"Your boyfriend's here."
Someone nudged Yu Zhiling’s arm, snapping her out of her thoughts. She turned around to see a figure standing in the distance, holding a bouquet of flowers.
It was June, the height of summer, and the heat in Beicheng was relentless. He wore a loose black T-shirt and black pants, and even from afar, she could see the smile on his face.
Yu Zhiling quickly excused herself from her roommate and ran toward him. Mo Zhu reached out, gently wiping the fine beads of sweat from her temples.
"Why are you here? Don’t you have class this afternoon?"
Mo Zhu handed her the flowers. "I took the afternoon off. Of course I’d come—it’s your graduation photoshoot."
Yu Zhiling grinned as she took the bouquet, leaning in close and tilting her head. "Did you miss me? I’ve been so busy job hunting these past couple of days, I haven’t had time to see you."
Mo Zhu bent down and kissed her lips. "Yeah, you’re so smart. I missed you."
Yu Zhiling covered her mouth, glancing back quickly to make sure no one was watching before playfully swatting his arm. "Ugh, we’re in public!"
Mo Zhu chuckled but straightened up, taking her hand instead. "When are you done here?"
"Just finished, actually. I was about to go find you." She interlaced their fingers, their matching couple’s rings pressing together.
Mo Zhu grinned. "Then let’s take a few photos together now?"
"Sure!"
She was still wearing her master’s graduation gown. Mo Zhu had two more years left in his undergrad, while Yu Zhiling had already finished her postgraduate studies. She never expected that their "let’s just try this out" phase would last a year and a half—and that their feelings would only grow stronger.
All of Yu Zhiling’s roommates knew about Mo Zhu. He came to see her almost every day, even though the architecture and finance schools were on opposite ends of the campus. No matter how busy she was with her studies, if she had even a little free time, Mo Zhu would be there.
After changing out of her gown and saying goodbye to her roommates, she dashed out of the dorm to find Mo Zhu still waiting for her.
As she reached him, he opened an umbrella—the sun was blazing today.
"So, Mr. Mo," she teased, "where are you taking me?"
Mo Zhu squeezed her hand, his tone playful. "To get married."
Yu Zhiling kicked him lightly. "You little brat, you’ve still got a month before you’re even legally old enough."
Mo Zhu suddenly stopped walking. He bent down to meet her eyes, his expression completely serious. "I turn twenty-two next month. So when are you planning to meet my parents?"
There wasn’t a trace of laughter in his voice.
Yu Zhiling hesitated for a second before pushing him away. "What’s with you today? It’s too hot out here—let’s just go home first."
Mo Zhu didn’t press further, but he kept holding her hand as they walked to the mall, bought groceries, and returned to his apartment. Yu Zhiling washed and chopped the vegetables while Mo Zhu cooked.
Whenever she had a free afternoon, she’d come over to spend time with him—cooking together, watching movies, taking walks, or visiting trendy spots before he walked her back to campus.
Mo Zhu had once suggested she move in with him—his apartment was spacious enough for a whole family.
She refused, and he never brought it up again.
During dinner, Yu Zhiling noticed something off about Mo Zhu. He still responded to her chatter, still laughed at her jokes, but there was a tension in him, like he was holding something back.
By seven in the evening, they finished eating. He got up to clear the table while Yu Zhiling leaned against the kitchen counter, watching him wash the dishes.
"Mo Zhu."
His hands paused for a fraction of a second before he resumed scrubbing. "Yeah, what’s up?"
"Are you mad at me?"
Mo Zhu set the last plate aside, dried his hands, and turned to face her. "Now that you’ve graduated, shouldn’t we talk about our future?"
Yu Zhiling nodded. "Yeah."
"Why won’t you meet my parents?"
Before, she’d always brushed it off with excuses—they hadn’t been dating long, they should wait until things were more stable.
But after a year together, with her graduation looming, Mo Zhu had asked several times, only for her to keep saying, "Later."
