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Lu Zean walked into the room with a smile, patting Lin Dongzhe on the shoulder. "Come on, don’t be shy. It's perfectly normal for couples to kiss; who hasn’t been in love before?" He turned to Lin Xiao Yu and exchanged a knowing glance, signaling her to stop making a fuss. The group then continued tidying up, organizing the remaining bits and pieces, and gradually, the place began to resemble a home—neat and cozy.
After a while, Xiao Ting finally regained her composure. Blushing, she returned to the room and pretended to be calm as she asked, "Is everything done? Let me see what’s left." Lin Dongzhe quickly leaned in and whispered, "Still shy? Don’t worry about it." Xiao Ting lightly punched him, playfully scolding, "It’s your fault! You didn’t even consider the setting." The two exchanged quiet banter, their eyes filled with sweetness.
Watching them, Lu Zean chuckled and said to Lin Xiao Yu, "Not only did we help out, but we also witnessed a little love scene. We’ll have plenty of chances to tease them later." Laughter filled the room as they finished up. Together, they helped Zhuang Tunan make his new home even cozier by hanging decorative paintings and placing potted plants. Once everything was in order, they happily dispersed, promising to gather here often in the future.
After starting his job at Architecture School, Zhuang Tunan had hoped to showcase his skills and embark on new ventures. However, he frequently ran into Li Jia. Her image from their school days had taken root in his heart; he had silently harbored feelings for her for a long time, hoping one day they could walk hand in hand into the future.
When Zhuang Tunan was still a student, he sensed that Li Jia wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about him. Whenever he tried to invite her to study at the library or participate in campus activities, she always found excuses to decline—sometimes claiming she had too much homework or that something urgent had come up. After several rejections, Zhuang Tunan understood that she likely looked down on him for not being a local from Shanghai; he didn’t have a household registration here and no property to offer her the stability she desired.
He thought that after graduation, as everyone went their separate ways, this unspoken matter would fade away. To his surprise, after starting work, he found himself collaborating with the planning bureau on various projects at Architecture School, leading to more encounters with Li Jia. The first time they met at a project coordination meeting, Zhuang Tunan felt a jolt of anxiety; all the feelings of being avoided and neglected by Li Jia resurfaced.
During the meeting discussions about project proposals, Li Jia spoke confidently on behalf of the planning bureau. Her insights on urban layout and functional zoning were unique; her Mandarin was impeccable and she exuded confidence and competence. Everyone present nodded in agreement. Meanwhile, Zhuang Tunan sat below with furrowed brows, pretending to focus on his materials while his mind was in disarray. When it was his turn to present Architecture School's ideas, he lost his usual composure—speaking faster than usual and feeling frustrated afterward for appearing like an inexperienced youth in front of Li Jia.
After the meeting ended and everyone gathered for casual conversation, someone jokingly asked if they had known each other since school. Just as Zhuang Tunan was about to speak up, Li Jia skillfully redirected the topic back to project specifics without sparing him another glance. Her coldness felt like a bucket of cold water dousing any lingering warmth he felt for her.
From that point on, as they continued working together on the project, Zhuang Tunan maintained a stern expression and spoke little. He felt stubbornly resentful toward Li Jia for being so pragmatic and focused solely on benefits. Yet occasionally when their eyes met briefly, complex emotions surged within him like ripples across a calm lake. He was annoyed by her past indifference but couldn’t deny that as a professional, Li Jia’s ideas often hit the mark and enhanced their projects.
On one occasion when they were alone in the conference room discussing project details, Zhuang Tunan argued that architectural design should prioritize practicality based on traditional layouts for more efficient use of space. In contrast, Li Jia advocated for incorporating cutting-edge planning concepts that allowed for more flexible spaces aimed at creating open and integrated areas. Their voices unintentionally rose as tensions escalated between them. Watching Li Jia argue her points fiercely without yielding made Zhuang Tunan scoff inwardly; she still seemed so self-righteous and dismissive of others' opinions.
Ultimately, it took the project leader's mediation to reconcile both sides' opinions before settling on a plan. After this incident, Zhuang Tunan became even more determined to keep his distance from Li Jia; he only spoke when absolutely necessary for work-related matters. Otherwise, he would merely nod politely if they crossed paths. With each encounter that felt increasingly strained, he convinced himself that their relationship was merely professional—no longer harboring any unrealistic fantasies from their past interactions. Yet late at night when memories of Li Jia’s smiles from their school days surfaced in his mind, he couldn’t help but sigh softly at how fate can be so capricious.
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