Translator: Paperplane Editor: DarkGem
After taking two steps, Song Xiangsi suddenly stopped, like she felt something. With her back against Xu Jiamu, she stood there for a while before slowly turning around. Her eyes were a little cold when she stared directly at Xu Jiamu.
Reuniting after not seeing one another for a really long time, it seemed like he lost his carefree elegance. His clothes were so creased he looked like he had worn them for quite some time now. His hair was messy and his complexion looked exhausted.
But all this had nothing to do with her… He wasn’t her man. She didn’t want to spend any more of her time on him.
Song Xiangsi thought about it, then drew her eyes back, as though Xu Jiamu was a complete stranger. She continued on her way, but before she could take two steps, the sound of a familiar voice came. “Xiangsi.”
Song Xiangsi halted for just a moment, but she never stopped. Instead, she continued to walk arrogantly onward.
Xu Jiamu didn’t know what he was doing either. Because of the horrible things his mother did, he didn’t want to go home. He couldn’t face his brother and his best friend either. He felt like he became alone in this world. He really wanted to be with someone for a little while, just for a little while…
With that thought, Xu Jiamu suddenly caught up to her and fiercely grabbed her wrist. He pulled her back a step, making her face him.
Song Xiangsi tried to swing her wrist from his grip, but failed. She let out a chuckle, and calmly raised her head to look back at Xu Jiamu. “Young master Xu, I don’t remember our relationship being so close you can casually drag me back on the street…”
After Song Xiangsi said this, she was suddenly dragged tightly into Xu Jiamu’s arms. “Xiangsi, stay with me for a moment, a moment…”
Xu Jiamu’s voice was pitiful and weak, stopping Song Xiangsi’s taunting words in her throat before she could speak them.
Xu Jiamu didn’t say a thing, but hugged her tighter in his arms.
Song Xiangsi could clearly feel a teardrop roll down her ear and into her clothes. She pursed her lips, and balled up her hands by her side into tight fists. Eventually, she raised her arms and hugged Xu Jiamu’s waist.
Xu Jiamu dug his head deeper into her neck, and another teardrop rolled down the same tear-stained path on her neck.
–
Back in Mian Xiu Garden, Qiao Anhao turned the shower on for Lu Jinnian. Taking the opportunity whilst he was showering, she gave the room a quick clean. She also put the bouquet of flowers Lu Jinnian gave her into a vase, so as to prevent the flowers from withering too swiftly. She even added some flower food into the water.
When Lu Jinnian finished taking a shower, he came out of the bathroom to find Qiao Anhao taking photos of the bouquet she put in a vase.
Qiao Anhao heard noises from the bathroom door, but before she could turn her head to glance over, someone suddenly hugged her waist. She fell into Lu Jinnian’s arms, as he leaned his head forward and stretched past her neck, covering her lips.
As he kissed her, his hands snaked under her clothes.
Qiao Anhao knew what Lu Jinnian meant by his movements. She slightly avoided his lips, and said with an unsteady breath, “You’ve been rushing around for so long, aren’t you tired?”
Translator: Paperplane Editor: DarkGem
“Even if I’m tired, I’ll leave it for after I finish making love to you,” said Lu Jinnian before covering her lips again. His kiss was serious and lingered with emotion. Eventually, he carried her to the bed and pushed her down with his body. As he unbuttoned her top, his searing kisses explored her entire form.
Before he entered her, he deliberately stopped and drew closer to her ear. His voice was flat, yet burned with a flirtatious tone. “Qiao Qiao, last night in America, I already wanted to do this…” Suddenly, he vigorously thrust in with force.
As the saying goes, distance makes the heart grow fonder.
Yet Qiao Anhao still assumed that Lu Jinnian was unbelievably exhausted, so he wouldn’t have enough strength left in him. However, in the end he proved her completely wrong. After his long voyage, Lu Jinnian wasn’t tired enough to yield. In fact, Qiao Anhao was the first to collapse weakly into a puddle with no strength to move.
–
When Qiao Anhao woke up again, Lu Jinnian was already awake. He hugged her with one hand whilst she was fast asleep, and with the other, he was tapping away on his phone.
Qiao Anhao only slightly moved her head, but Lu Jinnian felt it and lowered his head to glance over at her. He asked “Awake?”, then looked back over at his phone. He swiped it twice and asked, “Are you hungry?”
