Chapter 9: Getting the Marriage License

Wen Shuyu had never heard Jiang Huaiyu say such frivolous things before, and she gave him a solid smack.

Angrily, she retorted, “Jiang Huaiyu, go daydream somewhere else. I’m not playing your game, and don’t even think about playing mine.”

She shoved him away with her slender arm and walked straight into the room.

With no photoshoots scheduled for the day, Jiang Huaiyu jogged to catch up with her. “Yuyu, let’s go out this afternoon.”

She was fed up with the word “play” right now. Glancing at him coldly, Wen Shuyu crossed her arms. “You go by yourself.”

Having a sexual relationship as a married couple is normal and stipulated as an important part of the marriage in the Civil Code.

But they weren’t a typical married couple.

Jiang Huaiyu tried to persuade her. “Come on, we’ve been cooped up in the hotel all this time. Isn’t it a waste?”

With their activities confined to the hotel and its surroundings, Wen Shuyu was tempted. “Maybe a bit. You’re not planning to sell me, are you?”

Scams were rampant abroad, and countless cases involved being tricked by acquaintances.

Jiang Huaiyu raised an eyebrow, his tone casual. “Of course not. It took a lot of effort to get a wife.”

Wen Shuyu was taken aback by how naturally he switched between calling her “fiancée” and “wife.”

She had never noticed how thick-skinned he could be.

Ignoring him, Wen Shuyu went back to her room to apply sunscreen, while Jiang Huaiyu grabbed the pre-prepared gear.

In the parking lot, Jiang Huaiyu revealed a convertible car he had somehow rented.

Wen Shuyu was curious about their destination. She leaned against the car window, shaking her head and letting the sea breeze blow through her hair.

They drove until they reached the end of the island.

It was a jellyfish sea.

Crystal clear, like glass, the sea was a gradient of vibrant blues, deep to light, layering one after another.

The car stopped by the roadside, and Wen Shuyu declined the offer to go snorkeling. They walked along the beach instead. “Are there sharks here?”

Jiang Huaiyu asked, “Are you scared?”

“No, Jiang Huaiyu. Look, we can actually see coral.” The reef hid a mysterious world behind it.

Fish darted around within it.

“Be careful.” Wen Shuyu stood at the edge of the boardwalk while Jiang Huaiyu kept a firm grip on her wrist, afraid she might fall.

The warmth of the setting sun ignited the twilight, turning the sky a dreamlike pink.

Night gradually fell.

The dark sea began to shimmer with blue light.

It was like fireflies dancing on the water or stars falling into the ocean.

“It’s ‘blue tears,’ Jiang Huaiyu. We’re so lucky.” Wen Shuyu laughed as she crouched down and stirred the sea with her hand.

It felt like she could touch the stars.

Many people chase after this elusive beauty, and here they were, experiencing it.

“Yeah, I didn’t think it was real either.” Jiang Huaiyu had taken a gamble on it.

Was it luck? Maybe.

Lost in thought, it suddenly started to rain. Jiang Huaiyu saw Wen Shuyu’s mischievous smile and realized it was “artificial rain.” “Yuyu, are you being childish?”

Like a child in a water fight, she splashed water on him.

Wen Shuyu, while running away, replied, “Not childish at all.”

She had been wanting to do this since the afternoon.

“Jiang Huaiyu, I need a break.” They had walked a long distance from afternoon to evening.

Jiang Huaiyu squatted down. “I’ll carry you back.”

“No need.” Wen Shuyu quickly waved him off.

Jiang Huaiyu insisted, “Come on, get on.”

With sore calves and painful heels, Wen Shuyu stopped being stubborn. “Fine.”

She clambered onto Jiang Huaiyu’s back slowly, wrapping her arms around his neck, like she did when she was little.

Unlike other boys who had grown taller later, Jiang Huaiyu had always been taller than her from childhood.

When they went out to play, Wen Shuyu would always cling to Jiang Huaiyu when she got tired, saying, “Brother Huaiyu, you’re the best. Carry me, please.”

Jiang Huaiyu always indulged her unconditionally, doting on her.

Above them was the galaxy of stars, in front was the sparkling sea, and beside her was Jiang Huaiyu, who had been with her for 26 years.

Wen Shuyu found it quite magical. “Jiang Huaiyu, why are you marrying me? Fu Qingzi or someone else would be just fine.”

Even though she agreed, she still hadn’t figured it out.

“I’m afraid someone might snatch you away,” he said. After all, she was the childhood friend he had watched grow up—how could he just let her go?

Wen Shuyu lay on his back and murmured, “Oh, I’m not a child anymore.”

