[08]
After moving, they held a housewarming party.
Friends all brought gifts, each with their own thoughtfulness.
Meng Qiran also sent a gift from abroad—a sculpture he’d seen in an antique shop. Made of brass with an abstract design, upon closer inspection one could make out two people dancing a waltz.
A card accompanied the gift with just one sentence: “Have a nice day.”
The living room, parlor, and study in the new home all had display shelves. These gifts, along with ceramic tile paintings and unbreakable metal snowflakes… were all arranged in appropriate positions.
Liao Shuman said she was coming to Dongcheng to shop and would “incidentally” visit their new home.
Chen Qingwu didn’t call out her “incidentally.” The moment she received the message, she hurried home and, together with the housekeeper, cleaned the already spotless house once more.
Liao Shuman came for dinner.
After entering, Meng Fuyuan provided brief hospitality and left the tour to Chen Qingwu while he went to the kitchen to continue preparing dinner.
Liao Shuman glanced toward the kitchen and asked Chen Qingwu in a low voice: “Does Meng Fuyuan usually do the cooking?”
“When he’s not busy, he cooks. When he’s busy, the housekeeper does it. Sometimes we also eat out.”
Chen Qingwu was too embarrassed to say that Meng Fuyuan found “feeding” her a very interesting thing, so he frequently studied recipes and updated the menu.
Liao Shuman said “not bad.” Among her circle of friends, whether successful in their careers or not, very few men were willing to cook at home.
Upstairs and downstairs, having seen every room, Liao Shuman said the house had good cross-ventilation from north to south, excellent lighting, and a timeless decoration style that wouldn’t easily go out of fashion. Finally, she summarized: pretty good.
Perhaps “not bad” was the highest rating in Ms. Liao’s vocabulary.
Finally, Chen Qingwu took Liao Shuman to see the tea room on the first floor.
The room was spacious and plain. Shelving units were mounted on the wall, displaying only vessels she had fired herself.
A wooden table was placed by the window, and outside the window was the yard, directly facing a lemon tree in the garden.
Liao Shuman paused to admire for a moment and said: “Meng Fuyuan’s profile picture?”
Chen Qingwu smiled and said: “Yes.”
After the successful proposal, Meng Fuyuan had used a screenshot from that scene in “Big Fish” as his profile picture for quite a while.
Shortly after moving into the new residence, he changed it to this view captured from the tea room window.
After sitting briefly, Meng Fuyuan announced that dinner was ready.
Liao Shuman and Chen Qingwu went to the dining room together. Chen Qingwu walked into the kitchen to help bring out the dishes.
On the dining table was a peacock blue glazed vase holding white tulips. Liao Shuman examined it carefully for a while.
All the dishes were served.
Wine-marinated drunken crab, fresh yellow croaker in wine sauce, lemon beef, fig and sea coconut bone soup, French garlic roasted pumpkin, stir-fried baby bok choy, and for dessert, store-bought jasmine matcha panna cotta.
A table full of aromatic and flavorful dishes. Liao Shuman couldn’t help but take out her phone to photograph it. “Making so many dishes, how can you finish them all?”
Chen Qingwu could hear the happiness in her tone.
“Did you make all the tableware yourself?”
Chen Qingwu nodded.
“Not bad.”
The tableware wasn’t a matching set—each piece was individual—but together they were very harmonious. Chen Qingwu had put effort into both color and shape, making any free combination appear natural rather than jarring.
Among them, the bowls used for drinking soup were fired by Zhuang Shiying.
The wine was chilled plum wine with very low alcohol content.
Chen Qingwu knew Liao Shuman didn’t like drinking, finding the smell of alcohol unpleasant, but today she must have been truly happy, as her glass was emptied and refilled several times.
They chatted about many topics, mainly asking about their wedding plans.
The wedding date was tentatively set for April, when spring warmth brings flowers into bloom. Moreover, it was the spring of the year when she would turn twenty-six that she had arrived in Dongcheng—it counted as a kind of full-circle closure.
Liao Shuman said it would be impossible for the two families to host guests together. Although nowadays when people asked about Chen Qingwu and Meng Qiran, she would strenuously clarify that those were just jokes to amuse the children and didn’t count, there would still inevitably be gossip.
