Chapter 67

After the proposal, Jiang Sixun’s mind was set on making their relationship official as soon as possible.

“When should we go get our marriage certificate?” he asked, pulling Xu Zhiyi into his arms before bed.

Leaning her back against his chest, she closed her eyes and replied, “When do you want to go?”

Jiang Sixun turned off the light. “Pick a day you like.”

“I like any day.” Xu Zhiyi shifted in his arms, turning to face him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and lifted a leg to rest it on his waist. “I’ll think about it a little more.”

For her, the day he proposed held special meaning, so she wanted to choose a date for the certificate that would mean something to him.

“I’ve thought about it,” she said, tilting her head up.

Jiang Sixun asked, “Which day?”

“November 22nd.”

That was his birthday.

He had never cared much for his birthday, but she knew it wasn’t that he didn’t care. As a child, he’d once looked forward to it, but when it went uncelebrated year after year, he stopped expecting anything.

“We’ll get the certificate in Hong Kong,” she added.

Jiang Sixun brushed his chin against her forehead. “Thank you.”

In the dim light, Xu Zhiyi kissed his chin softly. “No need to thank me. It’s my birthday gift to you.”

After the kiss, she nestled back into his arms. Jiang Sixun looked down at her. “How about another gift?”

“You don’t ask people for gifts,” she teased.

“You’re my wife. You’ve never been ‘people.’”

“And six years ago?”

“You weren’t ‘people’ back then either.”

His words warmed her heart. “What else do you want? We can’t possibly throw a wedding in just twenty days. That’s not enough time to plan.”

“There’s no rush for the wedding,” he replied. He still hadn’t introduced her to his extended family, and there were so many places he hadn’t yet taken her.

Xu Zhiyi asked, “Then what do you want?”

“A tennis racket. You can get me a pair,” Jiang Sixun said. “I’ll play badminton with you, and you can play tennis with me.”

It had been two and a half years since she last played badminton, but Xu Zhiyi decided it was time to pick it up again.

“Are you sleepy?” Jiang Sixun asked.

A moment ago, she had been exhausted after they had made love, content in his arms and ready to sleep. But talking about the marriage certificate had chased away the drowsiness.

Seeing her hesitate, Jiang Sixun guessed she wasn’t sleepy anymore. He reached for the switch by the bed, and the floor-to-ceiling curtains slowly opened, revealing the serene view of the harbor.

He gently moved her leg off his waist. “Turn around and look at the sea.”

It was a rare clear night, the sky a deep, peaceful blue.

Xu Zhiyi turned, pressing her back against his chest again, her head resting in the crook of his arm.

They gazed out at the distant sea.

Beneath the thin blanket, she wasn’t wearing a nightgown, and their skin pressed intimately against each other.

Her coolness contrasted with his dry, warm heat.

Xu Zhiyi tried to clear her mind of distractions and focused on the view of the sea.

After his birthday, they had come to Hong Kong, and for the past two weeks, she’d been busy with interviews and building a team. With Secretary Cai joining, it felt like she had gained a powerful ally.

The birthday gift from Uncle Lu had been given with absolute sincerity.

Thinking back to the extravagance of her birthday celebration, she slowly drifted into sleep.

Jiang Sixun noticed when her hand slipped down, her breathing steadying as she fell asleep. Quietly, he closed the blackout curtains.

Once she was settled, he gently slipped out of bed.

His work wasn’t done yet, and they needed to inform her parents about the wedding certificate plans.

He texted, ZhiYiand I are planning to get our marriage certificate on the 22nd of this month in Hong Kong, the place where both of them had been born.

The family group chat, now one of the most active, was pinned by Xu Heng, ensuring that any message was seen right away.

Xu Heng replied, How self-centered of you, choosing to get married on your birthday.

Jiang Sixun texted back, Zhiyi picked the day for me.

Xu Heng was speechless.

Any normal person would have just said, “Zhiyi picked the day,” but Jiang Sixun had to add those extra words.

Xu Xiangyi was the first to congratulate the couple, adding, We’ll arrive a day early to be there for the special moment and celebrate your birthday too.

The next morning, on her way to the office, Xu Zhiyi messaged Jiang Sixun’s mother, Jiang Yue.

