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墨書 Inktalez
After spending a few days with Liu Shuhan's parents in City Z, they returned to C City.
Everything was the same as before, yet different.
Liu Shuhan was busier than ever, but it wasn't because of delivering Courier packages; she was busy planning her small wedding with Cheng Qiuyi.
The wedding date was set for May, and the venue was the same place where they had hosted Lu Yao's Full Moon Celebration. That location offered good privacy, was quiet, and was owned by A-Zhi, making it more convenient for them.
Every day after work, Liu Shuhan's first task was to choose wedding dress styles and rings with Cheng Qiuyi. They also had to review the plans sent by the wedding planner, leaving them overwhelmed yet increasingly happy.
Although there were only a few guests, Liu Shuhan still took the matter seriously and printed invitations: one for A-Zhi's family, one for Yuan Ying, one for Qin Jiang, and one for Xu Ruyun and Liu Sen.
A-Zhi's family included five members in total, Yuan Ying was said to bring someone along, Qin Jiang would come alone, Xu Ruyun and Liu Sen would come together, and there would also be Cheng Boming. Including Liu Shuhan and Cheng Qiuyi, there would be a total of thirteen people. They couldn't even fill a private room but still booked an entire banquet hall—though not the one where the previous incident occurred; it was a different one.
Yuan Ying arrived a month early from S City. By the time she returned in April, after the Qingming Festival, C City had experienced half a month of continuous rain with no signs of clearing up.
Liu Shuhan couldn't find time to go to the airport due to work, so Cheng Qiuyi went alone to pick up Yuan Ying.
Accompanying Yuan Ying was another woman who was also tall but only slightly shorter than Yuan Ying. She had short hair that covered her ears and lay flat against her head without any accessories. She wore a clean white shirt with every button fastened meticulously to the top. She looked about the same age as Yuan Ying, but her face bore an undeniable weariness that made her appear like a tall poplar tree weathered by storms—calm and upright.
Yuan Ying seemed eager to please as she wrapped her arm around the woman's shoulder and said something. The woman's expression remained unchanged, her eyes flickering slightly as if she were listening to Yuan Ying.
Cheng Qiuyi had been friends with Yuan Ying for many years and knew her well; when had she ever seen her act so accommodating towards someone? From a distance, she observed the woman. Aside from being mature and composed, there didn't seem to be anything particularly special about her.
Well, she had an intriguing look; none of her features stood out individually, but together they created a face that became more appealing the longer you looked at it.
Cheng Qiuyi realized for the first time after all these years that Yuan Ying liked this kind of reserved beauty. No wonder she hadn't shown interest in any of the foreign girls; where else could she find such a beauty besides in her own country?
“Yuan Ying, welcome back.” Cheng Qiuyi casually took the suitcase from her hand and nodded slightly to the woman beside her, who also returned the gesture.
Having just gotten off the plane, Yuan Ying immediately teased Cheng Qiuyi, “Cheng Qiuyi, look at you! After a few months, not only have you managed to deal with Liu Shuhan, but you've also won over your in-laws. Impressive!” After finishing her playful jab at Cheng Qiuyi, she remembered to introduce her, “By the way, this is He Mo Qian, she is my…”
“Driver,” the woman named He Mo Qian interjected quickly, as if afraid Yuan Ying would say something inappropriate.
Her voice was quite hoarse, not in a sexy way, but rather as if someone had stuffed a piece of sandpaper in her throat. Each syllable seemed to undergo repeated friction before it came out.
Yuan Ying glanced at He Mo Qian and cheerfully added, “Yes, driver, full-time.”
Cheng Qiuyi understood and smiled as she introduced herself, “I am Cheng Qiuyi, nice to meet you.” Then she teasingly remarked about Yuan Ying, “You’re something else; you quit a job that paid millions a year and still have the spare cash to hire such a beautiful full-time driver.”
“It’s because of you,” Yuan Ying shrugged nonchalantly. “When I go bankrupt, I’ll just bring A Qian over to your place for free meals and drinks since you’re rich, and Shu Han cooks so well.”
Liu Shuhan often said that Cheng Qiuyi had thick skin, but Yuan Ying was simply shameless. Half-jokingly, Cheng Qiuyi complained to He Mo Qian, “A Qian, you really need to keep an eye on her. Does what she says even make sense?”
He Mo Qian awkwardly smiled but didn’t respond, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense.
What was going on?
Cheng Qiuyi shot a puzzled glance at Yuan Ying.
In response, Yuan Ying shook her head as if facing a formidable enemy and said, “It’s a long story; don’t ask.”
Yuan Ying, who last year claimed her heart was dead, now seems to have come back to life, full of energy.
