(1)

I quit my job.

Ever since the new department head found out I was gay, he gave me a hard time every single day.

I’m someone who’s always been dedicated to my job. Back then, I even gave up my boyfriend for this position.

I endured and endured, but in the end, I couldn’t take it anymore.

When I resigned, I still thought:

Why didn’t you show up earlier?

If you had, I would’ve left sooner ah!

I actually went through a long-distance relationship and even broke up with my husband for this sh*** job!!

I truly felt it wasn’t worth it.

(2)

The day I packed up my things, my teammates got me a small cake.

We secretly shared it while the boss was out in a meeting.

There was a little sign on the cake that read:

“May the road ahead be filled with clear skies, and may everything go as you wish.”

I really love them.

(3)

Yan Han was waiting at the entrance of the office building. When he saw me come out, he reached out to help carry the stuff in my hands.

I glanced back at my old office with some reluctance.

This was where I spent my four years.

This was my first job.

I stared at it for a long time.

Yan Han stood beside me, holding my things, silently keeping me company.

When I sniffled and looked at him, he finally spoke, eyes full of heartache.

“Let’s go, baby. Let’s go home.”

(4)

Even though my family didn’t rely on me to earn money, and the allowance Yan Han gave me every month had an extra zero compared to my previous salary, after I resigned, I really was in a slump for a while.

For quite some time, I lived a life where clothes were handed to me and meals were served.

Yan Han tried his best to get off work on time every day, so he could play with me and the puppy, then cook for me.

Half a month later, we were lying in bed, with me nestled in his arms.

“I’ve always dreamed of becoming a writer. How about I start writing a novel?”

Yan Han looked pleasantly surprised. He hugged me tighter, excited.

“Sure ah, I’ll support you!”

“Then, what should I write about?”

I pondered for a long time. “How about I write our story?”

Yan Han smiled happily. “Sounds great.”

(5)

The next day, Yan Han went to work. I stayed home watching TV dramas.

In the afternoon, someone knocked on the door. When I opened it, I saw two technicians in work uniforms.

“Hello, are you Mr. Li? We’re here to install your desktop computer.”

A high-performance CPU, one horizontal monitor, one vertical, plus a sound system I couldn’t even make sense of and a keyboard and mouse that obviously looked expensive.

After everything was set up, Yan Han called me.

“Try it out. If it’s not good enough, we’ll just buy another.”

“What are you doing?” My face was dark.

“Aren’t you going to start writing?” Yan Han sounded confused.

I glanced at the iPad charging on the nightstand.

I was originally planning to type on the iPad.

(smiles.jpg)

(6)

[Li Xiaocao’s English was so-so, but his boyfriend’s English was excellent. So at home, Li Xiaocao would sometimes ask Yan Leng to speak with him in English. But that often led to misunderstandings—for example, when Yan Leng asked, “Do you have the key?” Li Xiaocao misheard it as “Do you have the tea?” So he brought the thermos but forgot the key, and the two of them ended up locked outside.]

[But Yan Leng never got mad. He was the most patient boyfriend.]

“Hey!” One night before bed, Yan Han got a call from Ma Jiaming. He still sounded as casual and carefree as ever.

Yan Han glanced at me and turned on the speaker so I could listen in.

Before I could say anything, Ma Jiaming’s rant came through loud and clear.

“Is Li Qingze writing CP fiction now? My wife saw it and even asked me—‘Is that Ma Mingming in the story supposed to be you?’”

I was feeling smug and just about to say something—

“Don’t let him keep writing, Old Yan.”

“If words are his wings, break them. What kind of nonsense is this?”

Yan Han hurried to turn off the speaker, but I was already erupting like a volcano.

“Ma Jiaming, you $#@ of a &^%$!!”

“If you don’t know how to appreciate it, then shut up!!”

(7)

What I wrote was pretty cute, right?

You guys read this far already—give me a little encouragement, okay? Hehe.

(8)

After that fight, Ma Jiaming wanted to make up with me, so he invited Yan Han and me to go on a trip to Australia.

He wanted to take his fiancée there, revisit old places.

His old places, for his fiancée to visit.

I agreed.

He booked business class tickets for the two of us.

I immediately forgave Ma Jiaming.

My best friend, Ming.

(9)

Once again, we flew to that loneliest city.

Retracing the paths we walked at twenty.

To see the coastline at the western edge of this continent, to watch its sunrise and sunset.

“Everything feels so different now,” I sighed, sitting on the beach.

“The scenery we saw at twenty does look a bit different through the eyes of a thirty-year-old.”

Yan Han turned to look at me, his gaze as gentle as ever.

“But you haven’t changed.” I gently cupped his face and gave him a soft kiss.

Sunrise to sunset, the glow of the clouds painted the sea red.

I would forever love this ocean.

Author’s Note:

Sunrise to sunset, the glow of the clouds shining down. I will forever love this ocean.