Born to the mandate of heaven, die in drunkenness
A hundred lives burn, a thousand souls celebrate
Ten thousand ghosts bow in joy, a good match made
Morning not forgotten, evening not weeping
From black hair to white, a vow of unity…

“Beep beep—woo woo wah—”

“Bow to each other as husband and wife—ceremony complete!”

—

“Xinyuan, Xinyuan, wake up…”

Before his bones and blood were about to be burned to ashes in the dream, Ruan Xinyuan struggled repeatedly to escape. The deafening suona horn pierced through the nightmare, and the spicy smoke of incense and paper money finally dissipated from his nose.

He struggled to open an eyelid that felt like it had been suppressed by ghosts for centuries, frowning slightly, and groggily recognized the person in front of him, “Youzhi…”

Fang Youzhi, who was about to call an ambulance if he couldn’t wake him up, finally relaxed when he saw Ruan awake. He straightened up and stepped back, eyes wide, “You scared me to death, Xinyuan. You finally woke up. I called you for five minutes, and you didn’t wake up. I thought you were in a coma.”

“If it weren’t for your normal breathing, I almost called an ambulance.” Fang Youzhi rambled as he sat back in his seat.

Ruan Xinyuan rubbed his temples, feeling like they’d been hit by a machine gun, and hoarsely apologized, “Sorry, Youzhi, I just had a nightmare.”

“Sleep paralysis, huh? Not common in broad daylight, but as long as you’re okay. Oh, right, your phone was vibrating non-stop, and you didn’t pick up, so I came to wake you. It’s stopped now, though.” Fang Youzhi explained.

Ruan Xinyuan finally turned his attention to his phone. He unlocked it, seeing three missed WeChat video calls, all from his mom, He Qiu.

To avoid disturbing Fang Youzhi, who was still in the dorm, he pulled the curtain behind his seat, put on headphones, and called his mom back.

It was picked up in a second.

“Yo, son, did someone hit you? Why is there a red mark on your face?” Ruan Linfu’s worried voice, full of wrinkles, came through the phone screen.

Ruan Xinyuan hadn’t fully recovered from the nightmare and shivered slightly at his dad’s close-up, “Dad, Mom, Grandma, you’re all here? Isn’t it a bit crowded on one screen…”

“Ahem,” he quickly explained, pointing to the red mark on his left cheek, “I just slept on it wrong.”

He Qiu glanced at the screen, stitching a round fan as she spoke earnestly, “No wonder you didn’t answer earlier. It’s about your marriage, there’s new progress, and it’s urgent for your life.”

Hua Jin, who hadn’t spoken, brushed her hair aside, “Kid, you sleep well. Three calls didn’t wake you. I told you not to set that abb song as your ringtone. A military song would wake you right up.”

“That’s R&B… Grandma, I just finished military training and I’m exhausted.” Ruan Xinyuan propped his face with his hand, blinking his pretty eyes at the screen with a sweet smile, dimples deep enough to hold honey.

Then he asked proactively, “So, Grandma, what’s the new development about the marriage?”

Hua Jin put down her sweet potato spoon, took out a compass and three talisman papers with red symbols Ruan Xinyuan couldn’t understand.

“Your grandma sees time running out. The almanac said this morning was good for deity invocation, so I broke the rules and did another fortune-telling. This time, I’ve narrowed down the area where your fiancé is!”

Ruan Xinyuan widened his eyes slightly, feeling no waves inside but showing a surprised expression, “Really, Grandma? Where’s my future husband?”

Hua Jin hummed, spreading the three talisman papers and placing the old, paint-chipped compass on top, mysteriously saying, “Within ten kilometers of you.”

“He’s nearby, heaven is helping you, Yuan!” Ruan Linfu’s voice was excited, chest heaving, squeezing into the screen.

“Ruan Linfu, move over. Your size is blocking our son,” He Qiu nudged him aside, looking at Ruan Xinyuan, “The search area is much smaller now. If not for your grandma saying you must find him yourself, we’d have come to Jiang City to help.”

“No need,” Ruan Xinyuan said firmly, “I’ll try my best to find that man and marry him!”

Hua Jin sipped her milk tea, her expression turning serious, “Yuan, less than five months left. This is urgent, but after invoking the deity, I found you should pass this trial, depending on your fate.”

Seeing Hua Jin’s tired look, Ruan Xinyuan guessed his grandma, over seventy, had exhausted herself with fortune-telling. He quickly urged her to rest, “I understand, Grandma. You all rest well. I’ll find a way to look. Tomorrow, I’m visiting Qiao Siming’s school next door, within ten kilometers.”

“Alright, remember: a mole on the back of the neck, ten years older, born the same day and month as you. Don’t forget!” Hua Jin repeated the three conditions for his specific match.

Ruan Xinyuan nodded, assuring he wouldn’t forget. After chatting a bit more and reminding his grandma to drink less milk tea, he hung up.

After a while, he took off his headphones, picked up his empty water cup, and stood to get water. Pulling back the curtain, he saw Fang Youzhi staring at him with a strange expression, wanting to say something.

