Since the Civil Affairs Bureau does not provide photography services, Fu Sinian had booked a photographer to come and take their wedding photos for them.
In the studio, the two stood in front of the backdrop preparing to take photos. The photographer directed them, “You two stand a little closer. Mr. Fu, you can put your arm around your wife’s waist—that way it looks more affectionate.”
The two shortened the distance with their steps.
One step, two steps—their shoes touched.
Fu Sinian wrapped his arm around her waist, and the two pressed seamlessly together.
The heat from his palm was intense, resting on her waist.
Lin Qing felt a bit unaccustomed to it, but for the sake of the photos, she maintained a smile on her face.
It was just a few minutes.
OK, she could endure it.
Click, click—they took a couple of shots.
But the photographer continued, “Mr. Fu, hug your wife.”
Lin Qing’s eyes widened.
Hug??
Before she could react, Fu Sinian stood behind her, his arms wrapping around her from the back, both hands tightly holding her waist.
Damn!
This was even more excessive than before!
Lin Qing stepped on his leather shoe with her foot, and Fu Sinian frowned slightly.
Fu Sinian was 185 cm tall, Lin Qing 164 cm without high heels. When he hugged her from behind, her forehead reached exactly to his chin.
It was the perfect angle for the photographer to capture great shots.
“Yes, just like that. Now, give her a kiss.”
Kiss??
Lin Qing was about to struggle free from Fu Sinian’s hands when she heard the photographer say this.
The next second, the man’s thin lips gently landed on her cheek.
Lightly, like a feather touching the water’s surface.
Lin Qing felt as if something had scratched her heart.
Her whole body trembled.
Click, click—the photographer timely captured the moment.
His kiss was fleeting, lingering on her face for just two seconds.
Lin Qing turned around, looked up at him, and saw his smiling face. She secretly reached one hand toward his waist and pinched the soft flesh there.
It hurt a bit from the pinch, but Fu Sinian kept smiling on his face, continuing to look at the photographer.
“Come on, smile.” The photographer said.
Though Lin Qing was sulking inside, for the sake of good photos, she forced a smile.
The photoshoot ended. The two thanked the photographer and then left the studio.
As soon as they stepped out the door, Lin Qing patted and hit his back. “Fu Sinian, you took advantage of me.”
Fu Sinian dodged a few attacks from her “claws” and laughed, “That was the photographer’s request. Go complain to him.”
“You’re still making excuses.” Lin Qing stomped her foot and went to hit him again.
Fu Sinian caught her hand and coaxed, “Hurry and get in the car. It’s ten o’clock—if we don’t go to the Civil Affairs Bureau now, they’ll close for lunch.”
The passenger door opened, and Lin Qing was pulled in by Fu Sinian.
Fu Sinian drove off.
Along the way, Fu Sinian said many sweet words before finally coaxing Lin Qing back to a good mood.
Jinmao Mansion is located in the north of the city, while the Civil Affairs Bureau is in the west—it takes over an hour to drive there.
Fu Sinian parked the car at the entrance of the Civil Affairs Bureau.
Lin Qing looked at the open gates of the Civil Affairs Bureau and said, “Fu Sinian, what if I’m a bit nervous?”
Fu Sinian stared at her. “I’m nervous too.”
“If you want to back out, there’s still time to run away from the wedding.”
Lin Qing shrugged. “No way. If I run, I won’t get to claim your billions in assets.”
“You little money-grubber.”
The two got out of the car together.
Since it was a weekday, there weren’t many couples coming to register their marriage. Fu Sinian handed over both household registration books, ID cards, and three 2-inch photos to the staff.
Then they scanned their fingerprints, signed the marriage registration declaration, and pressed their thumbprints.
Ten minutes later, the staff handed the marriage certificates to them.
Lin Qing held the red booklet and let out a sigh.
Starting today, she had officially ended her single life and entered marriage.
She still felt a bit nostalgic about being single.
The staff member was an older auntie who couldn’t help but smile and tease, “Young lady, shouldn’t you be happy about getting married? Why are you sighing?”
“Ah, no, I’m happy—very happy!” Lin Qing smiled at her.
