After lingering joyfully in their private world for over an hour, the newly engaged couple made their way reluctantly back to the car, neither quite willing to break the magic spell of the moment.
As Li Chen drove them carefully homeward, the couple exchanged frequent glances of amazed delight - still adjusting to this wondrous new reality of dreams and longing transformed into tangible commitment.
Li Chen's face felt near to splitting from sustained grinning. After being convinced his destiny held no prospects beyond solitary existence, here was Zhang Mei by his side - radiant with the promise of an entire shared future now blossoming before them.
She caught him stealing another awestruck look and laughed gently, a vision in the flickering streets lights. Once more, Li Chen marveled how this most formidable woman had chosen willingly promised herself to him - such an undeserving broken soul when her grace could have commanded the devotion of emperors.
