Wedding photos in progress
It was another sweltering, windless day. The trees outside the window stood listlessly, and the room was like a steamer. After packing up her belongings from her hospital stay, Qingcheng felt so hot that she could hardly breathe. Fanning herself couldn't dispel the high temperature inside, so she went to the cashier's office to find Gao Junxiao.
From afar, you could see Gao Junxiao's tall and slender figure. He was holding a pen and signing the bill. Qingcheng didn't really want to trouble Gao Junxiao, but she had stayed in a special care ward for military family members, so she had no choice but to ask Gao Junxiao to sign the bill.
Seeing Gao Junxiao intently looking at the bill, Qingcheng quietly peeked out from behind the man, her hands behind her back. She wanted to know how much she had spent during her hospital stay so she could return it to Gao Junxiao.
Before Qingcheng could even catch a glimpse of the final figure, Gao Junxiao folded the bill and stuffed it into his breast pocket, turning his head to tease her, "Don't act like a leader inspecting work, go pack your things."
She didn't have much stuff to begin with, and had already packed it all up. Qingcheng slyly hugged Gao Junxiao from behind, deliberately trying to warm him up, while her unwilling little hand took the opportunity to reach into her pocket, and she continued to ask for the bill.
As a result, Gao Junxiao gently grasped her slender hand, his focused and warm gaze seeming to bring back spring, and then he firmly... refused.
Ugh, how rude! But why would she back down? Qingcheng smiled and patted the man's pocket, reading out the total price: 245.32 yuan. He could calculate it even if she didn't give it to him. So she'd better hand it over obediently and let him see if his calculation was correct.
Gao Junxiao clutched the pocket in front of his chest and shook his head again, refusing: "I won't hand it in. Little girl, you're quick at calculating, your math skills are pretty good, right?"
“I majored in mathematics.” As soon as Qingcheng finished speaking, Gao Junxiao turned around as if he had discovered something strange and carefully looked Qingcheng up and down from left to right.
Suddenly, Gao Junxiao covered his mouth and sneered, "From the School of Mathematics? No wonder your brain is different from ordinary people, Miss He. So you're a student from a mental hospital."
How come it's exactly the same as what Old Wang said? Qingcheng pouted and turned Gao Junxiao around, making him explain why he was in a mental hospital. It's just about generalized functions and higher-order matrices, it's not like we're asking all students to prove the seven unsolved problems in mathematics.
"Hahaha, I wasn't the first to say this. Back when we were at Peking University, everyone said we had four major madhouses: the School of Mathematics, the School of Physics, the School of Chemistry, and the School of Biology. The School of Mathematics was the top of the four madhouses." Gao Junxiao counted on his fingers, laughing so hard he couldn't straighten up.
Qingcheng retorted with dissatisfaction, "So you Peking University students think all science students are crazy? That's an overgeneralization. May I ask what your major was at Peking University?"
It turns out that his father enrolled Gao Junxiao in law school, but he felt that with warlord conflicts and moral decay, studying law was useless for building the country, so this man secretly applied to transfer to the archaeology major.
Judging from Gao Junxiao's attitude, he seemed quite pleased with his choice.
Finally, she got her chance to retaliate. A clear, crescent-shaped dimple appeared on her cheek, and she chuckled mockingly, "Heh, I thought it was some impressive profession, but it turns out you're just a gravedigger, digging up people's ancestral graves... Isn't studying archaeology even less useful for building the country? It's a shame you're not a lawyer with such a sharp tongue."
"Hey, let me correct you first. Archaeology is not tomb raiding; that's a prejudice. Also, you must have heard the saying, 'By taking history as a mirror, we can understand the rise and fall of dynasties,' right?" Gao Junxiao seemed to have opened a floodgate of words, putting his arm around her and talking at length.
Our Chinese civilization has a history of five thousand years and once had a very glorious history.
Over the past five thousand years, the pieces have been played again and again, and the players opposite us have changed several times, but we remain at the chessboard.
Although we are being bullied terribly by the great powers and beaten to the ground, it is precisely because of this that we must rediscover the lost memories of history. From cultural relics, we can see our past brilliance and restore our morale.
