Shoutout to Kari for the commission!
Ever since they had officially entered into a legal husband-and-husband relationship, the weather had also gone from the height of summer into early autumn.
Le Cheng was slacking off in the hanging chair on the balcony, one leg curled up and the other dangling and swinging. He had found a four-panel comic and, feeling a little bored, stretched lazily.
Zhou Shirui had recently taken to spending a lot of time in the study, acting all mysterious, and Le Cheng had no idea what he was doing. Le Cheng jumped down from the hanging chair, tiptoed over to the study, and slipped through the crack in the door.
Zhou Shirui was concentrating on tapping away at the keyboard. Le Cheng’s entrance did not disturb him, so he simply circled around behind him and suddenly reached out to cover his eyes. But the moment his fingers touched the bridge of Zhou Shirui’s nose, Zhou Shirui abruptly caught his wrist and pulled, directly pulling him down onto his lap.
Le Cheng was startled and had no time to react before his butt landed firmly against Zhou Shirui’s thigh.
Zhou Shirui lightly bit his wrist and said, “You’ve learned some bad habits. Trying to scare me.”
“Who was trying to scare you?” Le Cheng looked left and right guiltily, trying to pull his hand free, but he could not overpower him. Turning the accusation back on him, he said, “You were the one who scared me.”
Zhou Shiru: “Mm?”
Le Cheng squirmed around in his arms. “You scared my leg numb…”
The palm Zhou Shirui had resting against his waist moved downward and reached his calf. He squeezed it, and it was as though an electric current had passed through him, making Le Cheng jerk upward. His leg really was numb.
As Zhou Shirui massaged his calf, he frowned and lectured him, “Don’t sit with one leg pressed underneath you when you’re in the hanging chair.”
Sometimes Le Cheng had the illusion that Zhou Shirui could read minds and had eyes in the back of his head.
Otherwise, how could he know everything so clearly?
Just as he was about to argue, Zhou Shirui continued, “Nine times out of ten, whenever I see you, that’s how you’re sitting.”
Le Cheng hummed twice without agreeing. Zhou Shirui squeezed his calf twice more, and only then did Le Cheng change the subject and ask, “What are you doing in the study?”
Zhou Shirui said, “See for yourself.”
Le Cheng turned his head to look at the computer and discovered an outdoor design floor plan.
Although Le Cheng did not study this, he sometimes had to learn a little about such things when drawing backgrounds. After looking closely, he asked somewhat doubtfully, “It looks like a garden… No, it looks like a place for holding a wedding?”
Zhou Shirui did not say anything. Le Cheng paused for a moment before his eyes widened slightly. “It really is a place for holding a wedding?”
“Is it? Is it?” He scooted closer, chattering excitedly.
Zhou Shirui’s lips curved up slightly. “Mm.”
Le Cheng twisted around, about to get down from his lap. Zhou Shirui released him, and Le Cheng jumped down and clicked the mouse. Somewhat excitedly, he said, “There are several more. Are you planning to have a wedding?”
“Yes.” Zhou Shirui did not hide it. After all, this was not the first time he had brought it up. “But it hasn’t been decided yet. Pick one you like.”
Zhou Shirui planned to fly to H Country to hold the wedding. It was the perfect season there, with pleasant temperatures and beautiful flowers in bloom.
But the specific arrangements still needed Le Cheng to have the final say.
Between a Chinese-style and Western-style wedding, Le Cheng first chose Western-style because it would be simpler. After all, they were not holding a wedding for the bustle and excitement. They simply wanted to have a ceremony to bear witness to their relationship.
But that night, before going to sleep, while lying in bed, Le Cheng’s imagination suddenly ran wild. He rolled into Zhou Shirui’s arms and said, “If we have a Chinese-style wedding, we’re both guys. Who’s supposed to carry whom into the bridal chamber?”
Zhou Shirui was amused by the way his mind worked. After thinking for a moment, he said calmly, “If Chengcheng wants to carry me, then starting tomorrow, you’ll have to start thinking about exercising.”
Le Cheng instantly fell silent and pretended not to hear him.
Zhou Shirui asked him, “Don’t you want to carry me?”
He deliberately nudged him as well. “You don’t?”
