Say it, and it’s settled.
Back at the apartment, they took their IDs and household registration, then drove all the way to the Civil Affairs Bureau.
Entering the bureau, the two followed the guidance of the staff, filling out forms, taking photos, swearing, and receiving the marriage certificate. They then exited the Civil Affairs Bureau.
Under the sunlight, looking at the brightly colored marriage certificate in hand, Qiao Shu’s mind finally calmed down.
Married?
Well-off?
And now, a husband too?
He looked up at the man beside him.
Husband?
Gu Chenyan happened to glance over, his gaze inquiring, “Hmm?”
Qiao Shu blushed and quickly shook his head, “Nothing, nothing.”
Gu Chenyan: “There is.”
Qiao Shu: “???”
Gu Chenyan: “When do you want to have our wedding?”
Qiao Shu was stunned.
A wedding?
Ah, no, I never thought about it at all!
He pondered for a moment, then whispered somewhat guiltily, “I, I still have filming to do. Can we postpone the wedding for now?”
Gu Chenyan looked at him.
A few seconds later, he nodded, “Sure.”
Qiao Shu breathed a sigh of relief.
Although he wasn’t sure why he felt relieved, perhaps the book had portrayed Gu Chenyan as too terrifying?
Thinking this, Qiao Shu looked at Gu Chenyan again, who, in reality, didn’t seem scary at all.
This man was handsome, wealthy, tall, had long legs, and a pleasant voice. From their few interactions, he seemed quite easy to communicate with.
A fierce personality?
Qiao Shu: “…”
Rumors in the book were indeed terrifying.
Realizing this, Qiao Shu gradually relaxed in the face of Gu Chenyan.
Gu Chenyan sensed it.
He didn’t say anything, just moved his long legs toward the waiting car, opened the rear door, and then looked at Qiao Shu.
Qiao Shu blinked, “???”
Gu Chenyan: “It’s time to go.”
Qiao Shu: “Oh, okay.”
Feeling a bit awkward, Qiao Shu sat in the car and only then noticed the decorations inside.
Well, well!
Genuine leather seats, and there was even a built-in mini-fridge.
A well-defined hand reached over; Gu Chenyan opened the small fridge and asked, “What do you want to drink?”
Qiao Shu: “Um…”
He just glanced at the thing.
But since he asked, why not have something? The items inside looked extraordinary, and his tongue wanted to explore.
However, the text on these things was a bit hard to understand, French perhaps? Some didn’t even have any writing.
“This one.” Qiao Shu casually pointed at a sky-blue glass bottle that looked like a beverage, then added, “Thank you.”
But Gu Chenyan looked at him.
Qiao Shu blinked, “???”
What’s wrong?
Anxious, Qiao Shu wondered if he accidentally picked the most expensive one.
Just as he was about to suggest choosing another, Gu Chenyan reached under the small table between them, took out a tall glass from the cabinet, placed it on the table, and then poured a shallow layer of the designated “beverage” into the glass.
Like the bottle, the liquid inside was sky-blue, looking particularly appealing in the transparent tall glass.
Gu Chenyan gently shook the glass and placed it in front of Qiao Shu, saying, “Give it a try.”
Qiao Shu cautiously glanced at him, “Okay, thank you.”
Qiao Shu picked up the glass.
The rim lightly touched his lips, and the sky-blue liquid slowly flowed into his mouth.
Cough, cough, cough
Qiao Shu coughed dramatically, tears welling up in the corners of his eyes, his face turning bright red.
He looked bewildered at the tall glass. Wasn’t it a beverage? Why was it alcohol? And such a spicy one at that!
A piece of paper was handed over.
Gu Chenyan: “Sorry, I didn’t warn you.”
A faint smile crossed his eyes, quickly hidden away.
Cough, cough
Qiao Shu coughed a few more times before recovering. His head had been accidentally impacted by the potent liquor, leaving him a bit dizzy.
Shaking his head, he took the paper handed over by Gu Chenyan and lowered his head to awkwardly wipe the corners of his eyes.
His face was burning, and his voice was soft.
“Thank you.”
Qiao Shu: Embarrassed What a disgrace.
Fortunately, he had a bit of tolerance for alcohol; otherwise, getting drunk would be even more humiliating.
A delicate plate was pushed in front of him.