Qingcheng didn't refute this, but propped her arms up and waited for Gao Junxiao to continue his sophistry. He asked Qingcheng to imagine that beneath Xi'an lay the entire city of Chang'an, a Chang'an where Li Bai and Du Fu composed famous verses in taverns and bars, a Chang'an where all nations paid tribute amidst red pillars and white walls.
However, as a modern woman, Qingcheng was not impressed by Gao Junxiao's description at all, and retorted in the same way he did, saying that only old people would reminisce about the past.
Qingcheng acknowledges that Li Bai and Du Fu's poems have been passed down through the ages, but even the most glorious Chang'an was still a feudal empire. What we need is a young China with calm seas and peaceful rivers, a young China that belongs to the people.
Gao Junxiao was rendered speechless by her escalating argument. Using what he thought was the mathematical analogy, he said that the existence of any country in history, when divided by the denominator of five thousand years, would become a small base number that could be ignored. Only Chinese civilization is continuous.
The greatest significance of archaeology lies in using the brilliance of our civilization to demonstrate our inherent strength, thereby restoring our pride and confidence in our nation. Our potential is limitless; we can create even greater glories. Do you understand?
Qingcheng suppressed a laugh and nodded to indicate that she understood Gao Junxiao's earnest explanation, and agreed that the proof was valid, but the arguments needed to be more detailed.
However, she didn't point it out. This kind of repetitive, infinitely continuous cycle could simply be represented by a Fourier series. It was too much trouble for him, a liberal arts student, to come up with such a complicated explanation.
However, Gao Junxiao probably thought he was being incredibly eloquent, and he criticized Qingcheng for being a popular writer but having absolutely no romantic sense. Qingcheng, too lazy to waste any more words, pounced on him and grabbed the bill.
"Stop joking around~ Talking about money hurts feelings. How about we find another way to settle this?" Gao Junxiao asked, taking Qingcheng's hand without asking.
However, the premeditated smile on Gao Junxiao's face made Qingcheng feel uneasy. She had a bad feeling, but she was more curious about the alternative method. She could just refuse if necessary.
When the "big creditor" excitedly brought the "debtor" to the photo studio, Qingcheng, who had been trembling with fear, instantly became energetic. Hey! It's just taking a group photo, she thought Gao Junxiao would come up with something new.
Actually, she would accompany him anytime if he asked. No, she might get her hair permed first before taking the photos, as her hair is stiff and prone to frizz. While applying hair oil, Qingcheng put on matching pearl earrings and a brooch in front of the mirror.
The moment she lifted the curtain, she felt two burning gazes. The owner of those gazes, Gao Junxiao, was looking her up and down with raised eyebrows, a slight smile and undisguised admiration rippling in his eyes.
Fortunately, Kiyosumi was already used to his intense gaze, so she simply struck a pose and showed off generously: "How is it? Pretty, right?"
"It looks good, and the turtleneck will cover up the bruises on your neck." Gao Junxiao on the sofa winked playfully, looking quite pleased with himself.
Even the photographers on the side couldn't help but marvel that this short-sleeved red silk cheongsam was practically tailor-made for Miss He. Because it had no patterns and the style was extremely simple and refreshing, it was not gaudy at all. Instead, paired with her clear and elegant temperament, it gave off a noble and unrestrained feeling, making her very stylish.
Qingcheng was feeling quite pleased with the compliments when she suddenly noticed a lace veil next to Gao Junxiao. On a whim, she took it and wanted to put it on.
Gao Junxiao seemed to think the idea was good too. A faint smile appeared on his lips as he got up and personally put the veil on her head. The extremely long veil trailed all the way to the floor. Qingcheng looked at the effect in the mirror and was very satisfied, but something was still missing.
Just then, a pair of white lace gloves swayed in front of her eyes. It turned out that Gao Junxiao had conjured them up. Qingcheng excitedly turned around and hugged her boyfriend, nuzzling him affectionately. This man understood her so well.
