Chapter 39 Plum Gin & Tonic "So, you fell in love with me at first sight..."

Shen Cen was taken aback when he saw the text before clicking on the nine pictures.

Among the nine pictures were photos of her first time mixing drinks, photos of her making a wish with her eyes closed on her birthday, and photos of her sleeping peacefully in his arms last night... Every single one was secretly taken by Jiang Shiyu with his own phone.

Unbeknownst to him, his phone had recorded so many moments about himself.

In addition, his WeChat Moments posts showed that he won over the girl he liked.

Chen Cen's breathing began to quicken.

"Jiang Shiyu".

"Hmm." Jiang Shiyu was looking down at the comments on his WeChat Moments. This post had a lot of likes, and the comments section was full of blessings for the two of them. He felt extremely pleased. Hearing this, he turned his head, "Did you see my WeChat Moments?"

“I saw it,” Shen Cen nodded, paused for a moment, and then continued, “So, you fell in love with me at first sight?”

This morning on the beach, she asked him when he had fallen for her, and Jiang Shiyu's answer was earlier than she had imagined.

She had a vague suspicion at the time, but ultimately felt it was impossible. They barely exchanged a few words when they first met, and she even lost her composure in front of Jiang Shiyu after getting drunk. How could he possibly fall in love with her at first sight?

However, Jiang Shiyu's post on his WeChat Moments at this moment reminded her of this possibility, and she couldn't help but ask him.

Jiang Shiyu did not deny it, and nodded decisively:

"yes."

"Chen Cen, I fell in love with you at first sight."

However, it wasn't the time at the bar at the beginning of the year, but even earlier, when Shen Cen still had two little pigtails and said to him in a childish voice, "We'll be good friends from now on!" "I believe you can definitely develop the most popular game!"

Shen Cen had forgotten all of this, but Jiang Shiyu could never forget. He would always remember that when everyone else mocked his dream of playing games, only two people supported and encouraged him. One was his grandmother, and the other was Shen Cen.

She would rest her chin on her hand, listening intently as he recounted his dreams, her eyes shining like stars.

In the year when he most doubted his dreams, he met the person who supported him the most.

After hearing this answer, Shen Cen still couldn't quite believe it: "The first time we met at the bar?"

Jiang Shiyu didn't answer, but instead lifted Shen Cen's head and kissed her forehead, "You'll know soon enough."

He has found the right time, and he will tell Shen Cen everything then.

The two posts on WeChat Moments generated considerable buzz.

Shen Cen rarely posts on WeChat Moments; the only two times he did were reposts of his supervisor's research findings. Upon posting these, many people left comments offering their blessings.

However, the comments left by the sports representative in his high school class were different from those of others.

[Oh my god, class monitor, you two got married! All that shipping for so long was worth it! May you have a long and happy marriage!]

Shen Cen didn't quite understand the meaning of the sentence, guessing that it might be because it had been too long and the sports committee member had mixed it up, so he didn't ask in a private message.

As for Jiang Shiyu, he's always been seen as aloof and aloof by outsiders, never paying attention to any woman, no matter how beautiful or outstanding she is. Now, it's like a couple deeply in love posting such a sweet and affectionate message on social media.

However, despite the surprise, everyone still enthusiastically left comments and blessings, except for Cheng Jingyan, who was an exception:

[Brother Yu couldn't hide it anymore after all.]

Finally, I was blacklisted by Jiang Shiyu on WeChat Moments for one day.

Lu Baichuan didn't see Shen Cen's post on WeChat Moments until half an hour later. As soon as he saw it, he immediately called Shen Cen.

When Lu Baichuan called, Shen Cen was straddling Jiang Shiyu's lap, the two of them talking closely together.

Hearing the ringtone, she picked up her phone from the side, glanced at the caller ID, and looked up at Jiang Shiyu, saying, "It's my brother on the phone."