Ruan Xinyuan realized something, paused, clutching the cup, eyes wary, unsure how much Fang Youzhi heard, even though he was quiet.

Fang Youzhi, unable to hold back, asked directly, trying to be tactful, “Xinyuan, we’re just freshmen, and your parents… are already pushing for marriage?”

“Oh, sorry, I was just on the balcony collecting clothes and overheard.” He tried to cover up.

Already forced to come out, Ruan Xinyuan calmed down, making up a story, “Yeah, in our family, gay marriages happen early.”

Fang Youzhi was a bit confused but respectful, “Oh, I see…”

After that, he didn’t ask further.

Ruan Xinyuan also put the phone call behind him.

It’s the 21st century; not marrying a specific person will lead to death?

Come on, that’s impossible.

*

The next day at 1:10 PM, B University.

Ruan Xinyuan, having his nap time cut short, appeared at the entrance of the East Building 1 Lecture Hall. He adjusted the brim of his burgundy cap, peeking inside to see it already packed with people.

Carrying a backpack on one shoulder, Ruan Xinyuan stepped into the classroom, drawing some attention. He didn’t mind the whispers around him, heading to an empty seat in the third row, taking out a notebook and pen for show.

He didn’t want to sit so close to the front, but the back rows were full.

Once settled, he snapped a picture of the desk, sending it to his long-time friend Qiao Siming.

[Wealth and Prosperity Gold Ingot: Alright, I’m here [rose]]

[Little Ming: Yuan! Thanks to you! I’ll treat you to a meal soon! Gotta go, my goddess is here, I’m off to a date!]

Just as Ruan Xinyuan exited the chat with Qiao Siming, a new message popped up on WeChat. He opened the group chat named “Help Yuan [heart] Marriage Hunt.”

[The Most Beautiful Lady Qiu: How’s it going, at B University yet?]

[The Often Failing Dieter Fu: Son, any progress?]

Next was a voice message from his grandma, which he converted to text.

[Savior Little Hua: Don’t worry if you can’t find him. You can wander around B University more, you might just find him. Yuan, keep your eyes open!]

Ruan Xinyuan chuckled, typing a few words when the room suddenly fell silent.

He looked up, following everyone’s gaze to the door.

It was mid to late September, summer’s tail still long, the sun’s rays boldly piercing through the glass, warmly embracing the marble floor. A man with an excellent figure and almost perfect profile walked into the classroom against the light.

From the third row, Ruan Xinyuan could clearly see the butterfly-like shadow cast by the man’s eyelashes on his cheeks and his high nose bridge.

The man glanced lightly at the students below the podium, fiddling with the documents in his hand. His slightly lowered eyes were handsome, his face perfectly proportioned, every feature just right, exuding elegance and outstanding presence.

It wasn’t a striking, sharp kind of handsome, but a breathtaking, stunning kind that made you hold your breath for a moment.

Ruan Xinyuan was dazed for a few seconds, snapping back when the surrounding chatter resumed.

For some reason, this man felt strangely familiar, even though he didn’t recall meeting him. Someone with such looks, he’d remember if he had…

The man on the podium didn’t speak, arranging the projection equipment before picking up a piece of chalk, turning to write a few neat, grand characters on the blackboard, like ancient calligraphy.

Ruan Xinyuan paused as he glanced at the man’s back, not missing the mole in the center of his neck.

Wait, a mole on the back of the neck, center, a mole?!

“Damn, this Professor Qi is really handsome… Even more so than in those circulated photos, and he’s only 28, already an associate professor. It’s like something out of a novel, seeing it in reality.”

“I have to admit, he’s stunningly handsome, and he seems stable, not the type to randomly freak out. This class was worth it!”

“Yeah, and my senior said his lectures are good, and the electives are interesting. We hit the jackpot…”

Hold on, twenty-eight years old?!

Ruan Xinyuan listened to the discussions around him, eyes flickering. He swallowed, blinking to confirm he hadn’t imagined the mole; it was real.

Could there really be a man who met all three specific conditions for his fiancé?

One condition left.

He opened the B University forum link Qiao Siming had sent for fun, typing “Professor Qi” in the search bar, finding many posts.

Scrolling casually, he stopped at a post marked HOT, dated six months ago.

[OMG! Went to the homeroom teacher’s office and overheard them discussing what to get Professor Qi for his birthday!]

[——Of course, it’s the new Professor Qi Xun everyone loves. I’m a student at the School of Marxism, and I overheard while submitting forms. Didn’t expect Professor Qi’s birthday to be on New Year’s Day, a good day, no wonder they’re preparing gifts early since everyone’s on break then. They’re planning to crowdfund for a branded pen.]

Wait, New Year’s Day, same birthday as him?!

Is this a joke?!

Ruan Xinyuan shakily exited the forum page.

“Ding—”

The class bell rang, and students fell silent.

Ruan Xinyuan’s heart raced, eyelashes trembling in disbelief, as a pleasant, deep voice sounded in his ear.

“Good afternoon, students. Nice to meet you. I’m Qi Xun, honored to be your teacher for this class.”