No girl could resist the double temptation of an extra-long veil and lace gloves. Seeing that Gao Junxiao hadn't changed his clothes yet, Qingcheng urged him to change quickly.
"No need, my military uniform is my best formal attire. Please come in, Miss He." Gao Junxiao smiled and extended his arm, which Qingcheng readily took to show that he was happy.
"Hehe, so obedient, it feels so good to be a creditor." Gao Junxiao couldn't help but chatter before entering the studio.
"Tch, you've forgotten what your own name is, aren't you!" Qingcheng leaned slightly and breathed softly into the man's ear: "Take any picture you want, any pose is fine."
In an instant, Qingcheng felt Gao Junxiao's entire body stiffen like a stone statue, standing there with a complicated expression, his ears flushed red, indicating that he had understood the implied meaning.
Hehe, some things are awkward if you don't understand them. My inner mischievousness was immediately satisfied. Qingcheng pulled the man towards the photo studio with an "innocent" look on her face. Gao Junxiao quickly glanced at her, cleared his throat and looked straight ahead, but his walking posture was still stiff.
The usual studio setups are always the same few things. The photographer took advantage of a break while changing film to lead the two to the backyard, saying he wanted to shoot some outdoor scenes.
It was a bit hot, so Qingcheng took off her gloves and fanned herself with her hands. Not wanting Gao Junxiao to see this, he insisted on holding her hand and reading her palm, saying that she had recently been blessed with good fortune.
Tch, Qingcheng couldn't be bothered with him. He wanted to take advantage of her and came up with such a cliché excuse.
"Really, any position is fine?" Gao Junxiao asked Qingcheng cautiously again.
"Listen to the photographer." Qingcheng glanced at Gao Junxiao indifferently, without giving him a clear answer, and instead passed the buck to the photographer.
“Darling, aren’t you the photographer? Quickly think of some actions we should do for the outdoor scenes.” Gao Junxiao persisted, bringing the topic back to the present.
"Let me think about it." Qingcheng stroked her chin, unaware that a cunning glint flashed in Gao Junxiao's eyes, disappearing in an instant, and she also failed to notice that he secretly made a gesture to the photographer.
After a while, the photographer set up the tripod and let them pose freely. He would take the photos. He then crawled under the red cloth to prepare for the photo shoot.
Qingcheng was still seriously considering the action for the outdoor scene when Gao Junxiao suddenly told her to look at the camera. Without thinking, she habitually gave the camera a gentle smile...
After the flash of the spotlight, Qingcheng froze, the warmth of the man's intimacy still lingering on her face. He... he actually stole a kiss! Qingcheng covered her face, glaring at the man who had acted like a hooligan in broad daylight with shame and indignation.
“You said any position is fine, so some personalized ideas popped into my head. I thought that French greeting in the carriage was pretty good. You studied in France, so you should know what I mean.” Gao Junxiao proudly blew her a kiss.
Seeing the man's smug expression, Qingcheng felt like her head was about to explode with anger. She grabbed Gao Junxiao's collar and warned, "You're overthinking things. This is the last time. If you do that kind of thing again, I'll kill you."
"Ouch, be gentle, your clothes are going to fall apart, they're going to fall apart!" Gao Junxiao ignored Qingcheng's threat and asked with a smile, "Why can the French do it, but I can't?"
Qingcheng, blinded by anger, shook Gao Junxiao and blurted out, "Because you are Chinese."
“Silly girl, don’t forget you’re Chinese too. There’s an old saying that ‘men and women shouldn’t be intimate,’ so according to Chinese tradition, shouldn’t you marry me?” Gao Junxiao gave her a sly smile.
Before Qingcheng could react, he suddenly knelt down on one knee, took out a ring box from his bosom, and his eyes were filled with indescribable tenderness.
Gao Junxiao's smile vanished, and he said seriously, "You said you're not good at being a wife and mother, and I agree. I don't need my wife to be just a pretty piece of furniture to decorate my home. The country is a heavy burden; I need someone with flesh and blood to work with me to revitalize China. What does it matter if you're a woman? You are He Qingcheng! How can the vanguard of rejuvenation be without you? Miss He Qingcheng, may I have the honor of walking alongside you?"
