Going Abroad

“Mm.” Tang Keke glanced at the gold bar in Anshi Yi’s hand, then at her own gold petal, which suddenly didn’t seem as appealing anymore.

Well, not entirely—still valuable, just not that appealing.

“Gold-plated, right?” Tang Keke refused to give up, taking another look, but Anshi Yi had already put it away. “Solid. 999.”

“Bullshit. If it were that big and pure, it’d be worth tens of thousands.” Even as Tang Keke said that, her tone carried a sour edge.

No comparison, no harm.

“Exactly. Jealous?” Anshi Yi said.

Tang Keke: “…”

Wahhhhh. I wanna be a bridesmaid too.

A little later, Ye Shuang and the others came out in their toast attire, and everyone began making their rounds. Soon they reached Tang Keke’s table. Seeing Bai Yuyou and the others, Ye Shuang smiled and said,

“Is the food to your liking? If you need anything, just let Kou Kou know.”

Tang Keke, still fixated on the gold bar, couldn’t help saying, “Yeah, it’s great. Waaaah.”

“Waaaah?”

“Nothing, big brother. Happy wedding. For your golden and silver anniversaries, will you need bridesmaids?” Tang Keke added, “What about copper anniversaries? Are you gonna have a commemorative wedding every year?”

“Uh…” Ye Shuang’s mouth twitched. Who the heck holds that many weddings?

What’s gotten into this kid?

At that moment, Chen Qin raised a glass and clinked it with the girls’ juice cups, then chuckled and tugged Ye Shuang. “Let’s go, hubby.”

“Mm.” Ye Shuang lifted his glass too, his gaze landing on Bai Yuyou. She, in turn, picked up the juice in front of her.

“Ye Shuang, happy wedding.” Bai Yuyou said softly, her beautiful eyes fixed on his face.

Upon hearing that, Ye Shuang’s hand paused slightly, but he still clinked glasses with her.

When Ye Shuang and the others turned to leave, Bai Yuyou was still staring blankly at his back until Keke nudged her. She snapped out of it.

“What’s wrong, Yuyou?” Keke asked.

“Nothing.”

Bai Yuyou took a sip of juice, but it didn’t taste very sweet.

…

As dusk fell, the banquet continued. The drone helicopters that had scattered golden flower petals earlier now put on a show—one moment forming a pink heart, the next a red double-happiness symbol, or even the couple’s names. Fireworks bloomed in bursts alongside the drones.

Soon, the sky above the village was lit up.

It wasn’t until late into the night that Ye Shuang, after a long day, returned to the Chen family ancestral home to rest.

“Ha, finally can lie down.”

On the red wedding bed, Ye Shuang lay back, his head spinning from all the alcohol. Still, he propped himself up to look at Chen Qin beside him. “Are you exhausted?”

Chen Qin had already changed into her pajamas. She smiled faintly, simply shaking her head. “Not tired. So happy.”

Chen Qin had dreamed of having a day like this but never dared to hope it would really happen. So all day, the smile on her face never faded.

“Is that so,” Ye Shuang murmured.

Just as he closed his eyes to rest a moment, Chen Qin lay down next to him and whispered, “Hubby, am I dreaming?”

“It’s not a dream.” Ye Shuang lifted his eyelids and turned to look at her.

“Hehe. Is it bad that I keep asking you that?”

“Not at all.”

After so many years together, words weren’t always necessary. The understanding between them said everything.

Chen Qin snuggled into Ye Shuang’s arms, nuzzling. “Hubby, I’ve done something I’m sorry about. Can you not be mad?”

Ye Shuang paused but gently patted her back.

“I’m not mad.”

“You won’t ask why?” Chen Qin looked up.

“What reason could there be? I think it probably isn’t a big deal.” Ye Shuang gave a slight smile.

“I...” Chen Qin said, “I found out earlier that it’s hard for me to get pregnant.”

“Really?” Ye Shuang hesitated for a couple seconds, then realized what those pills Chen Qin had been taking were all about. And she had been resting more lately. So that was why?

No wonder she had seemed a bit off.

But the system hadn’t shown anything, so it wasn’t something that could just be detected.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Ye Shuang asked curiously.

“I was afraid you’d leave me.” Chen Qin’s voice was as faint as a mosquito’s.

“Silly. Even if we can’t have kids, that doesn’t negate your worth.” Ye Shuang reached out and pinched her cheek. “Have a little confidence, okay?”

“But I really want to have a baby with you,” Chen Qin said, pressing closer. “Are you mad?”

“No.” Ye Shuang leaned in and kissed her lips.

“Hehe. You’re such a good husband.”

Chen Qin hugged him tighter.

…

…

“Huuu~sband~you’re~so~good~” Outside, inside the “Chopped Pepper Fish Head” car, Anshi Yi mimicked in a singsong voice. She glanced at An Shiyu in the passenger seat. “See that? She’s already calling him husband. And you’ve made zero progress.”

An Shiyu rested her chin on one hand, staring out the window. Hearing this, she just pouted. “Shut up.”

“Useless girl,” Anshi Yi shrugged, a bit exasperated by An Shiyu, who was all talk.

“Don’t you like him? Always acting so indifferent,” An Shiyu shot back.

“I’m just a cute little ten-year-old.” Anshi Yi pointed at her own face.

“Get lost.”

An Shiyu said that, then continued gazing out the window—at the fireworks.

They exploded in the night sky, nonstop for over an hour, as if they would never end.

“I want to go abroad for a while.”

An Shiyu said it abruptly.

“Seriously?” Anshi Yi was taken aback. “What for? People run off when they’ve got a romantic stake in the game. You’ve got nothing. Where are you going? Or are you planning a last fling?”

“This isn’t some TV drama…”

“Rather than chasing something hopeless, it’s better to go somewhere else and clear my head.” An Shiyu said flatly.

Like a free wind, drifting wherever.

“Oh.”

Anshi Yi was uncharacteristically quiet for a few seconds. “You want me to come along?”

“Up to you.”

“I’m fine either way, really.”

“Well, are you going to say a proper goodbye?” Anshi Yi asked.

“…” An Shiyu didn’t answer. She kept staring out the window, her eyes full of thought.

“If I say goodbye, I’m afraid I won’t be able to leave.”