He didn’t want to overanalyze her hesitation, but it felt like he was ready to build a life with her, while she was still treating their relationship like a temporary fling.
Yu Zhiling straightened up, dropping her usual playful demeanor as she met his gaze. "I didn’t have a job lined up before. I wasn’t even sure if I’d stay in Beicheng. I…"
"You’re worried about long-distance?" Mo Zhu asked.
Yu Zhiling pressed her lips together and nodded. "Yeah. When I agreed to try dating you, I didn’t think about where I’d end up. I didn’t consider the possibility of being apart. I’m scared we won’t make it."
"None of the things you’re worried about are problems for me," Mo Zhu said, watching the uncertainty flicker in her eyes. "I knew from the start that we might end up in different cities. I’ve told you—I’ll go wherever you go. Our situations are different."
He stepped around the counter, closing the distance between them. He lifted her by the waist, setting her on the countertop so they were eye to eye.
"You’ve got great grades, solid internship experience—you shouldn’t have trouble finding work. Did you get any offers?"
Yu Zhiling hesitated before nodding. "Yeah."
"Where?"
"...Lincheng."
She wanted to go home, to be near her parents.
She couldn’t bring herself to look at him, her lashes lowering to hide the guilt in her eyes.
She expected him to be angry, but his voice was eerily calm.
"How’s the job?"
"...Good. Great conditions, solid pay, high salary. And it’s close to my family."
"Then why didn’t you tell me?"
Yu Zhiling finally looked up. "I was afraid you’d overthink it."
Mo Zhu pinched her cheek, tugging lightly until she swatted his hand away with a scowl. Only then did he laugh. "So in your eyes, a few hours on a high-speed train is enough to tear us apart?"
Yu Zhiling blinked, lips parting slightly. "But if we’re talking about marriage—"
Mo Zhu leaned in, bracing his arms on either side of her before pressing a quick kiss to her lips. "I’ll go with you. We’ll only be apart for two years—just until I finish undergrad. Then I’ll apply for grad school at Lincheng University. Their architecture program is top-tier, way better than ours. After graduation, I’ll start a business there. We’ll build our life there."
Yu Zhiling thought he was joking. "What about your parents?"
Mo Zhu raised a brow. "My parents aren’t home more than a month out of the year anyway. It doesn’t matter where I go. Three hours by train, an hour and a half by plane—why would you think I’d break up with you over something like that?"
Yu Zhiling had seen too many long-distance relationships fall apart. She couldn’t believe Mo Zhu—still so young—would be reckless enough to follow her to a place he didn’t know.
Mo Zhu cupped her face, their noses touching as he asked softly, "Then how about meeting my parents? We should start planning our future. I told you we wouldn’t break up—do you trust me, hm?"
He had always been reliable, giving her a deep sense of security. He maintained clear boundaries with others and spent nearly all his free time with her.
Yu Zhiling kissed his lips lightly and whispered, "Okay."
A little coaxing from her was all it took to dissolve the unease in Mo Zhu’s heart.
He pulled her closer by the waist, deepening the kiss as his tongue slipped past her lips, claiming her mouth with slow, heated strokes. Kissing had long become second nature to them. Mo Zhu lifted her by the hips, carrying her to the couch where he sank down, settling her onto his lap.
She was wearing a dress today. His hand slid behind her, tugging the zipper down before peeling the fabric away, though he only pushed it to her waist, leaving it half on.
His mouth found her softness, and Yu Zhiling clutched his head, her breaths turning uneven.
They had been together for a year and a half, skirting the edge of intimacy many times but never crossing that final line. Yu Zhiling had never given the word, and Mo Zhu never pressured her. Despite being the type to whine for her attention, he never begged when it came to this. He knew it was her choice to make—only when she initiated would he allow himself to proceed.
She permitted him other liberties, and he contented himself with those.
