The young couple settled into their sweet, cozy life together. Though they weren’t married like Wang Hao, Shangguan Yu often found himself struck by the realization that, in every way that mattered, he and Zuo Zhou were no different from a married couple.
This feeling intensified in certain moments.
Like waking up in the morning, opening his eyes, and seeing Zuo Zhou lying beside him. Or cooking and cleaning together in the kitchen. Curling up on the couch with snacks and a movie. Wandering around town, simply enjoying each other’s company.
Their quiet, happy daily life mirrored that of any other loving couple.
As Zuo Zhou’s university graduation neared, his studies became increasingly demanding. On weekdays, he was either at school or interning at a company, leaving little time to spend at home with Shangguan Yu.
But Shangguan Yu had gradually adjusted to this routine. Besides, he had plenty to keep him busy—he was never bored.
In addition to the freelance gigs Wang Hao occasionally passed his way, Shangguan Yu had begun reconnecting with old acquaintances, some of whom he’d known even before his accident—mutual friends he and Wang Hao had once shared.
After his accident, Shangguan Yu had withdrawn from the world. But now, those connections were being rebuilt, one by one.
Like Wang Hao, many of them were eager to help. They knew Shangguan Yu’s abilities and were more than willing to send work his way whenever an opportunity arose.
As time passed, Shangguan Yu’s freelance business flourished, and the number of projects steadily grew.
To streamline his work, he registered a small architecture firm online, officially becoming the legal owner. His company specialized in drafting, budgeting, and design-related services.
Wanting to optimize his workload, he also posted job listings online, seeking skilled freelancers to assist with basic tasks remotely. He would handle the final review and approval himself.
In a way, Shangguan Yu had truly restarted his career—only this time, he was working from home. He was doing what he loved and excelled at, just like before. The only differences? First, he no longer had to set foot on construction sites. And second, he didn’t have to endure exhausting commutes, battling wind and rain to get to work. Now, he was his own boss, setting his own hours, working comfortably from home.
And he was perfectly content with this new life.
During the second semester of his senior year, Zuo Zhou began an internship at the largest tech company in Luocheng. If everything went well and he graduated on time, he would be offered a full-time position there.
Since he was pursuing a dual degree, Zuo Zhou had two potential career paths—architecture or software development.
Initially, he had made up his mind: software development paid better, so it was the obvious choice.
But as graduation neared and Shangguan Yu’s small business began to take shape, doubts started to surface.
“If I work with you,” Zuo Zhou reasoned, “we’d get to spend so much more time together. Plus, you wouldn’t even need to hire freelancers online—I could handle everything for you!”
Shangguan Yu chuckled. “That’s true, but I’ve already hired two part-time employees that I’m really happy with. My little studio can’t afford a third salary.”
“I don’t need a salary! I—”
“Alright, alright, I know you don’t need a salary,” Shangguan Yu interrupted, gently ruffling Zuo Zhou’s soft hair. His voice was soothing, reassuring. “I know you want to spend more time with me, and I want that too. But more than anything, I want you to pursue your passion. The career path you choose now will define the rest of your life.”
“At first, I didn’t understand why you took on a double major. You put so much pressure on yourself, studying twice as much as everyone else in the same timeframe. But then, little by little, I started to see why.”
“Deep down, what you truly love is software development. You only studied architecture because of me, didn’t you?”
Zuo Zhou gazed at him silently, his dark eyes shifting as emotions flickered within them. He didn’t say a word.
But Shangguan Yu knew he was right.
“Before you even met me, you probably thought that choosing the same major would give us more to talk about. Maybe you figured I’d be more patient with a junior in my field, or that I’d naturally feel a connection to someone studying the same thing. Either way, your interest in architecture was always tied to your interest in me.”
“But now, you’re making a decision about the career you’ll pursue for years to come. I want you to choose based on what you love, not because of me. And honestly, the company you’re interning at right now is incredible. The future you could have there is far beyond anything you’d find in architecture.”
Zuo Zhou listened patiently until the end, then wrapped his arms around Shangguan Yu in a quiet embrace.
But throughout the conversation, he never explicitly stated his final decision.
It wasn’t until he successfully defended his thesis and was awaiting his diploma that he made his choice—when his internship company suddenly assigned him to a software development project in New Zealand.
According to the project timeline, he’d be abroad for at least a month. Shangguan Yu had already mentally prepared himself for a month-long long-distance relationship, but just a week before departure, Zuo Zhou suddenly suggested he come along.
“…? You’re going there for work. What would I do?” Shangguan Yu asked, puzzled.
“I did some research,” Zuo Zhou explained earnestly. “There’s a research program in New Zealand specifically for cases like yours. It focuses on stimulating the central nervous system to restore standing and walking abilities. I’ve read a lot of papers, and in theory, it sounds promising. So, I thought… maybe I could take you there to check it out.”
