After a long day of wedding festivities, it wasn’t until the evening banquet concluded that Mu Wan was finally able to remove her bridal gown. She lay on the bed, surrounded by the red decorations that filled the bridal chamber, the colour saturating her vision. She tilted her head slightly, glancing at Liu Qianxiu beside her.
He lay next to her, his eyes closed after the day’s hustle and bustle. Now, with the room finally quiet, Mu Wan took a moment to admire him. His long, curled lashes brushed his high cheekbones, and his slightly upturned eyes lent a touch of allure to his features. His prominent nose led down to thin, slightly red lips, and his deep-set cheeks were as captivating as ever. His neck was arched just slightly, revealing an Adam’s apple that looked particularly enticing under the soft light.
Mu Wan shifted slightly, and Liu Qianxiu opened his eyes, the dark pupils reflecting the light like a crescent moon floating on a still pond. He turned his head, locking eyes with her, and she smiled at him.
Raising his hand, he cupped her cheek as she nuzzled into his palm like a contented kitten. Her face was warm, with a soft pink hue still lingering from her makeup. Her bright eyes sparkled like two pieces of obsidian, clear and captivating.
“Are you tired?” he asked as he turned toward her, pulling her into his embrace. She cooperated, snuggling closer into his arms. In the spacious bridal chamber, it was just the two of them, the sweetness and contentment between them filling the room.
“Yes, I’m tired.” Mu Wan murmured softly, her voice carrying a hint of playfulness as she nestled in his embrace.
A smile tugged at the corners of his lips, and his hands began to gently massage her tense muscles. His touch was just right—firm but soothing—gradually easing the tension that had built up throughout the day.
Weddings were exhausting.
They had actually managed to simplify things quite a bit, considering Liu Qianxiu didn’t like too much fanfare and Mu Wan preferred to avoid unnecessary trouble. Even so, she was still worn out.
As her body slowly relaxed, Mu Wan, freshly bathed and dressed in a light nightgown, leaned comfortably against Liu Qianxiu. “We should go somewhere to relax.” she said.
“Have you decided where you want to go?” he asked, remembering that she had mentioned it the previous day.
The fluffy head nestled in his arms shook slightly. “I’m too tired to think right now.” she admitted, her voice trailing off. “Let’s go somewhere with snow, or maybe to the beach—start from the coldest place and then move to the warmest.”
“Hmm.” he murmured in agreement, already forming a plan in his mind.
As soon as he agreed, Mu Wan shifted in his arms, her gaze flicking up and then down, her eyes restless. Finally, she licked her lips and looked up at him, her slender fingers clutching at his shirt.
“Liu Qianxiu.” she called out, her head tilted, hair falling over one side of her face, obscuring it partially.
He brushed her hair to the side, his deep eyes fixed on hers. “What’s on your mind?”
She didn’t respond immediately but instead started to laugh, her cheeks flushing a deeper shade of pink. Her rosy lips parted, revealing her pearly white teeth as she spoke, “Well, it’s our wedding night…”
Indeed, today was their wedding day. With all the formalities over, it was time for the traditional wedding night. She was just about to remind him, but Liu Qianxiu’s lips curved into a smile before she could finish.
“Aren’t you tired?” he teased, caressing her cheek with a hint of amusement still lingering in his eyes. After all, just a short while ago, she hadn’t even wanted to take a bath before collapsing onto the bed. He had practically carried her to the bathroom to make sure she washed up.
Mu Wan’s tongue darted out to lick the roof of her mouth, and she wrapped her arms around him, pressing her body close to his. The softness of her figure filled his embrace. She looked at him, blinking her clear and radiant eyes.
“I am tired.” Mu Wan admitted. “But some rituals need to be completed.”
Since they had a traditional wedding, the final step needed to be carried out properly.
Saying this made her cheeks flush even more. Her eyelids lowered slightly as she added in a quieter voice, “Besides, it’s really only you who needs to…”
She didn’t get to finish her sentence before Liu Qianxiu leaned over her, pinning her gently beneath him. Her heart pounded wildly as she gazed up at his handsome face.
“I’m not tired.” Liu Qianxiu murmured as he trailed kisses along her jawline, each one slowly fanning the flames that had already begun to smoulder inside her. He kissed down to her earlobe, his voice growing husky.
“And I won’t tire out my little bride.”
The rush of blood through her veins made Mu Wan tremble slightly, and she clung to him, tightening her arms around his neck.
Since Mu Wan wanted to see the snow, Liu Qianxiu made the necessary arrangements. A private jet flew them out of the country, and after a ten-hour flight, they arrived in northern Finland.
Finland was freezing, as if they had gone from autumn straight into winter. Mu Wan bundled herself up in a thick coat, and Liu Qianxiu added another layer by wrapping her in a soft cashmere scarf.
