Side story: Three years later

At seven o'clock in the morning, the alarm clock rang on time.

Luo Li stretched out a hand from under the covers and accurately slapped the alarm clock away, then habitually reached out to hug herself—but found it empty.

He groggily opened his eyes and found that no one was on the other side of the bed. He could hear the sound of water coming from the bathroom, and Castorice humming a soft song—off-key, but cute.

It's been three years.

It has been three years since I graduated from high school.

Luo Li sat up and rubbed her face.

Morning light streamed through the not-so-clean curtains of the rented room, illuminating the small 30-square-meter space—a double bed, a simple wardrobe, a desk that doubles as a dining table, and a small kitchen area.

This is his and Castorice's home.

They rented one of the cheapest shared apartments near the university.

The bathroom door opened. Castorice stepped out, her long, wet, silver-purple hair draped over her shoulders, wearing a simple white T-shirt and gray sweatpants.

Three years have passed. She has grown a little taller, her baby fat has faded, and her features are more defined.

But those purple eyes remained clear, and they would still unconsciously soften when looking at Luo Li.

"Woke up?"

She walked over, drying her hair, and sat down on the edge of the bed.

What do you want to eat for breakfast?

Before she could finish speaking, Luo Li pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

Morning kiss.

This ritual has been performed almost daily for the past three years.

Castorice was stunned for a moment, then relaxed and hugged him back.

Her lips tasted like mint toothpaste, her hair smelled of shampoo, and her skin was warm after a bath.

After a long while, the two parted ways.

Castorice's ears turned slightly red. "I haven't brushed my teeth yet."

"It's okay, I don't mind." Luo Li smiled and kissed her again.

"Childish."

Castorice said softly, but the corners of her mouth were turned up.

She stood up and walked towards the kitchen area. "Can I have fried eggs with ham today?"

"Okay." Luo Li also got up and started getting dressed—shirt, trousers, belt.

A typical office worker's outfit.

Three years ago, he barely managed to get into the prestigious university where Castorice was studying, and chose a relatively practical computer science major.

Two years later, due to financial pressure, he chose to complete his studies early and graduate, and then began looking for a job.

Reality is cruel.

Although the school is good and the major is in demand, undergraduates are not considered scarce in the job market.

After submitting countless resumes and interviewing with more than a dozen companies, he finally received an offer from an internet company as a junior development engineer. The salary was barely enough to make ends meet, but overtime was the norm.

Castorice, on the other hand, was recommended for postgraduate studies at the same university with excellent grades and is now a second-year master's student, majoring in bioinformatics—a major that sounds very impressive.

One works, the other studies.

One is struggling to make a living, while the other is still pursuing their ideals.

Sometimes Luo Li feels a bit ironic—the carefree, attention-seeking person she was in high school, who used to twirl a pen, is now a working professional who commutes and works overtime every day.

Meanwhile, the calm, self-disciplined girl who always spends her time reading in the library is still in her ivory tower.

But he doesn't regret it.

Your tie is crooked.

The sound of Castorice interrupted his thoughts.

She came over with fried eggs and ham, placed the plate on the small table, and then naturally reached out to adjust his tie.

Her fingers deftly tied a knot, her expression focused.

Sunlight shone from behind her, gilding the tips of her silver-purple hair with gold.

"Alright."

She patted his chest and nodded in satisfaction.

Luo Li took her hand. "Thank you."

"Eat quickly, we're going to be late."

Castorice withdrew her hand and sat down opposite him.

The two ate breakfast quietly.

The rented room was small, and the table was small too; their knees touched gently together under the table.

What time do you get off work today?

Castorice asked, taking small bites of her fried egg.

"It's hard to say."

Luo Li glanced at her phone.

"There's a project that needs to be expedited, it might not be until after nine o'clock."

"Oh." Castorice nodded, without saying anything.

But Luo Li saw a fleeting look of disappointment in her eyes.

"I'll try to be there as soon as possible," he added.

