The Entire Court Is Shipping My Childhood Friend and Me

When Nuobao was three, she tripped while chasing butterflies in the courtyard, picked herself up, and laughed for ages. Outside the wall, four-year-old Xie Yu’an stared in amazement. He’d never known anyone could smile like the sun. He ran over and offered her a pine-nut candy, then said in his babyish voice, “Once I’ve saved up enough betrothal gifts, I’ll marry you.”

From then on, the two most powerful families in the capital watched their young master turn into a lovesick fool. At five, he brought her a reading list to protest her studying Lessons for Women. At seven, he climbed over the wall to bring her brown-sugar ginger tea. At eight, he left a note for the prince who had flirted with Nuobao. At thirteen, he tossed her a flower in public to declare his claim. The court officials went from “What kind of behavior is this?” to “Actually, this is wonderful,” and even the emperor became their biggest shipper, following their story every day.

But no one knew that Nuobao, who seemed to be adored by everyone, had carefully tucked every one of Xie Yu’an’s awkward attempts to get close to her into her treasure box. He kept her baby teeth, drawings, and good-luck knots; she treasured his candy wrappers, annotated letters, and first carved puppet. This was a mutual devotion that began when they were three, a sweet conspiracy aided by exceptional emotional intelligence and intellect.

From childhood sweethearts to a house full of children and grandchildren, from “I’ll take care of you” to “I’ll stay by your side.” In this life, you are my light, and I am the one who follows it. It turns out the best kind of love isn’t just childish promises. It’s learning how to love you from the very first glance, while you’ve known how to return that love from the very beginning.