The photo turned out very nicely, and both of them were photogenic. Even the lady working there kept praising how good-looking they were.

Xu Zhinan bent down and took the cigarette from his mouth: “Why have you started smoking again?”

“It’s not even lit, I’m just enjoying the smell,” Lin Qingye smiled, his eyes still fixed on the little red booklet.

Xu Zhinan took the cigarette pack from his pocket and put the cigarette back in: “Didn’t you already kick the habit? Don’t smoke anymore in the future.”

“Yes, I did kick the habit, but I finally married the goddess I’ve liked for ten years, so I need a cigarette to calm down.”

“…”

Xu Zhinan was almost distracted by his words again: “Right, my mom just called. I forgot to tell her about getting our marriage certificate. Let’s go visit her in a bit.”

Only then did Lin Qingye’s gaze move away from the photo.

He was squatting on the steps and slowly raised his head to look at her.

Lin Qingye had rarely slipped up like this—focused only on quickly getting Xu Zhinan to register their marriage, he had forgotten about these social obligations.

They looked at each other for a moment.

Xu Zhinan asked: “Did you tell your father?”

His Adam’s apple moved up and down: “No.”

“…” Xu Zhinan felt they had been far too reckless in getting their marriage certificate. “So where should we go first?”

“Let’s go to your mother’s place first.”

For something like getting married, not telling her mother in advance was indeed inappropriate.

The two got into the car.

Many people around them were taking photos. Just as Xu Zhinan was about to roll up the window, she suddenly caught sight of a not-so-familiar figure across the street—Fu Xueming.

It had been a long time since Xu Zhinan had seen her.

The last time was when they went to visit Shi Heng together.

Her fingers paused, and she glanced at Lin Qingye. He had seen Fu Xueming too, but quickly looked away.

Xu Zhinan rolled up the window and asked: “Do we need to go say hello?”

“Hmm?”

Xu Zhinan looked at him without speaking.

Lin Qingye curled his lips, indifferently: “Didn’t you tell me not to see her again before?”

“No, I was just too angry then. This depends on you.”

Fu Xueming was standing beside an older woman, who seemed to be an elder from the Fu family. Seeing the crowd of people over here, the elder woman pointed, and Fu Xueming looked over.

The windows were treated so that people outside couldn’t see in.

But Xu Zhinan wasn’t sure if Fu Xueming would recognize Lin Qingye’s car, though judging by how she had treated Lin Qingye before, maybe she wouldn’t.

Lin Qingye: “Forget it, not seeing her is fine too. I’m already content enough with life as it is now.”

People shouldn’t be too greedy.

Nor should they insist on obtaining love from someone who hasn’t liked them since childhood.

He drove out of that crowded road, speeding towards Mother Xu’s home.

“You’re here.”

By the time they arrived, Mother Xu was already waiting at the door, chatting with a neighbor, who teased: “You’re truly fortunate, with such a good daughter and son-in-law.”

Mother Xu smiled and invited them in.

They had bought some fruit on the way, and Lin Qingye handed it over, habitually calling her “Auntie.”

Mother Xu smiled, pretending to be angry: “After all this, you didn’t even tell me, stole my Ah Nan away, and now you’re still calling me Auntie?”

Lin Qingye was taken aback, then smiled and called her: “Mom.”

It had been too long since he’d used this term. It seemed that since Shi Heng’s death, he had never called Fu Xueming “Mom” to her face. Now this sudden change felt very unfamiliar to him.

Even Xu Zhinan found it strange to hear, and she glanced at Lin Qingye.

But his face didn’t show any discomfort.

“Yes,” Mother Xu responded cheerfully. “So I didn’t lose out after all, got a son for free.”

They arrived just in time for lunch, and the three of them sat down.

After all, he hadn’t told Mother Xu before persuading Xu Zhinan to get their marriage certificate, so at the dining table, he seriously explained his future plans to Mother Xu, as well as the subsequent wedding.