"No need," Castorice shook her head.

"Work is important—I also have to go to the lab tonight, probably later than you."

This is their daily routine now—each busy with their own lives, their time together compressed to late at night and early morning.

After breakfast, Luo Li cleared the dishes, and Castorice checked her schoolbag. The two exchanged a brief kiss at the door, then went their separate ways— Luo Li went to the subway station, Castorice went to school.

The subway was packed like a sardine can.

Luo Li gripped the handrail, her body swaying with the carriage, her mind racing with thoughts of the code she needed to write and the meetings she had to attend that day.

My phone vibrated. It was a message from Castorice: "Arrived at the lab. Have you arrived at the company?"

"Still squeezing onto the subway. How about you? Is your experiment going well?"

"I just failed once, I'm going to redo it."

"Come on."

"The same to you."

The simple conversation warmed Luo Li's heart.

Three years have passed, and their feelings for each other have not faded due to reality. On the contrary, like a polished stone, they have become even more solid and smooth.

High school romances are like flames—intense but fickle.

Our current relationship is like a gentle stream, calm yet enduring.

At the company, Luo Li sat at her workstation, typing code in front of her computer screen.

Most of his colleagues were a few years older than him, some of whom were already married with children. Their daily conversations gradually shifted from technical discussions to mortgages, raising children, and midlife crises.

"Xiao Luo, has that bug from yesterday been fixed?"

The team leader came over and asked.

"It's fixed, and I've already submitted it."

Luo Li looked up and answered.

"Okay—the client will be here this afternoon to see the demonstration, so please get ready."

"Clear."

The team leader patted him on the shoulder and walked away.

Luo Li looked back at the screen, her fingers flying across the keyboard.

He works very hard.

Because he knew that this job was not only for himself, but also for his and Castorice's future.

Rent needs to be paid, and living expenses need to be earned. Although Castorice's tuition was waived, experimental materials, books, and conference fees are still expenses. He didn't want her to worry about money.

Sometimes he envied Castorice —she was still able to concentrate on her studies at school, had the help of her tutors and classmates, and had endless possibilities.

But he wasn't Envy.

Because he knew that Castorice deserved all of this.

She was so smart, so hardworking, so... dazzling.

And he was willing to be her support.

At 9:30 p. m., Luo Li finally shut down her computer.

The office was half empty; the rest of the staff were either working overtime or slacking off and waiting to leave.

He packed his things and walked out of the company building.

There were sparse stars in the night sky, their light obscured by the city's neon lights.

The subway was less crowded, but still packed.

Luo Li found a seat, closed her eyes, and rested.

My phone vibrated again.

This time it's Yang Shan —a buddy from high school, now studying at university in another city, we keep in touch occasionally.

"Li Zi, what are you doing? Come out for a drink!"

"Just finished working overtime, on my way home."

"Damn, that bad? Where's Castorice?"

She's still in the lab.

"You two are really something... each trying harder than the last. When are you getting married?"

Luo Li smiled and replied, "Let's wait until she graduates."

"That's true. A top student like Castorice deserves a PhD. You can expect to be a PhD's spouse!"

"With utmost pleasure."

We chatted for a few minutes, then the subway arrived at the station.

Luo Li stepped out of the carriage and took a deep breath of the night air.

The rental apartment is located in an old residential area without an elevator.

He climbed to the fifth floor, took out his key, and opened the door.

The lights were on inside.

Castorice has returned and is sitting at the small table reading a book.

Hearing the door open, she looked up. "You're back?"

"Mmm." Luo Li put down her bag, walked over and hugged her from behind, burying her face in the crook of her neck.

"Tired."

Castorice put down her book and placed her hand on his arm that was wrapped around her waist. "Have you eaten?"

I ate a boxed lunch at the company.

"Is it bad?"

"Disgusting."

Luo Li told the truth.

I miss the fried eggs you used to make.

