Sweet Oxygen - Extra 2

Chapter 72 – Extra 2

Zhang Yuqing’s shop had a new signboard: Sweet Oxygen.

Compared to his previous bold and flowing cursive, this looked too delicate. Qin Han had written it one day while helping Dandan with homework at the table.

She recalled how last summer, on the way to the forest park, distant mountains layered in the distance while birds sang and flowers bloomed nearby. Zhang Yuqing, hand on the steering wheel, had casually mentioned wanting a new signboard.

Qin Han said ‘Oxygen’ sounded nice, so he suggested adding a word, ‘Sweet’.

Remembering this, Qin Han picked up a pen and scribbled on a notepad.

At the time, Zhang Yuqing’s new signboard was already being made. Seeing “Sweet Oxygen” written on the notepad, he decided to change the font to her handwriting.

As Zhang Yuqing put it, since his shop now had a shopkeeper, it only made sense for her to write the sign.

Qin Han blushed, covering her face. “But my writing isn’t as good-looking as yours.”

Zhang Yuqing kissed her. “Is that so? Why does it look so pleasing to me then?”

When they called the advertising company, the staff said the signboard was half-finished, so the font couldn’t be changed. However, they could modify other things like the display type.

Zhang Yuqing maintained his usual composed demeanor, simply smiling and saying, “Please make a new one. I’ll send the font to your email.”

The cost of a new signboard wasn’t trivial, and Qin Han felt a twinge of regret.

But Zhang Yuqing dismissed it with a wave of his hand, calling it a rare act of indulgence.

When the story reached Luo Shijin and Li Nan, it became a classic tale of “a hero’s weakness for beauty” and “splurging fortunes for a maiden’s smile.”

Though meant as jest, everyone felt a pang of sentimentality when the new signboard was hung.

The old “Oxygen” had been stylish and handsome, but carried an air of desperate survival in daily life.

The new version was better—who cared about style?

Sweet Oxygen—the name alone evoked sweetness. After all these years, Qing-ge had finally earned his share of happiness!

To Qin Han, Zhang Yuqing’s shop was indeed sweet—not just sweet, but warm.

On holidays and special occasions, everyone gathered at his place to share wine and laughter.

At the beginning of the year, when Dandan celebrated her birthday, Zhang Yuqing specially ordered a strawberry ice cream-flavored cake. Dandan’s love for strawberry ice cream hadn’t changed in all these years.

In her eyes, strawberry ice cream was the most delicious thing in the world.

Truth be told, Dandan didn’t really understand the concept of birthdays. She only knew there would be cake, a birthday song, and that she should close her eyes to make a wish.

Qin Han had bought Dandan a pink Peaky Blinders watch that synced with her phone. Dandan loved it, wearing it on her wrist and admiring it constantly, even stroking its surface.

She would always be that child who never grew up, eternally innocent and pure.

In fact, just days before her birthday, Dandan’s homeroom teacher had approached Zhang Yuqing, expressing concern that Dandan might struggle to mature mentally.

But none of that mattered. Zhang Yuqing felt no disappointment toward Dandan.

On her birthday, he placed a pointed birthday hat on her head and said, “Dandan, close your eyes and make a wish.”

“Dandan wants to eat strawberry ice cream cake every day.”

Zhang Yuqing smiled and reminded her, “If you eat it every day, it becomes ordinary, like rice. You wouldn’t enjoy it anymore.”

Luo Shijin chimed in from the side, “Having one cake a month is fine. That way the doctor won’t scold your brother again for giving you sweets.”

Dandan pondered this for a long time, the candle burning down halfway before she suddenly changed her wish with wide, thoughtful eyes.

This new wish made everyone tear up—

“Dandan wishes her brother would always be here.”

As she closed her eyes to make her wish, Zhang Yuqing gently kissed her cheek. “Happy birthday, my little angel.”

He was the kindest brother in the world.

Luo Shijin said, “You’re also your Shijin-gege’s little angel.”

Li Nan chimed in, “And my Li Nan-gege’s little angel too.”

Qin Han was filming them at the time. When she heard these words, her eyes suddenly welled up with tears.

No matter what Dandan looked like to others, she was the little sister Zhang Yuqing cherished, their very own little angel.

