Chapter 39 For the stars you can only...
The consequence of secretly preparing the tools for the crime without telling her and then fooling around without caring about anything was that Wen Mu ignored him for a week.
Wen Mu was walking around the castle, taking photos, and Song Xingran was following him from about ten meters away. When she turned around, he pretended to chat with the manager.
During the day, Wen Mu went shopping and dining, and Song Xingran followed her from a distance of ten meters, only coming over to swipe her card when it was time to pay. After swiping the card, he took the bags from her and automatically rolled out of sight.
Wen Mu went to a bar late at night for a drink. She sat at the bar, while Song Xingran stayed in a booth, hiding her face with a magazine. Only when someone approached her to chat would he suddenly swoop over and coldly say in English, "She has a husband."
At two o'clock in the morning, the streets of Tromsø were so quiet that only the sound of the wind could be heard.
The street lights cast long shadows on the asphalt road, and the woman in the black down jacket walked forward on those broken spots of light.
Her steps were light, her black boots making almost no sound as they trod through the puddles. Ten meters behind her, a tall man followed at a leisurely pace, his hands in his pockets.
The woman stopped.
The man's footsteps stopped abruptly.
She continued walking.
His footsteps sounded again.
A black cat jumped out from behind the trash can, its green eyes shining in the darkness. It glanced at the two of them warily before disappearing into the night.
When Wen Mu stopped for the tenth time, his phone vibrated.
Mars: [If you stop again, I will carry you back]
Wen Mu stared at the screen for two seconds, put the phone back into his pocket expressionlessly, and walked forward without looking back.
Not long after she lay down on the bed, a warm body wrapped around her like an octopus.
"I was wrong." Song Xingran buried his face in her neck, his voice muffled.
Wen Mu ignored it.
"Wife, I was so wrong." He rubbed her hair, his breath hot.
Wen Mu still ignored him.
"Let's discuss something." Song Xingran stood up, his black hair sticking out in a mess. "Could you please not go to the bar?"
Wen Mu finally turned around and looked at him coldly: "You control everything, and you still care whether I go to the bar or not?"
"It's obviously because you're too popular." The man frowned aggrievedly, "I don't like people staring at you."
"Really?" Wen Mu sneered, "Then you better be prepared. I told you, I've never lacked suitors."
"It was before, it is now, and it will be in the future."
After saying that, she turned around and curled herself into a ball.
Song Xingran froze there, his chest feeling like he'd been punched hard. Wen Mu's words were like a sharp knife, opening the wound he'd been trying to avoid.
There was indeed a long period of time between them, in which they had not known each other.
How many people had pursued her over the years?
Has she ever fallen in love with anyone?
Have you ever laid in someone's arms like you do now, with that lazy and contented expression on your face?
What he could not tolerate the most was the man named Ming Yang.
What exactly happened between them?
Why was Wen Mu staring at the girl named Mingying in a daze?
Why did she have that dazed look when she mentioned "when she was younger"?
He has too many problems.
Jealousy was like a poisonous snake, biting his heart.
His fists clenched unconsciously, his nails digging deep into his palms. He wanted to pull Wen Mu over and force her to tell him every detail; he also wanted to lock her tightly in his arms and let the whole world know that she was his.
The sound of steady breathing came from beside me.
Finally, he just said very softly, "I won't let anyone take you away from me."
The voice was so low that it was almost inaudible.
"You can only be mine."
*
Yu Mo arrived in the evening the day before the wedding.
The sunset in Tromsø comes particularly early. At around 3:00 p.m., the sky is already dyed with orange-red sunset glow.
Wen Mu stood in the hotel lobby, watching Yu Mo rush in through the door, followed by a familiar figure. Ning Yuanxi was still wearing a simple white shirt and jeans, as clean as a clear spring.
"Baby!" Yu Mo hugged Wen Mu and gave her a loud kiss on the face, "I miss you so much!"
Wen Mu was knocked back half a step by her and looked at the young man beside him: "Hello, Xiao Ning."
"I met him on the road." Yu Mo rolled her eyes. "This guy insisted on following me because he was afraid that no one would care if I cried too much."
Ning Yuanxi smiled gently, his eyes lingering on Wen Mu's face for a moment: "Hello, Sister Xiaomu."
"You look well."
