We have to think about life.

As usual, Wu Yuanchu and Ming Jianchang came to Ming Shuzhen’s small apartment.

“Hey, the place is so clean this time,” Wu Yuanchu remarked, putting fresh ingredients and fruit into the fridge.

Ming Shuzhen trailed behind them obediently, helping out in the kitchen.

“You can go watch TV. No need to stay here,” Ming Jianchang said, finding her behavior unusual.

But Ming Shuzhen stayed put, quietly assisting—handing over a plate here, carrying a dish there.

“Our Pillow’s grown up, helping her parents out,” Ming Jianchang said with a sigh.

Ming Shuzhen gave a sheepish grin, knowing full well what she was up to.

Wu Yuanchu, used to dealing with students, could tell Ming Shuzhen was hiding something.

At dinner, she set down her chopsticks. “Spit it out. You’ve been holding it in all evening, haven’t you?”

Ming Shuzhen gave an embarrassed smile. “Mom gets me.”

Hearing this, Ming Jianchang put down his chopsticks too, sensing something big was coming.

Ming Shuzhen cleared her throat. “Alright, I’m saying it, okay?”

“Go ahead,” Wu Yuanchu said, eyeing her. “What’s got you so hesitant?”

Ming Shuzhen closed her eyes briefly and blurted out, “I’m in a relationship!”

For a moment, Ming Jianchang was stunned, looking between his wife and daughter. “Oh, oh, oh.”

“Well, it’s about time,” he stammered. “So, are you bringing him over, or waiting a bit?”

“If it’s new, Mom and Dad suggest waiting. We trust your judgment, but meeting the parents right away, especially for a guy, might be too rushed,” Wu Yuanchu added.

“I…” Ming Shuzhen saw their supportive reactions but worried the real bombshell might shock them.

“She’s a bit… special,” she said carefully, choosing her words.

“Special? How? What does he do? How old is he?” Wu Yuanchu and Ming Jianchang began their interrogation.

“A bit older than me. She’s my company’s boss.”

“Older? Much older?”

Ming Jianchang chimed in, “Company boss? Not some greasy middle-aged guy, right? You’re so outstanding—you can’t settle for someone nobody else wanted.”

Ming Shuzhen laughed, shaking her head. “She’s… a woman.”

Wu Yuanchu and Ming Jianchang fell silent, their faces registering shock as they processed her words.

“You’re… in a same-s*x relationship?” Ming Jianchang asked.

Wu Yuanchu elbowed him, disapproving of his blunt phrasing.

“Pillow, you might not fully understand what that means or know much about that community. You’re close with your girl friends, so maybe you haven’t thought it through…” Wu Yuanchu began.

Ming Shuzhen cut her off. “Mom, it’s not a friend. We’re both adults, and we know what this is. I know what being gay means.”

Caught in the middle, Ming Jianchang sensed the tension and tried to lighten the mood, piling food onto Ming Shuzhen’s plate. “Eat, eat.”

Ming Shuzhen ignored the food, glancing at her plate before looking at Wu Yuanchu.

Wu Yuanchu felt a pang. “So, telling us about this new… friend. Are you asking for our opinion, or just informing us?”

“Both,” Ming Shuzhen mumbled, pouting.

“Eat up. I simmered this soup all afternoon—it’s best hot,” Ming Jianchang interjected again.

Ming Shuzhen humored him, taking a sip. His cooking was good, but her mind was too chaotic to taste it.

Wu Yuanchu sighed, not wanting Ming Shuzhen to eat while upset—it wasn’t good for her stomach.

“Let’s eat first, then talk,” she compromised.

After dinner, the three sat on the sofa, like a formal meeting, tea cups in front of them, staring at each other.

“Can I start?” Wu Yuanchu took charge, unwilling to hear Ming Shuzhen gush about love—she knew how fleeting it could be.

Ming Shuzhen nodded, sitting quietly, awaiting their verdict.

“But can I say something first?” she asked.

“Go ahead,” Wu Yuanchu said.

Ming Jianchang tried to ease the mood. “Why so serious, like a courtroom?”

