The following days were all spent in the small town.

The shops in town opened one by one. The two explored them, buying a pile of meaningless handicrafts.

After dark they returned to the hotel, living a life like hibernating cave dwellers.

This should have been the most comfortable Spring Festival Chen Qingwu had ever experienced—no need to visit relatives and friends or make New Year calls.

Even without being productive, there was no need to feel anxious.

Home had called, but after chatting for a couple of sentences, the other side hung up in anger.

However, the red envelope Chen Qingwu sent to Liao Shuman, she still accepted.

As for Meng Fuyuan, no matter how Meng Chengyong and Qilin alternated between soft and hard approaches, he deflected them effortlessly.

Out of sight, words had limited lethality. Once the call was hung up, there was no further impact.

Carefree days were always too brief.

On the seventh day, the two returned to East City.

On the eighth, Meng Fuyuan’s company resumed work, and Chen Qingwu’s studio would also end its Spring Festival break and resume operations.

In the morning, after Meng Fuyuan drove Chen Qingwu to her studio, he prepared to return to South City for a trip—first to have dinner with General Manager Lu of SE to maintain the relationship, second to fulfill his temple vow, and third to drive her pickup truck back to East City.

Meng Fuyuan planned to make it a same-day round trip if possible, but Chen Qingwu told him not to rush—staying an extra day was also fine.

Meng Fuyuan arrived in South City at two in the afternoon. He casually ate a simple meal himself, then headed to the Chen house first.

Before going, he sent Liao Shuman a message. Liao Shuman said she wouldn’t be home at that time and told him to just get the car himself.

Arriving at the Chen house, Meng Fuyuan knocked on the door and handed the housekeeper who answered some New Year gifts to pass along. Just as he was about to get the car, he suddenly heard footsteps from the living room.

Liao Shuman was fully dressed, holding a bag in her hand, seemingly about to go out.

Meng Fuyuan immediately greeted her.

Liao Shuman nodded, “Just arrived?”

“Yes. Preparing to take Qingwu’s car to the suburbs.”

“To pay New Year respects to your grandparents?”

Meng Fuyuan nodded.

“How has Qingwu been lately?”

“She’s very happy. Auntie, you can rest assured, I’ll take good care of her.”

“She’s not really a child who needs much worrying about.” Liao Shuman said indifferently, “Just still young—when her temper flares up, she thinks she’s fighting against the whole world.”

“I actually think having this kind of pure solitary courage is quite rare.”

“So you’re going along with her in this nonsense?” Liao Shuman glanced at him, “I never saw you as such an unstable child before.”

“I apologize. I know the two families will have difficulty maintaining contact in the future, but for me, Qingwu is still more important.”

“Let’s hope you can still remember this original intention ten, twenty years from now.”

“I will.”

Liao Shuman was somewhat dazed. Meng Fuyuan’s tone didn’t carry the solemnity of swearing to heaven—it was as plain as stating an irrefutable fundamental theorem, but for that very reason it seemed more credible.

Liao Shuman said nothing more. She adjusted her cashmere shawl, preparing to go out. Before leaving, she said indifferently: “Make sure she eats properly. Once she gets busy, she forgets to eat. Also, make her quit those damn cigarettes. Her health foundation is already poor—at this rate, she’ll be riddled with cancer while still young.”

Meng Fuyuan was somewhat stunned, then nodded.

Taking the car, he drove to his grandparents’ residence.

The two elderly lived in the suburbs.

They didn’t like the city’s hustle and bustle. After retirement, they rented a bungalow with a yard and farmland in the suburbs. During the day they tended the vegetable garden, at night one read while the other listened to opera. Because they didn’t need to worry about much, their health was still robust.

Today the sun was out, and both elders were sunbathing in the yard.

Grandma Meng’s phone had an audiobook app that Meng Qiran had downloaded for her. He’d also taught her how to connect to the Bluetooth speaker. Right now the speaker was playing “The Jade Hairpin.”

Grandpa Meng held a traditional thread-bound book with vertical text, wearing reading glasses as he read character by character.

