“At the very least, people shouldn’t…”

Chu Lai stared at the tissues in the trash, lost for words. He never imagined he’d find himself doing something like this one day.

Meanwhile, Cen Wei, having tidied up, was already busy picking out wood. After their playful scuffle earlier, Chu Lai had taken a bite of a roasted sweet potato. With his back to him, Cen Wei commented, “Well, it’s not bad… but nothing compared to what you bought…”

Chu Lai interrupted, “People and paper figurines are different.”

From the back, Cen Wei looked broad and steady. Chu Lai couldn’t resist the urge to touch him, so he slid his hand from Cen Wei’s back to his front.

Cen Wei’s vest had already gotten dirty, and Chu Lai felt a little embarrassed. Sending it to the cleaners with that kind of stain… just thinking about it felt weird.

Cen Wei spoke again, “Didn’t you enjoy it too?”

As he rotated a piece of wood, the machine hummed softly, the wood shavings falling in neat spirals. The feeling of Chu Lai’s hands moving from behind must have been too much, as Cen Wei grabbed his hand and said, with a trace of restraint, “Stop touching.”

Before Chu Lai could respond, Cen Wei asked, “Did you like the videos Grandma sent you?”

Chu Lai, without thinking, replied, “Which one?”

That told Cen Wei all he needed to know—he’d watched them all.

Silence fell again, leaving only the sound of the wood-shaving machine. The pile of shavings next to them was from earlier, when Chu Lai and Grandpa Cen had been talking. Cen Wei quickly shaped a rough umbrella handle, then turned around, pulling Chu Lai into his arms. “So, which ones did you like?”

Chu Lai shook his head. “That guy in the apron wasn’t bad.”

Cen Wei couldn’t recall which video had an apron, thinking to himself, So many styles…

His brow furrowed instinctively. Chu Lai opened the video and laughed, saying, “Aren’t I just following the ‘honesty in love’ rule?”

Cen Wei grabbed his hand. “No need to be that honest.”

He kissed the red mole on Chu Lai’s wrist. “If you like that, I could wear it for you next time.”

Chu Lai couldn’t imagine it. “Wearing just an apron? That’s bold.”

Cen Wei’s voice rose. “Just an apron?”

“Yeah, a muscular guy wearing an apron—Grandma loves those.”

Chu Lai pursed his lips. “I don’t like that kind of thing.”

In the next second, he looked at Cen Wei, as if contemplating what the man he liked would look like dressed that way. He quickly concluded that it would likely result in him lying in bed all day, which didn’t seem worth it.

“You really want me to wear it?” asked Cen Wei, eyeing him playfully.

Chu Lai touched his Adam’s apple and shook his head. “Let’s keep it normal. There’s a difference between fantasy and reality.”

Raising an eyebrow, Cen Wei teased, “Fantasy?”

Chu Lai, too tired to flirt any longer, simply said, “Go back to working on your umbrella.”

The two continued chatting while working in the studio, with Chu Lai watching as Cen Wei demonstrated the process of making a handcrafted umbrella.

There weren’t many fabrics to choose from here, and the process couldn’t be completed quickly. They spoke casually as they worked on small tasks, with Chu Lai carving away at a piece of wood to get a feel for it. After a while, he called out, “Cen Wei.”

The man beside him looked over. “What’s up?”

“I want to quit my job,” Chu Lai said.

Cen Wei wasn’t surprised. He hummed in acknowledgment. “Then quit.”

The evidence they needed to clear Chu Lai’s name was hard to gather. Though they couldn’t track down the account that posted the defamatory comments, the phone used had left traces.

“I’ve got someone looking into it,” Cen Wei reassured him. “It’ll be fine.”

Chu Lai asked, “You don’t mind?”

“I don’t mind,” said Cen Wei with a smile. “But I do feel guilty for dragging you into this mess.”

He had wanted to apologize earlier, but Chu Lai had fallen asleep. Now, under the bright lights, with the soft glow highlighting his features, Cen Wei found himself mesmerized once again.

“In some ways, I used our wedding video to boost my studio’s popularity. Does that make me seem selfish?”

Though his sharp features gave him a fierce look, his calm demeanor was the very essence of gentleness. His deep-set eyes conveyed a natural intensity of feeling.

Shaking his head, Chu Lai said, “If you were selfish, you wouldn’t have married me in the first place.”

He held a carving knife, focusing on the rough shape he had created. “I just suddenly felt like quitting.”

“Then do what you want,” said Cen Wei, setting aside the umbrella fabric he had been working on. He picked up a few wood shavings and said, “I’ll always be with you.”

“You’re still not as cool as Grandpa,” Chu Lai teased.

Cen Wei looked at him, puzzled. “What’s up with Grandpa?”

Chu Lai pulled out a card from his pocket. “Grandpa gave this to me.”

“He said he planned to give it to us on our wedding day, but we kind of… ran off.”

