Their wedding was quite simple—not the grand and luxurious affair you’d see in a drama, but not shabby or careless either. It was just like the most ordinary couple, holding a ceremony in a hotel.

Chu Yi, dressed in a pure white wedding gown, walked down the red carpet on her father’s arm, under the gaze of friends and family. She passed by beautiful pink flowers on both sides until she reached Qiao Anchen.

The stage was decorated like a dream, with balloons, colored veils, and Roman columns, all under sparkling crystal lights. The emcee held a microphone, setting the atmosphere.

In truth, Chu Yi wasn’t really listening to what he was saying. Her eyes were focused on the man standing there, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, watching her.

Today, Qiao Anchen seemed even more handsome than usual—just the way Chu Yi liked. His eyes were very dark, and because of the slight smile on his lips, he looked gentle, his face extraordinarily good-looking.

Her father slowly placed her hand in Qiao Anchen’s, and he grasped it firmly.

Two hands became one, symbolizing that they were now a new family.

“Take good care of her,” her father said softly, his voice barely audible in her ear. Chu Yi looked at Qiao Anchen, her eyes suddenly blurring with emotion.

She smiled, took a deep breath, and blinked, evaporating the moisture in her eyes into the air.

…

By the time the banquet ended, it was already evening. After bidding farewell to their friends, family, and parents, Qiao Anchen and Chu Yi returned to their new home.

The house was one Qiao Anchen had bought after he started working—a spacious three-bedroom apartment, and Chu Yi had moved in directly.

Chu Yi’s bridal makeup was heavy, and it took her a long time to wash it off in the bathroom. She changed into her pajamas and, looking at herself in the mirror, felt a bit awkward as she tugged at the thin fabric.

When she returned to the bedroom, Qiao Anchen had already finished washing up and was leaning against the headboard reading a book. The entire bedroom was decorated festively, with a red bedspread sprinkled with rose petals, which Qiao Anchen had pushed to one side.

She hesitated at the door for a few seconds before walking over.

“Done with your shower?” Hearing her, the man who was engrossed in his book looked up. His dark eyes, calm as they were, seemed to radiate warmth as they landed on her.

Chu Yi nodded and swallowed unconsciously. 

“Yes, I’m done.”

She moved cautiously toward the bed, hesitating again when she reached it before finally lifting the blanket and lying down beside Qiao Anchen.

The night was quiet. Chu Yi lay completely still, staring at the ceiling. Her mind was dull, her body exhausted from wearing heels all day, but her nerves were on edge.

Suddenly, there was a click, and the overhead light went out. She heard some rustling beside her, followed by Qiao Anchen’s calm voice.

“Go to sleep. We must be exhausted.”

“Good night,” Chu Yi blinked, finally closing her eyes completely. She spoke softly, and Qiao Anchen responded in kind.

“Good night.”

That night, she slept exceptionally well, likely because she was so tired. She didn’t dream at all and woke up late the next morning to find sunlight flooding the living room.

Qiao Anchen was in the kitchen making breakfast. His tall figure and broad shoulders were straight, his white shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, his profile serene and refined.

He made a simple meal: freshly fried eggs and ham, toasted bread, two cups of hot milk, and some vegetables and fruit.

The flavors were refreshing, just right for Chu Yi’s taste, especially since she wasn’t much of a breakfast person—the portions were perfect.

They sat across from each other, and after cleaning up from breakfast, they suddenly found themselves in an awkward situation where they didn’t know what to do next.

Chu Yi felt uneasy being in a new environment with a man who had just become her husband. Qiao Anchen, on the other hand, had two rare days off with nothing to do, and he wasn’t sure what to do first.

They exchanged glances for a moment before Chu Yi spoke up first.

“Should we… go out for a walk? Maybe watch a movie or something…”

It was July, the sun blazing hot. Qiao Anchen looked out at the bright sun and pondered.

“It’s not a bad idea, but staying home might be more comfortable.”

“Oh, then let’s stay in,” Chu Yi quickly changed her mind after hearing his suggestion. Qiao Anchen looked at her, nodded, and said,

“I’m going to read for a while. What about you?”

Chu Yi hesitated for a few seconds before replying.

“You go ahead and read. I’ll just hang out by myself.”

Qiao Anchen went to the study, and Chu Yi wandered aimlessly around the house before finally returning to the bedroom, where she threw herself onto the bed.

Marriage… didn’t seem quite like she had imagined.

Chu Yi stared blankly at the wall, then quickly shook her head to dispel the thought.

The two of them passed the time in their own way until noon. Then, Qiao Anchen came out and headed for the kitchen. He knew Chu Yi couldn’t cook, so since he had the time, he decided to do it himself.

Qiao Anchen had studied abroad for two years. Unable to adjust to the foreign food, he often went grocery shopping and cooked for himself. He was a quick learner, and cooking was no exception.

He washed the rice and plugged in the cooker, peeled two potatoes, and took out some beef from the fridge. Qiao Anchen moved efficiently, quickly preparing the ingredients and getting ready to heat the oil in the pan.

Chu Yi belatedly noticed the sounds coming from the kitchen. She glanced at the time—it was already lunchtime. She quickly tossed aside her iPad, got out of bed, and slipped on her slippers.

The living room was already filled with the aroma of food. Qiao Anchen stood at the counter, spatula in hand, carefully controlling the heat. Chu Yi felt a bit embarrassed as she approached.

“Do you need any help?” she asked quietly. Qiao Anchen glanced at her and replied without hesitation.

“No need. It’ll be ready soon since it’s just the two of us.”

Chu Yi hesitated for a moment but didn’t move. Seeing this, Qiao Anchen reached out and patted her on the head.

“Go ahead and relax in the living room. I’ll be done soon.”