"Okay, answer it quickly." Jiang Shiyu noticed that Shen Cen had changed Lu Baichuan's contact name from "Brother~" to "Brother". A smile unconsciously appeared at the corner of his eye, but it quickly disappeared and was not noticed by Shen Cen.

Shen Cen pressed the answer button.

"Xiao Cen".

"Brother, what's wrong?"

I saw your WeChat Moments.

Shen Cen and Jiang Shiyu exchanged a glance, then smiled sheepishly: "Brother, you saw it? How did my wedding photos turn out?"

"Jiang Shiyu asked you to send this?" Lu Baichuan's tone sounded very serious.

Shen Cen's smile vanished instantly as he glanced at Jiang Shiyu.

Although the phone wasn't on speakerphone, the two were very close, so Jiang Shiyu naturally heard Lu Baichuan's words. However, Jiang Shiyu showed no displeasure whatsoever, acting as if he hadn't heard at all. He even enthusiastically picked up a strand of her hair and braided it into a plait.

Seeing that Jiang Shiyu wasn't upset by Lu Baichuan's words, Shen Cen breathed a sigh of relief and then said to Lu Baichuan, "Brother, no, it was my own idea to post it."

She guessed that it was because she hadn't told Lu Baichuan about the changes in her relationship with Jiang Shiyu, and then suddenly posted a set of official announcement pictures, that Lu Baichuan misunderstood.

Lu Baichuan was silent for a moment before continuing, "Xiao Cen, I'm going back to China next week. How about I treat you to a meal when I get back?"

After Fu Meihua told Shen Cen about Lu Baichuan's return to China in August, Shen Cen even asked Lu Baichuan about the specific time. Unexpectedly, he actually came back a few weeks earlier.

"Okay, then contact me when the time comes, bro."

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Shiyu was still braiding her hair, seemingly lost in his own artistic pursuits.

Shen Cen recalled Lu Baichuan's words and decided to explain to Jiang Shiyu.

"I'm sorry about earlier."

Jiang Shiyu continued what he was doing, and smiled, "It's alright. Your brother-in-law didn't even ask if I kidnapped or coerced you, which is already giving me a lot of face."

Shen Cen couldn't help but laugh: "Jiang Shiyu, you have a really sharp tongue. Anyone who kisses you will probably be poisoned to death immediately."

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Shiyu pecked her lips lightly.

After the kiss, Jiang Shiyu tilted his head and looked at Shen Cen, a clear smile in his eyes: "Five seconds have passed, how come Teacher Shen hasn't been poisoned yet?"

A faint blush rose to Shen Cen's cheeks. "Okay, let me explain. My brother thought we were in a contract marriage. He didn't know we were already... well, that's why he asked that question. He didn't mean to target you."

"I know." Jiang Shiyu nodded and clipped the last clip onto Shen Cen's head. "I can be quite magnanimous."

Although Shen Cen felt that this sentence was a bit strange, just like the tone of Lu Baichuan's previous sentence, she couldn't quite put her finger on what was wrong. But seeing that Jiang Shiyu wasn't angry, she simply stopped thinking about it.

-

The next morning, Shen Cen stayed in his room, finalizing the proposal for the "Summer Echoes" marriage proposal contest and submitting it to the official email address.

During her time on Xingwan Island, she would occasionally have flashes of inspiration, and today she finally perfectly sketched out her ideal marriage proposal plan. The plan is set against the backdrop of a small town in southern Beijing, including elements she loves such as ancient towns, stone bridges, awning boats, and lisianthus.

She wasn't aiming to win an award, but rather wanted to use this opportunity to depict her ideal marriage proposal scene. After all, her preferred proposal scenario might differ from mainstream aesthetics.

In the afternoon, Jiang Wanqi and Fu Cheng, who had gone out for sea fishing, finally returned.

Jiang Wanqi seemed to have had a falling out with Fu Cheng, looking unhappy and not saying a word to him since she returned.