Aunt Jiang, Jiang Sixun and I plan to get our marriage certificate on the 22nd in Hong Kong.

It was evening on Jiang Yue’s side, the sun having just set, casting the garden in a warm, orange glow as she trimmed the flowers.

Smiling, she replied, No wonder the sunset is so beautiful today. It’s because of the good news. I’ll be back in Hong Kong that day.

A pleasantly surprised Xu Zhiyi replied, Really, Aunt Jiang? You’re coming?

Yes, don’t worry about me. I’ve been fine for a while now, Jiang Yue assured her.

Jiang Yue no longer saw her therapist. After moving to a new place, every day felt fresh. Whenever her mind started to wander into darker thoughts, she would go for a drive to clear her head.

How could she not attend on the 22nd? It was not only the day her son would get married, but also his birthday.

The love and hate between the adults had inevitably affected their children.

For thirty years, she had refused to meet Lu Jianbo, which meant she attended every one of her son’s birthdays and even his college graduation alone.

She used to think her son was rebellious, not the type to care about such details.

Now, looking back, she realized she had been completely wrong.

He was such a thoughtful little boy. Whenever he saw her cry, he’d try to find ways to comfort her, and every day, he’d leave a voicemail for his father. How could he not be sensitive?

Jiang Yue didn’t want to make things difficult for the two of them. She messaged Xu Zhiyi, You can let Uncle Lu know he’s welcome. It’s fine. She had long since let go of past grievances.

Using the wedding as an excuse, she’d celebrate her son’s birthday one more time.

From now on, he’d have his own family. On that day, he would have his wife and future children by his side, and he wouldn’t feel the absence of his parents anymore.

When Lu Jianbo received Xu Zhiyi’s message, he was at his estate in London. He hadn’t been there in a long time, but after his son’s proposal, he decided to stay for a few days.

Years ago, he had intended to make the estate their marital home, but that never happened. He was flipping through his wedding photos with Jiang Yue when his phone vibrated. He glanced at the screen, seeing it was a message from Xu Zhiyi, and opened it.

Uncle Lu, Jiang Sixun and I are getting our marriage certificate on the 22nd in Hong Kong. Would you be able to join us?

Lu Jianbo replied, I’ll be there.

Then he asked, Does Jiang Yue know?

She knows. She’ll be there for the ceremony, Xu Zhiyi added. She’s also aware I’m inviting you.

Lu Jianbo reread that last sentence in disbelief, carefully looking at each word. He replied, I’ll come back early. Zhiyi, is there any gift you two would like for your wedding? Pick anything.

We don’t need a gift. Could you just buy a cake for Jiang Sixun? she responded.

Sure, he agreed.

Suddenly, his mind drifted back to the voicemails his son had left when he was four years old:
“Mom says my birthday is this Sunday. Will you come, Dad?”
“Dad, tomorrow’s my birthday! I’m waiting to eat cake with you.”
“Dad, I saved you a slice of cake.”

Setting his phone aside, he took a moment to calm down, then returned to flipping through the wedding photos.

Back then, they had already been planning their wedding day, though her parents and brothers strongly opposed the marriage. But in time, they softened, mostly because of their grandson, Sixun.

Yet not long after, he made a terrible mistake.

The wedding she had dreamed of never happened, and it weighed heavily on her. She’d been seeing a therapist for years, likely because of the wedding that never took place. Her father, though angry at his daughter for defying him, could never let go of his worry for her.

He passed away with regrets—regrets that he never got to walk his daughter down the aisle, placing her hand into someone he trusted. And he regretted not seeing her find true happiness.

Lu Jianbo picked up his phone again and messaged Xu Zhiyi, Have you chosen the witnesses for your wedding?

We’re asking them tonight, she replied.

After being with Jiang Sixun for so long, they had developed an unspoken understanding.

At four in the afternoon, he called her and told her to get ready.

“I’m coming to pick you up,” he said.

Xu Zhiyi asked, “You’re off work this early?”

Jiang Sixun, turning off his computer, dodged the question. “The weather’s nice today.”

She chuckled. That answer had nothing to do with her question.

Closing her laptop, she glanced out the window. The sky was clear, not a cloud in sight. The past few days in Hong Kong had been rain-free, and the weather was indeed pleasant.

On the phone, he added, “I’ll take you to the old house.”