He Mo Qian is very quiet. Throughout the journey, Yuan Ying and Cheng Qiuyi chat non-stop, while she shows no intention of joining in. She sits upright, gazing out at the fine drizzle outside, as if separated from the entire world.
Her short hair obscures her eyes, revealing only a sharp jawline. There are faint traces of old scars on her neck, hidden beneath the collar of her shirt.
Every family has its own struggles.
Cheng Qiuyi thinks her silly partner is simply wonderful—he can cook, keep her warm at night, and acts like a little cat seeking affection, which makes him endearing.
In the evening, Liu Shuhan learns that Yuan Ying has brought a guest and comes home early from work, specially buying a few extra dishes. When she arrives, Yuan Ying teases her a bit before she heads into the kitchen to get busy. Cheng Qiuyi follows her in to help out.
While washing vegetables, Liu Shuhan whispers conspiratorially, "Hey, what's the deal with that A Qian? She has Yuan Ying completely under her thumb."
"How would I know?" Cheng Qiuyi replies casually while rinsing the vegetables. "I've known A-Ying for five or six years now, and this is the first time I've seen her care so much about someone."
"Are you saying there's something going on between them?"
Cheng Qiuyi finishes washing the vegetables and places them in a basket to drain. "Whether there's anything between them depends on A Qian's feelings; I think it's unlikely."
"You elites make dating sound so complicated." Liu Shuhan shoos Cheng Qiuyi out of the kitchen. "Never mind that; I'm cooking now. You go chat with the guest."
"Hey, I haven't even washed the radishes yet!"
"No need to wash them; we're not having radishes tonight."
As the days slipped into May, on the eve of the wedding, Yuan Ying and He Mo Qian, along with Xu Ruyun, kidnapped Liu Shuhan.
"A-Ying, what are you doing?" Cheng Qiuyi asked in confusion.
Yuan Ying explained seriously, "You wouldn't understand. The bride and groom can't meet the night before the wedding; it's bad luck."
"Really?" Cheng Qiuyi was skeptical.
"Of course it's true."
Cheng Qiuyi had no choice but to compromise. "Alright then, I'll wait for you to make Shu Han look beautiful and bring her to me tomorrow."
"Don't worry!"
That night, unable to meet in person, they could only express their feelings over the phone.
Liu Shuhan was so nervous about getting married the next day that she couldn't sleep, pacing anxiously in her hotel room.
"Qiu Yi, starting tomorrow, we'll be married."
"Yeah, Shu Han, I'm a bit nervous."
"I'm almost dying from nerves!" Liu Shuhan lay sprawled on the bed. "I wasn't even this nervous during the college entrance exam."
"Don't be nervous, just go to sleep. Be careful not to wake up tomorrow with two dark circles under your eyes on your wedding day."
"I can't sleep..." Liu Shuhan said with a sad face. "Cheng Qiuyi, can you sing to me?"
Cheng Qiuyi really sang to her, performing "Today You Will Marry Me." The cheerful melody flowed through the fiber optics into Liu Shuhan's ears, light and gentle.
"Hand in hand, we walk together, creating a happy life..."
Repeating this one song, Liu Shuhan listened and eventually fell asleep.
Cheng Qiuyi had her phone on speaker mode beside the pillow, listening to Liu Shuhan's steady breathing, as if Liu Shuhan were sleeping right next to her.
Cheng Qiuyi continued to hum that song.
"Will you marry me today..."
"Yes..."
Cheng Qiuyi heard Liu Shuhan's drowsy response from the other end of the line.
So obedient.
Cheng Qiuyi closed her eyes and praised Liu Shuhan, a smile spreading across her face.
The large banquet hall had only one table of guests, and on the stage stood a pair of newlyweds, both appearing to be women. The one in the suit was petite, her tailored outfit accentuating her slender waist, with her hair neatly styled into a bun at the back of her head.
Liu Shuhan stood excitedly in front of the emcee, occasionally stealing glances at Cheng Qiuyi, who was wearing a wedding dress.
Cheng Qiuyi looked truly beautiful today; her face was partially hidden beneath the veil, with long, curled lashes almost brushing against the delicate fabric. Her lips were painted a vibrant red, fuller and more luscious than ripe cherries. Liu Shuhan couldn't help but want to kiss her.
The emcee was Yuan Ying. Both Cheng Qiuyi and Liu Shuhan wanted their wedding to be free from interruptions by strangers. They hadn't informed anyone except for close family and friends, and any guests who had somehow learned about the event and tried to get close were turned away.
“Miss Liu Shuhan, do you wish to take Miss Cheng Qiuyi as your partner, to guard her for life, through sickness and health, never to part?”