Zhang Yuqing looked up and, knowing full well she was moved, teased, “What’s wrong, little girl? Jealous of Dandan now?”

“No, I’m not… I’m not…”

“Then come here. Let me kiss you too?”

Without waiting for a response, he pulled Qin Han’s head toward him and kissed her cheek.

The flirtatious exchange was captured on the phone. Qin Han stopped the recording and jabbed his shoulder with a plastic cake fork. “You’re so annoying! How improper.”

The transparent fork bent easily under her light touch, clearly not causing any pain.

Zhang Yuqing feigned a hiss, then leaned close to her ear, nodding at the headphones she’d left on the table. “The little girl’s getting clever. Why not record your attempted murder of your husband too?”

He always handled life’s waves with such effortless ease, as if diverting a thousand-pound boulder with a feather. It made others believe he’d never know true struggle.

Everyone celebrated their birthdays at the shop—Luo Shijin’s, Li Nan’s, Grandma Zhang’s, and even Mother Qin had her birthday at Zhang Yuqing’s store once.

Last summer, Qin Han even celebrated several birthdays in the same season.

Though calling them “several birthdays” was a bit of an exaggeration; it essentially meant having multiple meals at Zhang Yuqing’s shop.

What made that day different was what awaited Qin Han in Zhang Yuqing’s bedroom upon returning. Several large gift boxes were piled inside.

The room wasn’t spacious to begin with, and the boxes left little space to move. Qin Han jumped in surprise when she entered. “Why are there so many boxes?”

Zhang Yuqing smiled. “Make-up gifts for your birthdays.”

The gift boxes were massive, large enough to hold a person curled up inside.

Had Qin Han not just personally seen off Luo Shijin and Li Nan, she might have thought a person would leap out of the boxes, scattering petals as they wished her a happy birthday.

It was precisely this sense of astonishment that made her overlook his words “to make up for it” without giving them much thought.

“You’re not going to open them?”

“They’re too big.”

Qin Han was referring to the gift boxes, but Zhang Yuqing chuckled, “Young lady, save that line for when we’re alone at night. I’d enjoy hearing it then.”

Flustered by his teasing, Qin Han pretended not to understand and turned to open one of the boxes.

The box was so large it looked like it contained a shoe cabinet. Inside were several pairs of shoes for each season, neatly arranged in transparent acrylic boxes, every pair perfectly fitting her size.

To be honest, Zhang Yuqing wasn’t particularly romantic. The boxes were beautifully presented, but their contents remained practical—clothes and accessories.

He simply bought whatever he thought would suit her.

What Qin Han found most unforgettable came after she tried on the shoes and dresses. Freshly transformed, she suddenly turned around and saw the expression in Zhang Yuqing’s eyes.

He sat on the bed, elbows resting on his knees, his back slightly hunched as he watched her.

His eyes held a wealth of emotions—something akin to regret and nostalgia.

Qin Han had never seen him look like this before. She froze momentarily, forgetting to ask the “Do you like it?” that had been on her lips.

That day, he’d said he would make up for all the gifts he should have given her during the years she wasn’t by his side.

Warmth flooded Qin Han’s chest as she sensed what he was about to say.

Zhang Yuqing smiled. “The first year you were in America, it was bitterly cold there.”

The domestic news had reported on it that year—blizzards paralyzing American cities, traffic grinding to a halt.

Zhang Yuqing had been constantly worried about Qin Han.

He’d fretted over the girl who always fell off her bike and got kites stuck in trees, wondering if she could handle such extreme weather in a foreign land. Would she catch a cold? Would she get sick?

Later, Du Zhi came to the shop and noticed his distracted state. She casually mentioned that Qin Han’s dormitory had excellent heating and a fireplace.

Due to transportation issues, teachers had switched to online classes, so students stayed in their dorms. They probably wouldn’t catch cold.

He’d never told Qin Han how deeply he’d missed her or how much he’d worried about her.

Qin Han had only caught a glimpse of something when she stumbled upon some of Zhang Yuqing’s sketches in the storage room. Judging by the dates on the back, she’d speculated that Zhang Yuqing might have been thinking of her during those years.

This was the first time Qin Han had ever heard Zhang Yuqing speak about their time apart.

