Oh no! I've only been a freshman and I've already been targeted by a mean upperclassman.

After the ring was decided, neither of them brought it up again.

The night Li Chen sent out the order, Yan Xi was at her drawing table as usual, rushing to complete her tutor's surveying project.

He was writing iterative code for the Microlight project on the sofa.

The two people were separated by a living room three meters away and a warm yellow pen holder lamp.

The room was extremely quiet.

They were both busy with their own things. Occasionally, Yan Xi would send a message reminding him to lean back two centimeters, and he would reply to remind her that she was blinking too infrequently.

Two weeks passed in this peaceful state.

On the day the national competition results for the Weiguang project were released, Li Chen was in the kitchen heating up milk for Yan Xi.

My phone vibrated six times in a row.

There's a new message in group 302.

Wang Qiang sent a screenshot of the list of winners from the official website of the National Undergraduate Algorithm Innovation Competition.

The Micro-Light project won the gold award.

The small print following it indicates that it is a project specially recommended by the organizing committee.

Wang Qiang used twenty exclamation marks in a row to express his excitement.

Zhao Zixuan insisted on treating everyone.

Chen Mo only replied with four words to indicate that the data had been recorded.

Yan Xi was looking at her phone when Li Chen brought out the milk.

She put down her phone and took the cup.

"Congratulations."

Aren't you surprised?

"Zhou Yan spoke with me yesterday."

She took a sip of milk.

"The organizing committee will be holding a small showcase of the winning projects here next week. Zhou Yan wants you to prepare a 15-minute live presentation."

Li Chen sat down.

"When did you find out?"

"Four hours earlier than you."

Yan Xi placed the cup on a silver cup holder engraved with the character "Chen".

"The time is next Saturday at 2 PM, and the location is the school's academic lecture hall."

"Can you prepare the presentation for me?"

"I've already drawn up the outline, I'll show it to you tomorrow."

That evening, Yan Xi sent a message to the 302 group.

The content only contained the words "Everyone must be in formal attire next Saturday".

Wang Qiang immediately replied, asking if his gray suit would be okay.

Yan Xi replied that he should change to black, saying that wearing gray would make him look like he was going on a blind date.

Zhao Zixuan asked if they needed sponsorship for venue setup.

Yan Xi said no, and only asked him to be in charge of the sign-in and guidance for the day.

Chen Mo asked what needed to be prepared.

Yan Xi asked him to bring a complete log of the data analysis in case the judges asked questions.

The entire group was arranged perfectly.

Over the next few days, Li Chen modified the code during the day and reviewed the demo at night, while Yan Xi helped him go through the logic lines every day.

Li Chen closed his laptop at 11 p.m. on Friday night.

"That's about it."

Yan Xi leaned back on the sofa, looking at her postgraduate entrance exam materials without looking up.

What should I wear tomorrow?

"Was that navy blue coat worn over a white shirt?"

"No, that's too casual."

"Then what do you want to wear?"

Yan Xi turned a page of her book without answering.

Li Chen didn't pay attention and went to take a shower. When he came back, Yan Xi had already returned to her room.

At 1 p.m. the next day, Li Chen was wearing a white shirt and hesitating over which coat to choose when the doorbell rang.

He didn't order takeout.

He went over and opened the door.

There was a black suit bag by the door.

There was no waybill or shopping bag label, only a white paper tag with Yan Xi's handwriting on it.

He was asked to put it on.

Li Chen carried the suit bag into the house and unzipped it.

Inside was a custom-made dark gray suit.

The fabric felt wonderful to the touch, and he reached out to test the width of the sleeve.

The size is just right.

He paused for a moment as he put on his coat and buttoned it.

The clothes fit perfectly.

The shoulder line, sleeve length, and waistline all conform to the contours of his body.

But he didn't remember Yan Xi measuring his size.

He looked at the opening of the inner pocket of the lining, where there was a line of gold-embossed letters in very small font.

It is the initials of his name.

Li Chen stood in front of the full-length mirror and looked at himself when his phone beeped.

