The Early Spring

Тhе dау аftеr seeing оff thе аgеnсy reprеsеntatives, Shаng Zhi Taо trulу bеgаn tо mоbilize resоurces.

She openеd hеr cоntaсt list аnd mаdе cаlls оnе bу оne: "Нello, this is Shang Zhi Таo."

"Yоu're asking if the рandemiс has affесtеd оur соmрany? It's а lоng storу. Аlthоugh therе has bееn an impасt, our businеss will continue аs usual."

"Not onlу will оur businеss cоntinue, but we've аlsо оbtainеd аn intеrnеt аdvеrtising licеnsе. So, Мanаger Wang, wоuld yоu соnsider shifting sоmе оf уour budget ovеr to give it a try?"

She rеpeatеd these wоrds tirelеsslу, ovеr and over again. Some agreed, others refused. It didn’t matter—as long as some agreed, it was a good start.

She had no idea that while she was making calls, Luan Nian was also on the phone at home.

He was someone who had always disdained currying favor with others, accustomed to his pride. Yet today, he lowered his head and made calls, starting first with Jiang Lan.

Jiang Lan answered and asked him, "What's up? It's rare for you to call me first."

"Is the advertising budget for your regional branches calculated separately?"

"Yes, it's allocated to each region for independent use."

"A friend of mine has opened an agency in Ice City. Would you consider shifting some budget there to give it a try?" Luan Nian didn’t bother with pleasantries. "To put it plainly, I'm introducing you to the most professional internet advertising team in the industry."

Jiang Lan laughed. "Say no more, I understand. Shang Zhi Tao, right? Fine, you owe me a favor."

"I'll treat you to a meal."

"Deal."

Luan Nian made call after call, sending Fu Dong's contact information to clients and friends, letting Fu Dong handle the follow-ups. Fu Dong said gratefully, "I must tell the boss."

"No need," Luan Nian told him. "No need to tell her. I'm just making connections—whether it works out depends on your negotiation skills. If you succeed, it’s the result of your own efforts. No need to tell Shang Zhi Tao. It’s unnecessary."

That’s what he said, but the dozen or so contacts he passed to Fu Dong were all guaranteed to shift their budgets.

Shang Zhi Tao’s internet advertising agency business officially launched.

She had entered a new track and needed to study new business logic. There were many things she didn’t understand, so she asked the channel manager to stay in Ice City instead of returning. She arranged an office for the channel manager at the company and visited him eight hundred times a day. Humble and sincere, she focused on practical work, and the channel manager was willing to teach her. Within a month, Shang Zhi Tao had onboarded over twenty clients. She became obsessed, scrolling through ads on her phone every day while discussing ad placements with her employees. They operated with meticulous precision, down to the minute when traffic peaked. In just one month, they had already set a benchmark for supermarket advertising.

In his report, the channel manager noted, "This newly opened agency in Ice City is highly professional. I think we can give them access to other licensed tracks."

Through her efforts and those of her entire team, Shang Zhi Tao won the initial battle and earned respect.During the days when she was meeting clients day and night and handling ad placements, Luan Nian came three times, but they never met. On all three occasions, Shang Zhi Tao happened to be out of town—the first time for a team-building trip, and the other two times to meet clients. It seemed as though she was deliberately avoiding Luan Nian, but he didn’t mind. He still stayed in Shang Zhi Tao’s spare bedroom, and each time he visited, he would go to the supermarket to stock up her fridge with plenty of food. He would spend two full days with Luke, and before leaving, he would prepare delicious meals for Luke to store in the fridge. On a couple of occasions, he even cooked a few dishes so that Shang Zhi Tao could simply heat them up when she returned.

Their communication remained sparse. Luan Nian carefully maintained that balance, staying within reasonable bounds so as not to trouble her.

Sometimes, his friends teased him: "Running off to Ice City every week—any progress? She still doesn’t pay you any attention, does she?" Despite the mockery, they also worried for him. Chen Kuan Nian said, "Do you think an iron tree can bloom? Can Luan Nian finally get to kiss his Peach Sister?"

"Luan Nian might as well castrate himself," Tan Mian remarked. "It’s not like he’s using it anyway."

When they talked like this, Luan Nian never responded. He would just sit there, lost in thought. He once asked Fu Dong, "Does your boss go on many dates?"

"Our boss? She gets off work past ten p.m.—where would she go on dates?"

Occasionally, they would exchange a few words.

Sometimes, Shang Zhi Tao encountered logic she couldn’t grasp, or the channel manager couldn’t explain things clearly. In her frustration, she would call Luan Nian: "I have a question I’d like to ask."

