1
At 6:30 in the morning, I shuffled downstairs in my slippers, half-asleep, and saw the kitchen light on.
Zhou Xu stood with his back to me, wearing a gray apron. The tie at his waist cinched his narrow frame, sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing the pleasing curve of his muscles.
A sizzle echoed from the pan as egg mixture slid into the hot oil, instantly unfurling into golden perfection.
I froze in place, swallowing quietly—I couldn't tell if I was craving the eggs or him.
He turned, raising an eyebrow at me. "Good morning, girlfriend."
His voice carried a hint of sleepy hoarseness, yet it was utterly intoxicating.
My heart skipped a beat, but I forced myself to stay calm: "Morning."
Just as I started to walk around the table, he reached out to stop me: "Go brush your teeth first. I squeezed the toothpaste for you."
Killer details.
My lips curled into a wild smile, but I didn't want to look too obvious, so I covered my face and dashed into the bathroom.
2
After washing up, I returned to the kitchen. He handed me a cup of warm water from behind and effortlessly pulled me into his embrace: "Try this. How do you like your sunny-side-up eggs?"
I took a bite. The runny yolk, mingled with the aroma of black pepper, exploded on my tongue.
"Delicious!"
"Reward." He leaned down and gave my lips a light peck, like stamping a seal. "I'll make this for you every day from now on."
Every day.
Those four words left me dizzy, forgetting even to trim the crust off my toast.
3
The breakfast was barely on the table when the doorbell rang.
Barefoot, I dashed to answer it. The delivery guy handed in a huge bouquet—
sunflowers.
Golden and vibrant, still glistening with morning dew.
I froze: "Who sent these?"
Zhou Xu wiped his hands as he approached, took the flowers, and pressed them into my arms: "Me."
"Why the sudden flowers?"
"First day of being official. A little ceremony." He lowered his head, pressing his forehead against mine. "From now on, every first of the month, you'll get some."
My arms were full of sunshine, yet my nose was filled with his scent. Suddenly, I realized—
Love really does make the air sweeter.
4
At nine in the morning, we finished tidying the kitchen and were about to head back to the study to "cram for exams" when my mom's video call burst in.
I frantically tried to fix my hair, but Zhou Xu calmly stepped into the frame, his shirt buttoned all the way up, looking every bit the model student.
"Good morning, Auntie."
"Xiao Xu, thanks for watching the house!" On screen, Mom wore sunglasses against a seaside backdrop, grinning from ear to ear. "Did Xiao Li sleep in?"
"No, she got up at seven. She's been very good."
I pinched his waist under the table—who gets up at seven?!
Unfazed, he grabbed my fingers and interlaced our hands.
I instantly fell silent.
Mom continued her inspection: "What are you having for lunch? Don't order takeout."
Zhou Xu: "I made corn and pork rib soup. Don't worry, Auntie."
I turned in shock—how come I didn't know?
He glanced sideways, whispering softly: "I soaked it last night and got up after eleven to tend the fire."
My heart melted into a puddle: Someone had woven their promise into the fabric of daily life.
5
At the end of the video, my mom suddenly smiled warmly: "Oh, and don't forget to lock the front door at night. There's been a stray cat running around the neighborhood lately."
Me: "Got it!"
"Alright, I won't bother you anymore. Bye~"
After hanging up, I exhaled deeply and realized he was still holding my hand.
"Girlfriend," he wiggled our intertwined fingers, "Mom reminded us to lock the door."
"I'll go right now—"
Just as I stood up, he pulled me back forcefully, sending me tumbling back onto the sofa and crashing into his arms.
"But before locking the door," he leaned down, kissing my earlobe, "I want to hold you first."
Morning sunlight streamed through the window, casting our overlapping shadows like a golden border around the world.
Nestled against his chest, I heard my heartbeat whisper—
Turns out falling in love is this addictive.
6
At three in the afternoon, Zhou Xu suddenly grew mysterious: "I'll take you somewhere."
"Where?"
"The rooftop."
I froze.
This old penthouse building—we used to fly kites up there as kids. Later, the property management locked the iron gate leading to the rooftop, and we never went up again.
