[1]
When Chen Qingwu and Meng Fuyuan entered, dusk had already settled over the landscape.
Zhao Yingfei and Pei Shao, who had been doing hard labor, had spent the entire afternoon catching up on sleep and were now sitting in the courtyard with blank expressions, drinking tea.
“Did you sell all the flowers?” Zhao Yingfei asked.
“Almost.”
“How much did you make?”
“Should be enough to treat you to a good meal.”
Zhao Yingfei yawned. “You should treat me. I’ve been thoroughly worn out on this trip for your sake.”
“Next time I’ll brave fire and water for you too.” Chen Qingwu said with a laugh.
“I appreciate the thought. But you probably won’t have the chance.” Zhao Yingfei yawned again. “I’ve decided—when I turn thirty-five, I’m throwing myself a singles party specifically to reclaim all the gift money I gave you people.”
“…You haven’t given any yet.”
“It’s not far off.”
“I’ll take that as a blessing.”
Pei Shao smiled. “Is Dr. Zhao an advocate of staying single?”
Zhao Yingfei: “I simply find men in real life annoying.”
Pei Shao: “…Should I shut up then?”
He truly fell silent and just drank his tea.
Zhao Yingfei laughed.
The server brought over the menu, and everyone ordered their dishes first.
The holiday was only a few days long, and they had already stayed at the guesthouse for two days.
Pei Shao was determined not to waste time like this anymore and asked if anyone was planning to take the cable car up the mountain tomorrow to look around.
As a result, Zhao Yingfei only focused on eating fried peanuts, Chen Qingwu only focused on typing with her head down, and Meng Fuyuan only focused on watching Chen Qingwu type with her head down.
“Hey…”
Chen Qingwu: “Oh… I’m fine with anything. Wait a moment, I’m posting on social media.”
Without asking, it was obviously the official announcement post about the proposal.
A few lines of text—posted then deleted, deleted then posted—until finally she just posted a simple “YES, I DO.”
The first two likes naturally came from Pei Shao and Zhao Yingfei sitting across from her.
Pei Shao refreshed his social media feed and asked Meng Fuyuan: “Why haven’t you posted yet?”
Meng Fuyuan: “Still considering what to write.”
“Does this need consideration? Shouldn’t you be brimming with emotion, speaking torrentially, writing a thousand words?”
“Nice use of idioms.” Meng Fuyuan smiled. “When you have your day, you’ll understand.”
After posting on social media, Chen Qingwu very wisely switched her phone to Do Not Disturb mode, afraid that Chen Suiliang would call and disturb her good mood.
By the end of the meal, the likes on Chen Qingwu’s post were too numerous to count.
“My mom liked it.” Chen Qingwu said happily.
Meaning, the other family members hadn’t liked it.
Meng Fuyuan smiled. “Not bad.”
They were already content with this result.
Just as she was about to close social media, another like notification popped up.
From Meng Qiran.
“…Where is Qiran now? Has he told you?” Chen Qingwu asked.
“Don’t know.”
“The internet is so fast, we can at least rule out Antarctica.” Chen Qingwu said with a laugh.
The guesthouse had hot springs. After dinner and a brief rest, Chen Qingwu and Zhao Yingfei went to soak for a while.
On their way back from the hot spring pool, they ran into Meng Fuyuan at the courtyard entrance.
He carried a faint smell of cigarette smoke.
Chen Qingwu walked alongside him toward the inside. “Where did you just go?”
“Took a walk by myself.”
Chen Qingwu turned to look at him, her gaze asking if something was on his mind.
“It feels unreal. Wanted to process it alone.” He looked as if seriously troubled.
Chen Qingwu laughed aloud.
After washing up, they lay down early.
All the lights were off, but the curtains were all open.
The glass blocked out the sound of wind, making those blurred sounds seem like they were underwater.
Chen Qingwu’s palm pressed against Meng Fuyuan’s chest, her body rising and falling like the wind, then turning violent. “…Does this feel real?”
Meng Fuyuan endured until sweat appeared on his temples, reached up to press the back of her neck, making her lower her head, and lightly bit her lip. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” Deliberately tightening suddenly.
Chen Qingwu laughed softly. The darkness amplified the nature of that laugh—somewhat deliberately cunning.
He loved how she bloomed because of him.
On every level.
When Chen Qingwu got up to drink water, she belatedly saw Meng Fuyuan’s social media post.
The same photo as hers, with the caption: “I have a lifetime to know you” (Note)
[2]
At the end of July, Chen Qingwu received a message from Liao Shuman asking if the household registration booklet was with her, telling her to bring it back to Nancheng when she had time.
Chen Qingwu replied: Do you need it urgently? Can I mail it back to you after I’m done using it?
Liao Shuman: What do you need it for? Buying a house?
Chen Qingwu: Getting our marriage certificate.
For a good while, Chen Qingwu didn’t receive a reply from Liao Shuman.
Perhaps after digesting this news, Liao Shuman sent another message: Why don’t you just bring home a baby next time?
Chen Qingwu: I could, but wouldn’t that scare you?
Liao Shuman: Chen Qingwu!
Though just text, the tone in Liao Shuman’s voice was evident.
Chen Qingwu didn’t dare joke anymore: Mom, I’m serious. Although Meng Fuyuan and I have only been dating for half a year, we’ve known each other for so many years. It’s not an impulsive decision, don’t worry.
