At this moment, as he looked into the light shining in Su Qingran’s eyes, Pei Jingyan felt his blood pulsing with excitement, realizing he no longer wanted to wait even a second longer.

“Alright,” he said.

He placed both household registration books into the waterproof bag.

After putting on his wool coat again, Pei Jingyan opened the door.

The street was still filled with water, and Su Qingran was about to step forward when he gently held her wrist.

“Qingran, I’ll carry you.”

“No need; I’d like to walk by myself.”

She wanted to understand what it was like for Pei Jingyan to walk through this water, step by step, to reach her half an hour ago.

A few days ago, she’d been let down by someone, but today, here was someone willing to wade through flooded streets just to keep a promise he could have easily postponed.

Now she understood why she could pick up her carving knife again.

As the studio door closed behind them and the cold wind brushed her cheeks, Su Qingran noticed that the temperature had dropped again.

Just as she took her first step toward this “impulse,” she suddenly felt herself lifted off the ground.

With water still on his coat, Pei Jingyan carried her in his arms, carefully keeping some distance between them, and resolutely walked through the water.

His arms were strong, his steps steady despite the water. Su Qingran tensed slightly, her fingers unconsciously gripping the buttons on his coat, her gaze landing on his elegant jawline and pronounced Adam’s apple.

Though it was cold, her palms began to sweat as she held onto the button.

A few raindrops occasionally fell from the eaves onto their heads, causing their previously neat hair to become slightly clumped.

But neither of them cared.

Pei Jingyan held Su Qingran, step by step, toward the end of the alley.

It seemed they were both swept up in this “impulse.”

This time, he drove a Jeep, its high clearance well-suited for the conditions. He placed Su Qingran in the passenger seat, then waded back to the driver’s side and climbed in.

His pant legs were soaked again, and Su Qingran reached out to offer him a tissue, but he just smiled, saying, “It’s okay; the photo won’t show my legs.”

Reminded of the photo, Su Qingran quickly looked in the mirror and began to fix her hair.

The Jeep made its way to the civil affairs office in the district where their household records were registered.

In the parking lot, which was also flooded, theirs was the only car present.
Su Qingran suddenly felt a little anxious. “Do you think they might be closed?”

“They shouldn’t be. I’ll check first.” Pei Jingyan stopped the car, about to walk around and carry Su Qingran out of the passenger seat, but she got out on her own.

“Qingran, there’s water—” He instinctively frowned and leaned down, ready to lift her.

But she quickly stepped forward. “I used to splash through puddles when I was little.”

Pei Jingyan sighed helplessly and hurried to keep up. “Careful.”

Just as he spoke, she accidentally stepped on something slippery and slid backward.

Heart pounding, he quickly reached out and caught her.

Steadying herself with his support, Su Qingran smiled sheepishly. “Is this… my punishment for being impulsive?”

But there was a hint of brightness in her eyes that seemed to have returned.

“No, it’s a reward,” he said softly, taking her hand.

It was his reward.

He held her hand and led her forward, just like he had that day at the engagement party, step by step up to the platform, creating a connection between them.

And now, soon enough, that connection would be recognized by law.

The civil affairs hall was quiet. If it weren’t for the ticket machine and a few staff members, Su Qingran would have thought they were closed.

The heavy rain had left her and Pei Jingyan as the only couple registering their marriage that morning.

When it came time for their photo, the photographer even seemed to enjoy giving some creative direction.

“Beautiful lady and handsome man, get a bit closer… yes! Now tilt your head a bit more toward him… good! Ready… one, two, three! Smile!”

The photo was taken.

It was then placed on the marriage certificate, and a stamp was pressed firmly onto it.

Two red booklets were handed to them, and Pei Jingyan looked at their names side by side, feeling his breath grow warm.

Outside, it began to rain again. They sat side by side in the hall, watching the rain curtain fall from the eaves, both feeling as if they were in a dream.

Today, Su Qingran registered her marriage. Five days after her engagement, after five continuous days of “impulse,” she married the elder brother of her ex-fiancé, a man who shared the same mother but had a different father.

From this day forward, she completely severed ties with the person who had influenced three-quarters of her life and opened a new chapter.

She was striving to live without regrets, without looking back on her first half of life with hesitation.

Today, Pei Jingyan registered his marriage, ending years of a seemingly endless, hopeless infatuation. After countless prayers that the moon he admired would shine a little light into his corner, his dream finally came true.

No longer just a bystander, he was finally someone who could be part of her life.