These words were like a sharp arrow, piercing her heart unexpectedly. Qingcheng's nose stung, and her heart softened like a lump of glutinous rice. She knew she was doomed. He understood her ideals for her country and family. Even knowing it was a man's scheme, how could she refuse a man who understood her so well?
Looking into his eager eyes, Qingcheng reached out her left hand as if possessed, but immediately regretted it and wanted to pull her hand back. However, Gao Junxiao grabbed her wrist and put the ring on her wrist with lightning speed, without making a single unnecessary movement.
The spotlight then captured this memorable moment.
The loud exposure brought Qingcheng back to her senses. She immediately thought that what was even more dangerous than Gao Junxiao's lewd behavior was the photos. She ordered the photographer, "The photos are not allowed to be developed."
“Go wash it now! Darling, didn’t you want to pay off your debt? This is my private collection of photos as payment.” Gao Junxiao ignored Qingcheng’s struggles, grabbed her, and slowly whispered in her ear, “You really think paying off a debt is so easy? Consider the rest of your seventy years as interest.”
"Gao Junxiao, you bastard!" Qingcheng roared furiously, like an elegant kitten suddenly arching its back to reveal its sharp teeth, not scary at all, but even a little cute.
“I always have.” Gao Junxiao didn’t give Qingcheng a chance to refute, and quickly pecked her lips. Qingcheng felt all the blood rush to her head, and pushed Gao Junxiao away with all her might. Despicable, vile, and shameless were not enough to describe his crimes.
Having gained such a great advantage, Gao Junxiao's narrowed eyes gleamed even brighter. He touched his lips, seemingly savoring the moment. This successfully ignited Qingcheng's competitive spirit. She couldn't show her shyness and let him become even more smug, so she sneered, "Heh, is this considered a kiss?"
Before she could finish speaking, Qingcheng was pulled into the man's arms and his lips were pressed against hers again. The sudden kiss left Qingcheng's mind blank. She forgot to think, forgot to breathe, and only felt her heart pounding so hard it was about to burst out of her chest. She was going crazy, going crazy.
As it turned out, Gao Junxiao could go even crazier. All her resistance only made the man hold her tighter. His rough fingertips rubbed against her skin, and the air around her was filled with the scent of grass and trees in the mountains after the rain, as if he wanted to devour her whole.
It seemed like a long time had passed when Qingcheng opened her eyes to Gao Junxiao's mischievous smile. Both of them were breathing rapidly, and his warm breath tickled their faces. Qingcheng turned her face away, annoyed at her own infatuation.
But Gao Junxiao, with his usual thick skin, spoke in a teasing and seductive voice in his ear: "Darling, if you're not satisfied, let's do it again."
"You...you're ruthless!" Qingcheng stomped on his foot hard, and ran out of the photo studio without looking back while he was in pain.
Standing on the street, Kiyosumi put her hands on her hips and took a deep breath, her movements extremely unrefined. She only awkwardly resumed her ladylike posture after being pointed at and whispered about by passersby. However, she soon realized that the passersby were just talking about her clothes.
Huh? The bride? Qingcheng looked down at the red cheongsam she was wearing. It hadn't seemed so bright in the photo studio. But now, wearing it on the street, the red was too eye-catching. Combined with the floor-length veil, she suddenly realized that the photos she had just taken were... her wedding photos.
Ah!! I was careless. Qingcheng regretfully removed her veil, realizing that Gao Junxiao had been planning this for a long time. No wonder he's surnamed Gao; everything he does is superior. She'd been tricked from the moment she stepped into the photo studio.
She said that all the jewelry in the studio was genuine, and the veil must have been prepared in advance by the men, just because they knew she liked novelty. Most importantly, the cheongsam was the perfect length for her, as she is not a girl with a normal figure.
Ha! She almost forgot Gao Junxiao's character; dealing with him required a thousand precautions. Qingcheng angrily tugged at the ring on her hand; she wouldn't marry him.
However, the ring seemed to be rooted to the spot, and no matter how hard I tried to remove it, I would only hurt myself.
