Chapter 73
The wedding was held on an island in the South Pacific.
Accustomed to being nocturnal, Bai Shaolin was spared the trouble of jet lag this time and became one of the earliest risers on the wedding day.
"I knew you weren't asleep either." After successfully knocking on Shen Hanyang's door, Bai Shaolin had a "I knew it" look on his face. "How are you? Nervous?"
Shen Hanyang had just finished washing up. After letting Bai Shaolin in, he glanced at him in the mirror and asked, not very confidently, "Do I look tired?"
Bai Shaolin leaned closer to examine Shen Hanyang closely, then said in a serious tone, "Not only is he not tired, but he is also full of spring fever."
Then a donkey brayed, and Bai Shaolin was hit hard on the forehead with a toothbrush stick.
Before long, the butler in charge of the groom's appearance arrived with his assistant, along with a neatly pressed suit, shirt, tie, gleaming leather shoes, and a floral wreath representing the island's charm.
A group of people bustled around Shen Hanyang, helping him change clothes and fix his hair. Shen Hanyang, who usually disliked fuss, was unusually quiet this time, letting a dozen hands fiddle with him without uttering a sound. Finally, the groom's makeup was completed in an orderly fashion amidst the chaos. Shen Hanyang sat on the sofa, elbows propped on his knees, facing the floor-to-ceiling window. Bai Shaolin had been scrolling through his phone, and by the time he noticed Shen Hanyang, the other had been in that position for who knows how long.
Bai Shaolin tossed his phone aside, walked over to Shen Hanyang, and was about to make a few jokes when he couldn't stay quiet any longer.
Although Bai Shaolin had seen Shen Hanyang in suits and ties on various formal occasions before, he just couldn't quite put his finger on what was different today. Finally, Bai Shaolin cursed inwardly, "Damn, he's so damn handsome!"
At the same time, Shen Hanyang took a deep breath and turned around: "Shaolin."
The cry of "Shaolin" jolted Bai Shaolin awake. He took two steps back, looking at Shen Hanyang in alarm: "Brother, if you're trying to get into character, don't drag me into it. You know I'm terrible at being sentimental..."
"What are you afraid of?" Shen Hanyang said. "Do you think I'd eat you?"
Bai Shaolin trembled: "Then just call me a scoundrel, I don't feel comfortable calling me Shaolin..."
Shen Hanyang stood up, straightened his clothes, and straightened his back: "I wanted to ask you, do you think I'm still capable?"
After realizing what he meant, Bai Shaolin's mouth almost twisted into a crook: "Holy crap, no way, bro, when did you become so insecure? With that posture, those shoulders, those long legs, of course you're good, you're absolutely amazing!"
Shen Hanyang lowered his eyes and smiled, the tenderness in his smile sending shivers down Bai Shaolin's spine. "Brother, you've always been the role model for all of us men, but look at you now, all shy and bashful, like you're a young woman getting married!" He sighed heavily, "It's all over, all over. We're counting on you to be the head of the household after we get married, what a joke! I bet your wife has you completely under her thumb!"
“You don’t understand,” Shen Hanyang said earnestly, “You’ll understand later.”
Bai Shaolin stared speechlessly at the heavens: "Love makes people blind, love makes people lose their minds, marriage is a man's prison, and there is yet another person in this world who willingly jumps into this prison. How lamentable, how lamentable!"
When Gu Feimeng learned of Yan Qing's breakup, she was furious and sent Shen Hanyang a scathing message. Later, when she received Shen Hanyang's wedding invitation along with his family's flight and hotel itinerary, she wiped her face with a sigh: "Gu Feimeng, you're such a beautiful but incredibly stupid woman! Sigh, I'll get myself killed by this temper of mine sooner or later!"
On the wedding day, Gu Feimeng, as a bridesmaid, was even more nervous than when she was getting married herself.
"Qingqing, touch my hand, is it sweaty?...Why do I smell like I'm covered in sweat?" She sniffed her armpits suspiciously. "Damn, I really do smell of sweat! I need to take another shower!"
Yan Qing stopped her: "You've already taken three showers since yesterday, your skin is almost raw from scrubbing. And you've already put on makeup, you'll have to start all over again after the shower, there's not enough time."
Gu Feimeng glared anxiously, "I can't let you two down! President Shen chartered a plane and booked a hotel for me, I have to be at my best today to repay his kindness!" She unfolded a folded piece of paper and handed it to Yan Qing, "This is my speech for later, take a look and see if it's suitable?"
