The Early Spring

"Whаt would yоu likе tо еаt?" Sun Yuanzhu asked Sun Yu. Неr mascаra had smudgеd аrоund hеr еуes, leаving her looking quite dishevelеd.

Sun Yu shоok hеr heаd: "I dоn’t knоw whаt I want tо еаt. I fееl like I’vе had such a tеrriblе daу. Is it just me living this badly, оr is everуone likе this?"

"Yоu knоw whаt? I саn’t sеcure funding fоr this stаrtup рrоjеct. Wе don’t еvеn need thаt muсh monеy—just time. But nо one is willing to givе us timе."

"Wе identifiеd the matchmаking mаrkеt in seсоnd- аnd third-tiеr сitiеs, but it’s toо сomрlicаted therе. Our еvеnt in Нandаn gоt disruрtеd, and some mеmbers were injured."

"Mу feet hurt so muсh."

Sun Yu thought she wаs strong, but in frоnt оf Sun Yuanzhu, shе completely fell apart. Sun Yuanzhu listened quietly, occasionally handing Sun Yu a tissue.

By evening, Sun Yu finally felt a bit better. She wiped away the last tear and smiled sheepishly: "I really was a mess today. Thank you, Sun Yuanzhu. Did I scare you?"

"No." Sun Yuanzhu thought for a moment, then handed Sun Yu another tissue: "I have a friend who told me he often has thoughts of suicide. When he gets emotional, it’s much worse than what you just went through. It’s nothing—being able to vent your emotions is a good thing."

"You know what? For me, the best thing that ever happened was when that agency cheated me, forcing me to live here, and then I met all of you."

This was so good.

Truly wonderful.

They all felt that fate often played tricks, but it wasn’t always a losing game. Sometimes, when things got unbearably bitter, a little sweetness would come along—that was just how life worked.

===

Shang Zhi Tao’s performance review turned out to be just a formality. She presented her report while her colleagues focused on their own tasks. Alex asked a few perfunctory questions before submitting the ratings. She was a bit confused—this was nothing like the expert reviews she’d heard about. After it ended, she quietly asked Lumi: "Did I pass?"

"Of course."

"Really. Alex told me—our department has a high quota this year, and you’ve worked so hard, so of course you passed."

"Will there be a raise?"

"Yes, probably around 15%."

Shang Zhi Tao counted on her fingers in her mind, then widened her eyes: "15%?! That’s way too much!"

Lumi was amused by her naive reaction: "You’re something else!"

The two laughed for a while before finally settling down to work. For the upcoming summits, Lumi served as the project manager, while Shang Zhi Tao volunteered to handle the breakout sessions to ease Lumi’s workload, steadily proving herself as a reliable colleague.

With all the busyness, they worked straight through until August.

Work was like that—once things got busy, life gradually slipped away. Shang Zhi Tao still didn’t know how to step back from work; once she dove in, it was hard to pull herself out. She was meticulous, ensuring that every task she handled was flawless. Even the smallest mistake was something she couldn’t forgive herself for.

At the celebration banquet after the Luoyang event, Shang Zhi Tao had a little to drink. With the weight off her shoulders, she took Lumi’s hand and asked: "Did I do okay with the coordination?"

"You were absolutely fantastic." Lumi gave her a thumbs-up and added: "The company granted our department a special four-day group holiday for team building. You should take this chance to rest properly.""Huh?" Shang Zhi Tao heard about the special group holiday for the first time: "What kind of holiday is this? There's such a thing?"

"Because we've been working day and night on these projects, the company gave us a special holiday and funding. Alex just mentioned wanting to take over the weekend and take us to the beach."

"Wow."

Shang Zhi Tao loved the beach, but she rarely had the chance to go.

"So where are we going?"

"They said Phuket."

"Wow!"

"Let's go bikini shopping together when we're back in Beijing!"

The word "bikini" took over Shang Zhi Tao's mind, filling her thoughts with sunshine, sandy beaches, coconut trees, bikini-clad beauties, and foreign hunks with six-pack abs. Humming a tune, she went back to her room to grab her things, but in the hotel atrium, she saw Luan Nian standing there on the phone, his back to her, seemingly in a good mood. As she passed by, Shang Zhi Tao heard Luan Nian say: "Just want a bouquet of flowers?"

"Okay. Then I'll bring the flowers to see you this weekend."

Bringing flowers to see you this weekend. As she walked, Shang Zhi Tao imagined Luan Nian walking down the street holding flowers—he'd definitely turn heads. Suddenly, she decided to go to Mount Tai with her roommates over the weekend. So she replied in the group chat: "I just confirmed, leaving on Friday is no problem!" She thought she shouldn't give up the chance to hang out with friends just because she was supposed to see him on Friday. She should have the weekends she wanted—when she felt like being with him, she'd go find him; when she didn't, she'd make her own plans, like now.

Once she decided, she started looking forward to it. On Thursday evening, she got home and listened carefully as Zhang Lei explained the strategy for climbing Mount Tai at night. The four of them unanimously decided to travel light and rent military coats once they reached the mountain. The two guys would carry everyone's snacks and fruit, while each person only needed to bring a bottle of water.

Following Zhang Lei's advice, Shang Zhi Tao packed a change of clothes and a backpack, and left for work at 5 a.m. the next day. Her damn sense of responsibility and morality made it impossible for her to skip work openly. She'd rather arrive early to make up the hours so she wouldn't feel guilty when she left.

