"Finally... it's time to leave this campus."

Jiangg Ning returned her work badge to the administration office, exchanged a few brief words with a surprised colleague, and said her goodbyes. As she walked outside, stood beneath the faculty building, and gazed up at the main tower of Lanjing University, a wave of emotions washed over her.

She felt it with a deep sense of finality.

From this moment on, she was no longer a professor at Landa University, an educator of young minds. She could no longer enjoy the pride that identity had brought her.

This place, which held years of memories, these sights she was so familiar with she'd seen them a thousand times, were destined to become faded colors in an old photograph. By the time she would unseal these memories to talk about them again, they would feel exceptionally distant.

So distant that she might not even remember she ever had such a profoundly meaningful experience.

Jiangg Ning hadn't expected to feel so sentimental. But once she had packed up everything in her office and even returned her work badge, the sad emotions instantly became a little hard to control.

Wearing flats, she wandered alone down the empty corridor.

In the winter air, the once-lush greenery was reduced to withered branches and dead leaves. The exposed stone walls and long corridors looked bare and ugly. Even the lampposts, which had accompanied generations of students, seemed particularly old and worn.

There are times in life when the days seem to fly by. These are often periods of struggle and rapid growth.

For Jiangg Ning, this experience was precious.

It was precious because she had just graduated, felt she was finally independent, and held a single wish in her heart: to save her sister from dire straits.

When she first arrived in Lanjing, she was in an unfamiliar city, knowing no one, and starting her very first job.

She worked hard to learn how to navigate social and professional situations. She was conscientious with every single class, spending countless nights burning the midnight oil to prepare lessons, and cherished the moments she won her students' praise.

It's often said that one only learns how to navigate the world by entering it. Only after joining the workforce do you realize how idealistic the world described in books is. To break free from that, to let go of preconceived notions about reality and find a balanced perspective—that is a rare and valuable quality.

'It really is time to say goodbye for the last time.'

Jiangg Ning ran her fingers over the textured stone of the corridor, trying her best to cast aside her unhappiness. She gave a small, relieved smile and silently told herself not to be overly sentimental.

'I guess it's time to enter a new phase of my life.'

Before, she had always meticulously planned out every single thing she was going to do. But life is never as orderly as one imagines.

Chen Yuan's arrival had completely changed her life, bringing with it countless unexpected turns.

She had always been averse to such things. She would get particularly frustrated when things weren't completely under her control, but her relationship with Chen Yuan was, without a doubt, a sweet surprise.

Even though it was beyond her control, this "trouble" also brought so many pleasant surprises.

Even she couldn't bring herself to refuse it.

...

Bit by bit, the two women moved everything from the office to their home.

Jiangg Ning was just about to ask her best friend to stay for dinner, wanting to thank her for working like a dog all afternoon.

But her friend said she had things to do and really couldn't stay and chat.

There was nothing for it; Jiangg Ning couldn't force her to stay. She just said that she and Jiangg Yao would have to treat her to a nice meal some other time.

At the mention of Jiangg Yao's name,

Ningning, who was in the middle of moving things, suddenly straightened up. She wiped a thin layer of sweat from her forehead, pulled her phone from her pocket, and sent a message.

...

Meanwhile, in the bedroom, Jiangg Yao was sleeping soundly.

She was woken by a buzzing from under her pillow. At first, she tried to ignore it, but the continuous vibrations forced her to pull out her phone and look.

Ningning, whose contact name was saved as "Mean Ol' Sis," had sent four or five messages.

Jiangg Yao was always changing her sister's contact name, though it was never anything flattering.

"Time's up!"

"I'm giving you three minutes to get your ass out of that room."

"The countdown has started."

"Hey, don't pretend you can't see this."

"We agreed back home! If you violate the Sister Agreement, you automatically forfeit this round of the game!"

Jiangg Yao rolled her eyes as she read the messages.

"Alright, alright. That eager to have my husband?"

"He's all yours."

"Heh. You're pathetic."

Jiangg Ning replied instantly:

"He's obviously *my* husband."

Jiangg Yao replied:

LMAO.jpeg 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

A meme so classic it couldn't be more classic, yet its psychic damage was immense.

It was dripping with sarcasm.

But for now, Jiangg Yao could only win with her words. She pushed herself up from the bed and gazed longingly at the soundly sleeping Chen Yuan beside her. Her heart filled with mock tragedy, she wished thick snowflakes would start falling in the bedroom as she dropped to her knees and wailed, "Oh, Mr. Chen!"

End of absurd fantasy...

Jiangg Yao didn't even have time to reach out and caress his cheek. Resentfully, she snuck away, leaving the bedroom door ajar. She then grabbed her own coat and sprinted to the room next door.

In the entryway,

stacks upon stacks of books were piled so high there was barely room to walk. There were even a few well-tended potted plants, with a small, sharp trowel for loosening the soil resting beside them.

"What is all this?! Are you trying to assassinate me?"

Jiangg Yao moved like a thief dodging laser beams, finding a gap here and squeezing through a space there. She even had to duck down to get past a shelf.

Just then, Ningning emerged from the study, dusting off her hands.

"Oh, you're here."

"Where did you get all this stuff?"

"I moved it from my office. I bought all of this myself. That potted plant is the one I took from home, remember?"

"How would I remember that?"

"Perfect. You're just in time. I'm exhausted from hauling all this stuff upstairs myself. I'm going to go keep Chen Yuan company now. Remember to put the flowerpots on the balcony and give them some water. Oh, and when you're shelving the books, make sure to categorize them. The theory and academic texts go on the bottom. Be really careful with the collector's editions on the Western European Renaissance—don't damage them! Put them with the book on Da Vinci's art history..."

"Stop, stop, stop... you're making my head spin," Jiangg Yao said, quickly holding up a hand to stop her.

"It's just a few things."

"Hold on, sis! I let you have my husband, and now I have to work for you and clean up all... all... *this*? What do you take me for, your slave???"

Yaoyao was utterly flabbergasted.

"It's not like you have anything better to do."

Taking the windbreaker from her dumbfounded sister's hands, Jiangg Ning smiled, opened the door, and said, "See ya."

With a dazzling smile, she happily went to find Chen Yuan.

Leaving Jiangg Yao alone in the spacious room, staring at the chaotic mess of belongings, her thoughts in equal disarray.

...

What is the most wonderful thing in the world? Perhaps it's opening your eyes and seeing the person you love standing right beside you.

They were so close he could even see the soft, fine strands of hair at her temples.

Her uniquely refined and scholarly aura struck him right in the heart, making his breath catch in his throat.

He had obviously seen her before, but when a smile touched Ningning's lips, Chen Yuan felt as if he were seeing Jiangg Ning for the very first time.

"Long time no see."

Jiangg Ning reined in her emotions. She opened her mouth, and after a moment, out of all the countless things she wanted to say, only those simple words came out.

"Ningning, long time no see."

Chen Yuan felt a sting in his nose. Only now did he realize how long it had been since he'd last been with Ningning.

How very long.