Chapter 19: Two Beginnings

“Use your tongue…”

Upon hearing the soft words next to her ear, Ke Rochu’s face burned, but her heart also felt as if it had been struck by electricity, all tingly and numb.

After saying that, Sheng Ruqi stroked Ke Rochu’s hot face and then kissed her lips gently and tenderly. She had never kissed anyone this purely before; it was as if she was carefully savoring a fragile piece of candy, gently sucking on it.

“Mm…”

The girl’s shy, nervous, and reluctant-yet-welcoming reaction made Sheng Ruqi become obsessed with this feeling. She pulled the other woman’s thin body closer and couldn’t help but want to kiss her deeply when…

Ke Rochu still pushed Sheng Ruqi away. She was gasping for breath and said in a soft, weak voice, “Don’t do this…”

Then, she fled in a panic.

As she ran, Ke Rochu couldn’t help but cry. She felt like she was crazy—how could she kiss someone else so casually? That should have been saved for the person she liked the most. How was she any different from those women who flirted with strangers everywhere?

Sheng Ruqi stood in place by herself. She turned her head to look at her reflection in the wall-mounted mirror. There was still lipstick left on her lips from the other woman’s. She recalled the unexpected kiss from just now and thought about that red face. Sheng Ruqi smiled to herself.

Pure little white rabbits were so interesting, after all.

****

“You two, move a little closer.”
“A little closer.”
“Smile, you two~”

Xia An and Ye Jin, wearing white shirts, sat side-by-side. Xia An looked at the camera and smiled brilliantly, appearing fresh and moving.

Just a week ago, Xia An couldn’t have imagined that today, she would be at the Civil Affairs Bureau, picking up a small red book to take home.

From now on, unmarried would become married.

In order to make things easier, the photos on their IDs were taken at the Civil Affairs Bureau. The staff members were delighted to see two beauties come to get married today; it was a feast for the eyes. So they were in a great mood, and they were putting in all their effort when taking the photos.

“Miss Ye, your wife is so pretty. Smile a little more happily~”

Xia An thought, smiling happily was probably a challenge of the century for Ye Zong, right? Honestly, she was still pretty excited about the photos. Would Ye Zong in the marriage certificate still have that icy face?

“If you didn’t know any better, you’d think we were here to get a divorce.” Xia An’s smile froze on her face, and she then turned her head to whisper to Ye Jin’s ear to complain.

Ye Jin glanced at her. Seeing the expression on Xia An’s face and hearing her complaint, she was amused and raised the corners of her lips.

“Yes, yes, yes, just like that~”

The marriage certificate was issued.

Xia An immediately looked at the photos above. They were surprisingly harmonious. This was probably the most “brightly” she had ever seen Ye Zong smile, even if it was still reserved.

Ye Jin’s attention was also on the photo. Xia An’s smile was like it had been when they first met: bright and clean, leaving a deep impression on people.

“Congratulations to you two. May you have a happy marriage, and may you always be together.”

“Thank you.” Xia An felt oddly uncomfortable upon hearing these words of blessing. After all, they would have to come back here to get a divorce in two years.

Xia An passed one of the small red books to Ye Jin, joking, “President Ye, happy marriage.”

Ye Jin looked at Xia An’s face, which was full of a relaxed and indifferent smile. She didn’t know if she was being truly unrestrained or just pretending to be. She couldn’t have acted like Xia An when she had been at a low point in her life.

She could see through reality, but she also didn’t complain about her fate. In Xia An’s eyes, being unrestrained was better than feeling sorry for herself. Cowardice wouldn’t solve any problems.

She wanted to cure her father, and she wanted to be a doctor who could give people hope.

Xia An’s goals and ideals had always been clear, and she was working step by step to get closer to them. Before then, she would be able to accept everything that happened along her life’s path, including her and Ye Jin’s seemingly absurd marriage of convenience.

Therefore, those who had interacted with Xia An found it hard to imagine what she had experienced or was currently experiencing because of her magnanimity.

After walking out of the Civil Affairs Bureau, it was 4:30 PM.

The sky was clear and the sun was shining. The wind that was blowing against their faces felt warm, warm.

“Don’t tell me…” Xia An glanced at the marriage certificate again.

Ye Jin thought that she was going to say something.

“We actually look pretty well-matched.” Xia An said with a thick-skinned smile.

Ye Jin also glanced at Xia An’s moving smile in the photo and then looked at Xia An, commenting, “You acted well.”

Ye Zong always had the ability to make it so that people couldn’t pick up the conversation.

Ye Jin headed toward the parking lot. After walking for a few steps, she realized that the person behind her hadn’t followed, and she turned to look at Xia An, “What’s wrong?”

“You should head back first. I still have to go to the hospital, and I have to work overtime tonight.” This afternoon’s few hours off were things she had barely managed to get approved.

