◎ He only remembered that tender, jelly-like lip, which he had only tasted once so far. ◎

Before four in the morning, Tao Xiaoxi was yanked out of bed by her mother. Half-asleep, she glanced at the time, rubbed her head, and tried to lie back down.

When Meng Qing heard no movement from the bedroom, she went to check and found that Tao Xiaoxi had fallen back asleep. Her temper flared, and without a word, she yanked the blanket off and lightly tapped her on the back. The tap wasn’t strong, but it was loud enough.

“Get up! The makeup artist will be here soon, and you still haven’t washed up. I can see you’ll never change your lazy ways,” Meng Qing said with an exasperated sigh.

Tao Xiaoxi wanted to argue that the makeup artist wouldn’t arrive until 5:30, and there was still time, but when she saw her mother’s stern face, she stayed silent and got out of bed, heading for the bathroom.

Downstairs, Tao Wenyong had heard the commotion. Seeing Meng Qing coming out of the room, he stepped forward. “Today’s a special day. Let her sleep a bit longer. She didn’t get much rest last night, and the makeup artist won’t be here yet.”

Meng Qing shot him a sharp look, her frustration spilling over. “Do you know what today is? If she sleeps another ten minutes, she’ll miss breakfast and won’t have a proper meal all day. I’ve had enough of this! No crying today, understand? Don’t spoil the mood with your tears.”

Today was Tao Xiaoxi’s wedding day, the most important event for the Tao family this winter.

Tao Xiaoxi, at 28, had just returned home after working six years in the capital. In their small county, a 28-year-old woman still unmarried was considered an old maid. So, as soon as she returned, her mother had immediately started arranging blind dates for her.

Meng Qing, the head nurse at the county hospital, and Tao Wenyong, a high school Chinese teacher, had a particular set of expectations for Tao Xiaoxi’s suitors. Most of the candidates were either teachers or doctors, professions that Meng Qing approved of.

Though Tao Xiaoxi hated the idea of arranged marriages, she never dared to oppose her mother’s plans. In their family, Meng Qing made all the decisions—everything from choosing Tao Xiaoxi’s college major to picking out the brand of toilet seat. Tao Wenyong, though kind, had never questioned his wife’s authority.

According to Meng Qing, Tao Xiaoxi was the opposite of her own bold, decisive personality. Tao Xiaoxi was too soft, indecisive, and prone to procrastination. The worst part was, she kept her feelings bottled up and never expressed dissatisfaction. To Meng Qing, her daughter’s personality was as unremarkable as a plain face that could only pass as acceptable.

Meng Qing had always insisted that Tao Xiaoxi find a quiet, honest man—someone without hidden motives. She believed that if Tao Xiaoxi ever fell for a scheming, manipulative person, she’d be doomed to be taken advantage of.

Thus, Meng Qing carefully arranged blind dates with men who seemed respectful and docile. Some were genuinely shy and didn’t dare to meet her eyes during meals, while others, though seemingly polite, immediately pried into her private life, asking questions about her past boyfriends and whether she had ever been intimate with anyone.

By the time it all ended, Tao Xiaoxi had developed a psychological barrier toward honest men, so when Chen Fang appeared, she was immediately intrigued.

He had changed a lot.

He was tall, probably around 185 cm—he had grown a bit since high school. His physique was no longer the skinny teenager’s body he once had, but not overly muscular either. He had a well-proportioned build that suited him perfectly. In her eyes, he would look great in a suit. His skin was healthy, not too pale but not too dark either. His short hair was neat and sharp—she’d never seen anyone whose head shape suited a buzz cut so well. He had single eyelids, a high nose bridge, and thin lips. His eyes were bright, with a mysterious gleam when he looked at people, reminding her of the alpha wolf in a wolf pack, though his demeanor had softened compared to his rebellious days in school. When he smiled, the corners of his lips lifted slightly. Tao Xiaoxi was momentarily stunned by that smile, thinking to herself, “This guy has nothing to do with being ‘honest’—I wonder how he even ended up on the blind date list my mom set up for me.”

