Chapter 82 Double-Headed Red Candles
After submitting the final draft of her master's thesis, Xia Qingwan was noticeably less busy than before.
Everything is settled, and we are just waiting for the doctoral program to start this fall.
She left the office early, but the days were getting longer, so every day when she got home, there was still the brilliant glow of the spring sunset.
After she returned, she went to the study in the side hall to read. Grandma Xi brought her some honey water, but found her curled up in the single sofa by the window, resting her head on her arm and leaning against the back of the sofa, her eyes unfocused, lost in thought.
Her long, flowing hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her pretty yet serene face truly embodied the languid, springtime charm of a young girl.
What are you thinking about?
Grandma Xi put down her water glass and asked.
Xia Qingwan shook her head slightly, but remained in the same posture and expression, not moving, listlessly twirling her hair with her fingers, round and round.
Grandma Xi smiled.
Spring drowsiness and autumn fatigue; after being busy for the past few months, she probably just got lazy.
When Xia Huiqing returned, she noticed Qingwan's lethargy and asked Grandma Xi, "Is Qingwan feeling unwell?"
She said no, but I think she was probably too tired from being busy recently, and now that she's relaxed a bit, she's feeling sleepy.
Xia Huiqing nodded, and during the meal, she still made a point of having Xia Qingwan drink a bowl of hot soup.
Although she appeared languid, there was no trace of sorrow in her eyes; on the contrary, she occasionally seemed to be immersed in a sweet happiness.
Xia Qingwan has always been a serious and down-to-earth person, both in his studies and in his life.
Ye Peixiu told her to think it over carefully, and she really took it seriously, taking it up to ponder whenever she had free time from work or study.
She wanted to marry him.
Time is secondary, it doesn’t matter whether it’s early or late.
As long as it's him.
Just thinking about it makes my heart filled with happiness.
After taking a shower and putting on a face mask that evening, Ye Peixiu called.
He had just returned to Yeyuan after get off work and said on the phone that he was smoking by the pond.
We chatted for a long time without realizing it.
After hanging up the phone, she washed off her face mask, dried it, and gently rubbed her cheeks in front of the mirror.
Only then did I realize that the sweetness and affection in her eyes and brows in the mirror were so intense that they hadn't faded even after I hung up the phone.
After washing up and returning to bed, I left only a dim, yellow lamp on the bedside table.
She lay on her pillow, gently stroking the ears of her large yellow dog doll, lost in thought. It sounded like Daiyu was reciting in her ear, "Every day, my thoughts are heavy with sleep."
-
Sheng Junchi went to Ye Garden to have a drink with Ye Peixiu.
Ye Peizheng was smoking by the pond. Seeing him coming, he didn't greet him. "What are you doing here in the middle of the night, you married man?"
Sheng Junchi felt depressed. He placed the wine he brought on the high-legged coffee table between the two armchairs, poured two glasses, and sighed half-seriously, "You don't understand. Marriage has its own worries."
"Didn't you say the other day that you were trying to get pregnant? Why are you drinking again?"
Sheng Junchi sneered, "Preparing for pregnancy? That's just empty words and politeness to the outside world. Even you believe it? It shows that our acting skills are pretty good."
That's an interesting way to put it: "we".
It means that he and Ji Shuyu were outwardly friendly but inwardly at odds.
Ye Peixiu glanced at him, somewhat disheartened, "...Don't tell me you were just acting."
"A century of great success, let's have fun performing!"
Sheng Junchi raised his voice, as if he were already drunk even before drinking.
"Don't try that on me."
Act crazy and stupid.
Sheng Junchi invited him to drink.
Putting her own mess aside for the moment, she laughed at him, "What's wrong with you? Everything has been settled, and you've fought for it, but why are you acting like a student couple, sleeping in separate rooms? Don't you want to?"
Ye Peixiu lowered his eyelashes and simply smiled, "You don't understand."
This sweet torture has its own benefits.
His heart was itching with longing, anticipating an answer from her. The thought that no matter when the answer came, no matter when it was decided, she would always want him in the end made him feel that the sky was clear and the mountains, rivers, seas, and everything in the world were kind and lovely.
With a broad mind, one can swallow mountains and rivers.
