Three months later, Bai Cheng’s psychology consultation office opened for business. On the first day, there weren’t any clients, so Bai Cheng spent her time responding to online inquiries and handling a few phone consultations. During a break between calls, she glanced at the necklace with a cross that Luo Tian had left hanging on the wall when he visited the day before.
The day before had been the final countdown to the opening of Bai Cheng’s office, and Luo Tian had come by to help. When he saw the dreamcatcher hanging on the wall, he walked over, took off the cross necklace he wore around his neck, and hung it alongside the dreamcatcher.
“When I’m not here, let this protect you,” Luo Tian had said.
Bai Cheng had wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her chin on his shoulder, and whispered softly in his ear, “Alright, I’ll do as you say.”
Luo Tian gently lowered her hands from around his neck and pulled a small silk box from his pocket. Slowly, he opened it in front of Bai Cheng.
Inside lay a ring, adorned with a circle of small, glittering diamonds. Luo Tian took out the ring and then retrieved a simple platinum chain from his pocket. Threading the ring through the chain, he held it out to Bai Cheng. “This ring is part of a set I bought with the one on my ring finger. Originally, I only intended to buy a men’s ring to fend off unwanted attention…”
Bai Cheng couldn’t help but laugh.
“Don’t laugh! Let me finish,” Luo Tian continued. “I liked the men’s ring as soon as I saw it, but the clerk told me they only sold them as a set, so I bought both. I ended up leaving the women’s ring at home, collecting dust. Bai Cheng, today I’m giving you this ring.”
Luo Tian carefully placed the necklace around Bai Cheng’s neck, the ring resting against her chest. “I bought this chain today. For now, you can wear the ring here. Whenever you feel ready and decide you want to marry me and become my wife, you can take it off and wear it on your ring finger. I’m in no rush; I’ll wait for you.”
Bai Cheng reached up, gently touching the ring hanging from her necklace. She looked up at Luo Tian, nodding firmly.
Snapping back to the present, Bai Cheng fiddled with the ring, admiring the way it caught the light and sparkled.
“The reason we can always be together isn’t just because we share our joys but also because we have the same wounds,” she thought, gazing at the radiant ring.
As the sun slowly dipped below the horizon, darkness swiftly spread over An City, like Batman’s cape enveloping everything in its path.
Bai Cheng stood up, turned on the lights in her office, and stretched before returning to her desk to resume work. Just then, she saw a message pop up from Luo Tian: “I’m done with class. Are you still at the office? I’ll come pick you up.”
Bai Cheng replied with a simple “Okay,” and sent a heart emoji.
Luo Tian responded with, “Wait for me,” followed by a heart emoji of his own.
A little over half an hour later, Bai Cheng heard a few barks from behind her. She paused her work and looked toward the door—it was Luo Tian, with Pharaoh in tow.
Bai Cheng jogged to greet them. “You’re here!” she said, giving Pharaoh a pat on the head.
“Yeah,” Luo Tian replied, casually taking her hand as they walked inside. “When are you finishing up?”
“I’m done now. Just give me a minute,” Bai Cheng said as she started shutting down her computer and packing up her things.
“No rush. Take your time,” Luo Tian said as he sat down on the office sofa, with Pharaoh obediently lying by his side.
After tidying up, Bai Cheng walked over to Luo Tian and held out her hand. “Let’s go. I’m off work.”
Luo Tian took her hand, pulling her into his lap with a little more force than expected. Bai Cheng found herself resting against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat.
Bai Cheng hugged him tighter. “What’s this? Don’t want to leave?”
“That’s right. The moment I see you, I don’t feel like going anywhere,” Luo Tian said, stroking her hair.
“Well, if you’re not leaving, then don’t. The sofa here is pretty comfortable to sleep on,” Bai Cheng teased.
“It is comfortable. Honestly, anywhere with you is pretty comfortable.”
They stayed cuddled on the sofa for a while, but Bai Cheng’s stomach suddenly growled loudly.
Luo Tian chuckled, patting her on the head. “Alright, let’s go eat.”
“Okay,” Bai Cheng agreed, standing up. “I want hot wontons from that street stall, and I also want a hot latte.”
“You’re all over the place with your food! Hot wontons and a hot latte? You’re mixing East and West in the weirdest way.”
“So what? I like eating that way. Got a problem with that?”
“Nope, no problem at all. I agree, hot wontons should always come with a hot latte. Nothing else will do.”
“Exactly. So, what are you having?”
“I’ll get hot soy milk.”
“Haha! I knew it.”
Bai Cheng linked her arm with Luo Tian’s as they strolled down the autumn night streets, with Pharaoh trotting happily behind them. The streetlights cast a golden glow, like a harvest field in autumn, or the molten sunset at dusk. The three of them walked through the honeyed light, their shadows stretching long and far in the lamplight.
Bai Cheng’s laughter rang out along the street, and Pharaoh’s tail wagged cheerfully. Luo Tian watched her laugh, her eyes squinting with joy.
Looking at her smiling face, Luo Tian suddenly realized, “The new world has already begun.”
✨Translation complete!✨
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