Still clutching a ribbon torn from the gift box, Qin Han turned back hastily, afraid she might cry. Her tears splattered across the box.

Zhang Yuqing lifted her into his arms and gently stroked her hair. “What’s wrong? Are you moved?”

Qin Han nodded through her choked sobs. “You’ve never said anything before.”

“Never said what?”

“Never said you were worried… or anything…”

“Those words can’t even capture one percent of how I felt back then.”

For someone like Zhang Yuqing, this counted as a heartfelt confession. Qin Han buried her face in his chest, her tears soaking through his shirt.

The young girl mumbled between sniffles, “Right, Zhang Yuqing. I have a secret for you too.”

“Another secret? Go on,” he said, his eyes brimming with affection.

“Do you remember how I mentioned that guy from middle school who threw arrows…?”

Before she could finish, Zhang Yuqing chuckled. “I know. That was me.”

“How did you know?”

“I guessed.”

It wasn’t an immediate guess either. It happened when Qin Han first entered university. One day, when the temperature dropped, Zhang Yuqing emerged from his bedroom casually draped in that white university track jacket.

Luo Shijin stared at him for a long moment before exclaiming, “Once I wore this, Qin Han actually asked if I was a student from Normal University!”

At first, Zhang Yuqing didn’t understand what Luo Shijin meant.

But upon careful consideration, he realized Qin Han couldn’t possibly know about their class’s uniform. Recalling his university days, he remembered only one class outing where they’d participated in arrow-throwing activities.

He did wonder if the “little brother” Qin Han mentioned might be one of his classmates.

However, during one visit, Du Zhi showed him footage from that event and mentioned Qin Han had seen it too.

It wasn’t until after she’d gone abroad that Zhang Yuqing finally confirmed the “little brother” in the girl’s stories was indeed himself.

The topic had never come up again since then.

“I was planning to wait until your birthday to tell you,” Qin Han said, her eyes darting mischievously. “When’s your birthday, anyway?”

Zhang Yuqing smiled. “I don’t celebrate birthdays anymore.”

His reasoning was simple, he was already several years older than her, and celebrating would only make him feel even older.

Qin Han pursed her lips.

She wasn’t the type to feel old, so he must not want to reveal it.

Zhang Yuqing was meticulous about everyone’s birthdays.

Yet no one knew his own.

Qin Han had only discovered it on the day they registered their marriage, when she saw his ID number.

The registration day coincided with the beginning of summer. It was the first time Qin Han saw Zhang Yuqing in a white shirt.

Luo Shijin rushed in through the back door, handing an apple to both Zhang Yuqing and Qin Han.

The apples were large and red, clearly chosen with care.

Perhaps due to the impending marriage registration, Qin Han appeared somewhat nervous, her demeanor slightly dazed.

She murmured in confusion, “I haven’t eaten breakfast yet…”

What’s with the fruit?

The early summer weather was pleasant. Beibei crouched by the shop entrance, barking at a stray kitten in the bushes and wagging his tail in friendly greeting.

The little stray cat watched Beibei warily for a moment before turning and running away.

Luo Shijin burst out laughing at Qin Han’s words. “I don’t care what you two have for breakfast. I’m just here to deliver an apple. My dad said we must eat apples on the day of the marriage registration. One bite for a hundred years of harmonious marriage, two bites for early childbirth, and three bites for a thousand years of boundless love.”

This blessing wasn’t like those mass-sent New Year messages filled with clichéd auspicious phrases. While it sounded solemn, the actual content was rather unremarkable and unimpressive.

However, this apple tradition was genuinely heartfelt and full of joy.

Still, Qin Han, being nervous, held the large apple uncertainly. “Do I… just bite into it?”

She used “bite” instead of “chew.”

Zhang Yuqing chuckled, feeling that Qin Han’s years of growth had somehow regressed. Her current dazed expression was even less mature than when she was seventeen.

But it was truly adorable.

“What do you mean just bite into it? You should at least wash it first!” Luo Shijin exclaimed.

Normally, Zhang Yuqing would be more meticulous about such things. The lack of proper preparation was probably due to nervousness.

After all, since morning, Qin Han had seen him repeatedly check his phone to confirm the date.

The alarm that woke them up had been set half a month in advance by Zhang Yuqing—a recurring reminder.

