“Congratulations to both of you,” Political Commissar Zhou said, handing over the marriage registration form. He adjusted his glasses and looked at the couple with a probing gaze.

Gu Cheng naturally took the form, lowered his head, and carefully checked it for any missing information. His serious attitude was no different from usual.

Beside him stood a girl a head shorter than him. Her skin was as white as buffalo milk, her hair jet black, and her eyes, resembling purple grapes, were stunning. She looked at people with confidence, exuding elegance.

Political Commissar Zhou had heard Qin Yao’s name many times before. The name sounded like that of a gentle young lady. She had tended to Gu Cheng’s wounds on the ship, and even during their courtship, she’d sent him a handkerchief—she was clearly a sensible and virtuous wife who could tolerate Gu Cheng’s bad temper.

They had been dating for two or three months, and it was said they hadn’t even argued. Political Commissar Zhou had thought Gu Cheng wasn’t very serious about marriage, but now he realized the opposite. The man was quite invested, submitting the marriage report and getting anxious every day.

“Xiao Qin, what do you see in Commander Gu?” Political Commissar Zhou casually asked, starting a simple conversation.

Qin Yao responded casually, “Commander Gu is kind, compassionate, and has a chivalrous demeanor.”

What was more important was that he looked like a younger brother.

Political Commissar Zhou raised an eyebrow: “…”

He knew Qin Yao would say some polite words, like praising Gu Cheng’s exceptional personal abilities, but calling him kind, compassionate, and chivalrous? How did those words even apply to him?

Kind? Compassionate? Chivalrous?

While those words weren’t entirely wrong, why not describe him as someone with leadership charisma, someone people admired and respected, with outstanding abilities?

“Commander Gu, your little wife knows how to flatter you. Love makes people blind.”

Gu Cheng wrapped his arm around Qin Yao’s shoulder and calmly accepted the compliment: “Of course.”

“If everything goes as planned, our families will be neighbors. Come over for dinner at my place in the future.”

Gu Cheng nodded, and after chatting with them for a bit, Political Commissar Zhou had to leave for an urgent matter.

“Here,” Gu Cheng handed the registration form to Qin Yao and reminded her to get the marriage introduction letter.

“Once your introduction letter is ready, I’ll take you to get the marriage certificate.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he added, “I’ll call the hospital to let them know. We can go tomorrow to get the certificate.”

“Don’t rush. It’s fine for another day or two,” Qin Yao said as she held his arm. “Isn’t it too soon to get the certificate? Let’s meet each other’s parents first.”

For someone like Qin Yao, who had a clear legal sense, getting a marriage certificate was a serious matter, even more important than a wedding banquet.

Only after getting the marriage certificate could they truly be considered a couple in the eyes of the law.

“We’ll get the certificate in the capital.”

Gu Cheng shook his head and grabbed her hand. “Yaoyao, we’re working here, so we should get the certificate on the island. After the new year, when we come back, the house will be ready.”

“It takes some time from getting the certificate to submitting the application materials for housing. Before leaving the island, we also need to prepare the furniture and let it air out so that it will be in place when we return to the island.”

“Don’t you want to move into the new house sooner?”

Gu Cheng’s words struck a chord with Qin Yao. It was already set in stone. The marriage was happening. They might as well secure the house now. The new wooden furniture would need to air out for a month, so when they returned, it would be just right.

“Alright, let’s get the certificate in the next few days so we can start preparing the house.”

Living in the same dorm with Zhang Yufei wasn’t too inconvenient, but it didn’t offer any private space of their own. Even when she was dating Gu Cheng, they both lived in the dormitory and there was no place for intimacy. At most, they held hands in the dark at night and tried a brief kiss.

Qin Yao went to the hospital for the marriage introduction letter. When Head Nurse Ge found out, she teased her, “This is a case of hitting the mark by accident. You two are practically a couple I introduced!”

“Make sure your Commander Gu gets me some sweet wedding candy.”

Qin Yao smiled. She realized that marriage had its perks—at least she could now openly request to see her little brother Gu anytime at home.

She wanted Gu Cheng to act like an obedient little brother in front of her, lowering his brows and being pure and harmless.

When she thought about it, Qin Yao couldn’t help but sigh, some image she had witnessed lingering in her mind.

This little brother was not the same as the one she imagined.

Just thinking about the little brother made her lose interest, only feeling a sense of panic.

*

“Yaoyao.” Gu Cheng caught up with Qin Yao under the dormitory building before she went to work. He stayed with her in the canteen, slowly eating rice noodles. In his hands were their materials and introduction letters, ready to go to the marriage registration office.

Qin Yao chewed the noodles slowly, wishing she could savor each bite. With Gu Cheng’s current expression, it felt like he was a police officer from a detention center, preparing to send her to jail.

She regretted it. She should never have flirted with him. It didn’t even take a year for her to find herself in the grave of marriage.

Gu Cheng drank some soy milk and softly said, “Eat slowly, no need to rush.”

Qin Yao replied, “You’re not sincere.”

Gu Cheng tried not to laugh. “Good Yaoyao, some truths are better left unsaid.”

He wanted her to eat slowly, but he was eager to finish, wishing he could eat the noodles for her so they could quickly go to the civil affairs bureau.

Qin Yao tapped his head. “Why are you in such a rush? What’s making you so happy?”