Yes, the heart that loves and is loved is vast.
-
After waiting for a long time, the weekend finally arrived.
Early in the morning, just after breakfast, Ye Peixiu came to the Xia family's old house to pick up Xia Qingwan to go out and play.
Through the window, Grandma Xi watched Xia Qingwan's cheerful departure and couldn't help but turn to Xia Huiqing to complain, "Sigh, Qingwan is already so grown up, 25! What's the point of keeping her cooped up at home all day? She's dating!"
"That's not what I meant."
Xia Huiqing said.
“You didn’t mean it that way, but if you don’t say it, Mr. Ye will be too polite to bring it up, and Qingwan is too shy to bring it up either. Do you expect me to step in and kick Qingwan out?”
"This is getting more and more absurd."
Xia Huiqing closed the book.
Outside the window, spring is in full swing.
Ye Peixiu and Xia Qingwan didn't go anywhere else and went directly to Ye Garden.
Hand in hand, they strolled through the courtyard for a spring outing. They stood in front of the crabapple tree in front of the master bedroom and stared at it for a long time. "...it hasn't bloomed yet."
"It hasn't opened since you were gone all these years."
He said.
Xia Qingwan was in a very good mood and deliberately said, "Now that I'm back, it should be open by then, right?"
Ye Peixiu smiled, "Yes, you are its flower goddess."
He always makes fun of her.
She didn't bother with him and stood in front of the tree with her hands clasped together, looking like she was making a wish devoutly.
Finally, he said with a refreshed look, "I've already told it that it should bloom this year."
Ye Peixiu laughed non-stop, "Okay. If it doesn't know what's good for it, I'll have it pulled out after spring."
"Isn't that unnecessary?"
"Of course we need to, the Flower Goddess has spoken—"
She rushed up to him and punched him, yelling, "If you keep teasing me..."
He cupped her fist in his arms and pulled her close, laughing, "That's unfair. I meant it."
Laughing and joking, they went back inside.
On the low couch in the tea room, Xia Qingwan carefully brewed tea, snuggled into his arms, and showed him the videos and photos taken in California in March with a pad.
She tapped the screen with her fingertips, telling him everything bit by bit. She also watched an open-air movie; the night was chilly, but wonderful and pleasant.
“I can really understand what you mean by feeling,” she said. “It’s the feeling that everything is clear and beautiful.”
It refers to the past events he told her when he confessed his love to her in this teahouse.
Ye Peixiu held her hand and caressed it.
Xia Qingwan turned her head from his embrace to look at him with a hint of interest, and said, "Can I ask you when you decided to marry me?"
This question had been lingering in her mind for several days, and now that it had resurfaced, she couldn't help but want to find out the truth.
Ye Peixiu laughed, "I was just thinking about that."
"Um?"
She couldn't help but become more curious, and leaned in his arms, listening attentively.
"It was on the day I confessed my feelings to you, a little earlier," Ye Peixiu said, "You were making tea, saying it would help me sober up, but I picked up the wine glass again, and you scolded me."
As he spoke, he couldn't help but laugh, "...At that time, I felt that you were like my wife."
The feeling of being deeply moved and itching to get back to work still lingers in my mind.
Xia Qingwan listened, her heart pounding.
Her face flushed, and she fixed her clear, gentle gaze on him, but deliberately teased him softly, "...You have such thoughts before even confessing your feelings. It seems that Mr. Ye's skin is thicker than my dictionary of Song Dynasty poetry."
She herself didn't know how seductive her eyes were. Ye Peixiu was tickled by them. He pressed down with a smile, gently bit her earlobe, and whispered, "You dare to scold your husband after not being spanked for three days?"
His breath tickled her neck, and his words made her heart flutter.
He kissed her neck and jaw lightly, and Xia Qingwan felt her heart swell with honey, almost overflowing. Unable to hold it back any longer, she blurted out, "I've thought about it carefully. I want to marry you. It doesn't matter if it's sooner or later. As long as it's you, I'll be happy no matter when."
The impact of these words was so strong that it took Ye Peixiu some time to let them slowly penetrate his body.
My first reaction was to laugh.
It was pure and genuine joy.
