Shang Zhi Tао's brаnсh оffiсe was lоcated in the same industriаl рark whеre Lin Сhun'еr wоrkеd.
Thе раrk оffеred sоme governmеnt subsidiеs and hоused many inсubators, mаking the rent rеlаtivеlу аffоrdаble. She rеntеd a thrее-stоry оfficе sрacе, with rеnt and rеnovation сosts consuming mоst оf hеr savings. Sоme suggested shе арplу fоr а businеss lоаn, but aftеr muсh delibеratiоn, she deсided аgаinst it.
Тhe оffiсе rеnovation hаd begun earlier. Sincе Shang Zhi Taо was in Bingсheng аnd сouldn’t оversee it herself, Sun Yu, Lumi, and Lin Chun'er took turns helping her keep an eye on the progress. Luan Nian also checked in whenever he returned to Beijing. Feeling guilty for troubling them, Shang Zhi Tao expressed her unease, but Lumi laughed it off, saying, "What are friends for if not to help each other out? Otherwise, what’s the point? Just having fun together and disappearing when things get tough? That’s not how real friends act."
With most of her funds drained by rent, Shang Zhi Tao realized how quickly money could vanish, leaving her with little to spare. As a result, the renovation was kept simple. In Lin Chun'er's words, it was "minimalist industrial style." However, she invested in quality office equipment. Hiring costs in Beijing were relatively high, and she also had to pay a business deposit, leaving her finances stretched thin.
One evening, before starting recruitment, Shang Zhi Tao passed by Luan Nian several times as he was teaching Nian Tao to recognize colors.
She seemed hesitant, burdened by something on her mind, but couldn’t bring herself to speak up.
Shang Zhi Tao had never borrowed money from Luan Nian before. Even though they were married, she still felt his money was his own.
After Nian Tao fell asleep, the two lay in bed, and Luan Nian asked about her progress. She explained everything in detail.
"Do you have something to tell me?" Luan Nian had noticed her restlessness.
Unsure how to begin, Shang Zhi Tao traced circles on his chest with her finger. After a long pause, she finally said, "Could you lend me some money?"
"How much?"
"About 1.2 million should do." She had asked Sunny to help with the calculations. Hiring 25 people initially would require one million in employee costs to cover three months. What happened after that would depend on her opportunities and luck.
"No." Luan Nian disliked the word "lend." To him, it felt too formal between a married couple. He had never intended to keep accounts with Shang Zhi Tao—their lives had been too intertwined over the years to ever settle them clearly. And since they couldn’t, he was content to let everything remain intertwined, for a lifetime.
"Oh. Then I’ll think of another way."
"What other way do you have in mind?" Luan Nian asked.
"Maybe I’ll ask Sun Yu? Lumi? Chun'er? I have plenty of well-off friends…"
"Are you out of your mind?"
Luan Nian sat up and glared at her. Under the dim glow of the nightlight, the two locked eyes in a silent standoff. After a moment, Luan Nian picked up his phone and sent her a file.
"What’s this?" Shang Zhi Tao asked before opening it.
"My will."
"?? Are you crazy?" Shang Zhi Tao hated jokes like this. The word "will" felt malicious to her, and she glared at Luan Nian, breathing heavily in frustration.
Luan Nian took her phone, opened the file, and held it in front of her. It really was a will. Scrolling down with his fingertip, he showed her the detailed list of his current assets and their distribution. "It’s notarized," he told her. "When the time comes, you can contact Song Qiu Han and Lin Chun'er. We share the same lawyer."
Tears welled up in Shang Zhi Tao’s eyes. "What are you doing? Why did you write a will? Why would you do this?""I can't help but laugh at you, Ms. Shang Zhitao." Luan Nian pinched her chin. "Why are you crying? I'm not dead! This is a lifestyle choice, and it's already quite common. I only followed suit after seeing Song Qiuhan researching it. Chen Kuannian wrote one too, and so did Tan Mian."
Shang Zhitao wiped her tears, not forgetting to tease Tan Mian: "He's all alone, who would he leave all that money to?"
"Donated to designated institutions." Luan Nian roughly wiped her tears for her. "Have you cried enough? If you have, then listen to me."
Luan Nian cupped Shang Zhitao's face: "I want to grow old with you, but life is unpredictable. It's never wrong to plan ahead—do you agree with that? What I also want to tell you is that I don't like the idea of keeping everything separate after marriage. Maybe you think that way—keeping things clear makes it easier to walk away. But I don't see it like that. I want us to have the feel of a traditional family. I'm entrusting all my assets and my life to you—that's the safety net for you and Niantao. Understand?"
"I don't want it. I can earn money myself." Shang Zhitao didn't like such a solemn approach. After giving birth to Niantao, she became especially afraid of falling ill. She used to not be very careful about her health, but now she dared not stay up late. Once reckless, she had become cautious.
She had grown afraid of losing and dared not lose.
Luan Nian looked at her for a long time, then pulled her back to lie down and turned off the light.
In the darkness, both of them lay with their eyes open.
"I won't lend you a million. Because you have the right to use all my money. If you're not used to it, think of it as our shared living fund. You can deposit it back once your cash flow eases up."
"Okay."
Shang Zhitao held Luan Nian tightly.
This night had shaken her deeply. She knew Luan Nian loved her and that he loved Niantao, but what was the truth of marriage? Some said marriage was like two people running a company together—only with the right direction, feasible strategies, and clear division of labor could it last. Shang Zhitao used to agree with this view, but now she felt her marriage with Luan Nian wasn't like a company. It was more like a seed buried underground. The two of them diligently watered, fertilized, and removed pests, waiting for the seed to grow. This didn't require grand ambitions like running a company—it was just about nurturing a seed.