Gu Chenyan: “Try these strawberries delivered this morning. Very sweet, you should like them.”
The tall glass was removed.
Was he trying to comfort him?
Qiao Shu, with a face reddened by alcohol, secretly glanced at Gu Chenyan, then whispered again, “Thank you.”
He reached out and picked up a strawberry.
Gently biting into it, sweet juice overflowed.
Qiao Shu’s eyes lit up: It’s delicious!
After finishing one, feeling a bit awkward, he shifted and pushed the small plate towards Gu Chenyan, saying, “You should eat too.”
Gu Chenyan: “Okay.”
He picked up a strawberry, but when he was about to put it in his mouth, he suddenly paused, “Qiao Shu.”
Qiao Shu blinked, “Huh?”
Gu Chenyan: “I am your husband now.”
Qiao Shu: “???”
Gu Chenyan: “So you don’t have to keep thanking me and using formal language.”
Qiao Shu: “…”
Right, they are husbands now. Does it seem a bit formal this way?
Gu Chenyan looked at Qiao Shu.
Qiao Shu curled his fingers, “Okay, I’ll be mindful of that.”
Gu Chenyan withdrew his gaze, “Hmm.”
The car continued to drive steadily.
After eating a few strawberries, the blush on Qiao Shu’s face gradually faded. He looked at the traffic outside the window, then turned to Gu Chenyan with a puzzled expression, “Where are we going now?”
Gu Chenyan looked at him.
Qiao Shu: “???”
What’s wrong with this question?
A few seconds later, Gu Chenyan said, “Moving.”
“Moving for you.”
Qiao Shu: “Oh.”
Wait a minute!
Qiao Shu widened his eyes, “Moving for me?”
Gu Chenyan: “Hmm? Is there a problem?”
Qiao Shu: “…”
“No, no problem.”
Married, not a single dog anymore. People with husbands need to live together with their husbands.
Moving is fine.
Moving is expected.
The moving process was simple and fast.
Qiao Shu didn’t have many belongings, so he quickly organized everything. It happened that everything fit into a suitcase. Gu Chenyan took the initiative to help him with the suitcase. The two went downstairs and got back into the car.
This time, they were heading to Gu Chenyan’s home.
In the car.
Gu Chenyan: “Our home is in Lanting. In addition to us, there’s Uncle Zhou and Aunt Lan at home. They are a couple and have been with my father since they were young. They are like half-elders to me, currently taking care of the miscellaneous matters at home. If you need anything, you can approach them. As for others, you don’t need to worry about them.”
Qiao Shu obediently said, “Okay.”
Our home?
Gu Chenyan was quite eloquent. Qiao Shu chuckled secretly.
The car quickly arrived at Lanting.
For the first time, commoner Qiao Shu got a glimpse of the residence of a wealthy family.
Grand!
And very beautiful and magnificent!
Even the quality of the security guards at the entrance was different from those in regular residential areas. They looked particularly formidable.
The muscles on their arms were bulging.
The car continued to drive into the community.
Gu Chenyan: “Our home is just ahead.”
Qiao Shu looked up.
Then he saw an exceptionally large and beautiful iron gate. It seemed to have a sensor system, automatically opening as the car approached.
In the middle of the gate was a large circular fountain, and in the pool, there was a vividly carved stone pixiu.
On both sides, spacious land was adorned with various flowers and trees.
The car continued to move.
Three minutes later, it stopped in front of a retro-style small mansion.
Someone came over to open the car door.
Qiao Shu looked at Gu Chenyan somewhat hesitantly before finally getting out of the car.
Once out of the car, Qiao Shu didn’t know how to move.
The commoner Qiao Shu felt a bit uneasy.
But this uneasiness didn’t last long. Gu Chenyan quickly came to his side and held his hand.
Qiao Shu instinctively looked up at him.
Gu Chenyan slightly lowered his head, “Let’s go inside.”
Was his voice somewhat gentle?
Qiao Shu shook off his daze and said, “Okay.”
The new home was large, but surprisingly warm in its decor. Walking inside, there was an especially comforting and cozy feeling.
Uncle Zhou and Aunt Lan were also very amiable.
After the introductions, Gu Chenyan considerately took Qiao Shu around the house for a brief tour before leading him to the master bedroom on the second floor.