The note was crumpled up by her wet hands. Yan Qing didn't look at it and stuffed it back to Gu Feimeng untouched: "This isn't a UN speech, relax."
Gu Feimeng, however, was far from relaxed. After pacing anxiously around the room several times, she slapped her forehead hard and exclaimed, "No, I have to memorize it again!" With that, she muttered to herself and went out.
The bedroom became quiet.
Yan Qing had already changed into her formal attire and was standing in front of the full-length mirror. The mirror reflected a lively family—Jiang Xiaoman, Qiao Dezheng, and Qiao Yi—all dressed formally and wearing VIP boutonnieres.
Yan Qing reached out her hand to them, but they smiled, waved goodbye, and then disappeared.
The mirror shows only the bride in her wedding dress, Yan Qing's wrist dangling in mid-air.
Shen Hanyang purchased countless pieces of jewelry for the wedding, while Yan Qing always kept the bracelet that Jiang Xiaoman left for her on her left wrist, which represented her endless longing.
A knock sounded at the door. Yan Qing thought it was Gu Feimeng returning, so she lifted her skirt and went to open the door.
As soon as she opened the door, she paused, startled: "Sister Ruiyun..."
Ren Ruiyun had already changed into her formal attire. "Did I disturb you?"
Yan Qing quickly opened the door: "No, no, please come in." Seeing that only Ren Ruiyun was there, Yan Qing asked, "Where's Jiaming?"
“I scolded him so badly he cried last night and went to sleep with his aunt. He's probably still in bed right now.”
Did Jiaming make you angry?
Ren Ruiyun chuckled: "A few simple fraction reduction and common denominator problems, I've explained them three or four times and he still can't understand. Wouldn't you be furious if you were him? This guy really inherited Cheng Yu's talent; he has absolutely no talent for learning. I'm still too lenient with him. If I had been as slow-witted as him when I was a kid, my mom would have beaten me up long ago."
Ren Ruiyun is still angry about it, but Yan Qing said, "Jiaming is a very down-to-earth kid. Give him some time, and he won't let you down."
"To put it nicely, he's reliable; to put it bluntly, he's dull," Ren Ruiyun said. "He's bad at academics, and he lacks emotional intelligence. Old Mrs. Cheng has already realized he's not cut out for anything. If he continues to be so undisciplined, how can he maintain his position in the Cheng family?"
Yan Qing hesitated for a moment before finally asking the question she had always wanted to ask but hadn't dared to: "Is Jiaming happy living in the Cheng family?"
Ren Ruiyun gave her a strange look.
Yan Qing was a little embarrassed: "I mean... the Cheng family treated him well, right?"
"It seems Hanyang didn't tell you why the Cheng family brought Jiaming back. Alright, I'll make it short. Old Master Cheng, that is, Cheng Zhaoping, has three illegitimate sons and one illegitimate daughter besides Cheng Yu. These three sons and one daughter all have the same mother, and now they're back to claim their inheritance. They've also won over many family and business elders. Madam Cheng only has one daughter, Cheng Can, who doesn't want to marry or have children, which puts her in a bad position in public opinion. So they thought of Jiaming. Cheng Jiaming is also the Cheng family's grandson, which can increase Cheng Can's bargaining power as an heir. The best part is that Cheng Yu and his biological mother both passed away early, so they won't pose a threat to Cheng Can and Old Madam Cheng."
"So, the Cheng family is using Jiaming as... a pawn?"
“Not a pawn, but the apple of their eye. We are allies with them, in the same trench. They can’t wait to pamper Cheng Jiaming.”
Yan Qing nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
Ren Ruiyun laughed, "Don't worry, Jiaming still has me. I'm a very capable woman, don't you remember? Alright, alright, let's not talk about this on a happy day." She looked Yan Qing up and down, her eyes showing admiration, "So beautiful. I've never worn a wedding dress before, and I guess I'll never have the chance in this lifetime."
Yan Qing didn't know what to say: "Sister Ruiyun..."
Ren Ruiyun raised her hand to stop him: "Stop, I'm not here to ask for comfort." Her expression changed, and her smile became bright and cheerful. "Actually, I came here to thank you. Jiaming said he is very happy. Now his mother loves him, Lao Shen loves him, Teacher Yan loves him, his aunt loves him, and everyone loves him."
Does he really think that way?
