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A simple yet meticulously organized wedding unfolded under the blue sky and beside the azure sea, filled with laughter and joy.
Jin Chengyan stood at the end of the red carpet, with the vast ocean stretching behind him. Dressed in a tailcoat with a boutonnière pinned to his chest, he awaited the arrival of his beloved.
Why hold the wedding by the sea?
Because Jono had once said she preferred warmer places, where wearing a wedding dress wouldn’t be too cold. She loved listening to the sound of the waves and watching the seagulls...
See, Jin Chengyan knew what Jono liked, even keeping all her preferences tucked away in his heart.
He could remember them clearly, even in his dreams.
Then, Jin Chengyan woke up.
In a familiar hospital room, surrounded by the scent of antiseptic, he realized that it wasn’t Jono as he had imagined.
“Mom…” Jin Chengyan hadn’t fully regained consciousness, but upon seeing Melancholy, something felt off.
“You're awake. How do you feel?” Melancholy spoke calmly to Jin Chengyan, as if he hadn’t just undergone a bone marrow donation surgery but merely come to the hospital for a routine leg pain.
“Um, I’m okay,” Jin Chengyan nodded slightly. “Mom, where’s Jono…”
They had promised that if he came out safely, she would wait for him. But where was she now? Where could she be?
Melancholy didn’t answer; she simply adjusted the blanket over Jin Chengyan.
“What about that little darling’s surgery? Was it successful?” The reason Jono hadn’t appeared was that Qiao Lovely’s surgery hadn’t gone well.
Why hadn’t it succeeded? Qi Ziluo had told him that the success rate of the surgery was seventy percent, which was still quite high.
However, there was still a thirty percent chance of failure.
"Make sure to rest well. In a couple of days, you can go home to recuperate. This surgery is completely confidential. If it falls into the wrong hands, the Jin Family could face unprecedented repercussions."
"Mom, did Qiao Lovely's surgery succeed or not?" Jin Chengyan's voice rose a few notches; Melancholy's deliberate avoidance made him feel something was off.
Melancholy remained silent, but her kind face showed a hint of anger, likely because she didn't want to hear Jono or Qiao Lovely's name.
"If you won't tell me, I'll ask Ziluo myself." With that, Jin Chengyan attempted to push himself up from the bed, even trying to pull out the IV needle from his hand.
This action truly angered Melancholy. She immediately pressed Jin Chengyan back onto the bed, forbidding him to move an inch.
He was still under the effects of anesthesia, feeling weak all over, and the surgical site throbbed with pain. Jin Chengyan was no match for Melancholy and could only obediently lie back down.
"It was your previous indulgence that allowed you to be so willful at over thirty! Jin Chengyan, you are the future head of the Jin Family; you are its support. Your decisions do not only concern you! If you were just an ordinary person earning a few thousand dollars a month, I wouldn't care how you lived your life! But you are my son! I cannot watch you degrade yourself for a woman!"
Thus, in Melancholy's eyes, Jin Chengyan's actions were self-destructive.
Jin Chengyan's agitated heart gradually calmed down.
He looked at Melancholy; for the first time since becoming an adult, he was so close to his mother.
"But Jono is... the person I love most."
"You once said Ruan Shengyu was your greatest love, yet in the end, didn't you fall for Jono? Ayan, there’s no such thing as someone you must have; if she wants to leave you and forget you, why pursue her?" As someone who had been through it all, Melancholy seemed quite insightful.
Jin Chengyan wanted to say something more, but the words caught in his throat and he swallowed them back.
Indeed, he had once claimed Ruan Shengyu was his greatest love, but what about now? Hadn't he fallen for Jono?
Every relationship is filled with the utmost effort to love, but in the end, the ones we love are not by our side, free to come and go as they please.
"Good child, get some good sleep." Melancholy watched as Jin Chengyan gradually calmed down, finally letting out a sigh of relief.
In the following days, Jin Chengyan did not see Jono in the hospital. He heard from Qi Ziluo that Qiao Lovely's surgery was relatively successful; if there were no signs of rejection within six months and no recurrence in five years, she could remain healthy.
Every time Qi Ziluo spoke, he deliberately avoided mentioning Jono, seemingly under pressure from Melancholy.
Jin Chengyan did not ask further. After all, Jono had said he would come, yet now he had not shown up. He was genuinely unhappy.