Wen Mu was about to answer when Song Xingran appeared out of nowhere and hugged her waist: "Thank you for your concern. My wife has always been well taken care of by me."
Ning Yuanxi's expression froze for a moment, then quickly returned to normal: "Congratulations."
The atmosphere was a little awkward for a moment.
Yu Mo's eyes rolled, and she suddenly grabbed Wen Mu's hand: "Come on, go have a drink with me!"
"No." The two men said at the same time.
Yu Mo and Wen Mu looked at each other helplessly and said in unison: "Get lost."
Half an hour later, the two were sitting in a small bar near the harbor.
The wooden bar exudes a uniquely Scandinavian minimalist style, with vintage nautical charts and whale specimens hanging on the walls. Wen Mu ordered a single malt whisky, while Yu Mo requested a glass of mulled wine.
"The wedding is tomorrow, are you sure you want to drink?" Yu Mo looked at her worriedly.
Wen Mu shook the wine glass, and the ice cubes made a crisp sound when they collided. "It's only half a glass, it'll be fine."
Outside the window, the last ray of sunset sank into the sea level, and the harbor was lit up with star-like lights.
Yu Mo stared at Wen Mu for a long time and asked her, "Are you nervous?"
"What's there to be nervous about?" Wen Mu took a sip of wine. The amber liquid slid down his throat, bringing a slight burning sensation. "We've already got the certificate. Now it's just a formality."
"So you've really thought it through?" Yu Mo stirred the cinnamon stick in the mulled wine, which glowed a deep red under the light. "After tomorrow, you'll truly be Mrs. Song."
Wen Mu gently shook the whiskey glass, and the amber liquid left a winding trail on the ice.
"Legally, I already am."
"You know that's not what I mean." Yu Mo moved closer. "I mean, are you really ready to accept the whole of this marriage?"
"Including the emotional part?"
The jazz music playing in the bar changed, and the saxophone sounded low and lingering.
Wen Mu's gaze fell on the whale specimen on the distant wall. The huge creature was forever frozen in the moment of leaping out of the water.
"Honestly," she said, her fingertips gently rubbing the rim of the cup, "I don't know."
Yu Mo raised her eyebrows: "Don't know what?"
Wen Mu's voice was very soft: "I don't know what his feelings are towards me. I don't know what my feelings are towards him either."
"Isn't it obvious enough?" Yu Mo gestured exaggeratedly, "The way that guy looked at you was like he wanted to carve you into his retina."
Wen Mu chuckled: "How long can a man's passion last? Three months? Half a year?"
"You're too pessimistic." Yu Mo frowned. "You two have been together for almost a year."
"That's because we're married." Wen Mu took a sip of his wine. "Marriage gave him a legitimate reason to stay with me."
"Do you really think so?" Yu Mo looked at her in disbelief. "Do you think he's only showing that kind of passion towards you because of marriage?"
"I have no idea."
"I only know that men's words are deceitful. Especially young men, they can change their minds at any time."
Yu Mo suddenly reached out and pressed Wen Mu's wrist: "You are not..."
Wen Mu: "Why?"
Yu Mo: "Because of Ming Yang's matter."
Wen Mu's fingers suddenly tightened, and the ice cubes in the wine glass made a slight clinking sound.
Outside the window, a fishing boat slowly passed by the harbor, and the lights on the boat cast a swaying reflection on the water.
Wen Mu finally just said: "Don't mention him."
"I knew it!" Yu Mo slammed the table, "It's been so many years, and you still..."
"I didn't." Wen Mu pushed his glasses up, his eyes behind the lenses terrifyingly calm. "I just learned to look at feelings in a more rational way."
"Rational?" Yu Mo sneered. "If feelings can be analyzed rationally, can they still be called feelings?"
Wen Mu didn't answer immediately.
She looked out the window and saw several sailors busy at the dock, their laughter faintly audible.
"Look at that ship," she said suddenly. "It's in this port today, and it could be somewhere else tomorrow."
"Isn't it the same with feelings? They come quickly and go quickly."
"Baby, Song Xingran is not a ship." Yu Mo said seriously, "He's more like, like that lighthouse."
She pointed to the white lighthouse standing in the harbor in the distance. "It's always there, rain or shine."
Wen Mu looked in the direction she pointed.
