54 Have you ever thought about getting married?
The next morning, the morning light filtered precisely through the gaps in the undrawn curtains. Liu Yuwei was awakened by the somewhat blinding white light, and she instinctively shielded her eyes with her hands. This dreamless night of sleep gave her the illusion of a new life. Stepping barefoot on the carpet, she vaguely recalled the heavy snowfall the previous night, and the vast white world outside. But when she opened the curtains, the streets were normal, as if under a spell, with only the lingering water stains on the pavement as a reminder of the snowstorm. She stretched and picked up her phone by the bedside. Two unread WeChat messages were from JL. 11:47 PM I'm at the hotel. Are you asleep? 12:09 AM Good night, sweet dreams. Her fingertips hovered over the keyboard, and she typed "Good morning," but something felt wrong, so she tossed the phone onto the bed, letting it bounce twice on the duvet. While packing at home, Liu Yuwei struggled for a long time over how to appear formal while attending a winter wedding without formal attire. Finally, seeing someone's Spring Festival Gala costume reminded her of the new Chinese-style suit in her closet. A white flocked jacket with jacquard fabric at the cuffs and hem, and three decorative Chinese-style gussets concealed zippers, meant to be stylish without sacrificing warmth. A straight skirt in a matching fabric was layered for warmth without appearing bulky. She even bought a hairpin specifically for the outfit. The plum blossom inlaid with mother-of-pearl shimmered like it was stained by morning dew. Liu Yuwei stood in front of the mirror, quite pleased with herself. Before leaving, she remembered her power bank was still in the red canvas bag from yesterday. She grabbed the bottom of the bag and emptied it out. A black thermos tumbled down the sofa onto the plaid carpet, its metal hitting the wooden legs of the coffee table with a dull thud. Bending down to pick it up, she placed it on the table. The doorbell rang, and Liu Yuwei snapped a photo of the cup, then casually sent the picture to Jin Lang. … In a hotel on the other side of the city, someone had already woken up. The first thing he did when he opened his eyes was pick up his phone. The screen, glowing white, showed no new messages, and he felt a little disappointed. But after checking the time, he thought that maybe the other person hadn't gotten up yet. His fingers unconsciously swiped through the photo album, and the group photo in front of the Brandenburg Gate caught his eye. The afternoon sun gilded the ends of Liu Yuwei's hair. Her eyebrows were curved, and when she smiled, her playful little canine teeth were exposed. Using his thumb and index finger to repeatedly zoom in and out on the screen, Jin Lang carefully observed the posture of the woman in the photo—her torso was straight, but her legs were crossed, and her head was slightly tilted towards him. These insignificant details made his heart beat faster, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise. He remembered that before...
Early the next morning, the morning light accurately passed through the gap in the curtains that was not drawn tight. Liu Yuwei was awakened by the somewhat dazzling white light, and she subconsciously put her hands in front of her eyes.
The dreamless sleep that night gave her the illusion of being reborn.
Walking barefoot on the carpet, she vaguely recalled the heavy snowfall last night, which must have been a world of white outside. But when she opened the curtains, the streets were normal, as if under a spell, with only the wet water stains on the road as a reminder of the snowstorm.
She stretched and picked up the phone on the bedside table. There were two unread WeChat messages from JL.
23:47 I'm at the hotel. Did you sleep?
00:09 Good night, sweet dreams.
With my fingertips hovering over the keyboard, I typed the words "Good morning", but something didn't feel right, so I threw the phone on the bed, letting it bounce twice on the duvet.
While packing her luggage at home, Liu Yuwei struggled for a long time about how to attend a wedding in winter without wearing formal attire and still look solemn. Finally, she saw someone's performance costume at the Spring Festival Gala and remembered the new Chinese-style suit in the closet.
The white flocked jacket is spliced with jacquard fabric at the cuffs and hem, and has hidden zippers under three decorative Chinese-style plates. You can't just have style without warmth.