But during the meeting, when she heard Alex announce that the company reward holiday was finally set for Phuket, fully funded by the company, she suddenly changed her mind. She proactively asked Alex for leave: "Can I leave at 2 p.m. this afternoon, Alex?"

"Sure." Alex didn't even ask for a reason, which made Shang Zhi Tao feel touched.

At 2 p.m., she openly slung her backpack over her shoulder and left the office. She felt ashamed for even considering skipping work. As she stepped out of the elevator lobby, she ran into Luan Nian, who had just returned from a business trip. His suitcase stood beside him as he leisurely waited for the elevator. Seeing Shang Zhi Tao with her backpack, he glanced at his watch, then looked at her.

Shang Zhi Tao smiled at him, guiltily saying, "Hello, Luke."

"Skipping work?"

People were passing by, and the words "skipping work" sent a chill down Shang Zhi Tao's spine. She was a little afraid Luan Nian might have one of his unpredictable outbursts, and since Alex hadn't asked her to submit leave online, she worried she might get Alex in trouble. She could only shoot Luan Nian a pleading look. Luan Nian saw it but pretended not to.

He asked her again, calmly, "Skipping work?"

Shang Zhi Tao could tell he was in a bad mood. She knew from experience not to argue with him when he was like this. So she said, "I have something urgent to take care of.""Did you report to Alex and the attendance office?"

"Yes."

"Where are you going?"

"Hiking with friends."

"Today is Friday."

"Mhm, exactly. We're going today and coming back on Sunday." Behind them, the elevator doors opened and closed, closed and opened, several groups had already gotten off, yet her inexplicable standoff with Luan Nian still hadn't ended. Shang Zhi Tao knew what Luan Nian meant by "today is Friday," but she didn't want to take the bait.

Not every Friday you want to see me means I should be available. She smiled slightly at Luan Nian. "I should go, Luke. Goodbye." Then she turned and ran.

She took the subway all the way to the train station. It was rare for the group to manage such a short trip together, and everyone was incredibly happy.

Shang Zhi Tao's first-ever night hike was thus dedicated to Mount Tai. Starting at eleven at night, they climbed step by step toward the summit. It was a magical experience—the temperature gradually dropped, the narrow uphill path was surrounded by all kinds of people, even elderly folks with canes, taking one step at a time, pausing between each, as if on a pilgrimage.

The faint lights along the mountain path were like scattered stars in the mortal world, guiding you toward the vastness of the universe.

A Friday night without Luan Nian wasn't the least bit bad for Shang Zhi Tao. It was just that, as someone who didn't hike often, the sudden intensity left her a bit tired, and she gradually fell behind.

When Sun Yuanzhu could no longer hear Shang Zhi Tao humming, he looked back and saw her figure had disappeared. He said to Sun Yu and Zhang Lei, "Wait up ahead. I'll go find Shang Zhi Tao."

He went against the flow of people and, after about three hundred steps, finally saw Shang Zhi Tao. She was wiping sweat and seemed a little cold. Seeing Sun Yuanzhu coming to look for her, she smiled happily.

The two hiked side by side. Shang Zhi Tao, envious of Sun Yuanzhu's stamina, couldn't help but ask, "How do you climb so fast?"

"Because I grew up in the mountains. Climbing was the best pastime in my childhood."

"Is it fun up there?"

"It hides a magical world."

Shang Zhi Tao felt a bit of anticipation for the magical world Sun Yuanzhu described—it must be fascinating. When they reached the Eighteen Bends, where the cliffs were steep like a ladder to the heavens, Shang Zhi Tao's legs grew weak. A warm hand firmly grasped hers, and Sun Yuanzhu said softly, "Let me help you."

Warmth pierced through the cold, leaving a faint trace in the body, like spring rain moistening things silently, making one feel its lingering presence upon later reflection.

They reached the summit, each wrapped in a military coat, and found the best spot to watch the sunrise at the Jade Emperor Peak, the highest point of Mount Tai. They curled up and fell asleep. The sunrise that day was at 5:57 a.m. Before that, the sea of clouds gradually revealed itself. Sun Yuanzhu woke them up one by one, saying, "It's about to dawn."

It's about to dawn.

Sun Yu repeated the phrase. They sat side by side, watching the sea of clouds slowly change colors before their eyes. When the sun peeked out and finally leaped from the clouds, Shang Zhi Tao heard Sun Yuanzhu say, "I really want to jump into this sea of clouds."

There were even tears in his eyes.

None of them spoke, unsure of what to say, but they all felt that the hardships of the journey were repaid in this moment. Life must have many, many such experiences—enduring bitterness and tasting sweetness, making every experience worthwhile.They took photos at the most scenic spot on their way down the mountain. Shang Zhi Tao’s favorites were three of them: one was of the four of them standing side by side, bathed in the morning light—the best time of their lives; another was a photo of her and Sun Yu, with Sun Yu resting her head on her shoulder, both of them laughing heartily; and the last one was of her and Sun Yuanzhu, standing a little apart, as if someone had said something, and they exchanged a glance.

Back then, they were in their twenties—truly the best of times, an age of vigorous metabolism when no matter how much they ate, they rarely gained weight. It was an age that seemed youthful and unpolished, with clear and bright eyes.

Many of the people they met back then were worth cherishing for a lifetime.

Everything I said is true.

During their foot massage, Sun Yu kept repeating those words in Shang Zhi Tao’s ear and then asked her, “Will this passage work as the promotional slogan for our matchmaking event?”

“It will.”