Shen Cen noticed the unusual atmosphere between the two of them. While Jiang Wanqi was in the room, she went in, closed the door, and asked Jiang Wanqi, "Wanqi, did you and Fu Cheng have a fight?"

Jiang Wanqi pouted, but couldn't hold back her tears, which streamed down her face: "Brother Fu Cheng doesn't like me."

Shen Cen quickly stepped forward to comfort Jiang Wanqi: "What happened?"

Jiang Wanqi sobbed, “He gave the gift I gave him to another woman.”

The two experienced the local intangible cultural heritage of shell painting on the island. After finishing, Jiang Wanqi suggested exchanging their shell paintings, and Fu Cheng agreed. Later that day, while having dinner with some friends, one of the girls saw the shell painting in Fu Cheng's hand, said she liked it very much, and wanted Fu Cheng to give it to her.

Unexpectedly, Fu Cheng actually agreed. Jiang Wanqi made a scene when she returned to the hotel that night, and Fu Cheng didn't even understand why she was so angry.

"Does he think buying me a bunch of delicious food will make up for it? Absolutely not!" Jiang Wanqi wiped away her tears, took out her powder compact to touch up her makeup, and said, "I'm never talking to Fu Cheng again!"

As a girl herself, Shen Cen naturally understood why Jiang Wanqi was so upset. She patted Jiang Wanqi's back reassuringly: "Wanqi, I understand you."

"Sister-in-law, don't you think I'm making a mountain out of a molehill?" That day, Fu Cheng said that Jiang Wanqi was making a mountain out of a molehill, which made Jiang Wanqi so angry that she hasn't spoken to him since.

"Of course not."

Shen Cen shared his thoughts, and Jiang Wanqi nodded repeatedly. After listening, she hugged Shen Cen tightly: "Sister-in-law understands me best! This is exactly the kind of favoritism you're talking about. Humph, anyway, I'm so amazing and good-looking, the men who used to chase me lined up from Beijing to New York, do I need Fu Cheng to come along?"

Jiang Wanqi kept her word this time; she didn't say a single word to Fu Cheng until the day she returned to Jingjia.

After returning to Jingjia, Shen Cen took some time to visit the Lu family.

Although she moved most of her belongings to a rented apartment when she joined Peking University, it was still a rented apartment, so she simply left many of her old things at the Lu family residence.

On the day they returned, neither Fu Meihua nor Uncle Lu were home; only Auntie was there.

She went straight upstairs to her room to tidy up her things.

There weren't many useful things. Shen Cen only took some certificates of merit he had received while studying, a tablet he had been using until he started graduate school, and a diary from his elementary school days.

When she got home, she put the stack of certificates together with the other certificates and reorganized them by year.

The tablet was already turned off, and Chen Cen wasn't sure if it would still work, but he still plugged it in to charge.

After finishing all that, she finally noticed the diary she had just overlooked.

This diary was bought for her by Fu Meihua when she was in second grade and started learning to write a diary. She clearly remembered that day in the stationery store, she looked at all kinds of notebooks with beautiful soft covers, liked this one, and couldn't bear to part with that one. She spent a whole hour choosing before finally settling on a pink notebook with a floral princess cover.

Shen Cen couldn't help but reach out and stroke the cover of the diary. The softcover was already yellowed, and the pages smelled musty.

But when her fingertips touched the cover, she could still recall the excitement she felt when she picked up the notebook and told Fu Meihua, "Mom, I've chosen! I want this one!"

Her eyes were a little red.

She prepared to open her diary to see what she had written in it when she was a child. Just as she turned to the first page, a four-inch photograph tucked between the pages fell out.

Shen Cen picked up the photo from the ground and stared at it for a long time.

There are two children in the photo; the little girl is myself, and the little boy...

-----------------------

Author's Note: Ahem, everyone can keep an eye on the sports committee [Let me see]. You'll find out what's going on in a few chapters!