DXXZL - 78

In the evening, Zhu Xingyao and Jiang Tu went out for a bit. Getting married and registering their marriage wasn’t something trivial—they at least needed the approval of Zhu Yunping and Ding Yu to get the household registration book before they could proceed with the formalities. Sitting in the passenger seat, Zhu Xingyao turned her head to look at Jiang Tu. “My parents will definitely agree. You don’t need to be nervous.”

Jiang Tu smiled faintly. “I know.”

Zhu Yunping and Ding Yu hadn’t said anything about Zhu Xingyao’s semi-cohabiting arrangement with Jiang Tu, so they would certainly approve of the marriage. However, Jiang Tu thought about how both sets of parents would likely need to meet over dinner once they were married. He didn’t even want to see Jiang Jinhui himself—how could he let Zhu Xingyao and her parents meet him?

The car stopped in the courtyard, and the two walked into the house. Zhu Yunping was sitting on the sofa, switching TV channels. He glanced up at them. “Back already? Sit for a while; dinner will be ready soon.”

Ding Yu came downstairs, still on the phone. She looked at Zhu Xingyao and gave a helpless smile. “I don’t know when she learned to write songs, but she’s always been sensitive to music since she was little. Plus, Xixi helped her…”

Zhu Xingyao heard her mother talking about her and felt a bit embarrassed. She softly asked, “Mom, who are you talking to?”

Ding Yu finished her conversation and hung up. She sat down next to Zhu Yunping and teased Zhu Xingyao, “Your Auntie called. She says your song is well-written and beautifully sung. She thinks you could try pursuing a career as a singer—you might even steal some of Xixi’s spotlight.”

“No way…”

Zhu Xingyao blushed, shaking her head fervently.

Jiang Tu pulled her to sit on the sofa and looked at Zhu Yunping and Ding Yu. “Uncle, Xingxing and I want to register our marriage tomorrow. We’ll plan the wedding afterward, but we’d like your permission.”

Zhu Yunping paused, glancing at his daughter. “Are you sure?”

Zhu Xingyao proudly replied, “Of course! I proposed to him.”

Zhu Yunping: “...”

Ding Yu finally noticed the diamond ring on Zhu Xingyao’s finger. She hesitantly asked, “Did you write that song to propose?”

Zhu Xingyao nodded, and Jiang Tu held her hand, explaining with a hint of resignation, “She beat me to it, but we’ve already decided.”

At this point, Zhu Yunping and Ding Yu both guessed that the couple had come home to retrieve the household registration book. Zhu Yunping put his arm around Ding Yu’s shoulders and sighed. “Earlier this year, I was worried you wouldn’t find a boyfriend. I never expected to be giving away my daughter so soon.”

Ding Yu chuckled and looked at Jiang Tu. “When do you think our families should have dinner together?”

Jiang Tu fell silent for a moment. “Anytime during the Spring Festival is fine. My mom will come alone. As for… Jiang Jinhui, forget it. She’s already divorced from him, and there’s no chance of reconciliation between him and me. In the future, Xingxing won’t need to interact much with him either.”

Zhu Xingyao turned to look at him.

Zhu Yunping and Ding Yu exchanged glances. Zhu Yunping sighed. “If you think this is best, then so be it. But for the wedding, it’s still appropriate to invite him. It wouldn’t look good otherwise.” Just then, Aunt Zhang called them to dinner. He stood up. “Let’s eat first. Afterward, I’ll get you the household registration book.”

________________________________________

After dinner, Zhu Xingyao pulled Jiang Tu back to her room. She sat on his lap and hugged him, whispering, “Tu Ge, since you came back, have you seen your father?”

Jiang Tu raised his eyes and calmly replied, “Twice.”

Once was shortly after he returned to China—he saw Jiang Jinhui asking Jiang Lu for money. The other time was at a fast-food restaurant near the neighborhood, where he spotted Jiang Lu and Jiang Jinhui again. He wasn’t sure if Jiang Jinhui had come to ask Jiang Lu for money once more.

Jiang Lu had always been sharp. Now twenty-three years old, he understood things without Jiang Tu needing to say much.

Zhu Xingyao cupped his face and looked at him. “I’m not asking you to reconcile with him or anything. He made you suffer for so many years—I hate him too. As Dad said earlier, just invite him to the wedding later, and that’ll be enough. Don’t dwell on the past anymore, okay?”