Mo Zhu assumed tonight would be no different. Just as things threatened to spiral out of control, he forced himself to stop, his voice rough as he said, "Wait for me. I need to take a cold shower."
But Yu Zhiling caught his wrist. "Wait—"
He turned back to look. She lay sprawled on the couch, her dress bunched at her waist, her pale skin marked here and there. She bruised easily, so Mo Zhu was always careful to avoid leaving traces where they’d be seen.
Yu Zhiling sat up, her cheeks flushed, eyes glistening. "We’ve been packing to move lately, and no one’s checking the dorms… I can stay tonight."
Mo Zhu’s throat worked as he swallowed hard. The hand she held trembled. Though he understood perfectly, he clung to one last shred of restraint. "What are you saying?"
Yu Zhiling gathered her courage. "I… bought something."
Letting go of his hand, she reached for her bag and pulled out what she’d prepared earlier, too embarrassed to meet his eyes as she held it out.
"I’ve never seen you… The salesperson said size matters, so I got three different kinds. I don’t know which fits. You check…?"
Her meaning couldn’t be clearer. Surely he’d get it now.
A shadow fell over her as Mo Zhu suddenly pushed her back into the couch. Startled, she blinked up at him.
He loomed above, taking the box from her hand. "Are you planning to sleep with me before breaking up?"
Yu Zhiling hurried to explain, "No! That’s not it at all. I bought these a long time ago. We’ve been together so long—I’m okay with premarital sex. I just never had the courage before, and things got busy, so I never brought it up…"
Mo Zhu studied her with dark, searching eyes, weighing the truth of her words.
Yu Zhiling held his gaze firmly. "I swear I’m not trying to have one last fling before leaving. I bought these back in February, on Valentine’s Day. I wanted to then, but… If you don’t believe me, I’ll show you the receipt."
She reached for her phone on the coffee table, but Mo Zhu caught her hand, his palm scorching against her skin.
"I believe you." He bent to kiss below her ear, murmuring, "If you say it, I believe you."
Yu Zhiling wrapped her arms around his shoulders. His shirt was already off, and her fingers traced the hard planes of his muscles. She tilted her head to give him better access, her voice strained. "Do you… want to?"
Mo Zhu paused, then suddenly laughed—soft at first, then louder, his shoulders shaking with mirth, jostling her in the process.
Yu Zhiling, already flustered, smacked his arm. "Stop laughing! It’s not funny!"
He nuzzled into the crook of her neck with a whine. "How can you ask that? I’m the one getting lucky here. I should be asking you—do you want this?"
Pushing up on his arms, he looked down at her, all traces of teasing gone. "Think carefully. Are you sure?"
Yu Zhiling met his eyes, then after a long moment, gave a small nod. "I’m sure. I like you."
She rarely voiced her feelings; he was always the one showering her with sweet words.
But now, those three simple words—"I like you"—were enough to make Mo Zhu’s head spin like a lovesick fool.
Somehow, they ended up in the bathroom. Yu Zhiling was pressed against the cold tiles, shuddering at the chill, as Mo Zhu kissed and touched her, lifting her against him, watching her arch and gasp.
He washed his hands thoroughly before preparing her with painstaking care. Her tears were salty, hot against his shoulder as they fell.
When he opened the box she’d bought, he chuckled near her ear. "All three are too small. Next time, I’ll handle it."
Yu Zhiling buried her face in his neck like a turtle retreating into its shell, muttering, "If they work, stop complaining. It’s not like I’ve seen it before."
"Want to take a look now?"
"Ugh, shut up!"
Mo Zhu sighed in mock disappointment. "Fine, no looking. Feeling’s good too."
His playful words masked his own nervousness as he moved over her, glancing at Yu Zhiling’s face pressed into his shoulder. "It might hurt. Can you bear it?"
She kept her eyes shut, nodding. "Mm."
Her fingers dug into his back, nails leaving red trails. Only now did she realize her boyfriend was… exceptionally gifted. Maybe she shouldn’t have been so modest when buying condoms.
