fan-ta-sizing about me?"
Li Wu flushed crimson, hurriedly denying: "No!"
Cen Jin stopped teasing him: "Let's get the marriage certificate first. We'll leave children to fate - anyway, I already have motherhood experience."
Li Wu: "Huh?"
Cen Jin implied meaningfully: "After all, I did raise a PhD graduate."
Li Wu chuckled.
"Of course," Cen Jin changed tack: "1 point thanks to my luck, 9 points thanks to his own efforts."
Li Wu shook his head: "No, all 10 points belong to you."
Cen Jin wouldn't falsely claim credit: "Forget it, let's split it fifty-fifty. Half and half makes a perfect score."
—
January 8th, an auspicious day for marriage ceremonies, a beautifully clear day under vast blue skies - truly a marvelous date.
This perfectly matched couple walked hand in hand into the civil affairs bureau.
Both wearing the same white sweaters from their polaroid photo two years earlier, they sat before the bright red backdrop, smiling as they redefined the rest of their lives.
With the official stamp, they were framed into two identical marriage certificates.
Stepping out of the civil affairs bureau, the sky was azure and sunlight brilliant as they each gazed at the photo on their certificates, unable to look away.
Cen Jin looked at her young husband: "You're so handsome."Li Wu gazed at his beautiful wife: "You are also very beautiful."
Then they looked in unison at the real person standing beside them, their eyes curving into smiles as their fingers intertwined tightly.
From this moment on, their lives became smaller, existing only for each other; yet also grew larger, blessed with twice the splendor.
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