What Tao Xiaoxi didn’t know was that, while Chen Fang wasn’t an honest man, the person who introduced him, Old Zhou, certainly was. Old Zhou was a colleague and close friend of Tao Wenyong, and also Tao Xiaoxi’s high school teacher for three years. Meng Qing, Tao Xiaoxi’s mother, found it difficult to reject his request. Moreover, Meng Qing had seen Chen Fang’s photo, and someone as good-looking as him—someone who was hard to figure out at a glance—wasn’t the type her daughter usually liked. She knew her daughter preferred more cultured, scholarly boys. So, Meng Qing agreed to Old Zhou’s request and allowed Chen Fang to be one of Tao Xiaoxi’s many blind date candidates.

Little did she know, even the wise and calculating Meng Qing misjudged things when it came to her daughter’s marriage. Tao Xiaoxi went on nearly seven or eight blind dates, and in the end, she ended up with Chen Fang.

Meng Qing was thoroughly dissatisfied with him—she didn’t like his low educational background (he dropped out of a third-rate university), his job (he worked in construction, exposed to harsh weather conditions and not very stable), or his family situation (he was raised by his grandmother after his parents passed away, which meant he probably had a rebellious streak).

But no matter how dissatisfied she was, Tao Xiaoxi wore her down with her gentle persuasion.

“So what if he doesn’t have a good education? He owns his own company now and earns more in a month than I used to in a whole year. He’s doing fine, and education doesn’t determine everything,” Tao Xiaoxi argued.

“As for his family, that wasn’t something he could control. Plus, his grandmother is such a lovely person. Where else can you find an elderly person so open-minded?”

“And as for his personality—he might not be the easiest to control, but even if you haven’t seen him with his grandmother, you’ve seen how respectful he is toward us. He knows how to treat family well, and that matters more than anything.”

Tao Xiaoxi was the first to argue back with such logic, and even though Meng Qing’s face remained stern, she was softening. “You think your soft, passive personality can handle him?” Meng Qing was about to say more, but Tao Xiaoxi’s eyes welled up, and her voice trembled. “Who do you think I can’t handle? Gu Zichu used to be entirely compliant with me, but he didn’t hesitate to do things I didn’t want. So, whether someone is manageable or not doesn’t matter—it all comes down to character.”

Despite her strong will, Meng Qing couldn’t resist her daughter’s tears. Tao Xiaoxi, though gentle, rarely cried, and it was clear that Gu Zichu had truly hurt her.

Meng Qing wasn’t fond of Chen Fang, but one thing she could see was that he was straightforward and had a certain pride. He wasn’t the type to behave like Gu Zichu, playing both sides. So, she decided to let them try. Perhaps, in the end, Tao Xiaoxi would call it off herself, and Meng Qing wouldn’t have to play the villain.

In the end, she didn’t need to be the villain; she ended up as the mother-in-law.

From their first meal together to setting a wedding date, it took less than three months—no rocket could match that speed.

Tao Xiaoxi came out of her bedroom just as the noodles were ready. She quickly ran over and linked her arm with Meng Qing’s. “Mom, you’re the best! You know I love tomato and egg noodles, and you made them for me first thing this morning. You’re the best, Mom.”

Most of Meng Qing’s anger melted away from her daughter’s sweet words, though she still didn’t look too pleased. “Hurry up and eat your noodles. Don’t leave a single strand; you have to finish them all.”

Tao Wenyong nodded along. “That’s right, eat it all. It’s a tradition—good luck for the future.”

Tao Xiaoxi was indeed hungry, but just as she was about to eat, she paused, pulled out her phone, and snapped a photo of the noodles. She sent it to her third pinned contact on WeChat: [Breakfast, tomato and egg noodles].

It took over an hour for Chen Fang to see the message. He had been busy all morning, running errands for his grandmother.

He stared at the photo, taking a drag from his cigarette. The picture showed the noodles, but there was also a delicate white wrist wearing a jade bracelet, a family heirloom from his grandmother. He had never known his family had such a treasure.

Scrolling up, he found another photo. It was from the night before—bright red nail polish on her white toes, which looked even more delicate against her fair skin. The red color made them look even more lustrous, evoking a certain… imagination.