"Go ahead."

"Our fast-moving consumer goods model isn’t working."

"What’s wrong with it?"

"I just feel like the ad placement logic isn’t right."

"Send it to me."

Shang Zhi Tao would then send him the entire proposal and data. After a quick glance, he’d say, "Shang Zhi Tao, are you exhausted? Look at your target audience and product alignment—does it even make sense?"

"If your brain is too tired, take a break once in a while. Don’t burn yourself out."

"Oh. So that’s it." Shang Zhi Tao reviewed the product information and realized the mistake had been there from the start. Solving a problem brought a bit of joy, so she said to Luan Nian, "Thank you. I never thought that even as you approach forty, your brain is still sharp."

Then she hung up.

Shang Zhi Tao had mocked his age twice in a row, as if reminding him that his youth was fading. Luan Nian didn’t take it to heart. But one day, while flipping through a print magazine, he came across a creative piece of text. It was simple—white background, black letters: "Who doesn’t like younger men?"

Luan Nian stared at the image for a long time before cursing, "What the hell kind of ad is this?!"

He called Shang Zhi Tao: "Let me ask you, do you like younger men?"

"Huh?" Shang Zhi Tao was caught off guard.

"Young, handsome younger men."

Finally understanding, Shang Zhi Tao replied, "Who doesn’t like younger men?"

"You’re insane!" Luan Nian snapped before hanging up.

Shang Zhi Tao held the phone, momentarily stunned, before bursting into laughter.

"Boss, what are you doing?" Fu Dong asked her.

"Someone’s acting strange."

The next day, Luan Nian’s perpetually empty WeChat Moments suddenly featured a photo—a magazine cover shoot of him. Wearing a black shirt, he leaned casually against a sofa, the collar slightly open, revealing a glimpse of his chest muscles and the appealing outline of his physique.

The comments were just as entertaining.

Song Qiu Han: "Wedding photo for your Moments?"

Tan Mian: "Middle-aged, lonely, empty-nest elder?"

Chen Kuan Nian: "@Shang Zhi Tao"Shang Zhi Tao was friends with Chen Kuan Nian and Song Qiu Han, so naturally she could see Luan Nian’s reply. She opened the larger image and thought to herself, Luan Nian would probably always be like this. In his twenties, he was a troublesome young man; in his thirties and forties, a troublesome middle-aged man; even in his seventies or eighties, he’d likely be a troublesome old man. How could fate be so generous to him?

She thought that was the end of it, but Chen Kuan Nian actually sent her a separate message, asking, “So? Could you reluctantly sleep with him?”

Shang Zhi Tao was about to die laughing: “I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare.”

“What’s there to be afraid of? It’s not like you haven’t slept with him before.” He was genuinely worried for his friend. If things continued like this, Luan Nian would really end up alone. And he was the kind of person who never bowed his head, going to Bingcheng every week to see the dog. Even if it was just to see the dog, he couldn’t even catch a glimpse of the person. Anyone who didn’t know better would think he was truly in love with that dog!

“By the way, you started an advertising agency, right?” Chen Kuan Nian asked her.

“Yes.”

“I have a friend in Bingcheng who’s in the jewelry business. I’ll be heading there soon. Let’s meet up and chat.”

“Sure, thank you, Mr. Chen. I’ll treat you to a meal.”

“Deal.”

Their friends figured that relying on Luan Nian alone wouldn’t work, so they devised a strategy. Under the guise of introducing clients, they planned to take turns bringing Luan Nian to Bingcheng. This way, Shang Zhi Tao wouldn’t be able to avoid him anymore!

When Chen Kuan Nian said he’d go, he actually took action. He contacted his friend first and, when booking tickets, casually bought two and posted them in the group chat: “I’m accompanying Mr. Luan on his quest to win back his wife. At my own expense. I hope Mr. Luan remembers this favor and treats me to more drinks in the future.”

“Nonsense,” Luan Nian replied.

Despite saying that, he still went along.

Clients really had face. Shang Zhi Tao didn’t go anywhere else and even came to the airport to pick up Chen Kuan Nian. Luan Nian walked beside Chen Kuan Nian and saw Shang Zhi Tao, whom he hadn’t seen in a while, wearing large sunglasses.

When she took off the sunglasses, he saw eyes that had endured many sleepless nights.

“Sorry, the business just launched, and there are still a lot of things to sort out. I’ve pulled a few all-nighters, so I’m a bit of a mess,” Shang Zhi Tao apologized to them. Sometimes she sighed, realizing she was no longer in her early twenties. Back then, even after several sleepless nights, she could wash her face, brush her teeth, apply a bit of foundation, and still look radiant.