Perhaps Jiang Jinhui didn’t even qualify as a father—a man who gambled and beat his wife, forced his middle school son to work to pay off debts, and even ruined his college entrance exam. How could Jiang Tu not hate him?

Zhu Xingyao didn’t want Jiang Tu to hold onto hatred anymore. She wanted him to let go of the past and live happily.

Jiang Tu fell silent for a moment, looking at her. “I rarely think about the past now. Things are good.”

The wounds and pain of the past would slowly fade.

________________________________________

February 14, 2018, was a special day—not only because it was Valentine’s Day but also because February 15 was Chinese New Year’s Eve. Therefore, February 14 was the last working day before the Civil Affairs Bureau closed for the Spring Festival holiday. Many couples wanted to register their marriage on this day.

Zhu Xingyao and Jiang Tu left the house at eight in the morning. When they arrived, the bureau hadn’t opened yet, but people were already waiting outside.

Jiang Tu parked the car and led her over. Zhu Xingyao buried her face in her scarf as several couples turned to stare at them curiously. She heard a girl excitedly exclaim, “Isn’t that Jiang Tu? I saw him on the big screen at the concert the other night!”

The girl’s boyfriend said, “It looks like him—the glasses are the same.”

Zhu Xingyao blinked and looked up at Jiang Tu.

Jiang Tu’s expression remained calm as he looked down at her. “What’s wrong?”

“Tu Ge, you’re famous now,” Zhu Xingyao said with a laugh in her eyes.

“Thanks to you,” he said, somewhat helplessly.

Proposing was traditionally the man’s responsibility, and Jiang Tu never expected Zhu Xingyao to give him such a surprise. Still, he couldn’t deny that he was overjoyed and unwilling to wait any longer.

“And thanks to Jiayu and Xixi too,” he added.

Zhu Xingyao huffed. This wasn’t something she should take all the blame for.

The Civil Affairs Bureau opened its doors, and Jiang Tu chuckled softly, leading her inside first.

He took a ticket and brought Zhu Xingyao to take their photo.

Both of them were strikingly attractive. The photographer, seeing such a handsome man and beautiful woman early in the morning—celebrities of Jiangcheng—was thrilled. He handed the photo to Jiang Tu, smiling. “This is the best photo I’ve taken in years. Congratulations to you both.”

Jiang Tu said, “Thank you.”

Holding the photo, he walked with Zhu Xingyao to the marriage registration counter.

As they filled out the forms, Zhu Xingyao tilted her head to look at him. His profile was sharp, his expression extremely serious.

Without looking up, Jiang Tu murmured, “Write faster.”

Zhu Xingyao couldn’t help but smile. “Okay.”

Jiang Tu submitted their documents to the staff. After a while, the staff stamped their marriage certificates.

Smiling, the staff handed them the red books. “Congratulations. May your love last forever.”

Jiang Tu swallowed hard. The marriage certificate felt heavy in his hands, but the weight on his heart, which he had carried for years, felt lighter.

In this moment, his heart finally found peace.

Zhu Xingyao took the marriage certificate, feeling a sense of wonder. She smiled brightly. “Thank you.”

“Let’s take some photos,” she said, looking up at Jiang Tu.

Amusement flickered in Jiang Tu’s eyes. He nodded. “Alright.”

Zhu Xingyao pouted. “You don’t have enough photos. If it weren’t for Lao Yuan and Du Yunfei taking pictures of you in college, you wouldn’t have any photos at all. And during your four years in America, you barely took any—just a few. It’s such a waste since you’re so handsome.”

Jiang Tu couldn’t argue. He really didn’t have many photos and wasn’t fond of taking them. He smiled. “Alright, you can take pictures of me.”

As more people arrived at the bureau, their striking appearances, combined with their recent high-profile activities, drew attention. Some recognized them and called out their names. Zhu Xingyao smiled and waved before pulling Jiang Tu aside to take photos. As expected, they were surrounded by curious onlookers.

Zhu Xingyao eventually asked a young woman to help take their picture. “Girls are better at taking photos,” she explained to Jiang Tu.

________________________________________

After leaving the bureau, they returned to the car.

Zhu Xingyao placed the two red marriage certificates on her lap, took a few photos, and sent them to the private group chat she shared with Li Xixi and Lin Jiayu.

Xingxing in the Sky: “Jiang Tu and I got our marriage certificate!”

Li Xixi: “So fast?!”