“But this is also good. You two can decide what kind of wedding you want. Just notify us to attend when the time comes.”
Chen Qingwu said with a laugh: “Will you two fight?”
Liao Shuman glared at her.
Meng Fuyuan had returned to Nancheng once each for Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival. Meng Chengyong and Qilin probably knew that some words, once spoken, were hard to take back, so both times they went to Meng Fuyuan’s grandparents’ house.
When they met, they exchanged polite pleasantries. Perhaps all that was missing was a way to save face, but this time, Meng Fuyuan was determined not to be the first to offer it.
Chen Qingwu understood his stubbornness. He had been sensible for far too long in the past.
After dinner, Chen Qingwu asked Liao Shuman to stay overnight, but Liao Shuman refused, saying she had already booked a hotel.
Chen Qingwu said: “This is your first time here and you won’t even stay one night at my house. Do you think I haven’t been hospitable enough?”
Her coquettish tone—Liao Shuman couldn’t resist it and said she would reluctantly stay one night then.
The bedding in the guest room had just been freshly laundered. Chen Qingwu brought clean pajamas and aromatherapy candles to personally deliver to the room.
The guest room was a suite. Liao Shuman could manage everything without leaving, which was relatively more convenient.
“This candle is one I use regularly. It’s very good for helping you sleep.” Chen Qingwu placed it under the wax warmer and turned on the switch. “Go to bed early after you shower.”
However, Liao Shuman patted the edge of the bed, calling her to sit—she had a few words to say to her.
Chen Qingwu sat down.
Liao Shuman turned to look at her for a moment, reached out, and smoothed the long hair on her shoulder. “After your wedding is over, I’m planning to divorce your father.”
Chen Qingwu was both surprised and delighted. “…You’ve made up your mind?”
“It’s not about making up my mind or not, it’s purely that I can’t go on anymore.”
Coming to visit Chen Qingwu today had helped her make the final decision.
She had forgotten what it felt like to have a life that was peaceful yet flavorful. For so many years, it was as if she’d been living among shattered porcelain pieces. Those pieces couldn’t be restored to their original state, and she was too lazy to clean them up—she just knew to be extra careful when passing by, not to step on them.
How could such days not wear down one’s heart?
Clearly, back then she too had bought such beautiful tableware sets, carefully tending to every branch and vein of life.
“…Will Dad refuse to agree?”
“He definitely won’t agree. But it doesn’t matter. At worst, I’ll sell off all the shops. The money I have on hand is enough for me to live the rest of my life. If I don’t return to Nancheng then, what can he do to me?”
Chen Qingwu’s nose tingled. While Liao Shuman wasn’t paying attention, she leaned over and hugged her shoulders.
Liao Shuman was somewhat at a loss, raising her hand to pat Chen Qingwu’s head.
How could she not understand her daughter’s wish for her to be happy too?
[09]
The wedding venue was chosen at the guesthouse where Meng Fuyuan had proposed.
Since the guesthouse had limited rooms, they booked all the other nearby guesthouses and hotels as well.
Everything had to be driven over, which naturally took considerable effort. But when Chen Qingwu woke up on the wedding day to prepare for makeup and saw the venue being set up, she suddenly felt all the trouble had been worthwhile.
There weren’t many wedding guests—only both sets of parents, grandparents, close relatives, and friends were invited.
Pei Shao and Mai Xunwen were groomsmen, while Zhao Yingfei and one of Chen Qingwu’s cousins were bridesmaids.
The ceremony was held at 5:19 PM. At noon at 12 o’clock, Chen Qingwu began her makeup.
There were three makeup artists in total, all flown in from Dongcheng. One was solely responsible for Chen Qingwu’s makeup and hair, while the other two handled the bridesmaids and female guests from both sides.
The makeup artist said evening ceremonies were better—if held at noon, the schedule would be very tight, with brides having to wake up at 3 AM for makeup with swollen faces.
Chen Qingwu said with a laugh: “Am I swollen now? I downed two cups of coffee as soon as I woke up.”