The notification contained only four words, yet carried a solemn weight.

[ Get a marriage certificate. ]

That day marked the closest Zhang Yuqing had ever come to “panic” in Qin Han’s memory.

The man who always exuded composure had actually forgotten where he’d left his phone on the day of registration.

Luo Shijin used Qing-ge’s wallet to buy several steamer baskets of soup dumplings and soy milk. Qin Han joined him at the table, gingerly lifting a dumpling to her lips with a plate to catch any spills before taking a cautious bite.

When Zhang Yuqing still hadn’t come down for breakfast, Qin Han initially didn’t realize his purpose in pacing the shop—searching for his phone.

Watching him ascend and descend the stairs repeatedly, Qin Han paused with half a dumpling in hand. She looked up in confusion, meeting Zhang Yuqing’s self-deprecating smile. “Are you… looking for something?” she asked, intrigued.

Zhang Yuqing wore a plain white shirt, its sleeves unrolled in perfect order for the wedding photos. The sight of him standing in sunlight, so neatly dressed, made him look like a schoolboy preparing for his student ID photo.

He stepped forward, cradled the back of Qin Han’s head, and kissed her forehead.

Soft lips, gentle kiss.

Zhang Yuqing smiled. “Little girl, I need to ask you for a favor.”

“What is it?”

“Call my phone. I can’t remember where I put it,” Zhang Yuqing said helplessly.

Zhang Yuqing had an excellent memory. He could recite passages from books he’d read many years ago. He’d never forgotten where he put his phone before.

Qin Han blinked in surprise, then took out her phone and dialed Zhang Yuqing’s number.

The vibration came from his pants pocket.

The three people in the room froze for a moment.

Luo Shijin laughed so hard he couldn’t hold his little steamed buns. He slapped the table, his greasy lips smacking as he exclaimed with delight.

“Holy shit! Qing-ge, are you nervous?”

“Hahaha, I’m sending Li Nan a message right now!!!”

“I’m telling Li Nan that Qing-ge is actually nervous about getting married.”

“Damn, Qing-ge, you’re the calmest person I know. You’re not going to tremble during the wedding, are you?”

In the face of Luo Shijin’s chatter, Zhang Yuqing neither confirmed nor denied.

After breakfast, Qin Han carefully picked up an apple and took a bite, chewing as she murmured, “One bite for a hundred years of harmony.”

After swallowing, Qin Han asked Luo Shijin, “If I eat all three bites, will I get all three blessings?”

Luo Shijin had lost over twenty pounds to be Qing-ge’s best man. He patted his now non-existent belly and said with conviction, “Of course!”

Zhang Yuqing seemed contemplative. After taking a few bites of apple, he suddenly laughed. “What’s the deal with four bites?”

He massaged his temples. “I really am quite nervous.”

Qin Han considered this and took an extra bite herself. She placed the two bitten apples together. “Then I’ll take one more bite too. Now they’re couple apples.”

Zhang Yuqing smiled and pulled Qin Han into his arms. “Silly girl.”

Qin Han loved the photo on their marriage certificate. It was the most beautiful picture in all her official documents.

Against a red background, their eyes curved in smiles. Luo Shijin and the others said this wedding photo carried the taste of happiness.

It was only on that day that Qin Han saw Zhang Yuqing’s ID and learned his birthday.

She’d always thought he was born in March or April, when spring winds caressed the face. How else could he be so gentle?

Zhang Yuqing’s birthday was unexpectedly romantic—on Qixi, the Chinese Valentine’s Day.

It was just a few days before Qin Han and Zhang Yuqing’s wedding.

Qin Han secretly set aside time to learn cake-making from the pastry chef at her mother’s shop, but she struggled to determine Zhang Yuqing’s preferred flavors.

Unlike Qin Han, who wore her preferences on her sleeve, Zhang Yuqing seemed indifferent about most things, never showing particular fondness for anything in particular.

While Zhang Yuqing was tattooing a customer, Qin Han slipped into Grandma Zhang’s small courtyard.

Grandma Zhang beamed with delight upon seeing Qin Han. “My granddaughter-in-law has come! Come here and let Grandma see you. Just looking at you brings me joy.”

Blushing, Qin Han approached. “Grandma, do you know what kind of fruit Zhang Yuqing likes?”