Le Cheng burrowed into his arms, closed his eyes, and said, “I suddenly feel like a Western-style wedding would be better.”
When the day of the wedding finally arrived, Le Cheng and Zhou Shirui were getting ready in the same room. After discussing it, the wedding they chose was neither Chinese-style nor traditionally Western. Instead, there were no rules or restrictions at all. It was simply a ceremony for everyone to witness their relationship.
Le Cheng sat there, letting the makeup artist fuss over his face.
Neither he nor Zhou Shirui wore much makeup. Le Cheng did not want a particular hairstyle either, so his soft bangs hung naturally over his forehead, accentuating his handsome yet gentle features. When he stood up, Zhou Shirui was sitting not far away, spraying hairspray.
Le Cheng walked over curiously and met Zhou Shirui’s eyes in the mirror before praising him, “You’re so handsome.”
Zhou Shirui curved his lips slightly. Since they were in front of other people, he only pinched Le Cheng’s fingers. “Go outside and play for now.”
Le Cheng responded and happily slipped out through the back door of the room.
They had not invited many people this time, only their parents and some relatives and close friends. As soon as Le Cheng stepped outside, he saw Tan Xiaobai eating something and walked over to pat him.
“Wow.” Tan Xiaobai’s gaze moved up and down. “Little Le Cheng, you’re so handsome today.”
Le Cheng was a little bashful at the compliment. “What are you eating? It looks so good.”
“I don’t know. I can’t remember the name.” Tan Xiaobai bumped him with his shoulder. “Why did the groom come out by himself? Where’s Zhou Shiru?”
“He’s still inside.” Le Cheng reached out and took a piece of cake to eat, then reminded Tan Xiaobai, “Keep an eye on my mom for me. Don’t let her see me.”
Although there were not that many rules at Le Cheng and Zhou Shirui’s wedding, if Cao Fanqin saw him sneaking out halfway through, she would definitely pull his ear.
About half an hour later, Zhou Shirui finally came out.
They had chosen to hold the wedding outdoors. Within the estate, the pure white buildings and dappled tree shadows intertwined in the background. The green lawn stretched out like soft velvet, neatly trimmed greenery clustered into round spheres, and the paths were surrounded by elegant, beautiful flowers. Birds circled in the distance, their calls clear and bright.
Le Cheng stood at the far end, and the wedding officially began.
They had switched up the order. At this part of the ceremony, one person was supposed to walk toward the other. Le Cheng felt that either one could walk toward the other, but Zhou Shirui held his hand and said, “I’ll walk toward you.”
Le Cheng was actually a little surprised. He asked, “Why?”
Zhou Shirui brushed aside his bangs and said, “Because you’ve already taken so many steps toward me.”
So for this final step, I’ll be the one to walk toward you.
People were not perfect. Perhaps throughout the entire process of coming to know and love one another, Le Cheng would hesitate, become lost, or want to retreat. But in the end, the result was still that he ran toward Zhou Shirui, knocking on the door of Zhou Shirui’s heart.
Le Cheng was silent for a long while after hearing this. Instead, he hugged him tightly, his expression very serious. “You’ve taken a lot of steps toward me too.”
So many that they could not be counted. And you came toward me unwaveringly at the moments when I was most hesitant and lost.
But in the end, the wedding ceremony was still decided upon with Zhou Shirui walking toward him.
Le Cheng asked him why, but Zhou Shirui only rubbed his head and said it was a secret.
Amid the melodious music, the continuous green mountains embraced by the free-flowing wind stretched into the distance. Le Cheng saw Zhou Shirui appear at the far end, wearing the same white suit as him. His handsome face was just as it had been when they first met, silver frames resting on the bridge of his tall nose, his deep-set eyes and brows calm and serene. Step by step, he walked toward him.
The sunlight seemed to turn into delicate gauze, gently draping itself behind him and casting a hazy halo. Le Cheng simply stood there. The background was intricate and beautiful, yet it seemed as though he could no longer see any of it.
Time and space overlapped once again at this moment.
The breeze came in waves, carrying a trace of moisture, as though a light rain had suddenly begun to fall from the sky. Le Cheng stood in the rain, quietly looking up at Zhou Shirui.
The teaching building in the background was blurry at first, then gradually became clearer, bright and fresh, just as it had been before. Time and space intertwined, and his heartbeat thundered in his ears.
