Xiao Liu watched them leave with a motherly smile. This was truly like a novel coming to life. It was so delightful to witness!
“Miss? Miss?”
“Excuse me, where do we register?” a young couple asked.
Xiao Liu snapped out of her thoughts, put her professional smile back on, and said energetically, “Hello! Please register over here.”
Manager Wang led them into a room equipped with a camera. A photographer was sitting nearby; this was where they would take their wedding photos.
The photographer said, “Gentlemen, please come this way.”
He adjusted the camera and looked at the two men standing with enough space between them to fit another person. Feeling somewhat helpless, he said, “Could you two move a little closer together?”
Lu Jinglin glanced at the distance between them. It was indeed a bit wide. He took a step toward Xia Yuning, closing the gap until their shoulders brushed.
“Yes, that is perfect! Please hold still. Right there, yes.”
The photographer clicked the shutter a few times, but he felt something was missing. He was not satisfied with the result.
It was rare to have such good subjects; both young men possessed incredible charm and good looks. Naturally, he wanted to capture the best possible shot. After a moment of contemplation, he had an idea.
He gave Lu Jinglin an apologetic smile and said, “Sir, would you mind placing your hand on this gentleman’s waist? The previous shots were not quite perfect. Since both of you are so handsome, I really want to take the best possible photograph. Would that be alright?”
Lu Jinglin looked like a high-level executive, and such people were usually quite busy. The photographer was worried about wasting his time, so he added, “Of course, if you are uncomfortable, that is fine. The previous shots were quite good.”
Lu Jinglin raised an eyebrow, glanced at Xia Yuning’s waist, and said, “That is fine. What do you think?”
He looked up, meeting Xia Yuning’s eyes to ask for his opinion.
Xia Yuning smiled faintly. “I have no problem with it.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Jinglin reached out and placed his hand lightly on Xia Yuning’s waist.
Xia Yuning stiffened, his waist instinctively tensing up.
Lu Jinglin moved his fingers slightly, thinking that the waist was quite slim.
“Yes, yes, that is the feeling! Hold it!” The photographer clicked the shutter, clearly excited. “Perfect! Perfect! This photo is amazing! It is absolutely perfect!”
Looking at the final result, the photographer was practically dancing with excitement. “You two have such great looks! You are so photogenic! Simply perfect!”
Xia Yuning smiled politely. “Thank you.” With that, he took a small step back, pulling away from Lu Jinglin’s hand.
He let out a quiet sigh of relief; it was finally over.
Lu Jinglin lowered his eyes, his gaze dark. He looked at his empty hand, curling his fingers into a fist before releasing them, deep in thought.
By the time all the paperwork was finished, it was noon. After leaving the Civil Affairs Bureau, they planned to head to their new marital home. Sitting in the car and looking at the red marriage certificate in his hand, Xia Yuning felt a sense of surrealism. He could not help but reflect that he was now a married man.
Suddenly, a wave of dizziness hit him. He shook his head. Because of the morning’s events, he had not eaten breakfast, and the original owner suffered from hypoglycemia. He was so hungry that his vision was blurring.
“What is wrong?” Lu Jinglin frowned. Xia Yuning’s face was pale as paper, looking as if he might faint at any moment.
“It is nothing. I did not eat breakfast, and my blood sugar is low,” Xia Yuning said with a weak smile.
He certainly did not look like he was fine. Lu Jinglin searched the car and found a few candies, which he handed over.
Xia Yuning looked at the candies. He wanted to take them, but his symptoms were getting worse, and he lacked the strength to do so. “Mr. Lu, could you feed me? I have no strength left.”
With the driver in front, he felt quite embarrassed, his ears turning red.
The driver in front thought: Do not mind me, I am just a heartless driver. (●—●)
Lu Jinglin looked at Xia Yuning’s red ears and unconsciously rubbed his fingers together.
Just as Xia Yuning thought Lu Jinglin was unwilling to feed him, a rustling sound followed, and a candy was offered to his lips. He quickly opened his mouth and took it. Because he was in such a hurry, his lips accidentally brushed against the man’s fingertip, which had not yet been retracted.
It was a fleeting touch, yet it left a lingering impression.
