The stars are my witness

Time seemed to slow down at Qi Nan Mountain, yet it also flew by unnoticed. Lin Wanxing's ankle had fully healed, and the gloom that had settled between Jiang Chen's brows gradually dissipated, replaced by a calm and focused demeanor. The ice between Su Xiao and Lu Zi'ang also seemed to be quietly melting away in a corner unseen by anyone, with a subtle and peaceful aura flowing between them, unlike anything they had experienced before.

On the night before leaving Qinan Mountain, Jiang Chen suggested going to a mountaintop park near the town that was still underdeveloped but offered excellent views. It was at a higher altitude and was a well-known stargazing spot in the area.

"I heard there's a Andromeda meteor shower tonight. Although the peak isn't tonight, if we're lucky, we should be able to see some," Jiang Chen said to Lin Wanxing as he tidied up some simple drinking water and a light blanket. His eyes held a kind of anticipation, a desire to share this wonderful moment with her.

“Okay.” Lin Wanxing readily agreed. Su Xiao and Lu Ziang exchanged a glance and nodded as well.

The four began their ascent in the fading light of dusk. The stone steps wound their way up through lush forests; the higher they climbed, the fresher and cooler the air became, completely isolating them from the city's hustle and bustle below. As they reached the summit, the last rays of sunset lingered behind the distant mountains, leaving the sky a gradient of colors from warm to cool.

The hilltop park was indeed simple, with only a small patch of flat grass and a few stone benches, but the view was incredibly expansive. The mountains layered upon each other, like inky silhouettes in the twilight, while the winding river below resembled a silver ribbon. And the sky above, as night fell, gradually revealed its deepest and most dazzling form.

Without the interference of urban light pollution, the starry sky appears exceptionally generous. The Milky Way, like a shimmering, giant river, stretches across the firmament, with countless stars of all sizes densely embedded on the dark blue velvet curtain, so clear they seem almost within reach. Occasionally, a shooting star streaks across the sky, leaving a silvery trail.

"Wow! We can really see a shooting star!" Su Xiao's voice rang out with familiar excitement.

Lin Wanxing and Jiang Chen looked over upon hearing the sound, and were both stunned at the same time.

Su Xiao was affectionately linking arms with Lu Zi'ang, pointing to the sky. Lu Zi'ang—the usually aloof and rational Dr. Lu—not only didn't look away, but instead slightly turned his head, listening to Su Xiao's excited words. His usually cool profile appeared unusually soft under the starlight. He even raised his hand and very naturally tucked a strand of Su Xiao's short hair, which had been ruffled by the wind, behind her ear.

This intimate scene, brimming with tacit understanding and warmth, is completely different from the polite, distant, and even awkward atmosphere between the two of them before.

Lin Wanxing's eyes widened slightly in surprise, and she subconsciously looked at Jiang Chen. A clear look of surprise also flashed in Jiang Chen's eyes, but then that surprise turned into understanding and a hint of barely perceptible relief.

Lin Wanxing instantly understood, and a surge of genuine joy welled up inside her. She gently touched Jiang Chen's hand, giving him a smile that held both inquiry and surprise, her eyes conveying the message, "What's going on with them...?"

Jiang Chen took her hand in return, nodded slightly, and a faint smile appeared on his lips, a smile that showed his happiness for her and his friends.

Just then, Su Xiao seemed to notice their gazes and turned around, meeting Lin Wanxing's smiling, understanding, and gratified eyes. Su Xiao's cheeks flushed slightly under the starlight, a little embarrassed yet radiant with happiness. She winked at Lin Wanxing, everything understood without words.

Lu Ziang also noticed the commotion. He pushed up his glasses, maintaining his usual calm demeanor, but the undisguised gentleness in his eyes when he looked at Su Xiao, and the slight nod of composure when facing Lin Wanxing and Jiang Chen, clearly showed his attitude.

All the surprise turned into unspoken blessings in the silent exchange of glances. Lin Wanxing gave Su Xiao and Lu Ziang a bright and sincere smile and softly said, "That's wonderful."

Jiang Chen also whispered to Lin Wanxing, "It seems that we're not the only ones who have found the direction."

Under the starry sky, the feeling of happiness experienced by close friends is like a warm spring, quietly nourishing everyone's heart, making the night more complete and the atmosphere more warm and harmonious.

Jiang Chen spread the thin blanket he had brought on the grass and sat down next to Lin Wanxing. Under the vast starry sky, humanity seemed so small, yet the presence of the person beside them made them feel incredibly fulfilled.