She shook her head and lifted her chin a little in curiosity, moving closer to Lu Jinnian’s phone. “What are you looking at?”
After Qiao Anhao said this, her phone rang twice. She furrowed her brows and pulled out her own phone to find Lu Jinnian’s WeChat notification. It was two photos. As Qiao Anhao tapped them open, she turned her head and stared oddly at Lu Jinnian’s perfect side profile. “What is it?”
“Give me the phone,” Lu Jinnian said but didn’t wait for an answer as he grabbed her phone from her hands without her consent. He opened WeChat, then opened and saved the two photos he’d just sent her to her photo album.
Qiao Anhao curiously stretched her neck out to take a look. She saw that Lu Jinnian actually sent her two photos of their spoils of war from the afternoon shopping; the first was a photo of the completely packed trunk, and the other was the full car seat.
Qiao Anhao asked in bewilderment, “Why did you send me those two photos?”
Lu Jinnian didn’t even say a word as he clicked open the WeChat group for “Alluring Times”. In the group, he found Lin Shiyi’s WeChat and immediately added her as a friend.
Qiao Anhao suddenly exploded with anger. “Why did you add her? What if she rejects me, that’s so embarrassing for…”
Before Qiao Anhao could say the final word “me”, a notification popped up on her phone: The other party has added you as a friend.
Although Lu Jinnian added Lin Shiyi as a friend, he didn’t bother with her. Instead, he went straight to the friends’ circle. After half a minute had passed, Lin Shiyi sent her a message. Even though it was a WeChat message and she couldn’t see the other person’s expression, Qiao Anhao could imagine Lin Shiyi’s arrogance with just a few words. [Why did you go out of your way to add me?]
Lu Jinnian had no intention of replying, and tapped the camera icon above the friends’ circle and selected the two photos he’d just sent to Qiao Anhao. He casually added the line: Today after lunch at ACR, hubby took me out shopping to digest the food, and then…
Translator: Paperplane Editor: DarkGem
Lu Jinnian typed till this point and then stopped abruptly.
Qiao Anhao couldn’t not admit that his use of the ellipsis at the end was used so well.
He was obviously showing off, yet he didn’t say it with words. Rather, he showed it with the two photos.
At that moment, Qiao Anhao understood the true reason why Lu Jinnian had added Lin Shiyi. First, only friends could see each other’s friends’ circle. Then, he ruthlessly retaliated.
Just as Lu Jinnian was ready to send it, he looked like he just thought of something. Suddenly, he selected Lin Shiyi’s name to notify them to view it. Only then was he ready to send it out. Just then, Qiao Anhao suddenly cried, “Wait.”
Lu Jinnian paused with his head slightly lowered to glance at Qiao Anhao in his hold.
She reached her hand out and yanked the phone from his hand, then added two words to Lu Jinnian’s original message, Today after lunch at ACR, hubby Lu Jinnian took me out shopping to digest the food, and then…
With that, Qiao Anhao raised her head. “Don’t you think this is better?”
“Is there a difference?” asked Lu Jinnian as he stared at those three words “Hubby Lu Jinnian”. The more he stared at them, the more pleased he felt. With his face against Qiao Anhao’s back of the head, he curved his lips into a smile.
It hadn’t even been a minute since Qiao Anhao had sent the message when Lin Shiyi wrote to her. [Qiao Anhao, are you stupid?]
Followed by another message, [What’s the meaning of this?]
Just as Qiao Anhao was considering whether or not to reply, Lu Jinnian stole her phone again. He tapped it a few times, and Qiao Anhao saw the words, [Isn’t it obvious? It’s a slap in the face.]
Those words were pretty direct… Before Qiao Anhao could cry out for him to stop, Lu Jinnian had already sent the message.
Then he tapped onto Lin Shiyi’s profile pic again, immediately blocking her from the friends’ circle.
“Why don’t you just straight up delete her? Perhaps she’s already blacklisted me and blocked my friends’ circle…” said Qiao Anhao.
“When a person competes with another, they will pay attention to them all the time. They won’t block them. So I blocked her in case she decides to say something to piss you off.” Lu Jinnian handed Qiao Anhao her phone back.
