Chapter 88
The next morning, Lin Ting took out two fishermen's hats, white with hand-painted patterns on them, which Lin Ting had drawn himself.
Yesterday, while waiting for the results of the new dyeing formula at the dye factory, she saw a stack of white hats next to her. Bored and itching to try it herself, she asked the factory owner if she could buy two hats to DIY couple's hats. The owner readily gave her two; they were just excess stock that would eventually be disposed of as waste anyway, so he figured he might as well do her a favor, especially since Lin Ting represented the client who had approved the loan. After thanking him, Lin Ting took the two hats and sat down at the dyeing and mixing table to begin painting on them.
After receiving the hat, Chen Zhiyi was so fond of it that he put it on his head and even took a few photos with his phone. If Lin Ting hadn't stopped him, he would have almost posted the photos on Weibo.
"It's not some big brand. The total cost probably doesn't even exceed twenty yuan."
"I like it, and it's hand-painted by you. That's a value that no amount of designer hats can match."
Indeed, the design on the hat features chibi-style characters based on the two of them, depicting their journey from meeting to falling in love, getting married, and watching the sun together in their old age. The design connects to form a circle around the brim of the hat.
This represents more than just the design on the hat; it embodies Chen Zhiyi's lifelong wish.
“I will keep these two hats carefully. When I reach a key milestone in my life as indicated by the patterns, I will take them out to wear and take some photos to commemorate it. When we are old, when we wear these hats together and watch the sunset in the park, we will look back at these photos and feel that our lives have been very fulfilling.”
Lin Ting hesitated for a moment, "Is it perfect? Don't you think it's missing a crucial element?"
"What's missing? It would be perfect if we could all be together when we're old."
"Don't you think it's a pity not to have children?"
Chen Zhiyi shook his head and said firmly, "It's not a pity. For me, getting married is far more important than having children. The person who will accompany me to old age is my partner, not my child. If you want to have children in the future, then have them. If you don't want to have children, then we will grow old together. I will not try to persuade you for any reason, nor do I have the right to do so. You are the only person who decides this matter."
People say that raising children is for old age security, but don't you feel miserable when you're old and have no children of your own?
"I'm more miserable when you're not around. Didn't you think I suffered enough during the first five years of loneliness?"
Lin Ting's eyes welled up with tears, her nose stung, and she turned away, saying, "You've really thought that far ahead."
This was the first time the two had discussed having children. Before meeting Chen Zhiyi, influenced by her parents' failed marriage, she felt that staying single and childless was perfectly fine, and she wouldn't be affected by worldly affairs. It was his repeated affirmation and unreserved expression of love that gave her the idea of marriage. Perhaps if they were both steadfast and in love enough, they could reach that point. But she hesitated about having children, so she skipped this part when drawing the picture. She had originally wanted to draw it, but she couldn't imagine a happy scene; her memories were still filled with broken and chaotic images. She didn't want her child to repeat the same mistakes and be unable to overcome her psychological hurdle, so she didn't draw it. If she could, she would choose not to have children, but she didn't know what Chen Zhiyi thought. He had a complete family childhood; his parents were loving and were excellent role models in terms of relationships. Children from such families would also hope that their future families would be complete, with a husband, wife, and children.
But at this moment, Chen Zhiyi hugged her, their foreheads touching, and said firmly, "It's not far off. I've thought it through long ago. The true meaning of marriage is not about carrying on the family line, but about growing old together. The only one who can be with me until old age is you."
The gentle spring sunshine bathed the earth, draping everything in a golden glow. Lin Ting and Chen Zhiyi strolled hand in hand through a vast field of rapeseed flowers, as if stepping into a dreamlike golden world.
This rapeseed field covers hundreds of acres, resembling a sea of surging golden waves from afar. A gentle breeze stirs the rapeseed flowers, causing them to sway softly and releasing a delicate fragrance that soothes the soul. Lin Ting and Chen Zhiyi walk side by side along the field ridge, the soft soil beneath their feet making each step a rhythm of happiness. The rapeseed flowers here grow very tall; unless you stand right next to them, you'll soon be out of sight. Besides them, there aren't many other visitors today, so the field is quite spacious, giving Lin Ting the courage to hold Chen Zhiyi's hand.
Lin Ting wore a grass-green knitted cardigan over her upper body and a light, long white tulle skirt over her lower body. Her long hair flowed in the wind, making her look like a fairy who had stepped out of a painting. She would occasionally stop and gently stroke the rapeseed flowers beside her, her face beaming with an innocent smile. Chen Zhiyi, dressed casually, looked sunny and handsome. He watched Lin Ting's every move with eyes full of doting affection.
A lover is like a flower; the flower he carefully nurtured bloomed more beautifully, smiled more gracefully, and exuded a gentle aura.
Lin Ting picked a flower, turned around and said to Chen Zhiyi, "I never thought that such an ordinary little yellow flower could bloom with such beauty when thousands of them gather together, rivaling even the most precious flowers like roses and peonies. It's amazing and astonishing."