By the time the day arrived, Gu Cheng had completely lost his restraint, his emotions were on full display, and he couldn’t hide them.

Early in the morning, Qin Yao nearly had a heart attack when she saw Gu Cheng at the bottom of the building. Zhang Yufei was also startled.

She had agreed to get the marriage certificate, but she never expected it to be this early. The Civil Affairs Bureau wasn’t even open yet.

After having a bowl of noodles for nearly an hour, Qin Yao was pulled into the car by Gu Cheng. She even stopped for a bathroom break on the way. By the time they reached the Civil Affairs Bureau, it had just opened, and within moments, they had received their brand-new marriage certificate.

Afterward, the couple went to a photo studio to take their wedding photos.

Gu Cheng then went to the department store and bought a bunch of candy before sending Qin Yao back to the hospital. By now, he seemed much more serious, his tone softer as he said, “Yaoyao, pack your things. I’ll have someone move them to the family compound. You can just ride back with the car in the evening.”

Qin Yao was stunned. “We’re moving already? Didn’t you say we’d get the certificate first, then apply for a house? It would take a long time to complete all the paperwork.”

Gu Cheng twirled a set of keys in his hand, smiling. “I’ve already got the keys. The furniture’s been moved in these past few days. We’ll stay there tonight.”

Rules were rules, but in practice, things weren’t always so rigid. Moving in first before completing the paperwork was no problem.

“Yaoyao, check if we’re missing anything, and we can go buy it.”

Seeing his smug expression, Qin Yao nearly wanted to divorce him right there. Gu Cheng looked neither like the humble and obedient little brother from when they first met, nor was he the restrained Commander Gu at work. Now, he resembled a hungry wolf, his eyes gleaming with hunger. He was eager to seize every opportunity to drag more meat into his den.

Qin Yao, like a small animal, felt an overwhelming sense of insecurity, as if she were about to fall into the wolf’s den.

She wasn’t sure if this feeling was common for all newlyweds.

“Let’s buy a pot tomorrow,” Qin Yao decided to take control of the situation. If she was going to fall into the wolf’s den, it wasn’t so bad. At least she could buy a frying pan for protection.

Gu Cheng was puzzled. “You want to buy a pot? Alright.”

“I’ll hand over all my money to you tonight.”

Qin Yao nodded.

She returned to the hospital, carrying a bag of candy. Gu Cheng told her to distribute the wedding candy to everyone she met. Newlyweds not only got housing but also wedding benefits like candy tickets and industrial tickets. Both Qin Yao and Gu Cheng had candy tickets from their work, and Gu Cheng had even exchanged some, so they didn’t lack candy.

“Make sure to distribute the candy generously. I want everyone to have a taste of my wedding candy. After the wedding leave, we’ll distribute it again.”

Qin Yao was really starting to get fed up with him. But these wedding candy tickets weren’t meant to be saved for the couple anyway. Even if they were poor, they wouldn’t scrimp on such things.

“Congratulations, Nurse Qin!”

“Here’s your wedding candy.”

Qin Yao had good relationships with her colleagues, so she distributed candy as she walked. Receiving blessings from everyone, her face was about to freeze from smiling, and she couldn’t wait to finish handing out the candy.

“Qin Yao!”

Zeng Manli stood in front of her, looking utterly shocked. The Qin Yao she saw now was completely different from the one she remembered. She had become so beautiful and radiant. Zeng Manli had thought Qin Yao had gotten darker from staying on the island and had returned to Zhou Fangyu’s side, but she hadn’t heard Qin Yao’s name from Zhou Fangyu. Zeng Manli secretly rejoiced.

Zeng Manli had once seen Qin Yao as her greatest rival. Qin Yao was chubby, but her looks were beautiful. Most young girls valued a slim figure, but the elders in their families liked Qin Yao’s appearance, thinking she had a fortunate face.

Zhou Fangyu’s family was poor but proud. They envied how well Qin Yao’s family ate and looked down on her father, who worked around the stove with a greasy face, unable to be seen in public. It was the classic case of “sour grapes.”

Zeng Manli had even overheard Mother Zhou say that if they married Qin Yao and became in-laws with the Qin family, they wouldn’t have to worry about anything in the future.

Now, Qin Yao had lost her fortunate face, and Zhou Fangyu was still hers. No one could steal him away!

Zeng Manli clenched her fist, feeling very pleased, but then Qin Yao handed her a handful of candy. “Take some of my good fortune.”

Zeng Manli froze.

“I’m married now. This is my wedding candy.”

She handed the candy and couldn’t be bothered to give Zeng Manli another glance. She continued handing out the candy.

“Qin Yao, you’re married? Who did you marry?”

A nurse with a hat answered, “Who did she marry? Commander Gu, of course.”

Zeng Manli quickly asked, “What kind of person is he? Does he have good conditions?”

“Conditions?” The nurse looked at her strangely. “Why don’t you go see for yourself at the ceremony hall?”

Zeng Manli was confused and asked again, “Can he compare to Doctor Zhou?”

“Which Doctor Zhou? Don’t know him.”

“Doctor Zhou Fangyu.”

The nurse casually said, “Oh, the one whose fiancée caused a scene? He’s quite handsome, but he’s a man of decent appearance, not necessarily a man of character.”

Zeng Manli stood there holding the wedding candy, feeling completely deflated.