Tao Shuran and Liang Yuanjing’s third dating anniversary arrived. They had booked a table at a restaurant in advance, planning to enjoy a candlelit dinner together.
Unexpectedly, he received a mission at the last minute. Liang Yuanjing stepped up, and a month later, he had to fly to Egypt to transport national treasure-level artifacts from the Ancient Egyptian Civilization Exhibition back home.
The timing could not have been worse—the day he returned happened to be their anniversary.
When she heard the news, Tao Shuran felt regretful but still understood his work.
She smiled, crouched by the living room sofa, and packed his luggage for the next day’s departure.
Liang Yuanjing leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, watching her. On the sofa armrest, 0713 lazily swished its tail, letting out contented purrs.
Everything seemed so perfect.
He let out a soft sigh and, the moment Tao Shuran stood up, walked over and hugged her from behind.
Tao Shuran asked, “What’s wrong?”
Liang Yuanjing buried his face in her neck. “I don’t want to leave.”
“This is an honor, and it’s an opportunity many people dream of.”
Tao Shuran reached out to stroke 0713’s fluffy head and said softly, “Besides, 0713 will keep me company.”
During the two years she attended Qing University, because she had foreseen that she would eventually leave, Tao Shuran had gone all out to find an adoptive family for 0713. She posted on various platforms and asked other friends for help.
Later, a local classmate adopted 0713, and Tao Shuran visited it occasionally and often missed it.
After she got together with Liang Yuanjing, she once took him to see 0713.
Later, Liang Yuanjing suggested they could raise a cat together.
Tao Shuran shook her head. “No one can replace 0713.”
Some things in life could not be replaced—neither the date 0713 nor 0713 itself.
It was the first cat in her life and would always hold the most special place in her heart.
On her first birthday with Liang Yuanjing, all the lights in the room went out, and with her eyes covered, Tao Shuran was led to the living room.
Her eyelashes trembled as she eagerly untied the gift ribbon. A tiny meow sounded, and 0713 burrowed into her arms, making everything feel like an illusion.
Liang Yuanjing wore a proud smile then. He chuckled and lifted his chin slightly toward her.
His tone was extremely arrogant. “Whatever you want, I will get it for you.”
Tao Shuran later learned that to get 0713 back, Liang Yuanjing had tried many methods. Finally, after persistent waiting, he received news that the girl was transferring to an out-of-town post.
So, under perfectly suitable conditions, he brought 0713 home.
Afterward, Tao Shuran treated the girl to a farewell meal. She felt a bit embarrassed, as if she had stolen someone else’s cat.
The girl smiled. “It’s fine. My parents don’t like cats and wouldn’t take care of one. If I couldn’t find a friend to look after it, I would have had to send it to a pet shop for boarding, but that would have made it so lonely. I didn’t want it to spend its precious life that way.”
The girl chattered on about many care tips and finally said solemnly, “Oh, right—Jam is a particularly greedy cat. It must have a little snack every evening at six-thirty, or it will paw at me and stare out the east window, ignoring everyone.”
Tao Shuran froze at those words.
Four-thirty in the afternoon was the time she used to feed 0713 every day after class at Qing University, rain or shine, without fail.
It had never forgotten her.
Tao Shuran’s eyes immediately welled up.
When she got home, she carefully opened the door and tentatively called out, “0713?”
To her surprise, it charged toward her at full speed.
Everything was just as before. All that had been lost was regained.
Tao Shuran kissed the corner of Liang Yuanjing’s mouth emotionally. “Thank you. This is my favorite birthday gift ever.”
Now, three years had passed unknowingly. 0713 had grown even lazier than before and often stayed in one spot after eating, unwilling to move.
Tao Shuran affectionately stroked its fur, turned to look at Liang Yuanjing, and said, “It’s nothing—just one anniversary. We’ll have many more.”
“Be careful with everything.”
She paused, then smiled and said, “Safe travels.”
Liang Yuanjing pulled her close. “Then come pick me up.”
Tao Shuran pretended to think. “I’ll have to consider it.”
“Will you or won’t you?”
Tao Shuran couldn’t stand the tickling and laughed as she burrowed back into his arms. She pushed at him while coquettishly complaining, “Liang Yuanjing, you always use this trick!”