She thought about his words for a moment, and felt that what he said was right. This was absolutely how most people would normally react. Honestly speaking, she was really happy that Lu Jinnian helped her stand up like that. However, although she was happy, Qiao Anhao still said unreasonably, “Lu Jinnian, you are really petty to stoop down to a woman’s level. Don’t you know the saying ‘good men don’t fight with women’?”
Having just been called “petty”, Lu Jinnian wasn’t the slightest bit annoyed. In fact, his tone of voice sounded quite assured and arrogant. “So what? As long as it’s about you, I don’t mind being even more petty.”
How could he let others make life difficult for the woman he had always wanted to hold in his hands and protect?
In the past, when he couldn’t get her, he would always think of ways to best look after her behind her back. Now that she was his wife, how could he allow for something like gentrification to make her suffer?
Translator: Paperplane Editor: DarkGem
Today, to be able to take her as my wife, I have no regrets in life.
My only wish is for her years to be bright and peaceful.
–
In five short minutes after the message being sent to Qiao Anhao’s friends’ circle, Lu Jinnian already received over a hundred notifications.
This was the first time Qiao Anhao had ever had so many people react to her friends’ circle, so when she saw those three figures in red, she leaped in shock. She thought that there was something wrong with her eyes, so she blinked before hurriedly tapping it open. There she saw a series of replies from people both within and outside the entertainment industry, both familiar and unfamiliar.
Iwanabecuteeveryday(Zhao Meng): Mrs. Lu, your Mr. Lu is awesome!
Goodmanthatsme(assistant): 32 likes.
…
Below were a series of replies, [Xiao Qiao, you also sent this to a friends’ circle?], [Why don’t you show off your marriage certificate?], [Qiao Qiao, to be able to marry Mr. Lu, you win in life!], [Congratulations, congratulations. Remember to pass out wedding sweets!], [Requesting red envelopes].
Until finally, Song Xiangsi’s message sent a second ago came up. [Oh! One posts on Weibo, the other posts on WeChat friends’ circle. Mr. and Mrs. Lu Qiao have quite the connection!]
When Qiao Anhao saw this, her finger that was swiping down stopped abruptly. She then realized that there were quite a few people who left comments with the words, “also announces their marriage”. As though having discovered something, she quickly exited WeChat and opened Weibo to find millions of notifications.
The top three hot topics were all about her and Lu Jinnian. Weibo even released an advert saying Lu Jinnian announced his marriage tonight, exposing his marriage certificate.
As Qiao Anhao saw this, she made a vague assumption about something, then hastily tapped onto Lu Jinnian’s Weibo. He had updated it after over five months of inactivity! The post was just like him – straightforward and direct; a heart emoji with a photo beneath it of their marriage certificate that included a photo of the two of them, their names, and a stamp from the civil affairs bureau.
Not long after Lu Jinnian posted on Weibo, he received millions of likes and fifty million comments. What’s more, it was obvious that the numbers were still on a mad rise.
Lu Jinnian actually took the opportunity whilst she was sleeping to silently announce their marriage?
Qiao Anhao turned her head to glance at him. Seeing as he was also staring at his phone, Qiao Anhao stretched her neck out to sneak a peek at his screen to see that he was looking at some news on Weibo.
She only roughly swept through Weibo without even looking at the main stories, so she went back to the entertainment news page and closely studied it for a moment. She realized that as she was staring at Lu Jinnian’s screen for a while, Weibo released more news. It was a compilation of over a dozen photos of her and Lu Jinnian. They were photos secretly taken of them in ACR in the afternoon.
From her meal at the Japanese restaurant to Lu Jinnian’s arrival after being so worn out from his travels, and again when Lu Jinnian pulled her into a kiss in a quiet corridor. Then, more of when Lu Jinnian bought bought bought and swiped swiped swiped… till Lu Jinnian finally carried her, massaged her feet, and left with her… She practically flipped through all those photos.
Following the explosive photo post, the topic [The Nation’s Good Husband] quickly shot up the headlines on Weibo.
Qiao Anhao tapped it open. She discovered that the netizens who had cursed her earlier for being a man chaser had now completely switched sides.
Translator: Paperplane Editor: DarkGem
Qiao Anhao tapped the topic open. She discovered that the netizens who had cursed her earlier for being a man chaser had now completely switched sides.
She saw their collective performance of jealousy, envy, and hatred in their messages’ tones’
[Oh god! Qiao Anhao actually got married to my dream guy.]