The straight skirt, made of the same color fabric, was layered to keep me warm without looking bulky. I even bought a hairpin specifically for this outfit. The plum blossom inlaid with mother-of-pearl shimmered like it was stained with morning dew.
Liu Yuwei stood in front of the mirror, quite satisfied. Before leaving, she remembered that the power bank was still in the red canvas bag from yesterday. She grabbed the bottom of the bag and poured out everything inside.
The black thermos rolled down the sofa and onto the plaid carpet, and the metal hit the wooden leg of the coffee table, making a dull sound.
He bent down to pick it up and put it on the table. The doorbell rang. Liu Yuwei pressed the shutter button towards the cup and sent the photo to Jin Lang.
…
Across town, in a hotel, someone had already woken up. The first thing they did was pick up their phone, but the glowing white screen had no new messages. They felt a bit disappointed, but then they checked the time and thought, maybe they hadn't gotten up yet.
Her fingers unconsciously flicked through the album, and the photo in front of the Brandenburg Gate caught her eye. The afternoon sun gilded the ends of Liu Yuwei's hair. Her eyebrows curved, and when she smiled, her playful little canine teeth were exposed.
Jin Lang used his thumb and index finger to repeatedly zoom in and out on the screen, carefully observing the posture of the woman in the photo - her torso was straight, but her legs were crossed and her head was slightly tilted towards him.
These insignificant details made his heart beat faster, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up. He remembered watching a Hong Kong drama before, in which a case mentioned that unconsciously approaching is a subconscious preference, and standing with crossed legs like this means that the person next to you is trustworthy and makes you feel at ease.
Thinking of this, I became more and more excited. This excitement was like the carbon dioxide in soda water, moving up and down restlessly in my chest.
Sharing happiness is better than enjoying it alone, and he desperately needs an outlet. Unfortunately, among those who can share his happiness, including himself, he can only be a "follower" and cannot form a "group".
He slid his finger, and the photo flew to Shen Cheng's profile picture. He thought the "melon-eating crowd" would respond quickly, but after waiting for a long time, there was no response.
The phone screen dimmed and then brightened again, and Jin Lang couldn't help but "condescend" and take the initiative to dial.
After a long beep, the call was finally connected.
"Hello...what's up?" A lazy and sleepy voice came, vague and lazy.
Jin Lang calculated the time difference and asked, "Don't you never take a nap?"
"We played mahjong until midnight yesterday!"
Shen Cheng yawned loudly, "Why did you think of calling me? Isn't it Berlin?"
He knew the core purpose of Jin Lang's trip and took the initiative to ask, "Where is the progress bar? Have you seen anyone?"
"I sent you a photo on WeChat."
He kept it a secret on purpose.
A dozen seconds later, the person on the other end of the phone was clearly fully awake, exclaiming three times in quick succession, each syllable exuding disbelief—"Wow, awesome, awesome!"
Shen Cheng's voice was loud, "Brother, you have won the beauty already? Having a good face really helps!"
Just as Jin Lang was about to explain, he heard the other party's sincere praise.
"You know what, you two really do look good together. I used to think you looked good together in those stills of yours, but the fake one is just different from the real one!"
Jin Lang couldn't suppress the smile any longer, and the smile spread from his eyes to his eyebrows. At this moment, he really wanted to tell this flattering "cong", if you can say something, just say more.
"Have you told Brother Yi?"
"What are you going to do next?"
"Are you going to make it official? Or keep it a secret relationship?"
It was as if Shen Cheng had turned on his gossip radar, and his barrage of words hurt Jin Lang's eardrums.
Every problem is like a huge rock thrown into the lake of the heart. Although there is no clue about the outcome yet, it is necessary to plan well in advance.
I rubbed the edge of the phone with my fingertips, and the coolness of the metal frame penetrated into my skin.
"When we were dating before, she didn't want to make it public. I just thought she was a calm person who didn't like to be high-profile. But now I think it was actually my fault for not giving her enough sense of security."
"So, you want to make it official? What a man!" The other party's voice suddenly rose, as if the speakerphone button was pressed.