Luan Nian’s heart ached for a moment. But he wouldn’t say things like, “What are you after? Money? I have it!” He wouldn’t say such things anymore. Shang Zhi Tao was pursuing her life’s purpose, and that in itself was a wonderful thing.

When getting into the car, Chen Kuan Nian pretended to take the passenger seat, but Luan Nian slapped his hand off the door handle. Chen Kuan Nian chuckled and obediently went to sit in the back.

This time, there was none of the initial formality among them. Shang Zhi Tao directly took Chen Kuan Nian and Luan Nian to the old tavern for drinks, with Fu Dong joining them. When Da Zhai saw Luan Nian, he turned and went to the kitchen: “Tao Tao’s ex-boyfriend is here.”

Old Shang heard this and came out, finally catching a glimpse of Luan Nian.

He then turned and went back inside, actually smiling.

Da Zhai was puzzled and asked him, “What are you smiling about?”

“I’m laughing at how many blind dates Tao Tao has been on.” He nodded toward the outside. “He looks decent, aside from being a bit older. The rest seems passable, doesn’t it?”

Shang Zhi Tao came in to greet them and overheard the old couple’s whispers. She coughed and said, “Hurry up and get back to work! In a few days, they’ll shut you down for pandemic prevention again! You’ll lose everything!”Da Zhai tapped her forehead. "You talk too much. Your dad has been so stressed lately he can't sleep well."

"Just kidding, what's there to stress about? If we're not making money, we're not making money. Worst case, we just stop doing it!"

"Don't. I can't stand being idle. Business has been much better lately."

Shang Zhi Tao brought out a plate of peanuts and placed it in front of Luan Nian. "Here, something Mr. Luan likes to eat."

"Your company's hospitality standards keep getting worse."

"Even the General Secretary advocates for frugality!" Shang Zhi Tao retorted defiantly.

Seeing Luan Nian at a loss for words, Chen Kuan Nian snickered on the side, live-streaming their bickering in the group chat with the comment: "Neither gives an inch, no wonder they're both single."

Luan Nian's friends were reliable; if they said they'd handle something, they did. While still drinking, the other party sent over the time and location, arranging all the meeting details.

"Not having a drink?" Chen Kuan Nian asked her. "Still taking medicine?"

"Two men drinking with you isn't enough, is it?" Luan Nian said to him. "Always shouting about drinking, no wonder Xiao Mei makes you sleep in the living room." Staying up late and drinking on top of that—isn't that just asking for sudden death? What business is worth risking your life for?

Chen Kuan Nian chuckled.

As they ate, Luan Nian stood up to pay the bill. Da Zhai flipped the QR code face down on the table. "Tao Tao's treat, no need to pay."

Luan Nian flipped it back, scanned the code, and asked Da Zhai, "How much?"

"No need for such formalities." Da Zhai took his phone and closed the payment page. "Go eat. Drink less in the future."

"Okay," Luan Nian replied, adding, "Thank you."

After the meal, they all headed out.

Chen Kuan Nian asked Luan Nian, "Got something important again?"

"Yes."

"Alright, let's go!"

Luan Nian walked beside Shang Zhi Tao. He had drunk a little, his face slightly flushed.

"How's your business?" he asked Shang Zhi Tao.

"Not bad," she replied. "Fu Dong told me many of our recent clients were introduced by you."

"Hmm."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

After entering the house, Shang Zhi Tao curled up on the sofa, while Luan Nian went out to walk Luke. He took a longer walk and ran into Shang Zhi Tao's neighbor again. After exchanging greetings a few times, the neighbor felt somewhat familiar with Luan Nian. While waiting for the elevator, she asked him, "When are you getting married?"

"Next year," Luan Nian answered casually.

"Next year... that's soon, isn't it? Good, good. What do you do?"

"Advertising company."

"Oh, advertising sales. I get it, I get it."

Luan Nian smiled at her, resisting this inexplicable enthusiasm. When he entered the house, he saw Shang Zhi Tao curled up on the sofa, fast asleep. Even when Luke nuzzled her, she didn't wake up—she was truly exhausted.

Luan Nian walked over, bent down, and picked her up. Shang Zhi Tao opened her eyes slightly and heard Luan Nian say, "Go sleep in bed." Then she closed her eyes again.

Luan Nian placed her on the bed and went to the guest room.

Later, Chen Kuan Nian texted him, "You didn't go back to the hotel. Did things work out?"

"?"

"Little brother came in handy?"

"Get lost."

