As the fervor of the commendation ceremony gradually faded, life and work returned to their original routines. Liu Li remained the technician who arrived at the workshop earliest and left latest, immersing herself in blueprints, equipment, and the endless stream of technical challenges. However, the gazes now falling upon her held a greater sense of genuine respect and trust.

Fu Jingchen was as busy as ever, with a lot of collaborative work between the technical department and the workshop, giving the two many opportunities to meet on business. Discussing drawings, analyzing processes, and solving on-site problems, they remained a well-coordinated technical team. But beyond their professional exchanges, something subtle seemed to be quietly changing.

He would quietly prepare food and place it on her table when she was so engrossed in calculating that she forgot the mealtime; she would casually refill his enamel mug with hot water when he was working late into the night translating foreign language materials. A glance, a casual touch, could create imperceptible ripples in the air around them.

That afternoon, Liu Li was checking the test data of a batch of newly processed parts in the technical department when Fu Jingchen walked in with a document. After finishing his business, he didn't leave immediately; his fingers unconsciously tapped lightly on the table a few times, as if he had made up his mind.

"Liu Li," his voice was slightly lower than usual, with a hint of barely perceptible tension, "I heard the Workers' Cultural Palace is showing a new movie tonight, 'The Pioneers,' and tickets are pretty hard to get." He paused, then took two slightly yellowed movie tickets from his work jacket pocket, placed them on the table, and pushed them towards her, "I happen to have two here, want to go see it together?"

The air seemed to freeze for a moment. Liu Li looked up and met Fu Jingchen's gaze. His eyes held expectation, probing, and a well-hidden unease. She looked at the two movie tickets, her heart skipping a beat, and her ears involuntarily warmed. Going to the movies together—in this day and age, especially among colleagues—carried unspoken weight to their intentions.

She recalled the two of them side-by-side researching in the library, their focused efforts tackling problems together late into the night in the workshop, his unwavering trust and support, and the gleam in his eyes when he spoke of his ideals. A warm and reassuring feeling quietly filled her heart.

Several colleagues around her seemed busy with their own things, but they all seemed to be subtly glancing in their direction out of the corner of their eyes. Liu Li could feel their gazes. She didn't answer immediately, her gaze shifting from the movie ticket to Fu Jingchen's face, noticing his lips slightly pursed in nervousness.

After a moment of silence, a clear and confident smile slowly spread across Liu Li's face. She reached out and calmly picked up the two tickets, her voice soft but clear:

"Great! I've heard 'Entrepreneurship' is a really good show. I'm free tonight anyway."

In an instant, the unease in Fu Jingchen's eyes melted away like ice and snow, replaced by a bright and dazzling joy, a joy so real it was almost overflowing. He tried to maintain his composure, but the slight upturn of his lips betrayed his true emotions.

"Then... I'll wait for you at the factory gate after get off work?"

"Okay." Liu Li nodded and carefully put the movie ticket into her pocket.

The simple conversation felt like a significant ritual. From that moment on, their relationship transcended mere technical acquaintance, clearly embarking on a new trajectory called "lovers." The subtle, lingering feelings between them finally found their footing.

The work bell rang, and Liu Li packed her things and left the technical department. The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the factory area in a warm golden light. Fu Jingchen was indeed waiting under the old locust tree at the factory gate, his posture upright. When he saw her come out, a gentle smile appeared on his face.

The two exchanged a smile, said nothing more, and naturally walked side by side toward the Workers' Cultural Palace. The afterglow of the setting sun stretched their shadows long, intertwining them, their steps synchronized, steady and resolute.