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In the fourth month of spring that year, the northwest also welcomed its own spring.
Sun Yuanzhu concluded his assignment in the northwest and was preparing to return to Beijing. Before leaving, he came to see Shang Zhitao. That day, a few wildflowers bloomed by the roadside, and he picked one to bring to her, suggesting she place it in a vase.
As Shang Zhitao gazed at the flourishing branch, she suddenly recalled the mysterious flowers she had received years ago. Turning to Sun Yuanzhu, she said, “After all these years, it’s always felt strange. But seeing this flower you picked just now, I suddenly feel like those flowers might have been sent by you.”
Sun Yuanzhu sat beside her on a small folding stool with a portable tea table between them. Before them stretched a hillside covered in blossoms. He replied calmly, “Back then, I thought you really wanted to receive flowers, but receiving prearranged ones lacked surprise. So I sent you a few as a little prank. I hoped you’d like them.”
Shang Zhitao finally smiled. After so many years, she finally had an answer.
How much had she liked those flowers? Back then, she had been heartbroken because Luan Nian had given a bouquet to Zang Yao. Now, thinking back, she found it laughable. In youth, people always compared themselves to others—even over something as simple as flowers—and ended up competing fiercely. In the end, they realized that such vanity was merely the discontent of being young.
“Thank you, Sun Yuanzhu,” she said, looking at him. Despite his emaciated appearance, in her eyes, he was still the same youthful man who used to accompany her in the early mornings—a bright and vibrant young man.
“Don’t be formal with me. It’s rare for the northwest’s spring to be windless. Let’s enjoy the mountain scenery.” He pushed the tea toward Shang Zhitao and took a sip from his own cup. The tea leaves had no flavor, the flowers no color; the world seemed to dim before his eyes.
Once again, Shang Zhitao felt an inexplicable sadness. She said to him, “Sun Yuanzhu, my project should finish earlier, around August. When I return, I’ll accompany you…” She wanted to say, When I get back, I’ll take you to see a doctor, okay? But remembering Sun Yuanzhu’s refusal to show vulnerability or let down his pride, she paused and changed direction: “I’ll take you to midnight screenings, okay? The three of us—Sun Yu, you, and me—we’ll go every weekend and watch all the old movies.”
“It has to be my treat.”
“Let Sun Yu pay! She’s so wealthy now, managing a team of hundreds with daily revenues exceeding two million. We’ll let her treat us—not just the movie tickets, but dinner too!” Shang Zhitao joked lightheartedly.
Sun Yuanzhu chuckled softly and, after a long pause, said, “She works hard for every penny she earns.”
“You care about her, don’t you? If she knew, she’d be thrilled. I’ll tell her right now that Sun Yuanzhu cares about her!”
Sun Yuanzhu pressed down Shang Zhitao’s hand as she reached for her phone. “Don’t.” He placed her phone face down on the folding table. “Don’t disturb her.”
About the unspeakable, inconvenient things between them, Sun Yuanzhu requested Shang Zhitao’s silence. She nodded. “Alright, I won’t tell her. Can we still go to that noodle shop today?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think you can eat a small bowl by yourself?”
“I’ll try.”
The two of them were seated once again in the humble noodle shop. As usual, Sun Yuanzhu managed only a couple of bites before setting down his chopsticks. Shang Zhitao’s eyes immediately reddened as she looked at the barely touched noodles in front of him. “A person can’t live on dew alone,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. The chili oil caught in her throat, making her cough, and tears welled up in her eyes. Sun Yuanzhu consoled her: “I just ate more than usual this morning.”
You’re lying, Shang Zhitao thought to herself, though she didn’t say it aloud. After finishing their meal, Shang Zhitao bid him farewell. He stood there for a moment in the spring breeze of the northwest before walking back to her: “Don’t worry, neither you nor Sun Yu need to worry. After I return, I’ll see a doctor seriously and follow the treatment. I’ll be fine. By the time your project ends and you come back to Beijing, I should have regained some weight.”
Shang Zhitao thought, This is just how Sun Yuanzhu is—he knows everything but never speaks of it. She nodded. “I know you must be going through a lot. If you ever feel like talking, call me anytime. You know, I absolutely love chatting with you. Every conversation with you makes me happy.”