[Senior Qiao Anhao must’ve saved the galaxy to be able to marry my husband in this lifetime!]
[Where the fuck did your husband come from? Hers is a real husband to sleep with, to touch, to massage her feet and buy handbags…]
[How could my husband be so hot? Did he clean out the whole of ACR?]
–
Earlier everyone was calling Qiao Anhao “man chaser”, “shameless”, “worthless”… How did it become “Senior saved the galaxy”, “won in life”, and “Mrs. Lu” later?
The story turned around a little too quickly. Qiao Anhao felt like it was all a dream, completely surreal.
Her Weibo had endless new followers, and so many people commenting and shared that her phone vibrated non-stop. After a while, she snapped back to her senses and opened Lu Jinnian’s Weibo.
After some time, his comment section skyrocketed from fifty million to eighty million. Qiao Anhao opened it to find one comment with the most likes: [You are my dream guy. Even though I really wanted to marry you, but as long you’re happy, I’m happy].
A comment with the second most liked read: [Dream guy, why did you only show one marriage certificate? Other celebrities have two.]
When Qiao Anhao saw this, she couldn’t help but curve one side of her mouth upwards as she thought back to her ripped up marriage certificate. She had the sudden impulse to tease Lu Jinnian, so she took a screenshot of the comments and sent it to Lu Jinnian in a private message. [Yeah… Mr. Lu, why did you only show one marriage certificate?]
With the sending of the message, she heard Lu Jinnian’s phone ring ‘ding dong’. Knowing that it was her own private message, she bit her bottom lip and sneakily lifted her eyes to check Lu Jinnian up and down. His expression was calm, with no reaction at all.
After half a minute, her phone was still quiet. He didn’t reply to her.
So Qiao Anhao sent him another message. [Mr. Lu, why did you only show one marriage certificate?]
There was still no answer, so Qiao Anhao started to flip through the forum. Not long after, their private chat filled her screen with the words: [Mr. Lu, why did you only show one marriage certificate?]
Lu Jinnian had a lighthearted expression on his face. Just when Qiao Anhao couldn’t help but say something to him, her phone suddenly vibrated. There was a new notification on Weibo. Qiao Anhao tapped to open it and found that Lu Jinnian had @’d her.
She clicked on it and discovered that he had shared the screenshot she had just sent him with message [Dream guy, why did you only show one marriage certificate? Other celebrities have two.]. He had then added a comment underneath it, [Excuse me, Mrs. Lu, did the marriage certificate taste good? @Qiao Anhao]
With Lu Jinnian’s share, Qiao Anhao’s Weibo discussion ran like flowing water with messages one after another.
[Mrs. Lu ate the other marriage certificate?!]
[Mrs. Lu, please reply, what does the marriage certificate taste like?]
[Tomorrow, I want to spend nine cents to buy a marriage certificate and see if it tastes good.]
[Woo woo woo, request to eat…]
Translator: Kingbao Editor: DarkGem
[One day, I want to try my marriage certificate as well!]
[Wait no more, try it today! I’ll be waiting…]
Qiao Anhao burst out laughing at that comment.
A large portion of fans that saw the comments couldn’t help teasing Qiao Anhao after seeing the repost from Lu Jinnian’s Weibo. In just a short half an hour, the topic [Qiao Anhao ate her marriage certificate] became the top hit. One of the fans had even made a meme with a photo that Qiao Anhao had posted previously, but the bread that she was eating was edited into a marriage certificate. The moment the photo was posted, it caused a stir.
Just a second ago, the fans were jealous and in envy but the next it all became a joke. But even if she was the subject of the tease, she felt warm and sweet inside, her eyes curved into crescents as she glanced at Lu Jinnian. She used a slightly complaining tone to express her displeasure, “It’s all your fault… Lu Jinnian, apologize to me!”
Her words turned into a whine, and his face softened as a faint smile reached his eyes. He placed his phone down before leaning over to her ears, and in a low sensual tone he said, “How do you want me to apologize? Kneeling?”
A shiver ran through Qiao Anhao, sending her heart trembling. Even though she appeared calm and composed, her voice was shaky, exposing her facade. “Sure, kneel down and apologize…”
“Sure.” Turning, Qiao Anhao was once again below him…
–
Qiao Anhao panted, trying to catch her breath, her entire body limp as she begged. When he finally released her, he pulled her into his arms and leaned down to her ear. “Qiao Qiao, I’ve been kneeling in apology the entire time, I haven’t skived. ”
Kneeling in apology….
