“Thanks for doing this,” she murmured shyly. Qiao Anchen noticed her guilty expression and smiled.

“I cook by myself all the time. Don’t worry about it.”

“Oh.” Chu Yi lifted her eyes to look at him, then responded quietly, her head drooping as she turned and walked out.

“Hey, be careful—” The kitchen and living room were separated by a glass door. Seeing Chu Yi about to bump into it, Qiao Anchen quickly reached out and covered her forehead with his hand.

With a dull thud, Chu Yi’s head hit his broad palm. She looked up at Qiao Anchen, dazed, her face slowly turning red.

“Sorry… I wasn’t paying attention…” She felt utterly embarrassed.

“Be more careful. Does it hurt?” Qiao Anchen asked with amusement, gently rubbing her forehead. Chu Yi avoided his gaze, her eyes darting away as her face grew even hotter.

“I’m fine…” Her voice was as soft as a whisper. She lowered her head, pushed his hand away, and quickly escaped to the living room.

Their wedding was quite ordinary, neither as grand and glamorous as those in TV dramas nor as simple and shabby as a casual ceremony. It was just like a typical couple’s wedding, with a ceremony held in a hotel.

Chu Yi, dressed in a snow-white wedding gown, walked arm-in-arm with her father. Under the watchful eyes of friends and family, she stepped slowly down the red carpet, passing by the beautiful pink flowers on either side, until she reached Qiao Anchen.

The stage was decorated in a dreamy style, with balloons, colored ribbons, Roman columns, and a crystal chandelier above, shimmering in the light. The emcee held a microphone, setting the atmosphere.

In truth, Chu Yi couldn’t quite hear what the emcee was saying. Her attention was entirely on the man before her, standing there in a sharp suit, looking at her.

Qiao Anchen seemed even more handsome today, embodying the very image Chu Yi liked the most. His eyes were dark, and with a hint of a smile at the corners of his mouth, he appeared gentle and extraordinarily attractive.

Holding her father’s hand, she slowly, slowly placed it into Qiao Anchen’s palm, and then he held it tightly.

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

“Take good care of her,” Chu Tian said softly in her ear. Chu Yi looked at Qiao Anchen, her eyes welling up uncontrollably.

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

…

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

Qiao Anchen had bought the apartment after starting work, a spacious three-bedroom place where Chu Yi had moved in.

The bridal makeup was heavy, and Chu Yi spent a long time in the bathroom washing it off. Wearing her own pajamas, she tugged awkwardly at the thin fabric in the mirror.

When she returned to the bedroom, Qiao Anchen had already finished his wash and was leaning against the headboard reading a book under the light. The entire bedroom was decorated in a very festive manner, with red bedding sprinkled with rose petals, though Qiao Anchen had pushed them all to the side.

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

“All done?” Hearing her, the man reading seriously looked up. His deep black eyes, calm though they were, seemed to hold a palpable warmth when they landed on her.

Chu Yi nodded, unconsciously swallowing.

“Mm, all done.”

She shuffled over, hesitating for a moment by the bed before pulling back the covers and lying down next to Qiao Anchen.

The night was quiet. Chu Yi dared not move, staring at the ceiling. Her mind was dull, her body tired from wearing high heels all day, but her nerves were taut.

Suddenly, with a crisp sound, the light above went out, followed by rustling sounds beside her, and Qiao Anchen’s deep voice spoke.

“Let’s sleep. We’re both probably exhausted today.”

“Goodnight,” Chu Yi blinked, then closed her eyes completely, replying softly. Qiao Anchen responded in kind.

“Goodnight.”

That night, they slept exceptionally well, likely from exhaustion. Chu Yi woke up to the sun high in the sky, with the living room filled with sunlight.

Qiao Anchen was in the kitchen making breakfast, his tall figure with straight shoulders, wearing a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows, his profile calm and refined.

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

The flavors were light and refreshing, just right for Chu Yi, especially in the morning when she didn’t have much appetite. The portions were just perfect.

The two of them sat across from each other, and after eating and tidying up, they suddenly found themselves in an awkward position of not knowing what to do.

Chu Yi felt a bit uneasy being in an unfamiliar 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 seemed uncertain about what to do first.

They looked at each other for a moment before Chu Yi spoke up.

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

It was July, and the sun was blazing. Qiao Anchen looked at the intense sunlight outside and pondered.

“It’s not a bad idea, but it might be more comfortable to stay at home.”

“Oh, then let’s not go out.” Upon his suggestion, Chu Yi immediately changed her mind. Qiao Anchen nodded at her, then said,

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

Hearing this, Chu Yi was stunned for a few seconds before quickly responding.

“You go ahead and read. I’ll just hang around.”

Qiao Anchen went into the study, and Chu Yi wandered around the house out of boredom, eventually returning to the bedroom and throwing herself onto the bed.

Marriage… seemed different from what she had imagined.