Resting his chin on his hand, Chu Lai tapped the carving knife on the table. The wall next to him was covered with diagrams of umbrella structures, some of the papers yellowed with age. His eyelashes cast a shadow on his face under the light, fluttering like butterfly wings. “If we really had to calculate everything, I’m the one who married you for personal gain.”

“I’ve certainly benefited a lot from being with you.”

“All I remember is you asking for hugs, not money,” replied Cen Wei.

Thinking back to that moment, he still remembered his surprise at Chu Lai’s unusual request. “I never knew that was a thing.”

Chu Lai turned to him and asked, “Did you think I was weird?”

Shaking his head, Cen Wei answered, “No, I just wondered how terrible your ex-boyfriend must have been for you to feel so insecure.”

Chu Lai nodded. “He really was awful.”

After a breakup, exes should fade into the background like they’re dead, but unfortunately, Chu Lai’s ex was a complete scumbag.

Sighing, Chu Lai rested his chin on his hand and used the handle of the carving knife to lift Cen Wei’s chin, scrutinizing his face under the light.

Many people had complimented Cen Wei’s looks after reading about him in the Lianxin Umbrella reports. At first, Chu Lai didn’t care much for overly handsome men, but over time, he learned to appreciate them. Now, hearing such compliments gave him an uncharacteristic sense of pride.

Such a good man—he’s mine.

Without a word, Cen Wei let Chu Lai do as he pleased, even leaning closer to make it easier for him to tilt his chin.

“Grandpa gave me this, so I’ll accept it. Add it to what Grandma gave me,” Chu Lai paused, “and the house your mom gave me.”

“I’ve saved up some money over the years, too. It’s enough to live on for a while.”

“Would you return it all? That’d hurt their pride,” Cen Wei said with a smile. “We’re all your family. Whatever you want to do, we’ll support you.”

Chu Lai was used to his comfort zone, living day-to-day. But that didn’t mean the pursuit of dreams had to clash with everyday life. Everyone needed to eat three meals a day, after all. Life, though repetitive, occasionally required something new.

Feeling the need for a hug, Chu Lai had barely put down the carving knife when, sensing his desire, Cen Wei immediately pulled him into his arms.

“Are you thinking about getting back into woodworking, becoming a wood sculptor?” asked Cen Wei, still attaching the wood shavings.

Chu Lai nodded.

“Are you also thinking about trying the Paper Umbrella Town project?”

Lately, fans on Chu Lai’s Weibo had been asking the same question.

Chu Lai nodded again.

“No need to worry,” Cen Wei reassured him.

“I feel so light right now,” Chu Lai said softly, his voice light as well, prompting Cen Wei to nuzzle his chin against his hair. “You’ve always been light.”

“That’s not what I meant. I feel at ease.”

With his skillful hands, Cen Wei continued to attach the shavings, the woodchips glowing like popcorn under the warm light. Watching him, Chu Lai felt that his lost sense of security had suddenly returned. No matter how hard the wind and rain raged outside, he no longer had anything to fear.

“But I think you’re still too light,” teased Cen Wei. “It’s strange. You eat just fine, so where does it all go?”

His hands moved deftly, creating a small rose from the wood shavings. The scent of the wood mixed with the sweet aroma of the roasted sweet potatoes.

Chu Lai watched intently, too absorbed to respond.

Seeing the look of concentration on his face, Cen Wei asked, “Tired? Want to head to bed?”

Chu Lai shook his head. “I’m watching you work.”

In no time, Cen Wei had finished the rose, offering it to Chu Lai. “Watch out for splinters—the stick isn’t sanded yet.”

Chu Lai examined it carefully for a long time. Cen Wei hadn’t put much thought into making it, but seeing how Chu Lai said nothing, he felt nervous. He was about to suggest making a better one next time, when Chu Lai finally said, “It’s beautiful.”

“I thought you were going to say it was ugly,” admitted Cen Wei.

Chu Lai’s eyelashes brushed against his neck as he looked up. “It’s the first time anyone’s given me a wooden flower.”

“The first time I was given real flowers was by your mom,” he sighed, remembering the occasion. “Now everyone assumes I married into a wealthy family.”

“Do you think we’re wealthy?” asked Cen Wei, chuckling.

“Of course,” Chu Lai replied. “People say I may look calm on the outside, but in reality, I’m clever at marrying rich.”

His words came out quickly, and though his tone was clear, Cen Wei sensed a hint of irritation. He kissed Chu Lai’s forehead and rocked him slightly in the chair, like comforting a child. “Clearly, Mr. Chu is just kind-hearted and generous.”

Chu Lai paused, then asked, “How does being generous come into this?”

“Well, don’t you think that asking for a daily hug isn’t such a difficult thing for me to do?”

“Anyone could do that, right?”

Cen Wei used to think that these hugs were easily replaceable. If anyone deserved the title “cleverly married rich,” it was him. Even now, he was still trying to figure out how to make Chu Lai like him more.

But Chu Lai shook his head. “Not just anyone.”

That night at the bar, with people coming and going, Chu Lai had gone with Liu Yuan just to satisfy a craving.

