Jing Mian took two days off around his wedding night.
Life seemed no different from usual.
The only change was that Jing Mian used to have the entire bed to himself.
Now, there was Mr. Ren by his side.
Jing Mian had to give up half of the space to his husband and became much more restrained while sleeping, avoiding too many positions. Especially during their first night sharing the bed without doing anything, Jing Mian even hesitated to turn over, afraid of waking the man.
But the good news was that since the wedding night, Ren Xingwan hadn’t mentioned anything about fulfilling marital obligations.
This made Jing Mian wonder if Mr. Ren was just a traditional person.
Proposing, getting married, living together before the wedding, kissing while cohabiting, and making love on the wedding night—it all seemed to follow the traditional wedding process, as if it were the natural order of things.
That intense and overwhelming sexual experience was just a matter of routine.
However, the day after the wedding night, Jing Mian called Li Daoyang.
Because his phone had run out of battery and automatically shut down, Jing Mian not only missed his live stream but also accidentally stood up his friend for a meal.
So, they rescheduled their meeting for the afternoon.
…And Ren Xingwan drove him there.
As Jing Mian sat in the passenger seat, he silently thought that perhaps he should get a driver’s license.
It wasn’t good to always trouble his husband.
The car arrived at the hotel where Li Daoyang was staying.
Mr. Ren dropped his wife off at the five-star hotel he had arranged for the wedding guests, pulled over, and watched as his wife jogged over to his friend.
Li Daoyang, who had been waiting for a while, waved frantically at Jing Mian.
However, Jing Mian noticed that there was an unfamiliar girl standing next to Li Daoyang.
When the three met, Li Daoyang awkwardly introduced, “This is my girlfriend, An Jing.”
“This is Jing Mian, my best friend from high school.”
An Jing stood beside Li Daoyang and smiled, “Hello, MianMian.”
Jing Mian was slightly stunned, “Hello.”
“Don’t call him MianMian like I do,” Li Daoyang sighed and turned to say, “She came because she heard…”
An Jing couldn’t help but interject, “I heard that MianMian’s marriage partner is Ren Congmian!! When Li Daoyang texted me, I didn’t believe it at first, but then he video-called me during the wedding, and I was completely shocked! Don’t worry, I didn’t take any screenshots. I know how strict the confidentiality is for celebrity weddings. But Ren Congmian is my ultimate bias! I don’t even have a second favorite. I even skipped class to go to his airport greeting. You know, when I was taking the college entrance exam, I heard that Ren Congmian’s hometown was in Lincheng, so I specifically applied to Lincheng as my first choice. Although I didn’t get in, my second choice was S University near Lincheng…”
The two boys listened silently as An Jing rambled on.
Jing Mian was stunned.
Li Daoyang gave Jing Mian a look that said, “See, she’s nothing like her name suggests, right?”
An Jing rubbed her hands together, clasped them, and held a light pink bag in her right hand, saying, “I won’t bother you too much, but I have a small request. Could you ask Ren Congmian to sign these photos, posters, and merchandise for me? Li Daoyang promised me, but he’s so unreliable, so I immediately booked the nearest train ticket to come here. But, could you trouble your husband for this?”
It was the first time Jing Mian had referred to Ren Congmian as his “husband” in front of others, and a strange, subtle tremor stirred in his heart.
Jing Mian hesitated, then nodded: “Sure.”
An Jing excitedly handed the bag to Jing Mian, saying, “Thank you, MianMian, I’m so grateful…”
Jing Mian instinctively glanced sideways and was surprised to find that Mr. Ren’s car was still parked where it had stopped earlier.
The man hadn’t left immediately.
Jing Mian wondered if he should go and ask Mr. Ren now.
“…”
Jing Mian thought that if he were refused, Li Daoyang and his girlfriend might discover the fact that the two of them had a flash marriage with no emotional foundation.
But now, he was in a situation where he had no choice.
Jing Mian still took the items and walked toward Ren Xingwan’s car.
When he opened the car door, his eyes met Mr. Ren’s, and Jing Mian could clearly see the confusion in the man’s gaze.
Jing Mian steeled himself and explained the situation, asking if it would be convenient for the man.
To his surprise, Mr. Ren asked, “Li Daoyang has a girlfriend?”
Jing Mian was a bit puzzled but nodded: “Yes.”
“They’ve been together for over two years.”
“…”
The man’s thin lips pressed together slightly, as if he had fallen into silence.
Jing Mian wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but the indescribable, faintly oppressive atmosphere around Mr. Ren seemed to slowly dissipate, as if clearing up.
