Wen Chongyue was originally focused on adjusting his shirt cuffs. Hearing her words, he paused, turning to face her.

The twilight filtered through the glass car window, casting a warm glow. Xia Jiao held the bright red marriage certificate, the color dyeing her fingertips with a faint hue. She wore only light makeup, resembling a solitary sparrow.

Her voice was soft, careful, almost fearful of offending others.

“Although it might be a bit sudden, I think it’s better to take a quick cut than to prolong the pain…” Xia Jiao said. “And, you know, better to die early and be reborn early…”

Wen Chongyue couldn’t help but chuckle: “Do you even know what you’re saying?”

Xia Jiao’s eyes showed a hint of confusion. She blinked, slightly embarrassed, and repeatedly apologized: “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it that way.”

Seeing her flustered and anxious demeanor, Wen Chongyue reached out to cover her hand.

Xia Jiao gently trembled but didn’t pull away.

His hand was large, with long fingers, and a small mole on his middle finger added an unexpected allure. He was tall, and his body temperature was higher than hers, warm and gentle against her hand.

“I am your husband,” Wen Chongyue said. “You don’t need to be so cautious around me.”

Xia Jiao replied, “Okay, Teacher Wen.”

She found it amusing that her first hand-holding with Wen Chongyue happened after they got their marriage certificate. This sort of “conservativeness” felt like an arranged marriage from a feudal society.

Yet it was different in some ways. At least their marriage was initiated through mutual consultation, weighing the pros and cons.

“Don’t be nervous,” Wen Chongyue reassured her. “It’s not as scary as you think. Try not to fear it, alright?”

His gentle words made Xia Jiao feel somewhat shy.

She wasn’t afraid; having experienced the narratives shared by various wives in online gaming communities, she was quite knowledgeable in certain areas and had her curiosities.

“I’m not in a hurry, we can take it slow,” Wen Chongyue said generously. “Before that, let’s discuss the wedding?”

Xia Jiao nodded.

That evening, they dined on Cantonese cuisine at the restaurant Wen Chongyue had reserved.

The pigeon, tender with thick meat and soft bones, After being removed from the brine, coated with vinegar and malt syrup, and then deep-fried until golden brown. It was served with classic Swiss sauce and sweet soy sauce, fragrant and delicious. The sweet and sour sauce for the stir-fried ribs was made from hawthorn cake and dried hawthorn, paired with green and red peppers and ginger, far tastier than the dishes Xia Jiao usually ordered. The fresh bamboo beef was just the right size, with a perfect balance of horse hoof and meat, juicy and delicious. The glutinous rice chicken wrapped in dried lotus leaves combined winter mushrooms, chicken pieces, Chinese sausage, shrimp, diced bamboo shoots, dried scallops, and char siu, infusing the glutinous rice with flavors. Each bite was lightly satisfying, accompanied by steamed vegetable hearts and corn yam soup…

Xia Jiao hadn’t put much thought into the food and continuously praised it.

She sincerely said, “I didn’t know there were so many delicious restaurants… Compared to you, I was living quite roughly before.”

As the New Year approached, the restaurant sent a traditional Guangdong rice cake, beautifully presented in a small bamboo dish. Xia Jiao took a small piece. It had a rich aroma of sugar, was smooth and soft, glutinous yet not mushy.

“Actually, people in Guangzhou are very particular about seafood, but this restaurant doesn’t do it well,” Wen Chongyue mentioned. “A friend of mine has a shop over on Yide Road in Guangzhou and sent me some fish maw, sea cucumbers, and abalone. Next time you come to my place, I’ll cook them for you.”

Xia Jiao eagerly agreed.

When it came to discussing the wedding, they were on the same page. Xia Jiao wanted it to look beautiful, while Wen Chongyue suggested hiring a professional planner. Since Xia Jiao wanted an outdoor lawn wedding, as long as the budget was sufficient, arranging it would be easy.

With similar opinions, their communication went smoothly, and they tentatively settled on the details.

However, when it came to the guest list, Xia Jiao suddenly widened her eyes, staring blankly at Wen Chongyue.

She said, “There’s something I forgot.”

Wen Chongyue asked, “What is it?”

Xia Jiao replied, “I forgot to tell my parents that I’m getting married.”

Wen Chongyue: “…”

He said, “Let’s eat first, and then you can call them.”

After enjoying a delicious meal, Wen Chongyue spoke to a manager, who brought out an exquisite little wooden box. Xia Jiao didn’t look closely, she took a few steps away to call her parents, starting with inquiries about their health and asking how busy the shop was.

It was clear that her parents were quite busy. Her mother had little time to chat, and the background noise was filled with bargaining voices.

Her mother even took a moment to ask Xia Jiao if she wanted to go on a blind date, mentioning that her second aunt’s fourth sister-in-law’s fifth uncle’s third cousin had found a few potential matches for Xia Jiao. She assured her that this time, all the candidates were under ten years apart, none were irresponsible, and they weren’t the “nice guys” who had nothing to offer. If Xia Jiao was interested, she could immediately send the information over through WeChat.

Xia Jiao hesitated and said, “Uh, Mom, there’s no need for a blind date. I just got my marriage certificate today.”

Her mother’s voice brightened, “Oh, you little rascal, really? Fine, if you don’t want to, then don’t. I’m busy, I’ll call you back later.”

And that was that.

Xia Jiao held the phone in her hand, wondering whether she should explain it again to her slow-witted mother.

