When Chu Lai and Cen Wei returned, it was almost 11 PM. Grandpa and Grandma were already asleep, so the two of them entered the house very quietly. As they went upstairs, they found Xuan Rongqing and Yu Ruimei still chatting.

Seeing them sneaking around, Xuan Rongqing laughed and asked, “I thought you two weren’t coming back?”

Even going upstairs, Cen Wei was still holding Chu Lai’s hand. Chu Lai had a bag of snacks hanging from his other wrist, and the usually elite Cen Wei had even bought a balloon. From one look, it was clear they had a great time.

Yu Ruimei didn’t say anything, but she looked at Chu Lai twice, just in time to see Cen Wei tying the balloon to Chu Lai’s wrist. Xuan Rongqing burst out laughing, “Aren’t you guys too old to still be messing around like this?”

After saying that, she realized it was actually quite nice. Cen Wei had never been associated with the word “messing around” before. When he was studying in the country, he was seen as a good student in everyone’s eyes—too well-behaved, which made him seem dull and lifeless, always with a gloomy expression that kept people at a distance.

Chu Lai explained briefly, “It was really lively outside today, so…”

Cen Wei, completely out of sync, thought Chu Lai was explaining why they were late getting home: “It took a long time to get a cab.”

Chu Lai: …

Completely oblivious, Cen Wei held Chu Lai’s hand and said, “Let’s head to our room.”

Just before that, Xuan Rongqing and Yu Ruimei had been finalizing the wedding guest list. Xuan Rongqing smiled warmly, watching the two leave, but Yu Ruimei called out to Chu Lai, “Can I talk to you for a moment?”

Chu Lai turned his head, seeing that Yu Ruimei clearly had something to say, so he walked over.

Following her into the guest room, he realized he still had the balloon with him and started untangling it.

Yu Ruimei smiled and asked, “Did you have fun?”

Chu Lai nodded, “Do you need something?”

Yu Ruimei handed him a bank card, and Chu Lai looked at her, surprised.

She said, “After your father’s accident, the insurance didn’t pay out much, and we spent a lot on medical bills. I gave the remaining money to your grandma, but over the years…”

She paused, seemingly unsure how to continue. Her voice choked before she could find the words.

Chu Lai, a little flustered, didn’t know why Yu Ruimei was suddenly being emotional, so he rummaged in the snack bag and handed her a jelly.

The jelly was shaped like a banana, plump and cute, the kind Yu Ruimei used to buy for Chu Lai when he was little.

Seeing the jelly brought tears to her eyes, and Chu Lai quickly grabbed a tissue, a little helpless. “Mom, you have to put on makeup tomorrow.”

Feeling embarrassed, Yu Ruimei wiped her tears and softly asked, “Did Xiao Cen take you to the grocery store?”

Chu Lai replied, “We passed by a store that sold childhood snacks, so we bought some.”

He finally managed to untangle the balloon and tied it back to the bag.

Chu Lai pushed the bank card back. “I don’t need it. I can make my own money now, and I have enough.”

He thought of the house in the old district. “When they eventually tear it down, I’ll give you half of the demolition compensation.”

Yu Ruimei shook her head, “You don’t need to give me anything.”

She pointed to the card, “This was always meant to be yours.”

Chu Lai responded, “I’ve grown up. I can earn and spend my own money. You still have a kid to take care of, so keep it for yourself.”

His tone was calm, and his gaze lacked the eager warmth it once held for his mother. It was as if Yu Ruimei was just another ordinary aunt to him.

Some emotions are hard to recover. Chu Lai had learned to say goodbye earlier than most, whether it was a temporary parting or a permanent one. He appeared indifferent on the surface.

But Yu Ruimei insisted, “You’re still my child.”

Chu Lai nodded, “I know.”

He added, “But you need it more than I do. When I visited your house, I saw he’s still learning music, and that’s expensive.”

The more Chu Lai spoke like this, the sadder Yu Ruimei felt. The card, which had never been touched, was pushed back in front of Chu Lai.

Seeing her about to cry again, Chu Lai stayed silent.

After a few minutes of quiet, Yu Ruimei asked, “Is Xiao Cen treating you well?”