Unhappy?
Yes, he preferred to describe his feelings directly as unhappy; how could he hide it?
After being discharged from the hospital, Jin Chengyan ignored Melancholy's suggestion to stay at Jin Family Mansion and stubbornly headed to Jin Mansion instead.
He didn’t let A-Shan follow him inside and even sent him home early, asking him not to come for the next couple of days. He wanted some time alone to think about his relationship with Jono.
Opening the door, he saw the Jin Mansion that he had ordered to be renovated. Aside from the exterior of the villa remaining unchanged, everything inside had been updated.
He wanted to make Jin Mansion their new home!
Then they would take wedding photos and hang them in the living room, study, bedroom... even on the walls of the staircase.
Although Jin Chengyan did not particularly like taking photos.
He opened the villa door and changed his shoes, initially just planning to head to his room for a good sleep.
Now, aside from wanting to sleep, he had no other thoughts.
However, he heard some noises coming from the kitchen, likely the servant called by Melancholy to take care of him.
Not bothering with that, Jin Chengyan headed straight upstairs.
"Ayan." After taking just a couple of steps, he heard a familiar voice behind him, sweet and captivating.
Was he really not dreaming?
Jin Chengyan turned around and saw Jono wearing an apron, holding a spatula in one hand, smiling dreamily as he looked up at him.
Jin Chengyan focused his gaze, confirming he wasn't mistaken, and looked at Jono with some confusion.
"You... what are you doing here? Why are you so domestic?"
"You must be hungry, right? I made your favorite dishes, but it's been four years, so I don't know if your taste has changed." Jono shrugged, yet his adorable demeanor was just like it had been four years ago.
Jin Chengyan was sure he wasn't dreaming because his wound still throbbed slightly, but Jono in front of him was real!
"Or do you want to rest a bit before eating? That's fine; I'll put the food away and we can eat whenever you're ready." Jono smiled and turned to head back into the kitchen.
Jin Chengyan couldn't let Jono walk away like that. He quickly descended the stairs and hugged Jono from behind as he walked toward the kitchen.
Jono was startled at first but then burst into giggles, snuggling into Jin Chengyan's embrace. The hand that wasn't holding the spatula rested on Jin Chengyan's arm.
It felt as if they had never had any misunderstandings between them.
"Jono, is it really you?" Jin Chengyan held Jono tightly, fearing that this was all just a dream.
Only in dreams could they avoid arguments and live together in love for a lifetime.
"Not at all," Jono replied.
"You’re lying." He sounded like a child, pouting in disbelief.
"I'm not lying. The first time we met was in the hotel. I saw you right away and pulled off your towel, then you asked me to marry you. Although it was just a contract marriage, we got married. At that time, you had someone you liked, and I didn’t have feelings for you either. But later on, you kept getting closer to me, perhaps not intending to make me misunderstand.
"But I couldn't tell if you were helping me out of kindness or because you cared about me. Either way, I started to like that side of you. Then we fought a lot, fiercely, hurting each other until I left. It felt like I didn’t want you anymore, but really, it was you who didn’t want me.
"Then I came back and lied to you about having a daughter. You were really angry, but later you found out that the little cutie was just my sister, and it was you who saved her when she got sick.
"So am I still lying to you? Do you still doubt that I’m Jono?"
Jin Chengyan listened carefully as Jono recounted their past four years in detail.
He felt absolutely certain that this person was indeed Jono, the one he had loved and lost.
"I told you I would wait for you to be discharged, so I've been waiting for you at our home," Jono said, turning around and gently caressing Jin Chengyan's face. "A few days ago, I had to take care of the little cutie, so I couldn’t visit you. You’re not mad at me, are you?"
"How could I be!" Jin Chengyan replied with a proud expression.
"Are you upset?" Jono pouted, unsure how to handle an angry Jin Chengyan.
But more than anger, Jin Chengyan felt joy and excitement because the current Jono was the one he had first known.
"No, I'm just happy! You finally came back, Jono." He called her name, emphasizing that she was indeed Jono.
She had no idea how much he had minded when Xi Yisheng called her Faye before.
"So am I still your... lover?" Jono suddenly became serious, interrogating Jin Chengyan.
