In this dreamlike and illusory scene, Qin Ruojing's long eyelashes flutter gently, and waves of emotion ripple in her beautiful eyes, finally settling quietly in a soft, watery stillness.

As the Chu Ge version of "Lifetime Together" finished, its soothing melody began again, and in Qin Ruojing's gaze, a bit of light suddenly appeared—a warm, golden radiance peeking out from the gaps in the door connecting the bedroom to the living room.

The golden light seemed to guide Qin Ruojing, and she followed its lead, walking step by step toward it.

Qin Ruojing pushed open the bedroom door, and although the scene before her was unquestionably real, she felt an almost... almost incredible sensation, her heartstrings once again deeply touched.

Those specks of golden light turned out to be the glow of candle lamps, extending from both sides of the door all the way to the edge of the open balcony, these candlelights not only emitted a warm and comforting glow but also formed two lines of words in response.

"May there be years to look back"

"And deep feelings to share until old age"

These lines formed by candle lights were actually the wish Qin Ruojing made on Chu Ge's birthday!

Qin Ruojing had never shared these words with anyone, and she had no doubt—unless Chu Ge could hear her heart's voice, he could never know.

Could Chu Ge hear her heart's voice? Qin Ruojing knew it was utterly impossible, the answer was of course no.

Yet, these words appeared here, dispelling the darkness in the room, warming her eyes and soul.

Before meeting Chu Ge, Qin Ruojing never quite believed in the notion of "destiny," but as she spent more time with Chu Ge, she gradually began to believe a little.

Especially at this moment, she seemed to truly feel the red string of fate tightly connecting her and Chu Ge's hearts.

This candle-formed writing, the phrase she always kept hidden in her heart, was the best evidence.

If not for destiny's arrangement, how could she and Chu Ge have met, known, and fallen in love amid the vast sea of people? If not for a shared intuition, how could there exist such a miraculous synchronicity between them?

Between the two lines of candle lights, a red carpet stretched from the bedroom door straight to the open balcony, under the illumination of the candles, vibrant like flames, as if infused with endless tenderness.

Qin Ruojing pursed her lips, eyes fixed on the lines formed by candle lights, and stepped onto the red carpet, feeling both its softness and solidity beneath, just as her heart grew increasingly soft, as if it might melt.

Although the candle flames weren't real flames, as Qin Ruojing gracefully walked, this moment seemed to sway gently with the magnetic song in the living room, growing ever more beautiful.

One couldn't tell if Qin Ruojing's beauty adorned the red carpet and candle lights, or if the candle lights and red carpet enhanced Qin Ruojing's beauty. In any case... this scene was breathtakingly beautiful!

"No matter how far love may be, I am at ease, able to grasp your emotional rhythm without regret, willing to change for you, never mind the fleeting youth, fleeting youth enticed by beauty."

"If only for a moment, I'd rather give up my past, love must be slowly experienced, don't linger empty-handed..."

In the living room, Chu Ge's voice still echoed, Qin Ruojing walked past "look back" and "old age," arriving at the balcony, finding a dining table adorned with a white tablecloth, featuring a silver candlestick, vibrant red wine, fragrant steak, and visually pleasing fruit salad.

Alongside these, at the table stood the broad shoulders of the man who had become her husband.

Chu Ge slowly turned around, flashing his signature smile at her.

"Hey, you're back." Chu Ge's smile remained cheeky, the words he uttered seemingly out of place in the current atmosphere.

Yet this scene where Qin Ruojing viewed and heard him was no longer like before, invoking amusement or irritation—only a deep warmth gently spread through her heart, trickling softly.

"Hmm... I'm back."

Chu Ge walked over to Qin Ruojing, gentlemanly helping her remove her blazer, placing it over a chair by the dining table, pulling the chair back for her, Qin Ruojing took a blissful glance at Chu Ge and gracefully sat down.

Chu Ge returned to the chair opposite Qin Ruojing, opened the red wine, poured it into the high-stemmed glasses before them, and with a gentlemanly smirk at the corner of his lips, raised his glass.

"Honey, do you like it?"

Qin Ruojing did not answer Chu Ge's question, nor did she raise her glass, with a gentle smile, she propped her chin with her left hand, tilting her head, gaze unwaveringly fixed on Chu Ge.

Chu Ge waited a while, seeing no movement from Qin Ruojing, he lightly swirled his wine glass and laughed softly, "What, don't you recognize your husband anymore?"