The auntie continued teasing, “Your husband is so handsome. Young lady, you’re really fortunate.”
Lin Qing blushed a bit from the teasing.
She glanced at Fu Sinian—he was indeed very handsome.
But you can’t judge a person just by their looks.
From the earlier photoshoot, she felt this man was quite cunning—he loved tricking her.
A little while later, the staff led the two to the oath platform.
At the oath platform, the two held the oath script and recited the marriage vows together.
“We voluntarily become husband and wife. From this day forward, we will jointly shoulder the responsibilities and obligations bestowed upon us by marriage: honoring our parents, educating our children, respecting and loving each other, supporting one another through thick and thin, whether in prosperity or adversity, richness or poverty, health or illness, youth or old age—we will stand together through storms, share joys and sorrows, and accompany each other for life.”
“Oath taker, Fu Sinian.”
“Oath taker, Lin Qing.”
With the oath complete,
Fu Sinian and Lin Qing were officially married.
“Congratulations, Miss Lin.”
Lin Qing was stunned for a moment—she hadn’t expected Fu Sinian to still call her “Miss Lin” instead of “Mrs. Fu.”
She curved her lips into a smile. “Congratulations to you too, Mr. Fu.”
The registration process was very simple—it was over in half an hour.
Lin Qing walked out the gates of the Civil Affairs Bureau.
The midday sun was intense, strong light shining on the ground. She raised her hand to block the sunlight, then looked at the marriage certificate in her hand again.
On the certificate, both of their faces were smiling happily.
Lin Qing could hardly believe it.
At this very moment, she had become someone else’s wife.
Fu Sinian walked a few steps, about to open the car door, when Lin Qing called him back.
“Fu Sinian, wait. Come here and take a few photos for me—I want to post on my Moments.”
When Lin Qing spoke, Fu Sinian didn’t dare refuse. He could only walk back over.
Lin Qing held her phone and took selfies.
Click, click.
She took one of herself,
and also a photo together with Fu Sinian.
“Go stand over there—let’s get a wide shot too.” Lin Qing directed Fu Sinian to pose for photos.
Fu Sinian, who had never understood how to take photos of women, completely let Lin Qing take charge.
“You half-squat down, hold the phone at a 45-degree angle upward, and shoot toward me.”
Fu Sinian said “Oh,” walked about three meters away, and half-squatted down.
“Yes, yes, just like that.”
Lin Qing held the marriage certificate and smiled.
Click, click.
The photos came out.
Under the sunlight, in a white blouse and jeans, high ponytail, full of youthful energy, with a sweet smile.
The effect was excellent.
Lin Qing looked at the phone with satisfaction.
Fu Sinian stood in front of the car and waved to Lin Qing, who was still standing on the steps. “Lin Qing, come here.”
Hearing him call, Lin Qing walked over.
As soon as she reached the car,
Fu Sinian said, “Close your eyes.”
Lin Qing didn’t know what he was up to, but she obediently closed her eyes.
Fu Sinian opened the trunk.
“Okay, open your eyes now.”
As soon as Lin Qing opened her eyes, a bouquet of pink roses was stuffed into her hands.
There were 99 roses in total, different from ordinary roses.
The ones Fu Sinian gave her
were Juliet roses, with a faint fruity fragrance, elegant and noble in appearance.
Fu Sinian asked, “Do you like them?”
He had assumed women would be thrilled to receive roses.
But unexpectedly, the next moment, Lin Qing suddenly let out an “Achoo!”
She quickly handed the roses back to him.
She pulled a tissue from her bag and wiped her nose.
“Achoo” several times—she sneezed a few more times.
Her tone carried a hint of grievance.
“Fu Sinian, I’m allergic to pollen—hurry up and take the flowers away!”
Fu Sinian: “…”
Lin Qing kept sneezing nonstop. Fu Sinian quickly put the roses back in the trunk and closed the door.
“Are you okay?” Fu Sinian asked with concern.
Lin Qing’s nose tip was red, and she kept wiping her runny nose with tissues.
It took a while before she finally calmed down.