Mother Xu had never cared much about formalities, and she knew that her daughter was actually quite stubborn and would never marry anyone except Lin Qingye. Getting their marriage certificate was just a matter of time, as long as they could live happily together in the future.

“Just plan the wedding however you want. After all, your identity is special now, and if you have a big ceremony, I worry people might gossip,” Mother Xu said.

Lin Qingye curled his lips: “That doesn’t matter. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime wedding, and we can do whatever Ah Nan prefers.”

After the meal, Lin Qingye went to the kitchen with Mother Xu to wash dishes, and they wouldn’t let Xu Zhinan join them, discussing something she couldn’t hear.

With nothing to do, Xu Zhinan sat on the sofa and took out her phone.

After many friends had sent congratulations for the successful proposal last night, they were now sending congratulations for the new marriage.

After replying to everyone, she opened Weibo. The news about their marriage registration was already the number one trending topic.

Thanks to Lin Qingye, she now frequently trended on social media too.

The popular posts included photos taken by passersby, videos recorded by fans, and even the segment where they came out after getting their certificates, with Lin Qingye squatting on the steps, smiling at the little red booklet.

Hahahahaha married Lin Qingye is so adorably silly!!!!

Damn, I’m here swooning over a handsome guy on screen, while that handsome guy is swooning over his marriage certificate. What kind of life winner is Xu Zhinan!!!!

These two are really lightning fast.

Lin Qingye is truly the world’s best man! Announcing his relationship at his peak, married at 27, he must be the number one trending celebrity in entertainment now!!

Awww Lin Qingye really looks so happy today!

I really want to see the photo in the marriage certificate!!! When will brother post it!!!!

…

Lin Qingye really didn’t have time to post on Weibo right away. The consequence of their impulsive marriage registration was that after finishing lunch at Mother Xu’s place, they rushed to Lin Guancheng’s home without a break.

Lin Guancheng already knew about this and had called Lin Qingye.

This was Xu Zhinan’s first visit to the Lin family home, and Lin Qingye also hadn’t returned for a long time.

The car drove into a tree-lined avenue, and soon a villa appeared in front of them. The iron gate opened, revealing a clean and tidy garden around it.

Xu Zhinan swallowed nervously and reached for Lin Qingye’s hand: “I can’t do this, I’m a bit nervous.”

“What are you nervous about?”

“This is my first time coming to your home.”

“I’m the one who tricked you into this. Why are you nervous? If anyone should be nervous, it should be my dad wondering if you’ll be satisfied.”

Lin Guancheng was indeed a bit nervous. He had only learned about his son’s marriage when someone congratulated him after seeing the news online.

He didn’t think Lin Qingye had genuinely forgotten; he just thought that because their father-son relationship had been strained before, telling him later was understandable.

This meeting was considered a formal introduction, and Lin Guancheng was even more nervous than Xu Zhinan. He had the servants prepare dinner early.

When Lin Qingye and Xu Zhinan arrived, Lin Guancheng had just returned from the company. He hadn’t even removed his suit, coming in right after washing up.

Throughout the visit, Lin Guancheng could be described as amiable, not looking at all like the tough Chairman of Minsheng Group.

“If you need anything for the wedding, just let me know,” Lin Guancheng said. “Qingye follows his ways and doesn’t understand the customs of marriage.”

Hearing the word “customs,” Xu Zhinan recalled how he had tricked her the night before, saying that it was a custom to register for marriage immediately after a proposal.

Xu Zhinan glanced at Lin Qingye, who was lazily sitting in a chair, showing no signs of repentance.

Lin Guancheng continued: “The betrothal gifts should be provided properly. We can’t shortchange the girl. I’ll prepare everything for this later, and I should also meet Ah Nan’s mother. Everything that should be done will be done.”

Lin Guancheng, following Lin Qingye in calling her “Ah Nan,” immediately narrowed the distance between them.

But it was obvious that the betrothal gifts prepared by Lin Guancheng would be a jaw-dropping amount.