Mo Zhu wasn’t faring much better, but his concern for her outweighed everything. Seeing her jaw clenched tight, not making a sound, he knew she was enduring it. Suddenly, he pulled away, quickly washing her before drying her hair.
He carried her to the bed wrapped in a towel. When he moved to tuck her under the covers, she stopped him. "Why the blanket? If you didn’t like the bathroom, we can do it here."
She thought he’d stopped because the shower was inconvenient, but Mo Zhu insisted on covering her, then began dressing.
"Wait for me. I’ll be back soon."
Yu Zhiling: "…?"
He left, fully clothed. Unsure whether they’d continue tonight, she stayed wrapped in the blanket.
About ten minutes later, the sound of the door unlocking echoed, followed by running water—he must’ve been washing his hands.
The bedroom door opened again. Mo Zhu entered, kneeling by the bed as he yanked his shirt off, then leaned over her.
Yu Zhiling could tell what he intended to do and let him pull the blanket aside. She lay on the bed, watching as he parted her legs, and asked in confusion, "Where did you go?"
Mo Zhu reached out to touch her, and Yu Zhiling’s face flushed. "You… don’t touch."
His fingertips were clean as he murmured, "Good, no bleeding."
Yu Zhiling propped herself up to look. "I’m fine, don’t worry. It’s okay."
He had stopped in time, only getting started.
Mo Zhu opened a box and took out a bottle.
Yu Zhiling blinked in confusion. "What’s this?"
Mo Zhu replied in a low voice, "Lube. I bought it from the pharmacy downstairs."
Yu Zhiling understood and lay back down, covering her face. "...Okay."
She hadn’t anticipated this situation—hadn’t known his condition, had underestimated him, couldn’t have predicted the disparity between them. But thankfully, he was thoughtful.
With the aid of the lube, it was slightly easier than before, though Yu Zhiling still furrowed her brows tightly. Mo Zhu kissed her forehead to soothe her, coaxing her as he continued.
"I’m sorry. Can you bear with it a little longer?"
Apologizing, yet he didn’t stop, knowing it was better to endure the pain all at once. Yu Zhiling turned her head away, veins standing out on her forehead, her body tense.
Mo Zhu waited for her, kissing her repeatedly, massaging her body to help her relax.
Only when she finally reached up to grip his shoulders and patted him did she whisper, "Mo Zhu, don’t rush."
He began then, not hastily—Mo Zhu was patient, gentle as always, careful not to overwhelm her even as his own tension grew. He moved slowly, restraining his urgency until her frown eased and a muffled sound escaped her lips. He had held back for so long that he could no longer resist.
Suddenly, a phone notification chimed. Yu Zhiling tensed, and Mo Zhu groaned.
Their eyes met—hers wide with surprise, his blinking as his hands clenched beside her face.
Yu Zhiling’s mind raced. What should she say? Comfort him by saying they could try again next time? Or praise him for doing well already?
"Um… actually, it was already good—"
"No, it wasn’t."
Mo Zhu held her still, his expression dark as he withdrew. He turned off his phone, grabbed a new condom from the nightstand, and leaned down to kiss her neck.
Yu Zhiling dodged slightly. "You… can you still go?"
A man could never admit weakness. Mo Zhu gave her a look, answering with action rather than words.
Yu Zhiling’s voice fragmented, tears at the corners of her eyes kissed away by him. She couldn’t push him off, just as she couldn’t hold back her sounds or her tears.
Late into the night, Mo Zhu got up to clean her, changed the sheets, and carried her back to bed, lying beside her with an arm beneath her neck.
Her eyes were closed, silent, but he knew she wasn’t asleep.
Mo Zhu pulled her into his embrace, one hand gently patting her back—a familiar gesture he used to comfort her.
After a long while, she finally spoke. "What time is it?"
Her voice was hoarse.
