Su Mianmian gave an “oh,” then offered Mother Su a few more words of comfort before hanging up.
At lunchtime, as she and Song Zhi were eating together, Tang Yunzheng sauntered over with his tray and sat down across from them.
Song Zhi frowned.
“Well, if it isn’t Scumbag Tang. What brings you to the cafeteria today? Didn’t you go to keep your little girlfriend company?”
Tang Yunzheng glanced at Su Mianmian, his tone casual.
“We broke up.”
“Broke up?”
Song Zhi nearly spat out her soup. Remembering last night’s bet, she felt a strange surge of excitement.
She nudged Su Mianmian, who was eating intently, with her elbow.
“Mianmian, did you hear? Scumbag Tang said he and—”
Su Mianmian looked up, unconcerned.
“You don’t need to repeat it. I’m not deaf.”
Song Zhi choked on her words, then turned back to Tang Yunzheng.
“Wait, Scumbag Tang, you and Green-Tea Lin weren’t together for even two months, all told. Did you lose interest that fast?”
Tang Yunzheng crossed his legs, his tone half serious, half teasing.
“What can I say? Su Mianmian didn’t like her.”
Song Zhi glanced silently at Su Mianmian.
“Why should it matter whether Mianmian likes the girl you’re dating?”
Tang Yunzheng gave a roguish smile.
“I don’t want someone accusing me of forgetting my friends for a pretty face.”
His meaning was so obvious that Su Mianmian, who hadn’t wanted to engage with him, had to defend herself.
“I don’t remember saying that.”
“You didn’t say it, but that’s what your attitude has been saying this whole time.”
Tang Yunzheng suddenly leaned across the table, bringing his face close to Su Mianmian’s.
“You ignored me and gave me the cold shoulder just because I was dating Lin Jiaojiao, didn’t you? Su Mianmian, now that she and I have broken up, can’t things between us go back to how they were?”
Su Mianmian calmly studied the handsome face in front of her: his straight nose, his bright eyes.
She checked her feelings carefully. Her heart no longer raced at all.
She leaned back a little.
“How were things before?”
Tang Yunzheng thought for a moment.
“We told each other everything, went to school together, came home together, and ate in the cafeteria together.”
Su Mianmian quietly picked up her tray.
“You mean the way a couple does? Sorry, we were never that kind of couple.”
With that, Su Mianmian got up and walked off. Song Zhi hurried after her.
“Damn, Su Mianmian! Love really does make people lose their minds. Now that you’ve climbed out of that river of love, you’re a total badass. You should’ve seen Scumbag Tang’s face after you shut him down—he went green.”
Su Mianmian let out a breath.
“It’s easy to make up. It’s hard to go back to how things were. Tang Yunzheng just doesn’t understand that yet.”
Song Zhi nodded. “You’ve got a point. Oh, and don’t forget—you owe me milk tea this month.”
…
On the day she went with Gu Yizhou to register their marriage, Su Mianmian got up very early.
They had agreed to meet at nine. By eight thirty, Su Mianmian was already outside the campus gates.
She’d planned to get there early and wait for him, but Gu Yizhou had arrived even earlier.
His black BL was parked across from the school. Su Mianmian crossed the road and headed over. Before she could reach it, the car door opened, and Gu Yizhou stepped out, his long legs emerging from the car.
He was dressed especially formally that day, in a well-tailored black suit with a white shirt buttoned to the top, showing off his long neck and prominent Adam’s apple.
He was already handsome, and behind his gold-rimmed glasses, his long, narrow eyes were deep and composed. His features held a cool reserve, softened by a hint of warmth.
“Why are you out so early? Have you had breakfast?”
Su Mianmian’s cheeks warmed slightly.
“I have. I was afraid you’d be waiting, so I came out early.”
Gu Yizhou smiled and bent slightly to take a bouquet of flowers from the back seat.
“These are for you.”
Su Mianmian was a little surprised and accepted them awkwardly.
“You got me a gift, too?”
He stepped aside to let her into the car.
“Since it’s our first anniversary, it’s only right.”
His words made Su Mianmian feel a little guilty.
Once Gu Yizhou had gotten in and sat beside her, she said apologetically, “I’m sorry. I didn’t think that far ahead.”
He turned to her, his gaze gentle.
“That’s all right. You can make it up to me later.”
Su Mianmian: …
Wasn’t he supposed to say, “It’s fine, don’t worry about it”?
She blinked twice. For the first time, she realized Gu Yizhou might not be as stern and humorless as she’d always thought.