He smiled and gently kissed her eyes, whispering, "Okay, let me check the auspicious dates, shall we get engaged first?"
She grabbed his hand, couldn't help but smile, and touched his forehead, "Okay."
“There will be a good day in mid-May,” he said.
They said they'd take a look, and then they gave it to us right afterward.
"Have you already checked the date?"
She asked.
"Of course."
-
It was May 21st of that year, just after the beginning of summer, and the temperature was pleasant.
In the evening, the moon is bright and the wind is clear.
The Ye and Xia families gathered happily at Ye Garden.
The whole house was newly decorated, with bright red tablecloths on every table, and golden and silver goblets filling the air with splendor.
On the dining table, the five-tiered cake stand was filled with a dazzling array of desserts, and at both ends of the long table, two red candles were shining brightly.
On a three-legged tall table, a celadon vase holds a peach branch, its tips clustered with pink and white blossoms.
Red tassels were tied to the rugged Taihu stones.
The lights were dim, and shadows flickered inside the room as people chatted and laughed.
Pei Yaxian helped Xia Qingwan organize her clothes in the bedroom cloakroom.
She wore a custom-made floor-length white dress, her long hair was tied up with a red ribbon, revealing her fair face.
Her beautiful face carried a cool and aloof air, making her incomparably beautiful.
Pei Yaxian took her out of the bedroom, and Ye Peixiu, who had changed into a suit, happened to walk out of the guest bedroom.
The two people smiled at each other.
He walked closer, looked down and asked, "Nervous?"
"A little bit."
"Relax and listen to the old man's long speech later."
She laughed.
The two walked hand in hand into the living room, and everyone applauded.
The old man stood by the dining table and, as expected, launched into a long speech.
Ye Peixiu whispered in Xia Qingwan's ear, "Once you retire, you won't have the chance to preach anymore. This has given the old man a chance."
Xia Qingwan smiled and looked up at him. Ye Peixiu kissed her.
It was Grandma Cheng Fei who teased the old man with a smile, "Come on, come over here! Are you worried that you won't have a chance to be heard? On Pei Xiuqing's wedding day, I'll ask the emcee to set aside half an hour for you."
This made everyone laugh.
Xia Huiqing's speech was brief, but the two elders shared the same sentiment: they should support and understand each other.
Finally, with their families as witnesses, the two exchanged engagement rings.
The engagement ceremony was completed.
The golden goblets and silver cups are filled to the brim.
He received blessings from his family members one by one.
The old man of the Ye family and Xia Huiqing each gave them an engagement red envelope.
Pei Yaxian gave Xia Qingwan a pair of jade bracelets that were passed down from the Ye family, and Grandma Cheng Fei gave her a pair of earrings that her ancestors had bought at an auction in the UK many years ago.
Grandma Xi, following custom, presented a brocade quilt in the shape of mandarin ducks.
Xia Mingzhou and Song Yanzhang, who were present, also gave them engagement gifts.
With representatives from both the Xia and Song families present, Xia Qingwan felt as if her parents were there, and her eyes welled up with tears.
It's been a full twenty years.
Over the past twenty years, she has moved around and experienced many ups and downs, but now she has found her true love. She and he love each other as much as her parents do, and their love will last until death.
Ye Peixiu stroked her head gently and whispered, "Mom and Dad love you."
She rested her head on his shoulder and murmured, "Mmm."
After calming him down for a moment, Ye Peixiu said, "Are you annoyed by these people? I'll kick them all out."
It made her burst into laughter.
"...We are all elders, let me see how you can attack us?"
Unexpectedly, Ye Peixiu put his arm around her, glanced at his watch, and said directly to everyone, "It's getting late, Grandpa should go back and rest."
Xia Qingwan was taken aback, and almost burst out laughing.
Grandma Cheng Fei said, "Yes, it will take at least forty minutes to get back, and it's almost time."
The old man was the oldest, so everyone naturally followed his advice and stood up to tidy up their clothes.
Ye Peixiu and Xia Qingwan escorted them to the parking lot.
They sent them off one by one, car by car.
Cars drove out one after another beneath the tall and wide red gate, until finally, only the light from the gate's wall lamps shone down on the ground.