Chen Zhiyi took the small yellow flower from her hand and smelled it. It had a very light scent, not particularly pleasant but not cloying either. "So don't underestimate anything that seems insignificant; it might hold immense potential waiting to be discovered."
"So that statement is quite right?"
Which sentence?
"Life is not lacking in beauty, but only in eyes that can see it."
Chen Zhiyi smiled and nodded, tucked the small yellow flower behind Lin Ting's ear, and gazed at Lin Ting affectionately: "Yes, that's why I discovered something very, very beautiful a long time ago, which is millions of times more beautiful than this hundred acres of rapeseed fields in front of us."
Lin Ting covered her mouth, understanding what he meant, her eyes full of laughter, "Cheesy pickup lines?"
Chen Zhiyi blushed, a rare occurrence, and shrugged, "It is indeed a bit rustic."
The two walked to a secluded corner, placed the mats they had brought on the ground, sat down, and took out the fruit boxes they had brought to eat.
Sunlight streamed through the gaps, warming the skin and making one want to slack off. The air was filled with the fragrance of rapeseed flowers, fresh and intoxicating. Everything was so peaceful and comfortable.
Lin Ting squinted, savoring the moment. "No wonder so many people rush out to travel in the spring; it's really comfortable."
Chen Zhiyi held her hand in his palm, "I'm sorry I couldn't take you out to play."
Isn't that what it is now?
“After a while, once ‘Eternal Love Song’ wraps up filming and your program is in its final stages, let’s go on a trip abroad.”
Lin Ting didn't ask in detail where they were going, how long it would take, or whether it would affect her work. She trusted that he would make the arrangements and simply confirmed, "Okay."
After finishing the fruit, the two sat on the ground, leaning against each other, enjoying a rare moment of leisure.
Looking at the golden expanse before her, Lin Ting felt a sense of déjà vu. "Don't you think this scene looks familiar? Doesn't it resemble a scene from a TV drama?"
"How will you test my basic acting knowledge?"
Lin Ting nudged his chest with her elbow. "Seriously, doesn't it look just like the scene in 'The Story of a Noble Family' where Jin Yanxi and Leng Qingqiu are lying in a sunflower field?"
Now that you mention it, I do remember a bit. But when Chen Zhiyi saw it back then, he just thought the two of them were pretty boring. They ruined a field of sunflowers. Wouldn't it have been better to leave them to grow seeds?
Lin Ting: "You know, their relationship was so intense when they were dating, how come they cooled off later? And the ending was so tragic."
Upon hearing this, Chen Zhiyi's alarm bells went off. He curled his lip, thinking, "Is this going to be another discussion about relationships? Didn't we already have one this morning?"
Lin Ting saw Chen Zhiyi's expression and knew he had misunderstood. "Don't make wild assumptions. It's just a pure chat, nothing more. Tell me, is it really just the novelty that's causing the problem? Once the novelty wears off, the love is gone too?"
Chen Zhiyi thought about it seriously, "On the one hand, their personalities, values and upbringing are very different, and neither of them is willing to change themselves for the other, so it is indeed difficult for them to stay together in the end."
"Ultimately, it was due to the difference in social status that Jin Yanxi fell in love with Bai Xiuzhu, who came from a similar background to him, even though he hadn't liked her in the past."
Chen Zhiyi retorted, "I don't agree with your point of view. Being able to get married means that the difference in social status has been overcome. If you can't make it to the end, it means you don't love each other enough. I think Jin Yanxi's feelings for Leng Qingqiu only stay at the level of liking, not love. So he became indifferent after he got her."
Lin Ting: "Yes, they are two opposites. When they are in love, they see the good points of each other because they like each other. But after marriage, they can no longer reach the level of love. Once the novelty is gone, they only see each other's shortcomings. Incompatibility of personality, friction in life, and differences in ideas will eventually cause even the liking to dissipate."
Chen Zhiyi: "So, for a relationship to go from dating to marriage and then to the end, for a love to have a beginning and an end, it can't just be based on superficial liking. It also requires compatible values and a tacit understanding of the soul. And the difference in social status you mentioned is more about spiritual compatibility. As for the difference in social status in reality, as long as there is enough love and determination, even the highest social status is just a paper wall that can be broken with a strong push." He held Lin Ting's head and pressed it against his own, gently kissing her lips. "So they are them, and we are us. We are not comparable."
Lin Ting cupped his face in her hands, her heart softening. He could always read her mind, something that was hard for couples to do, requiring not only physical attraction but also a resonance of souls.
"Such beautiful rapeseed flowers, such warm sunshine, such precious moments—just a fleeting glimpse seems insufficient."
Chen Zhiyi's brow twitched slightly, a clear smile playing on his lips. His gaze lingered on her face; he absolutely adored the way Lin Ting was expressing her love so readily.
He took her lips in his mouth, licked them to savor the taste, and his love surged wildly in the romance of spring.
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