Qiao Anhao paused, stunned as she processed his words, the image of Lu Jinnian a moment ago floating into her mind. He was indeed kneeling on her the entire time…
Gradually, she finally understood what he meant.
Ah! Lu Jinnian meant that… he was kneeling on her, using his body to apologize…..
–
At 9 pm, Qiao Anxia alighted from the flight from Japan back to Beijing. While she waited for Cheng Yang in the airport lounge, she scrolled through Weibo, looking at the scandal about Qiao Anhao.
A flame started burning in her heart, but when she clicked onto the header and saw Lu Jinnian’s name, she froze.
The person Qiao Anhao was chasing after is him… The person that had disappeared for five months.
Before Qiao Anxia could fully process the information, Cheng Yang called to inform her that he was here.
Qiao Anxia hurriedly put away her phone, leaving the lounge with her luggage.
The moment she left the airport, she caught sight of Cheng Yang’s car. When she approached, she bent and saw him focusing on his phone.
Translator: Kingbao Editor: DarkGem
Qiao Anxia raised her hand to tap on the window and Cheng Yang turned. When he saw her outside, he hurriedly placed down his phone. He reached for her luggage and placed it in the boot of his car. “Hurry into the car, you aren’t dressed warm enough for the cold.”
Qiao Anxia stood up on the tip of her toes to plant a kiss on his face before entering the car.
After placing the luggage in the boot, Cheng Yang sat back on the drivers seat. Just when he was about to start the car, he realized that Qiao Anxia hadn’t fastened her seatbelt. Bending over, he reached out to do it for her. Qiao Anxia circled her arms around his neck. “Did you miss me?”
Amusement clouded Chen Yang’s gaze, and lowering his head, he lightly kissed her lips. “Yea.”
“How much did you miss me?” she asked with a pout.
Cheng Yang planted another kiss before leaning to her ear, suggesting out rightly, “I’ll you let know when we reach home.”
“Hate you!” Qiao Anxia chuckled, pushing Cheng Yang away.
He laughed softly as he started the car. “What do you want to eat?”
“Hmm, steamboat?”
“Sure,” Cheng Yang replied. “The one near the small road?”
She nodded, and he applied more pressure on the accelerator.
When they entered the highway, Cheng Yang turned to gaze at Qiao Anxia. “Xiaxia, when shall we get our marriage certificates?”
“Didn’t we agree to get them in May? Are you in a hurry?” Qiao Anxia smiled brightly as she gazed at him sideways.
“Yea, I’m in a hurry,” Cheng Yang admitted, “Even Qiao Qiao got hers, as the elder sister, you can’t be left behind, right?”
“Qiao Qiao? Are you kidding?”Qiao Anxia spoke resolutely. “How can I not know about it?”
“You don’t believe me?” Cheng Yang chuckled lightly. “You should check out Brother Lu’s weibo.”
Lu Jinnian had been actively promoting Cheng Yang, so even though Cheng Yang have made a name for himself, he would still call him “Brother Lu” respectfully.
“You must be kidding.” Qiao Anxia remained unconvinced as she reached for her phone. “Just wait, if i find out that you’re lying, I won’t let you off…”
Before she could finish her sentence, she had already entered Lu Jinnian’s weibo. The moment she saw the latest post at the very top, the words got stuck in her throat.
Qiao Anxia froze as she stared at the small post. She enlarged the image and saw the photo of Lu Jinnian and Qiao Anhao on the marriage certificate that he had posted.
They looked compatible, Qiao Anhao had a gentle expression and genuine smile that came from within while Lu Jinnian had a faint hint of tenderness on his usual frosty expression.
Cheng Yang wasn’t lying, Lu Jinnian was married to Qiao Anhao.
And it had been over twenty days.
This meant that Qiao Anhao was aware that Lu Jinnian had gone to find her when she was unconscious and that she didn’t inform him about it…. Did she also already know that she had pushed her into marrying Xu Jiamu in order to get out of it?
Two days ago, her mother had been furious when talking about how Han Ruchu had murdered Qiao Anhao’s child.
