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The Programmer's Code and Love: From Quick Marriage to Swift Divorce
墨書 Inktalez
Behind the hustle and bustle of the thriving city lies the silhouette of countless young people, including Lu Xingchen, who are tirelessly pursuing their dreams and livelihoods.
As a programmer, she immerses herself daily in the world of code, accompanied by zeros and ones, attempting to carve out her own space in the vast ocean of programming.
However, the trivialities of life never let her off easily, especially the incessant "marriage pressure" from her parents that echoes in her ears like a relentless spell.
Lu Xingchen's parents grew up in an environment steeped in traditional values. Watching their daughter grow older without a reliable partner by her side, their anxiety burgeons like wild grass in spring.
Every day, during their scheduled phone call, marriage becomes the unchanging opening act.
Her father always speaks with a tone of disappointment: "Weiwei, you're not getting any younger. Stop staring at that computer screen all day. Can code really accompany you for a lifetime? It's not too late; you should resolve your personal issues quickly."
Her mother is even more frantic, like an ant on a hot pan. Each conversation resembles a torrent of information about various blind dates.
The suitors introduced by a whole bunch of relatives seem to be exceptional young men that are hard to find even with a lantern.
"Look at that young man your aunt introduced; he works at a State-Owned Enterprise. His job is stable, with great benefits. The key is he's honest and straightforward, and his family has already prepared a wedding house. Why not take some time to meet him? You might just hit it off at first sight."
"And then there's Aunt Wang's nephew next door; he has a high education and is ambitious. He just returned from studying abroad and is now an executive at a large company. Such conditions are rare! Weiwei, don't be too picky; if you keep this up, all the good ones will be taken by someone else, and then you'll have no one to cry to."
Moreover, during holidays that should be filled with family warmth and togetherness, they turn into Lu Xingchen's "blind date torture days."
With the whole family gathered around, conversations inevitably shift under her parents' subtle guidance to her marital status.
A whole bunch of relatives chime in one after another, joining the "marriage pressure brigade." One says, "Weiwei, every woman needs a home in this life; family is what matters most," while another remarks, "Look at your cousin; she's so happy after getting married. You need to hurry up!"
Taking advantage of this momentum, her parents whip out their phones and show her pictures of potential suitors, pressuring Lu Xingchen to make decisions on the spot.
"These young men are all quite good. After the holidays, you should meet them one by one; don’t procrastinate." Faced with this overwhelming wave of marriage pressure, Lu Xingchen feels surrounded and trapped with no way out.
Unable to bear it any longer, Lu Xingchen embarks on an adventure on the programmer Blind Date Platform in search of peace and quiet.
This platform is specifically designed for busy programmers who list their conditions and requirements simply and straightforwardly in hopes of efficiently finding their perfect match.
With a mindset of "if it breaks, it breaks," Lu Xingchen registered an account and posted a somewhat helpless marriage advertisement: "I'm a programmer with a stable job, just looking for someone whose values align with mine, someone who won't interfere with my life, and can help deal with my parents' marriage pressure."
To her surprise, it wasn't long before a netizen named "Starry Sea" resonated with her.
During their initial exchange, Lu Xingchen felt a bit shy and tentatively sent a message: "Are you also being pressured into marriage?"
Before long, "Starry Sea" replied, "Isn't that the truth? My mom nags me every day, saying if I don't bring someone home soon, she won't even be able to face the neighbors. I see your conditions are quite practical, so I wanted to ask how you plan to 'cooperate.'"
Seeing this message eased Lu Xingchen's mind a little. She responded, "I just want to find someone to get through this phase, get a marriage certificate, and then part ways after some time without interfering in each other's lives. Can you accept that?"
"Starry Sea" quickly replied, "Sure, I have the same intention. But we need to lay down some ground rules first. If anything comes up at home that needs handling during this time, we should help each other out so we don’t give ourselves away."
Lu Xingchen agreed: "Of course, we need that kind of understanding. By the way, shouldn't we exchange some basic information? Even if it's just for show, we can't be too careless."
"Starry Sea" sent over a string of text: "My name is Ex-Wife, I'm 30 years old, working in a tech position at an internet company with a decent income. I'm local and own a house. What about you?"
Lu Xingchen replied honestly: "I'm Lu Xingchen, 28 years old, also in tech as a programmer. I'm quite busy at work; it's the pressure from my family that led me to this decision."
"Starry Sea" teased, "Looks like we’re quite fated to meet; two people from the same field might just pull this off. Have you got all the necessary documents ready? How about we go get the certificate in the next couple of days and get it over with?"
After hesitating for a moment and recalling her parents' eager eyes and daily nagging, Lu Xingchen gritted her teeth and replied, "Alright then, let's do it this weekend."