Mo Zhu kissed the top of her head. "Three. It’s Saturday. I don’t have classes—I’ll stay home with you, okay?"
Yu Zhiling didn’t answer. They had been at it since eight, and Mo Zhu had completely shattered her expectations. Someone who couldn’t handle the slightest stimulation at first had, by the end, brought her to the brink multiple times.
When she didn’t respond, Mo Zhu grew concerned and asked softly, "Does it hurt?"
Yu Zhiling grumbled, "Now you’re pretending to care? Weren’t you the one who wouldn’t stop earlier?"
"Sorry, jiejie. Does it hurt?"
"Go away."
"Let me check. Should I get some medicine?"
"...Get lost! It doesn’t hurt!"
Yu Zhiling kicked him under the covers. Seeing she wasn’t lying, Mo Zhu relaxed.
He grinned and hugged her. "I’m so happy."
Yu Zhiling nestled against him. "That happy?"
Mo Zhu nodded. "Yeah. I never dared bring this up before—worried you’d think I only wanted this. I was afraid you’d feel insecure, afraid you’d overthink and leave me."
But in truth, he was the insecure one in their relationship.
Yu Zhiling refused to meet his parents, wouldn’t introduce him to her family, never initiated discussions about their future. Even after all their intimacy, Mo Zhu had held back countless times, often resorting to cold showers instead of pressing her.
It was as if she only saw them as temporary—that once graduation came, they’d go their separate ways.
Yu Zhiling lifted her head to kiss his jaw. "At first, I thought you were just playing around. We’d barely met—why did you like me?"
Mo Zhu stroked her hair, his voice tender. "I used to think people who talked about love at first sight were lying, that it was just hormones. But the first time I saw you, my heart skipped a beat, then raced so fast I couldn’t even hold your umbrella properly. After that day, I dreamed about you for nights."
Yu Zhiling blushed. "What kind of dreams?"
Mo Zhu chuckled. "Innocent ones. My first… less innocent dream didn’t happen until six months after we started dating. Before that, I’d never had those kinds of thoughts."
Yu Zhiling covered his mouth, gritting her teeth. "How very proper of you!"
Mo Zhu mumbled against her hand, "I liked you so much. I stared at a single photo of your back for ages, asked my dad to help find you. I thought I’d spend my life mourning someone I’d never even properly met."
Yu Zhiling climbed on top of him, pinching his cheeks. "You didn’t want to?"
Mo Zhu wrapped his arms around her waist. "Of course I did. But being able to actually kiss and touch you is so much better. I didn’t want you to only exist in my dreams."
So the moment they met again, he made sure to get her contact details. This time, she wouldn’t slip away.
Yu Zhiling arched a brow. "Quite the schemer."
Suddenly, Mo Zhu tightened his grip, lifting her onto his lap as he sat up.
"Doesn’t matter now that I’ve caught you. You’re mine from now on."
Yu Zhiling gaped as he grabbed another condom, tearing it open with practiced ease.
"You—what are you doing?! Haven’t you had enough?!"
Mo Zhu lifted her hips, lowering her slowly, watching her frown as he panted, "Last time. Just once."
Yu Zhiling nearly lost her balance from his movements, her voice breaking as she heard him murmur in her ear.
What did he say?
He said, "Feels so good, jiejie."
Yu Zhiling wanted to strangle him. Shameless bastard!
The day before Yu Zhiling left campus, Mo Zhu arranged a dinner.
Yu Xiangrong and Jiang Yingchen had taken time off to travel from Lincheng to Beicheng—partly to bring her home, but more importantly, to discuss the future of the two young lovers with his family.
On the way, Yu Xiangrong fretted. "His family is so well-off..."
Yu Zhiling reassured her, "Our family background is good too, Mom, don't overthink it."
But in truth, she was also a little nervous. She had never met Mo Zhu's family before. He had brought it up several times, but she had always brushed it off.