It was like a thick fog parting to reveal a faint glimmer of light.
Mr. Ren said, “Alright, give it to me.”
Jing Mian was slightly stunned but handed it over. Inside, besides the items that needed signing, there was also a prepared signature pen.
He watched as Mr. Ren’s long, elegant hand skillfully removed the pen cap and signed on the corner of the photo.
After signing everything,
Instead of carelessly stacking the items together and handing them back in a messy pile,
The man neatly placed everything back into the bag, including the pen.
Jing Mian took it.
He faintly sensed that Mr. Ren’s respect for him seemed to be woven into every subtle, unconscious detail.
Jing Mian said softly, “Thank you, Husband.”
Ren Xingwan asked, “What time should I pick you up?”
Jing Mian wasn’t entirely sure: “I’ll call you before it ends, is that okay?”
“Alright.”
Mr. Ren asked, “Will you be home for dinner tonight?”
Jing Mian remembered the spicy blood tofu Li Daoyang had mentioned and replied, “No, I’ll eat out.”
Mr. Ren lowered his gaze and didn’t speak.
“…”
Jing Mian felt that the scene before him was strangely reminiscent of a husband who was always away from home, casually responding to his devoted wife who had prepared a meal and was waiting for him.
Jing Mian bid farewell to the man.
Before returning to the hotel, An Jing was so excited she could hardly contain herself. She took the bag and repeatedly thanked Jing Mian, holding his hand.
Then, An Jing had to return to school.
Li Daoyang was puzzled: “Didn’t you come here to see me? Wasn’t the signing just a side thing?”
“No, seeing you was the side thing,” An Jing said, exasperated. “The dorm supervisor is doing a check tonight, so I need to take the earliest train back.”
She waved at Jing Mian: “Goodbye, MianMian.”
Jing Mian waved back.
Then she patted Li Daoyang: “Goodbye, Buzzcut.”
Li Daoyang: “…”
After the three parted ways,
Jing Mian and Li Daoyang returned to the bustling shop across from their high school, which served spicy blood tofu, as well as hot pot dishes and fried rice.
By then, the sun had set, and the afterglow lit up the shop’s glass windows, casting a warm glow on the slightly worn wooden tables.
Despite the crowd, the food arrived quickly.
As they ate and chatted, they ordered two bottles of soda to go with the spicy dishes, opting not to drink alcohol.
Recalling the events of the morning, Jing Mian felt a bit guilty and apologized to Li Daoyang: “Sorry, I overslept. Did you call me many times?”
Li Daoyang, however, didn’t seem to mind: “It’s fine, I knew you hadn’t gotten up.”
Jing Mian: “?”
Li Daoyang: “Your husband answered.”
Jing Mian: “?!!”
“He said you were still asleep,” Li Daoyang took a bite of tripe, chewing as he spoke: “I casually asked why you were up so late today.”
Li Daoyang swallowed the tripe, a smear of red oil on the corner of his mouth, and wiped it off: “He said you stayed up late last night.”
Jing Mian: “…”
Li Daoyang: “Then I understood.”
Jing Mian fell silent.
“So, how late did you two go last night?”
Li Daoyang took a sip of soda, puzzled: “My last call was at noon.”
Jing Mian: “…”
Just then, a mouthful of soup-laden food went down, and Jing Mian was caught off guard by the spicy oil, which burned his throat, but the heat seemed to slowly spread to his face.
Even his ears turned red.
“I didn’t check my phone, so I’m not sure.”
Jing Mian answered cautiously: “Probably around four or five in the morning.”
Li Daoyang paused.
The piece of duck blood he was holding with his chopsticks fell.
“Holy shit… you’re a beast.”
Li Daoyang said in shock: “How did you know it was four or five without checking your phone?”
Jing Mian said: “I felt… like the sky was about to light up.”
Li Daoyang: “…”
Is Jing Mian… a little rabbit who fell into a wolf’s den?
Not only was he licked clean, but he was also devoured to the bone.
Li Daoyang bitterly picked up a large piece of meat for Jing Mian, along with some tripe soaked in soup, and said: “Here, eat more.”
The sky was getting dark.
The horizon not far away was gradually blending with and being replaced by the neon lights of the streets. The twilight had not yet completely faded, and the entire city was enveloped in a boundless warm orange sky.
Li Daoyang first packed up at the hotel and went to the front desk to check out. Carrying his luggage, he was accompanied by Jing Mian to the nearby airport.