Jin Chengyan seemed to hesitate for a brief moment when he saw Jono's expression change, but he quickly spoke up, "You are my wife, my lover, my confidante, my everything! From now on, you are the only woman for me!"
Before Jin Chengyan could finish his sentence, Jono rose on her toes and pressed her lips against his.
Jono's initiative left Jin Chengyan completely unable to resist.
He wrapped his arms around Jono's waist, pinning her against the wall. What had started as passivity transformed into dominance as he forcefully entered her mouth, using all his kissing skills to please Jono, making her lose herself in the kiss.
Just as he was about to take things further, Jono called for a stop.
"That's enough. We have plenty of time ahead of us, and you’re still injured. Let's eat first, okay?" Jono placed her hand against Jin Chengyan's chest. It was clear that her breath was slightly uneven.
He slowly adjusted his breathing, resting his forehead against hers while cradling her face. He felt nothing but happiness.
"Alright, we have plenty of time ahead of us." He playfully emphasized the second word of the idiom as if he were afraid others wouldn’t understand his intentions.
In the past few encounters, Jin Chengyan had never tasted the dishes Jono made for him—not because they had quarreled and parted ways, but due to various circumstances that prevented them from sitting down together for a meal.
But today was different; they could sit at the dining table like a normal couple. Since Jin Chengyan had just undergone surgery and couldn't drink alcohol, they would surely have celebrated otherwise.
On the table were four dishes that Jin Chengyan loved: Shrimp with Corn, Stir-Fried Green Beans, Celery and Lily Bulbs, and Borscht—light and perfect for him at this moment.
However, before they could start eating, Jin Chengyan suddenly put down his chopsticks.
Jono looked at him in confusion. "What's wrong? Is it not to your taste?"
He wore a mysterious smile on his lips.
"Wait a moment; I want to show you something."
"What is it? Let's eat first. I haven't had anything to eat yet because I've been busy making dinner for you!" Jono said softly.
Jin Chengyan truly adored this side of Jono, speaking gently as if he had just emerged from the water.
"It's important; I have to see it first." With that, Jin Chengyan stood up from his chair and went upstairs.
Jin Chengyan's departure turned the once lively dining room into a cold and quiet space.
Jono looked at Jin Chengyan's empty seat, and her eyes suddenly filled with tears.
She never realized that being proactive would make Jin Chengyan react this way.
In the past, she had taken ninety-nine steps toward him while he remained stationary. Even when there was just one step left, Jono would turn and leave.
Now, Jin Chengyan had taken ninety-nine steps toward her, believing she would take that final step as well.
But…
Jono clutched the fabric over her heart tightly, feeling an indescribable pain deep within her chest.
Whether they called her foolish for forgetting the pain after healing or said she brought this upon herself, it didn't matter.
Because they were not her; they didn't understand that when she was at her wit's end, Jin Chengyan's appearance was like a divine intervention, helping her out of despair.
At that time, Jin Chengyan was like the Monkey King riding on a rainbow cloud, and she was Zixia Fairy.
Yet, Zixia Fairy never ended up with the Monkey King!
Hearing footsteps, Jono looked up, quickly wiping away the tears that were about to fall. She rubbed her nose to compose herself.
Soon, Jin Chengyan returned, one hand behind his back, hiding something.
But he immediately noticed Jono's slightly reddened eyes.
"You've been crying?" Jin Chengyan was now as sensitive as a girl.
"No, I just closed the window because the wind was blowing," Jono replied.
Jin Chengyan didn’t care whether Jono had actually closed the window; he walked in front of her and reached out, covering her eyes with his hand.
"What are you doing?" Jono didn’t remove his hand but quietly sat in her seat, waiting for his mystery.
"I told you, in this lifetime, you will always be my wife, Jin Chengyan's wife. You were before, you are now, and you will be in the future." He declared with authority, then removed his hand from Jono's eyes.
What came into Jono's view was their marriage certificate!
Two red books were prominently displayed before her.
"This... isn't... us..." Jono pointed at the marriage certificate, tears finally streaming down her face.
It turned out they hadn’t divorced; Jin Chengyan had kept these two marriage certificates!
"My dad made that proof invalid. If he can find someone, why can't I? In this lifetime, I only acknowledge you, Jono, as my wife. I will never divorce you. Have you heard of 'One Marriage Only, The CEO Is Hard to Please'? That's how I want it to be with you."
