Chapter 36 Peaceful Years, Long Roads of Martial Arts, I Walk with You. ...
Five days later, Zhu Qingting was finally able to be discharged from the hospital. This time, they chose to leave quietly in the dim light of the night at four in the morning, without alerting any media.
Deng Jie had arranged everything perfectly. The black van drove directly into the hospital's underground parking garage through a private passage, completely avoiding the sight of reporters and fans.
When Zhu Qingting stepped into Chai Yundu's home in Shanghai, she discovered that the man had already prepared everything for her.
In the entryway sits a pair of soft pink bunny ear slippers. The refrigerator is neatly stocked with her favorite brand of sparkling water and various fresh fruits. The snack cabinet in the living room is crammed with her favorite snacks, and a comfortable double rocking chair with soft cushions is placed on the balcony.
Even in the bathroom, not only were her usual toiletries and skincare products prepared, but the towels and shower caps were also her favorite light green. Every detail truly revealed his thoughtfulness.
However, after touring the more than 300-square-meter house, she was surprised to find that only two bedrooms had bedding.
One room was the room of Aunt Ding, the nanny we had just greeted, and the other room was obviously Chai Yundu's master bedroom.
"Where is my room?" Zhu Qingting already had a question in mind, but she turned to look at Chai Yundu, who was sitting in a wheelchair at the bedroom door, even though she already knew the answer.
“Baby, of course you’ll sleep with me~” Chai Yundu replied affectionately, a sly glint in his eyes. “Look, you still need someone to help you get up, otherwise it will aggravate your wound and affect your recovery. I’m strong, so I’m perfect for helping you.”
Seeing that she was about to object, he quickly added, "Besides, I need someone to look after me. Otherwise, if I get up at night and fall, and there's no one in the room, wouldn't I have to scream my lungs out?" He raised an eyebrow smugly, "How thoughtful of me! It's better for both of us if we sleep in the same bed."
Zhu Qingting muttered coquettishly, "You always have so many excuses," and then didn't insist any further.
Given their current condition, nothing is likely to happen. Rather than having a strange caregiver look after her at night, she would prefer to continue sharing a room with her roommate, with whom she had already lived for five days—only now the two small hospital beds had been replaced by a comfortable double bed.
The days that followed were peaceful yet heartwarming. Aunt Ding, the nanny, was a gentle, capable, and highly skilled middle-aged woman. Every day, she prepared a variety of light yet nutritious meals for them.
Zhu Qingting's wound is gradually healing, thanks to the absorbable protein thread that the doctor specially used during the surgery. The doctor said that if she takes good care of herself, the scar will be very shallow or even non-existent in the future.
So, Chai Yundu had an extra sweet task every morning and evening: applying scar-removing gel to her.
Before applying the ointment, he would always bend down and gently kiss the scar.
"What are you doing?" Zhu Qingting asked, blushing, the first time.
Chai Yundu raised his head, his eyes filled with tenderness, "This is a disinfectant kiss; it will help the wound heal faster!"
When it was time to remove Chai Yundu's cast and rehabilitation equipment, they secretly went to a private clinic and even brought the rehabilitation equipment home. Every day, professional medical staff came to his home to guide him through gradual rehabilitation training.
Zhu Qingting watched him gradually get rid of the wheelchair, walk with crutches, and finally be able to walk slowly and independently. She was relieved to know that his leg injury had not left any sequelae.
Two and a half months passed in the blink of an eye. Chai Yundu's leg injury had basically healed, and Zhu Qingting should have returned to the dance troupe to resume work long ago.
On the eve of their parting, the two embraced on rocking chairs on the balcony, gazing at the city's night view.
"We'll be parting ways for now tomorrow." His voice was full of reluctance, and his arms tightened unconsciously.
Zhu Qingting nestled in his arms, feeling his warm body temperature. "It's only temporary. After you finish filming 'Nine Heavens,' didn't we agree to go back to our hometown together to meet my parents?"
"Mmm." He buried his face in the crook of her neck. "But I've already started missing you."
She chuckled, turned around, and cupped his face in her hands. "We can video chat every day. And I'll visit you on set too."
He took her hand and kissed her palm. "We agreed before that my driver would pick you up every other week to go to Hengdian for two days. Now, without you by my side, I can't even sleep soundly."
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Since the dramatic fan assassination attempt following their official announcement, Chai Yundu and Zhu Qingting have stopped showing affection in public and have become unusually low-key.
Apart from a Weibo post from their official studio account after their discharge from the hospital stating "Discharged from the hospital, please give us your private space," the two have not appeared in public or posted any content on the platform since.
Therefore, when photos of Chai Yundu appearing steadily on the set of "Nine Heavens" and Zhu Qingting returning to work at the song and dance troupe were released, they immediately sparked heated discussions online.
What's touching is that this time, the internet is flooded with blessings for the two of them to recover.
"It's so good to see that they're all safe and sound!"
"The most precious relationships are those that have withstood the test of life and death. May all lovers be united in marriage!"
"Please be happy!"
"Looking forward to my brother's new work, and also looking forward to Chief Zhu's new dance drama!"
Three months later, Chai Yundu successfully completed filming for "Nine Heavens". Relieved of his work, he returned to Shanghai to become a full-time stay-at-home dad, waiting for the Spring Festival holiday a week later so he could go back with Zhu Qingting to meet her parents.
Unlike his previous four-day experience as a stay-at-home husband, this time he packed all his luggage and moved directly into Zhu Qingting's house, even brazenly taking over the master bedroom.