“Oh, him? He loved apples when he was young.”

Grandma Zhang put on her reading glasses and settled into her wheelchair. Beneath her drooping eyelids, her eyes seemed to sink into the past. “For a few years, we lived comfortably enough to buy him fruit. Every time, he specifically asked for apples.”

At that time, Zhang Yuqing was very young, only about three or four years old.

At that age, no matter how mature a child might be, they’re still just a kid. When asked what fruit he wanted, he would lift his small face and answer earnestly, “I want an apple.”

Qin Han found this somewhat surprising.

Luo Shijin often brought seasonal fresh fruits. Zhang Yuqing showed no particular reaction to whatever he ate. Even when eating an apple, he never displayed any sentimentality or nostalgia.

When it came to life and fate, he was the most composed and genuine.

Grandma Zhang smiled warmly. “During the New Year period back then, Imperial City was popular with these red Fuji apples with sayings stuck on them. Some had ‘Good Fortune’, others ‘Happy New Year’, and some ‘Prosperous Wealth’. Yuqing thought that apples with different sayings would taste different too. What a little dummy.”

Qin Han tucked the thin blanket around Grandma Zhang’s legs and chuckled along.

Qin Han wasn’t laughing at Zhang Yuqing’s naivety, but rather felt genuine happiness.

She loved hearing stories about Zhang Yuqing’s childhood, especially those that showed his innocent and carefree side.

Perhaps the reason he had grown into such a gentle and responsible man was because of Grandma Zhang’s care. She had been the towering tree shielding him from life’s storms during his upbringing, enduring every hardship to nurture his growth.

As Qin Han emerged from Grandma Zhang’s small courtyard, she resolved to make apple jam the filling for her cake.

Mother Qin warned that apple jam was notoriously difficult to perfect, but the bakery’s pastry chef was skilled. She suggested having the professional handle it for Qin Han.

Qin Han declined, insisting on learning herself.

The process took nearly two weeks. By the time she mastered it, Qixi Festival was approaching.

On Qixi Day, Father Qin called, “Sweetheart, are you sure you won’t be home for dinner? Your mother and I reserved a nice restaurant. Why not invite Yuqing? We could all celebrate Qixi together.”

Qin Han had just put on her chef’s hat. She set the phone on speaker on the kitchen counter, leaning forward to fasten her apron while speaking, “I can’t make it, Dad. I’m preparing to make up for Zhang Yuqing’s birthday today. I’m going to bake him a cake.”

“Alright then. Good luck with that.”

Father Qin’s laughter carried a teasing tone that made Qin Han’s face flush instantly.

She’d made quite a few failed cakes recently. Unable to bring them to Yaonan Alley for everyone’s surprise, and unwilling to waste them, she secretly brought them all home.

Her father had probably eaten at least eight or ten of these failed cakes. No wonder he teased her.

Qin Han called out, “Dad!”

“Alright, alright, I know. Our little Xiaohan will definitely succeed.”

After hanging up, Qin Han took out all the ingredients needed for baking.

The floor-cleaning robot glided across the floor, wandering into the kitchen. It circled around Qin Han, bumped into a cabinet, then retreated to work elsewhere.

This was a house Zhang Yuqing had purchased, already fully furnished. The bright, spacious kitchen overflowed with sunlight. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows lay a park, where lush greenery surrounded an artificial river, creating a beautiful scene.

Qin Han had been completely unaware during the renovation. The first time Zhang Yuqing brought her here, she unlocked the door with her key only to find the house fully furnished—even a brand new white piano stood in the living room.

The house seemed to have been decorated according to Zhang Yuqing’s understanding of her preferences. There was a study and a dressing room, the study already filled with books, the dressing room stocked with women’s clothing he’d purchased.

It was Qin Han’s first time at the house, but after touring it, she fell in love with the place.

Especially the dining table’s position by the window, reminiscent of the one in Zhang Yuqing’s shop. It felt strangely familiar.

Luo Shijin and Li Nan had also visited, declaring this home a “laid-back paradise.”

The house boasted a dishwasher, floor-cleaning robots, and a washing machine with dryer. They enjoyed cooking hotpot in Zhang Yuqing’s new residence while running the air purifier and AC, then spraying the hotpot odor eliminator Zhang Yuqing had bought for Qin Han before leaving.