Leaning against the wall, Chu Lai replied, “You’ve asked that already.”

He took out a jelly for himself, tearing the package open quietly, his behavior oddly adorable. It reminded her of when he was young, easier to manage than other children.

Yu Ruimei said softly, “As long as you like him.”

Chu Lai responded, “I like him.”

“But just liking him isn’t enough,” Yu Ruimei added.

The jelly was sweet, and the whole night had been too sweet for Chu Lai. But at this moment, a slight bitterness crept in. “Then what else do I need?”

He called out to her, “Mom, do you think I’m not good enough?”

Chu Lai didn’t say it outright, but Yu Ruimei understood his meaning.

Her worry was simply that the Cen family was large and powerful. But Chu Lai had his own concerns, too.

All his life, he’d aimed for stability—whether in school exams, where passing was never enough, or in running, or even in eating.

He had learned restraint and moderation from his father, and he had hoped to maintain moderation in love as well. But he soon realized that was impossible.

Back then, Chu Lai thought choosing Shen Quanzhang was the safest option, yet they both ended up hurt when they broke up.

Now, being with Cen Wei, even though he hadn’t started feeling anxious, he was fully aware that this was a gamble. And even more importantly, he wanted Cen Wei. He wanted to know how far they could go together, how long they could last.

Before Yu Ruimei could respond, Cen Wei knocked on the door, saying, “Lai Lai, the bathwater is ready.”

Chu Lai stood up, leaving the card behind.

Cen Wei escorted him back to their room, then turned back and noticed the guest room door was still open. Yu Ruimei sat at the table, staring absentmindedly at the banana-shaped jelly. Cen Wei asked, “May I have a word with you?”

They moved to the tea room outside, where Xuan Rongqing had already gone to bed, and the finalized guest list was still lying on the table.

It was late, and neither of them seemed in the mood for tea. Cen Wei asked Yu Ruimei, “How often did you see Chu Lai before?”

Yu Ruimei had only met Cen Wei once before, and she had a good impression of him. Upon visiting the Cen family, she found their family atmosphere very warm, which only deepened her worries.

She answered, “Once or twice a year.”

Cen Wei wasn’t surprised, “He must be very different from when he was young, right?”

She nodded, “Lai Lai talks even less now.”

Cen Wei, however, smiled, “Not really. When we talk about things he likes, he talks a lot.”

He gets angry, sulks in a cute way, teases puppies—and he even teases me. He’s so full of life.

Yu Ruimei was silent for a few seconds before asking, “What does he like?”

As soon as she asked, she realized how much it stung to admit she didn’t know her son well.

“He likes reading comics. He always did, right?”

Yu Ruimei nodded, “He used to always ask his dad to take him to rent comics. When he got to middle school, he’d go by himself. All his allowance went on comics.”

Now, Chu Lai still occasionally bought expensive full sets of comics, sometimes waiting ages for them to arrive, but he didn’t mind.

There were even times when Cen Wei noticed some collector’s editions on his bookshelf, which, according to Chu Lai, he had saved up for in middle school. Now they were valuable secondhand collectibles.

Thinking of how Chu Lai had spoken about this with pride that was hard to conceal, Cen Wei couldn’t help but smile. “Lai Lai’s also very good at chess. My grandpa can’t even beat him.”

Yu Ruimei sighed, “After school, he used to love watching the old men play chess at the school gate…”

The conversation, almost entirely led by Cen Wei, revolved around Chu Lai. By the time Yu Ruimei realized it, she understood that Cen Wei knew Chu Lai much better than she did.

He even knew his work habits—things that only careful observation could reveal.

It was then she remembered what Chu Lai had said earlier.

The night was growing late, and Cen Wei didn’t make any tea. He slid a glass of warm water across the table toward Yu Ruimei.

The man was tall, handsome, and exuded an impressive aura. His character and personality were worlds apart from Chu Lai’s, but when they were together, they didn’t seem out of place at all.

Cen Wei spoke solemnly, “Auntie, I will treat him well.”

“I understand all of his insecurities.”

Despite his imposing appearance, there was no trace of aggression in this late-night conversation. When Cen Wei mentioned Chu Lai, his gaze softened—it was almost a reflex.