“What are you thinking about? Don’t tell me you’re actually figuring out what gift to get me.”
Su Mianmian pressed her lips together, embarrassed.
“I don’t know what you like. Could you give me some idea?”
Gu Yizhou smiled and tapped his long fingers against his knee.
“The point of a gift is the surprise. Where’s the fun if I tell you?”
Su Mianmian rarely saw Gu Yizhou smile. Usually, the corners of his mouth would lift just slightly, barely enough to notice.
She’d never seen him smile like he had just then, with amusement reaching the corners of his eyes and brows.
For a moment, Su Mianmian nearly lost herself in the sight. Then she remembered the words Song Zhi had once used to describe Gu Yizhou: “a peerless beauty.”
It really was a perfect description.
Her cheeks flushed slightly, and Su Mianmian nodded.
“Oh. All right, then. I’ll pick something out for you.”
By the time they reached the civil affairs bureau, several couples were already waiting for their numbers to be called.
After Gu Yizhou took a number, he sat with Su Mianmian in the waiting area.
The couple beside them had been visibly thrilled and excited from the moment they arrived.
First they discussed where to go for a celebratory meal after getting their certificates. Then they talked about posting their marriage certificates on their social media so all the single people on their feeds would turn green with envy.
By contrast, Su Mianmian and Gu Yizhou didn’t speak to each other at all. They looked like strangers who barely knew one another.
Just then, Gu Yizhou got a call. He stood and went to answer it by the floor-to-ceiling window.
Su Mianmian let out a quiet breath and was just about to pull out her phone and scroll when the woman from the couple beside her edged closer, her face alight with curiosity.
“Miss, is that your husband?”
Su Mianmian paused for a second.
“We haven’t officially registered yet, so I don’t think he counts.”
The woman covered her mouth and giggled.
“You two look so good together. But I’ve been watching, and you haven’t said a word to each other. You don’t seem like a couple at all.”
Su Mianmian gave an awkward smile.
“He doesn’t talk much.”
The woman nodded.
“Handsome men are usually quiet.”
Her boyfriend immediately objected.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Are you saying I talk too much, or that I’m not handsome?”
The woman stuck out her tongue, then hurriedly turned to soothe him.
“I meant normal men—handsome and quiet. You’re the exception. You talk a lot, and you’re ridiculously handsome!”
Su Mianmian couldn’t help laughing. Just then, Gu Yizhou finished his call and came back, the corners of his lips lifting.
“What’s so funny?”
Su Mianmian’s eyes curved into a smile. She pointed to the couple, who were about to go in for their photo.
“That young woman said you were handsome. Her boyfriend heard, and got jealous.”
Gu Yizhou looked at Su Mianmian warmly.
“And what about you? Do you think I’m handsome, too?”
Su Mianmian hadn’t expected someone as serious as Gu Yizhou to suddenly ask her that. Her cheeks flushed in an instant.
“I-I suppose so. I haven’t really looked closely.”
At least, before today, she really hadn’t looked at him that carefully.
“Mm,” Gu Yizhou said. “You can take your time looking from now on.”
…
By the time they came out with their marriage certificates, it was nearly ten thirty.
Su Mianmian held the bright red booklet in her hands, feeling dazed for a moment.
Was she really married?
In their registration photo, she and Gu Yizhou stood side by side. Su Mianmian wore a white square-neck dress and smiled at the camera, poised and graceful. Beside her, Gu Yizhou’s expression was gentle, his head tilted slightly toward her.
Just from the photo, they looked like a perfect couple, as if they’d been in love for years. Who would have guessed that they barely knew each other at all?
“Finished looking?”
His voice came out of nowhere. Feeling as if she’d been caught doing something she shouldn’t, Su Mianmian quickly closed the marriage certificate.
“Yes.”
Gu Yizhou held out his hand, palm up.
“Then give it to me. You have school, so it’ll be inconvenient for you to keep it.”
Su Mianmian said, “Oh.” She could keep it at home, after all. There was no need to take it to school.
But it was only a certificate. Since he’d offered to keep it for her, she might as well let him.
Gu Yizhou took Su Mianmian’s marriage certificate and put it together with his own.
“What would you like to do next?”
Su Mianmian didn’t understand what he meant.
“I took the day off. I’ll go home for a while, then head back to school this evening.”
Gu Yizhou’s deep gaze settled on her face.
“Mrs. Gu, if I understand you correctly, you’re planning to live separately from your husband as soon as you’re married?”