"I found the key yesterday," he said, jingling the brass key and grinning like he was showing off a treasure.
I bounced up and down with excitement, but he grabbed me and said, "Put your coat on. It's windy up there."
7
The iron gate creaked open with a "creak," and wind swept sunlight and dust into our faces.
Squinting, I saw the old wooden box lying quietly in the center of the rooftop—
our "time capsule" buried together when we were ten.
Zhou Xu crouched down, pulled a small metal shovel from his pocket, and pried open the lid in no time.
Inside lay a stack of yellowed envelopes, a CD, several glass beads, and—
half a faded plastic lollipop stick.
My nose stung instantly.
Zhou Xu, however, reached for the top envelope first and handed it to me: "Dare you look?"
On the envelope was his handwriting from his youth—
[To Snot Nose Xia Li]
I feigned nonchalance: "Why wouldn't I dare?"
But my fingers trembled uncontrollably.
8
Unfolding the letter, seventeen-year-old Zhou Xu's handwriting was still immature, yet each stroke was painstakingly deliberate—
[Xia Li:
Today is your birthday. I saved up my allowance for three months to buy you S.H.E's new album.
When you leaned on the railing and told me, 'Zhou Xu is the most dependable person in the whole world,' I thought to myself, if only I could hear you say that for the rest of my life.
Sorry I hid Li Haoran's love letter to you—his handwriting just wasn't as nice as mine.
...
I've liked you for a long time.]
My vision blurred with mist. I looked up at him: "So... back then, you already—"
Zhou Xu knelt down on one knee, leveling his gaze with mine, his ears flushing crimson. "Wasn't it clear enough in the letter?"
My tears fell onto the paper, smudging the ink into a blur.
But he smiled, lifting his hand to wipe my tears. "Little crybaby, it's not over yet."
Reaching into the bottom of the box, he pulled out a small velvet box.
He opened it—
Inside lay a simple sunflower-shaped band ring, its inner surface engraved with a date: [2017.8.16]
"I bought it three years ago," he murmured hoarsely, "waiting for you to turn twenty."
My twentieth birthday was next month.
I cried until I hiccupped. He pulled me into his arms, his palm stroking my back rhythmically. "Snotty-nosed kid, stop crying. You haven't even put the ring on yet."
I reached out, letting him slip the ring onto my ring finger—
Not too big, not too small. Just right.
"Zhou Xu," I choked out between sobs, "I've liked you too. For a very, very long time."
He lowered his head and kissed my trembling lips. The wind swept past my ears, as if providing the soundtrack to this confession.
9
As the sunset faded, we sat side by side beside an old wooden crate on the rooftop, our shadows stretched long and thin.
My head rested on his shoulder as I twirled the sunflower on my finger. "From now on, this will be our secret hideaway."
"Okay," he tilted his head and kissed the top of my head. "When we get married, we'll swap the rings for a pair, and this place will be our honeymoon suite's viewing platform."
"Who... who said I'd marry you!" I protested, though my lips curved into a wild smile.
He chuckled softly, his fingertip tracing my ring finger. "You've already put it on. Trying to back out now?"
I lunged forward, wrapped my arms around his neck, and declared loudly, "I'll renege for a lifetime!"
The sunset was perfect, the breeze gentle, scattering our laughter far, far away.
10
At ten o'clock that night, after we finished packing the time capsule, Zhou Xu hung the key back on the kitchen hook. Turning to me, he held out his hand: "Girlfriend, wanna take a shower? The hot water's ready."
My alarm bells went off: "We bathe separately!"
He smiled with pure innocence: "Of course not. I'm not that kind of guy."
Half-convinced, I slipped into the bathroom with my pajamas. Just as I locked the door, I heard him chuckling outside: "The lock's broken. We'll fix it tomorrow."
Me: ???
"Zhou Xu! Stop right there!"
"I'm at the door," his voice was low and amused, "keeping you company. I'm afraid of the dark."
Through the door, I threatened, "If you dare peek, I'll—"
"Or what?"
"I'll... make you come back!"
Silence fell outside the door for two seconds before his muffled chuckle reached me: "I'd love that."
I covered my face, utterly defeated.