Light, lingering kisses with entwined breaths fell on her forehead. Liang Yuanjing’s low, deep laugh spilled down as he murmured by her ear, “As long as it works.”
News of the artifact transport mission spread like wildfire. As the wife of the flight captain for this mission, Tao Shuran received quite a bit of attention.
Occasionally at work, someone would come over and ask, “Tell us about it—your love story with Captain Liang.”
Tao Shuran smiled faintly without replying, her hands never stopping their work.
Qiao Yanxin leaned in mysteriously. “I know the inside story.”
Everyone’s attention immediately turned to her—even Jin Boyu rarely paused his work.
Gu Songnian was the boldest and asked directly, “Spill it, Senior Sister Qiao.”
“How did I miss it these past few days? My little junior sister is already taken? That’s way too fast.”
Qiao Yanxin rolled her eyes dramatically. “In the entire department, you’re the only one who didn’t notice something was up between those two?”
“Because it wasn’t obvious at all! I’ve never seen her take the initiative to talk to that Liang Yuanjing, and they rarely crossed paths.”
Gu Songnian muttered while playing a game on his phone, “There was that document to deliver to the Aviation Base before, and junior sister said she wouldn’t go no matter what…”
His words cut off abruptly, and suddenly, everything clicked for everyone.
Qiao Yanxin smiled. As the only married person present, she spoke in the tone of someone who had been through it.
“I thought it was off back then—why did only Liang Yuanjing from the Air Flight Rescue Team show up?”
“Later, I specially asked a friend, and there was no budget for it at all. He applied on his own initiative.”
The crowd erupted in “oohs” of admiration. Tao Shuran hadn’t known about this piece of history.
Her eyelashes fluttered, and her movements slowed unconsciously. Her mind wandered: Liang Yuanjing seemed to like her even more than she had imagined.
Amid everyone’s envious gazes, Qiao Yanxin leaned in and whispered to her, “I’ll tell you a little secret.”
“I saw Captain Liang lingering under your building many times in North City.”
Tao Shuran’s hands stopped completely.
She lifted her face. The golden sunlight leaking through the window cracks dazzled her for a moment, as if she couldn’t believe the sun shone solely on her.
So he had waited too, in places she couldn’t see.
Tao Shuran took a deep breath, suddenly removed her gloves, and headed for the exit.
She said goodbye to the others. “I’m done with work for today. We’ll continue the rest tomorrow.”
Qiao Yanxin wore a knowing expression and grinned slyly. “What’s up? Got plans tonight?”
Tao Shuran thought for a moment and admitted frankly.
“Yeah, going to see the person I like.”
With that, she removed her mask, grabbed her bag, and ran toward the door. The hem of her clothes fluttered in an arc, scattering cherry blossom petals through the air like a floral rain.
Tao Shuran hadn’t known before that there was such a lush cherry tree at the Aviation Training Base.
She stood under the tree waiting for Liang Yuanjing. A colleague on duty brought her hot water and snacks and casually said, “This tree’s been here for years. They say this used to be a Matchmaker Temple site, so this must be a love-matching tree.”
“People used to say hanging red ribbons on it would make you end up with your crush. Later, someone thought the trend was bad and stripped them all overnight.”
Tao Shuran hadn’t expected such an interesting story.
She burst out laughing and teased, “People actually believed that? You all must be pretty devout about finding a partner.”
“Of course. Captain Liang hung like nineteen in one night—the whole branch was draped in his red ribbons.”
Tao Shuran’s laughter stopped abruptly.
When the gossip turned to her, she deliberately looked away from the tree and stiffly changed the subject.
She picked up her tea and asked, “By the way, wouldn’t it be more convenient for me to pick him up at the airport? Why did he have me come here?”
Feng Ruoji scratched his head. “Not sure. Captain Liang told me to do it. Maybe there’s a flight drill later, and he wants you to watch.”
Tao Shuran tilted her head. “Isn’t he tired?”
Feng Ruoji shrugged. “The capable handle more.”
She hummed and fell silent, lowering her head to pull up the restaurant manager’s WeChat. She carefully composed a message and sent it.
「Sorry, my husband might not make it back today. Please cancel the candlelit dinner reservation for tonight. Thank you.」
The manager replied quickly: 「Got it, Miss Tao. Wishing you a happy third anniversary evening.」
Tao Shuran smiled as she set down her phone.