The lighthouse's beam swept across the sea regularly, firmly and persistently.
"Perhaps," she whispered, "but a lighthouse never illuminates more than one ship."
Yu Mo sighed: "So what are you going to do? Just keep your distance?"
Keep distance?
They have long been at negative distance.
"It's pretty good now." Wen Mu turned his gaze back, "This marriage is much easier to maintain than I thought."
"At least he's quite well behaved now. He has endless money to spend and endless love to do. In a way, he's a very suitable candidate to be a husband."
"Oh my god!" Yu Mo held her forehead. "Listen to what you're saying, are you even talking like a human being? What do you mean by 'a very suitable candidate for a husband'? Are you choosing stocks or choosing a man?"
Wen Mu's mouth curled up slightly: "Is there any difference? Both require rational analysis."
"What about your feelings?" Yu Mo pressed, "You don't have even a little bit of feelings for him..."
She ultimately chose the word "feeling."
Wen Mu was silent for a moment, then said frankly: "I definitely have a good impression of you."
"To be honest, I used to think that younger men were unreliable. But after getting along with him, I found that it's not always the case. At least, he's not."
"But I have a good impression of him, but I'm not sure if my feelings towards him right now can be called liking him or even love."
Yu Mo: "Baby, why did you agree to this wedding?"
The alcohol in the whiskey began to work in my blood vessels, and a warmth spread from my stomach.
"Maybe it's because I don't want to disappoint him."
"Ha!" Yu Mo seemed to have caught something, "So you still care!"
"Caring and loving are two different things," Wen Mu said calmly, "Just like I know this glass of wine is good, but that doesn't mean I'll drink too much."
"So you plan to keep going like this?"
"I think this is fine for now. I don't want to, and there's no reason to, end the relationship now."
"Maybe I need to take some time to figure out my feelings for him."
"Of course, if one day it needs to end."
"You will withdraw cleanly and without leaving any trace."
Yu Mo finished for her and rolled her eyes.
"My God, your theory is absolutely impeccable."
Wen Mu smiled slightly: "Thank you for the compliment."
"I'm not praising you!" Yu Mo said frantically, "You're using your rationality to build a wall around yourself! Does Song Xingran know you're thinking this way?"
"He doesn't need to know."
"What if he heard it?"
Wen Mu's smile faded a little: "That's perfect. Let him understand the nature of this relationship. It will be good for everyone."
Yu Mo stared at her for a long time and sighed: "Amu, have you ever thought that maybe what you are afraid of is not his change of heart..."
Wen Mu: "What is that?"
Yu Mo: "You fell in love with him yourself."
Wen Mu's fingers froze.
The music in the bar just happened to switch to a slow song, with the female singer's hoarse voice singing lyrics about loss and fear.
"I……"
Just as she was about to speak, she felt dizzy. The alcohol caused her vision to sway slightly.
"I'm a little drunk." She held her forehead.
Yu Mo quickly stood up: "I'll take you home."
As the two stood up, a deep voice sounded behind them: "I'll do it."
Wen Mu turned around and saw that Song Xingran had appeared in the corner of the bar at some point and was now standing behind them with a terribly gloomy expression on his face.
Yu Mo's eyes widened in shock.
When did he come?! How much did he hear?!
"She, she only drank half a glass of whiskey." Yu Mo stammered, "She won't oversleep at the wedding tomorrow."
Song Xingran didn't answer, but simply bent down and picked Wen Mu up horizontally. His movements were gentle, but his arms were tense, and the lines of muscles were clearly visible under his shirt.
"So what if I overslept?" he said hoarsely. "Just postpone the wedding for a day."
Wen Mu leaned against his chest and could clearly hear his strong heartbeat. The man carried the cold air from the outdoors, mixed with the faint fragrance of cedar, which made her feel inexplicably at ease.
She secretly raised her eyes and saw that the man's jawline was taut and the corners of his mouth were pursed into a straight line.
He is angry.
It wasn't because of the drinking, or the night before the wedding, but because of what she had just said.
Wen Mu's heart suddenly clenched. She wasn't sure how much Song Xingran had heard, but it was obviously enough to make him unhappy.
Strangely, he didn't get angry, but just silently carried her out of the bar and into the cold night.
"Song Xingran." She called his name softly.
