Similarly, Zhou Mi also posted their marriage certificate on her WeChat Moments, cleverly dividing it into two versions for public viewing.

The version seen by colleagues and parents was very artistic and particularly formal, not at all diminishing her public image: “Not the end of a fairy tale, but the beginning of the next chapter.”

While the caption open to close friends carried a strong sense of playfulness: “From now on, work at work, and home, doing _____.”

He Miaoyan, was the first to comment and fill in the blank: The boss! [Despise][Despise]

Another friend, Ruirui, asked: What does that mean?

He Miaoyan replied: Let me formally introduce, this handsome guy in the marriage certificate is Mimi’s boss.

Ruirui: From Aostar?

He Miaoyan: Yes.

Ruirui gave a thumbs up: Awesome.

The girlfriends’ group chat erupted in commotion, teasing Zhou Mi for “silently doing big things” and demanding she send red packets so everyone could share in the joy.

Zhou Mi asked: Do you want fixed amounts or random ones?

Ruirui said: Random ones, like throwing a bouquet, whoever gets the biggest will be the next to marry.

He Miaoyan: That’s too exciting and too much like a curse.

Ruirui burst out laughing: Hahahahaha.

He Miaoyan suggested: Why not just give it to Ruirui? She’s almost there, too; they’ve been dating for seven years.

Ruirui declined: I’m still far from it, still in my struggling period.

But Zhou Mi still sent her a red packet, and Ruirui accepted it graciously.

Ruirui asked curiously: Mimi, how old is your boss?

Zhou Mi replied: Thirty-five.

Ruirui was quite surprised: I thought at most thirty, he looks so young.

Zhou Mi: Yes, this person’s appearance is extremely deceptive.

Chatting away with her friends, Zhou Mi lay on the bed laughing uncontrollably, her legs swinging.

She didn’t even notice when Zhang Lian bent down beside her.

“So happy?” The man had just finished showering, his voice seeming to carry a hint of lazy, moist vapor.

Zhou Mi flipped over to lie flat, using both index fingers to lift the corners of her mouth: “Yes, look, I’m almost getting a semi-permanent smile.”

Zhang Lian laughed at her wording, affectionately pinching her cheek.

Zhou Mi picked up her phone again, scrolling back through the previous chat records to show off to him: “See how foresight I was, taking photos at the studio in advance, and editing them flawlessly. My friends all praised you for being young and handsome.”

Zhang Lian remained expressionless: “What does that have to do with photo editing? I am naturally young and handsome.”

Zhou Mi made a retching sound.

Zhang Lian did not comment on her exaggerated reaction, sitting back on his side, and also pulling up Zhou Mi’s WeChat Moments.

After a while, he grunted: “You posted two versions?”

Zhou Mi replied: “Yes, one for insiders, one for outsiders.”

Zhang Lian continued to ask: “Why can I see both?”

Zhou Mi said, “You’re the only one who gets both internal and external refinement.”

Zhang Lian began to solemnly read the second post, and sure enough, broke into a smile at the end: “From now on, work at work, and at home, doing… heh, how did you come up with that?”

Zhou Mi cackled wickedly, then straightened her neck, declaring emphatically: “So do you admit it or not?”

Zhang Lian furrowed his brow slightly: “I don’t understand this question.”

Zhou Mi glanced at him sideways, her gaze sharp: “Keep pretending! Just keep pretending—”

Zhang Lian’s expression became subtle: “Then come here.”

Zhou Mi moved away a bit, staring back vigilantly: “What?”

Zhang Lian said, “Complete the fill-in-the-blank.”

Zhou Mi stopped being coy and plunged into his embrace.

—

In the spring of the following year, their wedding was held in a fairy-tale-like town in New Zealand, with carpet-like greenery, forest-like verdant trees, and distant snow-capped mountains like mist. The venue was set up by a mirror-like lakeside with a pure white theme. Not many guests were invited, mainly close relatives and friends, simple yet serene.

Zhou Mi, in a white wedding dress, sat high on a chestnut-colored stallion, like a princess with elven blood from Middle-earth.

After being led to the venue by Zhang Lian, everyone cheered, applauded, and whistled, creating quite a commotion. He Miaoyan even shouted loudly, “You’re so beautiful, Mimi, I love you!”

Both mothers wiped away tears simultaneously, then smiled with crinkled eyes.

After exchanging vows before the priest, Zhou Mi and Zhang Lian exchanged rings.

They were trying not to laugh the whole time, due to the excessive solemnity of the ceremony and also because of the extreme joy in their hearts.