Yu Ruimei asked, “So, what do you like about him?”

This was a question Chu Lai had asked earlier in the evening, and Cen Wei’s answer hadn’t changed, “When I’m with him, I feel at ease.”

“If he feels the same way, then we can keep moving forward.”

“After all,” Cen Wei thought of how Chu Lai always asked for hugs, a smile forming on his lips, “we plan to spend a lifetime together. Of course, we should live comfortably.”

When Cen Wei returned to the room, Chu Lai was still soaking in the bath. He went in to check, and the other man was nearly asleep. Cen Wei called out softly, “Are you awake?”

It was as if Chu Lai had been waiting for him, his eyes half-open in a daze. “You’re here?”

He sounded like he’d been expecting him. Cen Wei asked, “Are you done?”

“Mm, I’m so sleepy,” Chu Lai mumbled.

“Do you need help?” Cen Wei asked.

Chu Lai didn’t move, the steam in the room swirling around him. He leaned against the edge of the tub, his gaze blurry as he looked at Cen Wei, his voice full of drowsiness, with just a hint of a smile, “Help with what?”

Cen Wei replied, “Just wanted to make sure you didn’t fall asleep in the tub.”

Chu Lai seemed to stir slightly, the sound of water rippling. He hummed again, dragging out the sound, “I won’t.”

Cen Wei told him, “Alright, I’m leaving then. Don’t stay in there too long, or you’ll get dizzy.”

As Cen Wei was about to leave, Chu Lai called out to him, “Cen Wei.”

Cen Wei turned back, “What is it?”

But Chu Lai didn’t say anything. His eyes were closed, and if it weren’t for the fact that Cen Wei was fully awake, he might have thought he imagined it.

Cen Wei walked over to the tub, bending down slightly, “Does Mr. Chu need any assistance?”

He was close now, and under the soft, warm light of the bathroom, Chu Lai’s skin, flushed from the bath, seemed to glow like it was coated in honey. Cen Wei watched him closely, his long eyelashes trembling softly, as delicate as a butterfly. Unable to resist, he reached out and covered Chu Lai’s eyes.

Chu Lai’s lashes fluttered against his palm, like a butterfly beating its wings, sending ripples into his heart. The water lapped gently, forming small circles on the surface of the tub. Cen Wei had never felt his heart this tender before. He thought he would hate it, thought he would never feel love—but here it was, overwhelming him, impossible to control.

Just as Chu Lai was about to say something, a kiss landed on his lips. It was as light as a paper butterfly sinking into the water, but it made Chu Lai instinctively reach up to wrap his arms around Cen Wei’s neck.

They had kissed many times before, but neither had particularly pleasant memories of their previous relationships.

For them, intimacy had always felt like a burden. Both were clumsy and awkward, but Cen Wei more so. Chu Lai had to teach him step by step.

But Cen Wei was a quick learner, even managing to pick things up and innovate. The marks all over Chu Lai’s body were proof of that.

Chu Lai’s lips tingled. As the kiss deepened, his hands fell, splashing into the water, soaking Cen Wei’s shirt.

He nearly slipped off the edge of the tub, but the man holding him provided enough security. Sensing that the bathwater had grown cold, Cen Wei continued kissing him while lifting him out of the tub.

Chu Lai’s brain felt foggy—whether it was from staying in the bath too long or from the kiss, he wasn’t sure. By the time he was back in bed, he had already changed into dry pajamas.

As Cen Wei went to shower, the sound of running water filled the room. Chu Lai, still groggy, turned his head and saw the bank card Yu Ruimei had given him sitting on the bedside table.

He thought about asking Cen Wei about it after he finished his shower, but he fell asleep while waiting.

The next day, there was no time for Chu Lai to ask anything. The wedding schedule started at dawn, and he was woken up while still in a dream, reluctant to open his eyes.

Cen Wei called his name several times, only to be met with Chu Lai covering his mouth and dragging him, along with the blanket, back into bed. Their breaths intertwined as they huddled together.

If it weren’t a special day, Cen Wei would have loved to sleep in a bit longer with him, but that wasn’t an option. The wedding team brought by Xuan Rongqing was already waiting outside.

