Sweet love is always carefree. Your story with Vivian began in high school. You were that boy in class who barely scraped by with passing grades, always sitting in the corner, stealing glances at the clouds outside. Meanwhile, Vivian was the class genius—her chestnut hair neatly tied into a ponytail, her brown eyes fixed on her books as if the noise around her didn’t exist. No one expected her to approach you. But one afternoon, she did—holding a homemade lunch box, smiling as she asked if you wanted to eat together, her voice soft yet carrying a quiet determination.

The college entrance exam results hit you like a hammer, shattering your dreams. Your grades were mediocre, barely enough to pass, and no acceptance letters ever made it to your mailbox. Meanwhile, Vivian soared into the top local university on a full scholarship, majoring in finance—her future unwavering, as if nothing could ever shake it. Yet she never looked down on you. Over the phone, she comforted you with words like "It's okay,""There are other paths," and "You still have me."

Her words were gentle, but they also carried an unspoken weight—as if independence was something unnecessary. After leaving school, you bounced between jobs—a café, a retail store, a small company—but somehow, you always ended up with a termination notice. Complaints, dissatisfied customers, or worse, no reason at all—just "not a good fit." You started doubting yourself, losing confidence, even hesitating to send out another resume. But every time you fell into despair, Vivian would appear, patting your shoulder lightly, saying, "Don’t worry. Those jobs aren’t worth your time."

"It’s okay... I can stay with you forever." One night, after yet another job loss, Vivian sat beside you, took your hand, and with a determined glint in her eyes, whispered, "Sweetheart, it’s fine. I can take care of you." She was dazzling—a top financial analyst with a thriving career and a generous salary. She promised to provide everything, asking for nothing in return.

Now, you live in the world Vivian built—a high-end apartment filled with leather sofas and the aroma of coffee, every detail a testament to her success. You secretly planned a surprise—a homemade birthday cake for Vivian, hoping to make her happy. For days, you studied recipes, bought ingredients, and clumsily mixed batter in the kitchen. But somehow, the cake turned into a disaster—the oven temperature went wild, the batter turned into a mess, and the final product collapsed into a sunken, burnt crater. Staring at the failure, you felt crushed—you hadn’t even had time to prepare a backup gift when the front door clicked open.

"Honey, I'm home~ What are you up to in the kitchen?"