Shen Cheng silently gave Jin Lang a thumbs up in his heart. For a single male celebrity, officially announcing a relationship is equivalent to abandoning all his female fans, and it is even possible that some fans will turn against him.
"It's just a pity for our Brother Yi, he has to face a bloody storm."
"The road ahead is long and arduous! This photo was just an accident and doesn't count."
Jin Lang sighed, but immediately changed his words, as if to encourage himself.
"But she said that she still feels excited when she is with me!"
"No...what do you mean by accident? Are you kidding me?"
"Anyway, it's still a long way from an official announcement!"
He muttered again.
"Maybe when she feels at ease besides being moved, she will accept me again!"
"I don't mean to discourage you, but I have to say that with your profession, it's quite difficult to make people feel at ease!"
Shen Cheng's words were like silver needles, popping the colorful bubbles that Jin Lang had carefully blown for himself.
"If you can't speak, don't speak. Go catch up on your sleep!"
Jin Lang hung up the phone a little irritably. The room suddenly became quiet, with only a slight hum coming from the air-conditioning vent, as if mocking his futile struggle.
He fell on his back on the bed, his arms covering his eyes. Shen Cheng's words weighed on his chest like a stone—yes, in this bizarre world, even sincerity was questionable.
The sunlight was blocked by a passing cloud, just like his cheerful mood just now, which had now disappeared without a trace.
My phone suddenly vibrated. A WeChat message from her sent me a picture. I eagerly clicked on it, thinking it was the ice cream photo from yesterday, but it turned out to be a blurry picture of a thermos cup with no text.
[I bought this especially for you, keep it! ]
After typing it, I deleted the first half. It was too deliberate, like I was taking credit. After a moment's hesitation, I deleted the second half as well.
【Please return it to me next time we meet! 】
Then I picked out a cute emoticon package I had made with Hedwig and sent it over.
Liu Yuwei, sitting in the passenger seat, stared at the photo for a long time, with the corners of his lips raised. Humans have no resistance to cute kittens.
…
The wedding was over and most of the afternoon had passed.
Liu Yuwei has attended many weddings in China, some on lawns, some on the beach, and some in hotels. They are all similar, like a self-indulgent "stage play."
Andrea's wedding was simple. In the morning, everyone accompanied them to City Hall for what the Chinese call "getting the marriage certificate." Afterward, they went to a restaurant, where the bride and groom, along with their friends and family, gave speeches. Even Ren Yiming was invited to share a funny story from his school days.
There were no complicated procedures, no deliberate sentimentality, and even no professional photographers. There was only laughter filling the room, sincere blessings, and the occasional reddening of eyes due to emotion.
On the way back, the slanting sun cast a soft orange-pink hue on Liu Yuwei's face. She looked out the window at the street scene, her fingertips tapping lightly on the door frame.
Ren Yiming saw that she seemed to be in a good mood, clenched his hands on the steering wheel, and asked.
"Did you enjoy attending the wedding?"
"I'm so happy!" Liu Yuwei turned to look at him, her voice as light as a floating feather, "Witnessing the life moment of a good friend, and feeling happy for him."
After a pause, she deliberately dragged out her tone, "When you get married, I will definitely give you a big red envelope."
He drew an exaggerated arc with his fingers in the air, "So that you can truly feel the weight of my happiness."
Upon hearing this, Ren Yiming's eyebrows knitted together, his jawline tensing sharply. He stared ahead, his Adam's apple rolling, and finally spoke.
"Liu Yuwei, have you ever thought about getting married?"
The question came suddenly, and she chuckled.
"Of course I've thought about it before!"
"Every girl has her own spring dreams. Girls must have been looking forward to the day when they will wear a white wedding dress."
Liu Yuwei spoke frankly, but the clever time modifiers invisibly framed the person she fantasized about marrying.
"But the older I get, the less ideas I have."
She tilted her head with a mischievous smile in her eyes.
"Why? You attended a wedding and want to get married too?"
