The Ring Courier

Jiang Wenzhe moved with his usual brisk efficiency. He cleared out his summer walk-in closet and stocked the open shelves—once filled with hanging clothes—with animal snacks, batch after batch.

“Jiang Wenzhe, I don’t think I can finish all this.” Looking at the dazzling array of treats, Lin Sangyu said exactly that.

“I know,” Jiang Wenzhe replied carelessly. “In human form, you eat as little as a cat.”

“What if it goes to waste?” Lin Sangyu picked up a pack of sugar glider chicken sushi rolls, flipped it over, and read the label. “See, this expires in six months.”

"If there's anything we can't finish before it expires, I'll donate it," Jiang Wenzhe paused briefly, "or give it away as a prize during a livestream to your future fans."

Lin Sangyu sighed. "That's so... extravagant."

"Extravagance is also a way to attract attention. In this fast-paced era, you only have one chance to catch netizens' eyes before you can carve out a place among the oversaturated short videos." Jiang Wenzhe set out the photography gear and ring lights he’d bought, then pulled out a disinfecting wipe and replied while wiping his hands.

Besides, she had been hungry for so long before; buying more now, giving her more to eat, more choices—that was only right.

*

From then on, Lin Sangyu officially quit her front-desk job and began her daily routine of attending classes.

Jiang Wenzhe hired several different tutors for her. In the mornings were her hobby classes—sometimes the teacher would bake with her, making small bread loaves and cookies.

Other times it was flower arranging, and the teacher would let her pick flowers in the villa’s garden, then teach her how to care for them, compose arrangements, match colors, and so on.

More often than not, it was the PE teacher dragging Lin Sangyu through various outdoor exercises first thing in the morning, sweat soaking her clothes, the early summer mornings filled with Lin Sangyu’s bitter internal complaints.

Every time she was exhausted from the morning workout, she would deliberately alter the ingredient ratios in the bread recipe during the next baking class.

This included, but was not limited to: making bread with no sugar or a lethal amount of sugar, and when making chocolate-filled bread, using Jiang Wenzhe’s card to buy very authentic bitter chocolate and adding it generously.

She discovered that Jiang Wenzhe was the one with the weird eating habits—no matter how terrible she made it, he could eat it without changing his expression, even though he never once praised her bread.

But someone as picky as Jiang Wenzhe finishing all the bread and cookies she baked—wasn’t that a subtle form of approval?

So Lin Sangyu got even more enthusiastic.

Naturally, without Jiang Wenzhe’s knowledge, he became her punching bag.

In the afternoons, it was systematic training on becoming an influencer—from the basics like lighting and camera operation to video editing and photo retouching; nothing was overlooked.

During a discussion about specific streaming and short-video strategies, one teacher pointed out, "You could leverage the advantages of your home to create a luxury-pet brand; or, if the pet is exceptionally well-behaved, you could go for the cute-pet angle."

That evening, when Jiang Wenzhe came home, Lin Sangyu was waiting in the living room, watching TV as usual, but this time she sprang up the moment she heard the door open.

Seeing her strained, anxious expression with words stuck in her throat, Jiang Wenzhe knew something was up. He asked, "What is it?"

Lin Sangyu stammered, "That... that..."

"If you're not going to say it, I'm going upstairs," Jiang Wenzhe cut her off ruthlessly.

"No, wait!" Lin Sangyu grabbed his left arm tightly with both hands. "I've decided what kind of video I want to make."

"Let's hear it." He turned sideways to look at her.

"But I'd need your help." Lin Sangyu shifted uncomfortably.

"Tell me first, and I'll think about it."

Jiang Wenzhe felt Sangyu's grip tighten unconsciously, then he heard her outrageous words:

"The theme is—A CEO's One-Day Pet Vlog."

"..."

Silence. Utter silence.

The vast living room seemed frozen in time.

Lin Sangyu watched his face darken bit by bit.

After what felt like an eternity, his low voice broke the strange silence: "Lin Sangyu, you might want to think about adding another pillow tonight."

"Why would I add another pillow?"

"So you can dream on a little higher."

Lin Sangyu pouted. "So... you won't help?"

Jiang Wenzhe snorted. "Anyone with half a brain would refuse such a ridiculous idea."

"Fine, don't help then," Lin Sangyu’s gaze dropped, and suddenly she noticed a document in his other hand with the wax seal still intact. "What's that you're holding?"

"Tang Lin's draft proposal for the engagement. He asked me to look it over." Jiang Wenzhe extended his hand a bit. "Want to see?"

Lin Sangyu nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes!"

Jiang Wenzhe didn’t have many close friends, just a handful, and he never hid anything from Lin Sangyu, so she had a rough idea of who he was close to.

"Then take a look."

Lin Sangyu opened it and found an extremely detailed proposal. It even included two completely different plans depending on the weather on the day—one outdoor, one indoor. Judging from the printed photos of the design drafts, it would be a dreamy sea of yellow flowers.

"It's perfect," Lin Sangyu said, awed. "Miss Huang will definitely be moved."

"She's been the one he's loved since he was seventeen." Jiang Wenzhe’s gaze also landed on that sea of yellow.

"And they're only just now getting engaged? They've been together so long."

Jiang Wenzhe unbuttoned his suit jacket one button at a time, hung it over his arm, and mercilessly mocked someone who was now too anxious to eat or sleep properly: "He loved her for twelve years, but only managed to get her two years ago."

Lin Sangyu didn't know what to say, so she buried her head back in the proposal. Then she noticed a blemish: "Why is there a question mark drawn at the ring-placement step?"

