Morning Light as the Prelude
The deafening yet harmonious chimes, like the tide at its highest point, slowly receded after reaching their glorious peak, eventually fading into the familiar, delicate ticking background sounds within the "Time Sequence" store.
The lingering echoes in the room seemed to still vibrate slightly in the air, lingering there, just as those deep emotions and blessings had quietly settled into every inch of wood grain and dust in this space.
There were no wedding night pranks, no unnecessary noise. After warm blessings and simple tea and snacks, close relatives and friends considerately left one after another, returning the space, which had just been blessed by the sacred bells, to the newlyweds.
Grandpa Lu Qingming was the last to leave. He patted his grandson's shoulder forcefully, then smiled kindly at Lin Zhiyi, everything understood without words. As the shop door was gently closed, shutting out the last trace of the outside world's noise, an ultimate tranquility, tinged with a slight hum, enveloped the area.
Only the two of them remained in the store.
The red candles had gone out, leaving only a few warm yellow wall lamps casting a warm glow on the work area and the corner by the window where Lin Zhiyi often sat. The long table had been cleaned up, and the simple tablecloth remained, empty as if silently savoring the brief liveliness that had just passed.
Lu Shixu and Lin Zhiyi still stood in the center of the store, their hands still tightly clasped. After the intense emotional and sensory turmoil they had just experienced, the silence now seemed so profound and intimate.
He turned to look at her, and she was looking up at him. The soft sheen of her cheongsam accentuated her gentle features, her eyes still glistening with excitement, and a soft, peaceful tranquility that came after everything had settled. His dark gray stand-up collar outlined his refined features, and the light in his eyes shone brighter than any lamplight, a pure clarity that came after shedding all invisible burdens.
They didn't speak.
At this moment, any words seem superfluous. The tolling of the clock filling the room, the tightly clasped hands, the gentle kiss on the forehead—these have already spoken volumes.
Lu Shixu gently pulled her into his arms. This embrace was unlike any he had ever had. It was tighter, more complete, carrying a new sense of belonging, a sense of belonging confirmed by ritual and law. His chin rested on the top of her head, and he could smell the faint fragrance of her hair, mixed with the familiar, comforting scent from the shop.
Lin Zhiyi buried her face in his chest, listening to the heartbeat emanating from his chest, more real and powerful than the ticking of a clock in the room. Her fingers unconsciously curled, feeling his slender yet firm back beneath his clothes. An indescribable, overflowing sense of happiness, like warm spring water, gushed from the deepest part of her heart, flowing through her limbs and bones.
They stood there in silence for a long time, embracing each other. Until the night outside the window grew deeper and deeper, until the city lights gradually thinned out.
"Are you tired?" Finally, Lu Shixu's deep voice broke the silence, carrying a post-coital hoarseness and endless tenderness.
Lin Zhiyi gently shook her head in his arms, her voice muffled: "Not tired." She just felt like she had just had a grand and beautiful dream.
He gave a soft "hmm," his arm still wrapped around her, showing no intention of letting go.
After a while, he stepped back a little and looked down at her, saying, "Go and rest."
He took her hand and, instead of leading her outside, guided her to the small cubicle at the back of the shop where he used for short breaks. It had been simply furnished, with clean bedding and a small, softly lit bedside lamp that dispelled the chill of the winter night.
This will be their resting place on their wedding night. Not elsewhere, but right here in this "timeline" that holds all their memories of love.
There was no awkwardness, no discomfort, only a natural and effortless feeling.
When Lin Zhiyi finished washing up and came out wearing soft pajamas, Lu Shixu was sitting on the narrow single bed, holding a collection of essays she often read, casually flipping through it by the bedside lamp. Hearing the noise, he looked up.
The warm yellow light enveloped him, shedding his usual cold and aloof demeanor at work and the solemn brilliance of the ceremony, leaving only a gentle, homely warmth belonging to the night.
He put down his book and reached out his hand to her.
Lin Zhiyi walked over, placed her hand in his palm, and sat down beside him. The bed was small, so they had to be very close, shoulder to shoulder, their body heat passing between them through the thin fabric of their clothes.
"Today..." Lin Zhiyi leaned against him and spoke softly, but she didn't know how to describe this complicated yet fulfilling day.
"Mm," Lu Shixu responded, reaching out to turn off the bedside lamp.
The cubicle instantly plunged into darkness, with only a sliver of light from the interior wall lamps filtering through the crack in the door, outlining the blurry contours of the furniture.
In the darkness, the senses become exceptionally sharp. You can hear each other's breathing so close together, feel each other's body temperature, and smell each other's clean, familiar scent.
Lu Shixu wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her closer into his embrace. His kisses landed gently on her hair, her forehead, and finally, he kissed her lips tenderly.
This is a kiss unlike a light kiss on the forehead; it carries the intimacy and affirmation between husband and wife, gentle and lingering.
When the kiss ended, he gazed intently into her bright eyes in the darkness from very close range and whispered:
"Go to sleep."
Lin Zhiyi found the most comfortable position in his arms, closed her eyes, and felt his steady heartbeat and regular breathing, like the most soothing lullaby in the world.
Outside the window, the city and old streets are asleep.
Inside the store, countless clocks still faithfully record time, tick-tock, tick-tock...
In this world witnessed by time and blessed by the tolling of bells, they slept in each other's arms.
The grand day has come to an end.
And their ordinary yet long future is slowly unfolding, with this tranquil morning light as its guide.
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