The large red gate slowly closed.
The maid asked if they should pack it now, and Ye Peixiu loosened his tie and said, "Let's leave it for now and pack it tomorrow morning."
The servants filed out.
The party was over and everyone had left.
Late at night, after the grand banquet, the living room of Ye Garden was a magnificent mess, with the moonlight streaming in through the window, creating a decadent and lingering atmosphere.
Ye Peixiu went to the bedroom.
Xia Qingwan had just taken off her makeup and was taking a shower when a man's arms suddenly wrapped around her from behind.
The sound of shower water and the low sound of breathing intertwined, bringing a gorgeous and charming tide.
The rich, soft and trembling sound is like the sudden rain in late spring and early summer, which washes and cleanses without any explanation.
After several rounds, she even took a short nap on him before the two of them went to the terrace outside the master bedroom for some fresh air.
She remained nestled in his arms, her mind growing increasingly hazy and weary.
Ye Peixiu was still kissing her, his hand holding her thigh, kissing her until her hair fell back.
He's been starving for a while, and no matter how much we try to make him feel better tonight, he still doesn't seem satisfied.
Xia Qingwan caught a glimpse of the crabapple tree outside the terrace out of the corner of her eye. An idea struck her, and she stepped back slightly, playing with one of his hands in her own, and said, "Hey, should I try what Su Shi said, 'Burning tall candles to illuminate red makeup'?"
As for red candles, there are plenty in the living room.
The two red candles with double branches are a very traditional part of wedding etiquette and are beautifully designed.
Her voice was clear and soft, like a lover's sweet whispers on a pillow, so enchanting that it melted one's heart. Ye Pei was so excited that it took him a few seconds to realize what she was saying.
He chuckled, his voice still hoarse, "What are you trying to do?"
"Su Shi was afraid that the flowers would fall asleep, I am afraid that the flowers would not bloom."
She smiled gently, "...I'll go get the red candles."
As she spoke, she got off his lap, lifted her skirt, and as soon as she moved her leg, she hissed in pain.
"What's wrong?"
She stopped and pursed her lips. "It's still a little numb..."
"I'll get it, you sit down."
Ye Peixiu went to the living room, took a double-burner red candle, brought it to her, cupped his hands to protect the wick, and lit it with a lighter.
Xia Qingwan braced herself against the railing, leaned over, and held up a red candle, using its fiery red light to illuminate the branches of the crabapple tree.
In the dim courtyard, a girl in a white nightgown held a red candle in her hand, illuminating the crabapple tree in an almost childish manner.
Next to her was a handsome man in white shirt and black pants leaning against the railing.
The burning candlelight flickered between her and him.
Xia Qingwan had too many elegant and interesting things in her mind, but she rarely had the opportunity to put them into practice in such a silly way.
Silly, yet happy.
Ye Peixiu took it and held it up for a while.
He laughed and said, "If this still doesn't open, we really need to give it a good treatment."
Xia Qingwan couldn't help laughing.
This pure, heartfelt smile was just like that time under the umbrella by the pond many years ago.
They couldn't help but lean closer and exchange a light kiss.
A clear night with a pale moon and wispy clouds.
Under the red candlelight, on the dimly lit branches of the crabapple tree, late-blooming buds had already formed, ready to unfurl and open when the daylight broke.
——
End of main text.
-----------------------
Author's Note: The main story is now complete! Many things happened during the serialization of this book, and I deeply understand how difficult it has been for everyone who has followed along. Thank you for your understanding and encouragement.
Qingwan and Mr. Ye cherish each other, and I cherish them too. In my heart, they are the most special couple so far.
Thank you all for your continued support. We're holding a giveaway in the next few days, thank you again!
"The currently confirmed extra chapters include the Sheng Junchi and Ji Shuyu couple, the Meizhu and Wang Jingzi couple, and the story of Qingwan and Mr. Ye after their marriage. There may also be an "if" plot (if Qingwan lived with the Ye family as a child). If you have any other ideas you'd like to see, please let me know."
Highlight: Extra chapters will begin updating next Tuesday, October 28th! "The title might be changed; tentatively, it's called 'The Chronicles of Wan Tang.' Don't get lost!"
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