"He thinks putting the ring in his pocket isn't good. First, it could be discovered too early. Second, he thinks it's not dazzling enough." Jiang Wenzhe couldn't help but tsk, as if recalling Tang Lin’s idiotic behavior.

The two chatted from the living room to the bedroom. Lin Sangyu sat on Jiang Wenzhe's bed, looked up at the man standing beside her, and suddenly her eyes lit up as she said excitedly, "What if I deliver the ring?"

"What do you mean?" Jiang Wenzhe asked.

"Tie the ring to me. Indoors, I could hide on the chandelier; outdoors, on the flower arch. When he’s about to propose, I'd swoop down from above—descend from the sky." Lin Sangyu got carried away by her own imagining.

"No way. Too dangerous. What if your secret of turning human gets exposed?"

"Then I won't transform back that day. I'll stay by your side after I deliver the ring, okay?"

The last line clearly pleased Jiang Wenzhe. His expression softened as he started considering the feasibility.

Lin Sangyu pressed on: "Please? I'll be good. And I've been a sugar glider for so many years without being discovered."

After a long pause, Jiang Wenzhe said, "I'll mention it to Tang Lin."

"Yay! I knew you were the best!"

Lin Sangyu silently vowed: Tomorrow, I'll put my real skills to work and make Jiang Wenzhe the best bread in the world!

*

On the day of the proposal, the venue was by the sea. As evening approached, a gentle land breeze formed, bringing occasional coolness that eased the summer heat. The sky was in a rare blue-hour moment, with large swaths of pink and orange blending at the horizon where sea met sky. The very air felt infused with romance.

Lin Sangyu, as instructed, hid herself early on the flower arch of the proposal stage, surrounded by expensive blooms of various sizes that concealed her well.

Only about twenty people attended, all close friends and family of Tang Lin or Huang Jue. They were all impeccably dressed, clothes pressed crisp, and despite not being the main characters, everyone showed a touch of nervousness.

Everyone was thrilled about the proposal that had been half a year in the making.

Among them, Jiang Wenzhe stood tall and striking, a head above the rest. He wore a sharply tailored deep-blue suit that accentuated his straight posture, looking every inch the gentleman. The evening breeze ruffled his fringe as he spoke on the phone, his lips moving in a low, measured tone.

Guests passing by greeted him with smiles, and since he was on the call, he responded with a nod and a silent mouthing of “hello,” both polite and at ease.

Suddenly, the crowd stirred.

The leading lady had arrived.

Huang Jue wore a flowing yellow-and-white gown, the light fabric drifting as she moved, accentuating her graceful figure—radiant, gentle, and beautiful.

The crowd’s gaze, along with the setting sun’s rays, focused on the couple, their shadows stretching long in the golden light.

Huang Jue initially thought she had stumbled upon someone else’s proposal until her name appeared in the midst of a sea of yellow roses, and she realized what was happening.

Turning around, she saw her parents and best friends suddenly appear like mushrooms after rain, their eyes full of encouragement and delight.

Tang Lin led Huang Jue by the hand up onto the stage, his body and voice trembling uncontrollably. "My dearest, most beloved Huang Jue. Today marks the thirtieth year since we met, and the second year we've been together. Unknowingly, we’ve spent ten thousand nine hundred and fifty days together. I often lament that time flies too fast—so fast that I haven’t had enough time to truly see you, to be good to you before we reach our thirties. I treasure every memory, and whenever I think of them, it's as if they happened just yesterday. I even had a dream last night—back in high school, when you were coaching me on a problem, got frustrated, and chased me all around the playground."

Tears as big as beans rolled down Huang Jue’s cheeks, the stage lights catching them. But at the mention of the dream, she suddenly smiled.

Lin Sangyu, hidden behind the couple, was moved as well, her nose tingling. She nuzzled the priceless diamond ring with her little paws.

The molten-gold sunset spread across the yellow flower-adorned stage by the sea. Amidst the sea of blossoms, a single sound rang out—a knee hitting the ground.

Tang Lin knelt on one knee, his eyes misty, tracing the contours of his beloved’s face. Time seemed to revert to when they were seventeen. He said reverently, "Huang Jue, will you marry me?"

Huang Jue covered her mouth, tears in her eyes. "Yes, I do."

In an instant, thunderous applause erupted from the crowd, and the designated cheerleaders whooped with excitement.

— The moment had come.

Lin Sangyu flapped her gliding membranes, cutting a swift arc through the air, then landed squarely on Tang Lin’s shoulder.

Huang Jue’s eyes widened, tears clinging to her lashes, clearly taken aback by this unique twist. "What an adorable sugar glider!"

Tang Lin’s hands trembled even harder. Lin Sangyu felt him pinch her. After several fumbling attempts, just as she thought she might suffocate, Tang Lin finally managed to get the ring off.

Phew, mission accomplished. Lin Sangyu breathed a huge sigh of relief.

She decided not to be an intrusive third wheel, so she glided down from Tang Lin’s shoulder and scurried on all fours toward Jiang Wenzhe, who was below the stage.

At the same time, Jiang Wenzhe walked toward her, closing the distance in a few strides, then hoisted her up with both hands.

Lin Sangyu, thrilled at her successful mission, immediately sought praise from Jiang Wenzhe: "Squeak, squeak, squeak—"

"I know you're happy." Jiang Wenzhe poked her head.

Someone nearby suddenly piped up: "Wenzhe, I didn’t expect someone as clean-freak as you to have a pet. When did you get one? It’s so smart."

"Just recently."

Jiang Wenzhe curved his lips into a faint smile, his fingers idly brushing over the spot on Lin Sangyu where Tang Lin had touched, and made small talk.

"I realized, with such a big empty house, it's nice to have a docile little pet to keep me company."