As they disembarked the plane, the Liu family’s local branch had already sent someone to pick them up. They were taken to a city in northern Finland where the Liu family owned a forest villa.
The further north they went, the colder it got. As the car travelled along the broad roads, the European atmosphere grew stronger, but there was no sign of snow anywhere.
Inside the car, the heater was on, so Mu Wan removed her scarf, revealing her fair, delicate face. Since they were in Finland, Liu Qianxiu took the opportunity to handle some business, reviewing documents as they drove. Noticing Mu Wan’s movement, he glanced up at her. Her eyes were wet and glistening as she looked at him.
“Isn’t it supposed to snow?” Mu Wan asked.
The driver, a Liu family chauffeur, was seated in the front, with the general manager of the Finnish branch beside him. The manager’s surname was also Liu, though he belonged to a different branch of the family.
The recent news of the low-key marriage of the Liu family head had spread among the family. Seeing Liu Qianxiu arrive with a beautiful woman, it wasn’t hard to guess that she was the new Mrs. Liu.
The manager, serving as their guide, was careful not to be too forward. He glanced at Liu Qianxiu, and after receiving a nod, he smiled at Mu Wan and said, “Northern Finland has a snow season that lasts for about five months, but there aren’t many snowy days in late October. However, I checked the weather, and it should snow in the next couple of days.”
“Oh.” Mu Wan responded. While she wasn’t able to see snow immediately, the anticipation of waiting for it to fall was also delightful. Given how cold it was, she imagined that the snow, when it did come, would be heavy.
Mu Wan felt a growing sense of excitement and anticipation.
The Liu family’s villa in Finland was nestled in the hills, surrounded by forests. It wasn’t isolated, though; just a twenty-minute drive would take you to a nearby town. The town was fairly lively, though Finnish people generally didn’t care much for noise. Despite the town’s size, it was rather quiet and serene.
The villa itself was a two-story building in red and white. The place had been cleaned before they arrived, and the fireplace was burning brightly. As soon as they stepped inside, Mu Wan’s face flushed from the heat.
Their quarters were on the second floor, where the bedroom was also warm with the heating on. Mu Wan plopped down on the bed, feeling so comfortable that she couldn’t help but roll around a bit.
While Liu Qianxiu handled business downstairs with the manager, Mu Wan waited for him in their room. Once the work was finished, the manager left, and Liu Qianxiu came upstairs to find her kneeling on the bed, smiling as she stretched out her arms.
He wrapped her in his embrace, her body already warm after taking off her coat, now clad only in long pants and a snug sweater. Her soft, slender frame clung to him as he held her close.
Even without the snow, she was happy. This was what a honeymoon should be—being with the person you love, taking in new sights, and feeling completely relaxed.
“Are you hungry?” Liu Qianxiu asked, kissing her lightly.
It was already afternoon, and time for dinner. Mu Wan climbed down from him and asked, “Is there any food here?”
“No, but we have all the ingredients, so we’ll have to cook.” Liu Qianxiu explained, still holding her.
“Let’s go cook then!” Mu Wan said eagerly.
He smiled and looked down at her. “We?”
“I can help you with the vegetables.” Mu Wan declared confidently.
“The water’s cold.” Liu Qianxiu said, kissing her forehead. “You can just sit and watch.”
And so, Mu Wan ended up watching Liu Qianxiu prepare dinner. She wasn’t a picky eater, so he made a simple Western meal. After they finished eating, Liu Qianxiu put the dishes into the dishwasher.
Watching him work so efficiently, Mu Wan stood beside him and asked, “Dishwashers are so convenient. Why didn’t you install one in the Nan Feng apartment?”
Liu Qianxiu turned to look at her. The dishes at Nan Feng were all Song dynasty white porcelain—not something you’d put in a dishwasher. He met her gaze, recalling the bowl she had broken last time.
His lips pressed into a thin line as he answered, “I forgot, and I didn’t think to add one later.”
Mu Wan accepted his answer without question. This close to the Arctic, the days were short, and it was already dark outside. She turned to look out the window, where the night sky was pitch black but filled with a breathtaking array of stars.
“It’s like something out of a storybook.” Mu Wan said, smiling at Liu Qianxiu.
Her eyes sparkled with the light from the fireplace, reflecting a warm, lively glow. Liu Qianxiu glanced outside as well, then took her hand and said, “Let’s go see.”
“Okay!” Mu Wan agreed happily.
The scenery outside was beautiful, but the temperature was extremely low. Mu Wan had felt it when they first got off the plane. Before heading out, she bundled up in a down jacket, and Liu Qianxiu made sure she had a scarf and gloves.