Gu Chenyan: “This is our room.” He walked into the bedroom and opened the door of the walk-in closet, “Your things can go here; this is our walk-in closet.”
Qiao Shu walked over and saw a spacious walk-in closet, larger than anything he had ever dreamed of. It was clearly organized, with half of the space cleared out.
He couldn’t help but ask, “Was this tidied up specifically for me?”
Gu Chenyan lowered his head to look at him.
Qiao Shu: “???”
Oh no, did I misinterpret things? Was this walk-in closet always like this?
Qiao Shu blushed with embarrassment.
Qiao Shu: “I…”
Gu Chenyan: “It wasn’t intentional.”
Qiao Shu: Ah, so awkward.
Gu Chenyan looked at him strangely, “I plan to marry you. Isn’t it natural to prepare these things?”
Qiao Shu: “…”
The awkwardness disappeared.
Bubbles seemed to pop up in a corner of his heart.
Qiao Shu rubbed his chest, and turned his gaze away, “Haha, let me organize my things.”
Gu Chenyan: “Alright.”
Then, together with Qiao Shu, he walked into the walk-in closet and took the initiative to open Qiao Shu’s suitcase.
Qiao Shu: Ah, quite considerate.
Midway through, Gu Chenyan went out to answer a phone call and returned shortly after.
Gu Chenyan: “Sorry.”
Qiao Shu: “???”
Gu Chenyan: “Something came up, I need to go out and handle it. Can’t accompany you.”
Qiao Shu generously waved his hand, “It’s okay, you—” He quickly corrected himself remembering Gu Chenyan’s words, “If you have things to do, go ahead. I’ll be fine on my own.”
Gu Chenyan nodded, “Okay.”
Soon, the room was left with only Qiao Shu.
After finishing packing, Qiao Shu suddenly felt a bit lost. He sat cross-legged on the small sofa in the walk-in closet, supporting his head with one hand, biting his lip in contemplation.
Married.
Living together.
Wealthy, with a house and a car.
And a husband.
A handsome husband, who seemed a bit cold at first but was actually considerate. A husband who liked saying “we.”
Our home.
Our room.
Our cloakroom.
“Ah!”
Qiao Shu did a little bunny hop. “I hit the jackpot!”
Excited, Qiao Shu jumped around in the cloakroom for a few minutes, blushing when he finally emerged.
Holding his phone, he wanted to share his excitement with someone.
Ding!
Jiang Jiayu, his kindred spirit, appeared.
Jiang Jiayu: Ah ah ah, dear Qiao Qiao!
Jiang Jiayu: I’ve wrapped up filming!
Jiang Jiayu: It’s a wrap!
Jiang Jiayu: But my manager pulled me to another set (sad piggy).
Jiang Jiayu: Our hotpot is gone (crying piggy).
Qiao Shu: My Yu Yu, you always appear just when I need you (bear hug).
Jiang Jiayu: ???
Qiao Shu: First, let me give you a comforting hug.
Qiao Shu: Next, you have to stay calm. I have to tell you something big!
Jiang Jiayu: ???
Qiao Shu: Yu Yu…
Qiao Shu: I got married!
WeChat remained silent.
Puzzled, Qiao Shu shook his phone. Was there a network glitch?
The next moment, the phone rang.
It was a call from Jiang Jiayu.
Qiao Shu answered.
“Married? When did you get married? Who’s the lucky person? When did you meet? Do I know them? How old are they? What’s their profession?..”
Jiang Jiayu’s voice blared through the phone, several times louder than usual, making Qiao Shu’s ears ache. Before he could react, a barrage of questions came flying at him.
Qiao Shu’s head spun from the onslaught.
Qiao Shu: “Yu Yu, stop!”
On the other end, it seemed Jiang Jiayu realized he’d gone overboard with the questions. He paused, then said, “Hmph, confess and cooperate, or face strict consequences!”
Qiao Shu: “…”
Qiao Shu: “Um, I got married today.”
Jiang Jiayu, in a cold tone: “What else?”
Qiao Shu: I met him in the hospital last time when I had a head injury. His voice was very pleasant, and I noticed him.
Jiang Jiayu: And then?
Qiao Shu: Then today, he asked me to meet, and I realized he was the person I was engaged to. The next thing I knew, we got married. I impulsively said yes when my head was spinning.
