On February 8th, the auspicious day calculated by the famous fortune teller that Zhou Zhen found, the weather was pleasant, with a light and bright golden sunlight.

It was still early spring, and the temperature was low. The night before, Zhu Shiyu had asked Meng Siyi about what to wear.

“What do people usually wear to get their marriage certificate?” he asked.

“I haven’t looked into this,” she replied.

“I think people usually wear white shirts?” Zhu Shiyu said hesitantly. “But the recent temperature…”

Before she could finish expressing her concerns, Meng Siyi said, “Then let’s wear white shirts.”

“We can wear them underneath and take off our jackets when we take the photo.”

Perhaps life needed a sense of ceremony. Even though they were two people who had to get married due to various practical reasons, on this day, they had an extremely standard ID photo.

With a red background and white shirts, the two of them stood side by side, looking at the camera with proper and handsome faces, creating a harmonious and pleasing image.

This photo was eventually placed in the red marriage certificate booklet.

As soon as they got the certificate, Zhou Zhen and the others looked at it carefully, feeling satisfied and relieved.

“Look, how well-matched they are,” the successful matchmaker auntie said with a smile, praising them repeatedly, overjoyed.

“The photo turned out well,” Zhou Zhen said, trying to hide her smile as she closed the marriage certificate and handed it back to Zhu Shiyu.

“I’ll make you a good meal to celebrate.”

“No need, Auntie. I have something to do at the hospital this afternoon. I took the morning off,” Meng Siyi said politely, taking his leave.

“I’ll see you off,” Zhu Shiyu quickly said.

“No need. You should spend more time with Auntie and the others,” Meng Siyi politely declined.

In the living room, their joyful laughter and discussion could still be heard, the atmosphere filled with happiness, as if celebrating a great joyous event. They had already started planning the wedding venue and banquet.

Zhu Shiyu returned to her room, feeling a sense of unreality, especially when she looked at the large red marriage certificate in her hand, as if she were in a dream.

This feeling persisted as she left the civil affairs bureau.

In just a few short months, she found herself bound to another person on the same household registration book, their lives intertwined, for better or for worse, even in sickness and in health. This was a complex and wondrous emotion, both frightening and exciting.

Zhu Shiyu was lost in thought the entire way home, not saying a word to Meng Siyi. She felt uncomfortable and confused, not knowing what to say and not wanting to talk much.

When she got home, her anticipation and that indescribable feeling vanished amidst her family’s relief.

All that remained was a familiar sense of powerlessness and depression.

“How does it feel to be married? How does it feel to be a married woman now?”

Zhu Shiyu lay in bed, talking on the phone with her cousin, who seemed intent on rubbing salt in her wounds.

“I don’t know,” Zhu Shiyu mumbled, turning over and burying her face in the blanket.

“It’s very complex, very strange.”

“Are you happy?”

“Or do you regret it?” Her cousin always hit the nail on the head.

Zhu Shiyu thought for a moment and shook her head. “Neither.”

“It just feels magical. A legal relationship can have such a big impact on life.”

“That’s right. After the wedding, the impact will be even greater,” her cousin bluntly pointed out.

“You’ll move out of your parents’ house and live with another person every day. From then on, you’ll belong to your own little family. You won’t be the independent Zhu Shiyu you were before. You’ll have another identity—someone’s wife, or in the future, a mother.”

“It’s not like that,” Zhu Shiyu insisted, despite the weight on her heart.

“Those things can’t stop me from being an independent person. No matter the time, place, or identity, as long as you want, you can always be yourself.”

“But look at you now…”

“Why can’t this be one of my choices?” Zhu Shiyu’s voice was low but clear.

“No matter the circumstances, I haven’t given up on being myself.”

A sudden realization hit her.

Zhu Shiyu felt the fog around her dissipate in an instant. No matter what, she was just following her heart. The future was unpredictable, but she could only stay true to herself.

Time flew by, and the wedding was less than two weeks away.

Both families were not extravagant people. After discussing, they decided on a modest but complete wedding, inviting close friends and relatives.

Other arrangements were handed over to the wedding planning company. Her parents took care of the details, leaving the couple to try on wedding dresses and express their preferences, preparing to look their best on the wedding day.