She looked at Fu Sinian standing in front of the car, looking a bit helpless and awkward, and suddenly burst out laughing. “Romance fail, huh? I told you early on—your tricks don’t work on me.”
Fu Sinian smiled helplessly. “I should have known. You never play by the rules.”
The romantic gesture was a complete failure.
But it didn’t affect their good mood at all.
After finishing the marriage registration, at noon Fu Sinian drove Lin Qing to a Cantonese restaurant for lunch, then they went home for a nap.
At three in the afternoon, the two headed out to the hospital for the premarital health check.
Since Lin Qing was pregnant and couldn’t undergo X-rays, she only had blood drawn.
Fu Sinian, on the other hand, completed all the checks listed on the premarital examination form.
A little after five, the two left the hospital.
Lin Qing sent a message to Zhou Yan: 【Mom, have you landed yet? The dinner gathering tonight is on the third floor of Baihao Hotel. Remember to come.】
Zhou Yan didn’t reply to the message.
She was probably still on the plane.
Fu Sinian drove straight to the hotel.
Baihao Hotel was a property under Ruifeng, very close to Jinxiu Manor—only a twenty-minute drive.
Lin Qing and Fu Sinian arrived at the hotel early; neither the Lin nor Fu families had arrived yet.
The two ordered some dishes first and waited for the family members to come.
“The great reconciliation of the century is about to happen—I’m actually a bit excited. You’ll handle the atmosphere tonight, okay? Don’t let it get awkward.”
“You’re a lawyer—eloquent and good at debating. Shouldn’t you be the one controlling the scene?”
“I’m giving you face and letting you shine. If I dominate the conversation, your family might have opinions about me later?”
Fu Sinian smiled. “Alright, tonight it’s my turn to perform.”
The Lin family arrived before the Fu family.
As soon as Madam Lin entered, she held Fu Sinian’s hand tightly and kept praising him.
Fu Sinian called out to Lin Nanshan and Sun Miaoyun: “Dad, Aunt Sun.”
The change in address came very naturally.
Lin Nanshan and Sun Miaoyun nodded in acknowledgment.
Lin Qing saw Lin Qi beside Sun Miaoyun and smiled. “Wow, it’s rare to see Xiao Qi dressed like this today.”
Her younger sister had ditched her usual punk style for sportswear, and her hair was dyed brown—looking much more normal.
But her expression was as if someone owed her money.
Lin Qing guessed right away that Sun Miaoyun had made her dress this way.
Lin Qi let out a light humph, ignored Lin Qing’s words, and sat down directly in her seat.
Three minutes later, the Fu family arrived.
Lin Qing and Fu Sinian quickly stood up and went to the door to help Grandpa Fu.
As soon as Grandpa Fu entered, his gaze swept over Lin Nanshan and Madam Lin without a word. He kept a stern face and sat in the main seat.
“Auntie, Uncle.” Lin Qing greeted Jiang Li and her husband.
Jiang Li responded with an “Ai.” “You child, you’ve already registered—stop calling us uncle and auntie. Time to change how you address us.”
Lin Qing lowered her eyes, her cheeks slightly red, and softly called, “Dad, Mom.”
“Good, good, good.”
“Good child.”
Jiang Li and Fu Yiqing beamed with joy.
Ten minutes later, Zhou Yan finally arrived in a hurry.
“Sorry everyone, I just got off the plane and am a step late.”
As she spoke, she removed her sunglasses and handed them to her assistant behind her.
Then she glanced at Lin Nanshan and Sun Miaoyun, her expression calm as she walked to the seat beside Lin Qing and sat down.
Back when the Lin patriarch was still alive, the two families had a very unpleasant fallout.
At the start of this gathering, the atmosphere was somewhat awkward.
But fortunately, Fu Sinian had arranged the seating very cleverly.
Madam Lin with Grandpa Fu, Jiang Li with Zhou Yan, Lin Nanshan with Fu Yiqing—paired together.
People of similar ages could occasionally chat a bit.
Fu Sinian acted as the icebreaker, raising his wine glass to Lin Nanshan and Zhou Yan. “Dad, Mom, this glass is for you. Thank you for raising such an outstanding daughter. Marrying Qingqing is the greatest fortune of my life.”