While waiting for the cake base to bake, Qin Han sat at the table texting Zhang Yuqing.

Assuming Zhang Yuqing was busy, she called him directly after a few minutes, “Little girl, done with your work?”

“Not yet.”

Qin Han didn’t mention her plans for the day, wanting to surprise Zhang Yuqing. She simply said she was busy. Glancing at the wall clock, she smiled and said, “I’ll have to hang up in a few minutes. Any last words?”

“Still not joining Yaonan and me for dinner tonight?”

The tattoo machine’s power-off sound came from Zhang Yuqing’s end, followed by his teasing voice, “Pre-marital anxiety? You’re skipping even Qixi with me now?”

“No, not yet. Let me finish what I’m doing first, okay?”

After a brief conversation, Qin Han kept her eyes on the clock’s minute hand, timing her call to end precisely.

The oven’s chime sounded immediately after she hung up.

Qin Han donned her white chef’s hat again and rushed excitedly to the kitchen.

The cake base had baked perfectly, and she’d already prepared the apple jam earlier. Now all that remained was to frost the cake and add decorative piping.

As evening approached, Qin Han sent Zhang Yuqing a message.

[ Zhang Yuqing, I’m done here. ]

Within seconds, her phone rang. Watching the bustling city lights through the window, she smiled and said, “Why don’t you come home? I’ll wait for you here.”

Zhang Yuqing had his own busy schedule on Valentine’s Day.

Some tattoo artist friends had organized a video conference for the occasion. In their community, it was impossible to rank skills—each artist had unique specialties.

Yet fellow artists shared mutual respect and understanding. This virtual gathering spanning tattoo studios across countries lasted the entire morning.

Two more customers came for tattoos that afternoon.

Zhang Yuqing had originally wanted to decline these two customers. After all, it was Qixi Festival—the time to spend with his little girl. But a few days earlier, when the customers came to book their appointment, his little girl happened to be at home.

The young girl said she had matters to attend to as well.

When she spoke, she lifted her small face with a serious expression, though it was unclear what important business she meant.

At the time, Zhang Yuqing teased her, “Could you be busy with a secret rendezvous with some lover?”

The girl bit him. “Not at all!”

Even after dismissing his joke, Qin Han still didn’t reveal what she was occupied with.

Zhang Yuqing didn’t press further. With the wedding approaching, perhaps Qin Han needed to discuss something with her bridesmaid.

That day both were busy, but Zhang Yuqing kept hoping to finish early. He thought that if Qin Han finished sooner, he could take her out for a meal.

A few days prior, a tattooed female customer had recommended a trendy restaurant north of the central business district. She said it served creative dishes that would be perfect for young girls.

Having finished early, Zhang Yuqing changed his clothes. Outside, the sky had darkened, and Yaonan Alley fell into quiet. Standing by the window, he suddenly felt a sense of unease.

Before meeting Qin Han, he’d been busy every day, with little concept of “loneliness.”

Now, however, he spent every day with the young girl. On this day when she wasn’t by his side, he felt like something was missing.

It was at this moment that he received a message from Qin Han.

[ Zhang Yuqing, I’m done here. ]

The young woman was 24 this year, about to become his bride.

Yet she still retained the habits from when they first met at 17 or 18—everything she said was veiled, her messages revealing her thin-skinned nature.

Zhang Yuqing recalled her university military training days when a roommate had heatstroke. She’d stayed up all night with the sick girl, then texted him, “Zhang Yuqing, I can’t sleep.”

She always spoke in half-phrases, leaving the rest unsaid—utterly adorable.

When he called, Qin Han’s cheerful voice asked, “Are you done yet?”

“Mhm. Where are you? I’ll come get you.”

Her voice through the phone tinkled like mountain brooks, making this night feel distinct from all others.

“Why don’t you just come home? I’ll wait for you there.”

Zhang Yuqing was surprised. “You’re at home?”

The person on the line probably realized the ambiguity, hesitating before softening their voice. “I don’t mean my parents’ place. I… mean our home.”

“Okay, I’ll be right there.”

Qixi was bustling, cars crowding the streets more than usual.

Stuck in the traffic, Zhang Yuqing felt an unfamiliar urgency for the first time.