Lin Jiayu: “Was it Jiang Tu’s idea?”

Xingxing in the Sky: “You know him so well. But today is Valentine’s Day, so our anniversary and Valentine’s Day can be celebrated together—it’s perfect!”

Li Xixi sent an emoji pack teasing her: “You don’t understand. That means one less holiday and one less gift—it’s not worth it!”

Xingxing in the Sky: “It’s fine. With Jiang Tu, every day is Valentine’s Day.”

Lin Jiayu: “Have you called Jiang Tu ‘husband’ yet?”

Xingxing in the Sky: “...”

Zhu Xingyao turned to look at Jiang Tu. She was so used to calling him “Tu Ge” that it felt strange to change.

Lin Jiayu: “I think the word ‘husband’ might shock Jiang Tu a bit. You should choose your words carefully. Jiang Tu has worked hard all his life, and he’s always been strong. I’ve hardly ever seen him sick. When he was a teenager, he did all kinds of jobs. Lao Yuan says he runs ten kilometers every time he goes to the gym—his stamina is impressive!”

Zhu Xingyao felt that Lin Jiayu had become increasingly unrestrained since Waiting for Stars was exposed.

She sent an emoji pack teasing her for being inappropriate.

Zhu Xingyao noticed a new post on her social media feed—a blue starry sky image. Surprised, she clicked on it and discovered that Jiang Tu, who had never posted on social media before, had just shared their marriage certificates.

This was Jiang Tu’s first-ever social media post. He set his phone down, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Consider it a way of letting everyone know.”

The comments section was already flooded with messages—

Lao Yuan: “You’re so fast!!!”

Lin Jiayu: “Finally fulfilled your wish!”

Li Xixi: “Waaaaaah... My bestie is getting married.”

Du Yunfei: “I’m heartbroken.”

Ding Xiang: “Wow! Congratulations to Tu Ge and the goddess. Wishing you a hundred years of happiness!”

Jiang Lu: “Brother, remember to bring Sister-in-law home for dinner.”

...

The class group chat exploded as well. People reminded Jiang Tu not to forget his promise to host a banquet for everyone when he got married.

________________________________________

That evening, the couple had Western food and watched a movie. By the time they returned home, it was nearly midnight.

Zhu Xingyao sat on the bed reading Lin Jiayu’s latest update. Jiang Tu emerged from the bathroom, shirtless except for a pair of black sweatpants. His muscular lines were clean and smooth, his abs partially hidden beneath the waistband. Without his glasses, he looked irresistibly attractive.

She glanced up at him and quickly lowered her head.

Jiang Tu’s hair was still damp. He stood by the bed and looked down at her. “What are you looking at?”

“I’m reading... Jiayu’s latest novel update,” Zhu Xingyao said, resting her chin on her knees and trying to focus on the story. She flipped through the comments. “She wrote about us getting married.”

Jiang Tu: “...”

His expression was complex. Did Lin Jiayu have to write about everything?

Zhu Xingyao suddenly paused, looking up at Jiang Tu. “Tu Ge, let me ask you a question.”

“Hmm?”

Jiang Tu lifted the covers and pulled her closer.

Zhu Xingyao leaned against his shoulder, pointing at the phone screen. “I saw someone in the comments mention this, and I’m curious too... What if you came back late, or what if I already had a boyfriend when you returned? What would you have done? Did you ever think about asking yourself that?”

Jiang Tu fell silent, looking down at her. “Yes.”

“And?” She was curious.

Jiang Tu hesitated, his brow furrowing slightly. The question clearly made him uncomfortable, but he couldn’t deny that he had thought about it before. After a pause, he murmured, “It would depend on whether you were happy, whether you were being treated well...”

Zhu Xingyao knelt up to face him, smiling. “And if he didn’t treat me well?”

Jiang Tu pursed his lips and looked at her. “Then it would depend on whether I stayed rational.”

Zhu Xingyao was thoroughly intrigued.

She pressed further. “And if you weren’t rational?”

Jiang Tu stared at her. “I’d take you away.”

Zhu Xingyao froze, her eyes widening as she stared at him.

After a moment, she realized that Jiang Tu might actually do it—he had reported her relationship with Lu Ji before.

He could be good, but he could also be bad.

Jiang Tu sighed, flipping her onto her back and pinning her beneath him. His gaze was intense as he smirked faintly. “So, I’m glad you didn’t have a boyfriend. It saved me from having to steal you away.”