“Your skin is in especially good condition now.”
“My mom runs a beauty salon.”
The makeup artist laughed. “Then get us a membership.”
After entertaining guests for a while, Meng Fuyuan really couldn’t contain his mood and decided to go upstairs to check.
When he entered, the makeup artist was applying false lashes to Chen Qingwu. On a rack to the side hung a floor-length white wedding dress.
Meng Fuyuan walked over and placed the water cup with a straw he’d been holding in front of Chen Qingwu. Resting his hand on her shoulder, he bent down to ask: “Are you tired?”
Chen Qingwu said with a laugh: “This is just the beginning.”
Not wanting to disturb too long, Meng Fuyuan left after a short while.
By 2 PM, the first makeup look was complete. Chen Qingwu put on a light veil and went downstairs for photos.
Right outside the guesthouse were snow-capped mountains—every shot turned out beautifully.
After shooting for two full hours, Chen Qingwu ate a few snacks and returned to her room to prepare the makeup for the ceremony.
Starting at five o’clock, Meng Fuyuan kept checking his watch.
Though he knew the program by heart, he still couldn’t suppress his nervousness.
The closer the time approached, the harder it became to breathe evenly.
With two minutes until 5:19, the glass door was suddenly pushed open and Chen Qingwu emerged, lightly lifting her wedding dress as she walked.
His heart stopped for an instant.
At that moment, the setting sun slanted its rays, the sky was high and clouds were light, and she seemed like a ray of heavenly light spilling through gaps in the clouds.
Meng Fuyuan extended his hand, watching her walk toward him step by step.
When she reached him, he handed over the bouquet of freesias. As he took her hand in its white glove, he felt both his fingertips and breath trembling slightly.
Chen Qingwu held the flowers and took Meng Fuyuan’s arm. To the violin music played by the live band, they walked together down the aisle scattered with white rose petals.
The chairs on both sides were filled with relatives and friends. There wasn’t time to meet all their gazes one by one.
Though it was such a short path, it seemed they had already traversed a long lifetime.
The program was brief—only reading vows and exchanging rings.
Meng Fuyuan leaned down and kissed the bride.
Mountain breezes gently stirred, blowing through the freesia bouquet and the snow-white veil.
In this moment, the mountains and fields fell silent.
The sky turned ink blue, candlelight flickered to life, and distant snow-capped mountains came into view.
The outdoor long tables were covered with white tablecloths, fresh flowers adorning the spaces between cups and plates.
Chen Qingwu changed into a champagne-colored long dress and, hand-in-hand with Meng Fuyuan, went to toast the guests one by one.
Starting with the parents first.
This was the first time both sets of parents sat at the same table since that incident. All maintained superficial courtesy.
Chen Suiliang was dissatisfied that the ceremony didn’t include a father giving away the bride segment. At this moment, he couldn’t help but assert his authority as father-in-law, patting Meng Fuyuan’s shoulder and instructing: “From now on, Qingwu is in your hands.”
Meng Fuyuan smiled and said: “Don’t worry.”
He restrained himself from correcting that Qingwu was an independent person—there was no such thing as being handed over to anyone.
Liao Shuman only touched Chen Qingwu’s arm and asked if she was cold, telling her not to catch a cold.
Chen Qingwu had noticed earlier that when she and Meng Fuyuan walked down the aisle, there were clearly tears glistening in Liao Shuman’s eyes.
Meng Chengyong and Qilin both smiled politely and said a few clichés about managing the family well in the future.
Just as the two were about to move to the next table, Qilin couldn’t help but speak up: “Qingwu, if you’re free during Dragon Boat Festival, come back to Nancheng with Fuyuan to eat zongzi.”
Chen Qingwu smiled. “Okay. We’ll see how things are then.”
The next table was Meng Qiran, sitting with Mai Xunwen and the others.
Meng Qiran had declined the invitation to be a groomsman on the grounds that he’d been quite busy recently.
Today all the guests were dressed relatively formally. He too wore a full suit, very much like groomsman attire.
Meng Qiran stood up, holding a wine glass, and smiled as he clinked glasses with Meng Fuyuan and Chen Qingwu. “Wishing you a hundred years of happy marriage.”