“There’s no need for such trouble,” Xu Zhinan paused, almost saying “Uncle” but caught herself, lowering her voice, “Dad… we’ve already gotten our marriage certificate anyway.”

She had always been used to calling “Baba” (with repeated syllables) rather than the single-syllable “Ba.”

Her voice was soft, and now, because of her nervousness and shyness, she spoke somewhat cautiously.

It really gave the impression of a sweet, considerate daughter.

Lin Qingye wasn’t being respectful, supporting his head with one hand and chuckling.

They knew each other too well, and Xu Zhinan immediately knew what he was laughing at, promptly hitting him on the arm.

There was a crisp “pa” sound. After hitting him, she realized that his father was right there, and quickly tried to withdraw her hand, but Lin Qingye caught it.

Lin Qingye held her hand, as if presenting evidence: “Dad, did you see that?”

Xu Zhinan: “…”

This guy… he’s tattling!

How old is he!!

Lin Guancheng was also taken aback by this. He had never seen such childish tattling from Lin Qingye before.

Although in families with two children, tattling on each other is probably very common, Lin Qingye had never done this before. Today was the first time.

It was just a simple sentence, only four words, but Lin Guancheng’s eyelids suddenly felt heavy, and he almost shed tears in front of the young couple.

He rubbed his face forcefully and joked: “A little girl doesn’t have much strength, yet you dare to tattle.”

After staying at the Lin family’s main residence for a while, they left.

Getting back in the car, they drove back to Lijia Tower.

As the elevator doors opened, the place where she and Lin Qingye had been living for more than half a year appeared before her eyes again. It wasn’t spotlessly clean, but it had the warmth of everyday life.

Too many things had happened today—from going to the civil affairs bureau in the morning, to visiting Mother Xu at noon, then meeting Lin’s father in the evening. Only now did her nerves finally relax.

Looking at the apartment, that was no different from yesterday evening or this morning.

Xu Zhinan sighed with relief: “Looking at it this way, it seems like after getting our marriage certificate, nothing is different from before, except for that little red booklet.”

“What difference did you expect?”

Xu Zhinan shook her head: “This is just fine as it is.”

Lin Qingye chuckled: “Ah Nan, I never thought I would get married one day. I don’t know what life after marriage should be like, but as long as it’s with you, even if it’s like when we lived in a rental apartment before, I feel I could never get tired of it.”

Xu Zhinan’s eyes curved in a smile: “Me too.”

“So—” he drawled, “for our wedding night, how do you want to spend it?”

His question was mischievous, but Xu Zhinan thought for a moment and said quite seriously: “Then sing a song just for me.”

He raised an eyebrow: “Now?”

“Mm.”

He agreed quickly: “Alright.”

There was a special room at home for musical instruments, with a simple arc-shaped stage set up.

Lin Qingye sat at the drum set, raising and lowering his wrist, warming up with a string of rhythms: “What do you want to hear?”

“‘Whispers.'”

Lin Qingye knew the score of these songs by heart. Xu Zhinan sat in front of the circular stage, watching him play the drums and sing.

His voice was tender and lingering.

She had heard this song countless times, but still felt deeply moved each time.

Whenever Lin Qingye sang, he radiated brilliance, even if today his audience was only Xu Zhinan.

After the last note, Xu Zhinan applauded enthusiastically.

Lin Qingye beckoned to her: “Come here.”

She walked to his drum set. Lin Qingye remained seated while she stood, creating a looking-up and looking-down posture. Lin Qingye smiled and said: “Happy wedding day, Nan Nan.”

She smiled too: “Happy wedding day, Brother Qingye.”

“For our wedding night, you wanted to hear me sing, and now I’ve finished. Isn’t it my turn now?”

“What do you want?”

Lin Qingye leaned back against the chair, his gaze slowly moving down from her face. Even sitting, he still maintained a look of superiority. With his chin slightly raised, he extended his hand, holding a drumstick between his fingers.

The long, cool drumstick slowly lifted her skirt, and he laughed softly: “What do you think I want?”