The weather was bad today. The sky was gray and drizzly with light snow, and the streets were dotted with red and green ribbons and Christmas trees hung with small gifts.
An Ruo couldn't help but glance at the man beside her. He was looking down, lost in thought, seemingly unaware of her gaze. Suddenly, he lifted his head, and his cold, clear eyes met hers.
Her heart tightened, and she quickly turned to look out the window at the passing scenery.
Back when he was blind, his eyes were hollow and lifeless. Now that he could see, his obsidian-like pupils resembled a deep spring, drawing people in irresistibly. Occasionally, when light caught them, they sparkled brilliantly.
At the Civil Affairs Bureau.
The clerk adjusted the glasses on her nose and eyed the pair suspiciously. "You two want to register for marriage?"
An Ruo's fingers dug into the strap of her bag. She bit her lip and glanced at the man beside her.
"Is there a problem?" Shen Xiaoxing frowned slightly. He disliked being scrutinized, especially with looks of doubt and surprise.
The clerk on duty was a woman nearing forty. She discreetly sized up Shen Xiaoxing—handsome face, eyes sharp with cold intensity. He had been wheeled in, so his legs were likely disabled. Then she looked at the girl, whose expression was tense and uneasy. She seemed young—could this be a forced marriage?
Though the saying goes, "Better to tear down ten temples than ruin one marriage," seeing An Ruo, who was about the same age as her own daughter, the clerk's maternal instincts kicked in. She leaned in and whispered to the girl, "Miss, are you sure you want to marry him? No one's forcing you, right... Listen to me, there are plenty of good men out there. You don't have to waste your youth on someone with a disability like that. Otherwise, your whole life could be ruined."
An Ruo looked up at the man. Shen Xiaoxing's face was dark, his gaze sinister as he glared in their direction. She gave an awkward smile.
"And look at him—he's had a fierce expression since he walked in. Who's to say there won't be domestic violence? These days, good looks don't matter; character is what counts for a happy life."
The man clenched his fists tightly, pulled documents from his pocket, and tossed them onto the desk in silent urgency. The clerk froze, meeting his cold, sharp stare, and quickly proceeded with the paperwork.
An Ruo smiled, a warmth of being cared for rising in her heart.
Once the formalities were done, they wore the white shirts of artistic youth, sat side by side, and took an unforgettable passport photo.
Before leaving, An Ruo went back to the counter to explain to the clerk, "Thank you for your concern earlier. I'm not being forced into marriage. He treats me well, and I'm willing to take care of him for the rest of my life."
This was also what An Ruo wanted to tell herself.
She didn't have a deep understanding of marriage. She simply thought that if she couldn't find someone she truly loved, she might as well settle for someone suitable and live an ordinary life.
Since she was going to settle down, choosing someone she had a bit of a good feeling for wasn't bad.
At least Shen Xiaoxing didn't restrict her freedom in any way, nor did he look down on her background. Besides, every condition he offered was tempting—for someone like her, who had to take care of An Che while surviving in this bustling city, it was a pretty good deal.
It was just that the three-year term had been changed to a lifetime, and if she wanted to leave, he wouldn't stop her. From that perspective, she had nothing to lose.
Having struggled at the bottom, she would marry anyone if it meant improving her quality of life.
But was this explanation just a way to cover up the fact that she had actually developed feelings for Shen Xiaoxing?
The girl bit her lip slightly, staring at the brand-new red booklet in her hand. Inside was a photo of the two of them that was incredibly pleasing to the eye. This time, it wasn't Photoshopped—she was truly his wife now.
The man sat in the car and saw the girl still standing there in a daze. He pressed his thin lips together and rolled down the window. "Get in."
An Ruo snapped back to reality. Han Chong had already opened the door for her. She got in, and the man reached out his hand to her.
"What?"
"The marriage certificate."
An Ruo hesitated briefly before handing the bright red certificate, still warm from being held close, into the man's palm. He took both booklets and put them in his coat pocket.
"If you're willing, we can find time to take wedding photos. As for the wedding..."
An Ruo quickly interrupted him. "Forget the wedding and photos. I haven't graduated yet, and I don't want too many people to know about this."
The man's dark eyes deepened. That was fine too. He had originally planned to handle these matters and wait until the right time to announce his leg recovery before taking wedding photos with her. Since she had concerns, they could wait for now.
...
An Ruo had been idle these past two days. Without Gu Chao's summons, she couldn't go back to the company. As for Shen Xiaoxing, his restored eyesight had prompted the old man to order him back to the Shen Group for work. She was left alone with no one to pass the time with. After some thought, she decided to go back to school and attend a few classes.
With Chen Keqiao, that lively character, around, time wouldn't be too boring.
The two were walking down the street when Chen Keqiao squinted and suddenly said, "Hey, are you in love?"
An Ruo, holding a milk tea, was startled. She bit the straw and looked at her. "Why do you ask?"
"Your complexion has been so rosy these past two days—it must be from the nourishment of love. Spill it. Who is he? Is he handsome?"
As a best friend, An Ruo didn't want to hide anything from her. She hesitated, organizing her words to tell her about her relationship with Shen Xiaoxing.