“Mm, alright.” Sun Yuanzhu patted her head—a rare gesture. “I remember.”
Shang Zhitao watched Sun Yuanzhu leave, the breeze ruffling his pants, which clung to his thin legs. She thought to herself, Next time I see you, please gain a little weight! Please eat enough noodles to finish four or five bites!
She called Sun Yu, who had just recovered from a hangover. The previous night had been their company anniversary celebration, and she’d been outdrunk by her subordinates. Sun Yu complained to Shang Zhitao: “Luan Nian’s such a bastard. Originally, we were the client side, but since he introduced the investors, they seated him at the main table. This guy insisted I drink with him, saying he wouldn’t drink unless I did. In the end, I drank half a catty, and he told me, ‘Why didn’t you refuse?’ Isn’t that infuriating?”
Shang Zhitao listened to her rant about Luan Nian for a while and finally managed to interject when Sun Yu paused for water: “Sun Yuanzhu’s flight back is today. We just parted ways.”
“He didn’t tell me.”
“So just wait at home. He also said he’ll see a doctor properly.”
Shang Zhitao heard Sun Yu fall silent on the other end of the line. After a moment, she sniffled and asked, “Did he really say that?”
“Yes.”
“I’m so relieved.”
Sun Yu hung up, enduring her headache as she went to tidy the living room. Sun Yuanzhu liked cleanliness, and she wanted him to step into a spotless home. She cleaned thoroughly inside and out, watching the dust particles dance in the spring sunlight, creating the illusion of days passing in heaven. After finishing the housework, she attended to herself—applying a face mask, washing her face, and concealing the fatigue of her hangover. Finally, the door clicked open, and Sun Yu’s heart opened along with it.
Sun Yuanzhu stood at the doorway, the sunlight casting him in a faint glow. Seeing Sun Yu in the living room, he smiled and asked, “Why aren’t you at work?”
“I got drunk last night.” Sun Yu ran to him. No matter her age or achievements—at heart, she was forever eighteen or twenty in front of the one she loved. No matter how many assets she possessed or how large the company she managed, she remained as sincere as she had been when they first met.
“Do you want to try the spicy and sour noodles I made?” Sun Yu asked.
“Sure. I can help.”
“Come.”
The two shared an unspoken默契 (understanding) in the kitchen, not speaking but moving in harmony. Whenever Sun Yu reached out, Sun Yuanzhu already knew what she needed and handed it to her. Once the noodles were ready, Sun Yuanzhu managed two bites but struggled with the third. Sun Yu gently pressed his hand, took the chopsticks, and finished the remaining noodles.
“I’m hungry. I’ll eat them all. If you want more, I’ll make another batch,” Sun Yu said, then ushered Sun Yuanzhu back to his room. “Go rest.”
“Alright.”
Early the next morning, Sun Yuanzhu indeed went to see a doctor. Sun Yu secretly followed him, watching as he entered the hospital. She messaged Shang Zhitao: “This time, I think it’ll be okay.”
“I believe it will. Should we tell his family?”
“Don’t.”
Sun Yuanzhu would collapse if his family found out. There was a fragile string in his heart, one that seemed ready to snap at the slightest touch. Sun Yu wouldn’t allow it to break.
She sat in her car, waiting for Sun Yuanzhu to emerge. The wait felt endless, and she knew how excruciating it was. Her phone kept ringing—work calls. From being an unemployed salesperson struggling to make ends meet to becoming the head of a Series B-funded company, it had taken her six years. During those six years, she endured countless hardships and humiliations, swallowing them all without making a sound.
She only cried in front of Sun Yuanzhu.
On that day when the rain poured down relentlessly, he carried her home after she injured her foot. From that moment on, he became an irreplaceable part of her heart. Whenever her company faced technical challenges, he sought help to overcome them. When she struggled to understand business logic, he helped her figure it out. He aspired to be a scientist who contributed to humanity, yet he repeatedly assisted Sun Yu with problems related to making money.
When she was sad, he was there; when she was happy, he was there too.