"Of course it's true. He's very simple-minded, he says whatever comes to mind, you can't teach him to lie! Okay, you're busy. That kid's about to wake up, I have to go back." After hesitating for a moment, Ren Ruiyun said, "Congratulations to you and Hanyang, you two will be happy. But be careful when you toss the bouquet later, don't let it land in my arms, I've had enough of heartbreak." After saying that, she winked, smiled and turned away.
The chapel bells rang, and the wedding began.
Despite having rehearsed the entire process the day before, Shen Hanyang's heart was still pounding as he stood there.
A small white boat laden with roses drifted leisurely across the crystal-clear, green sea, with a bride in a white veil sitting in the center.
As the boat docked, Shen Hanyang reached out and helped Yan Qing off the boat. Through her veil, she cast a brief but tender glance at him.
The officiant was Old Master Bai, who delivered a long, impromptu speech. Next, relatives and friends from both sides spoke. Since Yan Qing had no family, Shen Hanyang changed the "relatives and friends' speech" to "closest friends' speech."
Bai Shaolin, as the best man and representative of the groom's friends, was the first to go on stage.
He smoothed his meticulously styled hair and cleared his throat with a pretentious air: "Hello everyone, I'm Bai Shaolin. I've known Brother Shen for over ten years, and without exaggeration, he's a perfect god. I always thought gods didn't get married. And I'm not kidding, I even had his fortune told, and the divination said he had no love star in his destiny! But then, my sister-in-law appeared—she showed me the power of love. It turns out, even gods, when they meet the right person, will fall to earth. Speaking of which, I have to commend the wedding organizers. The bride's entrance was so creative and romantic! Isn't that a perfect reflection of the two of them? I was moved to tears and even composed a poem:"
Beautiful Pacific Ocean!
Brother Shen is a lonely harbor.
My sister-in-law is like a drifting little white boat.
It had already unknowingly settled in his heart...
Below the stage, several of Bai Shaolin's close friends jeered and whistled, "Bai Shaolin, stop pretending to be cultured. Can you even read before you're composing poetry?"
Ignoring their sarcasm, Bai Shaolin still silently quickened his pace in his speech: "Today, distinguished guests and elders alike are gathered here. On this joyous occasion of your wedding, I am reminded of an old song: 'In that faraway place, there is my beloved girl. I wish I could become a little lamb, so that her whip can gently lash my body.'" Bai Shaolin shouted to Yan Qing, "Sister-in-law, from now on, my brother will be your little lamb. Don't be shy, let the little whip lash out to you!"
In the audience, Madam Bai gritted her teeth in anger: "That brat is being unreasonable again, saying things he doesn't know when to stop!"
Old Master Bai snorted coldly: "Isn't it because you spoiled him?"
Yan Qing then invited Huang Qian and Gu Feimeng to speak.
Huang Qian, who is usually quite oblivious, must have pressed the wrong switch today; she started sobbing before even getting on stage. By the time she stood next to the microphone, she was crying so hard she was almost fainting.
“Girl…you…you must…live happily together…love each other…come back to visit often…this place will always be yours…”
Before she could even utter the word "home," Huang Yanxiang, who considered her a disgrace, forcibly dragged her off the stage.
Next up was Gu Feimeng. Thirty seconds earlier, Gu Feimeng had suddenly realized she'd lost the little slip of paper she used to memorize words. To make matters worse, she couldn't remember a single word of the words she'd memorized. She was frantic, like an ant on a hot pan.
Seeing her scratching her head like a monkey, Gu's mother gave her a push: "What are you dawdling about? It's your turn!"
There was no other way but to bite the bullet and go for it.
Once up there, she first grinned at the newlyweds, then began to play the sincerity card: "I'm not good with words, I'm really bad with words. But today is my best friend's big day, so I had to swallow my pride and come up here to give my blessings. I've witnessed their entire journey from meeting to falling in love, and if I had to describe my feelings in one sentence, it would be—I haven't seen this kind of love in a long time that makes you physically hard and emotionally soft!"
The audience erupted in laughter, and Gu Feimeng laughed along. "In short, it's very flirtatious, very sweet, very doting, very... I'm at a loss for words, I don't know how to put it..."
He Xuanxin exclaimed, "This is called love that arises without knowing its origin, and deepens with each passing moment!"
The most exciting part—exchanging wedding rings—has arrived.
Cheng Jiaming and Huang Yanxiang, two grown-up kids, presented the rings.