"Starry Sea" sent an agreeing emoji and reminded her, "Remember to make an appointment in advance; don’t end up making a wasted trip."
And so it was that after just a few brief exchanges—without even a video call—they hastily decided to head straight to the civil affairs bureau to obtain their marriage certificate.
At that moment, Lu Xingchen felt as if she had found a lifeline; all she had to do was endure this phase and she would regain her freedom.
On the day they went to get the certificate, the civil affairs bureau was bustling with people. Every couple wore expressions of happiness and anticipation, while Lu Xingchen and "Starry Sea" hurried through the process.
They quickly filled out the forms and completed their marriage registration under the slightly astonished gaze of the staff.
Stepping out of the civil affairs bureau, Lu Xingchen let out a long sigh, as if she had just shed a heavy burden.
She immediately scheduled a cooling-off period for her divorce, then transferred a sum labeled "hardship fee" to "Starry Sea," adding a note that read, "Pleasant cooperation, farewell for now." Without hesitation, she blocked him and turned her focus back to work, trying to completely forget this absurd farce.
She thought life would return to normal. Lu Xingchen continued her daily routine of leaving early and coming home late, shuttling between the office and home, immersing herself in code.
However, fate seemed to enjoy playing unexpected tricks.
The newly appointed technical director, Ex-Wife, landed like a bombshell, instantly shattering her newfound tranquility.
When Ex-Wife first appeared at the company meeting, Lu Xingchen felt her head buzz as if she had been struck. The usually taciturn figure who communicated solely through code and could make programmers tremble with just a glance—the tech giant was none other than "Starry Sea"!
In that moment, Lu Xingchen felt as though she had fallen into a massive whirlpool, filled with regret and panic.
As the meeting concluded and everyone began to disperse, Lu Xingchen found herself frozen in place, unable to move.
Ex-Wife seemed to sense her unease. Pausing briefly, she turned slightly, a faint smile playing at the corners of her mouth as she said softly, "Oh, isn’t this my ‘Ex-Wife’? I didn’t know you were here."
Lu Xingchen's face instantly flushed crimson.
Ex-Wife crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "You were quite decisive in blocking me. Did you forget about me right after our collaboration?"
Embarrassed, Lu Xingchen lowered her head and stammered, "I... was just dealing with the elders..."
Ex-Wife chuckled lightly and took a few steps closer, teasingly saying, "It seems our connection is unbreakable even in code.
But don’t worry; I’m not the type to dwell on the past. As for work, we’ll cooperate as needed. As for personal matters..." She deliberately elongated her words, her gaze mischievous. "Well, that depends on your performance."
Every day at her workstation felt like sitting on pins and needles as she dreaded making eye contact with Ex-Wife.
Every time she passed by Ex-Wife's office, she wished she could become invisible. Her footsteps unconsciously quickened, and her heart raced.
Ex-Wife, however, seemed to show no particular reaction, remaining focused on work. Occasionally, though, they would glance in Lu Xingchen's direction, their eyes revealing a hint of complex emotions that others might easily overlook.
Days dragged on in this tormenting routine. Lu Xingchen tried her best to appear normal, but the turmoil within her only grew stronger.
Meanwhile, Ex-Wife watched her quietly.
Whenever Lu Xingchen worked late into the night, with the entire office enveloped in darkness and silence while only her desk remained lit by a solitary lamp, Ex-Wife would silently appear, placing a cup of hot coffee beside her without a word before turning to leave.
The steam rising from the coffee in the cold night air brought an unexpected warmth that made Lu Xingchen's taut heartstrings tremble slightly.
At work, whenever Lu Xingchen faced a debugging challenge and found herself at a loss staring at the screen full of code, Ex-Wife would appear just in time.
Standing behind her, they would lean slightly forward, fingers tapping on the screen as they succinctly pointed out the problem and offered solutions.
The faint scent of laundry detergent mixed with the aroma of code drifted into Lu Xingchen's nostrils, causing her cheeks to flush involuntarily.
In truth, the connection between Ex-Wife and Lu Xingchen had quietly taken root back in their university days.
At that time, Ex-Wife was a standout figure in the Computer Science department. With exceptional programming talent, deep-set eyes, and striking looks, they had become the idol of many girls.
Lu Xingchen was no exception. During a chance encounter at a Computer Club event, she first experienced Ex-Wife up close.
Standing confidently at the podium sharing insights on the latest technology, sunlight streamed through the windows and illuminated them, highlighting their tall figure. In that moment, Lu Xingchen felt her heart race as a seed of infatuation took root deep within her.
From then on, Lu Xingchen silently observed Ex-Wife's every move.
She would steal glances at their back during lectures and feel nervous when they crossed paths in the library, unable to lift her head and instead pretending to focus on her book while her fingers trembled slightly.