“How did you know I was planning to go there tonight?” she asked. They needed to visit the old house to ask someone to be their wedding witness.

“I just had a feeling.”

He always had a way of slipping in sweet words so effortlessly.

Grabbing her bag and jacket, Xu Zhiyi left her office, continuing their conversation as she walked.

“Why are you off work so early today?” she asked again, still curious.

Jiang Sixun, now crossing the street, teased, “Didn’t you already ask? Since when do you like repeating yourself?”

She laughed. “I must be getting old. Old people repeat themselves without even realizing it.”

He smiled faintly. “Even when you’re old, I won’t mind.”

She wouldn’t let him off that easily. Playfully, she shot back, “You’re six years older than me! I don’t mind that you’re older, so how could you possibly mind?”

Mentioning the age gap, Jiang Sixun admitted, “I used to worry you’d think I was too old.”

“When was that?”

“Not long after we first met. You always had so much to say to Ning Yinqi, but with me, every conversation was strictly business.” Outside of work, they had nothing to talk about.

Xu Zhiyi confessed, “I was just nervous around you.”

Jiang Sixun was now across the street and entering her building.

Meanwhile, on the 20th floor, Xu Zhiyi pressed the elevator button. The doors opened, and she stepped inside, pressing “1” to head down. She kept talking to him on her phone, asking what he was up to.

“Waiting for the elevator,” he replied, watching the numbers go from 20 to 19.

She assumed he had just left his office. “I’ll come get you then.”

Their offices were only separated by a single street, making meeting up incredibly convenient.

As soon as the call ended, the elevator doors opened on the first floor, and there he was, standing right in front of her.

Surprised and delighted, Xu Zhiyi quickly stepped out of the elevator. Even though other people were waiting, she didn’t say anything, just grabbed his arm with excitement.

Jiang Sixun smiled and took her hand, leading her outside.

Once they were out of the building, she asked, “Are we having dinner with Grandpa at the old house tonight?”

Jiang Sixun said, “I’ve already told Uncle Zhuang to prepare your favorite dishes.”

Xu Zhiyi glanced at him, and as if they were perfectly in sync, he turned at the same moment, kissing her on the cheek.

When they arrived at the old house on Deep Water Bay Road, the question she had asked him twice finally got its answer. The reason he left work so early today wasn’t because he had finished everything—it was because the weather was perfect, and he wanted to take her to see the ocean view.

At their last two family dinners, she had mentioned how it was a shame the sky was overcast and the sea was foggy. He had promised then, “Next time, I’ll bring you here on a clear day.”

Today, the sky was blue, the mountains vibrant, and the water crystal clear, with the bay stretching out right before them.

He always remembered her offhand remarks and made them count.

They stayed in the garden until sunset, the wind picking up as dusk settled in. Jiang Sixun took her hand and led her back into the villa.

In the spacious living room, only Old Master Lu and Uncle Zhuang were present. Uncle Zhuang greeted them warmly, “Whenever you two come, the house feels so lively.”

Xu Zhiyi responded with a smile, “Then I’ll make sure to visit more often.”

Though Old Master Lu didn’t say much, his good mood was obvious to everyone, especially Uncle Zhuang.

Xu Zhiyi reached into her bag and pulled out a handwritten invitation. “Grandpa, we’d like to invite you to be a witness at our marriage registration on the 22nd.”

Old Master Lu was caught by surprise, even a little touched. He accepted the invitation with both hands. “Why didn’t you two tell me sooner? I haven’t even prepared a gift.”

With a soft smile, Xu Zhiyi replied, “No need for gifts. The way you’ve always favored Jiang Sixun over the years during the division of assets—that’s the best gift for me.”

Old Master Lu chuckled and reminded her, “You’ll need two witnesses for the ceremony.”

“I know,” Xu Zhiyi said. “My grandfather will be the other witness. My whole family is coming to Hong Kong to celebrate with us that day.”

“Your grandparents too?” the old man asked.

“Yes, they’ll all be there. My grandpa said he has to personally witness me and Jiang Sixun’s happiness,” she added with a grin. “And we’ll all celebrate Jiang Sixun’s birthday together.”

Jiang Sixun turned to look at her, her hand warm in his. He gently closed his fingers around hers, holding her hand a little tighter.