Sun Yu had grown into such a strong and independent woman, yet she remained deeply dependent on Sun Yuanzhu. It didn’t matter if they weren’t in a romantic relationship—just having him around was enough.
Sun Yu waited until the afternoon before she finally saw Sun Yuanzhu walk out of the hospital. In his hand, he carried a white bag filled with medication. Sun Yu watched him leave, then waited another hour in the car before starting the engine and heading home. By the time she arrived, Sun Yuanzhu was already taking his medicine.
Pretending not to know anything, Sun Yu asked him, “Are you taking medicine?”
“I went to the hospital today. The doctor ran several evaluations and prescribed a lot of medication. I might need further treatment.”
“What kind of treatment?” Sun Yu asked.
Instead of answering, Sun Yuanzhu spoke about his visit: “The doctor said there’s nothing wrong with me. This time, the intervention methods are thorough. As long as I cooperate actively, recovery is just a matter of time. Don’t worry.”
“Alright,” Sun Yu said, placing her bag on the sofa. “How about we make something to eat now?”
“Let’s have spicy and sour noodles again.”
Sun Yu headed to the kitchen, her mood exceptionally bright—as though after months of continuous rain, the sky had suddenly cleared. She thought, Indeed, health is the most important thing. As long as we’re healthy, everything else can be fixed in time.
She sent a message to Shang Zhitao: “He went to see the doctor and will continue treatment. I’m in such a good mood.”
“Me too.”
In life, we encounter countless people, but there are only a few—only a precious few—who are worth giving your whole heart to, believing without a doubt that they will never hurt you. Shang Zhitao thought, To have friends like this, how fortunate I am.
It was rare for Sun Yuanzhu to initiate conversation in their group chat. He asked Zhang Lei, “Did you get the promotion we talked about last time?”
Zhang Lei sent a business card, adding, “From now on, please call me Vice General Manager of Commercialized Products.”
“What about General Manager?” Sun Yu asked.
“Still vacant.” Zhang Lei followed up with a string of laughter emojis and said, “Friends, I think this calls for a big celebration!”
“How big?” Shang Zhitao asked.
“The first restaurant listed on review sites, sorted by price descending.”
Sun Yu sent a screenshot: “This one? Only the most expensive? Not necessarily the best?”
“I think it works,” Zhang Lei replied. “For you guys, it’s worth it. We’ll wait until Shang Zhitao comes back.”
“Sounds good.”
Zhang Lei messaged Shang Zhitao privately: “I’ve always wanted to tell you—I used to have feelings for you.”
“? “
“Now, though, I’m going to be a diamond bachelor!” Zhang Lei sent a laughing emoji. He was always like this—funny and self-deprecating. Shang Zhitao didn’t even need to respond; he had already performed an entire unrequited love story on his own.
“Congratulations, Diamond Zhang,” Shang Zhitao replied. She was grateful that Zhang Lei had never made his feelings obvious. Even after moving out, he maintained a lasting connection with them, caring and helping whenever needed, without ever showing special attention toward her.
Shang Zhitao, far away in the northwest, distanced from the storm, focused on meticulously crafting a project. At first, she simply wanted to create a groundbreaking project to establish herself as an expert. Gradually, she realized its true significance—it could genuinely improve the living conditions of local residents, provide jobs, and help more people become aware of the region. She had never felt such a sense of accomplishment.
Her company summoned her back temporarily for a departmental meeting to welcome the new department head.
It had been over three months since she last saw Luan Nian. That day, everyone gathered in the conference room, and the new head of the planning department, Josh, sat beside Luan Nian. After entering, Shang Zhitao still chose an inconspicuous seat. However, the way others treated her had changed significantly. Grace called out to her: “Flora, sit here.”
“I’ll stay where I am,” she replied, accustomed to staying low-key.
“Come on,” Grace insisted.
Unable to refuse under everyone’s gaze, she walked over and sat next to Grace. As she raised her head, she met Luan Nian’s lingering gaze.
“Long time no see,” Luan Nian messaged her.
“Long time no see,” Shang Zhitao replied.
Putting her phone away, she noticed Yilia looking at her and smiled softly.