Wen Chongyue came over carrying a paper bag and handed it to Xia Jiao.

She glanced inside the paper bag, which contained a wooden box with a glass jar filled with small fruits, the same item the manager had brought out earlier.

Xia Jiao looked up and asked, “What is this?”

“Licorice olives,” Wen Chongyue replied. “I noticed your voice didn’t sound right today. Avoid dry snacks like chips for now. Eat these, they’ll help your throat.”

Xia Jiao thanked him. The waiter opened the door, bowing slightly. Wen Chongyue gently placed his palm on her shoulder, guiding her close. A group of noisy children passed by her, just in time to avoid her.

As Xia Jiao started to say something, her phone rang again. It was her mother calling back, and she answered.

—The first thing she heard was her mother’s incredulous voice: “What? What are you talking about? You what? What certificate?”

It took Xia Jiao nearly two hours to make her slow-witted mother realize that she had a “flash marriage”.

There was no point in dwelling on it now, what was done was done.

Her parents repeatedly scolded Xia Jiao, upset that she hadn’t consulted them about such a significant matter.

Wen Chongyue stepped in to help.

Xia Jiao wasn’t sure how he communicated with her parents, but in a brief ten-minute video call, the issue was quietly resolved.

Her parents no longer mentioned the marriage but eagerly started asking Xia Jiao when and where the wedding would be, bombarding her with questions.

Xia Jiao felt overwhelmed. After finally calming them down, she looked up at the clock and realized it was already ten o’clock at night.

Tomorrow, she had to go to work. Poor worker; she has to endure one more day before she can take her annual leave the day after tomorrow. It was getting late, so Xia Jiao didn’t keep Wen Chongyue, he didn’t ask her to see him off either, so he left after they went downstairs.

She went from single to married in less than 24 hours.

Xia Jiao felt dizzy, she cautiously tasted a licorice olive. Its salty, sour, and slightly sweet flavor was refreshing.

She closed her eyes and chewed it, the tanginess making her shiver.

… She shouldn’t have eaten this before bed. She feared it would make her sleep late again.

Wen Chongyue promised to pick her up after work the next day.

Wen Chongyue’s family lived in the capital, and since Xia Jiao wasn’t going home for the New Year this year, he naturally couldn’t let her spend the holiday alone. He planned to take her back to his home.

Xia Jiao didn’t refuse.

At first, she thought about preparing holiday gifts and nervously asked Wen Chongyue what his parents liked. Little did she know he had already prepared everything, just waiting for her to join him.

Being with him felt completely natural and comfortable.

Xia Jiao was curious about what kind of parents could raise someone like Wen Chongyue. She was a little nervous because it was difficult for the older generation to accept things like flash marriages.

In the car, she couldn’t help but ask, “Teacher Wen, are there any taboos between Uncle Wen and Aunt Wen? Is there anything I shouldn’t bring up during our conversation later?”

Wen Chongyue was focused on the road: “No—oh, by the way, my parents are divorced. My dad will be the only one at home tonight, so don’t be nervous. He’s really nice.”

Xia Jiao paused for a moment: “I’m sorry.”

Wen Chongyue smiled: “No need to apologize all the time.”

The light from the passing scenery fell on his face, highlighting his features. Xia Jiao noticed a small, faint brown mole near the neck on his right jawline, not very noticeable.

His skin was fair, and the mole’s light brown color reminded her of millet.

“It was my negligence,” Wen Chongyue said. “I should have told you earlier, you’re doing great, Xiao Xia.”

Xia Jiao traced the edge of her seatbelt, as a soft, soothing Spanish song played in the car. She wore a thick coat, feeling a bit cold at first, but the car’s heating gradually warmed her up.

She suddenly felt that her impulsiveness was slowly melting away in his hands.

Father Wen is a professor at a university, living in a modest apartment assigned by the school. The décor was simple and rustic, with calligraphy and landscape paintings hanging on the walls. He was of similar height to Wen Chongyue, but with a gentler demeanor. He wore glasses, and his hair was gray.

Father Wen invited Xia Jiao to taste his tea and served a meal he had prepared himself. The table was filled with dishes such as fish in vinegar sauce, stir-fried tofu with soybeans, coriander stir-fried lamb slices, sweet and sour pork ribs, and a duck soup with bamboo shoots, all spread out on a redwood round table.

He was kind-hearted, chatting about trivial family matters and enjoying laughter, making the dinner pleasant for everyone.

The professor didn’t stay up late and retired early. As the clock ticked past nine, he began to prepare for bed.

At that moment, Xia Jiao suddenly remembered the most important thing.

She made an effort to tiptoe, holding onto Wen Chongyue’s shoulder with one hand to lean him down, while cupping his ear with the other.

A faint grassy scent wafted over her, reminiscent of crushed fig leaves. The gentle fragrance of coconut milk gradually permeated from the crushed juice, enveloping a hint of cedar. Her scent was refreshing and vibrant.

The warm breath brushed softly against Wen Chongyue’s ear. His neck and ears were sensitive areas, he couldn’t stand the tickling or such gentle breathing.

Wen Chongyue subtly shifted, but Xia Jiao remained oblivious and leaned closer.

She lowered her voice and quietly asked him, “Teacher Wen, which room will I be sleeping in tonight?”

Wen Chongyue smiled.

He motioned for Xia Jiao to stand still, then leaned in, cupping his hand around her ear, and softly asked, “Xia Xiao, can I sleep with my wife tonight?”