Amidst everyone's anticipation and watchful eyes, Shen Hanyang solemnly took Yan Qing's left hand and slipped the ring onto her ring finger. After putting the ring on, he held her hand for a long time without letting go. Then, amidst thunderous applause, he lifted her veil and kissed his bride.
Everyone cheered, and friends set off firecrackers, showering them with petals and ribbons.
Only at such close range could Yan Qing see the tears glistening in Shen Hanyang's eyes.
Mrs. Gu usually enjoys participating in cultural and sports clubs at her workplace and in the community, where she studies yoga, flower arranging, tea ceremony, and fashion with a group of middle-aged people. Today, she dressed up especially, taking out her treasured silk cheongsam and high heels, and walked gracefully on the lawn arm in arm with Mr. Gu.
Watching the couples of different ages engrossed in ballroom dancing, Gu's mother couldn't help but complain to Gu's father: "I've been telling you to learn to dance for a long time, but you refused. It's such a waste of such a good environment; I can't even perform."
Gu's father laughed and said, "My arms and legs are too stiff; I can't jump like that."
"Xiao Shen and Qingqing's wedding was truly understated yet luxurious and meaningful, unforgettable." Gu's mother admired the beautiful dance moves on the dance floor with envy, and suddenly became sentimental, "How many times in life can one have such a moment? If one can have it, then one will have no regrets."
Gu's father just kept smiling sheepishly. Seeing that no one responded to her exclamation, Gu's mother lost interest and gave Gu's father a disgruntled rebuke. Then another thought popped into her head: "There are so many handsome young men among the guests today. I wonder if one or two of them will take a liking to our Mengmeng."
"You're always thinking about things that have no basis in reality," said Gu's father.
Gu's mother seemed not to hear, and she suddenly patted Gu's father's arm quickly: "Wow, look at those two handsome guys, I would be satisfied if our Mengmeng could find someone like them!"
Following her gaze, Gu's father frowned and said, "Foreigners? I don't like them. Chinese people should find Chinese people."
Gu's mother disagreed: "You may not like it, but I do! My husband is a handsome blond-haired, blue-eyed man, and we'll have a beautiful mixed-race baby in the future. How wonderful that would be!"
"Mr. Gu, Mrs. Gu!" He Xuanxin came over to offer a toast.
He Xuanxin is very young and beautiful. If she hadn't been introduced at the wedding, Gu's mother would never have believed that this woman, who was wearing a one-piece dress, had delicate skin, a slender waist, and thick black hair, was already over fifty years old.
Mrs. Gu quickly let go of Mr. Gu's hand, while Mr. Gu frantically searched for wine glasses. Just then, a waiter passed by, and Mr. Gu took two glasses of champagne from the tray.
Gu's mother, a natural social butterfly, had already struck up a conversation with He Xuanxin: "Hanyang's mother, congratulations!"
He Xuanxin was overjoyed: "Thank you so much! It's truly our honor that you two have gone to such lengths to come all this way to attend Hanyang and Qingqing's wedding." He Xuanxin raised her glass: "To you both."
"No, no, I wouldn't dare."
The wine glasses clinked together, producing a crisp sound.
Gu's mother said, "Hanyang is an outstanding young man. You are so lucky to be his mother!"
He Xuan thought to herself, "Your Mengmeng is really promising!"
"Hey, what's the point of being proud? You just make me angry."
He Xuanxin smiled and said, "Qingqing said that Mengmeng is her best friend. She's very loyal and has taken good care of her!"
Gu's mother was delighted: "That's true, my daughter does have a very good personality." Taking the opportunity, Gu's mother wanted to ask He Xuanxin if there were any eligible single young men present who she could introduce to Gu Feimeng. Coincidentally, at that very moment, one of the two handsome blond foreign men that Gu's mother had just noticed walked over. Gu's mother's eyes lit up.
The blond hunk waved over and called out, "Honey!"
Just as Gu Ma was about to speak, she saw He Xuanxin take the other person's arm, and the two kissed in public.
He Xuanxin smiled affectionately and said, "Let me introduce you, this is my boyfriend, Jonathan."
“Hello!” Jonathan stared at Gu Ma with his captivatingly beautiful eyes, making her blush. She replied stiffly, “Hello!”
After Jonathan joined them, the two had a few more small talk, and He Xuanxin and Jonathan walked away hand in hand, their backs to each other, in the bewildered gaze of Gu Ma.
Gu Ma's jaw nearly dropped: "The future son-in-law I've chosen is Qingqing's...father-in-law?"