One step.
Then another.
It was clearly such an ordinary scene, such an ordinary encounter, yet fate was so wonderfully mysterious.
Le Cheng suddenly understood why it was Zhou Shirui who walked toward him.
He smiled and reached out, placing his palm against Zhou Shirui’s.
They had held hands.
And now that they had, they would never let go.
During the wedding vows, guided by the pastor, a little bird tilted its head as it watched them, while a dog wearing a white bow tie lay on the lawn with its front paws stretched out. The sunlight was bright and brilliant, and even the wind was free. They solemnly said to each other, “I do.”
The pastor smiled and asked them to exchange rings.
Le Cheng quickly put the ring on Zhou Shirui, as though he had done it hundreds of times. It was the same style they had ordered when they registered their marriage. Then he held out his hand and smiled as he urged him, “Hurry up and put mine on.”
Zhou Shirui held his fingertips. Under everyone’s gaze, the round ring slowly slid into place. They had omitted the kissing portion of the ceremony, but after putting on the ring, Zhou Shirui lowered his head, his pale lips landing on Le Cheng’s ring finger in an incomparably reverent kiss.
“I will love you and be faithful to you forever.” Zhou Shirui looked into his eyes, speaking each word clearly. “Even until death, it will never fade.”
I will love you and be faithful to you forever, and even until death, it will never fade.
Because even death would not separate them. The extinguishing of the physical body would be an eternal merging of their souls.
Le Cheng smiled, his beautiful brows and eyes filled with specks of sunlight.
“Me too.”
***
After all the ceremonies were over and the guests had been sent away, night fell. Le Cheng went to shower first, then leisurely sat on the edge of the bed.
He was a little tired, but mentally he was excited. With a soft “click,” Zhou Shirui came out of the bathroom while drying his hair. He reached out and touched the ends of Le Cheng’s hair, making him sit beneath the covers.
In the darkness, these newlyweds in a certain sense held each other tightly. Le Cheng looked up at Zhou Shirui with bright, sparkling eyes and asked him if he wanted to do it.
Zhou Shirui’s palm rested against his waist. “You need to rest. Let’s not do it.”
“Okay.” Le Cheng accepted this reason, then began rambling. “Actually, when you walked toward me today, I suddenly remembered the first day I went to pick you up after school.”
“The way you looked at me back then was completely different from how you look at me now.”
Le Cheng deliberately boasted, “Did you never imagine that you’d end up being with me?”
Zhou Shirui lowered his eyes slightly and answered frankly, “Mm. I didn’t.”
Le Cheng was slightly stunned.
Zhou Shirui looked at him, his expression calm. “A very, very long time ago, I always thought I would remain single until I died.”
“Because I couldn’t imagine myself falling in love with someone. I wasn’t interested in relationships either, because I thought they were troublesome, irrational, and the result of impulsiveness.”
“But then I met you.” Le Cheng quietly looked up at him.
“For the first time, I learned that this was what love looked like. Rather than saying that you taught me what love was, it would be more accurate to say that you yourself were the embodiment of love. I find it difficult to let go, and I don’t dare imagine a single second without you.”
“Maybe I’ve never told you this.” Zhou Shirui said this with a faint smile at the corners of his lips. “When I see you, it’s like being embraced by sunlight. It’s too warm. I want to hold you forever, no matter what season it is.”
He had rarely spoken so many words of heartfelt confession. Yet Le Cheng suddenly felt as though he could not breathe. He breathed rapidly, and the person who had always been so eloquent suddenly did not know what to say. He could only curl himself completely into Zhou Shirui’s arms, seriously repeating over and over in the darkness, “Me too.”
Actually, me too.
Love could teach the silent to speak, and turn the eloquent into someone who carefully weighed every word before speaking.
He really was tired after all. After talking for a while, Le Cheng’s eyes slowly closed, only for him to suddenly wake again. He rubbed his cheek against him and, without forgetting to make his promise even in his dazed state, murmured, “Zhou Shirui… always… always love you very much…”
Zhou Shirui lowered his eyes and quietly looked at him before leaning forward and gently kissing the corner of his lips.
“Mm. I know.”
He kissed him again.
“I love you very much too. Always.”
