And she appeared.
The lighter clicked, and Su Qiu lit the candle.
The cake was designed as a three-dimensional snow mountain, with a hot spring painted in fruit jam at its base, where a round little red panda was soaking.
The cake design was Su Qiu's idea—she had sent it to the cake artist before boarding the plane.
With time so tight, Su Qiu could only recall the photos Grandmother Zhou had once shown her of Zhou Jingqian skiing.
From that, Su Qiu made the connection—and as for the little red panda soaking in the hot spring, naturally, that was Zhou Jingqian.
Only a strip of recessed ceiling lights remained on around them, casting a faint glow, making the candlelight feel especially warm in that moment.
Su Qiu nudged the cake a little closer to Zhou Jingqian, sat down beside him, and smiled. "Make a wish."
Zhou Jingqian had celebrated birthdays for years, but the wish-making step had only existed in his youth. In later years, it had been skipped entirely.
He looked at the candlelight before him, silent for two seconds before slowly closing his eyes.
"I hope Grandmother's second surgery goes smoothly."
Hearing this, Su Qiu felt it almost as her own.
Last year on her birthday, her wish had also been for her grandmother's surgery to succeed.
Zhou Jingqian didn't open his eyes, pausing briefly before adding, "I hope Teacher Su's inspiration never runs dry, and that work goes well."
He hadn't made birthday wishes for years—last year, the year before, going back many years. Making two this year was perfectly reasonable.
Su Qiu was just raising her phone to take a photo when she heard this and froze for a moment.
After finishing his wishes, Zhou Jingqian opened his eyes and happened to see Su Qiu pointing her phone at him. He didn't move, a faint curve tugging at his thin lips. "Done taking the photo?"
On the screen, Zhou Jingqian was wrapped in warm candlelight.
The light slanted in from the side, tracing the sharp lines of his straight nose, his cool pale profile gilded with a soft warm edge.
His eyes held a smile, his dark pupils like a still pool of ink—seemingly calm and unmoving.
But at that moment, as he looked through the phone lens at its owner, beneath that deep pool, something faint and slow seemed to be stirring with quiet warmth.
Su Qiu took one photo, then suggested, "Hold Little White and Little Grey, and I'll take another."
Zhou Jingqian complied, reaching over to scoop up the two little rabbits crouched on the dining table beside the cake.
Su Qiu aimed her lens and snapped one, then turned the phone around, smiling as she leaned into the frame herself.
The first family photo of the four of them was born.
After finishing the cake, Su Qiu went into the study and powered on the photo printer that had once malfunctioned and she'd later fixed.
The photos printed quickly—three of them, colors perfectly true.
Su Qiu grinned. "Finally not black and white…"
She stuck the photos onto the white wall of the study, a wall she planned to slowly fill up as a photo memory board.
After putting up the photos, Su Qiu walked out of the study and let out a small yawn.
Having grown used to early nights and early mornings on set, her routine had settled into a regular rhythm.
Zhou Jingqian saw her yawn and held back the invitation to watch a movie.
After all, they had plenty of time.
He walked over. "Sleep?"
Su Qiu nodded.
Zhou Jingqian went into the bathroom first to brush his teeth and wash up. When he came out, Su Qiu was about to go in, but she suddenly glanced down at her pajama set.
She paused mid-step, then turned into the walk-in closet.
When she emerged, she had changed into a slip dress—thin straps, hem falling to her ankles.
Zhou Jingqian was leaning against the big bed waiting for her. His gaze swept over her pale shoulders, catching the two familiar thin straps, and his Adam's apple rolled almost imperceptibly. He stayed silent.
Su Qiu was calmer than he was, walking straight into the bathroom without meeting his eyes.
Squeezing out the orange-flavored toothpaste, as the fresh, sweet foam spread through her mouth, she thought of the embrace she'd shared with Zhou Jingqian tonight.
When she came out of the bathroom, the main light in the room was already off.
A dim amber wall light wrapped the entire room, and the central air conditioning delivered just the right temperature.
Su Qiu instantly felt a sense of comfort—even before lying down—knowing she'd sleep better tonight than in the hotel on set.
She sat down on the bed, and Zhou Jingqian turned to switch off the light. The couple lay down almost simultaneously.
But this time, Zhou Jingqian didn't wait for Su Qiu to move to her own pillow. He reached out, wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her entirely against his side.
In the darkness, Su Qiu's lashes trembled, like a butterfly suddenly landing in a patch of flowers, wings fluttering.
The next instant, Zhou Jingqian's kiss landed on her eyes.
Their breaths slowly tangled together, the temperature climbing.
Su Qiu's fingers unconsciously clutched at the front of Zhou Jingqian's pajama shirt, but her wrist was suddenly caught in his grip.
He turned over, pressing her wrist down onto his pillow.
When it came to breathing, Su Qiu still wasn't very practiced—she needed more training. Fortunately, Zhou Jingqian wasn't kissing her for the first time either; he knew when to pull back slightly, giving them both room to catch their breath.