Just then, a suppressed laugh came from behind her. When Qingcheng turned around, she saw Gao Junxiao leaning against the brick wall, waving at her. Qingcheng rushed over and angrily threw her veil at him: "I'll return the ring to you after I take it off, and also pay the hospital fees."
“What I’ve given away, there’s no reason to take back. Besides, time can’t be turned back. If you give me back my money now, aren’t you losing out? Why don’t you kiss me back, my wife?” Gao Junxiao happily changed Qingcheng’s form of address. It seems that “darling” is no longer enough for him.
Since the two were still on the street, Qingcheng couldn't make a scene, so she could only grit her teeth and whisper, "Don't shout nonsense. We're not engaged. A ring alone doesn't count."
Qingcheng pointed to the ring on her hand, hoping Gao Junxiao would understand the reality. To her surprise, Gao Junxiao's eyes lit up after hearing this: "I understand. I will immediately have my father set off for Wuhan to propose marriage. My father is an old-fashioned man; he will follow all the procedures without skipping a single step, so don't worry."
"That's not the reason." Kiyosumi didn't know how to explain to him that the real process required the organization to approve it first.
"So you're toying with my feelings?" Gao Junxiao stared at Qingcheng's conflicted little face with great interest.
“Of course not,” Kiyosumi immediately retorted.
"What is the reason that makes you want to get married but dare not?" Gao Junxiao asked casually, but his deep eyes flashed with a probing intent.
"That's not true. I have my own rhythm. Now you've completely disrupted it." Kiyosumi turned her back and denied it outright.
"Okay, try to solve your problems yourself first. If you can't, come to me. Remember, marriage isn't just about you; it's about both of us." Gao Junxiao didn't press her any further. His understanding comforted Qingcheng a little, but a pang of guilt also welled up in her heart. The marriage application couldn't be delayed any longer.
"Don't think about it anymore. What are we going to eat later, honey?" Gao Junxiao quietly reached out and hugged her around the waist, but as soon as he changed his address, he got an elbow to the head.
Ignoring Qingcheng's warning look, Gao Junxiao said in a cheeky manner, "You'll have to marry me sooner or later, so just get used to it."
"If you can't get used to it, change it back." Kiyosumi said, giving the man another nudge.
Gao Junxiao touched the spot that was repeatedly "injured" and tentatively asked again, "But our relationship has progressed further, so how about this, your nickname is Hua'er, and I'll call you Huahua, okay? Huahua."
Disgusting, so disgusting. Qingcheng felt goosebumps all over her body. She originally thought he was a normal man, but how come he's becoming more and more like Wang Renyong, that idiot? She didn't want to talk to him.
Seeing that Qingcheng didn't refute him, Gao Junxiao continued to ask her what she wanted to eat. Qingcheng gritted her teeth and said she wanted to eat beef, her fierce expression as if she was about to eat Gao Junxiao's flesh.
“Beef is fine, but let me clarify, I was born before the Spring Festival. I was actually born at the end of the Gengzi year, a rat. Chen Yao is the ox.” Gao Junxiao jokingly raised his arm and grinned as he asked, “So, do you want to eat rat meat? Huahua.”
Qingcheng closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened her eyes again, she elegantly uttered a "Get lost" to express her inner rage. Dealing with Gao Junxiao required not only being more cunning but also being willing to suffer.
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The night was warm and gentle, and a ray of soft moonlight shone through the latticed window onto the floor. Gao Junxiao sat at the table and dialed a phone.
If it weren't for proposing marriage, Gao Junxiao wouldn't dare to call home so casually. If his mother caught him, she would either urge him to go on blind dates or go back to his hometown for blind dates, which would be too scary.
Fortunately, a deep male voice came through the microphone; it was his beloved father. However, because he hadn't spent the Lunar New Year with his hometown last year, the old man had been quite cold towards him. He had said all the nice things he could think of before he finally received a hum from his father.
The old man made a sarcastic remark that his eldest nephew had mentioned him during dinner, saying that if he got married and his uncle still hadn't heard from him, he would adopt a son to be his uncle's grandson.