When they arrived at the hotel, Yu Xiangrong and Jiang Yingchen took one look at the estate before them and fell silent for a moment before turning to Yu Zhiling in unison.
"His family doesn’t have some arranged marriage lined up for him, does they? His parents haven’t given you the cold shoulder or offered you money to leave him, have they?"
Yu Zhiling: "..."
Yu Zhiling: "Dad, Mom, stop overthinking."
As soon as they stepped out of the elevator, someone who had been waiting outside the private room hurried over to greet them.
Mo Zhu was dressed unusually formal today, wearing a button-up shirt and dress pants, worried that Yu Zhiling’s parents might think he was too young.
"Hello, Uncle and Aunt, I’m Mo Zhu."
Yu Xiangrong and Jiang Yingchen had only seen him in video calls before and knew the boy was handsome, but now that they saw him in person, they immediately took turns pulling him aside to inspect him.
"This boy is wonderful, so tall."
"And such a high nose bridge—so good-looking. A perfect match for our daughter."
The door to the private room opened, and Miao Wan, hearing the commotion, stepped out with a tall man beside her.
"My future daughter-in-law is here?"
Miao Wan walked forward with a bright smile, hugged Yu Zhiling, and kissed her on the cheek. The enthusiastic gesture startled her, but then she remembered that Miao Wan often lived abroad and expressed affection differently.
Yu Zhiling exchanged a glance with Mo Zhu, and the two shared a quiet smile. Her lingering worries finally melted away.
The dinner went smoothly. When Mo Zhu mentioned he was planning to move to Lincheng, Yu Zhiling glanced at his parents.
Miao Wan’s expression didn’t falter for a second—she kept smiling.
"Go ahead. You’re starting a business anyway—it doesn’t matter where. Just take good care of Zhiling. It’s not too far; we can always fly directly to Lincheng when we visit."
After seeing off Mo Zhu’s parents and settling her own, Yu Zhiling stepped out of the hotel to find Mo Zhu still waiting for her.
"Have you packed everything for school? Should I take you to the airport tomorrow?"
Yu Zhiling took his hand. "No need, my parents will pick me up directly."
Mo Zhu said, "Summer break is coming up soon. Once my finals are over, I’ll come to Lincheng to stay with you."
"Sure!" Yu Zhiling agreed with a smile.
They walked side by side down the street, his car parked further away. After a stretch of comfortable silence, Mo Zhu spoke.
"Distance can’t weaken what we have. To me, nothing matters more than you. I’ll go to Lincheng for you, and if you ever want to move somewhere even farther, I’ll follow. These two years apart, I’ll visit you whenever I can."
He stopped walking, turned to face her fully, and cupped her cheeks in his hands.
"So… can you trust me a little more?"
Yu Zhiling held his hands, nuzzling her face into his palm.
"Mo Zhu, in a month, you’ll turn twenty-two. Bring your household registration booklet and come find me."
This was the greatest trust she could give.
Her entire lifetime.
Mo Zhu’s entire face lit up with joy as he leaned down to kiss her. Between tender presses of his lips, he murmured, "Okay, wait for me."
He had never looked forward to his birthday so much.
On that day, he rushed to Lincheng—not to her home, but straight to the civil affairs office.
At the entrance, he found Yu Zhiling, who had arrived slightly earlier. She waved her household registration booklet at him. "Once we go in, there’s no turning back."
Mo Zhu tightened his grip on her hand. "You’re the one who shouldn’t regret it. I don’t believe in divorce."
After leaving the civil affairs office, Mo Zhu posted his second-ever social media update.
Two photos.
One, a rainy scene from years ago—only a blue umbrella visible in the frame.
The other, two marriage certificates side by side, their owners smiling just as brightly in the picture.
Yu Zhiling laced her fingers with his, squeezing tight. "Mo Zhu, from now on, you have to take good care of me. And you have to listen to everything I say."
Mo Zhu kissed her brow, her lips, and finally the ring on her finger.
"Of course, my wife."