Jiang Huaiyu chuckled softly. “You’re my little fish.”

Fishy, you’re my little friend.

With no response from her, Wen Shuyu’s head rested on his shoulder. “Fishy, Fishy.”

When no one answered, she had fallen asleep.

Jiang Huaiyu continued walking step by step, speaking to himself, “I only ever wanted to marry you. There was never anyone else.”

“You never really saw me.”

“But we grew up together.”

Heaven’s fairness was a distant concept.

The four-day wedding dress shoot came to an end, and they left Roman Island.

The first thing they did upon returning to Nancheng was to get their marriage license.

In the blazing summer sun, Jiang Huaiyu waited downstairs for Wen Shuyu.

The destination of their drive was a place that would change her fate.

With the ID photos taken in advance and the household registration book prepared, it took just half an hour to get their bright red marriage certificates.

Wen Shuyu traced the embossed seal on the marriage certificate with her fingers, feeling the legal validation.

At the moment the official stamped the certificate, it marked the reality of their relationship.

They were truly married now.

Not playing house, not child marriages.

In the parking lot near the civil affairs bureau, Jiang Huaiyu unfolded the marriage certificate and opened his phone’s camera. “Fishy, give me your hand.”

Wen Shuyu turned sharply. “What for?”

Jiang Huaiyu lazily replied, “For a photo, to post on WeChat.”

“I don’t want to.” Wen Shuyu sneered at the idea, finding it too silly, especially with so many mutual acquaintances.

“If you don’t post, our parents will suspect something.”

Wen Shuyu remained unmoved.

Jiang Huaiyu rested his elbow on the steering wheel, turned his body, and grinned. “Fiancée, no, wait, now it’s wife. Wife, we still need to show off our happy married life, or we won’t have a good explanation.”

Calling her “wife” was something Jiang Huaiyu had longed for years.

Wen Shuyu wasn’t used to “wife” yet and frowned at him. “Let’s tone it down. It sounds awkward.”

“No way, it’s legally certified.”

Jiang Huaiyu held up the marriage certificate, deliberately showing the inner pages. “Wife, you need to get used to it and practice calling me husband. What if we accidentally slip up?”

He had a point; the role had to be played, and she had to call him husband.

Jiang Huaiyu pulled her hand and snapped a photo, sending it to Wen Shuyu.

She saw that her contact was labeled as “Annoying Pest.”

How cute.

“Go ahead and post it.” Jiang Huaiyu watched as Wen Shuyu uploaded the photo to WeChat.

He stared intently at her while Wen Shuyu half-heartedly typed out, “Got the license.”

She didn’t hide it from anyone.

After Wen Shuyu posted it and ignored her phone, Jiang Huaiyu edited the text and hit send.

“Long planned, just as I wished.”

Words buried deep in his heart were finally made public.

Sunlight filtered through the car window onto the couple’s ring on her ring finger, reflecting a silver light.

The open marriage certificate, with names and photos clearly visible, soon shocked everyone in her WeChat circle.

The phone buzzed continuously with comments and endless private messages.

Wen Shuyu had to check her phone, and Shen Ruoying sent a screenshot: “Jiang Huaiyu has been planning this for a long time?”

The recent WeChat post included the phrase “long planned,” which was eye-catching. After thinking for a few seconds, Wen Shuyu asked, “Jiang Huaiyu, what does ‘long planned’ mean?”

Jiang Huaiyu replied, “It means what it says.”

Wen Shuyu kept her gaze fixed on him, unwilling to relent until she got an answer. Jiang Huaiyu paused and added, “It’s just for show, really. What did you think it was?”

That was reassuring. Wen Shuyu’s worry eased.

After answering Wen Shuyu’s question, Jiang Huaiyu was interrogated by Zhou Hangyue.

Zhou Hangyue was away for training, and in just half a month, such a big event had happened.

Unable to hold back, he directly confronted Jiang Huaiyu. “Jiang Huaiyu, you dog. You really are a dog. You secretly got the license without telling me. How could you keep something this big from me?”

He had considered telling Zhou Hangyue about the engagement on the day of the ceremony but didn’t get the certificate yet, fearing something might go wrong.

Jiang Huaiyu replied, “It wasn’t secret. It’s all above board, approved by our parents, and protected by law.”

Even through the screen, Zhou Hangyue could feel Jiang Huaiyu’s excitement. “Look at you, so pleased with yourself. Congratulations to you, Young Master Jiang, for getting what you wanted.”

Zhou Hangyue knew all too well about his struggles over the years.