Jiang Jiayu: Hmph, what about him?
Qiao Shu explained to Jiang Jiayu one by one: “When you’re free, I’ll treat you to a big meal.”
Jiang Jiayu: Just one meal?
Qiao Shu: Of course not! We’ll have as many meals as our Xiao Yu desires.
Before hanging up, Jiang Jiayu said contentedly, “Remember my wedding candy.”
Qiao Shu held the phone, momentarily stunned.
Oh right.
Preparing wedding candy is essential after getting married. He’d buy some soon.
After ending the call, Qiao Shu pondered and dialed his manager, Yu Qiong.
Artists need to report their marriages to their managers.
Yu Qiong was much calmer than Jiang Jiayu. She calmly said, “You’re still in the development stage. Announcing your marriage won’t be beneficial for your future. Consider whether you trust your partner.”
The entertainment industry is tough; even celebrity relationships require extreme caution. And marriage? In recent years, several stars have faced scandals due to their relationships or secret marriages, tarnishing their reputations.
Qiao Shu, although not famous now, is young, diligent, and has a promising future.
Qiao Shu: “Sister Qiong, rest assured, my significant other has more money than a hundred of me combined.”
Yu Qiong: “As long as you know it in your heart.”
Qiao Shu: “Yes, thank you, Sister Qiong.”
Yu Qiong: “We need to leave early for the recording of ‘We’re Here’ in Lancheng on Wednesday. Tomorrow, both Lu Yue and I will come to pick you up.”
Qiao Su: “I’ve moved.”
Yu Qiong: “Send me the address.”
Qiao Shu: “Okay.”
The fact that the marriage partner is Gu Chenyan is something he couldn’t hide from Yu Qiong and others.
During dinner, Gu Chenyan didn’t come back, but he called Qiao Shu.
Gu Chenyan: “Sorry, can’t accompany you for dinner.”
Qiao Shu: “It’s okay, you’re busy, work comes first.”
Gu Chenyan: “Hmm.”
Qiao Shu: “Hmm.”
Gu Chenyan: “Tell Aunt Lan what you like to eat.”
Qiao Shu: “Okay.”
Silence.
Gu Chenyan: “I’ll hang up.”
Qiao Shu: “Alright.”
For dinner, Qiao Shu dined with Aunt Lan and Uncle Zhou. The elderly couple was exceptionally warm, and Qiao Shu almost couldn’t keep up.
After the meal, Qiao Shu went for a walk.
Truly a mansion. It took him quite a while to complete a full lap around the yard.
After the stroll, Qiao Shu returned to the master bedroom’s cloakroom, found his pajamas, and then indulged in the oversized massage bathtub in the bathroom.
“Comfortable.”
After washing up, Qiao Shu lay back on the bed and read the script. His neat notes left traces on the pristine pages. Feeling drowsy, he yawned, and a tear welled up in the corner of his eye.
“What time is it?”
He glanced at his phone; it was nearly midnight.
“Time to sleep.”
Qiao Shu rubbed his eyes, placed the script and phone aside, turned off the light, and snuggled into the soft covers.
Drowsiness enveloped him.
Soon, he drifted into deep slumber.
At some point, Qiao Shu felt a vague disturbance around him. He groggily opened his sticky eyes, struggling to crack them open.
Dim yellow light, a blurry silhouette.
“Ah!”
His instinctive cry rang out.
The figure turned around. “Having a nightmare?”
Gu Chenyan?
What was he doing here?
Qiao Shu blinked. “You…”
As the words left his mouth, Qiao Shu realized something was amiss. He glanced around at the unfamiliar surroundings, momentarily bewildered, until memories from earlier in the day flooded back.
Ah, he was married.
He had married Gu Chenyan and moved into Gu Chenyan’s home.
Gu Chenyan: “Hmm?”
Fully awake now, Qiao Shu sat up, clutching the blanket. He scratched his head awkwardly. “Um, you’re back? Did I startle you just now?”
Gu Chenyan: “No, did I startle you?”
Qiao Shu managed an embarrassed smile. “Not really.”
Gu Chenyan: “I apologize.”
He guessed that he had indeed startled Qiao Shu, who was asleep.
Bending down, Gu Chenyan lifted the blanket and lay down.
Qiao Shu nervously swallowed. Their eyes met.