Neither paid him any mind.

Given permission, Ming Shuzhen spoke. “I know you’re worried I’ve been tricked or acting impulsively. But I’m not. I’ve thought it through. I like her, and I want to be with her.”

Wu Yuanchu dreaded hearing about love—it gave her a headache.

“You say you’re not impulsive, but how do you know *she’s* not? You’re all in, but what if she just walks away after having her fun?”

“Let’s set aside the gay-or-straight question. We don’t oppose you dating—you should meet people. But you can’t throw your whole self into it. We raised you to be your own person, not to lose yourself over someone.”

“I haven’t,” Ming Shuzhen protested. “I haven’t lost myself. She’s amazing, incredible—you’ll see when you meet her—”

Wu Yuanchu cut in. “She’s amazing, so you’re not? What’s with this starry-eyed act? Is this how I raised you?”

Ming Shuzhen faltered. “You’re a teacher—you know even the best students don’t absorb everything. Sixty percent is already—”

“Enough,” Wu Yuanchu interrupted, adjusting her breathing to avoid being led astray.

“Pillow, listen. I’m not saying I oppose your relationship or your freedom. But think about it—dating means being with someone completely different, independent from you. No one can truly bare their heart. How do you know she’s not just acting, pretending to love you?”

“And same-s*x relationships face harsher scrutiny. A few harsh words from others could drive a wedge between you.”

“Mom,” Ming Shuzhen interjected, “whether it’s same-s*x or not, you can’t see someone’s heart. People change, relationships end. Right now, I just want to be with the person I like. Can’t we deal with the future later?”

“Are you a child playing house?” Wu Yuanchu looked pained, shocked by her mindset. “You’re thinking only of now, not your future? You said she’s your boss. If you break up, do you keep the job? If you split years later, will it be easy to find work then?”

Ming Shuzhen lowered her eyes, gulping water from her cup.

She’d thought about these questions herself but found no answers.

Her relationship with Ming Shuyan felt uncertain, devoid of security.

Growing up, whenever she faced something she couldn’t solve, she turned to Wu Yuanchu and Ming Jianchang.

They always broke things down clearly, offering straightforward, non-preachy wisdom.

This time was different, but she still wanted to trust them, just as they unconditionally trusted her, believing their daughter was the best.

Ming Shuzhen’s face showed grievance, her eyes drooping.

Seeing this, Ming Jianchang signaled Wu Yuanchu to ease up.

Wu Yuanchu sighed, holding back her temper.

“Society still has many who reject same-s*x relationships—some even view it as a mental illness. You know that, right?”

Ming Shuzhen nodded.

Seeing her silence, Wu Yuanchu softened, feeling she’d been too harsh.

“If you two face someone extreme—say, a work contact, affecting your job, or even a stranger with a vendetta who threatens your safety—what then?”

Ming Shuzhen thought, *Yeah, what then?* Then she noticed Wu Yuanchu used “you two,” including Ming Shuyan.

“Mom knows you’re not reckless with your feelings, but how do you know she’s all in? You’re lovey-dovey now, but what if she changes her mind? Same-s*x relationships lack legal protection and face social stigma. Even if you don’t care, what about her? What if she can’t handle it someday? What do you do then?”

Ming Shuzhen wanted to argue but couldn’t be sure.

She pivoted. “Even if I dated a guy, I couldn’t stop him from cheating. You see it in the news—infidelity, abuse. It’s not rare.”

“True,” Wu Yuanchu nodded. “But the stakes are different. Choosing a partner like most people do means less pressure to bear.”

“So,” Ming Shuzhen’s eyes widened, “you’re telling me to trick someone into marriage?”

“That’s not what I mean!” Wu Yuanchu snapped, exasperated.

She raised her arm as if to swat Ming Shuzhen. Ming Jianchang blocked it, taking the hit.

Ming Shuzhen blinked at them, a quiet sadness welling up.

“I told you about my girlfriend because I wanted your approval. I don’t care what outsiders think. They might be curious at first, but who has time to gossip forever?”