The next morning, Shang Zhi Tao opened her eyes to the sound of movement in the kitchen. She pushed the door open and saw Luan Nian making breakfast in the morning light. The aroma of multigrain porridge from the rice cooker filled the air, and he was frying an omelet with bell peppers and onions—something Shang Zhi Tao particularly loved.

She stood there watching him for a while, feeling that waking up to the scent of food in the morning was truly blissful.

But it was just a fleeting thought.

Life went on like this.By November, Shang Zhi Tao came across a women's awakening initiative. She was shocked by the stories within the initiative and moved by the noble sentiments of its founders. So she said to Luan Nian, "I want to donate the money from selling the bag."

"Donate to whom?"

"A women's awakening initiative."

"Is the organizer Lin Chun'er?"

"Yes, why does that name sound familiar?"

"Because the organizer is Song Qiu Han's girlfriend. I'll have her contact you."

On the day Lin Chun'er called Shang Zhi Tao, Ice City saw its first snow of the year. Shang Zhi Tao had just left the office and squeezed onto a bus. She answered the phone and heard a very gentle voice say, "Is this Shang Zhi Tao?"

"Yes, who is this?"

"I'm Lin Chun'er. Luan Nian said you have some money you'd like to donate."

"Yes. One million in total." Shang Zhi Tao added a bit more to round it off.

Hearing the bus announcement in the background, Lin Chun'er said to her, "Thank you, Shang Zhi Tao. I'll add you as a friend and send you the donation details later."

"Great, I'll arrange it as soon as I see them."

Somehow, after just a few words, the two felt an instant connection. Shang Zhi Tao said, "Come over for a drink sometime!"

"I'm not one to stand on ceremony, I'll come in December!"

And so, that money transformed into goodwill, going where it was meant to go. If it could help someone, that would be even better.

In her donation message, Shang Zhi Tao wrote: "May you live a carefree life. May you always have the courage to break deadlocks."

It seemed that after turning thirty, time began to race at a sprinting pace. Shang Zhi Tao was constantly busy, with endless work always waiting for her.

One morning, she woke up and realized Luke hadn't come to greet her.

After searching around, she found Luke lying by the window, eyes tightly shut, seeming very unwell. Shang Zhi Tao ran over and cradled his head, "What's wrong? Luke?"

Luke stood up, retched a few times, and vomited.

Shang Zhi Tao had never seen Luke like this before. Terrified, she called Luan Nian, "Luan Nian, Luke seems sick. He vomited, and he won't get up when I call him." Shang Zhi Tao was so frightened she didn't even realize she was crying.

"Don't cry," Luan Nian said to her. "Take him to the vet, I'm heading to the airport right away."

By the time Luan Nian arrived in the afternoon, Luke was on an IV at the vet's office, with Shang Zhi Tao sitting beside him, lips pressed tightly together, looking very distressed.

Luan Nian sat down next to her and asked, "What happened?"

"They said it's gastroenteritis." Shang Zhi Tao felt immensely guilty. She had been so busy lately that she had neglected Luke. Last night, when he was anxiously pacing the floor, she hadn't even considered that he might be sick.

Luan Nian crouched in front of Luke, pinching his snout, "Look at you! Even know how to get sick now!"

Luke whimpered and rested his head in Luan Nian's palm. When Luan Nian tried to pull his hand away, Luke bit it back, insisting on using it as a pillow.

Luan Nian pulled a chair over and sat in front of Luke, extending one hand for him to rest on while using the other to call Dr. Liang on his phone, "Yeah, it's fine. I might be back the day after tomorrow."

"Everything okay? Where are you?" Dr. Liang asked him.

"I'm in Ice City."

"You're with Shang Zhi Tao?" Dr. Liang felt a sudden surge of energy.Luan Nian glanced at Shang Zhi Tao and gave a soft hum in response.

"Can I speak with her?" Dr. Liang asked him.

"No. I'll hang up first." Luan Nian ended the call and sent a message to Dr. Liang: "We're not in a relationship, so I can't let you talk to her."

"It's fine, I won't say anything. Go ahead, stay a few more days."

Amused, he hung up the phone.

"If you have something to do..."

"I don't." Luan Nian cut off Shang Zhi Tao. "Aren't you very busy? Go to the company."

"I brought my laptop."

"Then you can handle your work."

"Alright."

Shang Zhi Tao truly had a mountain of work piled up. She had obtained her license less than half a year ago, and the conversions demanded by clients had to be achieved—otherwise, where would the willingness to reinvest come from? So she opened her laptop and began typing away noisily. Luan Nian watched her for a long time before finally speaking:

"Shang Zhi Tao, how about I take care of Luke with you?"