As for the rest, Sheng Zexi made it clear that he wanted everything, especially Gu Jianing’s solo photos and their couple photos. Right in front of Gu Jianing, he solemnly placed them in his wallet.

Watching the man carefully cherish the photos, Gu Jianing couldn’t help but think of her past life. In her past life, when she and Wen Zhuqing got married, they had also taken photos. However, Wen Zhuqing hadn’t cared much about them and had just casually taken one. At the time, Gu Jianing had been so immersed in the joy of getting married that she hadn’t noticed. Now, comparing it with Sheng Zexi, the difference between genuine affection and pretense was immediately clear.

Sheng Zexi carefully put away the photos and looked up to see the little girl staring at him with a strange expression. He reached out and tapped her head, asking, “What are you looking at? Your expression is so strange.”

The look in her eyes had been too peculiar, almost indescribable—somewhat sorrowful, yet also tinged with relief and joy. Sheng Zexi couldn’t decipher it, but the look disappeared so quickly that he almost thought he had imagined it.

Gu Jianing covered her head with both hands, her delicate brows furrowing slightly, and her red lips pouting. “Why did you hit me? It hurts.”

In truth, Sheng Zexi had been careful and hadn’t hit her hard, but Gu Jianing inexplicably felt like acting spoiled and pretending to be hurt. She wanted to see if Sheng Zexi would show her tenderness.

Sure enough, as soon as she said this, Sheng Zexi’s brows knitted together, and concern filled his eyes. He leaned over to move her hands aside. “Does it really hurt? Let me see. I shouldn’t have hit you.”

Gu Jianing was smug. Yes, this was how it should be. But the next second, the man’s deep, magnetic voice came from above her head. “You’re already clumsy enough. If I hit you again, wouldn’t you become even clumsier? Then I’d end up marrying a silly wife.”

“Sheng Zexi!” Gu Jianing raised her pink fist, pretending to hit him, and threatened, “Be careful, or I won’t go with you to get married.”

As if instantly hitting a pressure point, Sheng Zexi stopped dodging. A mix of amusement and helplessness appeared in his eyes as he raised both hands in surrender. “Alright, alright, I admit defeat. I have a big mouth. My fiancée, please be magnanimous and forgive me.”

Then, he sneakily leaned closer and added, “Next time I see any pretty clothes, hairpins, or jewelry, I’ll buy them all for you.”

He knew that this little girl loved beauty and all kinds of pretty things.

Gu Jianing let out a soft hum, giving him a coquettish glare that was both captivating and enchanting. “That’s more like it.”

Gu Jianing was appeased; she hadn’t really been angry in the first place. She just felt that Sheng Zexi’s mouth was too sharp and too biting. However, she didn’t ask him to change. Having lived a second life, Gu Jianing had come to understand many things. She felt that sometimes, instead of criticizing someone for their flaws, it was better to think about why they had become that way.

Was Sheng Zexi born with a sharp tongue? Of course not. Gu Jianing vaguely felt that it might have something to do with his family background. But she would think more about that when she met other members of the Gu family later.

After getting their wedding photos, the two quickly went to the civil affairs bureau to obtain their marriage certificate. The marriage certificate at this time looked like a red diploma, vastly different from those in later years. However, as the two walked out of the civil affairs bureau holding this diploma-like certificate, it symbolized that they were now officially husband and wife.

A gentle breeze blew, and time felt particularly leisurely at this moment. Gu Jianing felt a bit dazed, as if experiencing a sense of temporal disorientation. But she quickly snapped out of it.

The sunlight fell on the man, as if casting a layer of radiance on him. Sheng Zexi was undoubtedly tall and handsome, and coupled with his military uniform, countless girls on the street couldn’t help but glance at him, as if drawn by the light he emitted.

Gu Jianing thought that Sheng Zexi, whether in her past life or this one, was always such a radiant person. And the light he emitted, in both lifetimes, had fallen on her, bringing her warmth and love.

In her heart, Gu Jianing silently vowed: Sheng Zexi, I will live well with you. In this life, we will definitely have a good life together.

After obtaining their marriage certificate, Sheng Zexi took Gu Jianing to the hotel to pick up his maternal grandparents, and then they all went to a state-run restaurant for a meal. The two elderly people were currently staying at the hotel and planned to remain there until after Sheng Zexi and Gu Jianing’s wedding banquet before returning home.

In truth, they originally couldn’t stay for so long, especially since the national weapons research institute urgently needed Grandfather Sang to return. But Grandfather Sang insisted that he had accumulated many years of unused vacation time. In the past, he hadn’t cared much about taking time off. Grandfather Sang was also someone deeply devoted to his research. But now that his grandson was finally getting married and holding a banquet, he was determined to stay with his wife and attend the celebration before leaving.

Since Grandfather Sang had made this decision, the research institute had no choice but to accept it. After all, he had a valid reason. However, due to Grandfather Sang’s special status, additional personnel were secretly assigned to protect him.

The two elderly people were overjoyed to learn that the couple had obtained their marriage certificate. They kept calling “Ningning” affectionately, unable to stop, showing their deep fondness for Gu Jianing.

Sheng Zexi watched the three of them getting along so harmoniously, and a soft smile appeared in his eyes.

After the meal, Sheng Zexi escorted the two elderly people back to the hotel and then took Gu Jianing back to Huaihua Village. However, he took the red diploma-like marriage certificate with him.

“This thing should be kept by me,” he said.

Gu Jianing had no objections. Now that they were married, it didn’t matter who kept it.

Sheng Zexi gazed at Gu Jianing and couldn’t help but reach out to gently tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. With a hint of emotion, he said, “Ningning, do you know? There was a time when I thought I would grow old alone.”

Gu Jianing remained silent, feeling that Sheng Zexi seemed somewhat melancholic at this moment. He was like a hedgehog that had always carried thorns, pricking everyone it encountered, full of defenses against the world. The silly hedgehog didn’t realize that while it was raising its sharp thorns to prick others, it was also hurting itself.

In truth, Gu Jianing could sense that Sheng Zexi had always been highly guarded. But somehow, by sheer coincidence, she had managed to enter the heart of this hedgehog, and once inside, she had taken root. Even in her past life, when she realized she was Sheng Zexi’s “white moonlight,” she had wondered what she had done to deserve it. What charm did she possess? She was beautiful, yes, but Gu Jianing knew that wasn’t what Sheng Zexi valued most.

And now, this melancholic hedgehog, in her presence, seemed to have retracted its sharp, prickly thorns, revealing its soft belly, yearning for her touch.

The breeze carried the man’s magnetic yet earnest voice: “Only now, with you, do I feel that I can have a companion, that the future can be something to look forward to.”