The floodgates of tears opened; Jono embraced Jin Chengyan along with the marriage certificate. She was overwhelmed with emotions and could only hold him to relieve what she felt inside.
"Ayan, Ayan..." She called his name over and over again, using this way to prove that Jin Chengyan was there beside her, that the person she held now was indeed her husband.
"I'm here. I've always been here, afraid you wouldn't find me, so I've been waiting for you right here." God knows how happy Jin Chengyan was to know that Jono was still alive.
When he couldn't find Jono, he even prayed to the gods, hoping to exchange ten years of his life for Jono's safety.
"I love you, I love you so much..."
"I love you too." Jin Chengyan finally said these words to Jono, a confession that had waited four years.
He gently stroked Jono's back, helping her calm down.
After a long while, Jono released Jin Chengyan, her tears having dried considerably on his shirt, and he didn't mind at all.
"There's one more thing I want to give you." With that, Jin Chengyan took out a dark red velvet box from his pocket.
The packaging for a ring.
Jono's heart leaped into her throat.
It wasn't that no one had ever given her a ring before, even during proposals.
Her scummy ex-boyfriend and Xi Yisheng had both presented her with rings, and she had indeed felt excited in those moments, caught up in the atmosphere.
However, when Jin Chengyan took out the ring, Jono felt like the happiest person in the world; nothing could make her cheer and leap for joy more than this.
To her surprise, Jin Chengyan knelt on one knee and took one of Jono's hands.
"Jono, I've always owed you a proposal, a ring, and a wedding. Now, I want to propose to you, give you this ring, and when spring arrives with its warmth and sunshine, we can hold our wedding so that you can marry me openly. How does that sound?"
The simple ring was adorned with a subtly luxurious square diamond that reflected shimmering starlight under the lights. It was so beautiful that Jono couldn't believe it was real!
But his hand was truly holding hers as he looked up, waiting for Jono's response.
"Marry me, Jono." His firm tone and gaze made Jono forget all her thoughts.
"I do." At this moment, saying anything else felt inappropriate.
Satisfied with her answer, Jin Chengyan slid the ring onto Jono's finger and then lowered his head to kiss her fair hand.
It was sacred and sincere.
"From now on, you are my officially recognized wife, and there's no escaping it." He teased, still like a child, holding Jono's hand and refusing to let go.
The food had gone cold by the time they started eating together, but they both found it delicious. Nothing felt more wonderful than having their loved one by their side.
After dinner, Jono washed the dishes. Jin Chengyan had offered to do it, insisting that since Jono had cooked, she shouldn't have to work too hard. However, Jono mentioned that he had just undergone surgery.
After going back and forth on the matter, Jin Chengyan suggested that the Jin Family Mansion send a servant over.
Jono declined, saying she enjoyed their time alone together; having someone else around would make her feel uncomfortable.
Jin Chengyan was now very attentive to Jono's wishes and readily agreed.
In the afternoon, they sat in the garden soaking up the sun. Although Jin Chengyan remarked that sunbathing was something only old people did, Jono argued that it helped alleviate bone aging. After being educated on the matter, Jin Chengyan obediently settled into a lounge chair to bask in the sun with Jono.
Upon closer inspection, Jono and Jin Chengyan resembled an old married couple leisurely enjoying the sunny afternoon.
"Wife, how is our little darling doing? I haven't seen her since my surgery; is she mad at me?" He had promised Qiao Lovely he would visit her but hadn't gone since Jono didn't make it to the hospital.
"She's fine now; she's still resting but will be discharged soon." The past few months of Qiao Lovely's illness had truly worn Jono out, but thankfully everything turned out alright in the end.
"We should find time to visit her; she will be our daughter from now on—just her." He held her hand and placed it gently on her lower abdomen.
Once, that place had nurtured their child, but it never saw the sunlight of this world.
Jono knew he was talking about their child.
"The doctor said I can never have children again." After the miscarriage, she fell into depression, and for those years, she barely held on with medication. Her body was extremely weak, and she could no longer bear children.
"Qiao Lovely is our child."
Jono nodded and said nothing more.
She understood that with Jin Chengyan's status, it was impossible not to have a son as an heir; otherwise, the rules of the Jin Family would be thrown into chaos.
But she couldn't worry about that anymore.
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