The man looked down at her, his eyes complex and difficult to discern. The halo of light from the street lamp reflected on his profile, outlining a sharp outline. His black hair was a little messy in the wind, and a few strands fell in front of his forehead, making him look young and fragile.
"Are you cold?" he asked softly.
Wen Mu shook her head, but he held her tighter. Song Xingran wrapped his coat around her frail body, his warmth filtering through the fabric, dispelling the chill of the Norwegian winter night.
He suddenly spoke, his voice so low that only she could hear:
"No matter what happens, I can cover it for you."
"Wenmu."
"Please trust me."
*
Wen Mu woke up in the halo of dusk.
The other side of the bed was empty, with only the sunken pillow and the lingering warmth of Song Xingran's body proving he had slept there. She reached out and touched the remaining warmth, feeling a subtle touch with her fingertips.
There was a small Jupiter earring on the pillow, and next to it was a note: [No glasses today].
"Mr. Song went to the wedding venue early this morning," the manager explained softly outside the door. "He said he wanted to personally confirm every detail."
Wen Mu was led to the cloakroom, and the moment she opened the door, her breathing stopped.
The wedding dress hung in front of the floor-length mirror, the dark blue silk gleaming with a mysterious sheen in the twilight.
The upper body is a simple tube top design that fits the curves of her body; starting from the waist, the skirt flows and stretches like a nebula, and blue silk threads of varying shades interweave to create the depth of the universe, dotted with tiny diamonds, like a galaxy pouring down.
The veil was also dark blue, light and thin like mist, with delicate constellation patterns embroidered on the edges.
"Do you need help putting it on?" the manager asked softly.
Wen Mu nodded and found that his hands were shaking slightly.
The process of changing clothes is like a ritual.
Two assistants carefully helped her put on the wedding dress, adjusting every pleat to ensure that the nebula pattern on the hem was perfectly presented.
Finally, they put a veil on her head. The dark blue tulle hung down like clouds, and the diamonds sparkled like real stars under the light.
"Mr. Song will be stunned." The manager handed over a handheld mirror with amazement in his voice.
To be honest, the woman in the mirror made Wen Mu himself feel unfamiliar.
"Time's up." The manager reminded softly.
Wen Mu took a deep breath and walked towards the suite door. At the end of the corridor, Yu Mo was already waiting there, wearing a bridesmaid dress of the same color, her eyes wide open.
"Oh my God!" Yu Mo covered her mouth, "You, this is too much!"
"Exaggerated?" Wen Mu looked down at the hem of her skirt.
"You're so beautiful!" Yu Mo excitedly grabbed her hand. "If that boy sees you, he'll probably kneel down on the spot."
Wen Mu chuckled, but felt inexplicably nervous.
She knew that legally they were already husband and wife, but at this moment, her heart was beating uncontrollably fast and beads of sweat were oozing from her palms.
One step after another.
Wen Mu walked down the stairs under Yu Mo's guidance.
They stopped at the church door and Wen Zhiyuan was already waiting there.
"Baby, are you ready?" Yu Mo asked softly.
Wen Mu smiled slightly: "I think so."
When the organ sounded, the whole auditorium fell silent.
The double doors at the entrance slowly opened, and Wen Mu's figure appeared in everyone's sight.
She was wearing a dark blue starry wedding dress, and her veil fluttered gently with her steps, like mist blown by the night breeze.
Without the obstruction of glasses, the woman's eyes were crystal clear in the candlelight, with the corners of her eyes slightly raised, revealing a softness rarely seen in normal times.
The first thing Wen Mu saw was not the guests or the flowers, but the starlight shining through the glass dome.
The entire wedding hall is designed like a huge planetarium. The curved dome is made of special glass, allowing you to clearly see the night sky outside.
At this moment, the twilight has just faded, and the first stars have already lit up, twinkling in the deep blue sky.
There were not many seats on either side of the red carpet, and only close family and friends were invited. Wen Mu saw her colleagues from the lab, Yu Mo and Ning Yuanxi, the elders of the Song family, and a few racing drivers she recognized.
Everyone held a small star-shaped lamp in their hands, and the warm yellow light looked like floating stars in the dim hall.
Her gaze followed the red carpet forward, and finally she saw Song Xingran at the end.
