Page 223

"Sorry," Song Che said, "I'm in a hurry."

"Are you... alright?"

"It's nothing," he smiled. "I'm getting married today."

The senior student's hand holding the coffee trembled, and the remaining half cup spilled.

Song Che had already walked away. The sound of the stairwell door being pushed open came from the end of the corridor, followed by the hurried footsteps of high heels on the stairs.

As soon as he stepped out of the school gate, a taxi was already waiting. He opened the car door and got in. The driver glanced at him in the rearview mirror. "Young man, where to?"

“Nanhui,” Song Che said, “Locust Tree Lane.”

"That's not close."

"No rush, drive slowly." Song Che leaned back in his seat and tugged at his collar. He was wearing a suit and shirt today.

The knotted tie is Xia Li's style.

The way she tied her tie was exactly the same as the way he tied his scarf, and they couldn't be untied.

My neck feels a bit constricted now, like I'm hanging myself.

The car drove out of the university town and onto the elevated highway. Song Che looked out the window and suddenly remembered that when he left this morning, Xia Li had stood at the door to see him off. She was wearing a white nightgown, her hair was messy, and her eyes were not fully open, but she was already holding the tie in her hand.

"Are you going to the lab today?" she asked.

"Yes, we have an experiment to finish, it'll be over soon."

What time will you be back?

Before 10 o'clock.

Xia Li nodded, put the tie around his neck, and began to tie it. After tying it, she stepped back to look at it, then leaned back to adjust it.

"Is it pretty?" she asked.

"nice."

Xia Li smiled, tiptoed and kissed him on the cheek, "Go on, come back soon."

Song Che glanced back as he left. Xia Li was still standing at the door, wearing a white nightgown, her hair disheveled, and barefoot. She saw him turn around and waved.

"Drive carefully."

"Ah."

After exiting the elevated road, the entrance to Huai Shu Lane became visible, marked by a red archway adorned with a golden "囍" (double happiness) character. Red lanterns hung on either side of the archway, swaying gently in the breeze. A red carpet stretched from the lane entrance all the way to the front door of each house. Flower baskets filled with lilies and roses—red, white, and pink—lined the carpet, their fragrance mingling and wafting from afar.

Song Che paid the fare and got out of the car.

Standing at the alley entrance, he suddenly felt a little dazed. He had walked this alley countless times—as a child, carrying his schoolbag, going to and from school; as an adult, riding his bicycle, the wind blowing past his ears; and later, walking hand in hand with Xia Li, who was wearing a dress, stepping on the bluestone pavement.

Today, this alley is different. Red carpets, red lanterns, red double happiness symbols—everything is red, like a red river flowing from the alley entrance to the doorstep.

Today, he's going to pick Xia Li up from here.

A number of people were already standing at the door. Jiang Shuo, wearing a white shirt and with his hair slicked back, was looking around when he saw Song Che and shouted, "He's here! The groom's here!"

Zhang Hanyu stood next to him, wearing a red dress and unusually made up. She looked Song Che up and down and said, "Not bad, not embarrassing."

Song Che ignored her and walked straight into the house.

Jiang Shuo called from behind, "Slow down, it's not auspicious time yet!"

Song Che didn't even turn his head. "Let me check on Xia Li."

"You can't look!" Tao Xiang rushed out of the house, spreading her arms to block him. She was wearing a pink dress today, with two buns in her hair and red hair ties. "Mom said that the groom can't see the bride beforehand, it's bad luck."

Song Che stopped and looked at Tao Xiang. "I'll just take a look."

"No."

"One glance."

"Not even half a glance." Tao Xiang shook her head firmly. "Go wait in the living room, and you'll be allowed to see it when the time comes."

Song Che was pushed into the living room by Tao Xiang. The living room had already been decorated, with red double happiness symbols pasted on the walls, peanuts and red dates on the coffee table, and plates piled high with food.

Zhang Shushu came out of the kitchen, wearing a floral apron and holding a spatula. "You're back? Go change your clothes quickly. Your suit is hanging in the inner room."

"Mom, where's Xia Li?"