He, too, was kissing someone for the first time. No experience.
Many things ran on instinct.
And her appearance—that was the switch for instinct.
Su Qiu's lips parted slightly, glistening, her chest rising and falling gently as she breathed.
Zhou Jingqian looked at her, slowly lowering his head, his teeth grazing the thin strap of her slip dress.
This time, she didn't stop him. And he didn't hold back.
When his palm covered hers, Su Qiu instinctively arched her body. The movement seemed like a response, and her cheeks burned crimson as a thin layer of tears blurred her eyes.
Zhou Jingqian didn't touch her for long. He had learned from kissing that everything else needed to be gradual, allowing her time to adjust.
They had started without feelings, their intimacy stemming more from physical instinct and attraction.
He didn't want to be labeled as greedy or indulgent in her eyes, so he only gently teased the strawberry with his fingertip.
His lips lingered only on her shoulder, not moving down to suck.
Time seemed to stretch endlessly.
When Zhou Jingqian noticed his breathing had grown heavier—too heavy to control—he naturally rose and went into the bathroom.
Su Qiu lay on her back, the strap of her nightgown already back in place.
She turned her head toward the bathroom, planning to wait for Zhou Jingqian to come out so they could cuddle and sleep.
But this time, he took a very long cold shower.
Su Qiu's eyelids drooped. She wanted to wait for him, but sleepiness struck first.
When Zhou Jingqian came out, he saw his young wife already fast asleep, curled up in the blanket like a little snail wrapped in its shell.
He lay down and pulled her into his arms, blanket and all.
The next day, Su Qiu slept in for the first time in a while. When she checked the time, it wasn't too late—only nine o'clock.
After washing up, Su Qiu didn't see Zhou Jingqian. She looked around the house and found him on the balcony watering the plants.
He was still wearing the pajamas from last night, slightly wrinkled from her grabbing at them. Morning light slanted in, creating a very domestic scene.
Zhou Jingqian noticed Su Qiu standing there and said, "Almost done. Wait for me to have breakfast together."
Su Qiu realized he hadn't eaten yet. At this hour, Zhou Jingqian would normally already be at the company.
It seemed that since getting married, he had been accommodating her daily routine.
The hickey on her collarbone was too obvious, so Su Qiu had already changed into loungewear.
Zhou Jingqian glanced over, then casually poured her some oat milk.
Su Qiu remained calm as well.
The couple was one way during the day and another at night—no wonder they could share the same blanket.
After they finished breakfast, the morning still stretched before them with plenty of time.
Zhou Jingqian wasn't planning to go to the company today. He had You Xun attend the meeting he was originally scheduled to chair.
You Xun asked why. Zhou Jingqian made the call in front of Su Qiu and replied unhurriedly, "My wife is back. I need to keep her company."
Su Qiu lowered her eyelashes and picked up a blueberry Zhou Jingqian had just washed for her, popping it into her mouth. So sweet.
During the times Auntie Wu didn't come over, Zhou Jingqian was the one who handled the kitchen.
Even the oat milk she drank in the morning was personally cooked by him.
After hanging up, Zhou Jingqian asked Su Qiu, "What do you want to do today?"
In the days since their marriage, Zhou Jingqian went to work at the company while Su Qiu stayed home writing scripts. They rarely had time together, and when they did go out, it was to have meals with their parents.
The two of them going out alone, doing something without any specific purpose, seemed like it had never happened before.
Su Qiu thought about this and formed a plan. She looked up. "If I said I wanted to go to the park, would you think it's a waste of time?"
Zhou Jingqian didn't hesitate. "Coincidentally, I've been sitting in the office too long. I need to walk more."
Su Qiu's eyes lit up, and she reached out her hand proactively.
Zhou Jingqian took her hand, and the two headed out.
However, Central Park was much livelier than Su Qiu had expected.
Children running and jumping on the lawn, strollers, people walking their dogs. Su Qiu gripped Zhou Jingqian's hand. "Come with me."
The two walked through the crowd, going deeper and deeper until they reached the innermost part of the park.
Under the tall elm trees along the green path, a breeze passed through, making the branches rustle softly. The surroundings were quiet.
Today, both of them were dressed casually.
Zhou Jingqian wore a light gray shirt with the cuffs casually rolled up, revealing a slender wrist with prominent bones, adorned with a simple, understated Snow Mountain series watch.
Su Qiu wore a white cotton-linen dress and a small straw hat with the brim slightly tilted down, making her delicate face look even softer.
They walked hand in hand and sat down on a bench under the trees, facing a vista of greens in varying shades.
Zhou Jingqian leaned back against the bench, tilting his head up slightly.
A gentle breeze filtered through the leaves, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees.
This kind of relaxation was rare for him.
Every year, he scheduled vacation time—island getaways, ski resorts, or famous tourist spots.
But those were all planned.
