Spring arrived quietly, painting the city in soft pink blossoms.
For Lin Meilin, it wasn't just a change of season—
It was the mark of one full year since Li Wei walked into her life not as her boss…
but as her partner.
And what a year it had been.
---
The Morning That Changed Everything
Meilin woke up to the smell of warm congee and the faint sound of Li Wei humming in the kitchen.
"Yes, hello, universe," she muttered sleepily.
"It's me, the luckiest girl alive."
She dragged herself out of bed, hair flying everywhere like a confused bird's nest, and waddled to the kitchen.
Li Wei looked back, amused.
"You look adorable."
"Liar," she said, rubbing her eyes.
He kissed her forehead.
"Beautiful liar, then."
Meilin blushed and sat at the table.
She watched him move around the kitchen—calm, focused, gentle.
A year ago, she would've fainted seeing him like this.
Now she just smiled.
---
The Surprise She Didn't Expect
After breakfast, Li Wei said,
"Get ready. I'm taking you somewhere."
"Where?"
"You'll see."
Meilin got dressed quickly—still confused but excited.
They drove to a familiar place.
The Lantern Festival grounds.
Her breath caught.
"But the festival only happens once a year…"
Li Wei smiled.
"I know."
He led her to the riverbank.
There, floating gently on the water—
Was a single glowing lantern.
Only one.
Just for them.
Meilin looked at him, eyes wide.
"You… made your own lantern festival?"
"Only for you."
Her heart melted into warm soup.
---
The Promise
He handed her a blank card.
"Write a wish?" he asked softly.
Meilin wrote:
"I want this happiness to stay."
Li Wei wrote on his card too, folded it, and placed it inside the lantern.
He lit the base.
Soft light glowed around them.
As the lantern lifted into the air, drifting upward slowly—
Li Wei turned to Meilin.
His voice was quieter than the wind.
"Meilin…"
She looked up.
"Yes?"
He took her hand.
His eyes held a warmth she had never seen before—deeper, gentler, filled with something almost trembling.
"I love you."
Her breath hitched.
It was the first time he said it out loud.
"I love you," he repeated, thumb brushing her knuckles.
"I've loved you since the day you spilled coffee on me."
She laughed through tears.
"Don't remind me, please."
He smiled.
Then he gently reached into his pocket.
And pulled out—
A simple silver ring.
Not flashy.
Not expensive-looking.
Just… sincere.
Beautiful.
Warm.
Like him.
"I'm not asking anything big," he said softly.
"Not yet. But… will you wear this?
As a promise?
That we'll keep walking forward together?"
Meilin nodded instantly, tears blurring her vision.
"Yes! Of course yes!"
He slipped the ring onto her finger.
Perfect fit.
Her arms wrapped around him, tight.
The lantern floated above them like a small glowing moon.
---
A Simple Ending for a Simple Love
They sat by the riverbank afterward, leaning on each other, watching the lantern until it disappeared into the sky.
No dramatic music.
No grand crowd.
No magical explosion of fireworks.
Just the soft sound of water.
The warm weight of his shoulder.
The steady beat of two hearts quietly promising each other forever.
And for Meilin, that was enough.
More than enough.
It was everything.
---
Their love didn't need grand gestures.
It only needed two people brave enough to choose each other every day.
And they did.
Again and again.
And again.
---