Chapter 38
In June, Wuhan entered early summer. Sunlight filtered through the leaves of the plane trees, casting dappled shadows, and the campus of Jiangnan University was filled with the fragrance of gardenias and the unique hustle and bustle and melancholy of graduation season.
Fang Chi, dressed in his graduation gown, posed for a group photo with his labmates in front of the physics department building. The sounds of camera shutters clicking, laughter, and his advisor's earnest words of advice intertwined to create the most vivid memories of this summer. His master's admission notice had arrived; he would remain at Jiangnan University to pursue a direct PhD under his current advisor. This path was clear and unwavering, just like his original aspiration that had never changed.
"Fang Chi!" A familiar voice came from behind.
He turned around and saw Xing Jiayan standing there holding a bunch of sunflowers, wearing a simple white shirt and khaki pants, his smile bright in the sunlight. The surrounding classmates cheered; over the past year, Xing Jiayan had frequently come to pick up Fang Chi, and the people in the lab were already familiar with this "family member."
"President Xing is here again!" a classmate joked with a laugh.
"Congratulations on your graduation." Xing Jiayan walked over, handed the flowers to Fang Chi, and then naturally helped him adjust the tassels on his graduation cap.
The sound of camera shutters clicking filled the air again. Fang Chi, holding the bouquet of brightly blooming sunflowers, smiled at Xing Jiayan in the early summer sunshine. At this moment, life was peaceful and serene.
After the graduation ceremony, Fang Chi's parents also came from their hometown. The two families had a meal together, including Fang Chi's parents, Xing Jiayan's mother, and He Chen, who had flown back from Beijing.
The atmosphere at the dinner table was harmonious. Fang Chi's mother and Xing's mother, old friends, had endless things to talk about after their reunion. Fang Chi's father was a gentle middle-aged man who didn't talk much, but his gaze towards Xing Jiayan held both scrutiny and a gradually softening approval.
"Xiao Xing's company is doing quite well now." Fang Chi's father nodded when talking about entrepreneurship. "Young people have ideas and are willing to work hard, which is very good."
Xing Jiayan said earnestly, "Uncle, you flatter me. There is still much to learn."
"I heard your mother is in good health?" Fang Chi's mother asked Xing's mother with concern.
"Great!" Mrs. Xing smiled happily. "Now she dances in the square every day and is even more energetic than me."
He Chen gently touched Tan Si's hand under the table and whispered, "Look, we're just like a family."
Tan Si gave him a light glare, her ear tips turning slightly red. Over the past year, He Chen's pursuit in Beijing had been gentle yet firm. The boy who had been rejected at his college entrance banquet had now learned to express his feelings in a more mature way. Tan Si's attitude had also changed from deliberately keeping her distance at the beginning to tacitly agreeing and occasionally responding.
Fang Chi witnessed all of this. He was happy for Tan Si, and he was also happy for He Chen.
After dinner, Xing Jiayan said he would take Fang Chi somewhere.
The car drove out of the city and headed to a viewing platform on the outskirts of Jiangcheng. The platform was situated on higher ground, offering a panoramic view of the city's nightscape.
"What made you think of coming here?" Fang Chi asked.
"You'll find out soon enough." Xing Jiayan parked the car and took his hand as they walked onto the viewing platform.
The summer night breeze was gentle and cool, and the city lights in the distance resembled a galaxy scattered across the earth. On the observation deck, there was no one else but them; only the chirping of insects and the sound of the wind.
"Close your eyes," Xing Jiayan said softly.
Fang Chi glanced at him doubtfully, but did as he was told. He heard Xing Jiayan walk a few steps away, followed by the sound of some equipment starting up.
"You can open your eyes now."
Fang Chi opened his eyes and froze.
On the observation deck railing, strings of tiny LED lights had lit up sometime during the night, like stars plucked and strung together. But what shocked him even more was that on the exterior wall of a tall building opposite, huge lights formed several lines of text—
Fang Chi,
You are the most beautiful constant in my life.
This gives meaning to all variables.
Marry me.
The words shimmered in the night sky, clear and dazzling. Fang Chi stared blankly at them, momentarily forgetting to breathe.