"I'm quite glad Niantao's temper isn't like mine." Luan Nian suddenly said this. He knew he had always been difficult to get along with, with many stubborn and rigid traits in his personality—he was what others called "picky." During Shang Zhitao's pregnancy, he had thought that if Niantao's temperament was like his, that would be fine too—at least she would grow up to be a girl who was "not to be messed with." But Luan Nian also felt sad, thinking she might struggle to make friends and fearing she would feel lonely. Being like Shang Zhitao was best—not competing or fighting but quietly striving, free from jealousy or complaints, resilient and full of vitality. It was also easier to make genuine friends.
"I'm also quite glad she's not like you." Shang Zhitao chuckled in the darkness. If Niantao's temper were like his, she would have to deal with two difficult personalities—that would be too pitiful for her. Sometimes, watching Luan Nian take care of Niantao, she felt the biggest challenge he would face in his life was probably how to avoid being influenced by his daughter.
He might not even realize it himself, but when he was with Niantao, he was damn gentle.
Luan Nian reached under her pajamas and pinched her waist. "Say that again?""Enough." Shang Zhi Tao sensed a slight pain and stopped speaking. She felt Luan Nian's hand move, his palm gliding slowly up against her skin, the thin calluses brushing against her, causing a faint itch.
The night was truly enchanting.
Both of them dared not make a sound under the covers, sweating profusely on their heads and faces from the heat. Shang Zhi Tao tried to push the blanket aside, but Luan Nian pulled it back over them. As he continued his mischief, he said, "Don't disturb my daughter's sleep."
"Your daughter wouldn't wake up even if thunder struck."
"Still not allowed."
Luan Nian covered her lips, making her feel as if she were suffocating. The alternating torment of heat and pleasure made her somewhat irritable. Finally, she bit down on Luan Nian's shoulder: "I don't want the blanket."
"Fine."
Luan Nian got out of bed, picked her up, and carried her to the bathroom. Closing the door, he said to her, "You can scream now."
Shang Zhi Tao felt Luan Nian was too biased: "You only love Nian Tao."
"Is that so?" Luan Nian laughed. "Nonsense."
After fooling around and taking a shower, they lay back in bed, too exhausted to keep their eyes open, and fell into a deep sleep.
===
Shang Zhi Tao's branch office finally set sail.
On the day of its official opening, Sun Yu arranged a small ribbon-cutting ceremony for her, saying it was for good luck.
Shang Zhi Tao felt a bit awkward about such a high-profile event, but she couldn't resist her friends' insistence, and the ceremony went ahead.
That day, she deliberately wore light makeup and dressed beautifully. There weren't many attendees—aside from the dozen or so employees who had already joined, the rest were friends. Feeling the occasion was too sparse, she invited her friends to join her in cutting the ribbon.
"That won't do," Lin Chun'er refused. "This is your big moment. We're just spectators and small shareholders, but I suggest you invite your company's silent major shareholder to cut the ribbon with you." She was referring to Luan Nian, as Shang Zhi Tao had used some of his money.
Luan Nian stood there, putting on airs. Though he clearly wanted to join, he waited for Shang Zhi Tao to invite him. Seeing his proud and annoying demeanor, Shang Zhi Tao couldn't help but laugh. She asked him, "Would Mr. Luan grace us with his presence?"
"Reluctantly."
Luan Nian smiled and stood beside her.
Shang Zhi Tao pulled Lin Chun'er and Sun Yu to stand on either side—they had also invested a small amount.
After more than nine months, Shang Zhi Tao had finally regained her pre-pregnancy figure. Lin Chun'er was warm, Sun Yu was sharp, and Luan Nian carried himself with his usual poise. Standing together, they outshone countless others.
As they picked up the scissors, the photographer said, "Count to three, and the bosses can begin cutting." Then he checked his watch for the auspicious moment.
Luan Nian suddenly turned to Shang Zhi Tao and said, "Shang Zhi Tao, welcome back to Beijing."
Shang Zhi Tao was deeply moved. Those words seemed to encapsulate over a decade of her life—from the rainy day she dragged her luggage out of Beijing Station, to her departure, and now her return.
It felt as though her prime had passed, yet also as if she were still in it.
A flood of emotions washed over her.
At the big dinner that evening, Sun Yu and Zhang Lei drank heavily. At one point, they walked up to Shang Zhi Tao, pulled her aside, and Zhang Lei raised his glass to the sky: "To our brotherhood."
"To youth," Sun Yu said, her eyes slightly reddened.
"To the years," Shang Zhi Tao added.
Time is both tangible and intangible.
Tangible in the fine lines at the corners of your eyes and the gray hairs at your temples; intangible in the heart, where the people you've met and the memories you've made can be recalled but never touched again.Shang Zhi Tao had never sailed smoothly through life, one hurdle after another, never truly getting her way, yet she was content.
Contentment was her constant state of mind. Only with such contentment did she never miss each tiny, even insignificant, sweetness life offered.
That evening, Little Nian Tao went to bed early. Shang Zhi Tao sat cross-legged on the bed, with Luan Nian facing her. She said to him, "I want to talk with you."
"About what?"
"About my past dozen years or so."
Shang Zhi Tao wanted to start from the very first year. She felt a bit embarrassed because she knew she would seem long-winded, turning into a chatterbox.
"Will you find me too verbose? Will you get annoyed? Or are you tired now? If you're tired, you can sleep first, and we can talk another time."
"Shang Zhi Tao." Luan Nian called her name. "I can talk with you until dawn."
Until the next dawn, and the one after that.
All fine.
As long as we still have words to share.
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