Yingqu Liuzi was pampered by her wealthy daddy.

Life after marriage is not much different from life before marriage.

Shen Yu'an still went to the art studio to paint every day, and Xize still went to the company every day.

But some things have changed. For example, when Shen Yu'an gets up, Xize will help him straighten the collar of his pajamas, and the two of them will chat a bit more about what happened that day during dinner.

Shen Yu'an's paintings are selling better and better. The gallery arranged two solo exhibitions for him, both of which sold out.

An art magazine interviewed him, with the title "Colors from the East".

When he got the magazine, he flipped to his own photo and found a small light blue bowl next to him. It was a bowl he and Caesar had bought during their honeymoon in France and had kept in his studio to store brushes.

He looked at the photo for a while, then put the magazine on the bookshelf.

Nishizawa's company remains the same; he continues to do what a successor should do.

But he's been coming home earlier than before, sometimes as early as 3 p.m., and going straight upstairs to his studio.

Once, Shen Yu'an was painting a new picture when she heard footsteps. Without turning around, she asked, "Why are you here so early today?" Xize replied, "I'm not in a hurry."

Shen Yu'an continued painting, while Xize sat down on a chair next to him and started flipping through a sketchbook. The two remained silent; the only sounds in the studio were the brushstrokes on the canvas.

Later, Shen Yu'an felt hungry and stood up to go downstairs to find something to eat.

Xize stood up as well, walked ahead of him, and went into the kitchen. Shen Yu'an leaned against the kitchen door frame, watching Xize take an apron out of the cupboard and tie it around his neck.

The apron was light gray, with a long, thin thread hanging down from the edge. Xize looked down at the thread, flicked it with his finger, but didn't break it.

Shen Yu'an walked over, reached out and pulled off the loose thread, then tied a knot in the apron strap behind his back.

"You prepare the food, I'll watch over it."

Xize opened the refrigerator and took out two eggs and some vegetables.

Shen Yu'an stood by and watched as he cracked the egg into the bowl. He neither helped nor left, but stood there leaning against the cupboard.

"What did you draw today?" Nishizawa asked.

"I painted a still life. It's halfway done."

"Show me when you're done drawing."

"I showed it to you every time I finished drawing it."

Xize poured the egg mixture into the pan, and the bottom of the pan sizzled.

Shen Yu'an stood by and watched for a while, then walked over and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, pressing her face against his back. Xize was still holding the spatula, continuing to flip the eggs in the pan.

Xize didn't break free. He flipped the egg over, turned off the heat, and put it on a plate.

Shen Yu'an let go of his hand and walked to the dining table to sit down. Xize placed the plate in front of him and sat down next to him with a cup of tea.

Shen Yu'an lowered her head, took a bite of egg, chewed twice, and looked up at Xize: "Your apron strap is undone again."

Xize looked down at the belt hanging from his waist: "Perfect, I can take it off now."

Shen Yu'an stayed in the studio very late that night.

When he came downstairs, he saw that the living room light was still on, and Xize was sitting on the sofa, flipping through an old book.

The fire in the fireplace had dwindled, with dark red embers still radiating warmth in the hearth. Shen Yu'an walked over and sat down beside him, leaning on his shoulder.

Xize closed the book and placed it on the coffee table, then put his arm around his shoulder to make him lean more securely.

"Finished drawing?"

Not yet. We'll continue tomorrow.

I'll be back tomorrow afternoon.

"Um."

Shen Yu'an closed his eyes. The firelight from the fireplace flickered on their faces. The night outside the window was deep, and the living room was quiet. He could hear Xize's heartbeat pounding in his chest.

Later, Shen Yu'an fell asleep, and Xize picked him up and carried him up the stairs.

The bedroom light was on. He placed him on the bed and covered him with the blanket. Shen Yu'an rolled over to face outwards, his hand resting on the pillow.

Xize stood by the bed and watched him for a while, then turned off the light and lay down next to him.