Xing Jiayan walked up to him, knelt on one knee, and held a dark blue velvet box in her hand. She opened it, revealing a simple yet exquisite platinum ring, the inner band engraved with their initials and the year they met.
“I know it’s cheesy,” Xing Jiayan’s voice trembled slightly in the night wind, but her eyes were firm and bright. “Proposing with a light show is like a scene from a TV drama. But I just want to tell the whole of Jiangcheng, to tell everyone, that I, Fang Chi, am the person I, Xing Jiayan, want to spend my life with.”
He took a deep breath: "We've missed two years, but I don't want to miss any more tomorrows. Fang Chi, will you... marry me?"
Fang Chi looked at the person kneeling before him. The light danced on his face, and his usually calm eyes were now filled with nervous anticipation. He remembered the boy who always challenged him in high school, the clumsy kiss on the snowy night, the cold "President Xing" when they met again, and how Xing Jiayan had carefully re-entered his life over the past year, making up for the missed opportunities with his actions.
Tears blurred his vision. Fang Chi nodded forcefully, his voice choked with emotion: "I do."
Xing Jiayan's hands trembled as he put the ring on his finger; it fit perfectly. Then he stood up and hugged Fang Chi tightly, as if he wanted to meld the man into his very bones.
"I love you," he whispered in Fang Chi's ear, "in this life, in the next life, and forever."
They kissed under the starry sky and the lights, with the entire city of Wuhan lighting up in their honor behind them.
---
The day after the proposal, Fang Chi took Xing Jiayan home to formally meet his parents.
Fang Chi's parents lived in a small but clean and cozy apartment in the old city of Jiangcheng. Xing Jiayan carried the carefully prepared gift, his palms sweating with nervousness. Although they had eaten together before, this time was different; this time, he was there as her "fiancé."
"Uncle, Auntie," he greeted respectfully.
Fang Chi's mother smiled and pulled him to sit down: "Don't be so reserved, make yourself at home."
Lunch was prepared by Fang Chi's mother, consisting entirely of Fang Chi's favorite dishes, while also catering to Xing Jiayan's tastes. At the dinner table, Fang Chi's father inquired about the company's development plans, which Xing Jiayan answered earnestly one by one.
After dinner, Fang Chi's mother made tea, and the four of them sat in the living room. Sunlight streamed in through the windows, and the air was filled with the aroma of tea and the warmth of home.
“Xiao Xing,” Fang Chi’s father put down his teacup, his expression becoming serious, “we roughly know about you and Fang Chi. We’ve seen it all over the past year. We can see that you’re serious about Fang Chi.”
Xing Jiayan sat up straight: "Uncle, Aunt, I know that I left without saying goodbye back then, hurting Fang Chi and making you worry. I will spend my whole life making up for this. I promise you, I will cherish Fang Chi, take care of him, and support him in pursuing his dreams. I will make him happy."
His tone was sincere and firm, without flowery words, only a simple promise.
Fang Chi's mother's eyes reddened. She held Fang Chi's hand, then looked at Xing Jiayan, and said softly, "Actually... when your family had that accident, your mother spoke to me on the phone. She cried very sadly, saying she was sorry for you, for making you bear so much at such a young age. At that time, I thought, how strong this child must be."
She wiped her eyes and said, "Later you went to Singapore and lost touch. But I always remember that every time Fang Chi went to your house in high school, he would come back very happy, saying that he and Jia Yan had argued about some problems that day, and that his aunt had made some delicious food. At that time, I thought, these two kids have such a good relationship."
Fang Chi's father nodded: "When it comes to matters of the heart, as parents, we ultimately want our children to be happy. Xiao Xing, you've done a good job in your career, and we've seen your character. We're at ease entrusting Fang Chi to you."
He paused, then his tone softened further: "From now on, this is your home. Come back for meals often."
At that moment, Xing Jiayan almost burst into tears. He nodded vigorously, "Thank you, Uncle and Aunt. I will definitely come back often."
Fang Chi held his hand tightly under the table, their fingers intertwined.
Sunlight shone on their clasped hands, making the rings gleam softly.