Shangguan Yu stared at him, surprised. He hadn’t expected Zuo Zhou to look into something like this.
“What’s wrong?” Seeing the stunned expression on Shangguan Yu’s face, Zuo Zhou hesitated and asked carefully.
“Xiao Zuo…” Shangguan Yu exhaled softly and said, “Actually, I spent six months in New Zealand before… undergoing that exact treatment.” His voice was calm, matter-of-fact. “But it didn’t work. In fact, it had no effect at all.”
“That research program is still in its early stages—it’s not as effective as they claim. And my injury happened too long ago. The chances of me ever standing or walking again… are almost nonexistent.”
His tone was steady, as if he were simply stating a fact.
But to Zuo Zhou, it was heartbreaking.
Zuo Zhou couldn’t help but grip Shangguan Yu’s hand tightly.
“Brother Yu, I know you’ve been through a lot, but I just want to take you there so you can see for yourself. It’s been years since your last treatment—maybe the research has made significant progress. If we don’t try, we’ll never know.”
A flicker of pain and hesitation crossed Shangguan Yu’s eyes.
Every person with a disability dreams of standing and walking again. But to cling to hope, undergo treatment, only to have that hope shattered once more—he’d endured that cycle before, and he feared going through it again.
“I know what you’re afraid of.” Zuo Zhou pressed a soft kiss to Shangguan Yu’s forehead, his voice gentle yet firm. “Back then, I wasn’t by your side, and you still faced everything with courage. But now—and from now on—I’ll be with you every step of the way. There’s no reason you can’t keep trying.”
“No matter what happens, I’ll be here. I’ll pull you up, carry you if I have to. Whatever comes, we’ll face it together.”
Zuo Zhou’s unwavering determination stirred something deep within Shangguan Yu. He hesitated for a long moment before finally nodding.
Just like Zuo Zhou had said—back then, he had survived everything alone. But now, with Zuo Zhou by his side, what was there to fear?
As long as there was even a sliver of hope, he wanted to try—they would try together.
Overjoyed, Zuo Zhou wrapped his arms around Shangguan Yu. “I knew it! Brother Yu, you’re the best!”
After holding each other for a long, lingering moment, Zuo Zhou suddenly grew a little shy. He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a small, deep-red velvet box. Then, taking a deep breath, he slowly knelt on one knee in front of Shangguan Yu and gently opened the box.
Inside the small velvet box lay two simple silver rings, gleaming softly in the light.
Zuo Zhou took a deep breath, his cheeks already flushing before he even started speaking.
“So… uh…” He hesitated, then blurted out, “These are matching rings I got. I read online that we can register our marriage in New Zealand, so I thought—since we’re going together—maybe we could find time to get our certificate… And there are wedding venues there too, so if you’d like, we could even have a ceremony…”
Shangguan Yu gazed at Zuo Zhou, his heart overflowing with warmth.
Seeing Zuo Zhou’s nervous expression, he couldn’t resist teasing him, “Quite an eventful business trip you’ve planned.”
“…I-I…” Zuo Zhou stammered, then finally gathered his courage. “Brother Yu, will you marry me?”
A soft smile spread across Shangguan Yu’s face. He extended his left hand.
“I will. Put the ring on me.”
“!”
Zuo Zhou’s hands trembled as he slipped the ring onto Shangguan Yu’s finger. So much so that after finishing, he almost absentmindedly closed the box, forgetting Shangguan Yu still needed to put the ring on him. It wasn’t until Shangguan Yu gently reminded him that he snapped out of his daze, quickly offering his own left hand.
Once both rings were in place, Zuo Zhou wrapped his arms around Shangguan Yu, the two of them nestled together, admiring the matching bands on their fingers.
They whispered sweet nothings, lost in their own little world.
“So, what do you think—should we both wear black suits, white suits, or one black and one white?”
“Hmm… white.”
“Alright, whatever you say.”
“Then… when we get there, do you want to see your father?”
Shangguan Yu hesitated briefly before shaking his head. “No. We’ve both moved on with our lives. There’s no need to disturb each other.”
“Alright.”
“Oh, right—should we visit Grandma before we leave? We should tell her everything.”
“Yes. We’ll see your grandma first, then mine.”
“Good.”
“Also, I’ve scheduled an appointment with a top ophthalmologist at the Central Hospital. When we return, we can take Grandma for her surgery. There’s a high chance her eyesight will significantly improve.”
“That’s wonderful. She’s been looking forward to this.”
One week later, Zuo Zhou and his team boarded a flight to New Zealand. And Shangguan Yu, now traveling as his family, sat beside him—heading towards a future that belonged to them alone, filled with happiness.
Axolotl Translations 
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