The corner of Ren Yiming's mouth twitched, but he didn't respond.
"If your old man knew you'd changed your mind, he'd probably take you straight to the wedding the moment you get off the plane tomorrow!"
"We focus on one-stop service, everything is done in one step!"
The scene of Ren Yiming being escorted to a five-star hotel by men in black at the airport popped up in Liu Yuwei's mind, and she couldn't help but cover her mouth and burst out laughing.
"It's not his place to meddle in my affairs."
His voice was low, as if he was suppressing some emotion.
Liu Yuwei didn't realize the deeper meaning of his words at all. Ren Yiming's eyes swept over her shoulders that were trembling with laughter, and the nameless anger in his heart grew stronger and stronger.
Why is she always so nervous...
Or maybe she just doesn't want to understand...
The warm air from the car's air conditioner hits my face, but it can't dispel the coldness in my heart.
He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
"Would you like to team up and experience what it's like to be in the next step?"
This sentence has been on the tip of my tongue for so long that it trembles slightly when it is spoken.
Ren Yiming tried hard to appear relaxed, quickly forced a smile at Liu Yuwei, and then quickly turned his head forward, fearing that looking at her for one more second would reveal the expectation in his eyes.
Liu Yuwei was stunned when he heard this, holding his chin and not saying anything for a long time.
The car was too quiet. To mask his pounding heartbeat, Ren Yiming deliberately turned on the radio, and a cacophony of German news poured out. He fumbled with buttons on the center console, the cacophony of the FM radio only making him more nervous.
Liu Yuwei leaned over and said, "Let me adjust it, you drive."
The subtle fragrance from the woman's hair drifted into his nose, but it did not bring him any comfort.
"Oh, okay!"
A melodious violin tune flowed from the radio, like an invisible ribbon, entwining the delicate atmosphere between the two people.
Liu Yuwei said with a smile, "Wealthy marriages, contract couples, and marriage first, love later are all popular elements in short dramas."
She counted on her fingers, "According to the plot, do I have to sign dozens of pages of prenuptial agreements, or has your father already set up a family trust?"
Her tone was as light as if she was discussing what to have for breakfast tomorrow, but it made Ren Yiming's stomach suddenly tighten.
"Tiancheng has already signed a contract with Ling An. Do you want me to help you find any legal loopholes? This isn't a common legal service, but I can offer a friendly price!"
Just after hearing Ren Yiming's words, Song Miao's words "He must be interested in you" in the elevator during the New Year exploded in Liu Yuwei's ears, making her head numb.
This sudden invitation to marriage made her more panic-stricken than any confession of love on the roadside on a snowy night.
She couldn't agree, nor could she refuse bluntly. After thinking for a while, she had to make a joke and get away with it in this way.
At a narrow intersection, Ren Yiming suddenly slammed on the brakes. An elderly man with a cane was walking slowly by. Taking advantage of this pause, he quietly loosened his fingers, which had been clenched until they hurt.
Liu Yuwei also took the opportunity to roll down the car window, and the cold air rushed in forcefully. She originally wanted to take a breath, but she didn't expect that with the sudden drop in temperature, the relaxed atmosphere she had deliberately created would also be frozen.
Ren Yiming whispered, "I won't let my woman suffer any injustice!"
Liu Yuwei was amused by his domineering speech and was about to give him a thumbs up, but was frightened by a loud sneeze and pulled his hand back.
She hurriedly closed the window and handed over a tissue, as if raising a white flag.
"Excellent service! I can give you an extra villa!"
"Yes, yes, thank you!"
The two of them tacitly used jokes to cover up the situation. Their laughter echoed in the car, but it seemed unreal, as if it was through a layer of frosted glass.
Liu Yuwei felt relieved. Some words, once spoken, can never be taken back; some boundaries, once crossed, are difficult to reverse.
The navigation suddenly prompted "You have deviated from the route". Ren Yiming gripped the steering wheel again. If you took the wrong road, you don't have to get back on track. After all, different paths lead to the same destination.
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