The way both families handled the same situation was completely different. The man’s side was overjoyed, plotting how to bring her into the family, while her mother was so angry she almost threatened to sever their mother-daughter relationship, fundamentally out of fear that Wen Yi would be looked down upon because of her pregnancy.

In ancient times, marriage seemed inherently unequal, with strong gender biases determining a woman’s belonging, a concept deeply ingrained in society.

Wen Yi shook her head. Marriage is just about two people building a family and living together; how could it be about ownership?

Qin Nanshan drove her home in her car. Her small Audi wasn’t very spacious, and the first thing he did after getting in the driver’s seat was adjust the position—lowering and pushing it back—completely changing her accustomed setup.

For the first time in her life, Wen Yi felt her personal space being invaded. He seemed oblivious and continued to occupy someone else’s territory.

She realized something; perhaps getting married indeed involved a kind of ownership exchange, but not in a one-sided way. It was about both parties intruding into each other’s lives, merging their lives into one where it was hard to distinguish between “you” and “me.”

Isn’t that what marriage laws are? After marriage, regardless of who earns more or less, everything is jointly owned.

As they hit the road, Qin Nanshan asked, “Regarding the wedding date and dowry, my parents want to meet your mom.”

Her car’s navigation automatically directed them to Yutingfu, and upon hearing this, Wen Yi changed her mind. “Let’s go to Changle Alley; you can talk to her yourself.”

He turned around and headed toward Changle Alley.

On the way, they discussed the requests she had mentioned the day before. Qin Nanshan had no objections and agreed to all her plans. Wen Yi frowned. “You can voice your thoughts or disagree.”

“Your requests are reasonable, so of course, I agree.”

Wen Yi looked at his nearly perfect profile and silently reconciled her feelings. Forget it; he was just like that.

Twenty minutes later, they arrived, and after turning off the engine, Wen Yi said, “You need to adjust my seat back to how it was.”

Qin Nanshan paused for a moment, probably surprised that she would make such a request, and then got back into the car.

Wen Yi was the first to head into the alley. After a few steps, she stopped and looked back.

He had just adjusted his seat and got out, standing at the lively alley entrance, illuminated by neon lights, while she stood in the alley, the warm glow from the square windows casting delicate shapes on her. It felt like they were in two inverted worlds.

Wen Yi suddenly called out, “Qin Nanshan.”

The man looked up, his deep, bottomless black eyes reflecting the streetlights.

“Are you going to be a good father?” she asked.

“Yes,” he replied.

…

The two families met next, with the wedding date set before the New Year. The dowry from the Qin family was generous, and they didn’t ask for any bride price from them. Ms. Wen specifically reminded Wen Yi the night before not to settle for less.

The engagement banquet was arranged for that Saturday evening, primarily for close relatives to meet each other.

Xuan Ying suggested that once the engagement was finalized, the couple could go register for marriage to avoid unnecessary complications later. Wen Yi smiled inwardly; what complications could arise? Things had already come this far.

She didn’t have many relatives, and it seemed Qin Nanshan had discussed this in advance with Xuan Ying and her husband. They didn’t ask about Wen Yi’s father and were considerate enough to only reserve seats for her uncle and aunt.

Wen Yi’s uncle and aunt were quite shocked. After the initial surprise, they pulled Wen Hongyu aside to talk, asking what was going on and if Wen Yi was pregnant. Wen Hongyu replied, “We’ve been together for a long time; it’s a good thing that’s coming soon.”

“What did he say?”

“Xiao Qin has a good personality, and his parents are well-educated. They won’t mistreat Yi Yi.”

“That’s good.”

Wen Yi’s uncle and aunt remained skeptical but were somewhat persuaded. From a distance, Wen Yi watched with an indescribable feeling. Fortunately, very few people were aware of the truth. She and Qin Nanshan appeared to be a sweet couple, blissfully entering the sacred realm of marriage.

But not everyone was convinced.

When Wen Yi went out to use the restroom and returned, she heard voices in the hallway. It was likely Qin Nanshan’s aunt, Zhong Lan, and Xuan Ying.

Zhong Lan was indignant. “What’s going on with Nanshan? He’s getting married and having a child without saying a word. Is he being taken advantage of?”

Wen Yi stepped lightly, unsure of how to proceed.

Xuan Ying said, “That’s not true, sister-in-law. The couple is very much in love.”

Zhong Lan retorted, “I see this girl has a beguiling face. Who knows what methods she used to lure Nanshan, getting pregnant and then controlling him to marry her?”

Wen Yi couldn’t see the expressions of the two people, but Xuan Ying didn’t say anything. Zhong Lan continued, “She’s just a pharmaceutical saleswoman, with all kinds of tricks up her sleeve. I think she’s not as good as Zhi Rou, who is genuine, gentle, and comes from a suitable family. She could help Nan Shan move up in the world. And now this…” 

Zhong Lan sighed heavily. “Now there’s nothing we can do, but you two need to keep an eye on Nan Shan. Don’t let everything get out.”

Xuan Ying said, “Sister-in-law, you’re overthinking it. I don’t think Wen Yi is that kind of person. Don’t say these things in front of the child; it will affect their feelings.”

After saying a few words, footsteps were heard, and the two walked away.

Wen Yi leaned against the wall, feeling rather powerless; she could only stand firm by leaning against it. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and exhaled the heaviness in her heart.

She didn’t know how long she stood there when Qin Xi came out looking for someone. The young girl spoke sweetly, “Sister-in-law, why are you out for so long? Is everything okay?”

Wen Yi forced a smile and replied, “It’s fine, what could happen?”

After the engagement banquet, Xuan Ying had someone pick a good day for them to get their marriage certificate, claiming it was perfectly aligned with their birth dates.

On the day they went to get the certificate, the weather was extremely cold. Wen Yi put on her makeup and wore an exquisite dress, then wrapped herself in a thick down coat before setting off. Qin Nan Shan also looked proper, in a shirt and suit with a Windsor knot, and he had even styled his hair, looking very energetic.

Before entering the civil affairs bureau, Wen Yi asked if he was nervous. He said he wasn’t, having prepared for two months already.

But she was nervous; it was her first time getting a marriage certificate after all. This was a turning point in her life. Once she stepped through that door and walked out, she would be a married woman, and her plans for the future before turning twenty-eight would be disrupted.

However, once they got the certificate and walked out, there was no excitement or disappointment as she had imagined. The two of them calmly went to a nearby breakfast shop to eat. After breakfast, he took her to work, and then they returned to their respective homes after work. This “good day” was as ordinary as it could be.

The only trace of it was probably when Wen Yi posted a public moment on her social media before going to bed that night—one photo was of their marriage certificate, and the other showed her right hand wearing a wedding ring, officially announcing the end of her single status.

Ten minutes later, Qin Nan Shan “shared” her post, with the exact same pictures and captions. No, it wasn’t the same; he wore his own ring.

If she remembered correctly, this was his first social media post.