The man stood with his back to her under the starry sky, his black tuxedo highlighting his broad shoulders and narrow waist. He seemed to sense something and slowly turned around.
Wen Mu had never seen Song Xingran dressed like this before.
His usually flamboyant black hair was meticulously combed back, revealing his full forehead and sharp brow bones. His black suit accentuated his pale complexion, and his bow tie was neatly tied just below his Adam's apple, giving off a mature and steady aura.
Those wanton eyes were as deep as the sea at this moment, and their gaze was fixed on her intently, as if he wanted to carve this moment of her into his memory forever.
She walked slowly holding her father's arm, and the diamonds on her wedding dress sparkled with tiny lights as she moved, like a shooting star across the night sky.
There was a slight exclamation from the guests, and Yu Mo secretly wiped the corner of her eyes.
Wen Mu could feel that everyone's eyes were focused on her.
But in her eyes, she could only see the person at the end of the red carpet.
When Wen Zhiyuan handed his daughter's hand to Song Xingran, the old father's eyes were slightly red: "Treat her well."
Song Xingran nodded solemnly, her fingers tightly clasping Wen Mu's. Her fingertips were slightly cold, but her palms were covered in a thin layer of sweat; it turned out she was nervous too.
They walked side by side to the ceremony platform, and the priest waited with a smile.
Through the dome, the sky had completely darkened and the stars were becoming clearer and clearer.
The priest's voice was gentle and solemn: "Today, we gather here to witness the happy union of a destined couple."
Wen Mu could hardly hear what the priest was saying, her attention was all on the clasped hands.
The man's thumb gently rubbed her knuckles, as if silently soothing her. His palm was broad and warm, completely enveloping hers, and the thin calluses left by years of gripping the steering wheel rubbed against her skin, bringing a subtle tremor.
"Mr. Song Xingran, are you willing to accept Ms. Wen Mu as your wife? No matter good times or bad, rich or poor, healthy or sick, love her, care for her, respect her, accept her, and be loyal to her forever until the end of your life?"
Song Xingran turned to face Wen Mu, his eyes focused and almost devout. When he spoke, his voice was low and firm, echoing in the quiet auditorium:
"I do."
"Ms. Wen Mu, are you willing to accept Mr. Song Xingran as your husband? No matter good times or bad, rich or poor, healthy or sick, love her, care for her, respect her, accept her, and be loyal to him forever until the end of your life?"
Wen Mu looked up and saw himself in the man's deep eyes.
"I do."
They exchanged rings, and the man's fingers trembled slightly, almost losing his grip. Wen Mu gently held his wrist and felt his pulse beating violently.
He was really nervous.
Why is he so nervous?
"Now, the groom may kiss the bride."
The dark blue veil was slowly lifted, like the night being dispelled by the morning light.
When their eyes met behind the veil, time stood still.
The man held her hand with one hand and cupped her face with the other, his thumb gently stroking her cheekbone. He leaned forward slowly, as if to give her enough time to refuse.
But Wen Mu didn't dodge. She tilted her head back slightly, closed her eyes, and felt his breath getting closer and closer until the corners of their lips touched.
At this moment, the night sky outside the dome suddenly lit up.
The emerald green aurora unfolded like flowing silk across the deep blue sky. Bands of light snaked and swirled, sometimes cascading like waterfalls, sometimes rising like flames. The light filtered through the glass, weaving a beautiful dream.
"It's so beautiful." Wen Mu sighed softly.
The man did not look up at the sky, his eyes remained on her face: "Yes, it's beautiful."
Wen Mu smiled and said softly, "Could this also be arranged by Young Master Song?"
Song Xingran shook his head and looked at her intently: "This is a gift from the universe to us."
"We are a match made in heaven."
He bent down to kiss her again, and the aurora danced above their heads, as if the stars billions of light years away were witnessing this moment.
Wen Mu closed his eyes and allowed himself to feel for the first time - feel all the throbbing brought by this marriage, feel all the promises contained in this kiss, and feel the heartbeat deep in his heart that had been suppressed by reason for a long time.
She heard a voice saying:
"I love you."
-----------------------
The author has something to say: In fact, Teacher Wen is aware of his affection for the young master, but for some reasons, it can only be limited to a good impression [chin]
A dream wedding! Do you think it’s romantic? [Starry Eyes]
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