It fell from his fingertips

Despite Zhou Jinbai's repeated insistence, Tang Luoqing ultimately did not let him carry her. Instead, she walked and stopped frequently with Shen Baiyan, taking countless breaks along the way. Finally, after nearly three hours, they reached the mountaintop.

There's a teahouse at the top of the mountain. It's cold now, so sitting on a chair at the top, basking in the sun and drinking hot tea is a unique experience.

This was Tang Luoqing's first time climbing a mountain in all the years she had lived in Beijing, and she felt a great sense of accomplishment, though her legs were a little weak.

She leaned closer to Zhou Jinbai, who was sitting in a chair beside her, and whispered, "My legs are weak. Please let me go tonight, okay?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jinbai smiled helplessly and indulgently, reaching out to hook Tang Luoqing's nose: "Did you plan this all along?"

Tang Luoqing quickly shook her head in denial: "No way! Don't wrong me."

At first, Tang Luoqing hadn't thought of this at all. After all, who would have thought that climbing a mountain would take so much effort? And that her legs would feel incredibly weak?

But just now, while sitting in the chair drinking tea, it suddenly occurred to her.

She's already so tired, how could Zhou Jinbai possibly have the nerve to torment her tonight?

Seeing Zhou Jinbai's helpless smile, Tang Luoqing felt relieved, as she had rarely seen him with such a helpless and frustrated expression.

"What are you talking about? Share it with us!"

Shen Baiyan took the tea that Lu Yu handed her, took a sip, and looked at Tang Luoqing with curiosity.

Tang Luoqing was too embarrassed to share that kind of thing with her best friend, so she smiled and shook her head, quickly changing the subject: "It's nothing. By the way, what are you two planning to do? Long-distance relationship?"

Although it may seem a bit early to talk about this now, it is something that Shen Baiyan must consider if she really wants to be with Lu Yu.

Since she was able to bring Lu Yu out to meet Tang Luoqing, it means that she wanted to be with him.

Naturally, Shen Baiyan fell into deep thought upon hearing this.

To be honest, she never thought she would fall in love with a man again. It was Lu Yu who made her realize that there are such silly men in the world. He would fly to her city immediately if she said just one word, but all he said was: "I suddenly want to receive a bouquet of roses."

She had assumed Lu Yu would buy flowers online and have them delivered, but to her surprise, when she opened the door the next morning, she saw a travel-worn Lu Yu holding a large bouquet of vibrant roses, a radiant smile on his face, saying, "These roses are for you."

Shen Baiyan stood there stunned for a long time, so long that Lu Yu thought he had done something wrong. The smile on his face changed from bright to cautious. When he didn't know what to do, the stone that had been weighing on her heart for many years suddenly fell to the ground.

But now, Tang Luoqing's question has forced Shen Baiyan to seriously consider the relationship between the two of them.

Either she could go wherever Lu Yu went with an indifferent attitude, or she could return to the city where she worked after the New Year and then break up with him.

After all, even the best feelings can't withstand a long-distance relationship.

Rather than falling deeply in love and then breaking up later, it's better to cut ties now.

Before Shen Baiyan could speak, Lu Yu said first, "No, I've already opened a branch in Lincheng, and I'll be working mainly there from now on."

Before she could finish speaking, Shen Baiyan looked at Lu Yu in surprise: "Branch company? When did that happen? Why didn't you tell me?"

Lu Yu looked somewhat bewildered: "I already told you, I asked you before if you were satisfied with your current job, and you said you were very satisfied. Then I said I would come to see you later."

Shen Baiyan: "..."

She remained silent for a long while before speaking, "I thought you meant... so you were already thinking about opening a branch office in Lincheng back then?"

Lu Yu nodded: "Yeah, if I fly over to see you, I can't see you every day. But if I open a branch office there, I can see you every day. Between seeing you every day and seeing you occasionally, of course I'd choose to see you every day."

Before she could finish speaking, Shen Baiyan punched Lu Yu in the chest and said helplessly, "You're really something! You didn't even discuss such a big thing with me? What if I go to work in another city in the future? Are you planning to open a branch office there too?"

Lu Yu really thought about this question seriously before answering, "It's not impossible. We need to make sure that cultural and creative companies don't go hungry, no matter where they go."

Shen Baiyan was speechless for a moment.

Tang Luoqing looked at Shen Baiyan's helpless expression and a genuine smile appeared on her lips.

It seems that Shen Baiyan won't encounter a scumbag this time.

The next moment, Zhou Jinbai grabbed her hand, leaned close to her ear, and said, "Don't worry anymore?"

Tang Luoqing looked at Zhou Jinbai, wondering how this guy could always guess what she was thinking.

That day, the four of them took a cable car down the mountain.

The cable car is for groups of two or three people, so the four of us split into two groups to take the cable car down the mountain.

Tang Luoqing and Zhou Jinbai sat in a two-person cable car. The wind blew and messed up her hair, but Zhou Jinbai held her in his arms and tidied up the stray hairs around her ears.

Tang Luoqing leaned against Zhou Jinbai, looking at the scenery passing below, and couldn't help but think that this winter was really beautiful, really beautiful.

That evening, Tang Luoqing and Zhou Jinbai drove back to Tang Luoqing's grandmother's hometown together.

With Zhou Jinbai sending people to help keep an eye on things, Grandma's house was restored to almost exactly the same as before the flood.

The cherry blossom tree, swing, and rattan chair—although all the old items have been replaced with new ones, their positions remain exactly the same.

The night was clear and the wind was still chilly, but Tang Luoqing and Zhou Jinbai lay on the recliners, covered with blankets, feeling incredibly warm.

She tilted her head back, gazing at the stars in the sky, and whispered to Zhou Jinbai, "You know what? When I was little, I loved lying in the recliner with my grandma, mom, and dad, watching the stars. Then my parents passed away, and it was just me and grandma. Grandma also raised Milk Candy. Then, grandma passed away too. At that time, I wondered, will anyone else be there to watch the stars with Milk Candy and me in the future?"

"For a long time, I thought it was over. I thought that no one would ever be here with me and Naitang again, lying here carefree, watching the stars. But I guess I underestimated my luck. Zhou Jinbai..."

Having said that, Tang Luoqing turned to look at the man who was holding her.

Under the moonlight and the dim light in the courtyard, Zhou Jinbai's face was exceptionally deep and captivating, causing Tang Luoqing's heart to race and her heart to flutter.

She cupped his face in her hands, planted a kiss on the corner of his lips, and said, "You'll always stay here with me to watch the stars, right?"

The little candy lying next to me meowed.

Zhou Jinbai nodded without hesitation: "Yes. Not just me, but if you're willing, our children will also be here with you to watch the stars. Our whole family will watch the stars together."

A bright smile appeared on Tang Luoqing's lips, but tears silently streamed down her face.

Zhou Jinbai lowered his head and kissed away the tears in her eyes.

"Tang Luoqing, I have been waiting for this day for a long time."