49. Receiving the Marriage Certificate

Lu Yinghuai returned the day before Pei Huan was due to go home. As soon as he walked in, the two of them embraced and kissed for a long while in the entryway, their passion carrying them all the way from there to the bedroom, where an intense and torrid night followed, everything unfolding as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

The next morning, Pei Huan found herself aching all over, barely able to get out of bed. Meanwhile, the culprit behind her misery was sleeping soundly beside her. Feeling a mischievous impulse, she reached out and pinched his chest—not too hard, but enough to wake Lu Yinghuai. He caught her hand firmly, his voice low and husky, full of allure: “Looking for trouble, are you?”

There was a hint of threat in Lu Yinghuai’s gaze, and Pei Huan immediately behaved herself. Only then was he satisfied. He wrapped an arm around her waist, his tone full of longing. “Stay with me a bit longer.”

“I can’t,” Pei Huan replied with righteous resolve. “If I sleep any longer, I’ll miss my train.”

“Aren’t your parents living here, in Lingcheng?” Lu Yinghuai asked.

“It’s the New Year. They’re going back to the village to be with my grandparents. My brother and I have to go too,” Pei Huan explained.

Hearing this, Lu Yinghuai held her close for a while before letting go. After breakfast, he drove her to the train station. At their parting, neither could hide the reluctance in their eyes. But they had already agreed to spend New Year’s with their own families, and neither went back on their word. They whispered sweet nothings for a bit longer, and only then did Lu Yinghuai watch as Pei Huan passed through security.

Pei Yan and Xia Qing had already registered their marriage before the New Year. Once Pei Huan was home, she seemed to encounter Pei Yan showing off his love for Xia Qing in every corner of the house. If her sister-in-law Xia Qing wasn’t around, Pei Huan would have rolled her eyes at Pei Yan a hundred times over.

Fortunately, now that Pei Huan was in a relationship, Pei Dashan and Zhong Su finally stopped bringing up the idea of arranging blind dates for her. At last, she could enjoy a peaceful holiday.

The neighbor’s children had also returned for the New Year. One day, as Pei Huan stood outside basking in the sun and enjoying the breeze, she heard the sound of a suitcase being wheeled along. She turned her head and met the gaze of a young man. Since she’d spent most of her years in Lingcheng and only came back for the holidays, her memories of childhood playmates had faded; she couldn’t recognize the man before her. She simply smiled and nodded in greeting, which the other returned before heading straight into his own house, evidently with no desire for conversation.

That night, Pei Huan complained to Lu Yinghuai about Pei Yan’s outrageous displays of affection. Lu Yinghuai laughed and asked, “Do you want me to come keep you company?”

“Won’t your family mind?” Pei Huan asked.

But what objections could the Lu family possibly have? Since Pei Huan had left, Lu Yinghuai had only returned home for New Year’s Eve dinner, then spent the rest of the time alone with nowhere else to go. Though the Lu family was large, he never liked being there.

Pei Huan was a little surprised. “So you’ve just been at home alone this whole time?”

“Yes,” Lu Yinghuai replied quietly.

Though there was no self-pity in his words, the low timbre of his voice and the faint expression on his face made Pei Huan’s heart ache. “Then you should get out more.”

“I don’t want to,” Lu Yinghuai answered.

That was just like him, Pei Huan thought—he never liked going out unless she was with him. Only when they were together would he agree to step outside. Pei Huan snuggled under her quilt and sighed, “Alright then. Be good and wait for me at home. I’ll be back soon.”

“Mm,” he replied.

After hanging up, Lu Yinghuai gazed out the window. Pei Huan’s apartment was not high up, and he could see many homes in the community lit up, some with families of three standing on the balconies. Even without approaching, he could feel the warmth radiating from them.

He had once been alone, too. But now, he had Pei Huan.

He smiled as he looked at the snacks Pei Huan had carelessly left on the table before she left.

Pei Huan messaged Lu Yinghuai from time to time, her face glowing with happiness. Pei Yan, fetching a drink from the fridge, caught a glimpse of her grinning and feigned disgust. “What are you looking at that’s making you smile so creepily?”

Pei Huan rolled her eyes at him. “None of your business. I’m chatting with my boyfriend.”

Pei Yan snorted. “Impressive.”

These days, Pei Huan had been getting along especially well with Xia Qing. They often went out for walks together, leaving Pei Yan alone at home.

At night, Pei Yan held Xia Qing and grumbled, “All you do is hang out with Pei Huan. When are you going to pay some attention to me?”

Xia Qing looked at his childish expression and raised an eyebrow. “Are you jealous?”

“Yeah,” Pei Yan admitted.

“Deal with it,” Xia Qing replied curtly.

Pei Yan narrowed his eyes. “Looks like you’re asking for trouble, Xia Qing.”

That night, the two teased each other until the early hours. The next morning, Pei Huan noticed the faint dark circles under Xia Qing’s eyes and wondered about it, but when she saw Pei Yan looking refreshed, she instantly understood and couldn’t help but curse Pei Yan as a beast in her heart.

