Two months had passed since Yuan Su left Rinzhou.
They rented a two-bedroom apartment in a residential complex near Dongzhou University.
It was in an old red-brick building. The owners were a retired professor couple moving to Beijing; apparently, both their children held doctorates from prestigious universities.
Yuan Su had wanted to rent a larger apartment, or one with better amenities.
But Pu Yu fell in love with this place at first sight.
"The feng shui here is good!" Standing on the sun-drenched balcony, her eyes sparkled. "Doctorates! If we move in, some of that good luck might rub off on you."
Yuan Su wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and murmured his agreement. "All right. Whatever you like."
As long as she liked it, it was the best.
Before they knew it, the year was drawing to a close.
December 31 and January 1 sat right beside each other, like a hint fate had deliberately planted to keep their lives forever entwined.
That day, a soft, steady rain fell over Dongzhou.
Christmas lights they had yet to take down hung in the little living room. The hot pot bubbled on the table, its rising steam misting the windowpanes.
The clock struck midnight.
Faint cheers from the countdown in the city square drifted over from afar.
Yuan Su stood, took a thick document envelope from the desk drawer, and solemnly placed it in her hands.
Puzzled, Pu Yu took it and unwound the white string fastening it.
A red property deed slipped out, along with a set of keys.
The address was a detached villa in Dongzhou's lakeside district, with a large south-facing garden. In the field for the owner's name, there was only one name: Pu Yu.
"This is...?"
Pu Yu's eyes widened in shock. The deed