"This place is so nice." Lin Wanxing sighed softly, looking up at the starry sky, feeling the calm aura emanating from Jiang Chen beside her, and the sweet joy of her new life with her friend not far away. "It seems that all the troubles have become insignificant under this starry sky."

"Mmm," Jiang Chen responded softly, his gaze shifting from the starry sky to Lin Wanxing's profile. The starlight outlined her gentle features, and her eyes, which always carried a hint of sadness, now appeared exceptionally bright and serene under the starlight.

He paused for a moment, as if making a decision, and carefully took out a small object from the old canvas bag he carried with him.

“This,” he said, handing the item to Lin Wanxing, his voice deep and clear in the quiet night, “is for you.”

It was a hand-carved wooden pendant. Its shape wasn't perfectly regular, but it was clearly shaped like a star. The surface was polished very smoothly, possessing the warm, mellow texture unique to handcrafted items, and the subtle wood grain was faintly visible along the edges. It had no excessive decoration; simple, yet it exuded a sincere sincerity born of meticulous craftsmanship.

Lin Wanxing took it with some surprise, her fingertips touching the cool surface and smooth edges of the wood. "This... you carved it?"

"Hmm." Jiang Chen nodded, looking away somewhat shyly at the distant starry sky. "When I had free time, I tried to carve it with some wood I found. It's not very good... but I think stars... can be any kind of star." He paused, his voice becoming softer, yet carrying an undeniable seriousness, "Just like you, to me, are the one and only one."

Lin Wanxing's fingertips trembled slightly as a warm current surged from the depths of her heart, instantly spreading to every part of her body. She gripped the Jupiter pendant tightly, the cool wood seemingly warming her palm. She looked up at Jiang Chen; under the starlight, his gaze was focused and affectionate, devoid of hesitation and inferiority, filled only with complete and certain love for her.

“I like it very much.” She looked at him and said clearly, word by word, “Just like I like you very, very much.”

She pressed the pendant tightly against her chest, as if she could feel the silent yet profound emotions it contained within. Then, she leaned forward and gently, yet with unwavering determination, kissed his lips.

It was a tender, lingering kiss, filled with endless gratitude, love, and promise. Under the starry sky and witnessed by their dearest friends, they pledged their lives to each other.

Under the starry sky, two couples, each in their own way, confirmed their feelings for each other. The vast universe seemed to serve as the backdrop for their love, eternal and full of infinite possibilities.

Jiang Chen and Lin Wanxing ended their long kiss, their foreheads touching and their breaths mingling.

After a long while, Lin Wanxing quietly looked at him, at his lowered, slightly trembling eyelashes, at his tightly pursed, serious lips, her heart filled with a tenderness that was almost overflowing.

"Jiang Chen," she said softly, "do you still remember that agreement?"

Jiang Chen paused slightly and gave a soft "hmm".

“Now,” Lin Wanxing’s voice carried a hint of barely perceptible tension, yet was exceptionally clear, “I would like to formally propose a contract renewal to you.”

Jiang Chen suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with surprise and confusion.

Lin Wanxing met his gaze, a faint blush rising on her face, but her eyes shone like stars. She said earnestly, word by word, "I want to continue 'recruiting' you as my other half. The term is... a lifetime."

Jiang Chen gazed intently at her, his eyes shining as if the entire Milky Way had been reflected within them. He grasped her hand holding the Jupiter pendant, enveloping it tightly in his palm along with the pendant.

“But,” Lin Wanxing continued, her tone becoming soft yet firm, “this time, there will be no salary.”

She looked at him, a mischievous smile in her eyes, and a deeper affection: "Because I want to spend the rest of my life paying for it. Are you willing? Are you willing to work with me to piece together our future, like a jigsaw puzzle of stars, piece by piece, to make it complete?"

Jiang Chen slowly stood up, knelt on one knee in front of her, and looked up at her. His usually melancholy eyes now clearly reflected the starlight and her figure. All the gloom in them had dissipated, leaving only pure, surging love and devotion.

"I do." His voice was deep and solemn, as if making a vow. "I will dedicate the rest of my life to protecting you and loving you! No matter where we go or what we do, we will be together."

Without flowery words, only the simplest promise, it is more moving than any sweet talk.

He made an eternal promise, with the stars as his witness.

The night breeze was gentle, and the Milky Way flowed silently. At this moment, all regrets were made up for, and all wounds were soothed by the starlight and friendship. They stood at a new starting point in their lives, with the magnificent past behind them and a future filled with starlight, where they would walk hand in hand.