The photo from last night had kept him awake for half the night. He couldn’t quite tell whether she had posted it intentionally or if it was just a casual update about her new nails. Perhaps it was just him, but the heat rising in him made him think of things he shouldn’t. After all, in all his years of knowing her, she had always seemed like the pure, obedient type.

Back in school, she was the ideal student. Their paths didn’t cross much; they were seated according to their grades, with the top students in the front and the lower-performing students at the back. She sat at the front while he sat at the back, and aside from cleaning duty, she rarely ventured to the back of the classroom. Even if they crossed paths on the street, she always kept her distance from him.

When Old Zhou said he wanted to introduce him to a girl, Chen Fang was thrilled. Given Old Zhou’s conservative nature, he couldn’t imagine what kind of girl he might introduce. But when Old Zhou said she was truly a good match, he wanted to see for himself just how good she really was.

Old Zhou only gave him the time and place to meet, and a name. The name sounded familiar, and in the back of his mind, he remembered someone by that name—a girl who was fair-skinned. At first, he didn’t connect the two, thinking it was just a coincidence that they shared the same name.

When they met, he was momentarily stunned.

First, because it turns out there is some truth to the saying that people get fairer with age. Her skin wasn’t just the kind of pale that could be painted on, but the kind that was white with a hint of pink, enticing and delicate. It was like a peach drenched in early summer rain—crisp and refreshing, the kind that made you want to take a bite. Second, because Old Zhou really did hold him in high regard. From what he knew, she was the top scorer in their class during the college entrance exams, and both of her parents were educated people. For a family like hers, when it came to finding a son-in-law, academic qualifications were a key factor. Someone like him, who had struggled through school, barely made it into college, and hadn’t even graduated before dropping out, wouldn’t even make it onto their radar.

Afterward, he asked Old Zhou what he had been thinking. Didn’t he worry about offending his old chess buddy by introducing someone like him to his daughter? Old Zhou nearly puffed his beard in anger. “What kind of person do you think you are? Did you commit a crime, or are you a good-for-nothing? As far as I’m concerned, as long as you’re working hard for a better life and earning your fair share, you’re a fine young man.”

Chen Fang nearly choked on his own smoke. He hadn’t expected that he would ever earn the title of “fine” from Old Zhou.

Old Zhou only asked him one question: “What do you think of this girl?”

Of course, she was a good girl.

She spoke softly and gently, as if she were afraid of startling anyone. As for her looks, even when she was still in school, before she had fully blossomed, she had already stood out. Now, with her doe-like eyes, her pupils were so clear that it always seemed like they were filled with water. And most importantly, she was very fair. She wasn’t tall, just about up to his chest, and he felt like he could easily pick her up with one hand. Her figure was well-balanced: slim where it should be, with curves where they should be, and an impressively perky backside.

Of course, he couldn’t tell Old Zhou any of this. If he did, Old Zhou would probably chase him around the county for half a day.

He replied to Old Zhou, “Of course, she’s a top-notch girl. With you introducing her, she couldn’t be anything less.”

Old Zhou slapped him on the shoulder. “A top-notch girl? Then go after her! I’ve made the introduction. As for whether it works out, it’s up to you now.”

He truly hadn’t expected things to work out, but in the end, they did.

He sent her a message, explaining, “I just got dragged into changing the wedding couplets by the old lady. I only saw your message now.”

The old lady insisted that the couplet on the new house’s door wasn’t big enough or festive enough, so he had to replace it with the largest one. Since the old lady wasn’t satisfied, he figured he might as well change it. After all, this was the only time he’d marry, so it was only right to fulfill the old lady’s wishes.

A few minutes later, his phone buzzed. He opened the message.

His pupils dilated, and his gaze turned as dark as the night.

It was another picture, showing only a pair of cherry-red lips on her sharp jawline.

There was also a message: “Does this lipstick color look good?”

He didn’t know much about lipstick colors.

What he did know was that those lips, soft and jelly-like, were the only ones he had kissed so far.

°.✩┈┈∘*┈˃̶୨୧˂̶┈*∘┈┈✩.°

Author’s Note:

I’m a diligent little bee, always buzzing around, leaving comments.

Just a heads-up, this story doesn’t involve any secret crushes. The two of them barely interacted in high school, and it’s purely a story about love that blossoms after marriage, for both of them.