“Familiar?”
Li Jichuan swallowed, eyeing the space. Considering Su Pu’s memory hadn’t fully returned, he probed,
“Did you rent a place around here before?”
Su Pu shook his head. After graduating university, he’d rented only one apartment. Naïve and focused solely on low rent, he had moved in blindly.
After the year ended, the landlord demanded full payment for the next year to renew. The next day, Zhang Da moved in next door, beginning Su Pu’s nightmare of sharing with a mute roommate.
“Talking about what?” Ouyang set down a plate, squeezing into the kitchen, oblivious, standing between the two.
“Su Ge, you made all these dumplings? They smell amazing!”
Then he grabbed the ladle from Su Pu’s hands, ushering him and Li Jichuan out, “You two sit, I’ll finish up!”
As he portioned the remaining dumplings, he sang,
“Find some free time, find some space, make dumplings, come visit Ouyang’s house~”
“Stop singing!” Pei Zhicheng covered his ears, unable to bear it. “It’s awful.”
“Brother, you don’t like me? Didn’t you say I’m the best little dog in the world?!” Ouyang persisted, “Come visit Ouyang’s house, come see~”
Now all three shouted in unison:
“SHUT UP!!”
Their conversation was interrupted. Distracted by Ouyang’s commotion, Su Pu stopped thinking about any connection he had with this house.
On the way over, Li Jichuan and Ouyang had picked up some takeout. For the first time, the small dining table at the apartment was filled to the brim.
Ouyang raised a glass of cola on Pei Zhicheng’s behalf.
“Today we gather to celebrate our good friends, Su Pu and Li Jichuan—three days until their wedding…”
Su Pu couldn’t resist: “Stop teasing.”
“Alright,” Ouyang composed himself, “then I wish Su Ge and Li Ge a lifetime of love, understanding, and trust… May we all be happy, brave, and able to hold our loved ones’ hands, journeying safely and peacefully through life!”
Encouraged, Pei Zhicheng stood up, raising his glass. “Xiao Pu, Mr. Li, I hope that this time next year, we’ll still be together, sharing a meal. And I hope that every year, we can eat together and chat!”
“We will!” the couple across the table also stood, clinking glasses.
The glasses rang out crisply. The four of them looked at one another, faces glowing with genuine, contented smiles.
“Let’s eat! Let me try the dumplings my Su Ge made!”
Ouyang’s cheerful personality ensured there was never a dull moment, and everyone felt happy just being around him.
Pei Zhicheng tugged at his sleeve, quietly correcting him, “It’s the filling I made—the dumpling filling…”
“I knew it! That filling tastes amazing today, almost as good as my grandma’s!” Ouyang praised extravagantly, winking at the couple across from him.
Su Pu and Li Jichuan immediately caught on, each popping a dumpling into their mouth and chewing before praising it.
“Xiao Pei, delicious!”
“The texture of this filling is really something.”
Pei Zhicheng’s cheeks flushed—perhaps from the warmth of the room, or perhaps from shyness. He fumbled for a moment, then lowered his eyes modestly. “I just followed the recipe…”
“See? A cooking prodigy! Following the recipe and it still tastes this good!” Ouyang continued to lavish praise without holding back.
Li Jichuan reflected silently, realizing that his usual over-the-top compliments were perhaps too restrained.
After the meal, one plate of dumplings remained untouched.
Pei Zhicheng found a storage container and packed them up.
“Where are you going?” Ouyang asked, noticing him about to leave.
“Delivering dumplings to Old Madam Chen,” Pei Zhicheng replied obediently.
Old Madam Chen loved cracking sunflower seeds. Sometimes she would get carried away and simply snack on a few while returning home in the evening. Not exactly what one expects of an elder focused on health.
She was perhaps the most carefree elder Pei Zhicheng had ever met.
Hearing they were going downstairs, Ouyang removed his dishwashing gloves and apron and decided to accompany him.
Passing the couple on the sofa who were reading Pei Zhicheng’s comics, Ouyang greeted them and they closed the door behind them.
The comic, based on Su Pu and Li Jichuan, was already 80% complete. During this time, Pei Zhicheng had even squeezed in two extra projects, all receiving positive feedback.
This series would be submitted in the summer, and Pei Zhicheng had been overwhelmed with deadlines. Fortunately, the final work satisfied both Su Pu and Li Jichuan.
Though based on the couple, the comic added many heartwarming moments. Both the “little mute” and the “domineering CEO” had relatively stable pasts and a brighter future.
Despite the upgraded characterizations and plot, Li Jichuan still found his Xiao Pu beside him the best—perfect, even.
So perfect that he realized all the hardships and resentments they had endured were meaningful—they paved the way for them to meet.
Li Jichuan silently thanked fate. Even a single misstep might have kept them apart, their love never reaching such enduring heights.
Thinking this, he reached out, gripping the shoulders of the person beside him.
The person beside him seemed to feel the same, hugging him tightly in return.
No one wanted to glorify suffering, but life worked that way: the pains that cannot be erased perhaps exist only to lead to the gentle, unfolding melody of happiness.
Click—
The door opened, and Pei Zhicheng was met with a storm of praise from the couple, his face turning red repeatedly.
That whole evening—or perhaps for a long stretch—Su Pu felt unbelievably happy.
Once quiet returned, the only sound in his ears was:
Li Jichuan calling his name again and again, telling him how much he loved him.
So deeply, so completely.
Because he was a good person, capable of loving and being loved.
He no longer remembered the source of the voices that once troubled him. But did it matter? No—it didn’t.
He had to move forward. His life wasn’t a comic or a novel; it was in his own hands.
And he would make every moment as flawless as a story’s grand finale.
After chatting and joking, it was nearly midnight. Su Pu and Li Jichuan prepared to head home.
As they said their goodbyes, a sound at the door preceded them—
Old Madam Chen had washed the container and filled it with freshly bought roasted sunflower seeds.
Pei Zhicheng laughed helplessly, “Grandma, you have high blood pressure; you can’t keep eating seeds like this…”
“Picky, picky! Even more naggy than an old lady like me!” Chen waved her hand, unable to contain herself. “Because I can’t eat them, I fill it up this much for you!”
“Oh? Guests at home?”
Her gossip radar activated as she peeked inside. Then her gaze sharpened, fixed on Su Pu.
“Are you their friend?”
“Yes! This is Su Pu, a good friend of Xiao Pei and me; he even runs a coffee shop with Xiao Pei!” Ouyang volunteered.
“This is Mr. Li, my boss and Su Pu’s partner. They’re about to get married, and Xiao Pei and I are the groomsmen!”
Yet Chen seemed to hear nothing, staring intently at Su Pu, muttering:
“Su Pu… Su Pu…”
“Yes, Su Pu—the Pu from dandelion,” Ouyang chimed.
At the same time, Su Pu studied her face. Had they met before? He could recall nothing…
“Well, we should be going then.”
Li Jichuan placed a hand on Su Pu’s shoulder, stepping forward to shield him.
“The wedding plans will be a bit much; thank you both in advance for helping. Take good care of Xiao Pu for me.”
“What are you saying? Su Ge is our friend too!” Ouyang chimed brightly.
Li Jichuan embraced Su Pu’s shoulder, walking down the stairs and into the car.
Su Pu, exhausted from the wedding prep and managing the café, leaned on his husband, drifting off to sleep.
Li Jichuan tapped his phone a few more times, then rested his chin atop Su Pu’s head, dozing lightly beside him.