Li Daoyang’s vacation was short, and the journey itself would take most of the day. Three days were simply not enough to make it worthwhile, so he had booked a flight for the evening, planning to leave right after the trip.
Jing Mian thought for a moment and, as per their morning agreement, sent his location to Mr. Ren.
Although the distance wasn’t far, there was still some traffic. In the blink of an eye, through the glass window, they saw the river under the bridge turn deep, and the sky had already darkened.
The night was quiet, like a heavy backdrop.
Li Daoyang and Jing Mian stepped onto the sidewalk beside the road, not far from the airport.
The two stopped, the wind gently brushing their clothes. Li Daoyang scratched his head and spoke: “Coming back this time was unexpected. I didn’t think I’d get married at twenty, to a man, and it was a whirlwind romance.”
Jing Mian: “…”
“But after meeting you, I somehow felt at ease.”
Jing Mian was slightly taken aback.
Li Daoyang said: “Do you remember when we first met?”
“Every time I spoke, you would stiffen or try to avoid me. Although you seemed well-behaved and polite in everyone’s eyes, you always gave me a feeling of… keeping people at a distance.”
“Perhaps I’m the kind of persistent friend who gets more upset the more you ignore me, which is why we’ve managed to stay in touch until now. To be honest, sometimes when you deliberately keep your distance and act aloof, your disguise isn’t very convincing… Even now, I’m not entirely sure if you consider me a friend.”
Jing Mian’s footsteps halted.
He felt his heart gradually freeze, unable to speak.
Li Daoyang also turned around. He slung his bag over one shoulder and said in a deep voice, “But seeing you this time, I feel like you’ve changed.”
“It seems like you’re not as lonely as before.”
He paused, then added softly, “Before, it felt like you were barely holding on.”
Li Daoyang’s voice grew lighter, as if a weight had been lifted: “But now, that feeling has mostly disappeared.”
“It seems like you’re starting to accept yourself again.”
“And you’re beginning to accept life, and other people too.”
Li Daoyang smiled as he spoke: “Jing Mian, it’s been a tough journey.”
“Welcome back.”
…
Jing Mian pursed his lips.
He lowered his gaze, a bittersweet feeling welling up, gradually spreading to the tip of his nose.
“From the looks of it now, your marriage isn’t just a whirlwind romance after all,” Li Daoyang said with a laugh.
At that moment, a black car approached from the distance and slowly came to a stop.
Since Jing Mian had his back to the street, his view was limited. Li Daoyang glanced over casually at first, but then the car looked increasingly familiar.
After all, men tend to be sensitive to luxury car models, and the more Li Daoyang looked, the more he thought… wasn’t that the same car that had dropped Jing Mian off this morning?!
Li Daoyang’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he nudged Jing Mian: “Is that your husband’s car?”
Jing Mian turned around, his pupils freezing.
It really was Mr. Ren’s car!
Given that he had only sent the message a short while ago and hadn’t called, he hadn’t expected the man to see it so quickly.
How had he arrived so fast?
The man stepped out of the driver’s seat.
Mr. Ren held a coat in his hand. As he approached, he unfolded it and draped it over Jing Mian’s shoulders.
The coat was large, completely enveloping him, driving away the bone-chilling cold, thick and warm. The hem reached his knees, and the collar covered his neck snugly, giving him a strong sense of security.
Mr. Ren spoke: “When is he leaving?”
Jing Mian felt a pang of embarrassment—this was being said right in front of Li Daoyang.
Jing Mian looked up: “He’ll be leaving in a little while.”
Mr. Ren lowered his gaze: “I’ll wait for you in the car.”
Jing Mian: “Alright.”
…
Through the car window, Li Daoyang looked down, seemingly saying something to Jing Mian.
Jing Mian nodded, then replied with a few words.
Then, Li Daoyang leaned in, wrapping his arms around Jing Mian in a bear hug, and patted the young man’s back.
…
At that moment, the car window beside them slowly rolled down a notch.
Mr. Ren said: “Are you done?”
“You can’t park here—the traffic police will issue a ticket.”
His tone was flat.
Both men were startled, and Li Daoyang quickly stepped back. They waved at each other, hastily saying their goodbyes.
Jing Mian also hurried into the car.
After sitting in the passenger seat, he felt both anxious and a little guilty. He thought that Mr. Ren had broken the traffic rules to pick him up, so he should be the one to pay the fine later.
But to his surprise, Mr. Ren started the car and swiftly merged into the street traffic, the car gliding away so fast that even the exhaust fumes were almost out of sight.
Jing Mian: “?”
…
Where was the traffic police?