Castorice smiled, "I'll make it for you tomorrow morning."

She turned around, cupped his face in her hands, and said, "Go take a bath, the water's ready."

"Together?" Luo Li raised an eyebrow.

Castorice's face flushed slightly. "You go first, I want to read for a while longer."

"Okay." Luo Li kissed her forehead, then got up and went to the bathroom.

The warm water washes away the day's fatigue.

Luo Li closed her eyes, recalling herself three years ago—the boy who would be so nervous about having sex with Castorice that she couldn't sleep, the boy who would be anxious about not having enough condoms.

And now? Now he suffers from insomnia due to work stress and feels anxious about his bank account balance.

This is probably what growing up is like—worrying in a different way, getting tired in a different way.

When I came out of the shower, Castorice had already tidied the table and was making the bed.

Her back was slender, and her long, silver-purple hair was tied into a loose low ponytail, swaying gently with her movements.

Luo Li walked over and hugged her from behind.

"Have you finished reading the book?" he asked.

"Mmm." Castorice nestled in his arms.

"Today's experimental data is not ideal; we may need to adjust the plan."

Do you need any help?

"No need, I can handle it myself."

She turned around and looked at him.

"How's work going for you?"

"It's alright." Luo Li didn't want her to worry.

"I'm just a little tired."

"Then go to bed early."

Castorice pulled him down to lie down.

The two lay side by side on the bed and turned off the lights.

Moonlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, casting blurry shadows on the wall.

"Luo Li," Castorice spoke in the darkness.

"Um?"

Have you ever thought about... what would have happened if you had gone to graduate school?

Luo Li remained silent for a few seconds.

Have you thought about it? Of course I have.

Watching his university classmates pursue further studies and seeing Castorice advance on her academic path, he did have moments of doubt.

But he knew he had made the right choice.

His family's financial situation didn't allow him to continue his studies; he needed to work, he needed money, and he needed to lay the foundation for his future.

"I haven't thought about it much."

He finally said.

"It's fine as it is now."

"Really?"

The Castorice's voice was very soft.

"Really." Luo Li turned to face her.

"Watching you study and seeing you make progress makes me very happy."

He reached out and stroked her cheek. "You are my ideal."

The Castorice's eyes gleamed faintly in the darkness.

She leaned closer, her forehead touching his. "You are my ideal too."

"Me?" Luo Li smiled.

What are my dreams? I just want to be an ordinary office worker.

"You are the one I chose."

Castorice said earnestly, "This is the ideal thing."

Luo Li's heart was filled with joy. He hugged her tightly and kissed the top of her head.

"Go to sleep," he said.

"Um."

The rented room was quiet late at night, with only the sound of their breathing and the occasional sound of a car in the distance.

A lot has changed in three years.

They went from high school students to adults, from students to working professionals and graduate students, from lovers to indispensable parts of each other's lives.

Reality is heavy, the future is far away.

But as long as we're together, there's nothing to be afraid of.

"Luo Li," Castorice spoke again, her voice already tinged with sleepiness.

"What's wrong now?"

"Let's get married after I graduate."

Luo Li paused for a moment, then smiled, "Okay."

"Then buy a small house, not too big, just big enough to live in."

"Good."

"Let's get another cat."

"Good."

"Then... once we're all ready, we'll have children."

"Good."

Castorice hummed in satisfaction, adjusted to a more comfortable position in his arms, and quickly fell asleep.

Luo Li listened to her even breathing and looked at the ceiling, the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up.

House, cat, child.

An ordinary future, but because of her, it becomes incredibly precious.

He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

The sun will rise again tomorrow.

He still has to take the subway, write code, and attend meetings.

She still has to conduct experiments, read literature, and write papers.

But at night, they would return to the little house to eat fried eggs together, read books together, and sleep in each other's arms.

That's enough.

this is life.

They met in a high school classroom three years ago.

Three years later, they embraced in their rented apartment.

And in the future, countless three-year periods await.