Yan Xi sent a message reminding me that the tie was in the side pocket of the bag; it was a dark gray tie.

She set the door at 1:40 and said she would wait for him downstairs.

Li Chen took out his tie, tied it, and looked in the mirror.

When he walked out of the building, Yan Xi was waiting for him next to the Porsche downstairs.

He stopped in his tracks.

Yan Xi wore a black, fitted long dress with the hemline three centimeters above her knees.

Her hair was tied up and secured with the phoenix hairpin he had bought, and she wore a pair of pearl earrings on her earlobes.

She was wearing black stiletto heels.

Li Chen knew she didn't wear high heels often.

The afternoon sun, shining from the side, cast a warm glow on Yan Xi's silhouette.

Li Chen strode over.

Yan Xi looked him up and down.

"Your tie is crooked."

She stepped forward, reached out and pinched the tie knot with both hands, adjusting it two millimeters to the left.

Her fingers lingered on his chest for a moment.

When were the measurements taken?

Li Chen asked.

"When and when?"

"My clothing size."

Yan Xi tightened the knot in her tie and then withdrew her hand.

"The suit you wore last time that you bought in Beijing had sleeves that were half a centimeter too short and shoulder lines that were three millimeters off."

She provided her reasoning.

"I adjusted the measurements to suit your current body shape."

"You're relying on visual estimation?"

"Rely on memory."

Yan Xi opened the car door.

"Since last October, your right deltoid muscle circumference has increased by 1.2 centimeters, your chest circumference has increased by 0.8 centimeters, but your waist circumference has remained unchanged."

She pointed out the reason.

"It's from practicing Jeet Kune Do."

Li Chen bent down and climbed into the passenger seat.

"Are you a liveness scanner?"

"You're only finding out now?"

The car started and drove off.

Li Chen looked down at his silver matte cufflinks from the passenger seat.

He reacted.

"This suit wasn't just ordered today."

"Um."

How far in advance did you book?

Yan Xi drove out of the community gate and looked at the road conditions ahead.

"The day the 'Micro Light' project passed the initial review."

That happened more than two months ago.

"Did you know you'd win the gold medal back then?"

"have no idea."

Yan Xi reached out to shift gears.

"But I know that sooner or later you'll be standing in a place where you need to wear a proper suit."

Li Chen leaned back in his seat, watching the ginkgo trees flash by outside the car window.

"So you started measuring my size two months in advance."

"I don't need to take a measurement."

Yan Xi spoke calmly.

I see you every day.

The car fell silent.

Li Chen placed his hand on the armrest.

After Yan Xi shifted gears, her right hand naturally reached over and hooked his little finger with her index finger.

"Li Chen".

"Um."

"There will be a brief awards ceremony after today's demonstration."

"I know."

"Stay on stage after the awards ceremony."

Li Chen turned to look at her.

Yan Xi's gaze remained fixed on the road ahead, but a smile played on her lips.

Why stay on stage?

Yan Xi did not answer.

She took a small, square, black velvet box from the storage compartment next to the steering wheel.

She placed the box on the armrest between the two of them.

"Open."

Li Chen picked up the box and opened the lid.

Inside was a narrow silver ring with a line of delicately engraved characters on the inner wall.

He leaned closer to take a closer look.

Stop measuring, Yan Xi left.

Li Chen was stunned.

Yan Xi turned to look at him while waiting for the red light.

"Your one is still being made to order and there's no time to process it."

She explained the reason.

"So I made the first move."

Li Chen held the ring; the inscription on the inside gleamed in the sunlight.

"Put on that suit, wear this ring, and then go on stage."

Yan Xi explained the process.

"I'll take care of the rest."

Li Chen held the ring and looked up at her.

Her ears turned completely red.

"Yan Xi".

"Are you proposing to me?"

Yan Xi turned her gaze back to the front.

The light turned green, and she stepped on the gas.

I'm giving you a chance.

She gave the final instructions.

"After your ring is finished, you can ask me that question."

Her little finger hooked onto his finger again.

"Don't mess it up."