Ivan Sun and Jasmine Xu never expected that when they shared their proposal online, it would go viral on social media.

It was an intimate moment on March 6 – the pair seated comfortably on the couch in their home in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province – preparing to watch a cartoon, Jasmine's favorite genre of film.

Jasmine's engagement ring sparkles as we chat over a video call while she and Ivan giggle and smile together in matching black T-shirts. 

"Ivan designed the ring himself. It's a white gold ring with an emerald stone," she gushed, showing off her ring on the screen.

For the couple, love didn't arrive with drama or grand gestures. It arrived quietly, confidently, almost matter-of-factly and stayed. 

"Our story is simple," Jasmine said. "It was love at first sight and, naturally, we started dating."

"We've been together for about three years now," Ivan added.

Both 29, the pair met at work as engineers in the automotive industry and quickly discovered that their lives moved in sync. Their three-year partnership quickly became built on shared routines, coffee dates, travel and a love for creating and sharing video content.

The couple is no stranger to sharing parts of their lives online. They often post everyday moments. Recording small slices of daily life, their content was rooted in routine rather than performance. But this time, the response was overwhelming.  

"Usually we share OOTD (outfit of the day) videos," said Jasmine. "We are used to coordinating our outfits daily and we would usually record daily in our car, on our way out, so we put it on social media to share."

Their parents met during the Spring Festival last year, and right after, Jasmine and Ivan moved in together, already certain of their future. Marriage, they explain, was never a formal conversation, it was simply understood. 

This set the stage for a proposal that would unexpectedly capture the attention of many.

Knowing Jasmine's love for cartoons and storytelling, Ivan decided to create something deeply personal: an AI-generated animated video that reflected their life together. 

"AI video has developed quickly and is really powerful, so I thought, why don't I create a cartoon myself to describe our lives?" explained Ivan.

Working secretly in spare moments over the course of a week, between work and gym, he transformed everyday memories into a narrative of love and the times they'd spent together. 

Jasmine didn't suspect anything. Not until she watched the video. 

She realized what was happening almost immediately. As soon as the animated character appeared – an adult woman engineer in the workplace – she recognized herself, even commenting on the similar profile the lady in the cartoon has to her. That's when she sensed what was coming. 

Still, she said nothing. She watched, pretended and let the story unfold, moved by what she saw and careful not to give away the surprise. 

The video, posted simply as a record of a meaningful moment, quickly went viral, being shared by numerous accounts, and far beyond anything they had imagined. They had no expectations of fame or reach, their goal was never attention, only memory. 

"We just wanted to record this moment, but we're really, really thankful for everyone's likes. I didn't imagine that there would be so many people to see this video," said Jasmine.

Their families, unaware of the proposal beforehand, were deeply moved when they finally watched the video. And while social media amplified the moment, the next chapter remains grounded in tradition time with loved ones.

For now, their wedding plans are full steam ahead. The couple has already booked their wedding venue in Shenyang and plan to marry during China's National Day holiday in October, choosing the timing so friends and family can celebrate together. 

"We're planning two weddings. One is the traditional Chinese style, with the red color and traditional Chinese procedures, and we plan to have a Western-style one with our friends. We want it more casual and relaxed, more like a party," said Jasmine.

Technology continues to play a meaningful role in their lives, not just in romance but in work and creativity. Both see AI as a tool to embrace thoughtfully, whether for translation, travel planning, editing photos or creating stories. 

"We must embrace the transformation of the new era of AI and integrate it into our lives. AI can do almost everything and we need to use it in the right way," said Ivan.

As they look ahead to marriage, future travel and eventually children, they remain united by the same quiet confidence that brought them together in the first place.

In an era of algorithms and prompts, Jasmine and Ivan's love story stands out not because it is extraordinary, but as an honest and modern romance rooted in simplicity, the courage to create something meaningful together and the magic of modern technology.

Take a look at the full proposal video here: