Qing Hang confessed beneath the national flag, and Cheng Wanyue kissed him in the bustling square.

Huo Zhi captured their silhouette against the light, while the scent of that rose still lingered on Cheng Yanqing’s hand.

Cheng Wanyue thought that even at eighty years old, she would still remember this day.

The national flag never fades, and love always burns fiercely.

So she agreed: “Alright, Qing Hang, let’s be together.”

They could now walk hand in hand through streets and alleys like other couples, share a cup of hot soy milk at a breakfast shop, turn a rental apartment into a home, and embrace legitimately when parting.

That afternoon, returning to Nanjing after only four hours of sleep, Cheng Wanyue was in an excessively good mood, even annoying Meiqiu.

She left the rose at home, and by the time she returned, it might have become a dried flower.

Cheng Yanqing wasn’t surprised. After all these years between her and Qing Hang, there should be some conclusion. Huo Zhi, sitting in the passenger seat, teased her, and she casually mentioned that her first kiss had been in high school.

Of course, Cheng Yanqing didn’t know this. He stepped on the accelerator, silently cursing Qing Hang for his duplicity.

They rested for two hours during the journey and arrived at Cheng Yuzhou’s home at 6:30 AM. Yesterday at this time, they were still at Tiananmen Square.

The only relative Zhou Yu still kept in touch with was an aunt. During the summer after Cheng Yuzhou transferred back to White City First High School for his college entrance exams, he had rescued a drowning boy at the riverbank. That boy was Zhou Yu’s aunt’s son, now in his second year of high school, and he had also come to attend Zhou Yu’s wedding.

The other bridesmaid was Zhou Yu’s college roommate, Chen Huan. Both groomsmen were Cheng Yuzhou’s childhood friends, whom Cheng Wanyue knew well.

There were many details to prepare before and after the wedding. Cheng Yuzhou went out early and returned late every day, and the family members were also busy.

A photographer was readily available—Huo Zhi was far more professional than those wedding companies outside.

After waking up, Cheng Wanyue accompanied Zhou Yu to try on her makeup. Although she had been present throughout the wedding photo shoot, and Zhou Yu and Cheng Yuzhou had already obtained their marriage certificate to become legal husband and wife, seeing the wedding dress and suit placed together still gave her a wonderful feeling.

The little girl who had played rubber band jumping with her under the apricot tree was getting married the day after tomorrow.

Zhou Yu hadn’t seen Qing Hang since high school. “Wanyue, around what time will Qing Hang arrive? Cheng Yuzhou’s friend is driving to pick him up.”

“Let me ask again,” Cheng Wanyue took out her phone to send Qing Hang a message.

He rarely checked messages while working, only responding when he had time to spare. She was used to this and wouldn’t keep waiting, just checking occasionally when she remembered.

Zhou Yu changed out of her toast-giving outfit and went over to hold Meiqiu. “Auntie has prepared the room. Your parents mentioned last night that they would help pave the way, giving Uncle some psychological hints in advance.”

Cheng Wanyue wasn’t nervous. “Do you think they will find it difficult to accept?”

“It should be fine. Qing Hang isn’t an outsider. Uncle has always liked Qing Hang; they just haven’t thought about it that way. Are you still angry with Qing Hang?”

“A little before he confessed, but I’m not holding a grudge anymore.”

Zhou Yu knew that Cheng Wanyue had always been free-spirited. With her proud nature, she would never allow Qing Hang’s feelings for her to be mixed with even a trace of guilt.

Guilt and self-blame were like two ropes. Once entangled, they would bind even the hardest-hearted person.

But after their relationship was confirmed, these were no longer issues.

She had already endured it; the only one who would suffer was Qing Hang.

“Have you told him about your hospitalization due to illness?”

“I didn’t go into details. It’s already in the past. A’Yu, I was quite resentful toward him during those years, but he didn’t have it easy either. His grandfather was very ill, and he didn’t even have a place to stay, having to sleep on benches in the corridor. I was in the ward, and he was also in the hospital. Just like when you broke up with Cheng Yuzhou, Cheng Yuzhou didn’t go find you because of me. When faced with a difficult choice, family bonds outweigh romantic love.”

There was only one grandfather. What Cheng Wanyue had always held against Qing Hang wasn’t that he hadn’t visited her when she was sick, but his leaving without saying goodbye and the eight years of no contact.

During those years when she resented him, he hadn’t had it easy either.

“If I didn’t love him, I could be a bad woman who torments, plays with, and takes revenge on him. I’ve never been a good girl anyway, and it wouldn’t be the first or second time I faced moral condemnation. But I do love him.”

Cheng Wanyue stroked Meiqiu’s round head. “When he’s unhappy, I feel bad too.”

“Who says you’re not good?” Zhou Yu’s expression was serious. “Wanyue, you are precious.”

Cheng Wanyue peeked at Zhou Yu’s neckline. “Have you gotten a bit bigger?”

Zhou Yu coughed twice and whispered in her ear, “…a little bit.”

Cheng Yanqing and Huo Zhi were making a commotion in the yard, while Zhou Yu and Cheng Wanyue were being noisy in the room. Neither upstairs nor downstairs was quiet. When Cheng Yuzhou pushed open the door, Cheng Wanyue had just settled down.

Meiqiu was shy around strangers, but fortunately, there was Nuomi at home. The two cats looked somewhat related and were both very lively.

Zhou Yu asked, “What’s wrong? Not going smoothly?”

Cheng Yuzhou said, “The band we booked can’t make it.”

“Why?”

“The lead singer had an appendicitis attack and needs surgery.”

“Leave it to me,” Cheng Wanyue finally found a way to help. “I can’t handle major issues, but this small matter won’t stump me.”

Cheng Wanyue picked up her phone to contact friends. She knew many musicians, but after reaching out to everyone, she found that no one was in Nanjing during the National Day holiday.

Inexplicably, a face appeared in her mind: Chi Yue.

With a hopeful attitude, Cheng Wanyue logged into Weibo and discovered that Chi Yue had sent her a private message. Moreover, he had posted a status half an hour ago with his location set as Nanjing.

It turned out that her lost earring had been caught on his clothes.

Cheng Wanyue first replied to the private message: “The earring is mine. Thank you.”

About half an hour later, Chi Yue responded: “How should I return it to you? For easier contact, shall we add each other on WeChat?”

Cheng Wanyue wanted to ask for his help, so she gave him her WeChat account.

After adding him on WeChat, Chi Yue asked where she was.

Cheng Wanyue was about to send her location when Qing Hang called. She answered the phone first.

“Hello, hello! Welcome to ‘You Are My Moon, You Are My Heart.’ Your girlfriend is me, and I am your girlfriend.”

Qing Hang said something on the other end of the phone, making her laugh and roll on the sofa.

Zhou Yu and Cheng Yuzhou exchanged a glance and tacitly got up, leaving the room to her. However, just as they stepped out, they bumped into Yang Huimin, who was standing stunned at the doorway.

Yang Huimin’s expression was quite intriguing; evidently, she had overheard, while Cheng Wanyue, lying on the sofa, remained oblivious.

Cheng Yuzhou closed the door, and Yang Huimin directly asked him, “Yueyue has a boyfriend? Since when?”

“They just got together not long ago. You’ll see him at the wedding. She’s also bringing him home for dinner.”

Yang Huimin was surprised. “She’s bringing her boyfriend home for dinner? She’s never done that before. Is she serious this time?”

Cheng Yuzhou didn’t explicitly say who it was. “We all know him. His character is impeccable.”

Zhou Yu also helped by saying, “Aunt, Wanyue is very happy.”

Yang Huimin was both delighted and worried. “Her father and I are happy about her having a boyfriend, but we’re concerned that she might only look at appearances rather than character, finding someone unreliable. If we don’t approve, she’ll be heartbroken. If we do approve and things don’t work out, she’ll still be heartbroken in the future.”