Liao Shuman: Did I say I wouldn’t let you get the certificate? I’m planning to buy you an apartment in Nancheng as pre-marital property. Don’t think I don’t trust Meng Fuyuan—after all, with his wealth, if you two divorce and split assets evenly, who knows who would be more heartbroken.
Chen Qingwu immediately sent a kowtowing “thank you boss” emoji: I wouldn’t think that. I know you’re thinking of me.
Liao Shuman: Then why aren’t you hurrying back here with yourself and the household registration booklet?
Chen Qingwu sent a “riding my beloved little scooter” emoji.
Liao Shuman: That’s so outdated, and you’re still using it.
Chen Qingwu kept grinning foolishly at the screen.
It seemed that after that breakdown and crying session at home, her relationship with Liao Shuman had grown closer by more than just a bit.
Now she was willing to share everything with Liao Shuman, and although Liao Shuman was sharp-tongued, she never casually brushed her off.
At the threshold of twenty-six, in front of her mother, she seemed to have transformed back into a six-year-old child.
The house purchase was quickly settled. From viewing to transfer of ownership took only two months.
The property was actually a secondhand apartment from one of Liao Shuman’s clients. The renovation had been completed less than two years ago, but because their child had grown up and they needed to free up a slot to buy a school district apartment, they chose to sell.
A large flat of over two hundred square meters, purchased outright. Chen Suiliang paid half the money. Chen Qingwu didn’t know how Liao Shuman had persuaded Chen Suiliang, but although Chen Suiliang said some unpleasant things, he was quite forthcoming when it came to paying.
Chen Qingwu didn’t often stay in Nancheng and originally wanted to rent it out, but the previous owner had decorated it very well, and she worried tenants wouldn’t cherish it enough.
Liao Shuman also advised her to forget it—the small amount of rental income wouldn’t even cover repairs if the house got dirty. She told her to leave it vacant, have someone clean it regularly, and in the future when she and Meng Fuyuan returned to Nancheng for holidays, they would have a place to stay.
After hearing this, Meng Fuyuan smiled and said: “Auntie is very thoughtful. I can’t go back to the Meng family home anymore, so in the future I’ll have to trouble Miss Chen Qingwu to take me in.”
Chen Qingwu raised her chin. “No problem. Since you can’t bring yourself to call me ‘wife,’ how about you call me ‘sister’ and let me hear it.”
Meng Fuyuan’s tone was calm: “I think sleeping on the streets would suit me better.”
[03]
On October 26th, the two went to get their marriage certificate.
Chen Qingwu had originally wanted to choose her own birthday, but Meng Fuyuan disagreed, saying that way she would have one less gift in the future.
Chen Qingwu had bought a white dress in advance for the photo on registration day, while Meng Fuyuan took it even more seriously than her, with a complete three-piece suit.
That setup could have sent him straight to a wedding ceremony without any sense of discord.
During their appointment slot, they were the only couple in the registration hall. It should have been leisurely, but Meng Fuyuan was inexplicably nervous throughout and almost filled in his ethnicity in the education row when filling out the form.
After filling it out, he carefully checked it once, attached the registration photo, and handed it to the registrar.
The two certificates stamped with steel seals were soon handed to them.
Walking out of the registration hall to the outdoor parking area.
Chen Qingwu held up the two certificates to examine them closely when suddenly a bouquet of roses appeared before her.
She looked up carefully and said with delighted surprise: “Where did this come from?”
Meng Fuyuan gestured toward the trunk. “Better safe than sorry.”
Chen Qingwu laughed aloud.
The two certificates photographed with the bouquet were posted on social media, again receiving a screen full of likes.
They each went to work and only celebrated in the evening when they returned to the apartment.
Meng Fuyuan cooked while Chen Qingwu helped, chatting with each other about the day’s trivialities.
While handling ingredients, Meng Fuyuan said: “Let me tell you some good news.”
Chen Qingwu: “What?”
Meng Fuyuan: “I got married today.”
Chen Qingwu: “What a coincidence, I also got married today.”
They both laughed.
In late October, the slightly cool weather wasn’t cold enough to require heating, making the warmth created by the quilt all the more soothing.
They worked up quite a sweat, the process longer than any previous time. Chen Qingwu’s breathing became irregular, and Meng Fuyuan’s low, husky voice pressed against her ear, saying: Baby, be a little louder.
Chen Qingwu’s heart nearly stopped from beating so violently.
Like an extended fuse, the sparking flame burned for a long time.
So much so that when it ignited in that instant, the explosion met expectations and seemed especially earth-shattering.
Meng Fuyuan touched her face, his fingertips encountering the moisture at the corner of her eyes, seemingly helpless: “…Tell me, what do you want me to promise you this time?”
Chen Qingwu, who had “extorted” him many times this way, finally felt guilty enough to confess honestly: “Actually it’s not intentional on my part, it’s physiological…”
“I know.”
“…Are you that smug?”
“Yes.”
Chen Qingwu thought for a moment. “What did you just call me? I didn’t hear it clearly. Call me that again.”
Meng Fuyuan’s expression didn’t waver at all: “Next time.”
[Note]: A line from the male protagonist in “Big Fish.”