Liu Shuhan's gaze was fixed on Cheng Qiuyi, completely lost in her thoughts; she didn't even hear Yuan Ying's words.
“Ahem!” Yuan Ying cleared her throat loudly. “Miss Liu Shuhan!”
“Ah? Oh!” Liu Shuhan snapped back to reality and nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes! A hundred yeses, a thousand yeses!”
Silly girl.
Cheng Qiuyi smiled at her from behind the veil.
“Miss Cheng Qiuyi, do you wish to take Miss Liu Shuhan as your partner, to guard her for life, through sickness and health, never to part?”
“I do,” Cheng Qiuyi said gently as she looked at Liu Shuhan. “A hundred yeses, a thousand yeses.”
“Good, the newlyweds may exchange rings.”
The ring's design was simple, with understated patterns, and the initials of their names were engraved on the inside. This was insisted upon by Liu Shuhan, while Cheng Qiuyi had laughed at her for being cliché.
"What do you know? Everyone else does this, so we should too," Liu Shuhan said.
They didn't need a unique or earth-shattering way to announce their love to the world; they just hoped to be like everyone else, to become partners and support each other for a lifetime without worrying about others' opinions, because they were no different from anyone else.
Cheng Qiuyi looked at the metal ring engraved with Liu Shuhan's name on her left ring finger and felt it was incredibly romantic, both cliché and romantic at the same time.
Why strive for elegance? They were not celestial beings detached from the world; life in the mortal realm should be both cliché and romantic.
"Alright, you may kiss each other now," Yuan Ying announced.
Liu Shuhan couldn't wait, standing on her tiptoes to lift Cheng Qiuyi's veil and kissed her red lips.
Cheng Qiuyi wrapped her arms around Liu Shuhan's waist, holding her securely in her embrace.
In the audience, Yan Cailing was more excited than when she got married, gripping A-Zhi's wrist with tears in her eyes. "I knew Qiu Yi wasn't the submissive one! I almost died of shock just now! How could you think Qiu Yi would be the submissive one?"
A-Zhi was confused. "Honey, what are you talking about? What do you mean by submissive? The lady is quite slender; if she gets any thinner, she'll be nothing but skin and bones."
Yan Cailing calmly wiped away her tears of excitement. "Men shouldn't meddle in women's affairs."
A-Zhi felt wronged. What was wrong with being a straight man? Did straight men have no rights?
After a brief yet long kiss, Cheng Qiuyi and Liu Shuhan knelt before their parents, holding tea to present to their elders.
Cheng Qiuyi's parents were both gone, and Qin Jiang was her master. Once a teacher, always a father; naturally, Qin Jiang took the place of the parents. On the other side were Xu Ruyun and Liu Sen.
Cheng Qiuyi picked up the tea cup and said, "Dad, Mom, thank you for all your hard work over the years. Thank you for raising Shu Han and for allowing us to be together."
As she spoke, she handed the tea to Liu Shuhan.
"The road ahead is still long. Little quarrels are inevitable. Just live well, understood?" Xu Ruyun took a sip of tea and handed Cheng Qiuyi a red envelope. "May you have smooth sailing, harmony, peace, and good health." She nudged Liu Sen with her elbow. "You say a few words too."
Liu Sen took a sip of tea and slowly said, "Your mom is right."
The others burst into laughter; Old Liu was indeed quite amusing.
After toasting Liu Shuhan's parents, it was time to toast Qin Jiang. Liu Shuhan felt a bit intimidated by Qin Jiang as she held out the tea and repeatedly said thank you, unable to express anything else. Qin Jiang smiled slightly and handed her a red envelope. "Hui'er knows that Qiu Yi has found someone special to spend her life with; she must be very happy."
"As Qiu Yi's master, I feel I haven't fulfilled my responsibilities over the years. Now that I entrust Qiu Yi to you, Shu Han, please take good care of her."
"Master, don't worry; I will take good care of her!" Liu Shuhan promised, patting her chest.
"Good, you may rise."
Cheng Qiuyi and Liu Shuhan helped each other stand up.
Suddenly, Cheng Qiuyi wrapped one arm around Liu Shuhan's back while the other slipped under her knee. With a gentle lift of her arm, she picked Liu Shuhan up entirely.
She was wearing a pair of high-heeled shoes beneath her heavy skirt but showed no fear of falling.
Liu Shuhan's hand unconsciously hung around Cheng Qiuyi's neck as she exclaimed, "Qiu Yi, what are you doing? Put me down!"
"Everyone, enjoy your meal and drinks. I'll take Shu Han to change clothes and be right back," Cheng Qiuyi said, carrying Liu Shuhan out of the banquet hall and into the room prepared by the hotel.