The car stopped by the roadside. Meng Fuyuan walked into the yard and said with a smile: “Reading in the sun hurts your eyes.”

The two elders immediately looked up, delighted: “Fuyuan!”

Meng Fuyuan presented the gifts. Grandpa Meng moved a chair for him, having him sit in the yard too. He said he’d just sit briefly before leaving, but that couldn’t stop Grandma from bringing out snacks, fruit, and brewing tea.

After bustling about for a while, Grandma Meng was finally persuaded by Meng Fuyuan to sit down.

The topic naturally couldn’t avoid the matter of Meng Fuyuan and Chen Qingwu this time.

Grandpa Meng said: “During New Year, relatives and friends didn’t see you. Your father fooled them, saying you’d gone abroad for business inspection.”

“So currently only the family knows?”

“Given their personalities, how could they possibly take the initiative to spread it around.”

Meng Fuyuan observed the two elders, “You’re not opposed?”

“We’re people who are going to die anyway—can’t manage that much.”

Meng Fuyuan said with a smile: “Please don’t say such inauspicious things. You’ll definitely live to a hundred.”

Grandma Meng took an orange, preparing to peel it for Meng Fuyuan. Meng Fuyuan took it and peeled it himself.

“Fuyuan…” Grandma Meng looked at Meng Fuyuan with a somewhat hesitant meaning, “The things about your father when he was young, you actually… know all about them, don’t you?”

“Mm.” Meng Fuyuan’s tone was exceptionally calm.

“We’re not without regret.” Grandma sighed, “If we’d known back then, we should have just let your father be with that girl. Wouldn’t have led to all these subsequent matters.”

Meng Fuyuan didn’t speak.

“Your father’s personality—his whole life he only knows how to go with the flow. The tragedy of his youth, he won’t be satisfied until it’s re-enacted on his children.”

“I am me, he is him.” Meng Fuyuan said evenly.

“What are your plans going forward?” Grandpa Meng asked.

“Live our own lives well. Whether the elders accept it or not has no impact on us.”

“Won’t come back to South City anymore?”

“Of course I’ll still often come back to see you both.”

Grandma Meng smiled, “Next time, secretly bring Qingwu back. Grandma will give her a red envelope.”

Meng Fuyuan smiled and said okay.

Grandpa Meng asked again: “What’s the Chen family’s attitude?”

“Uncle Chen opposes it. Aunt Liao is relatively okay.”

“Your Uncle Chen is actually still a bit patriarchal in his bones. But I don’t think he necessarily looks down on you—it’s just that for the moment he can’t get past his pride. With your qualifications, you’re more than good enough for their family.”

“Please don’t say that, Grandpa.” Meng Fuyuan gently expressed disagreement. He knew the old man didn’t mean any harm, “Qingwu is very good. I should say she’s more than good enough for me.”

Grandpa Meng said with a smile: “Already so protective.”

Chen Suiliang’s patriarchal attitude had never been openly stated, but it was something everyone tacitly understood. Liao Shuman stubbornly refused to have a second child, saying taking care of one sickly child had already annoyed her to death—having another one would be worse than killing her. During those years the couple constantly fought, and whenever they fought, Chen Suiliang would say Chen Qingwu was born to collect debts.

Those words were never said in front of Chen Qingwu, but she was originally more sensitive than other children. How could she not sense her father’s undisguised irritation?

Meng Fuyuan often marveled that Qingwu was far more resilient than him. Even in such an environment, she could discover and persist in being herself, not trying to please her parents or desperately seeking approval. From this perspective, she was actually a child who had lost her home early on. That’s why she said studying abroad always carried an urgent sense of insecurity.

He never found Chen Qingwu’s past affection for Meng Qiran difficult to understand. People born free always have a bit more radiance than others, and those who are constrained naturally yearn for that light—nothing could be more natural.

“During this New Year period, are the two families still interacting?” Meng Fuyuan asked.