Whenever she had the chance to exchange a few words with them, Lu Xingchen would replay those brief conversations in her mind repeatedly afterward, cherishing those snippets of interaction like precious treasures hidden deep in her heart.
However, the Ex-Wife was too dazzling, always surrounded by all sorts of people. Lu Xingchen felt like a dim star, only able to watch from afar. This unrequited love was buried deep within the passage of time.
After graduating from university, the Ex-Wife chose to study abroad due to family reasons. During his time in a foreign land, he worked diligently and achieved remarkable success in his field.
Yet every quiet night, he would think of the girl who looked at him with bright eyes during club activities, recalling her occasionally flushed cheeks and shy smile. As time passed, this longing grew ever stronger.
Upon returning to the country, the Ex-Wife learned that Lu Xingchen was also working at the same company, and he felt a surge of excitement within.
He found out from friends that Lu Xingchen was being pressured by her parents to get married, so a carefully crafted plan began to take shape in his mind.
He registered on a programmer's Blind Date Platform and quickly located her marriage-seeking post thanks to his understanding of Lu Xingchen. When he saw her familiar profile picture and the slightly helpless words, a smile crept onto the Ex-Wife's lips. He knew their story was finally about to welcome a new chapter.
Using the name "Starry Sea," he cautiously initiated communication with Lu Xingchen, deliberately concealing his identity while guiding events step by step according to his plan.
From their initial probing of each other to deciding to get married, every step was calculated with precision.
He eagerly anticipated the moment of reuniting with Lu Xingchen, imagining her surprised expression filled with expectation and joy.
During a company gathering, the atmosphere was lively, and under the influence of alcohol, everyone began to shed their usual work-related restraint.
Lu Xingchen was no exception; after a few drinks, her gaze became hazy.
Somehow, when she saw the Ex-Wife, she mistakenly recognized him as the male god she had secretly admired during university.
Memories flooded back like a tide; those long-hidden secrets seemed to find an outlet for release.
Unable to help herself, she confessed her feelings to the Ex-Wife: "You know, I've liked you since university. You shone on the stage in the computer science department while I could only watch you silently from the corner..."
Listening to her drunken words, surprise flickered in the Ex-Wife's eyes before being replaced by tenderness.
Once Lu Xingchen regained some clarity, he took her aside and softly said, "Actually, have you ever thought that I might be the person you secretly admired? And this 'online romance coming true' was also a reunion I meticulously planned."
Lu Xingchen's eyes widened in disbelief as she exclaimed, "How could you do this? This is just too absurd!"
Ex-Wife looked at her with sincerity in her eyes. "After graduation, due to some misunderstandings, I thought you were indifferent towards me, so I went abroad for further studies.
All these years, I've kept you in my heart, remembering that girl whose eyes sparkled with admiration for me. When I returned and saw your profile on the Blind Date Platform, I knew it was a sign from fate."
The two of them resolved the misunderstandings of the past, and the intertwining of old crushes and their current interactions sent ripples through Lu Xingchen's heart.
In the days that followed, the atmosphere between them quietly shifted, filled with an unspoken understanding and sweetness.
During their work breaks, they would discuss technical challenges together and share little joys from their daily lives.
Lu Xingchen discovered that beneath Ex-Wife's seemingly aloof exterior lay a passionate heart. His knowledge and insights captivated her more and more.
However, the good times were short-lived. A month later, rumors circulated in the company about Ex-Wife's impending move to Silicon Valley.
The news struck Lu Xingchen like a bolt from the blue.
Her heart was a whirlwind of emotions; on one hand, she felt happy for Ex-Wife's career advancement—after all, it was a dream destination for countless programmers. On the other hand, an indescribable sense of loss and reluctance washed over her.
The late nights spent working together, the shared aroma of coffee, and the budding romance—was it all going to end without a trace?
Fueled by alcohol, Lu Xingchen dialed Ex-Wife's number. "If you're really going to leave... then I wish you safe travels." She fought back tears, trying to keep her voice steady.
There was a moment of silence on the other end before Ex-Wife's deep voice came through. "What if I stay?"
Lu Xingchen was taken aback; she hadn't expected Ex-Wife to say that. She quickly responded, "If you stay... then I'll treat you to dinner!"
Her words carried a hint of panic but also a glimmer of hope.
Ex-Wife chuckled softly. "How about we remarry?"
The sudden proposal made Lu Xingchen's heart skip a beat.
She fell silent for a few seconds, memories flashing through her mind since they had met—the laughter, the touching moments, the warmth—all converging into a resolute answer: "Yes."
After their remarriage, life seemed to turn a new page.
When Lu Xingchen's parents learned the news, they were overjoyed, instantly transforming from relentless matchmakers into the best advocates for "love after marriage." They would tell everyone about their daughter's and son-in-law's romantic story, their words filled with pride and satisfaction.