---
The wedding was scheduled for the following spring, in March, when the cherry blossoms in Jiangcheng were in full bloom.
The wedding was a simple affair, with only the closest family and friends invited. The venue was a small estate on the outskirts of Jiangcheng, where the lawns had just turned green and the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, their pink and white petals falling like snow when the wind blew.
Fang Chi, dressed in a white suit, stood under the cherry blossom tree waiting. Sunlight filtered through the petals, illuminating him, making him look clean and bright, like a youth untouched by time.
Xing Jiayan walked over from the other end, wearing a well-tailored dark gray suit and holding a bunch of white tulips. His gaze remained fixed on Fang Chi from the moment he walked up to him, took his hand, and stood side by side under the flowering tree.
He Chen was one of the best men, and Tan Si sat in the first row of the family and friends section. After more than a year, their relationship had finally become clear. He Chen continued to expand his market in Beijing, while Tan Si was in his final year at a university specializing in political science and law. They were in a long-distance relationship, but their commitment was stronger than anyone else's. At this moment, watching He Chen bustling about on stage, a gentle smile unconsciously curved Tan Si's lips.
The wedding ceremony was simple yet solemn. There was no priest; it was officiated by Xing's mother and Fang Chi's mother. The two old friends stood on the stage, one gentle and the other cheerful, yet both with tears in their eyes.
“We’ve watched these two children grow up,” said Xing’s mother. “We’ve watched them grow from naive teenagers into men who can take responsibility for each other’s lives. As a mother, I am incredibly proud and incredibly happy.”
Fang Chi's mother chimed in, "Marriage is not the end, but a new beginning. I hope that in the long years to come, you will always remember the vows you made today and the love you have for each other."
As they exchanged rings, Xing Jiayan held Fang Chi's hand, her voice clear and firm: "Fang Chi, I once thought leaving was to protect you, but later I realized it was the stupidest decision I ever made. Thank you for forgiving me and for giving me another chance. From now on, I will tell you every single day that you are the right choice I ever made in my life."
Fang Chi put the ring on his finger, her eyes reddening: "Xing Jiayan, you were once my rival, my online friend, my friend who disappeared, and now you are my lover, my partner. We missed our chance, but we didn't miss each other. The future is long, let's walk together."
They kissed in the cherry blossom rain, petals falling on their shoulders like a gentle blessing from time.
During the banquet, He Chen raised his glass to give a speech. This usually cheerful and smiling young man's voice was slightly choked up at this moment: "I have known Brother Yan for many years, watching him come all the way, watching him never give up even in the most difficult times. I also know Fang Chi... although he came later, I know that he was the only light in Brother Yan's dark years. Seeing them standing together today, I want to say that you deserve all happiness."
Tan Si clapped softly from below the stage, his gaze towards He Chen gentle and bright. After He Chen stepped off the stage, he naturally sat down next to him and took his hand. This time, Tan Si did not pull away.
The wedding concluded with a dance. Xing Jiayan and Fang Chi danced their first dance in the center of the lawn; the music was gentle, and their steps were clumsy yet earnest. They embraced and twirled slowly, bathed in moonlight and lamplight, surrounded by the blessings of family and friends, in the spring night filled with falling cherry blossoms.
"Are you nervous?" Xing Jiayan asked softly.
“A little,” Fang Chi said honestly, resting his face on his shoulder, “but mostly I feel reassured.”
Xing Jiayan hugged his waist tightly: "Me too."
They stopped talking and simply swayed slowly to the music. In that moment, all the missed opportunities, misunderstandings, and pain of the past transformed into their tightly clasped fingers and intertwined heartbeats.
The future is long, and the path of scientific research, the challenges of the company, and the trivialities of life all await them. But at least tonight, on this March night when cherry blossoms are in full bloom, they have each other, the blessings of family and friends, and the courage and commitment to start anew.
As the dance music ended, Xing Jiayan whispered in Fang Chi's ear, "I love you, Dr. Fang."
Fang Chi smiled, tears glistening in the corners of her eyes: "I love you too, President Xing."
Cherry blossoms continued to fall, landing in their hair, on their shoulders, and on their tightly clasped hands.
—End of text—
January 18, 2026
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