Lu Jinglin’s Adam’s apple bobbed. The place where he had been touched felt hot. He rubbed his fingers again, still feeling that brief sensation.
It was soft.
“Thank you.” The candy slowly melted in his mouth, the sweetness spreading and relieving his discomfort.
It was so sweet. It tasted like strawberry milk.
Lu Jinglin stuffed the rest of the candies into Xia Yuning’s hand. “Keep the rest. Eat a few more in a while. There are no shops nearby, and we will be at the villa soon. Just hold on a little longer.”
“Okay.” Xia Yuning gripped the candies in his hand, the plastic wrappers rustling in his palm. After a while, he unwrapped another milk candy and put it in his mouth. He asked indistinctly, “Does Mr. Lu like eating candy?”
He could not imagine someone like Lu Jinglin liking candy, let alone such sweet candy that he kept it in his car.
Lu Jinglin turned his head and looked at Xia Yuning’s cheeks, puffed out from the candy, which he found rather cute. “I do not. These are kept in the car by the child at home.”
A child at home?
Xia Yuning remembered the original text mentioned that Lu Jinglin had an older sister, but it never described a child. He assumed the child must be his sister’s.
Xia Yuning nodded in response.
He felt much better now, though he was still a bit dizzy, so he closed his eyes to rest.
When they arrived, a butler in uniform stood at the entrance of the villa. He bowed slightly and said respectfully, “Sir, Madam, please follow me.”
Xia Yuning asked him, “How should I address you?”
The butler was stunned for a moment. “Madam, you can just call me Butler Luo.”
“Then I will call you Uncle Luo from now on. Also, calling me Madam feels awkward. Let us change it,” Xia Yuning said with a smile.
The corner of Butler Luo’s mouth curved into a smile as he asked, “Then, Young Master Yuning?”
Xia Yuning nodded. “Yes, that works.”
Lu Jinglin looked at Xia Yuning but said nothing.
He turned to Butler Luo and instructed, “Butler Luo, go get the snacks delivered by Fengxiang Building today for Xia Yuning so he can have something to eat.” He had not forgotten about the hypoglycemia.
Xia Yuning had almost forgotten about it himself. He was no longer feeling that uncomfortable, but seeing that Lu Jinglin still remembered, he felt happy.
“Yes, Sir,” Butler Luo replied.
Fengxiang Building was an industry under the Yao family in Nancheng. It was a restaurant specializing in dim sum. They had many branches all over the country, and Lu Jinglin’s good friend, Yao Ziyue, was currently in charge of it.
Yao Ziyue would send Lu Jinglin signature snacks every few days. When he first suggested it, he told Lu Jinglin, “You keep such a cold face every day; be careful or you will never find a wife. I will send you snacks often. I hope these sweet snacks can warm your stomach and your heart. Maybe if you eat more of them, you will stop frowning all the time, ha ha ha…”
Naturally, Lu Jinglin’s only response at the time had been, “Get out.”
Butler Luo led them into the villa. Xia Yuning looked around; this villa was where he would live from now on.
Inside the villa was a small garden. A large patch of roses was planted in the flowerbeds in various colors. They were currently just buds, swaying gently in the breeze.
Upon entering the living room, one could see the sea of flowers through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Xia Yuning could imagine how magnificent it would be when they all bloomed together.
In early spring, the sky grew dark early. The colors of the day had already faded, leaving only a touch of orange-red on the horizon. The garden lights outside slowly flickered on, and stars gradually appeared. The flower buds swayed with the evening breeze, and that swaying motion seemed to settle into his heart.
Xia Yuning’s tension from the day was cured by the scenery. As he ate the snacks provided by Uncle Luo, which not only looked beautiful but tasted delicious, he smiled and said, “Mr. Lu, let me cook dinner tonight. It can be a token of my gratitude for you helping me resolve the conflict today.”
Lu Jinglin was surprised and looked at Xia Yuning uncertainly. “You can cook?”
“Of course.” Xia Yuning swallowed the snack and said, “So, if you do not mind, let me prepare dinner tonight.”
His expression was earnest, and those alluring peach-blossom eyes looked straight at Lu Jinglin, his amber pupils reflecting Lu Jinglin’s silhouette.