“Naturally not anymore. I think it’ll be difficult going forward too, unless everyone comes around and accepts you both. When you become in-laws, surface courtesies still can’t be neglected.”

Meng Fuyuan said nothing.

When he was young watching TV dramas, he really disliked harmonious happy reunion endings, feeling they were another form of invisible bullying by perpetrators toward victims.

Who decreed that happy reunions were the standard ending?

He and Chen Qingwu would absolutely not compromise themselves to reconcile just to cater to conventional reunion standards.

Even blood relations depend on fate. Some things should take their natural course.

Meng Fuyuan originally wanted to leave after staying briefly, but couldn’t bear to disappoint the two elders’ feelings, so he stayed for dinner and rescheduled his meeting with General Manager Lu to tomorrow at noon.

After dinner ended, Meng Fuyuan returned to the city and booked a room at a hotel.

After entering and showering and changing clothes, he video called Chen Qingwu.

She seemed to have just emerged from being busy, still wearing an apron stained with clay.

“Have you eaten dinner?” Meng Fuyuan asked.

“Not yet… preparing to order takeout.”

“Order it now.”

“Wait a moment…”

“It’ll take at least half an hour to deliver. Order it now.”

Chen Qingwu smiled, “Okay.”

The screen switched out to show her avatar, but her voice continued, “You’re not coming back today?”

“Haven’t finished everything yet. I’ll come back tomorrow afternoon.”

“I see.”

“Who was it who said staying an extra day would be fine?” Meng Fuyuan asked with a smile.

“I said that. But not seeing you all day, I still feel a bit unaccustomed.”

Before, they had hardly ever voice chatted. Even when making phone calls, it was purely for informational notifications.

Chatting idly like this, he couldn’t help paying attention to her voice quality—slightly different from when face to face, but not obviously so.

A moment later, Chen Qingwu reappeared on screen, “I’ve ordered.”

“What did you order?”

“Chicken cutlet rice. Nothing I particularly wanted. It’s all your fault too—your cooking is so good, now who can go from luxury to frugality?”

Meng Fuyuan chuckled softly.

“You’re staying at a hotel?” Chen Qingwu seemed to be examining his surroundings.

“Mm. Only went to see Grandpa and Grandma.”

“Are they well?”

“They’re well. Said next time I should secretly bring you over.”

Chen Qingwu smiled: “Then won’t Uncle and Auntie be angry again?”

“Don’t worry about them.”

It seemed that just chatting idly, time unknowingly passed.

He was someone who valued efficiency highly. Apart from occasionally going to Sister An’s place for tea, he rarely chatted with people about topics with extremely low information content.

But as long as it was Chen Qingwu, even hearing her talk about just ordering new shampoo, he found it interesting, his heart at peace.

The delivery person’s voice came from that end. Chen Qingwu responded, saying: “I’ll hang up first…”

“It’s okay. Just put the phone aside while you eat.”

“You want to watch me eat?”

“I’ll handle some work, it’s just right as background sound.”

Chen Qingwu laughed and said okay, taking her phone as she ran to the door to get the takeout.

After the screen shook for a bit, it seemed to be propped up on the coffee table.

Chen Qingwu sat down on the sofa opposite and unwrapped the takeout bag.

Meng Fuyuan also got his tablet computer, opening the OA backend while glancing at his phone, “Is it good?”

“So-so. Edible is enough.”

Meng Fuyuan just “accompanied” Chen Qingwu like this, making sure she finished her meal properly.

“I might need to keep working for a bit. I’ll video call you again when I’m done, okay?” Chen Qingwu said while tidying up the takeout boxes.

“Okay. When you’re about to finish, call the driver and have him take you to the apartment.”

Chen Qingwu nodded and said okay.

Having just resumed work, the tasks were all trivial matters, yet extremely time-consuming.

When finished, it was already past eleven.

Without Meng Fuyuan there, Chen Qingwu was too lazy to go to his apartment, so she didn’t call the driver and prepared to just sleep at her studio.

After wrapping things up, she went to take a hot shower. Walking to the door to lock it, she saw two beams of car headlights ahead.