He couldn’t stand it anymore. Even before the breakup, his relationship with Shen Quanzhang still had regular hugs. The more suppressed he felt, the more painful it became. The smallest desire could shatter him.

Although there were all kinds of people at the bar, Chu Lai wasn’t so picky as to just choose anyone—he needed someone he found pleasing to the eye. Coincidentally, Cen Wei had messaged him, and their shared love for grilled green peppers crossed his mind. Remembering that tall figure from before, Chu Lai had hoped for a hug.

“I said you like grilled green peppers, you’re tall, broad-shouldered, and solid-chested. Didn’t I say that before?” Chu Lai remarked.

Nodding, Cen Wei replied, “But I like hearing you talk about why you chose me.”

“So you had already made up your mind that day.”

Chu Lai was straightforward. “Not exactly. If I had to pick someone, I’d prefer it to be you.”

“At least we’d met once. You weren’t a total stranger.”

As he fiddled with the wooden flower, resting against that solid chest, his now-official husband asked, “You never considered picking someone you already knew?”

“Nope,” Chu Lai answered honestly. “Didn’t think that far. I happened to meet you, so you it was.”

He was a remarkably stable person, even more so than Cen Wei, who occasionally felt anxious. Chu Lai, however, was skilled at managing his own emotions.

But even the most even-tempered person had their off days.

Like when he couldn’t bring himself to go to work, so he tied his shoes twice. Or when he hated taking two showers in a day, so he avoided doing things that could lead to that and ended up opting for a hug that escalated into more, resulting in them finishing in the bathroom.

Chu Lai was like a plain leather-bound notebook, seemingly identical on every page at first glance. But in reality, each page was filled with hidden notes, written in the same color as the paper. Only by living with him patiently could one read between the lines. And now, every tomorrow held more excitement and promise for Cen Wei, making him look forward to the future of their shared umbrella cabinet.

He hoped to grow old with Chu Lai, like his grandparents.

“Have you submitted your resignation yet?” asked Cen Wei.

Chu Lai shook his head. “I’ve turned it in, but I won’t be able to leave before the new year. I’ll have to finish handing things over after the holiday.”

Once the thought of quitting had crossed his mind, he wanted to leave as soon as possible. Now that he didn’t have to save every penny, the possibilities before him had widened. As Cen Wei carried him out of the workshop, he asked, “So, does this mean we can finally go on our honeymoon?”

Chu Lai replied, “But there’s still the Paper Umbrella Town invitation.”

“That’s not important,” said Cen Wei, sounding impatient.

Chu Lai smiled. “But I really want to finish that first.”

“Fine, your priorities first,” said Cen Wei with a nod. “But are you really going to show your face at our company for the collaboration?”

It was freezing outside as they walked back, and upstairs, Grandpa Cen was listening to a book. It was A Billionaire’s Love Story, a trending novel that Grandma Hong had recently taken a liking to. The content was so dramatic that even Xuan Rongqing, who was sitting with her knitting, couldn’t stand it and had to leave whenever Grandma played it out loud.

The story was about a couple who fell in love after marriage. Standing by the window, Grandpa watched his grandson carry Chu Lai back inside and sighed to his wife, “Didn’t I say that our Cen family knows how to love?”

Holding binoculars, Grandma Hong, whose eyesight wasn’t what it used to be, added, “Lai Lai is just too adorable. How did Wei grow up to be so tall?”

“The bigger, the better,” said Grandpa Cen.

Unaware that the elders were spying on them, Cen Wei carried Chu Lai back to their room. As he began undressing, Chu Lai asked, “Why are you taking off your clothes?”

“For bed,” said Cen Wei, approaching and embracing him.

Suspicious, Chu Lai said, “I don’t want to do it.”

“You just said you wanted to when we got back,” teased Cen Wei.

Chu Lai glanced at the vest left behind in the workshop. “What if someone sees that vest?”

“It’ll just show how close we are,” replied Cen Wei nonchalantly. “It’s not like there’s anything wrong with that.”

That comment made it sound like the family had suspected something was up for a long time.

Although Chu Lai was tempted, he knew they probably wouldn’t get any sleep in the end. After thinking about it for a while, he said, “Let’s go to the bathroom. It’s more efficient.”

“I’m trying to have a serious conversation,” Chu Lai insisted, though he couldn’t stop the rapid tugging of his pants as his legs ended up over Cen Wei’s shoulder. “Can’t we finish talking first?”

With a grunt of acknowledgment, Cen Wei replied, “You want to come out of your shell, but I just want to break in.”

Despite his sharp, chiseled features, his occasional dirty talk always caught Chu Lai off guard, leaving him speechless.

Scooping Chu Lai up, Cen Wei headed for the bathroom. “No matter where you go, I’ll be with you, sharing meals and living without any worries.”

“Lai Lai, I love you.”

“That doesn’t sound very convincing right now,” Chu Lai muttered.

Shrugging, Cen Wei kissed his way from Chu Lai’s ankle upwards through the rising steam and said, “Then please let me convince you.”