On the sixth day of the new year, Pei Yan originally wanted to return to Lingcheng with Pei Huan, but she refused, saying she’d already bought a train ticket. Pei Yan scrutinized her for a long time—whether he believed her or not, he still drove her to the station.

“Be careful on your own. If anything happens, call me,” Pei Yan instructed.

“Got it. You and my sister-in-law take care on the road, too,” Pei Huan replied.

By the time Pei Huan arrived in Lingcheng, night had fallen. Lu Yinghuai was already waiting at the exit. The moment she saw him, Pei Huan abandoned her luggage and ran straight into his arms, holding him tightly as if she’d missed him for ages. “I missed you so much, Lu Yinghuai.”

He returned her embrace just as warmly. “I missed you too, Pei Huan,” he said softly.

They held each other for a long time before letting go. The roads were clear that night, and they drove home without delay. When the car stopped downstairs, Pei Huan was just about to open the door when she heard the soft click of the lock.

Before she could ask, Lu Yinghuai spoke first. “Pei Huan.”

“What is it?” she asked.

“Give me your hand,” he said simply.

Not sure what he was up to, Pei Huan extended her hand. A moment later, something cool was slipped onto her middle finger. She stared at the ring for a long moment, dumbfounded. “You’re…”

“Proposing,” Lu Yinghuai said.

Before Pei Huan could say a word, he continued, “Marry me, Pei Huan.”

His eyes were sincere, his expression earnest, and his words grave as he gazed at her.

Pei Huan had imagined countless scenarios for Lu Yinghuai’s proposal—a sunset beach, a home filled with red roses, a golden evening glow—but she had never expected it to happen on such a quiet night. In an instant, her eyes filled with tears. She glanced at him reproachfully. “Who proposes like this?”

Lu Yinghuai gave a self-deprecating smile. “I wanted to wait for a perfect moment, but when I saw you running toward me at the train station, I realized I couldn’t wait another second. I just wanted you by my side, wanted to marry you right now. I admit, I was impatient.

“But Pei Huan, will you marry me?”

There was no doubt about her answer. She nodded, and only then did Lu Yinghuai truly relax.

At that moment, Lu Yinghuai was nervous—afraid she might refuse, afraid she might think he wasn’t good enough, or that everything was too rushed. But when Pei Huan said yes, an unprecedented joy swept through him like a typhoon, leaving him momentarily speechless.

Seeing him staring at her in a daze, Pei Huan teased, “Don’t tell me you’re already having second thoughts after proposing?”

“No,” Lu Yinghuai shook his head. “I’m just calming myself down.”

Before she could reply, he leaned in and kissed her, his breath hot against her face. His kiss was fierce and possessive, as if he wished to claim her entirely.

When the kiss ended, Lu Yinghuai whispered, “Tell me, Pei Huan, this isn’t a dream.”

“It’s not a dream. I said yes,” Pei Huan replied.

Lu Yinghuai drew her into his arms, treasuring her more than anything.

They chose a bright, sunny day to register their marriage at the civil affairs bureau. The registrar, looking at the handsome couple before her, couldn’t help but marvel inwardly; she had seen many pairs, but never one as well-suited as these two.

When all the formalities were done and they stepped out of the bureau, Pei Huan looked down at the two red marriage certificates in her hand, finally feeling that everything had fallen into place. She looked up at Lu Yinghuai, who at that moment was gazing down at her. They exchanged a glance and both smiled.

At last, they would never be apart again.

News of Lu Yinghuai’s marriage quickly spread among Lingcheng’s high society. The wealthy young women who had long admired him were devastated; men as outstanding as Lu Yinghuai were, perhaps, one in a million.

Unaware of the stir his marriage had caused, Lu Yinghuai was busy at work, going over a merger case. After noting a few revisions, he handed the documents to Assistant Yan, instructing the relevant department to make the changes. Assistant Yan then brought over other papers requiring his signature.

Meanwhile, in the office pantry, Pei Huan was being interrogated by Tan Yan about her marriage. Pei Huan recounted the story succinctly, but Tan Yan found it far from enough and pestered her for more details.

Even though Pei Huan’s explanation was brief, Tan Yan wore an expression that clearly said, “I’m shipping this couple so hard,” clicking her tongue in admiration.

Girls really do have a knack for filling in the blanks with their imagination.

When Pei Huan went to get Lu Feng’s signature, Kang Shi happened to be there. Seeing her, he whistled. “Impressive, Pei Huan. You managed to win over Lu Yinghuai, Lingcheng’s most unattainable man.”

Pei Huan rolled her eyes. “If you’re bored, go get back to work.”

“Aren’t I working now?” Kang Shi replied with his usual careless attitude.

“Go play somewhere else,” Pei Huan said, unwilling to waste words on him—he was never serious, after all.

She hadn’t told Tang Yue and the others about her marriage in advance, so when they started grilling her in the group chat, Pei Huan felt a pang of guilt.

If only she’d told them earlier. Now, seeing how serious they were, she joked that she’d be dragged to the gallows for interrogation before she and Lu Yinghuai could even enjoy their wedding night.