Do you know what a marriage alliance is?

Do you even know what a political marriage is?

27.

Lan Jian spent a whole week on a business trip in Chongming. Although the nuclear research institute was particularly lively due to the many year-end gatherings, he still went back to his parents' home in Chongming on New Year's Eve.

Ming Zijuan knew about Chongming's business trip and also knew that Lanjian had no plans for New Year's Eve. So, after Lanjian woke up, she had the driver pick her up and bring her home. There were many people at home, and everyone played cards and chatted together, which made the time pass quickly.

When Chongming got home, the New Year's Eve fireworks had already started going off ahead of schedule. As his car passed Lianjiang Lake, many young people were standing on the shore, waiting for midnight.

Chongming became anxious.

Many relatives came to visit today, and the garage was almost full. Chongming struggled to find a parking space, but it felt like a light-year away from the elevator. He glanced at his watch; there were still two minutes left. He was anxious, and his steps quickened accordingly.

Chongming walked briskly between the cars, his pace quickening until he began to run.

He hadn't run like this in a very, very long time.

The lyrics, accompanied by a melody, might even automatically play in your mind.

At 11:59 p.m., he finally opened the door to his bedroom.

Lan Jian rarely went to bed early. She turned off the lights in her room and was still feeling sleepy when she was startled awake by the soft sound of Chongming opening the door. She sat up in bed and mumbled Chongming's name. Chongming took off his cold coat, squatted down beside the bed, and turned on the bedside lamp. In the dim light, a strand of her hair fell messily down her brow, as if dividing her face in two.

Half of her eyes were still sleepy, while the other half were bright and sparkling with a cheerful smile.

Chongming brushed her hair aside, nuzzled her nose against hers, and said in a gentle voice, "I'm back. Happy New Year."

Lan Jian sensed that his breathing was a little labored, and his hearing seemed to be awakened the moment he opened his mouth, as he heard the sound of fireworks exploding outside the window.

It's past midnight.

"Happy New Year!"

Our first New Year.

The two embraced quietly for a while, and Lan Jian, as if gradually regaining her senses, asked him, "Did you make a point of coming back before midnight?"

"Um."

"You're panting so much, did you go for a run?"

"I had to find a parking space at home, and I almost missed midnight."

Lan Jian laughed, "Since you've worked so hard to come back and spend New Year's Eve with me, I have a gift for you!"

What is it?

Chongming saw Lanjian climb to the head of the bed, open the bedside table, take out a passport, and open it to find a new name in the spouse section: "Spouse: Meng Lanjian." Chongming chuckled, "It was mailed home last week, wasn't it?"

"Yes, today—no, it was yesterday—Mom only remembered to give it to me then."

"She gave it to you as a New Year's gift, and you gave it to me as a New Year's present." Chongming patted Meng Lanjian's head with a half-smile. "You're so cunning!"

Lan Jian opened his residence permit for Chongming to see. Chongming studied it carefully. The spouse section read "Spouse: Lu Dingyue," with his birth date and registered address noted on a new line. When Chongming looked up again, Lan Jian was holding up a piece of drawing paper to cover his face, complete with a "ding-ding-ding" sound effect.

"This is a real gift!"

Lan Jian painted a watercolor. On the light-colored stage backdrop, there was a mountain range and a valley. Lu Dingyue, representing Wuyue, and Meng Lanjian, representing Lan Guxi, stood hand in hand in the center of the stage. One was wearing a dark suit and took off his top hat, about to bow. The other was wearing a red dress and swayed gracefully, waving her hand. The audience below the stage were like red beans. A banner that read "Happy Marriage, May You Have a Long and Happy Marriage" was also hanging on the stage.

Chongming took it and examined it closely. Lan Jian's watercolor painting used bold colors and strong contrasts, yet the brushstrokes were full of childlike innocence. He savored it for a long time, and the lyrics of the song he had just run back to hear echoed in his mind—

"Every moment I love you is like a subway train rushing by."

Thinking of this, Chongming said to Lanjian again, "Happy New Year!"

New Year.

After noon, Ming Zijuan, still wanting more, dragged Chongming to play bridge. Chongming was ranked highly in bridge, a semi-professional player, and rarely played with his family. Since he was willing to play, Lanjian, seeing that Ming Zijuan didn't want Chongming to leave, asked the housekeeper to find a driver to take her to Mongolian barbecue. Chongming overheard this and wanted to leave to see her off, but Lanjian stopped him.

Chongming didn't care. He felt it was only right for him to drive her there. Lanjian was dragged all the way to the underground parking garage by him. She acted like a spoiled child, turning on the elevator video and asking her mother-in-law to come down and help her—she didn't want to be sent by her current husband to a farewell dinner party for her ex-boyfriend's enlistment!

It's so embarrassing!