After a moment, Gu Chenyan said, “Time to sleep.”
Qiao Shu: “Alright.”
Gu Chenyan turned off the light.
Qiao Shu settled back down.
The distance between the two was almost the span of a palm. Qiao Shu’s heart tightened, and he closed his eyes nervously. After a while, unable to resist, he opened his eyes in the darkness.
His eyeballs rolled around, and after a moment, his head gradually turned towards Gu Chenyan.
Is this it?
No activity on the wedding night?
Thinking about this and that, Qiao Shu recalled the surprising encounter before turning off the lights.
Gu Chenyan’s raised arm, open collar, and the slightly revealed chest full of hormones.
Seemed like a good touch.
In the darkness, Qiao Shu secretly wiped his mouth.
They were married now; it should be okay to touch a little, right? Why not just touch a bit? Just a bit.
Lust clouds the mind.
In the darkness, Qiao Shu reached out his hand, nervously exploring towards Gu Chenyan along the bedsheet’s rustling.
Reached the hem of the clothes?
Continue forward.
Suddenly, a pair of large and warm hands descended from above, covering Qiao Shu’s not-so-innocent hand.
Qiao Shu: “…”
He awkwardly smiled, “Uh, you’re not asleep either.”
Gu Chenyan: “Mm.”
Qiao Shu: “Can’t sleep?”
Gu Chenyan: “Mm, it’s a bit unusual to have someone lying by the bedside for the first time.”
Qiao Shu: “…”
Gu Chenyan: “How about you?”
“Uh.” Qiao Shu: “I’m okay.”
Gu Chenyan: “What were you just doing?”
Qiao Shu: “…”
Silence.
Qiao Shu subtly moved his hand, wanting to pull it back. It was late at night, and having the hands of two grown men so affectionately intertwined felt strangely warm.
Gu Chenyan: “Don’t move.”
Qiao Shu: “…”
Qiao Shu obediently stayed still.
Gu Chenyan: “I need to get used to it.”
Qiao Shu: “???”
Silence resumed.
However, the nocturnal silence seemed particularly unbearable. Qiao Shu couldn’t help but focus his attention on the backs of their intertwined hands.
He swallowed.
Moved his toes again, and eventually, his body couldn’t resist a slight twist.
Gu Chenyan: “What’s wrong?”
Qiao Shu instantly dared not move: “Nothing, really.”
After a while, unable to resist, Qiao Shu asked, “Can I have my hand back?”
Gu Chenyan: “Wait a bit longer.”
Qiao Shu: “Okay.”
Qiao Shu began to count sheep to shift his focus. When he reached twenty sheep, Gu Chenyan’s hand moved.
The next second.
Gu Chenyan: “I’m used to it.”
Qiao Shu: “Alright.”
He tried to move his hand to retract it, but the hand covering his exerted force when he did, preventing Qiao Shu from pulling it back.
Qiao Shu: “…”
He looked towards Gu Chenyan: “You…”
Gu Chenyan: “Are you sleepy?”
Qiao Shu: “???”
Feeling it, he honestly said, “Okay.”
Gu Chenyan: “Then let’s get used to something else.”
Qiao Shu: “???”
We?
Get used to something else?
Before Qiao Shu’s mind could come up with an answer, the bed on Gu Chenyan’s side moved. Immediately, the hand covering Qiao Shu, which was under Gu Chenyan, exerted some force.
Qiao Shu was pulled to the middle of the bed.
Qiao Shu: “Huh???”
The blanket was lifted.
In the darkness, Gu Chenyan flipped over and came on top of Qiao Shu. His two arms supported on either side of Qiao Shu’s head.
“Qiao Shu…”
Qiao Shu instantly tensed, straightening his legs: “Here!”
Gu Chenyan asked in a hoarse voice, “Is it okay?”
In this location, this position, at this time, what was permissible—Qiao Shu couldn’t be ignorant of it.
He nervously started swallowing saliva.
His toes curled unconsciously, his body became warm, and his head felt a bit dizzy.
Qiao Shu felt too hot.
Then he raised his other free hand, feeling in the dark and embracing the man’s neck.
In the dark night.
Qiao Shu’s voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz: “Okay.”
⌈Weekend chapters: 2⌉ ⌊Progress: 1/2 ⌋