The local weather was changeable, and as the wedding was coming to an end, countless ripples suddenly appeared on the lake’s surface as a light rain fell from the sky.

The elders left first for the restaurant to avoid the rain, while the young people chose to stay outdoors, opening champagne, throwing the bouquet, with music continuing and dancing unceasingly.

After sending the elders back, Zhang Lian caught Zhou Mi, who was still swinging her dress and bouquet with her bridesmaids: “Do you want to go shelter from the rain too?”

“No way,” she pulled off her soaked veil in one motion, excitedly shouting: “Do you know! I feel like I’m the female lead in ‘About Time’ right now! This rain is perfect! I love it!”

Zhang Lian smiled, bending down to pick up a small white freesia that had fallen from her hair onto the lawn, placing it back in her hair: “Then change dance partners?”

“I won’t disturb you two—sayonara—” He Miaoyan, consciously retreated, going to grab other dance partners.

The music was as joyful as a hymn, and the two gazed at each other through the misty rain, their long eyelashes wet, like two animals that had sunk into the sea together and then relied on each other to reach shore. From now on, this island belonged only to them.

Zhou Mi extended her other hand, which had an unmistakable, shining diamond ring: “I feel a bit cold, shall we start moving?”

Zhang Lian hurriedly took off his black suit jacket and draped it over his new bride: “Sorry, I was so happy today that I lost myself a bit.”

Zhou Mi smiled, revealing her teeth, completely unconcerned about how infatuated she looked right now: “I probably did too. You look so handsome today,” she said softly: “Just like the… unrealistic… male image I would dream about when I first fell in love.”

She reminisced: “Male image. Although I could never remember when I woke up, today I feel like it’s materialized, it’s you, it’s you looking like this! I feel like my beautiful dream has come true.”

Zhang Lian smiled, not blinking: “Are all your dreams this disheveled, like now?”

Zhou Mi nodded vigorously: “Yes, all this disheveled, yet extremely romantic.”

They danced in the rain, advancing and retreating in perfect harmony, spinning. The symphony orchestra nearby played a more gentle melody for the newlyweds. The unexpected rain’s moistening made the sky and earth, mountains and water, flowers and green fields all more vivid and rich.

After the wedding, the couple stayed directly at the location for their honeymoon.

Zhang Lian rented a camper van and took Zhou Mi to experience everything there was to play—skydiving, hot springs, zip-lining, and mazes. During the day, they roamed everywhere, as if walking through Leviathan’s oil paintings. At night, they set up tents in open spaces, cuddling as they gazed at the starry sky. The stars in the sky were like bright and dense stitches, seemingly able to sew them into the deep purple-blue eternity.

On the night before their return journey, Zhou Mi was reluctant to leave: “I don’t even want to go back to work, I want to plant myself here.”

Zhang Lian casually planned: “We can live here when we’re old.”

Zhou Mi looked at him askance, also laying out a blueprint: “Then how should I strive after going back to settle here?”

Zhang Lian thought for a moment: “Just work for Aostar until retirement, and you can.”

Zhou Mi hit him: “What kind of person are you, not stopping the exploitation until the very last moment?”

Zhang Lian held her hand, matter-of-factly: “Yes, aren’t I also going to carry your grocery bags for a lifetime?”

Zhou Mi snorted: “Why do you only remember that sentence?”

Zhang Lian pondered for a few seconds: “Maybe I was moved that day.”

Zhou Mi tilted her head in confusion: “Can something said casually also be moving?”

Zhang Lian said, “Because that sentence brought marriage back to being between two people, making the significant seem insignificant, like that shopping bag. It was the first time I heard such a perspective. You’re adorable, Zhou Mi.”

Zhou Mi smiled brightly, enunciating each word: “What~are~you~doing, suddenly praising me.”

She smiled slightly: “Actually, I remember too.”

Zhang Lian asked: “Remember what?”

“Remember what you said, that there are more things that can bind married people together, making holding hands seem redundant,” Zhou Mi raised their clasped hands high, improvising a request: “But I still want you to carry shopping bags with one hand and hold my hand with the other.”

Zhang Lian asked: “What if the items in the bag increase in the future and I can’t carry them alone?”

Zhou Mi said, “Of course, I’ll help you share the burden. No matter what, we will always have one hand to hold each other, okay?”

Zhang Lian curved his lips: “Naturally.”

—

On New Year’s Eve of the same year, Zhou Mi did not visit the Zhang family; instead, Zhang Lian brought both sets of parents to Huajun for the New Year’s Eve dinner.