The word “Qingqing” immediately gave Lin Qing goosebumps.
Lin Nanshan also raised his glass and clinked it with Fu Sinian’s. “Sinian, what are you saying? Qingqing has never been as outstanding as you since she was little. She has many bad habits and flaws—please be more tolerant of her in the future.”
Zhou Yan said, “You two must live well together from now on. Couples need to adjust to each other. Qingqing has a bad temper—if she ever makes you unhappy, just tell Mom, and Mom will deal with her.”
Fu Sinian replied, “Qingqing is very good. She has no bad habits.”
Lin Qing smiled at him a few times.
Since she was pregnant and couldn’t drink alcohol, Lin Qing poured juice into her wine glass to pass it off as red wine. She raised her glass to Grandpa Fu and Fu Yiqing’s couple.
“Grandpa, Dad, Mom, I also want to thank you. Thank you for agreeing to let Sinian and me be together. Thank you for raising such a flawless good husband for me.”
With these words of gratitude, the emotional Jiang Li was almost moved to tears.
Grandpa Fu’s expression softened a bit as he instructed the two, “Our Fu family has had no divorces for several generations. Once married, live well and don’t cause any trouble.”
“Understood?”
“Understood, Grandpa.”
“Understood, Grandpa.”
Madam Lin watched the two families getting along harmoniously and couldn’t help wiping away tears.
As the dinner progressed halfway, the two families gradually warmed up. Lin Nanshan and Fu Yiqing chatted about business matters, Zhou Yan and Jiang Li—who had been good friends many years ago—caught up on recent events. Grandpa Fu wasn’t much of a talker; Madam Lin asked a question, and he answered one.
The atmosphere gradually became harmonious.
Throughout the entire dinner, only Fu Yan and Lin Qi sitting across from her stared at each other with wide eyes, like enemies, without exchanging a single word.
Lin Qing noticed something off between Fu Yan and Lin Qi and asked Fu Sinian,
“Did your sister and my sister have some grudge?”
“Mm, they pulled each other’s hair accessories and even fought. It was more serious than when we were kids.”
“Ah, they even fought.”
Lin Qing looked at Fu Yan and Lin Qi and sighed inwardly.
The grudge between her and Fu Sinian had been resolved.
These two still hadn’t settled theirs.
The meeting between both sets of parents.
That entire evening, Lin Qing was stunned.
Fu Sinian was constantly attentive. Whenever the elders toasted him, he accepted without refusal.
His acting was more genuine than gold.
His words were sweeter than honey.
The dinner lasted until nine o’clock. Lin Nanshan and Fu Yiqing took their wives, daughters, and fathers back to Jinxiu Manor. Zhou Yan took her assistant back to Crescent Bay.
Fu Sinian had drunk too much and didn’t dare drive.
Lin Qing was in charge of driving.
Along the way, Fu Sinian sat in the passenger seat, closing his eyes for a light nap.
Half an hour later, the car stopped in the underground garage of Jinmao Mansion.
“Hey, Fu Sinian, are you okay?”
Lin Qing shook his shoulder, urging him to get out. “We’re home. Wake up.”
Fu Sinian turned his head to look at Lin Qing, his eyes heavy with drunkenness.
He chuckled foolishly, opened the car door, and walked a bit unsteadily.
Seeing he was unsteady on his feet, Lin Qing quickly went to support him.
Fu Sinian leaned his whole body over. Lin Qing couldn’t dodge and could only let him lean on her.
As they walked, Lin Qing grumbled, “You were way too eager to please. My mom has a great tolerance for alcohol—how could you possibly outdrink her?”
Fu Sinian, half-drunk and half-awake, scraped her nose lightly. “Wasn’t it you who told me to perform? How did I do tonight—are you satisfied?”
Lin Qing supported him.
Warm breath brushed against her ear.
The rich aroma of alcohol mixed with the scent of cedar made her frown.
As soon as Fu Sinian entered the room, before he even reached the bathroom, he vomited on the floor. “Ugh—”
Lin Qing quickly said, “Don’t vomit here—go to the bathroom if you’re going to throw up.”