Half-awake, Chu Lai heard Cen Wei’s voice close to his ear, “You can doze a bit more. I’ll help you get dressed.”

The person in his arms mumbled a response, even saying thank you.

Cen Wei laughed, “No other way to thank me?”

Chu Lai kissed the corner of his lips, his cheek brushing against Cen Wei’s neck, the heat of it making the man’s breath hitch. He couldn’t wait for the evening to come.

The wedding was set to take place at an old hotel in S City, located within the city’s largest scenic area. It was named after a bus stop Chu Lai used to pass by during school field trips.

He was still exhausted, sitting in the back seat of the car, watching the rippling lake outside the window.

The weather forecast said it would likely snow, with an 80% chance, but there wasn’t a single flake in sight. The sky was overcast, which only made him more sleepy.

Cen Wei wasn’t in the same car as him.

Yu Ruimei sat next to Chu Lai, observing him in his custom-tailored suit, so different from his usual casual clothes.

But even now, he still looked sleepy, his eyes half-lidded, as if drowsiness had wrapped around him completely. Feeling a bit guilty, Yu Ruimei said, “I shouldn’t have kept you up last night.”

Chu Lai shook his head, “It’s fine.”

Everything was planned out meticulously; all he had to do was follow the steps.

As Chu Lai retreated backstage to rest, the guests started to arrive.

It was New Year’s Day, and the roads were packed. Liu Yuan, stuck in a traffic jam, decided to get off his cab and rent a shared bike to ride along the side streets.

Dressed formally on a bike, he attracted quite a few curious glances.

Jiang Liyong arrived with his parents for the wedding. His divorced parents rarely gathered, and when they did, it was never peaceful. If it weren’t for the Cen family, they probably wouldn’t have come at all.

“Cen family sure knows how to pick a date for a wedding. And this hotel too. If this traffic gets any worse, we’re definitely going to be late.”

“Then why don’t you walk? You can even admire the wild mandarin ducks by the lake. Just like you.”

Jiang Liyong couldn’t help but say, “There are no mandarin ducks at this time of year…”

His mother retorted, “If I say there are, then there are.”

His father chimed in, “Are you the one who put them there?”

His mother huffed, “Better than those wild ducks you hang around with. When our son got beaten into the orthopedics department, you cried so much that people thought he’d died.”

Jiang Liyong rolled down the window to let the cold air in, but it didn’t cool the tension between his parents.

His father, of course, knew about his younger son getting hospitalized after being beaten by his boyfriend. His colleagues had a field day with that news, so hearing it brought up again was bound to sour his mood. “Can’t you stop being so snide?”

With three doctors in the car, the ride felt long and awkward. Jiang Liyong sent a text to Cen Wei: “Have you arrived?”

The groom replied surprisingly fast: “Traffic’s bad today. No worries, take your time.”

Glancing out the window, Jiang Liyong spotted someone riding a bike, his orange jacket flapping in the wind and attracting a lot of attention.

His mother commented, “That young man’s coat is quite cute. It’s orange.”

His father added, “That’s how young people are these days—wearing all sorts of colors.”

Both parents looked over at Jiang Liyong, who was dressed in his usual black, white, and gray. Even today, his suit was black.

With the car’s heater on, Jiang Liyong hadn’t bothered to wear a coat.

By now, the cyclist had passed their car, and as he did, Jiang Liyong caught a glimpse of his face, which looked oddly familiar. He was almost hit by a trailing piece of fabric fluttering in the wind—was that a veil?

He called out in disbelief, “Liu Yuan!”

Liu Yuan didn’t hear him and kept pedaling. Checking the map, he saw that there were still four kilometers to the hotel.

As the car crawled forward, Jiang Liyong called out again, “Liu Yuan!”

Finally, Liu Yuan turned back, panting and saying, “Big bro?”

Jiang’s parents both exclaimed, “Big bro?”

Jiang Liyong explained, “He’s the guy who beat Jiang Mingchen into my department.”

The car fell into awkward silence, but Liu Yuan didn’t seem embarrassed at all. After greeting them, he prepared to keep going. But JiangLiyong’s mom, intrigued by the person who had beaten the illegitimate son into the hospital, eagerly invited him to ride with them.

