Shu Tong jokingly hugged her tighter and said, "I'd better hold you close and marry you as soon as possible, or I won't feel at ease. You're so outstanding and beautiful—I'm afraid someone else might snatch you away."
Liu Yiyi giggled and pinched his waist. "Don't worry, I won't be taken by anyone else. If love could be stolen so easily, then it was never yours to begin with. Rest assured, I'll always be yours."
Her lips met his, and the warmth between them spread joyfully in their mouths, the air around them filled with sweetness.
For a long time afterward, even during her days off, Yiyi was rarely at home, always claiming she had things to do. She returned late at night, sometimes smelling of alcohol, and occasionally didn't come home at all.
Whenever Shu Tong asked, she would say she was hanging out with Ding Ling or staying at Ding Ling's place. If they stayed out too late, she'd just sleep over there.
Yiyi now had more friends, more phone calls, and more social engagements.
Shu Tong didn't think much of it—as long as Yiyi was happy. Flying around in the air all the time was exhausting, and in this unfamiliar city, having a few friends to laugh with, eat with, and share life's ups and downs was a kind of happiness in itself.
But gradually, he noticed Yiyi was changing. She seemed to be growing more materialistic. Sometimes, she would hint that he didn't earn enough, often sighing, "When will we ever be able to afford a house?"
She would frequently say things like, "Look at my best friend Lili—her husband gave her a luxury car for her birthday. And Ding Ling's boyfriend is incredibly generous—he casually buys her bags worth tens of thousands. Now, Ding Ling's entire outfit costs seventy or eighty thousand."
She'd mention whose boyfriend bought a multi-carat diamond ring or whose partner gifted a lavish villa, her words dripping with envy. Every time Shu Tong heard this, he felt a pang of inadequacy.
All he could offer her were modest things. He couldn't afford a bag worth tens of thousands or a diamond ring. All he could do was work twice as hard, hoping to save enough for their marital home.
His parents spent their life savings, and he pooled all his earnings from years of work, finally managing to put a down payment on an eighty-square-meter apartment in the city. He and Yiyi had been together for eight years—it was high time they got married.
Yiyi accepted his proposal, and they set a wedding date. They'd even gotten their marriage license—all that was left was the ceremony.
Whenever he had time, Shu Tong would decorate their new home, piece by piece, filling it with warmth and romance. The property bore both their names.
Everything was ready. All they had to do was wait for the wedding day to arrive.
After the date was set, Shu Tong often went out to buy more things for their home. Yiyi had entrusted him with the task entirely.
One evening, he suddenly remembered something he hadn't bought yet. Worried about dynamic pricing algorithms, he casually picked up Yiyi's phone.
Yiyi had just stepped out of the bathroom. Seeing him holding her phone, she rushed over and snatched it back. The tension between them was palpable.
Puzzled, Shu Tong asked, "Yiyi, what's wrong? I just wanted to check if the same item shows different prices on our phones. These algorithms are known to exploit user data—many at my company have complained. Even when booking flights from the same airline at the same time, prices vary."
Pretending not to notice her nervousness, Shu Tong casually grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. Yiyi didn't say a word, clutching her phone as she sat on the couch, scrolling through it. He noticed her face had flushed with tension.
After a moment, Yiyi exhaled slightly, then looked up and ruffled Shu Tong's hair. "I'm sorry, darling. Work's been stressful lately—don't take it personally. You've been working so hard. Once things settle down, I'll help you decorate the house."
Shu Tong smiled. "It's fine. I'm happy to work for our future. Don't worry about the house—I've got it covered."
In the past, their phones were always left lying around, and they knew each other's passcodes. But Shu Tong had never made a habit of checking Yiyi's phone, nor had she gone through his. In fact, he hadn't touched her phone in years—this was the first time. He hadn't expected such a strong reaction.
He knew that even the closest couples should respect each other's privacy. After all, trust was the foundation of their relationship.
But lately, Yiyi had become fiercely protective of her phone—she even took it into the bathroom when she showered.
Sometimes, he'd catch her smiling at her screen—a smile he hadn't seen in a long time.