The group stared at each other in shock, clearly impressed by Cheng Qiuyi's deep tactics.
Yan Cailing was excited again, saying, "Look, I told you Liu Shuhan is the one being pampered!"
A-Zhi glanced at Miss Shu Han and noted that she was indeed quite slender.
Cheng Qiuyi tossed Liu Shuhan onto the soft bed, then leaned down on top of her. The hem of her dress spread across the entire bed, completely enveloping the formally dressed Liu Shuhan.
"Qiu Yi, the guests outside... they're still waiting..." Liu Shuhan swallowed hard.
"Let them wait," Cheng Qiuyi said, her fingers deftly unbuttoning Liu Shuhan's shirt. Her fingers glided down Liu Shuhan's smooth neck and encountered a small barrier at her chest. As she attempted to push aside that fabric to continue, Liu Shuhan pleaded repeatedly.
"Qiu Yi, please... this isn't right..."
"What's wrong with it? You are now officially my wife."
Liu Shuhan's suit was wrinkled, her shirt disheveled, and her hair slightly messy. With moist eyes looking at Cheng Qiuyi, she realized that Cheng Qiuyi was just joking, yet for a moment, she genuinely felt like Cheng Qiuyi might take things further right there.
"Alright, no more jokes," Cheng Qiuyi said as she rolled off the bed and removed the heavy wedding dress. "I told you to wear a suit; you really know how to take advantage. This wedding dress is heavier than a sandbag; it's exhausting!"
Liu Shuhan blinked while lying on the bed. Was that it?
"Why are you still dazed? Hurry up and change your clothes, Mom, Dad, and Master are all waiting," Cheng Qiuyi urged.
"Oh, okay, okay..." Liu Shuhan got up to change her clothes, feeling a bit disappointed. Cheng Qiuyi was becoming less interesting.
There weren't many people, and there wasn't any big event. They chatted while eating, from noon until evening, and then they all went their separate ways. Xu Ruyun and her husband, along with Qin Jiang, Yuan Ying, and He Mo Qian, stayed at the nearby hotel. Yan Cailing and A-Zhi returned home, taking Cheng Boming with them.
Cheng Qiuyi also drove Liu Shuhan back to their little home.
After returning home, Cheng Qiuyi finally took out another wedding dress. "Shu Han, I've worn a wedding dress for you; you haven't worn one for me yet."
She helped Liu Shuhan into the elegant white wedding dress and pulled her to sit in front of the vanity. One brush stroke at a time, she carefully applied the most beautiful makeup on Liu Shuhan.
Liu Shuhan closed her eyes and let Cheng Qiuyi paint her face. The makeup took quite a while; over an hour later, Cheng Qiuyi lifted Liu Shuhan's chin. "Shu Han, you can open your eyes now."
Liu Shuhan fluttered her eyelashes and slowly opened her eyes, her bright gaze sparkling with life.
Cheng Qiuyi sincerely exclaimed, "Shu Han, you are truly beautiful."
She pressed her lips against Liu Shuhan's freshly glossed lips.
Liu Shuhan followed her lead and stood up. The two kissed their way from the vanity to the bed. When they parted, a glistening silver thread connected their lips. Liu Shuhan's lips were tinted with a layer of moisture as she breathed heavily, holding onto Cheng Qiuyi tightly.
Wearing the wedding dress with the veil spread beneath her, the pure white was only accented by the wet crimson of her lips—pure yet seductive.
The layers of the wedding dress piled up thickly. Cheng Qiuyi's fingers navigated through the heavy fabric until they finally reached the most secret place, entering a narrow and moist area.
With the movement of her fingers, Cheng Qiuyi whispered repeatedly in Liu Shuhan's ear.
"Shu Han, I love you, I love you..."
She said "I love you" so many times that, in the depth of their emotions, they both ended up shedding tears.
"Qiu Yi, I love you too." Liu Shuhan clutched Cheng Qiuyi's back, shouting recklessly, "Cheng Qiuyi, I love you! I love you, I love you—"
Liu Shuhan's body lifted high like a fish out of water, then fell heavily back down. The rush of feelings came so suddenly that she felt as if she might drown in it.
...
As the first rays of sunlight poured in the morning, Liu Shuhan opened her eyes from a deep sleep. Her newlywed wife had already woken up and was propped up on her side, smiling at her.
"Wife, good morning." Cheng Qiuyi planted a good morning kiss.
Liu Shuhan tilted her head to return the kiss and smiled back, "Wife, good morning to you too."
It was the first time she felt so at ease calling her "wife," and they both thought the same thing without saying it.
A new chapter of their lives began again; outside the house, the sunlight was just right—stable and ordinary.
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