"She's in the inner room. Taoxiang won't let you see, and I wouldn't dare let you see either," Zhang Shushu said with a smile. "Just wait a little while, what's the rush?"

Song Che didn't say anything and went to the inner room to change into a suit. When he came out, Jiang Shuo whistled, "Handsome, Che-ge."

Zhang Hanyu nodded, "Yes, clothes make the man."

Song Che had no interest in arguing with them. He sat on the sofa, staring blankly at the lotus seeds on the coffee table.

Time passed very slowly. The second hand ticked weakly, as if it were going to give way.

He picked up a longan, peeled it, and put it in his mouth. It was sweet, but he couldn't taste anything.

"Are you nervous?" Zhang Hanyu asked.

"I'm not nervous."

"Then why are you eating longan?"

Song Che looked down at the longan shell in his hand. "I don't know."

Jiang Shuo chuckled beside him, "Brother Che is nervous, this is the first time I've ever seen that."

Song Che glared at him, and Jiang Shuo shut up, but he was about to burst out.

Finally, Tao Xiang ran over, "It's time! The groom can go see the bride now!"

Song Che stood up, took a couple of steps, and found his legs were a little weak. He took a deep breath, walked to the door of the inner room, and pushed it open.

Xia Li stood with her back to the door.

She was wearing a white wedding dress, which she bought from a bridal shop in a nearby hotel. It wasn't expensive, nor was it particularly beautiful, but Xia Li was stubborn and insisted on having only this one. The dress was a single line running from the shoulders to the hem.

The skirt was very long, trailing on the ground, and adorned with pearls at the hem. The wedding dress had a V-neck, revealing a small portion of the chest, and a very narrow waist, so small it seemed one could encircle it with a single hand. The sleeves were long lace.

It's very ordinary, but she only wants this one.

Her hair was styled in a bun, with a hairpin adorning the silver bun. The end of the hairpin was decorated with a few small pearls that hung down and swayed a few times as she turned her head.

She was wearing a pair of silver earrings, a gift from Aunt He.

She turned around.

Song Che was stunned.

It wasn't because she was pretty; he had always thought Xia Li was pretty.

It's because she looked different today. Usually, she wears a T-shirt and shorts, walks barefoot on the ground, and has her hair casually draped over her shoulders, like a girl next door.

Today, she was wearing a wedding dress, her hair was styled up, and she was wearing earrings. Standing under the lights, she was glowing. Is this what they mean by "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"?

"I won't exchange it," Song Che felt like he was glowing!

Xia Li stared at him for a long time.

Then she smiled, her blue eyes filled with Song Che, and there seemed to be tears in them, as if she wanted to cry.

This scene,

The beauty's furrowed brows evoked pity in me.

"Is it pretty?" she asked.

"nice."

"What's so interesting about it?"

"It's beautiful everywhere."

Xia Li was satisfied. She walked over and stood in front of him. She was wearing high heels and wasn't much shorter than him.

"You cried?"

Song Che paused for a moment, then reached out and touched his face.

There is no water.

Xia Li reached out and touched the corner of his eye. There was a tear on her fingertip; Song Che didn't know when it had fallen.

"I didn't cry."

"You cried."

Xia Li smiled, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him on the corner of his eye.

"It's salty, that means I cried."

Song Che didn't say anything, but reached out and pulled her into his arms.

He didn't know what to say, so he could only mechanically repeat himself.

You look beautiful today.

"You already said that."

Say it again.

Xia Li smiled in his arms, "You look beautiful today too."

The two hugged each other tightly, neither willing to let go.

Jiang Shuo's voice came from outside the door, "The auspicious time has arrived, it's time to come out!"

Tao Xiang also called out, "Come out, come out, it's time for the wedding ceremony!"

Zhang Shushu was laughing, Song Jianguo was coughing, Zhang Hanyu was urging, and everyone was talking, their voices mingling together in a buzzing sound.

Xia Li released him, took a step back, and extended her hand. "Let's go, you're finally marrying me."

Song Che held her hand. "Let me correct you. It's that I finally married you."

"Yes, I've finally married you."

"It's me, not you."

"They're all the same."