"Indeed, a bit." Qin Ruojing nodded, "Are you really Chu Ge? The Chu Ge I know?"

Chu Ge looked at Qin Ruojing with amusement, "Of course it's me, as genuine as it gets."

"Yeah, if it weren't you, who else could it be?" Qin Ruojing smiled serenely, raising her glass, "Honey, thank you, I really like it."

Chu Ge's smile grew even brighter. He could see Qin Ruojing really liked it, but he just wanted to hear those words from her own lips, feeling an indescribable satisfaction in his heart.

Qin Ruojing's smile at this moment was also as bright as a flower. She had seen such scenes on TV many times before, and even in middle school, people had professed their love to her in various ways multiple times. In the past, she considered such things pretentious and amusing.

But right now, she finally understood one thing. True romance doesn't depend on the method but on the distance between hearts.

For her, this kind of emotion, this kind of intoxication, this kind of heartthrob, only Chu Ge could give.

"Ding"

The two wine glasses gently clinked together, and they took a small sip of wine, the rich sweetness traveling from their throats to their stomachs, and then to their hearts.

A candlelit dinner began with a glass of wine, and when both their glasses were empty, it ended with wine again.

Chu Ge stood up from the table, wiped the corners of Qin Ruojing's mouth where there was nothing left to wipe, blew out the burning candles on the candlestick, gently took her hand, and led her away from the table.

Feeling the warmth in Chu Ge's palm, Qin Ruojing, while indulging in Chu Ge's gentleness, finally realized what was about to happen. Her heart couldn't help but beat faster, and the panic and unease replaced by happiness resurfaced in her mind.

Chu Ge held Qin Ruojing's hand in this way and step by step returned to the bedroom.

Their fingers interlocked, their hearts closely connected, Qin Ruojing felt a bit intoxicated again. But when Chu Ge's hand made a new move, Qin Ruojing finally grabbed Chu Ge's wrist.

"Hu-honey..."

"Hmm?"

"I want..." Qin Ruojing bit her lip, not daring to look directly into Chu Ge's gentle eyes, "I want... to take a shower first, okay?"

Chu Ge smiled gently, looked into Qin Ruojing's eyes, and nodded.

Qin Ruojing feigned calmness, got out of bed, entered the bathroom, leaned against the door, took several long deep breaths but still couldn't calm her emotions.

On this romantic night that Chu Ge had meticulously prepared for her, was it really appropriate for her to say those words to Chu Ge later?

But if she didn't say it, it was evidently even more inappropriate.

Qin Ruojing turned on the shower, and amid the sound of splashing water, she looked down at her own body, her mind in chaos.

How she wished that night, she had truly become Chu Ge's woman, and not like now, where that thin membrane could very likely become a barrier between them.

Qin Ruojing had thought about using the method her sister suggested, using a tool to destroy that layer of barrier, pretending everything was as Chu Ge imagined, and never telling Chu Ge this secret.

But amidst many hesitations, she ultimately gave up this idea and other thoughts she had come up with about irregular periods and the like. She felt it was unfair to Chu Ge and herself. Her first time should be given to her husband, whom she loved mutually, not something like this.

Besides this point, there was another crucial point: Qin Ruojing really minded one thing. She wanted to find out the answer to this question herself, not get a response from Chu Ge under an assumed situation through a phone call.

The question was, if Chu Ge knew they hadn't actually had a relationship, would his attitude towards this marriage change? Would he still be willing to care for her, protect her as he does now?

And the closer it came to the moment, especially after today's starlit ocean and candlelit dinner, the more Qin Ruojing felt she was wrong, possibly gravely mistaken!

Chu Ge was so good to her. For someone as lazy as he was, he was willing to put in so much effort for her. Why was she so obsessed with the answer to this question?

Perhaps, as Chu Ge often blissfully disregarded things, letting this remain an eternal secret was actually the wisest approach. Then she wouldn't have to feel so anxious and uneasy as she did now.

In fact, it's hard to blame Qin Ruojing for this. If it were most women, they would probably have the same concerns.

After all, to a large extent, Qin Ruojing and Chu Ge's marriage is based on the night they "were together." As a woman facing such a lifelong matter, how could she not care about the true thoughts of the man she will spend her life with?

Thinking about this matter, Qin Ruojing's heart was practically in her throat. Her mind was only filled with three words, "What to do?"

At this moment, Qin Ruojing suddenly faintly heard footsteps coming from outside the door. She immediately froze in place, her hands subconsciously twisted together, and even her toes tensed tightly.

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