“I like her. That’s my only thought right now. As for the future, no one can predict it. I can’t give up my present feelings for an uncertain future.”

Wu Yuanchu fell silent, sighing after a long pause.

“I’ve never opposed who you choose to be with. I said I wouldn’t interfere with your freedom, let alone suggest something like a sham marriage.” Her gaze was sharp.

Ming Shuzhen nodded, shaken by her mother’s rare sternness. “I know.”

“But the odds of you two lasting are slim. You need to understand that.”

Ming Shuzhen nodded again, knowing this was the root of her insecurity. No one could guarantee forever.

“At work, treat her as your boss. Don’t act special, or your colleagues will resent it,” Wu Yuanchu continued.

Ming Shuzhen listened quietly, her heart sour.

“Don’t invest your whole self. She’s just a spice in your life, an appetizer. Got it? If she ends it, walk away gracefully. Our Pillow is too amazing to pine over her.”

“Always, your own life comes first. Dating is for fun. If it’s too much pressure or hurts your mood, isn’t ‘break up’ just two words?”

Ming Shuzhen, prone to tears, felt them welling up.

To distract herself, she teased, “So you treat Dad like an appetizer too?”

“Not at all!” Wu Yuanchu glared. “Don’t drag me into this.”

Ming Jianchang chuckled. “Your mom and I aren’t just lovers anymore—we’re family, treating each other as vital as life itself. When you and your girlfriend reach that point, we won’t worry. No one’s harsh words will shake your bond.”

Ming Shuzhen noticed he said “you two” too, and her tears fell.

How do you become family?

And as Wu Yuanchu said, even if she wanted that, what if Ming Shuyan didn’t?

Even if she dreamed of forever, what if Ming Shuyan stopped loving her one day?

With Ming Shuyan, she felt no security.

Seeing her tears, Wu Yuanchu hugged her, patting her back.

“It’s just a relationship. Date if it makes you happy. If not, end it.”

Ming Jianchang nodded in support.

After they left, Ming Shuzhen’s emotions settled.

Freshly washed, she sat on her bed, mulling over Wu Yuanchu’s words.

“Boss, have you thought about the future?” she texted Ming Shuyan.

It was year-end, and Ming Shuyan was swamped—maybe at a meeting or dining with clients. No reply.

Disappointed, Ming Shuzhen texted Zhong Shuo. “Gaming? Can we video?”

Zhong Shuo was mid-game but prioritized friends over her virtual conquests.

She sent a video call invite.

“What’s up?”

Ming Shuzhen’s lips quivered, on the verge of tears.

Zhong Shuo panicked. “Did Ming Shuyan hurt you? Did she cheat? Or break up with you?”

Ming Shuzhen shook her head, amused by Zhong Shuo’s imagination but aware it echoed her fears.

She relayed Wu Yuanchu’s words.

Zhong Shuo relaxed. “Oh, that? I’m with Auntie.”

Ming Shuzhen stayed silent. As an outsider, she’d side with Wu Yuanchu too.

“Auntie’s more accepting than most parents. Many would freak out, worried about family lineage. But she’s concerned about the pressure you’ll face, the extra tests your relationship will endure. She doesn’t want you hurt.”

Ming Shuzhen listened quietly.

Seeing her subdued, Zhong Shuo’s heart sank, knowing she was serious.

“We’re thrilled you’re happy in love. It’s supposed to be joyful. We want that for you.”

Ming Shuzhen’s eyes watered again.

“But we have to be real. Relationships have fights, breakups. We don’t want you hurt. Auntie’s point is clear—same-s*x relationships face bigger hurdles, lower odds of lasting. She’s scared you’ll invest too much and get hurt pulling out.”

“I know,” Ming Shuzhen said, her mood low.

“So I’m a bit sad. I have so much love—everyone’s looking out for me. But Ming Shuyan? She only has me. No one’s looking out for her.”

“She has a sister, right? Did I tell you? She grew up with her grandma, barely connected until college, so they’re distant. With her personality, she won’t tell her family about me. Even if she did, her sister would just be polite.”