Lin Qing supported Fu Sinian to the bathroom and got a cup for him to rinse his mouth.
Then she helped him back to his bedroom, where he collapsed onto the bed in an instant.
“Damn, you’re really heavy.”
Her shoulder ached from supporting him.
Lin Qing rubbed her shoulder, about to get up from the bed. The next moment, Fu Sinian’s arm wrapped around her neck and pulled her down.
“Mm—”
In that instant, Lin Qing’s eyes widened.
A soft sensation touched her lips—wet and warm.
A surge of electricity rushed through her mind.
Her brain went blank in an instant.
The air grew still.
In that moment, time seemed to freeze.
A few seconds later, Lin Qing, coming to her senses, pushed Fu Sinian away, pounded his chest, and cursed, “Fu Sinian, are you sick or something?”
She wiped her lips several times.
Kissing someone who had just vomited.
She felt like throwing up too.
The next second, Lin Qing ran to the bathroom and vomited as well.
This kiss really didn’t taste good at all.
It successfully triggered her morning sickness.
After finishing vomiting, Lin Qing walked out of the bathroom. Her gaze swept over the bed—Fu Sinian’s entire face was flushed red, his brows deeply furrowed, his hand pressed against his forehead, looking very uncomfortable.
He was drunk; she couldn’t just ignore him.
Lin Qing went to the bathroom, found a clean towel, wet it, wrung it out, then walked out of the room.
She touched Fu Sinian’s forehead—it was hot.
She used the towel to wipe his face.
The cool towel touched his skin.
Fu Sinian opened his eyes and turned his head to look at her.
Their eyes met. Under the influence of alcohol, Fu Sinian’s gaze was tinged with deep affection.
He reached out and held Lin Qing’s hand.
Lin Qing frowned. “What are you doing?”
The next moment, Fu Sinian brought her hand to his lips and gently kissed it, then rested his cheek against the back of her hand, nuzzling it.
“How do you change so much when you’re drunk?!”
Lin Qing pried Fu Sinian’s face away and pulled her hand back.
“I’m not drunk at all! I’m not drunk!” He let out a hiccup.
Well, he was truly quite drunk—his tone had even changed.
Lin Qing said, “I’ll go make you some hangover soup. You sleep for a bit.”
Lin Qing tucked the blanket around Fu Sinian, turned off the light, planning to let him sleep a while. She went downstairs to the kitchen, searched online for a simple hangover soup recipe.
She opened the fridge and checked—there happened to be soybean sprouts, scallions, and garlic.
So, following the online tutorial, she removed the wilted roots from the soybean sprouts, washed and drained them. She minced the garlic and chopped the scallions into flowers for later use.
She added about 1000 ml of water to the pot, brought it to a boil over high heat, then added the soybean sprouts. Next, she added the minced garlic and soy sauce, stirred evenly, and switched to low heat to simmer for 10 minutes.
Once the sprouts were cooked, she added salt and white pepper.
Three minutes later, it was ready to serve.
Lin Qing looked at the pot of sprout soup and nodded in satisfaction.
She carried the sprout soup into the room, turned on the light, and placed it on the desk to the side.
Fu Sinian was still sleeping.
Lin Qing went to wake him. “Fu Sinian, wake up.”
Fu Sinian groggily opened his eyes. After sleeping a bit, he felt much better.
Lin Qing handed him the hangover soup to drink.
Fu Sinian took it and gulped it down in one go.
After he finished, Lin Qing stood up to leave. Unexpectedly, Fu Sinian hugged her from behind. “Don’t go, Qingqing, don’t go.”
She was entangled by him again. He hugged Lin Qing from behind, his hands resting on her waist, restlessly moving upward until they touched that soft layer.
Lin Qing was startled. “Ah, Fu Sinian, don’t touch my chest!”
She scolded angrily and pried his hands away.
Fu Sinian fell back onto the bed, closed his eyes, and murmured, “Qingqing, don’t go, stay with me.”
“Qingqing!”
“Qingqing!”
Fu Sinian called out a few more times.
Lin Qing was going crazy inside.
Aaaah, she had thought her own drunken state was already bad enough.
She never expected this man to be even more out of control than her.