Ms. Ming Zijuan, decisive and efficient, came down from the garage with her driver, pulled Lan Jian, who was being held in Chongming's arms, out, and, as if choosing a toy, dragged Lan Jian to choose a car.

Lan Jian didn't recognize most of the luxury cars. When Chongming saw a matte black BMW i7 in the garage, he was itching to drive it and try it out. Lan Jian ignored him and pointed to a Volkswagen in the corner, "Mama, can I ride in this car?"

When Chongming saw the Phaeton, which had been out of production for several years, he was speechless.

He thought Lan Jian really didn't know anything about cars, but the next second he heard Lan Jian say, "My dad drove this car when I was a kid, and I always remember that the car's speakers were pretty good."

After the driver went to get the car keys and left, Ming Zijuan suddenly laughed.

“I bought this car to attend parent-teacher conferences in Chongming.” Ming Zijuan winked at Lan Jian. “How is your father? I heard a few years ago that he became the president of the Beiluan Chamber of Commerce.”

Chongming had never heard of Lanjian's specific family background and assumed she was just a poor student, with her uncle perhaps being a high-ranking military officer. Lanjian herself had said that her mother was an expert in developing bionic robots, and her father had only recently become a civil servant in the government. When Ming Zijuan mentioned the "Chamber of Commerce," Chongming suddenly remembered that the newly appointed Financial Secretary of Beiluan two years prior was surnamed Meng, and had previously been a very wealthy businessman.

In the past, when the North and South were unified, the pre-selected candidates for Financial Secretary were always the president of the United Chamber of Commerce. Bei Luan inherited this twisted policy of "what more could the richest person possibly want to embezzle?" Meng Lanjian's father, Meng Zhihe, entered politics six and a half years ago after his daughter went to Nanlu to study at university, with the introduction of his brother-in-law Zhou Puzhao. Just four years later, during the change of term, he quietly took office as Financial Secretary.

Ming Zijuan avoided discussing politics with the younger generation, so she only talked about Meng's father's time in the Chamber of Commerce. After listening for a few minutes, Chongming realized that he and Meng Lanjian were destined to be husband and wife.

After Lan Jian left, Chongming immediately called Dou Yaozu, criticizing him for his incomplete intelligence and for not telling him that his marriage partner's family was also so prominent when he tipped him off.

"Brother, this is a political marriage, okay? Do you even know what a political marriage is? Only marriages between people of equal social standing and where both parties benefit can be considered political marriages. Otherwise, what are you calling it, a charity event?"

"Also, you spend every day with your junior, and you didn't realize that her family is well-off and assumed she was a poor student. That's clearly your problem, okay?"

Chongming weakly retorted, "She herself often says that she's just a poor student."

Dou Yaozu paused on the other end of the phone. "When Director Meng was in office, he mentioned that his daughter was studying at Nanlu University. At that time, the Nanlu media rushed to report on it, and everyone wanted to find out his daughter's true identity. However, he hid his daughter too well and no one found out."

Chongming remembers Meng Zhihe's inaugural speech, which was truly impressive.

Chongming wanted to talk to him some more, but his mother interrupted him, urging him to continue playing bridge. Perhaps because her daughter-in-law wasn't there, Ms. Ming also lost interest, and after playing a few rounds, she let Chongming return to the forest.

Chongming waited until 10:30 p.m., but still hadn't heard from Lanjian. Just as he was about to call to inquire, he heard the sound of the electronic lock opening at his house.

Lan Jian has returned.

Chongming remained still, waiting for her to return to her room. He heard the sound of water downstairs, but after a while, no further sound came. The entire house fell silent, as if Lanjian had never returned at all.

Chongming sensed something was amiss. It was almost midnight; could Meng Lanjian have gone to the arcade to "work overtime" again...?

Chongming couldn't sit still any longer. He turned on the light and went downstairs, but it was pitch black. He called out to Lanjian, but there was no answer. Chongming panicked a little and quickened his pace. He turned on the light in the game room and saw Lanjian curled up on the big bed. He breathed a sigh of relief.

He approached and saw Lan Jian quietly closing her eyes, seemingly asleep—he could tell she was just pretending because her eyelashes were trembling slightly.

He didn't know why she slept downstairs, nor did he know why she pretended to be asleep.

Chongming dared not think about it in detail.

After all, Lan Jian was attending her ex-boyfriend's farewell party today.

Just as he was about to leave and his hand touched the light switch, he suddenly heard Lan Jian call out to him in a low voice, her cold voice like a blade that pierced straight into his heart.

"You knew about Han Li all along, didn't you?"

Today is the San Jordi Festival in Catalonia, also known as the "Festival of Roses and Books" (I'm a little suspicious that the International Book Day, proposed by Spain, might be related to this, haha). I was planning to wait for my friend's roses before updating, but the time difference might not allow it for now (today has already been delayed for too long!).

-Wishing everyone a happy holiday!

-The gift is to come to Chongming to lose your virginity at 12:00\3/