“Until what time?” Ye Jin asked, because the old lady knew that they were getting married today, so she was organizing a dinner to celebrate together.

“I can’t say for sure. I’ll head home after I get off work.” When Xia An said “head home”, she suddenly felt like something was wrong, but she had already said it.

“Tell me beforehand. Let’s go.” After saying that, Ye Jin stood in place to wait for Xia An for a while. When she saw that Xia An still wasn’t following, she had no choice but to say again, “I’ll take you back to the hospital.”

“Take me?” Judging from Ye Zong’s cold and indifferent attitude just now, Xia An hadn’t sensed any intention to take her.

“It’s on the way.”

It was “on the way” again.

****

At 9:00 PM, Xia An finished her work and video-called Xia Hexian. After confirming that he was in good condition, she left the hospital with peace of mind.

Xia An had moved into Ye Jin’s place, but it couldn’t really be called moving. She had just brought some daily clothes and supplies. Xia An still lived at the school dorms as well, because it was more convenient for her to go to class and take care of things on the hospital’s side. When she returned to the Ye residence, she had told Ke Rochu that she was staying at a friend’s place.

When Xia An returned to the Ye residence, she saw Liang Laotai sitting on the sofa, looking at the marriage certificate with a smile.

“An An, you’re off work? That Ye Jin didn’t even pick you up when her wife got off work.” Liang Laotai got up, took Xia An’s hand, and sat down on the sofa.

“She said she was going to pick me up, but I didn’t let her. She’s also tired from work.”

“She still shouldn’t have let you come home by yourself so late at night. I have to talk to her about that. An An, if you feel wronged, tell Grandma, okay?” Liang Laotai said this because she understood Ye Jin’s nature. She was always so cold and indifferent. The old lady was deathly afraid that the two of them would get into an argument over some small thing.

“Mm, Grandma is the best to me.”

“These photos were taken really well, really well.” Liang Laotai looked at Ye Jin’s marriage certificate, and her eyes couldn’t help but become teary. Back then, when the hospital had issued a critical condition notice, she hadn’t been afraid of anything. The only thing she was afraid of was that she wouldn’t be able to wait for her granddaughter to get married.

“Why are you crying?” Xia An grabbed a tissue and wiped Liang Laotai’s tears.

“It’s nothing. I’m just happy. I thought I, this old thing, wouldn’t be able to wait for this day to come.” Liang Laotai said with a smile through her tears. She said to Xia An, “Grandma will tell you something. Before meeting you, Jingjing had no plans to get married. She really likes you.”

Xia An stroked her hair. All she could do was steel herself and say, “Mm.”

“This child might be old, but she doesn’t know how to take care of herself at all. All she does every day is focus on working, and she doesn’t pay attention to her health. Ye Jin’s parents divorced very early, and her mom also passed away early. I watched her grow up. You tell me, now that I’m old and getting more and more muddled, and my heart isn’t doing well either, I don’t have many days left, and the only thing I can’t let go of is Ye Jin…”

“Grandma, don’t say that.”

“I’m at ease now. I know that you’re a good girl. Although you’re not that old, you’re very considerate. I’m really at ease now that you’re with her. Now that you’ve gotten married, Grandma hopes that the two of you can take care of and be considerate of each other in the future, and live a good life.”

When Xia An heard these words, she felt a mixture of emotions in her heart. She smiled and comforted the old lady, “Don’t worry, we will.”

“Let’s not talk about this. Have you eaten?” Liang Laotai wiped away her tears.

Xia An was just about to say that she had eaten when her stomach growled, how embarrassing.

“You have to eat even when you’re busy with work, you child.” Liang Laotai also said, “Jingjing didn’t eat dinner either. She went to the study as soon as she got back, to get busy with work. An An, go coax her and tell her to come downstairs and eat something too.”

“I…”

Liang Laotai said animatedly, “She doesn’t listen to this old lady’s words, but it’s different when it’s her wife who says them~ You go call her. I’ll have Xiao Zhou heat up the food. It’ll be ready soon.”

“Okay, then I’ll go call her.”

Upstairs in the study, Xia An first knocked on the door. After hearing the person inside say something, she pushed the door open.

Ye Jin looked up and saw Xia An leaning against the doorframe. “What’s wrong?”
“Come downstairs and eat dinner before you get busy.”
Ye Jin looked at the time. “Dinner at this hour?”

“Grandma saw that you didn’t eat anything tonight, and she’s worried that you’re getting hungry. I haven’t eaten either. How about we eat something together?” Xia An just said this casually, like she was just completing a task. She didn’t think that she had the ability to “coax” Ye Zong.

Who would have thought…

Ye Jin got up and was already by her side. Xia An looked at Ye Zong with a surprised expression…

“I’m a little hungry,” Ye Jin said offhandedly.