family
Chapter 32: Family
On Friday evening, Chen Yiyu showed up at the bottom of Bai Ke's company on time. The setting sun cast a layer of warmth on his white shirt. He leaned against the car door, watching Bai Ke walk out of the building, his eyes melting away the fatigue of the whole day.
"I'll take you somewhere today." He opened the car door for her and smiled mysteriously.
Bai Ke got into the car and asked curiously, "Where are you going? You've been acting so secretive lately."
Chen Yiyu just smiled and shook his head, concentrating on driving. The car passed through the bustling city and drove into a new residential complex under construction. The hustle and bustle of the construction site had faded, and several buildings, their facades painted a warm beige, were rising from the ground.
"What are we doing here?" Bai Ke followed him into a building and the elevator stopped on the 15th floor.
Chen Yiyu took out a key from his pocket and opened the door of Room 1502: "Welcome home."
What greeted me was a bare-bones house, its concrete walls exposed and a speck of construction dust scattered across the floor. But sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the entire space. From here, I could see the park and lake in the distance; the view was magnificent.
Bai Ke showed a surprised expression. She walked in slowly, and gently stroked the rough cement wall with her fingers: "This is..."
Chen Yiyu walked up to her, suddenly knelt on one knee, and took out a small velvet box from his pocket. He opened the box and found a simple and elegant diamond ring inside.
"Bai Ke," his voice trembled a little, but his eyes were firm, "I know this place is still very simple, but I have already paid the down payment. From now on, this is our home. I will decorate it with you bit by bit to your liking, and let every corner be filled with our memories."
Bai Ke's tears welled up in an instant. She covered her mouth, unable to believe what she saw.
"Ever since that rainy day in my second year of high school, my heart has never left you." Chen Yiyu continued, his eyes slightly red. "Over the years, I have worked hard to make myself better, because I have imagined this moment countless times, imagined that I could have a home with you."
He took a deep breath and asked solemnly, "Bai Ke, will you marry me? Will you join me in turning this empty house into a home full of love?"
Bai Ke's tears finally fell. She looked at the man she had loved for so many years, the anticipation and anxiety in his eyes, and her voice choked with sobs: "Is it... too soon? We've only been together for a short time..."
"Not soon." Chen Yiyu shook his head firmly. "I've been waiting for too many years, imagining it for too many years. Maybe I'm a little confused about many things, but I know clearly that the only person I want to spend the rest of my life with is you."
The afterglow of the setting sun filled the room, gilding the rough cement walls with a golden hue. In this unfinished home, Bai Ke seemed to glimpse the future—warm lights, a fragrant kitchen, figures leaning on each other on the sofa...
She held out her hand, tears in her eyes but with a smile on her face: "I do."
Chen Yiyu's hands trembled slightly as he carefully placed the ring on her ring finger. The size was just right, and the diamond sparkled with happiness between her fingers.
He stood up and held her tightly in his arms, as if he was holding the weight of the world.
"Thank you," he whispered in her ear, "Thank you for waiting for me, thank you for believing in me, thank you... for giving me a home."
That night, they sat in the empty, unfinished house, leaning against the dusty walls, planning their future home.
"We need to build a big bookcase here," Bai Ke gestured, "Put your books in half and give me the other half."
"The balcony will be reserved for your sunflowers," Chen Yiyu said with a smile, "and a rocking chair so we can bask in the sun together."
A week later, they arranged for their parents to meet, and Bai Ke brought her parents from her hometown. Chen Yiyu's mother held Bai Ke's hand, tears in her eyes, and said, "My dear child, I've wronged you these past few years. I know how much Yiyu loves you. As your mother, I sincerely wish you all the best. Today, he has finally found the happiness that he cherishes most in his heart."
Bai Ke's parents looked at Chen Yiyu and nodded. Over the years, from Bai Ke's words, they also knew the difficulties this young man had faced over the years, and also witnessed his true love for Bai Ke.
They picked a sunny day and went to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get their marriage certificate. When Chen Yiyu got the red marriage certificate, his hands were still shaking slightly.
"Now," he held Bai Ke's hand and walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau, "we are really a family."
The sunlight shone brightly upon them. Bai Ke looked down at the ring on her finger, then up at the man who would become her husband, a broad smile on her face. From school uniforms to wedding dresses, they had come a long way, and finally, on this day, they had written each other into every page of their lives.
And that still empty unfinished house will soon become a real home under their joint creation - a place with love, warmth and each other.
"Let's go home." Chen Yiyu opened the car door for her with gentle eyes.
It turns out that the appearance of home is the appearance of love for each other.
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