Chen Qingwu said with a smile, “Thank you.”
As they clinked glasses with the Mai family, Meng Qiran sat down. His gaze swept past Chen Qingwu’s stunningly beautiful face before silently looking toward the distant, quiet mountains.
He used to think the rest of his life was still long—long enough to cultivate love and courage, and then, surrounded by honored guests, hear all the blessings for a hundred years of happy marriage.
But it turned out, sometimes an instant is a lifetime.
Mila wished the newlyweds a hundred years of happy marriage, invited them to honeymoon in Los Angeles, and took the opportunity to pressure Mai Xunwen about marriage.
Beibei had shot up in height and no longer looked like a little girl. Sitting next to Maggie, she raised grape juice in place of wine and said with a smile that Sister Qingwu looked so beautiful today.
Zhao Yingfei, tired from the whole day, was burying her head in eating. When toasting, she said tonight’s food was good, adding one point. When asked if she had any impulse to get married, she said she was a bit tempted, but not much.
Pei Shao said with a smile that going from nothing to something was already a huge qualitative change.
The two maintained a relationship somewhere between friendship and romance. Chen Qingwu secretly told Pei Shao this meant there was actually hope, because Zhao Yingfei hated playing ambiguous games with people most of all.
Sister An joked that she’d heard Teacher Chen Qingwu’s market value in the industry had skyrocketed, so she needed to carefully preserve that tea set obtained for 188 yuan and wait for some year to send it to auction and get rich overnight.
After making the rounds, Chen Qingwu and Meng Fuyuan finally had time to sit down and eat something.
Candlelight flickered, and amid the clinking of glasses only laughter could be heard.
Chen Qingwu raised her wine glass and smiled, saying this cup was to toast Mr. Meng.
Meng Fuyuan clinked glasses with her. “This cup is to toast Miss Chen.”
After dinner was the after-party.
Chen Qingwu returned to her room to change into a dress more suitable for movement. When she returned to the venue, she saw Meng Qiran sitting on a high stool, holding a guitar.
As he strummed, he looked up at Chen Qingwu, then lowered his head again, leaning close to the microphone to say softly: “This song is for my brother and my sister-in-law… wishing you eternal happiness.”
Chen Qingwu stopped in her tracks. Meng Fuyuan walked over and put his arm around her shoulders.
A cheerful melody, unlike his previous style.
Chen Qingwu’s eyes grew somewhat hazy. Across the lights, she looked at Meng Qiran, as if looking across to that youth that would never return.
“It’s very beautiful.” She smiled.
Not a commissioned piece, but beneath the cheerfulness, a faint melancholy that struck straight to the heart.
After finishing, amid thunderous applause, Meng Qiran put down his guitar, nodded slightly, and quietly left the venue amid the full field of lights.
By ten o’clock at night, the entire wedding concluded.
After saying goodbye to the guests one by one at the entrance, Chen Qingwu and Meng Fuyuan returned to the detached guest room.
Chen Qingwu let down her hair and changed into comfortable clothes. Her hair was fluffy, like freshly permed wool curls.
She said she was tired but mentally energized and wanted to go for a walk. Meng Fuyuan gladly accompanied her.
Outside there was moonlight. Shining into puddles on the road, it was as if the moon in the sky had scattered down, one piece at a time.
Chen Qingwu’s face felt hot, whether from the heat or from drinking alcohol, she didn’t know.
She grabbed Meng Fuyuan’s hand to touch her cheek. “The rough-cut video was just posted in the group chat, did you see it?”
“Not yet. What’s wrong?” Meng Fuyuan hadn’t had time to look.
Chen Qingwu smiled and said it was nothing, it was edited very well.
It should have been before she went to the makeup room—Meng Fuyuan had helped hang the wedding dress on the rack.
He bent down slightly, as if involuntarily lowering his head a bit, resting his forehead against the hem of the snow-white gauze skirt.
That moment was incredibly devout, like a prayer.
The vow was for a lifetime.
The main character extras end here~
The next chapter is Meng Qiran’s extra~ completed in one chapter~