Gu's father's reaction was much calmer than hers: "It's fine."
"Okay?" Gu's mother felt her worldview shattered. "They're... way too... out of step with societal norms..."
Mr. Gu still had that calm and peaceful smile. He patted Mrs. Gu's hand and said, "Wife, you need to change your mindset. Happiness has a million faces. You need to learn to open your heart and not limit happiness."
Melodious orchestral music echoed across the lawn as the newlyweds and guests danced gracefully. Yan Qing had learned ballroom dancing a week before the wedding. She was once again certain that fate hadn't endowed her with even a shred of artistic talent; those seemingly simple and rhythmic steps made her so nervous her hands and legs felt like they were going to fall apart. She quietly asked Shen Hanyang, "Am I dancing terribly?"
Shen Hanyang seemed not to hear her, only staring at her intently with a keen eye, as if he had never seen her before.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked.
Shen Hanyang smiled, "Xiao Bao is so beautiful." He leaned close to her ear, "Can you reward me tonight?"
The so-called "reward" is, of course, an unspeakable secret between lovers.
Yan Qing's cheeks flushed as if steamed, her shy appearance stirring Chen Hanyang's heart. He leaned in to kiss her lips, just as someone poked him on the back.
Turning around, I saw Cheng Jiaming.
"Old Shen, tell that uncle that Xiangxiang and I want to take a speedboat!"
Shen Hanyang looked over and saw the captain of the speedboat grinning at him with a bright smile, revealing a set of perfectly white teeth. It turned out that Cheng Jiaming and Huang Yanxiang wanted to ride the speedboat, but the captain told them that they had to be accompanied by a guardian.
Shen Hanyang glanced at Cheng Jiaming: "Don't cause trouble, can't you see I'm busy?"
Cheng Jiaming glared at him: "You've been wandering around here for ages, what have you been up to?"
Chen Hanyang was speechless. Due to Yan Qing's insistence, the wedding ceremony was repeatedly simplified, becoming extremely minimalist. After speeches from relatives and friends, the exchange of rings, and toasts to thank the guests, the ceremony moved into a free buffet and dancing session. At this point, he wasn't particularly busy, and he had indeed been "drifting" on the dance floor for quite some time…
Cheng Jiaming urged impatiently, "Hurry up, Lao Shen, don't keep Xiangxiang waiting!"
Yan Qing chimed in, "The children are happy, so why don't you go and keep them company?"
Shen Hanyang was very unhappy: "Why me? Where are the other adults? Where is Teacher Huang?"
"My mom is watching a performance by indigenous people with my grandma," said Huang Yanxiang as she walked over.
Where is Cheng Can?
“Auntie is chatting with Grandpa Bai,” Cheng Jiaming said.
"Where is Ruiyun?"
Cheng Jiaming shrugged and shook his head: "It's gone."
Just then, Yan Qing spotted two figures outside the lawn. A tall, handsome white man was showering Ren Ruiyun with attention. Judging from Ren Ruiyun's reaction, she clearly had little interest in him. But she only gave the white man a glance, and he was instantly struck by Cupid's arrow, falling head over heels in love.
Yan Qing smiled slightly and pushed Shen Hanyang to accompany the children on the speedboat.
After the wedding, back in her hotel room, Yan Qing didn't even have time to change before rummaging through her suitcase for her laptop. She placed the laptop on the dressing table, and while turning it on, she replied to a few WeChat messages. Looking up, she met Chen Hanyang's resentful gaze in the mirror.
"Working overtime again today?"
"I haven't checked my phone all day, but a lot of people at the company are trying to reach me."
Shen Hanyang sounded even more resentful: "Why didn't you tell them you were getting married today? Am I that shameful?"
Yan Qing took annual leave from the company and did not reveal to anyone that she had traveled halfway around the world to get married. Of course, in everyone's mind, she was no longer single, but a girl who had married young, had a mysterious husband, and whose family owned a Cullinan, making her background unfathomable.
"I have a few urgent matters to attend to, I'll be done soon. You go take a shower first." With that, she ushered Shen Hanyang into the bathroom.
Yan Qing had just replied to a few emails when she heard a loud "bang" from the bathroom! It sounded like someone had fallen. She quickly dropped her laptop and ran over to ask through the door, "What happened? Are you alright?"
There was only the sound of water inside; no one answered.
Yan Qing pushed open the door, and before she could even see what was inside, she was pulled inside.