Nothing mattered more than having Liang Yuanjing by her side, no matter how special the day.
The sudden flight drill disrupted all her plans, but after three years together, this was the first time Tao Shuran had seen Liang Yuanjing fly.
She followed Feng Ruoji to the open observation deck, where a small crowd had already gathered. Looking out, Tao Shuran was delighted to see they were all people she knew.
“Auntie Li, you’re here too.”
Tao Shuran stood beside her. “Are you here to watch Liang Yuanjing’s flight drill too?”
Li Wan raised an eyebrow and looked at her with interest. “You don’t know?”
Tao Shuran let out an “ah” and blurted, “Know what?”
Li Wan smiled without answering.
In her peripheral vision, she spotted Fang Qingyi waving from nearby, her bright yellow athletic wear standing out vividly.
Fu Changpei and Zhao Zhengnian stood beside Fang Qingyi.
Tao Shuran narrowed her eyes in disbelief. How had friends from all over suddenly gathered here?
She paused, then said slowly, “You’re all here for the drill?”
“No.” Fang Qingyi linked arms with her and leaned affectionately on her shoulder. “I’m here for you.”
Tao Shuran was still a bit confused.
But her intuition told her today was extraordinary.
Amid her jumbled thoughts, Liang Yuanjing’s flight drill began.
Planes soared into the sky one by one, with Liang Yuanjing leading the charge at the front. His plane traced a smooth arc through the air.
The observation deck’s electronic screen displayed live footage from the cockpit. Through the transparent canopy, Liang Yuanjing’s sharp-profiled side face reflected back, dark sunglasses perched on his nose as he effortlessly handled the controls.
A casual glance thrown her way—even with one in the sky and one on the ground—made it clear to Tao Shuran that he was looking at her.
She couldn’t help but stand on tiptoe and wave her arm high amid the crowd.
Even knowing he couldn’t see, even knowing it was futile, she had to do it.
Just like the day she chose to love him—knowing it would be an endless path with no return, she still stepped forward without hesitation.
That endless cicada-summer day, when he sauntered over with one hand in his pocket and reached out to her, their ending had already been sealed.
Tao Shuran raised her phone and snapped a photo of the scene before her.
The moment she pressed the shutter, colorful smoke trails burst from the plane’s tail, weaving through nimble dives, rolls, and hovers, outlining an entire picture against the azure sky.
“Ranran, quick, look! It seems like they’re drawing a heart.”
Fang Qingyi excitedly tugged at her sleeve. “Hurry and check—where’s Liang Yuanjing’s plane?”
Tao Shuran’s gaze had never left Liang Yuanjing’s plane from start to finish.
Amid the perfect heart shape sketched by the two trailing planes, Liang Yuanjing’s aircraft suddenly dove in with aggressive force.
He was flamboyant and free-spirited; even the plane he piloted stood out uniquely, leaving a bold, vivid stroke across the boundless sky.
Tao Shuran thought that was the end of all the romance.
Unexpectedly, Liang Yuanjing’s plane did not stop. Instead, it looped in a massive circle mid-air, while he executed an ultra-difficult maneuver of ups and downs, manipulating it with masterful skill.
Fang Qingyi’s eyes widened. “Why do I feel like… Liang Yuanjing is writing in the sky?”
Tao Shuran tilted her head up and looked at the sky.
Across the vast expanse, words slowly emerged from the plane’s trail for everyone to see.
MARRY ME
He signed the message with a small moon.
The unexpected proposal scene instantly drew all eyes, with cameras raised and snapping nonstop.
In that moment, tears welled up in Tao Shuran’s eyes, and she finally understood every carefully arranged detail of the day.
Everyone present was no coincidence; Liang Yuanjing knew her feelings and had invited them one by one to witness her moment of happiness.
Tao Shuran once thought that blue skies and white clouds were the pursuit of his lifetime, the direction of his heart. But today, this land of dreams bore her name.
The speakers connected to the electronic display screen crackled with static.
After a moment, Liang Yuanjing on the screen slowly picked up his headset, his deep, tender gaze turning toward her.
His low, resonant voice appeared before her.
“Marry me, Tao Shuran.”
Mid-air, Liang Yuanjing gripped the control stick, brimming with vigor as he looked at her—
“From now on, you will be my final destination.”