She squinted and recognized it as Meng Fuyuan’s car.

Probably he had instructed the driver to come pick her up.

The car stopped at the entrance.

The rear door was pushed open.

Chen Qingwu was stunned.

The person who got out was actually Meng Fuyuan.

He had changed his inner layer, but the coat was still the black one from when he left this morning.

The door closed lightly. Meng Fuyuan walked over. The few steps up the stairs seemed to carry a gust of wind.

When Chen Qingwu was suddenly embraced, she was still somewhat dazed, “How did you…”

“Still wanted to see you.” Meng Fuyuan lowered his head, deeply inhaling her scent.

“But didn’t you say things weren’t finished…”

“I’ll go again tomorrow morning.”

Good thing South City was close.

“You’re crazy.” Chen Qingwu laughed, reaching out to hug him back.

“Possibly.”

After embracing for a moment, Chen Qingwu discussed with Meng Fuyuan where to go, “Want to go to your place? Just that it’s so late now, going there is a bit far. If you don’t mind, you can also make do here at my place.”

“Is it convenient for you?”

“So formal.” Chen Qingwu laughed and lightly kicked the tip of his shoe.

The two entered. Chen Qingwu locked the main door.

There was water in the kettle that hadn’t been boiled long ago. Chen Qingwu poured him a glass.

He took the glass, set it on the coffee table, grabbed her wrist and pulled her back, making her sit on his lap.

Without hesitation, his palm pressed on the side of her neck as he looked up to kiss her.

Having rushed over late at night, he still carried a thin layer of cold.

Perhaps the past week of being inseparable made even one day of separation feel unbearable.

After the lengthy kiss ended, Chen Qingwu leaned down on his shoulder, “Want some late-night snack?”

“No need.”

“Then go shower? You have to get up early tomorrow.”

“Already showered at the hotel.”

Chen Qingwu went to find toiletries for him.

Zhao Yingfei often stayed over, so she kept disposable towels and toothbrushes here.

Meng Fuyuan was stepping into her living space for the second time.

The bedding had been changed—this time it was cream white solid color.

After Meng Fuyuan finished washing up and came out, not seeing Chen Qingwu, he was about to go look when Chen Qingwu came around the wall, holding a water glass and phone charger in her hands.

Chen Qingwu set down the glass and plugged the charger into the outlet by the bedside table on this side.

There was a magazine on the bed. Meng Fuyuan sat on the edge and casually flipped through it.

Chen Qingwu straightened up and glanced at him, “Need anything else? I don’t have pajamas that would fit you.”

“No need.”

Meng Fuyuan suddenly remembered something. He closed the magazine and set it on the bedside table.

Getting up, he went to retrieve the coat he’d hung on the coat rack when entering, took out a red envelope from it, and handed it to Chen Qingwu.

“From Grandpa and Grandma.”

“So much…” Chen Qingwu weighed it and said with a smile, “Seems like more than previous years.”

“Different significance.”

Chen Qingwu temporarily placed the red envelope on the bedside table, saying: “Rest early?”

Meng Fuyuan made an “mm” sound, but instead took Chen Qingwu’s wrist, sat back on the bed edge, made her sit on his lap, his palm pressing on her back, drawing her into his embrace.

The memory from last time was vivid.

Back then, right here, in almost the same position.

“Qingwu…” His voice calling her was inexplicably softer.

Chen Qingwu knew what he was thinking and lowered her head without speaking.

The two gazed at each other in the dim pale yellow light. Chen Qingwu closed her eyes and took the initiative to kiss him.

Everything was quiet and lengthy.

A moment later, Chen Qingwu’s palm pressed on Meng Fuyuan’s shoulder and pushed backward. His body leaned back, while Chen Qingwu knelt on the bed edge and bent down again to kiss.

Her long hair hung down, blocking the light.

Between breaths, all was the scent of her hair, like the faint fragrance of flowers after rain.

Before it intensified further, Meng Fuyuan stopped the kiss. She didn’t have protection here.