Zhong Shuo ignored the sympathy, catching another detail.

“Your boss has a sister? How many?”

“Uh,” Ming Shuzhen recited, “Two older sisters, abroad. Three younger sisters.”

“…That’s a lot,” Zhong Shuo said, stunned.

“She doesn’t… have a brother too, does she?”

“Yeah, but… he passed away.”

Zhong Shuo’s jaw dropped. “Did you tell your parents?”

“No, it’s too soon. Should I now?”

“What are you talking about!” Zhong Shuo yelled at the screen.

Ming Shuzhen felt if not for the screen, Zhong Shuo’s spit would’ve hit her face.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, noting Zhong Shuo’s darkening expression.

“Listen, there are three types of people you don’t date,” Zhong Shuo lectured. “First, those from families that favor boys. You marry in, they pressure you to have kids. No son? They’ll give you attitude.”

Ming Shuzhen relaxed. “Oh, I thought it was something serious.”

“We can’t have kids anyway. And Ming Shuyan’s barely in touch with her family.”

“Still not okay. Those values are deep-rooted. A family’s influence shapes someone profoundly—they can be extreme in relationships.”

Ming Shuzhen’s heart sank. She knew Zhong Shuo meant well, preemptively warning her.

But she didn’t want to hear people badmouth Ming Shuyan. Yet… she didn’t know how to defend her or prove she wasn’t like that.

Because, truthfully, she didn’t fully know Ming Shuyan or have much confidence in their relationship.

Checking WeChat, Ming Shuyan still hadn’t replied.

“Why so quiet?” Zhong Shuo noticed, tactfully changing the subject.

“Just keep your guard up. Auntie’s looking out for you. Going to dinner with Baobao soon? Picked a gift?”

“Gift? What gift?” Ming Shuzhen ignored the first part.

“You’re so lovesick you’ve lost your bearings,” Zhong Shuo teased. “Chang Yongxi said in the group—he got a new job, passed probation.”

“…Oh.” Ming Shuzhen’s eyes wandered, vaguely recalling.

She, Zhong Shuo, and Zhang Baobao had a besties’ group, pinned at the top.

There was another group with Chang Yongxi, set to Do Not Disturb.

He was just a friend’s boyfriend—having him in a group was already generous.

“!” Ming Shuzhen’s eyes lit up.

“Big Zhong Shuo, should I invite my boss to the group? Baobao’s boyfriend’s in there—shouldn’t I bring mine too?”

Zhong Shuo gave her a weary look. “‘Boyfriend’ sounds so weird coming from you.”

“Just tell me if I should!” Ming Shuzhen pouted, her intent clear.

Zhong Shuo coughed. “Invite her if you want. I’m single, no one to invite. But if you dare flaunt your love, I’ll brandish my fifty-meter sword.”

With permission, Ming Shuzhen gleefully added Ming Shuyan, unpinned the group from Do Not Disturb, and set it to top.

Zhong Shuo watched, unable to stand her giddy expression.

Even through the screen, she smelled the stench of love.

“Wasn’t someone bragging they were straight?” she teased, smirking.

Ming Shuzhen looked down, stubborn. “Who? No idea.”

Zhong Shuo snorted, adding her gaming alt to the group.

“Why add your alt?” Ming Shuzhen asked, noting the group was now six.

“Why should you all pair up?” Zhong Shuo huffed.

“Hey, my boss replied! Gotta go!” Ming Shuzhen said.

Zhong Shuo panicked. “What—”

Before she could say “you’re ditching me for her,” Ming Shuzhen ended the call.

Seeing Ming Shuyan’s reply, Ming Shuzhen sent a video call invite.

Ming Shuyan picked up quickly. “What’s with the sudden philosophical question?”

Ming Shuzhen pouted, wanting a straight answer, not vague words.

She’d been tense all evening, missing the exhaustion in Ming Shuyan’s eyes.

Sensing her mild reproach, Ming Shuyan smiled reassuringly, hiding her fatigue. “The future, huh…”

“I didn’t think about it before—just lived day by day. After meeting you, I thought, maybe I’m allowed to dream a little.”