“I can just keep my hands in my pockets.” Mu Wan said, holding up her gloved hands and smiling at Liu Qianxiu through the scarf.
As she spoke, only her eyes were visible, bright and shiny like a puppy’s. Liu Qianxiu placed a hat on her head, pressing down her fluffy black hair. “This will keep you warmer.”
It was quite cold outside, but there wasn’t much wind. After bundling up, Mu Wan rushed outside first. Liu Qianxiu was still getting ready, so she ran a few laps around the villa, breathing in small puffs of warm air through her scarf.
The place felt so free, the vastness of the surroundings making her feel unrestrained. She couldn’t resist running a few more laps before realising that Liu Qianxiu still hadn’t come out. Curious, Mu Wan headed back to the door.
She had just finished her run, her body warm, and pulled down her scarf to release a puff of hot breath.
“Liu Qianxiu.” she called out.
Liu Qianxiu stepped out of the house, wearing a deep-coloured down jacket with a scarf. He looked tall and lean as he approached. When he reached her, Mu Wan pointed to the sky and said, “I was mistaken earlier—there aren’t any stars.”
From inside the room, the stars she thought she saw were likely just reflections from the firelight. Mu Wan sounded a bit disappointed.
“Hmm.” Liu Qianxiu responded quietly. He adjusted her scarf, pulling it up to cover more of her face, then took her hand and led her to the bench outside the villa.
As soon as they sat down, Liu Qianxiu took out something from beside him. Mu Wan watched closely as he struck a lighter. The small flame illuminated his face, and as Mu Wan wondered what he was doing, he lit a small firework.
In the stillness of the forest, with the air crisp and cold, a single spark blossomed from the firework in Liu Qianxiu’s hand. His features, highlighted by the orange glow, looked even more striking, making Mu Wan’s heart flutter.
He handed her the lit firework, saying, “I’m giving you a bouquet of stars.”
Liu Qianxiu was someone who suited these serene, cold environments. His demeanour and appearance were always so composed. But when it came to her, she could always feel his warmth.
Mu Wan smiled as she took the firework from him, her excitement evident as she kicked up her legs. The firework spun in her hand, creating a ring of light, and when she looked at the sky through it, it really did feel like she was gazing at the stars.
“The flowers you give me are always so special.” Mu Wan said as the firework crackled in her hand. She leaned against his shoulder, looking up at him with a smile, her eyes curving into crescents.
“The first time you gave me flowers, it was a cotton candy flower—so sweet.”
“This time, you gave me fireworks—so beautiful.”
“Liu Qianxiu, I love you so much.”
Mu Wan didn’t hold back her feelings, her voice soft and tender. When the fireworks finished, she burrowed into his arms. They were both bundled up, but Liu Qianxiu still managed to envelop her completely. He looked down at her and responded.
“I love you too.”
Mu Wan clumsily pulled down her scarf and kissed him on the eyes.
Liu Qianxiu carried her back into the room, the warmth inside enveloping them. Their clothes fell away with each step, and by the time they reached the bed, Mu Wan was already wearing next to nothing.
The air grew thick with anticipation as their breaths mingled. Mu Wan lay on the soft bed, responding to Liu Qianxiu’s tender yet passionate kisses. Her consciousness began to blur, her gaze becoming hazy. But as she wrapped her arms around his neck and he kissed down to her earlobe, she glanced out the window.
“It’s snowing.” Mu Wan’s voice was hoarse as she cradled his face in her hands.
Before Liu Qianxiu could fully process her words, the woman beneath him had already slipped out of bed. She put on her slippers and hurried to the window. Outside, large snowflakes were drifting down.
Liu Qianxiu knelt on the bed, the remnants of passion still simmering in his eyes. After a brief pause, he got up and walked over to her.
“I want to make a wish.” Mu Wan said, her eyes bright with excitement as she looked back at Liu Qianxiu.
“What are you wishing for?” Liu Qianxiu asked, wrapping his arms around her from behind.
Without thinking too much, Mu Wan gazed at the snow-covered landscape outside and said, “I wish for us to be happy forever.”
Her body was soft, leaning slightly against the window, with her slender fingers splayed on the glass. Her bare back revealed the delicate outlines of her shoulder blades.
Liu Qianxiu lowered his head, kissing the back of her neck. Mu Wan shivered slightly, turning to meet his gaze. His dark eyes were filled with emotion, and soon, the warmth she had just lost began to return. Her face was buried in her dark hair, her lips red, her eyes bright.
“Right now, I want to be happy.” Mu Wan said, her voice low and sultry as she turned to look out at the snowy night. “I want the happiness that you give me.”
Liu Qianxiu’s gaze darkened, and his throat bobbed slightly.
After a moment, he pressed his body against hers.
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