Chen Qingwu also wisely stopped at this point, because continuing would be torture for both of them.

Meng Fuyuan made do sleeping in his shirt.

After the lights went off, the suburban night seemed even more silent—in the complete darkness there was almost a forbidding quality.

“Aren’t you afraid alone at night?”

“It’s okay. After watching many horror movies with Zhao Yingfei, I’ve become somewhat desensitized.”

“So that’s how you trained your courage.”

“…What are you implying?”

“Nothing.” Meng Fuyuan chuckled softly.

This was probably the first time after getting together that they simply shared a bed.

A fresh experience.

She pillowed on his arm, inhaling the scent of bathing products on him, playing the boring game of guessing which hotel he’d stayed at.

In the apartment with ample heating she hadn’t noticed, but his body temperature was actually so much higher than hers. Held in his arms, she didn’t feel at all how cold the air outside the blanket was.

The plan to sleep early was clearly about to fail.

Chen Qingwu said: “Sleep? You have to get up so early tomorrow.”

Meng Fuyuan nodded, lowering his head in the darkness to find her lips.

As this kiss ended, Meng Fuyuan spoke in a low voice: “Qingwu.”

“Mm?”

“It’s too cold here. Move in and live with me.”

Chen Qingwu’s lips curved up in the darkness, but she said: “Not going.”

“Why?”

“Too far.”

“I’ll handle pick-up and drop-off.”

“Still too far. Would lose so much sleep every day.”

“Then there’s no choice.” Meng Fuyuan thought briefly, “When I get back, let’s go look at apartments.”

“…Huh?”

“You pick a location you can accept.”

“…Only people getting married buy apartments together.”

Meng Fuyuan was silent for several seconds, “Then let’s get married.”

The air fell silent.

Meng Fuyuan immediately said: “Just kidding. Did I scare you?”

“So it was a joke. I got my hopes up for a moment.”

However, Meng Fuyuan was slightly surprised, “…We just got together.”

“But we’ve known each other for twenty-six years.”

Meng Fuyuan didn’t know whether he should ask if she was serious.

Chen Qingwu suddenly said: “Did you transfer your household registration to East City?”

“Mm.”

“I went to apply for an American visa last time.”

The topic jumped without context. Meng Fuyuan processed it, “And then?”

“Visa applications need the household registration booklet, you know.”

“…Mm.”

“My family’s household registration booklet is still with me.”

Another silence.

“Qingwu, if you say things like this, I’m going to take it seriously.”

“Why can’t you take it seriously?”

“I hope you’re not acting on a momentary impulse. Not that I’m unwilling—please believe I’ve been prepared from the start, but…”

“From the moment I made my choice, I never intended to just casually date you and then end it. I won’t casually let down someone who’s liked me for six years.” Chen Qingwu paused, “However, a flash marriage really is a bit too much. We can take our time to consider it.”

Meng Fuyuan’s arm tightened around her, “…Sorry.”

“Hm?” Chen Qingwu didn’t quite understand what he was apologizing for.

“I still underestimated your resolve.”

“You’re not underestimating me, you often underestimate yourself.”

Chen Qingwu laughed, then said: “You seem a bit insecure.”

Meng Fuyuan didn’t speak.

“Looks like we really should have a flash marriage after all.” Chen Qingwu said seriously, “Besides, isn’t flash marriage standard for domineering CEOs?”

“…Serious?”

“…Joking.”

“Too late. Tomorrow you’re going to the Civil Affairs Bureau with me.”

“Now you need to make an appointment. Can’t get married on the spot, you didn’t know?”

“Turns out you’re so familiar with the marriage registration process?”

Such a sour tone.

Chen Qingwu laughed, “Then how about this—I’ll give you a title verbally first, okay? Husb—”

Meng Fuyuan predicted what she was about to call him and covered her mouth ahead of time.

His voice by her ear was very low, “Do you truly want to sleep early?”

Chen Qingwu blinked and nodded.

“Then don’t call me random things.”