During his work cycles, moving from the office to the home study, or standing by the floor-to-ceiling window with a cup of coffee, was the extent of relaxation he could imagine.
Blue sky, white clouds, trees, cicada songs, and his newlywed wife by his side—this scene formed a completely new visual experience he had never had before.
Su Qiu was used to strolling through Central Park on her own, so she didn't share Zhou Jingqian's sense of wonder. In the blink of an eye, she had already slipped off the bench and crouched down on the lawn.
Zhou Jingqian tilted his head, watching her pick up leaves from the ground.
He smiled without interrupting, simply watching her collect several leaves before speaking. "What are you going to use them for?"
Su Qiu: "To make pressed flower bookmarks."
Zhou Jingqian raised an eyebrow. He reached out, took the leaves from her palm, and held them for her.
Su Qiu then moved a bit farther away to pick a few more before coming back.
Su Qiu spread out all the leaves and picked out three that had the clearest veins, the most beautiful patterns, and the most intact tips.
She asked Zhou Jingqian for his opinion: "These three are the prettiest, right?"
"Mm." Zhou Jingqian paused for a moment, then suddenly understood. "The bookmark is my birthday present?"
Su Qiu tilted her head. "You found me out."
She smiled and tilted her head playfully, her expression more lively and adorable than usual.
Su Qiu knew Zhou Jingqian liked collecting wristwatches. She had already pre-ordered one—a light blue dial—but it wasn't available domestically and would take two days to be transferred, so it wouldn't reach Zhou Jingqian's hands that quickly.
Besides, the one she'd picked wasn't top-tier compared to the ones in his collection cabinet.
She just felt that the color of that dial suited him.
Even though she'd already pre-ordered the watch, Su Qiu still wanted to make something for him with her own hands.
In addition to the leaves she'd picked herself, she had also pre-ordered several types of fresh flowers to use together for pressed flower bookmarks.
The flowers had already been delivered to the doorstep.
Zhou Jingqian didn't know whether making plant bookmarks was troublesome or not. Seeing that she'd ultimately chosen three leaves, he thought for a moment and said, "Making one is enough."
Even if she simply placed a leaf in his palm and joked that it was his birthday gift.
Zhou Jingqian would still gladly accept it.
Su Qiu: "I'm giving you one, and I'll use the other two myself."
Zhou Jingqian let out a helpless laugh.
Su Qiu hesitated, pinching the tip of a leaf between her fingers. "How about… I give you two, and I keep one?"
Seeing sunlight fall on her face through the gaps in the leaves, Zhou Jingqian reached out to adjust her hat. "Giving me one is enough."
At noon, after lunch.
Su Qiu played with Little White and Little Grey for a while, then got ready to make the bookmark.
Out of habit, she went into her own study. The moment her bottom touched the chair, she suddenly thought of something and silently stood back up.
The next instant, Su Qiu appeared at the doorway of Zhou Jingqian's study.
She hadn't planned to knock—Zhou Jingqian rarely closed the door when he used the study.
As it happened, one was walking out and the other was walking in, and they nearly collided head-on.
Zhou Jingqian instinctively steadied her by the shoulders. "What's wrong? Looking for me?"
Su Qiu nodded, glanced past his shoulder into the room, then withdrew her gaze and said with a sincere look, "Can I make the bookmark in your study? I promise I'll keep it quiet and won't disturb you."
Zhou Jingqian looked at her, not saying that he'd actually come out of the study precisely because he'd wanted to invite her over.
He smiled and stepped aside. "Come in. I'll get whatever you need."
Su Qiu gestured to the vase on the side cabinet in the living room, which held a bouquet with a very spring-like color palette—reds, yellows, and purples together.
She only needed a few of the flowers for the bookmark.
Su Qiu: "Just put it on the small table on the carpet."
She had no intention of taking over his desk spot.
Besides, at home Su Qiu liked sitting on the carpet with her legs crossed, tools spread out on the small table—the height was easier to work with.
Zhou Jingqian set the vase down, then went back to bring in the pressing board, tweezers, and scissors she'd need, and finally a glass of the chilled guava juice she liked.
Zhou Jingqian returned to his desk, turned on his computer, and continued handling work.
The room was very quiet.
Zhou Jingqian's keyboard was soft, with the occasional rustle of paper as he reviewed a contract.
Su Qiu's side was even quieter—only the occasional snip of scissors trimming flower materials.
Zhou Jingqian looked up.
His young wife had originally been facing away from him, but at some point she'd shifted to sit sideways.
The soft light filtered through the blinds fell on her. A strand of hair hung down, and she didn't bother tucking it away, just kept her head down arranging the flower materials.
One bookmark was already finished. Su Qiu was now planning the floral design for the second one.
She picked and chose, so absorbed that she didn't even notice when Zhou Jingqian got up from his chair.
Until he wrapped his arms around her from behind.
His arms came around from her shoulders, his chest gently pressing against her back.
He tilted his head, warm breath falling at her ear, his voice low: "I'll make one with you."