Chu Lai had been on the phone with Liu Yuan and overheard the conversation.

Liu Yuan accepted the invitation and got into the car, assuring Chu Lai over the phone, “Don’t worry, I won’t be late.”

“I even had my sister make a special veil for you. You have to try it on.”

Liu Yuan was overly enthusiastic, while Chu Lai wanted nothing to do with it.

He wasn’t particularly interested in the wedding banquet and was already overwhelmed by the thought of so many guests. After arriving at the hotel, he had holed up in the lounge, refusing to come out.

On the phone, he said, “Take your time getting here.”

Liu Yuan, now sitting in the front passenger seat, glanced out the window and spotted someone in the car beside them. Lowering his voice, he asked Chu Lai, “Did you invite your first crush, the class monitor?”

Chu Lai, still playing a game on his tablet, replied, “No, it’s just you and my mom on my side.”

He had never been particularly sociable with his classmates, even in college. He never expected his wedding to be so grand either.

Liu Yuan made a small noise, “I saw someone dressed so formally, I thought they were here for your wedding.”

Chu Lai didn’t give it much thought, “Lots of people are getting married today.”

Liu Yuan asked, “Are there a lot of other weddings at this hotel?”

Both roads led to either the deep mountains or the hotel.

At that moment, Cen Wei came in, and Chu Lai asked, “Are there any other weddings here besides ours?”

Cen Wei shook his head.

Chu Lai, still on the phone with Liu Yuan, said, “Nope, just ours.”

Knowing that Liu Yuan had hitched a ride with Jiang Liyong, Chu Lai wasn’t worried about anything bad happening on the road. After chatting for a bit longer, he hung up.

The outside was bustling. The lights and sound systems were all set up, making Chu Lai even more reluctant to go out. His game had stalled on the easiest level, and he hadn’t said much to Cen Wei either. He didn’t realize his face was unusually tense, a stark contrast to his usual calm demeanor. Cen Wei sat next to him and asked, “Are you nervous?”

For the first time, Chu Lai was playing a game absentmindedly, taking a long time to even tap on the screen, so much so that he needed Cen Wei’s help.

As he watched his side profile, the noise outside only heightened the dramatic atmosphere inside.

Chu Lai nodded, “Turning a fake marriage into a real one—of course I’m nervous.”

Cen Wei wrapped his arms around Chu Lai, who muttered, “I don’t remember having to make a wedding speech…”

“I don’t have one either. Those are all for the elders to give,” Cen Wei said.

Even though same-sex marriage was legal, Chu Lai had never attended one before. His life had been too uneventful, his experiences with weddings or funerals only accumulated from his parents. Now, as his fingers brushed against Cen Wei’s, tapping on the screen, he asked in a low voice, “Do we really have to toast?”

To his surprise, Cen Wei asked, “Do you want to run?”

“Run where?” Chu Lai looked up at him.

Kissing his forehead, Cen Wei held him close. Outside, the relatives were busy welcoming guests, while the stars of the wedding stayed hidden in a spacious hotel lounge, kissing.

Chu Lai, breathless from the kiss, pushed away the face that was leaning in for more. “If we kiss any more, our clothes will wrinkle.”

Holding his hand, rubbing it gently, and pressing his cheek against Chu Lai’s hand, Cen Wei seemed to express all his restrained desires with warmth.

He said, “We’ll skip the toasts later. Grandpa will handle everything.”

Chu Lai sensed something was off and asked, “Did you used to skip school a lot?”

The model student described by Xuan Rongqing nodded earnestly, “Lai Lai never skipped?”

“Now I’m starting to doubt you’ve only had one relationship,” Chu Lai said.

That suspicion, expressed on their wedding day, had quite an impact. Cen Wei, feeling wronged, protested, “If we hadn’t missed each other in high school, I’d only have had one.”

Chu Lai didn’t get it.

Holding him tightly, Cen Wei thought if anyone came in right now, they’d only see their overlapping figures. The young man in his arms had already let his coat fall to the floor.

The trousers of his suit had creased, and in Chu Lai’s ear, Cen Wei whispered, “If we had met back then, I would’ve only dated you.”

“Only you.”

“From first love to growing old together. How perfect.”