The man's voice, like lava, flowed past her ear: "Young Miss, I fell in love with you the moment I saw you. My love is painful and humble, do you know that..."
Yan Qing laughed as she dodged, asking, "What kind of script is this?"
"This is my one-woman show," Shen Hanyang kissed her earlobe, the corner of her eye, and the side of her nose, his breath hot and rough. "Do you see me? I belong entirely to you. I'm willing to give everything for you..."
Yan Qing was soaked to the bone. His large hand slid up to her waist, her belly pressed against his...
Shen Hanyang tossed and turned until the early hours of the morning. By the time he fell asleep, Yan Qing was wide awake.
Jet lag wasn't her strong suit, so she simply sat up and tackled the work she hadn't finished the night before.
After an unknown amount of time, Shen Hanyang's phone lit up with a message.
Yan Qing never had the habit of checking his phone, but in a fleeting, instinctive glance, she saw Qiao Yi's name. His phone password had long been changed to her birthday, so she couldn't resist her curiosity and opened his WeChat.
In a recent message, Assistant Hao wrote: "Reporting to President Shen, we have visited the graves of Mr. Qiao Yi and his parents to pay our respects. We left your and your wife's wedding invitation and presented Mr. Qiao Yi's posthumous publications to comfort his soul."
Next, Assistant Hao sent a photo. It was of the Anchuan Cemetery, a place she was familiar with. She saw that Qiao Yi's tombstone was adorned with incense, candles, fruit, flowers, and two thick books. Yan Qing zoomed in on the picture; the book covers depicted a couple amidst a shower of colorful flowers. She was deeply impressed by this painting; it was Cheng Jiaming's work. The book title was "The Story of the Unlucky Prince," author: Qiao Yi. At the bottom, in smaller print, was: Changhe Literature and Art Publishing House.
It was the novel that Qiao Yi had been serializing online!
It was actually published!
Yan Qing suddenly remembered that when Qiao Yi was still alive, he had mysteriously told her one day that there was a secret in the bedside table. When she pressed him to tell her what it was, he refused to tell her no matter what. Later, while sorting through Qiao Yi's belongings at the Anchuan Waterworks residential compound, she saw a contract; the first party seemed to be a publishing house. However, before she could examine it closely, the light went out. Later still, all of Qiao Yi's belongings were burned to ashes in the fire at the Shengzhou Road residential area.
Qiao Yi was her closest relative, and his terminal illness left an indelible scar on her heart. She also knew that the novel Qiao Yi had poured his heart and soul into writing was just a grain of sand among countless others, so insignificant as to be almost nonexistent.
It goes without saying who helped Qiao Yi publish his novel.
Yan Qing set the message to unread and gently pressed the screen off.
On the bed, Shen Hanyang turned over, found no one beside him, and began to whine softly, "Xiao Bao..."
Yan Qing returned to bed and snuggled into his arms.
"What time is it?" he asked.
"It's only a little past four," Yan Qing replied softly.
Why did you wake up so early?
"I want to see the sunrise."
"Sunrise?" He groggily opened his eyes, looked around, and found the room still as messy as last night, with the curtains still drawn. The outline of Mount Otemanu was already beginning to appear in the dawn light, directly opposite the floor-to-ceiling windows.
He kissed her cheek, rubbed his sleepy eyes, and then quickly got up to take a shower.
They lay together on the bench on the balcony.
The world before dawn was exceptionally quiet and solemn. Neither Yan Qing nor Shen Hanyang were seeing the sunrise for the first time, yet both were deeply moved by the approaching moment.
A golden rim appeared on the horizon, and orange light, like slices of glass, gradually replaced the blue of the sky. Supported by countless rays of light, the sun emerged from the sea, rising sacredly and solemnly.
The sun shone brilliantly on the vast blue waves of the Pacific Ocean. Yan Qing always felt that within that dazzling red sun lay God's blessing upon her.
She said to Shen Hanyang, "Make a wish upon the sunrise and the sacred mountain, and it might come true!" After saying that, she closed her eyes, put her hands together, and prayed silently.
When she opened her eyes, she found Shen Hanyang smiling and staring intently at her, the mountains and seas of the world reflected in his eyes.
She was bewildered, but still asked, "Why don't you make a wish to God?"
“I made a wish,” he said. “I prayed for her grace, her mercy, for her to see my flaws and forgive my folly. I asked her to save my soul and fill my spirit. I asked her to give me the most precious thing—her love that never stops.”
The End.
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