The old man told Gao Junxiao not to rush, to take his time looking and choosing, or to take a nap and wake up as a grandfather, wouldn't that be great?
What a load of rubbish! Gao Junxiao knew the old man was being sarcastic, but there was nothing he could do. As for his nephew, the little brat was just as wicked as his father. Like father, like son, but unfortunately, Old Liang was made from a crooked tree.
"Really? Our nephew is so filial. He's only a young child but he already wants to carry on the family line. He must study hard so that he can bring glory to the family in the future. I'll send him a few sets of exam questions from Jiangnan. Since ancient times, Jiangnan has produced many talented people. He must learn from their strengths and choose Tsinghua or Peking University. He must not be inferior to his uncle."
Gao Junxiao felt that he genuinely hoped his nephew would succeed in his studies, and it was definitely not out of revenge. He hoped the brat would understand his uncle's good intentions.
"Oh, your uncle is so kind. I thank you on behalf of your eldest nephew. There's nothing I can do; the older one is a bit dim-witted like his father. I hope the younger one will be like his mother." The old man scolded both of them, his skill undiminished.
With a forced smile and a "sacrifice yourself for righteousness" mentality, Gao Junxiao asked the old man if he had received the letter he had sent, as that was the important matter.
"I saw it! I was just about to ask, who's this in the photo?"
"Your youngest son and your future daughter-in-law, we're just one step away from each other."
"Hehehe, our silly young master suddenly wants to get married, how rare! Let me see if the sun rises in the west."
"Dad, we're still on British time. We've been jet-lagged for decades, it's time to get back to normal. Right now, there's only the moon."
"Hahaha, then I'll have to get up really early tomorrow to see the sun in the west."
"Stop laughing, this is a serious matter. If I can't find a wife, I'll have to fill a big tea mug with tears. Besides, if I do find one, my ancestors will be blessed with good fortune. You and Uncle Sima next door will have another asset to boast about when you play chess."
"Pah! Our two families live so far apart. What good will it do me if you get married, besides having to pay an extra dowry? Besides, you've already taken your wedding photos. Aren't you just planning to act first and ask questions later? Who is this girl?"
“They come from a scholarly and distinguished family, and you don’t need to pay the bride price; I’ll pay it myself. But the marriage proposal must be made in person by you to show that it’s taken seriously. Once you’ve settled things, I’ll come back and kowtow to you, okay?”
"Go away, go away! Do you think I'm short of a few dollars in dowry? With your meager savings, don't embarrass the Gao family. It's only natural for a son to kowtow to his father. What, you want a different father?"
"I agree to the change, but my mother doesn't."
"Hey, if that's how you put it, I'll go to the ancestral hall first thing tomorrow morning and cross out your name. From now on, we'll go our separate ways, you can be whoever you want to be, and we'll never see each other again."
"Father, what I mean is that I was born a member of the Gao family, and I will die a member of the Gao family. You will always be my father."
"Hey! Why are you still trying to scam me? Go try to scam someone elsewhere."
"...Dad, long-distance calls are quite expensive. I've written the address for the marriage proposal in the letter. So, what do you say, is this alright?"
"Heh, this girl is pretty and comes from a respectable family, so how come she's so young and has such poor judgment? Did you trick her into coming back?"
"Of course not, they have sharp eyes. We fell in love on our own. Do you understand what freedom means? Can't you just give me a compliment? Be realistic."
"Tsk, praise you? Would I dare praise you? If I praise you again, will I still see your son? You might even fly to the heavens."
"Dad, please give me a straight answer. I don't want to die alone. Can you help your son continue his life?"
"Yes, but you have to bring your baby with you so I can take a look first."
"Emmm, okay, I'll make arrangements after I get back to Shanghai."
After hanging up the loving family call with his father, Gao Junxiao sighed helplessly. Talking to his dad was too exhausting. He had to do something else to relax. With that thought, he turned on the phone and pulled out a small bugging device.
Oh dear, if you find one cockroach, there might be cockroaches all over the house. I'll have to do a thorough cleaning tonight!
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