Meanwhile, someone took a screenshot of Wen Shuyu and Jiang Huaiyu’s WeChat post and shared it in their high school class group.

Lu Yunheng was in that group.

The long-quiet high school group exploded with activity because of this major news.

“Congratulations, congratulations! The childhood sweethearts actually got married!”

“Congratulations, congratulations! Send out wedding candy @Jiang Huaiyu.”

“Perfect match, send out wedding candy!”

…

Jiang Huaiyu sent a large red envelope to 45 people. “Thank you, everyone is invited to our wedding. No need for wedding gifts.”

The red envelope was quickly claimed.

But the last red envelope remained unclaimed.

It was for Lu Yunheng.

With a 12-hour time difference between Nancheng and North America.

On the other side of the ocean, Lu Yunheng returned to his apartment after finishing his studies. Just as he was about to relax and check his phone, he found the high school class group, which had been quiet for years, suddenly buzzing with activity.

Not paying much attention, he thought it was just more gossip. But when he opened the message, he was stunned for a while.

It was a marriage certificate.

And the people in the photo were Jiang Huaiyu and Wen Shuyu.

The two hands displayed in the photo prominently featured the rings on their ring fingers.

Fish and water, anyone could have that, but these uniquely designed rings were theirs alone.

Lu Yunheng was no exception.

He had followed the entire conversation.

Watching his classmates’ messages, seeing Jiang Huaiyu send out red envelopes, and inviting friends to their wedding.

Seeing their marriage certificate and their wedding photos.

Wen Shuyu looked so happy.

He had never thought Wen Shuyu would wait for him, but Lu Yunheng never imagined that Jiang Huaiyu would be the one marrying her.

They had always been at odds.

Lu Yunheng wiped his face and re-added the WeChat contact he had memorized, sending a request with a message:

“Fishy, how did you end up marrying Jiang Huaiyu?”

As expected, there was no reply after a long wait.

Years ago, Wen Shuyu had deleted all his contact details. He knew he had no right to question her.

But, in the dead of night, in a foreign land, he couldn’t help it.

Jiang Huaiyu started the car, and the mood in the passenger seat suddenly dropped. “Fishy, what’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing. Let’s go. Mom and Dad are waiting anxiously.” Wen Shuyu closed her phone and forced a smile at Jiang Huaiyu.

The only person who could disturb her mood now was Lu Yunheng.

Jiang Huaiyu didn’t shatter this fragile lie.

The journey was quiet. More than sadness, Wen Shuyu felt anger—how dare Lu Yunheng question her.

The friend request message lay dormant in the notifications.

Back home, both sets of parents waited eagerly. Upon receiving the marriage certificate, they examined it repeatedly, overjoyed.

Mother Wen said, “Ah, the stone in my heart has fallen. I must show everyone.”

Mother Jiang added, “Together forever, a perfect match.”

After broadcasting the news, the parents began their earnest advice.

“You must treat Fishy well, understand?”

Mother Jiang scolded Jiang Huaiyu before gently reassuring Wen Shuyu, “Fishy, Auntie will always have your back.”

Mother Wen said, “You two be good to each other.”

“I will treat Fishy well, for a lifetime.”

Jiang Huaiyu’s gaze was firm, his words sincere, spoken with the tone of an oath.

Such dedication made Wen Shuyu almost want to award him an acting trophy.

“That’s good to hear.” Wen’s and Jiang’s mothers exchanged a smile and quietly left, giving the young couple some space.

On a summer night, under a deep blue sky, a crescent moon hung high.

In the garden, a swing swayed gently.

Wen Shuyu lay on the swing with a heavy heart.

Her phone lit up, unusually bright in the darkness.

Jiang Huaiyu took Wen Shuyu’s phone from her. “Let me use it.”

He entered a six-digit code, unlocking the phone.

With his clearly defined fingers, he swiped three times, found the contacts, and went to the friend requests section.

Ignoring the “Confirm” button, he long-pressed and deleted Lu Yunheng’s friend request.

He completed the action in one smooth motion, returning the phone to Wen Shuyu.

She let him handle it, not surprised that Jiang Huaiyu could easily unlock her phone.

He knew her too well.

Now, Jiang Huaiyu was the person closest to her, besides her parents.

From now on, they would face trials together and share the same bed.

“Jiang Huaiyu, let’s go home.”

Just as Wen Shuyu turned, Jiang Huaiyu grabbed her wrist, pulled her into an embrace, and whispered fiercely into her ear.

“Wen Shuyu, now that we’re married, don’t think about other men.”

“Your husband gets jealous.”