On the day they went to the Civil Affairs Bureau to register their marriage, Pingcheng had already entered winter. Chen Yi drove over early in the morning, took a number, and sat in the waiting area of the hall, from time to time lifting his head to glance at the entrance.

The main door faced directly onto the bustling street, with a clear view of people coming and going.

It was a weekday, and not any particularly auspicious holiday either, so there weren’t many people in the office hall. When Ruan Mian entered, her travel-worn appearance combined with her slightly stern expression made her look more like she was coming to pick a fight than to register a marriage.

The three couples sitting near the door simultaneously lifted their heads to look at her, their gazes gossipy and curious, afraid of missing any good drama.

Ruan Mian didn’t pay attention to them. Her gaze locked onto one direction and she walked straight over. Before she had fully approached, the person sitting there raised his head first.

Not long after Chen Yi proposed last summer, Ruan Mian’s work had become busy, especially these past six months. If it weren’t for registering their marriage this time, the two of them probably wouldn’t have had time to meet until around Chinese New Year.

Chen Yi stood up and pulled out several things resembling receipts from his pocket, stuffing them into her palm. “If you didn’t come soon, the staff issuing numbers were going to think I’d been left at the altar.”

Ruan Mian suppressed her laughter as she straightened out those five number tickets, found the one with the earliest time, and said in surprise, “Why did you come so early? The Civil Affairs Bureau isn’t going to run away. Plus I told you last night that I couldn’t get here too early today.”

“Oh.” Chen Yi looked at her with complete seriousness. “I forgot.”

Ruan Mian: “…”

The process for registering the marriage wasn’t complicated. The materials were all ready, and the marriage introduction letter had been approved early on. Ruan Mian and Chen Yi sat by the counter, their eyes fixed intently on the staff member holding two red booklets and stamping them. The subtle movements in their expressions were identical.

Accompanied by two “thump thump” sounds, the staff member handed each of them their stamped marriage certificates and offered blessings with a smile. “Alright, wishing you eternal harmony and growing old together.”

Ruan Mian and Chen Yi simultaneously reached out to receive their marriage certificates, also smiling as they replied, “Thank you.”

After leaving the Civil Affairs Bureau, Ruan Mian still had to catch a later flight back to City B. Chen Yi said nothing and drove her to the airport.

Before parting, he still gave his fatherly reminder: “Call me when you get there.”

Ruan Mian guessed he was probably a bit dissatisfied with her coming and going in such a rush, but with work piling up, she had no choice. She could only lean over and coax him with soft words. “Don’t be angry, okay?”

Chen Yi let Ruan Mian hold his arm and act coquettish for a while. After quite some time, he finally raised his hand to rub her head, his tone carrying obvious indulgence. “Alright, I’m not angry. Hurry inside. Make sure to rest when you’re there.”

“Okay.” Ruan Mian let go and made to leave, then took advantage of Chen Yi’s inattention to lean over and kiss his cheek. Her words were full of joyful laughter. “Happy wedding day, Mr. Chen.”

By the time Chen Yi came to his senses, she had already run far away. He raised his hand to touch his cheek. After a few seconds, he lowered his eyes and laughed.

—Little hooligan.

Ruan Mian arrived in City B in the evening. When she called Chen Yi, it prompted that his phone was already off. She reported her safe arrival on WeChat and hurried back to the hospital.

Fortunately, there were no major incidents that evening. After completing routine work, Ruan Mian left right on time. When she checked her phone, there was still no message from Chen Yi.

She found it strange but didn’t think too much of it and drove home.

Ruan Mian and Chen Yi still lived in the original apartment complex, but they had moved from upstairs to downstairs. The two-bedroom apartment they now lived in was a new marital home Chen Yi had bought last autumn.

Neither of them planned to use their parents’ money. They only paid a thirty percent down payment on the house, with the remainder on a mortgage they repaid together each month.

The house came already renovated. Chen Yi tried his best to replicate the layout of the upstairs apartment. The small modifications and renovations also took quite a bit of time. It wasn’t until this summer that he and Ruan Mian moved in.

Moving day was a bright sunny day. By evening, the air still held considerable stuffy summer heat. The setting sun filled the entire house.

Ruan Mian sat on the floor folding hers and Chen Yi’s clothes. Chen Yi carried two cardboard boxes, organizing her books and thesis materials. With the heat, they had the air conditioning on. Cold air rushed out in bursts. The two were each busy with their own tasks, occasionally asking if something was needed or where something should go.

Having lived here for so long, Chen Yi had gradually moved over quite a few things. Just folding his clothes alone took Ruan Mian considerable effort.

The living room gradually went from one cardboard box to over a dozen. The space became increasingly cramped. Even turning around was somewhat difficult. Chen Yi finished tidying the odds and ends and had just stood up when Ruan Mian also came out of the bedroom holding the last stack of clothes. The two squeezed in the middle of the only passageway, each trying to let the other pass. In the end, they were both stuck there with neither able to move.

Chen Yi laughed and reached out to take the clothes from her arms, asking, “Where does this go?”

“In the cardboard box behind you.” After Ruan Mian finished speaking, she went to check if there was anything they’d missed. Her figure passed in front of Chen Yi from time to time.

She always couldn’t remember what had been packed and what hadn’t, asking again and again. Chen Yi also answered tirelessly.

After six o’clock, the sun still hadn’t completely set. The remaining light was increasingly dim yellow, mixed with the approaching night.

Ruan Mian was tired from tidying and collapsed onto the bean bag sofa. Chen Yi finished the last of the wrap-up work. When he looked up and saw her lying there with her eyes closed, a corner of his heart suddenly softened.

He put down the tape and scissors and walked over with a glass of water.

“Tired?” Chen Yi crouched in front of her, his arm resting on his knee, his form leaning slightly forward. The setting sun outlined his well-defined contours.

“No, just a bit tired.” Ruan Mian reached out to take the glass of water but was instead pulled forward a bit by him grasping her wrist. She raised her head and saw a tiny version of herself in his eyes. The corners of her lips curved in a smile. “What?”

He didn’t speak but lowered his head to kiss the tip of her nose. After nuzzling against her for a while, he finally said, “When I go back this time, I’ll submit the application.”

“Hm?” Ruan Mian didn’t understand. “What application?”

“Marriage application.” Chen Yi withdrew slightly and also sat on the floor. His gaze was so gentle it could only make people sink into it. “Let’s get married, okay?”

Ruan Mian’s fingertips moved. She grasped his hand, their fingers interlocking. Her eyes looked at him without blinking, focused and resolute. “Okay.”

When Ruan Mian returned home from the hospital, the colorful lights of the tall buildings outside the window made the darkness inside the house seem especially cold and lonely.

After her shower, she went to the kitchen to boil dumplings.

When the water boiled, Ruan Mian heard the sound of the door opening at the entrance. She froze for a moment, then immediately turned off the heat and walked outside.

Seeing the person who had been a hundred kilometers away moments ago now suddenly standing there like a heaven-sent surprise, Ruan Mian was truly stunned.

Chen Yi also didn’t speak. Like many times before, he lowered his head to change his shoes, hung up his keys, and walked slowly toward the living room.

Only when he stopped in front of Ruan Mian did he finally laugh. He bent down to face her eye to eye. “Happy wedding day, Mrs. Chen.”