“Thank you all for returning from various cities to attend this meeting. Today’s gathering is primarily to introduce our new department head, Josh,” Luan Nian announced. “Josh is a top-tier creative expert we’ve searched for and recruited after much effort. Moving forward, he’ll oversee the daily operations of the planning department.”
Everyone clapped politely. Josh wore glasses and looked more like a scientist than a creative mind. Yet, his sharp gaze inspired a hint of fear.
“Thank you all, Luke flatters me. Let’s work hard together. I’d like to meet each of you. I’ve already met some, but there are a few stationed elsewhere whom I haven’t. Who is Flora?”
“Hello, Josh. I’m Flora.”
“Nice to meet you,” Josh said, glancing briefly at Shang Zhitao before moving on to call other names.
No one expected Josh, whom Luan Nian had recruited, to be like this. The meeting proceeded quietly, and afterward, Shang Zhitao returned to her desk, where she reunited with Lumi, whom she hadn’t seen in a while. Lumi raised an eyebrow at her: “Hello, Flora.”
She eyed Shang Zhitao’s suitcase: “Straight from the airport?”
“Mm-hmm,” Shang Zhitao replied, setting down her bag and sitting at her desk to reply to emails. Lumi leaned over and whispered, “Tonight, Luke is hosting a celebration dinner for your department. Shh, I booked the venue.”
“What celebration?”
“Yilia. Her dad secured 80% of the ad budget for Lingmei this year.”
“How much?” Shang Zhitao asked.
“250 million, across all platforms.”
“Wow. That does deserve a celebration! I’ve seen in the group chat that Luke has been leading everyone through case studies and bidding, but he never mentioned the success in the chat.”
“The results came out this morning. Then Will told me to arrange the celebration but said it had to remain confidential.”
“So you didn’t keep it a secret?” Shang Zhitao teased.
“Not from you. I have no secrets with you.” Lumi smirked. “Want to grab coffee? I’ve got some gossip.”
“Do you know why Lingmei got 250 million?”
“Why?”
“Because of Luke.”
“I don’t believe it.” Shang Zhitao shook her head. “He’s not that kind of person. If he were, why hasn’t Jiang Lan succeeded all these years?”
“Do you know she hasn’t succeeded?”
“I don’t.”
Lumi burst out laughing: “Just teasing you! Whether Stubborn Donkey sleeps with someone or not is none of my business. What I want to tell you is…” Lumi pulled Shang Zhitao to a secluded corner in the smoking area behind the building and tugged down her collar, revealing a vivid hickey on her collarbone. Shang Zhitao’s eyes widened as she stared at Lumi.
Lumi whistled: “Come on, you haven’t asked me yet today!”
“Did Lumi sleep with Will last night?”
“Yep, last night. Don’t let his gentlemanly exterior fool you—he’s actually a beast!”
“Got it. Madam Lu is thrilled.”
That evening, during the celebratory banquet, everyone drank heavily. Shang Zhitao abstained, watching as glasses were raised and toasts exchanged. Luan Nian seemed to be in a good mood. Yilia, the hero who secured the 250-million deal, sat beside him and raised her glass: “Thank you, Luke, for your guidance and support.” Luan Nian clinked glasses with her: “You worked hard.”
At the table, everyone displayed different expressions. Shang Zhitao quietly listened to her colleagues’ conversations. Everyone knew she didn’t drink, so no one pressured her. But having not seen her for a long time, they missed her. Grace mentioned that Shang Zhitao qualified to apply for the expert title this year, prompting everyone to tease her: “Flora, there are three judges at this table. You should drink three cups.”
Grace quickly intervened: “I don’t count, Flora. You’ve helped me so much—we don’t need formalities. But you should toast Josh and Luke. Especially Josh—you need to give him a proper introduction.”
Shang Zhitao found herself in a difficult spot, everyone’s eyes on her. Refusing would dampen the mood. As she reached for the wine bottle, Josh asked, “So, how many expert slots does the company offer annually?”
“One,” Grace answered.
“Then there are two competitors among us,” Josh remarked. “Good luck to both of you.”
Shang Zhitao froze mid-pour, raising her head to look at Josh.
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