Almost at the same time, the once-quiet courtyard suddenly exploded into the clamor of drums and gongs, firecrackers and fireworks going off together!

Amid the noisy hubbub outside, the room at this moment seemed especially quiet; they could hear each other’s breathing.

His face pressed to the side of her neck, his breath hot and damp; for the first time in her life, Ruan Jingliu actually felt nervous, her heartbeat thudding in her ears...

With her back to him, her waist was wrapped in his arms like this, so tight she could hardly breathe.

She didn’t know how long it took before Ruan Jingliu gradually calmed down.

Just then, the man behind her seemed to sense her mood and finally opened his mouth: "Jingliu, I missed you so much." As he spoke, he nuzzled her neck like a kitten. "Did you miss me?"

The familiar voice, the familiar cadence—if it were any other man speaking in this tone, it would have been unbearably disgusting. But coming from Qin Yuanfeng, it felt so natural. He paused slightly, then, getting a bit too bold, pecked her on the forehead and pressed, "...Did you miss me?"

Ruan Jingliu’s body jolted; the anger in her eyes flared like a campfire being stoked, spreading bit by bit until that kiss made it completely blaze up. Without turning back, she spoke through clenched teeth, "Let go!" It was not a request, but an order.

Ruan Jingliu’s ears suddenly flushed red; even her anger couldn’t suppress it. Her face darkened as she jabbed her elbow backward.

She heard a muffled groan, and the arms cinched around her waist loosened. She took the chance to push him away, turned around to look at him, and then froze—he was clutching his side with one hand, his body bent, his face twisted together in pain.

Only then did she recall that the little beggar had said earlier that he was injured.

Thinking of this, her earlier anger was put aside. Ruan Jingliu asked, "You’re hurt?" Her tone still couldn’t be called gentle.

"Mm." In the two years they’d been apart, Qin Yuanfeng hadn’t changed much; he was still red-lipped and white-toothed, handsome and bright. He was even more striking than before, with a more stalwart air about him. But the way he looked at her was exactly the same as two years ago—still carrying that hint of ingratiation and helplessness. At this moment he hunched over in pain and said, "But it’s not serious. You don’t need to worry."

If it wasn’t serious, then why did he look so pained.

Ruan Jingliu walked over. "Let me see." Everything else could wait.

Their gazes met—his full of the satisfaction of a prank well played, hers burning with anger at having been fooled.

"Let go of me." How could she have believed him: "Do you have any idea what you’re doing? I’m warning you, let go of me right now!" Outside, the firecrackers and gongs had yet to cease, the commotion in full swing.

Qin Yuanfeng nodded, and his expression grew increasingly serious. He looked straight into Ruan Jingliu’s eyes, not dodging her fury, and said softly, "Of course I know what I’m doing." His face slowly lowered toward hers...

"Today is our wedding day. From today on, you are my, Qin Yuanfeng’s, wife." Ruan Jingliu turned her face aside, snapping, "Shut up!" She was so angry she was panting. "Who agreed to marry you? I’m not some naïve young girl. Don’t you dare try to coax me with that set of tricks."

Even though his "strike" had missed, Qin Yuanfeng wasn’t discouraged. This posture felt very good to him. He answered with utter seriousness, "Which is why I’m not using the tricks I’d use to coax them on you." He glanced at the bright red wedding quilt. "I’m using something more straightforward." There was no one else he would treat this way.

She had never been treated like this before; even though her five viscera felt like they were burning with rage, Ruan Jingliu, held fast in his arms, truly had no way to break free. "Qin Yuanfeng, why do you keep clinging to me? If you want to get married there are plenty of fine women waiting for you—there’s absolutely no need for you to fixate on me." As she spoke, she glared and turned her face away. "Besides, we’re not suitable."

Qin Yuanfeng raised an eyebrow. "If I say we’re suitable, then we’re suitable. What you say doesn’t count." Taking advantage of her unpreparedness, he kissed her cheek, then immediately brightened, laughing like a child. "In this whole wide world, only we are the most suitable."

Ruan Jingliu was so infuriated by his shameless behavior that she was speechless. "Even if that’s so, you should at least think about what the world will say. Aren’t you afraid of being laughed at for marrying me?"

"You care about that?" Qin Yuanfeng looked at her. "I didn’t know the Ruan Jingliu I know would bother with such things."

Ruan Jingliu was at a loss for words!

Qin Yuanfeng let out a deep sigh, dropping his roguish grin. "Jingliu." His voice gentled. "Marry me. I’ll definitely treat you well, believe me." He paused, not giving Ruan Jingliu any chance to speak, and his tone turned almost earnest and grave. "From the moment we met six years ago, I knew with absolute certainty that in this lifetime, no woman could ever become my wife, Qin Yuanfeng’s wife, except you!"

He enunciated each word, utterly sincere. Ruan Jingliu listened, her gaze wavering slightly.

Qin Yuanfeng raised a hand and gently caressed her face, his eyes filled with longing. "These past two years I’ve been out there alone, thinking of you every moment. Wondering if you were at the clinic, wondering if you were at home, thinking about every little thing about you. I was afraid that someone as outstanding and exceptional as you might have some man take advantage of my absence and slip in while the door was open. Every time I thought of that, I wished I could rush back immediately to see you. Only by staying by your side can I feel at ease." He lowered his head to look at her. "Jingliu, I love you!"

Time seemed to stop. Ruan Jingliu looked at him in a daze, her face full of astonishment...

Qin Yuanfeng smiled down at her, speaking with affectionate familiarity: "I’ve already prepared the wedding robes for you. As long as you put them on, leave everything else to me!"