Late at night, the city lights outside the floor-to-ceiling windows sparkled like a dreamlike starry sky.
Lu Xingchen and her ex-wife sat side by side in front of the computer, the soft glow of the screen illuminating their focused faces. At that moment, they were no longer just colleagues or spouses; they were like-minded partners.
Their fingers danced across the keyboard, the crisp and melodious sounds intertwining like a harmonious concerto.
Occasionally, Lu Xingchen would glance at her ex-wife, observing this man who once spoke little but now spoke freely before her. A smile of happiness unconsciously crept onto her lips.
They discussed the latest technological solutions together, from cutting-edge applications of artificial intelligence to deep data mining. Each topic sparked intense discussions between them.
Her ex-wife was quick-witted and always offered unique insights, while Lu Xingchen held her own with a solid professional foundation and keen market awareness, often presenting refreshing viewpoints.
In this clash of ideas, they inspired each other and grew together.
Sometimes, when faced with challenges, they would research together, staying up until dawn without feeling tired.
When they finally overcame a difficult problem, they exchanged smiles that shone brighter than the lights outside.
They understood that true love is not about romantic gestures but about supporting each other through shared struggles and companionship.
Every line of code was a testament to their love; every breakthrough encapsulated their hard work and dreams.
In a corner of this bustling city, they composed their own love song through code, hand in hand as they moved toward the future.
As time went by, Lu Xingchen and her ex-wife became increasingly adept in their careers.
The projects they collaborated on won numerous awards, allowing them to stand out in the industry. However, they did not let this success lead to arrogance; instead, they dedicated themselves even more to new challenges.
Their company received a highly challenging project that required the development of a brand-new intelligent software within a very short timeframe, capable of accurately meeting users' complex and changing needs.
The difficulty of this project was immense, involving the integration of various cutting-edge technologies while also requiring a precise understanding of market trends.
Many teams hesitated to take it on, but Lu Xingchen and her ex-wife accepted it without hesitation.
They led their team, working day and night in the office.
During the day, they organized brainstorming sessions, allowing every member to express their ideas freely and spark creativity; at night, they personally wrote code, striving for perfection in every detail.
Throughout this process, they encountered countless difficulties.
Technical challenges arose one after another, and team members experienced some friction due to the pressure.
Once, during a discussion about the core algorithm of the software, two senior programmers had a heated argument over differing opinions. Just as the situation was about to spiral out of control, Lu Xingchen and her ex-wife quickly stepped in to mediate.
With her solid technical background, her ex-wife analyzed the pros and cons of both proposals in an accessible manner and suggested a compromise solution that satisfied both parties.
Meanwhile, Lu Xingchen utilized her excellent communication skills to calm everyone’s emotions and reforge the team's unity.
During the critical phase of the project, her ex-wife fell ill due to consecutive late nights and exhaustion.
Lu Xingchen was frantic; she had to care for her ex-wife while also keeping up with the project timeline.
Every day she shuttled between the hospital and the office, looking worn out but never complaining. Her dedication deeply moved the team members, who voluntarily worked overtime to ensure the project's smooth progress.
Finally, through their collective efforts, the project was delivered on time and received high praise from the client.
The moment the software was launched, it created a sensation in the market and quickly carved out its place. Lu Xingchen and her Ex-Wife stood hand in hand at the company's celebration, receiving applause and blessings from their colleagues.
In that moment, their eyes were filled with pride and happiness. They knew that all the hardships and sweat they had endured along the way were worth it.
In life, they continued to adapt and grow together.
The Ex-Wife began to learn how to cook. Although she initially fumbled and often made dishes that were either too salty or too bland, Lu Xingchen always smiled and encouraged her. Gradually, her culinary skills improved significantly.
On weekends, they would visit the local market together, selecting fresh ingredients and savoring the essence of life.
After returning home, the Ex-Wife busied herself in the kitchen while Lu Xingchen helped out, occasionally sneaking a taste of the freshly cooked dishes. They would exchange smiles, warmth radiating between them.
They also enjoyed going to the movies together. In the dark theater, hand in hand, they immersed themselves in the cinematic world.
Sometimes, when touching scenes unfolded on screen, Lu Xingchen would lean on her Ex-Wife's shoulder and shed tears. The Ex-Wife would gently pat her back, offering comfort.
After watching a movie, they would stroll down the street together, sharing their feelings and discussing the life philosophies depicted in the film.
Days passed in this simple yet blissful manner. Lu Xingchen and her Ex-Wife wrote their future with love and perseverance.
They understood that the road ahead might still bring storms, but as long as they stood side by side, nothing could hinder their progress.
Their love story shone like an everlasting code of light, illuminating their unique brilliance in this complex world and inspiring everyone around them to pursue true love and strive bravely.
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