Rain started falling outside the window, and the sound came in through the glass, very soft and dense.

Xize reached out and brushed aside the stray hairs hanging over Shen Yu'an's forehead, pausing for a moment when his fingertips touched Shen'an's brow bone.

Shen Yu'an remained asleep, her breathing even and normal. Xize withdrew his hand, placed it flat, and closed his eyes. The rain continued to fall, landing on the leaves of the trees in the garden, sounding quite soothing.

Many years later, it was winter again.

The fire in the fireplace was burning brightly. The living room curtains were half-drawn, and you could see the snow falling outside.

Shen Yu'an sat on the sofa, a light camel-colored cashmere blanket draped over his lap, flipping through an old picture book. Xize sat next to him, shoulder to shoulder.

Shen Yu'an stopped when he turned to a certain page. The paintings in the album were quite old, and the paper was slightly yellowed.

The painting depicted two hands clasped together on a dark sofa. Shen Yu'an looked down at the painting for a long time, then closed the album and placed it on his lap.

Do you still have a photo of this painting on your phone?

"What photo?"

"This photo was taken on the day of your graduation exhibition, when you were standing in front of the painting. You changed phones afterward."

Xize took out his phone and scrolled through it, then showed him a photo.

Shen Yu'an took it and glanced at it. In the photo, Xize was still standing in front of that row of paintings, with more hair and a younger face than he does now.

He glanced at the phone for two seconds and handed it back to Xize. The date on the phone screen showed it was from several years ago.

Why do you still have this picture on your phone?

"It was transferred here when I changed my phone."

"Do you export your data every time you change phones?"

"Um."

Shen Yu'an didn't reply. He leaned on Xize's shoulder, his gaze fixed on the firelight in the fireplace.

Flames danced in the dark furnace, casting the shadows of the two men onto the opposite wall, overlapping each other.

After a while, Shen Yu'an moved and turned his head to look at Xize. Xize also turned his head to look at him, and their faces met at very close range.

Shen Yu'an noticed a few fine lines at the corners of Xize's eyes; they were very faint and not noticeable unless you looked closely.

There were also a few gray-white strands in his hair, not very noticeable in the firelight, but visible when you got close.

Shen Yu'an reached out and touched the corner of Xize's eye, his fingertips slowly tracing the line of the fine wrinkle. Xize didn't flinch, he just looked at him.

"Daddy, you're getting old."

"You've grown up."

Shen Yu'an lowered his head and smiled.

When he looked up, his gaze fell on Xize's lips, paused for a moment, and then leaned forward, pressing his lips against Xize's lips.

It was a very short kiss, a quick touch and then it was gone. Xize didn't move, waiting for him to back off before saying, "Baby, you have cookie crumbs on your lips."

Shen Yu'an wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, but found nothing.

Xize raised his hand, lightly rubbed his thumb against the corner of Xize's mouth, and then withdrew his hand.

"Are you kidding me?"

"Um."

Shen Yu'an wasn't angry. He leaned his face back against Xize's shoulder.

The snow was still falling outside the window, landing silently on the ground. He closed his eyes and felt Xize's hand reach out and grasp his hand, which was resting on his knee.

The palm of that hand was still warm, just like when I first held it many years ago.

Shen Yu'an's fingers moved slightly in his palm, as if to confirm that it was his hand, or as if to respond to a confirmation that did not need to be spoken.

The fire in the fireplace flickered again, casting the intertwined shadows of the two people on the wall, where they lay quietly, motionless.

"Daddy."

"Um?"

"We'll be together for life."

"One lifetime isn't enough; in the next life, and the life after that, you will always be mine."

"it is good."

Epilogue: From their first love to their lifelong commitment, from beginning to end, they had only each other. Years later, the fireplace flickered, and the two nestled together. Xize kissed Shen Yu'an's still youthful eyes; time had never defeated them, for they only had each other.

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(Thank you for watching, the series is over! Hooray!!!)

(Xiao An and Xize: Thank you all for your company.)