“Allowed?” Ming Shuzhen frowned. “What’s that mean? Planning your future’s simple, isn’t it?”

“Mm.” Ming Shuyan explained.

“If it’s career planning—company goals, work for the next year or two—I can map that out. But I know you’re not asking about work.”

“Before you, I was like a scruffy stray dog on the street, too scared to even peek into a pet shop where owners took their pampered dogs. I feared the staff would shoo me away, yelling at the dirty mutt.”

“But with you, I feel like I have an owner, someone backing me. I still don’t dare enter the pet shop, but I can look inside. Sometimes, I even get cocky, thinking, *Hey, my owner might take me there someday. I could be like those groomed dogs, shiny fur, eating fancy kibble and chew sticks.*”

Her gentle, feminine gaze, full of acceptance, made Ming Shuzhen feel touched by the hand of a love goddess.

A kitten seemed to scamper across her heart, its soft paws tickling her.

So *that’s* how Ming Shuyan saw it.

She could sense Ming Shuyan shared her doubts about their relationship’s longevity.

But she hadn’t realized she meant so much to her.

Suddenly, her tangled worries smoothed out.

Ming Shuzhen smiled faintly.

Ming Shuyan considered her plans. “For the company, I’m not ambitious. With the economy down, maintaining our scale, avoiding layoffs, and giving occasional bonuses—I’m satisfied.”

“As for life…” She stared at the screen, her ambitions vast.

But she feared scaring Ming Shuzhen.

Seeing her pause, Ming Shuzhen urged, “Say it.”

“You sure you want to hear?” Ming Shuyan teased.

“Yes!” Ming Shuzhen was fearless.

Her thoughts were simple—she just wanted to know Ming Shuyan’s future included her. That would ease her mind.

Ming Shuyan cleared her throat tactically.

Her voice lowered, her gaze turning intense. “I want… to make love to you at forty, fifty, sixty, a hundred—even when we’re old. Tie you up, see you cry, give you everything I have. If you ever don’t want me, I’ll cling to your leg, shamelessly begging you to stay.”

“That house of mine—it’s closer to the company. You could move in, or… we could buy a new one. Do you know about designated guardianship? We can’t marry like straight couples, but I want to give you legal protections.”

“When our relationship’s stable, I want to go public at the company. I don’t want to hide.”

“I’ll get our assets notarized. Half of what I earn is yours. Do you know about bequeathment? I’m older—if I go first, you’ll get everything under my name.”

“And…”

Ming Shuzhen watched her lips move. When she bluntly said “make love,” Ming Shuzhen blushed, but by the end, she felt her earlier worries were petty.

How could Ming Shuyan not be serious? She’d planned for making love at a hundred, for going public.

They both saw each other as their lifelong partner, seriously tackling the practical challenges and keeping their spark alive.

They were both… thinking about forever.

Sweetness bloomed in Ming Shuzhen’s heart. She teased, “Why’s it me leaving you? What if *you* fall for some younger girl and ditch me?”

“Hah,” Ming Shuyan scoffed, as if her character had been insulted.

Her eyes were resolute, as if ready to swear an oath. “Because I know myself. I’ll only ever love you.”

Hearing “love” again, Ming Shuzhen blinked, feeling its weight.

“Wife,” she said, “I’m sure now too. I want to be with you forever.”

This Ming Shuyan felt different.

Before, she was rational, aloof, untouchable—a boss Ming Shuzhen could only admire from below.

Now, she was softer, baring her vulnerabilities and darkness.

It felt good, this equal footing.

Ming Shuzhen felt guided all day—by her parents, by Zhong Shuo.

And now, she felt enlightened, her heart lighter.

Looking at the screen, she said, “We need to plan for a lifetime—consider your family’s feelings. People might doubt us at first, but ten, twenty years? Who knows? Time will prove it.”

Prove a puppy’s love for its owner is always true.

Her voice wasn’t as heavy anymore. “Yeah, who knows?”

Last year, she hadn’t known she’d join a big company like Red Brick, or that she’d bend herself and date the boss.