Tang Peili didn’t understand at first, secretly pondering “what kind of decorum is this,” but upon arrival, seeing the parents-in-law all smiling and composed, she swallowed her doubts.

While preparing dishes together in the kitchen with sleeves rolled up, Tang Peili whispered to Xun Fengzhi: “I don’t understand today’s young people, creating so many new customs for the New Year.”

“Don’t worry about it, they’re all grown up now, with their ideas. It’s not bad for us parents to be a bit confused,” Xun Fengzhi smiled mildly while slicing cucumbers: “Turning a blind eye makes us happier and more at ease.”

She turned her head to look at Tang Peili: “Oh, by the way, did Zhang Lian tell you that they’ll celebrate New Year like this from now on?”

Of course, she omitted her son’s seemingly gentle yet uncompromising “threat” in the car: “If you find coming back and forth troublesome, next year Zhou Mi and I can celebrate the New Year by ourselves at home.”

Xun Fengzhi had responded with a scornful snort: “Your father and I don’t find it troublesome at all, we’re just afraid Zhou Mi’s parents might find it troublesome.”

Tang Peili blinked: “He did mention it, but also said tomorrow he’ll accompany Mimi back to see us.”

Bringing up this topic, Tang Peili smiled with curiosity and surprise: “Your son is quite peculiar, wanting to accompany his wife back to her maiden home on the first day of the New Year.”

Hearing this, Xun Fengzhi showed no surprise: “Let him be, he usually doesn’t come back in previous years.”

Tang Peili was astonished: “Really? You two don’t look like you have poor relationships or conflicts.”

Xun Fengzhi said: “No conflicts, it’s just that this child is used to being independent, and also fears being pressured to marry.”

Tang Peili understood: “There’s no need to fear that this year.”

Xun Fengzhi responded with a sigh: “Yes, my heart has finally settled…”

Zhang’s father, who was wiping wine glasses with kitchen paper nearby, chimed in: “Isn’t it better for both families to celebrate the New Year together? It’s more lively and more reunited.”

At the same time, the young couple, who had gone to the supermarket to purchase drinks and snacks, were returning to the residential area.

After parking the car, Zhou Mi got out first, went to the trunk, and lifted out the large bags with both hands, then very naturally handed them to Zhang Lian.

Zhang Lian took them, carrying them with one hand, and used his other hand to hold hers, intertwining their fingers, the action natural.

Zhou Mi glanced: “Is it heavy?”

Zhang Lian shook his head: “Not heavy.”

Zhou Mi tugged at his hand: “Should I take out a bottle of drink to carry?”

Zhang Lian said, “No need, this is just a few pounds.”

Zhou Mi uttered two words: “Alright, then carry on slowly.”

Zhang Lian laughed.

After walking a bit, just about to enter the first-floor lobby, Zhou Mi suddenly stopped, sweetly calling: “Brother Lian, can I ask you for a favor?”

Zhang Lian also stopped: “What is it?”

“I want—” Zhou Mi’s eyes were bright and clear as she took out her phone from her coat pocket: “Can I take a photo of your back?”

Zhang Lian asked: “What for?”

Zhou Mi murmured: “Just for the ritual sense. This is our first year of marriage, which is a milestone in life. We’ll take a photo at this same spot every New Year’s Eve from now on, to see how the handsome guy carrying bags turns into an old geezer.”

Zhang Lian corrected: “Still handsome when old, thank you.”

Zhou Mi, wanting his cooperation, her small mouth sweet as honey: “That’s for certain, just look at whose husband you are! Zhou Mi, this girl who’s so picky, so there’s no need to emphasize such an obvious fact.”

Zhang Lian smiled: “Alright, take it.”

Zhou Mi pointed ahead: “Then continue walking, act natural.”

Zhang Lian exhaled, complying. What else could he do besides satisfying her?

This New Year’s Eve was harmonious and warm as spring.

After the New Year’s Eve dinner, the newlywed couple childishly went to the outer balcony to play with sparklers, also trying time-lapse photography, and successfully captured two good finished products.

At exactly midnight, Zhou Mi updated a new post on her public account.

It was two photos placed closely together, one above the other:

One was of a pretty girl in the darkness waving sparklers to form the pattern of two “9”s, brilliant and vivid;

The other was of a man in a camel-colored coat seen from behind, carrying shopping bags in his right hand, tall and straight, exuding a sense of security.

A blessing followed:

“What I believe love to be is inflammable, yet resolute; it is immortality formed by countless heart flutters;

In the new year,

May you all walk into true love.”

—End—