"Is this your luggage?" Zhu Qingting looked at the five huge suitcases in the living room after returning from get off work, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
Chai Yundu nodded confidently.
His life as a full-time househusband is regular and fulfilling. He gets up early every day to prepare a nutritious breakfast, sends Zhu Qingting to work, goes home to clean, do laundry and cook, delivers meals to the dance troupe on time at noon, and picks her up from get off work in the evening.
Every time he picked her up from get off work, he would magically pull out a snack from a thermos, saying, "Have a bite to eat before you go home for dinner."
Nighttime is their precious time together. They might watch a movie together, practice dancing and martial arts in the dance studio, or do something shy, before falling asleep in each other's arms.
Soon it was the 29th day of the Lunar New Year, and the two took a plane back to their hometown.
On the plane, Chai Yundu held her hand tightly the whole time, his palms slightly sweaty.
"Nervous?" Zhu Qingting asked softly.
He nodded honestly, "I was even more nervous than when I filmed my first scene with lines."
She smiled and leaned on his shoulder, "Don't worry, my parents have always considered you family."
This Spring Festival was especially warm for Chai Yundu, who had always been alone.
Zhu Qingting's parents had already approved of the couple's marriage. Although their daughter was injured because of Chai Yundu's fans, when they saw the video online of the young man protecting her despite his injured leg, all their complaints turned into gratitude and approval.
Chai Yundu not only integrated into Zhu Qingting's big family, but also received his first New Year's money red envelope.
"I'll be 28 after the New Year, way past the age of receiving lucky money," he declined.
But Zhu Qingting's aunt insisted on giving it to him, saying, "In our area, unmarried people are all children, and they all receive New Year's money. Yun Du, just accept it; it's our token of appreciation."
At the New Year's Eve dinner table, Zhu's mother kept piling food onto his plate, saying, "Eat more, you're so thin." Zhu's father pulled him aside for a drink, and they chatted happily about everything from work to life. At that moment, Chai Yundu truly felt the warmth of home.
After dinner, back in the car, Zhu Qingting playfully snatched his red envelope. "These are all mine!" she exclaimed excitedly, as if she had just thought of something. "Baby, how about we date without getting married? If we get married, we'll receive so much less lucky money every year."
With a smile, Chai Yundu took out his American Express Black Card from his wallet and handed it to her along with the red envelope. "All my money is yours. Shall we go get our marriage certificate tomorrow?"
Seeing that she didn't speak, he leaned closer to her ear and lowered his voice, "Besides... only after we're married can I legitimately hold you and sleep with you every day, instead of having to sleep in separate rooms under our parents' noses, right?"
She blushed and lightly punched his chest, but he pulled her into his arms. Fireworks outside the car window bloomed in the night sky, illuminating their embracing figures.
After the Spring Festival, Zhu Qingting returned to Shanghai and devoted herself to preparations for the national tour of her new dance drama. Chai Yundu, on the other hand, asked Deng Jie to cancel all unnecessary engagements so that he could focus entirely on preparing for the wedding.
Because Zhu Qingting wanted to have a lawn wedding in a castle in Germany, they set the wedding date for the day before her birthday in June.
Chai Yundu anonymously spent a large sum of money to solicit design proposals from numerous domestic wedding and stage construction companies, aiming to integrate Chinese classical elements with the romance of German castles under the theme of "fusion of dance and martial arts".
For the wedding dress, he specially invited a designer from a top international haute couture brand to fly over and make a custom-made dress for Zhu Qingting. He also invited a renowned Suzhou embroidery master to create a performance costume for the couple that was the same style as the one they wore in their childhood performance of "Dance of Martial Spirit," but even more exquisite.
The sun shone brightly on the wedding day. Zhu Qingting only invited relatives and close friends, while Chai Yundu invited male actors he had worked with and guests from the program "Passing on the Arts Across the Country".
In the courtyard of Heidelberg Castle, which had witnessed their wonderful performances, Zhu Qingting walked slowly in a custom-made wedding dress. Her veil fluttered gently in the breeze, making her look like a princess straight out of a fairy tale. Chai Yundu stood at the end of the green space, watching her approach step by step, his eyes filled with tears of happiness.
Witnessed by family and friends, they exchanged vows. Chai Yundu held her hand tightly, his voice choked with emotion yet firm, "From the first time we met at the sports school when I was fourteen, to the time I pledged my life to you in the castle when I was twenty-eight, Zhu Qingting, you are my one and only dance partner in this life."
After the ceremony, amidst cheers from the guests, they changed into dance costumes and performed a segment from the red drum performance of "Dance of Martial Spirit," recreating the dance that brought them together fourteen years ago.
Chai Yundu's martial arts moves remain powerful and vigorous, while Zhu Qingting's dance moves remain graceful and captivating.
Time may have changed their appearance, but it has only deepened their tacit understanding. When the final gesture was a loving embrace, thunderous applause erupted from the audience.
"I love you," he whispered in her ear, tightening his arms around her.
“I love you too,” she replied, “from the past, to the present, and forever.”
That evening, Chai Yundu posted the performance video on Weibo with a simple caption: "To give our youth an explanation, and to give a thank you gift to all those who blessed us. From now on, though the road ahead is long, we will walk together."
From practice clothes to wedding gowns, from the stage to everyday life, their love, like this ancient castle, has grown stronger and more unbreakable with the passage of time. And their story has only just begun…
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