The apartment building had an elevator. As soon as the elevator doors opened on their floor, Zhang Yuqing saw Qin Han.

The young woman wore a pale pink dress today, looking as pristine as a lotus emerging from the pond downstairs, glistening with dewdrops.

This charming lotus stood at the elevator entrance, smiling brightly. “Happy birthday, Zhang Yuqing.”

“How did you know my birthday?”

Qin Han lowered her gaze before confessing, “I peeked at your ID.”

She tilted her head upward, pleading, “Birthdays are special, right? Can I celebrate yours every year?”

Zhang Yuqing stepped out of the elevator, pulling her into his arms with a mischievous grin. “Let’s start with a hug.”

Trapped in his embrace, Qin Han could only follow his steps backward toward the door, her face pressed against his warm chest.

“Close your eyes.”

“Close your eyes.”

They spoke simultaneously.

Qin Han meant to conceal the cake, candles, fried chicken balls, and pasta on the dining table—her surprise for him.

Zhang Yuqing wanted to kiss her.

He chuckled, “More surprises for me?”

The cake froze him mid-step.

Qin Han beamed beside him. “I made it myself! How’s it taste?”

She turned off the brightest light, leaving only a dim strip of illumination. She placed a birthday hat on Zhang Yuqing, sang him the birthday song, and even cut the cake for him.

Zhang Yuqing took a bite, then looked up earnestly. “I love it. Thank you, my little girl.”

Qin Han’s apple jam filling wasn’t overly sweet, preserving the fruit’s natural hint of tartness. Zhang Yuqing devoured a large piece of cake.

After clearing the table and letting the dishwasher handle the cleanup, he leaned against the dining table, his fingertips tracing the line of Qin Han’s slender neck downward. “Want to do it?”

His way of expressing gratitude left Qin Han barely able to get out of bed by 8 PM that night.

When Qin Han answered Xie Ying’s call, she’d just been towel-dried and carried out of the bathroom by Zhang Yuqing. He handed her the vibrating phone, then fastened the buttons on her back.

The college-era best friend skipped pleasantries, launching straight into a mischievous laugh. “Getting all lovey-dovey with Zhang Yuqing? I timed this call precisely—I can’t celebrate Qixi Festival, so I’m here to stir things up! Ha ha ha!”

Caught off guard by the accurate observation, Qin Han cleared her throat and glossed over the earlier activities. “I tried making dinner,” she said. “Zhang Yuqing ate here tonight instead of going to Yaonan Alley.”

“Ouch, you haven’t even had the wedding yet, and you’re already acting like newlyweds.”

Xie Ying’s laughter over the phone was crisp, but in the next moment, like a sudden weather change, it shifted from sunny to a drizzle. “Little Qinhan ah, you’re still the best. You’ve loved the same person all these years, and the one you’re marrying is someone you truly love. How wonderful.”

“Yingying, is something bothering you?”

Xie Ying fell silent for a long time. Qin Han didn’t speak either, patiently waiting for her to open up.

Qin Han suddenly recalled a time from their first year of university, near the end of the semester. The weather was bitterly cold, and she and Xie Ying had bundled up like two zongzi dumplings running from the study room back to the dormitory. Even after removing their thick down jackets and drinking large cups of hot water, their hands and feet remained cold.

She remembered on one such night, when she was helping Xie Ying review for exams, Xie Ying had asked her, “Little Qinhan, are you feeling better?”

At that time, Qin Han and Zhang Yuqing had already lost contact. Every day, she pretended everything was normal while throwing herself into her studies.

Xie Ying had also broken up with her ex-boyfriend, yet she confessed to Qin Han that she still dreamed of him at night, dreaming they had never parted.

After a pause, Xie Ying murmured into the phone, “Little Qinhan, I saw him.”

The nameless reference was enough. Qin Han knew exactly who she meant.

Over the years, Xie Ying had dated two or three other men. Their relationships lasted mere months before fizzling out, yet she never seemed particularly heartbroken during those breakups.

The only person who could make her speak of regret and longing without naming him was… that man.

On the bustling streets of Qixi Festival, Xie Ying sat on a bus stop bench. Her voice carried the same lightness as when she’d spoken of her recurring dreams before winter break that year.

“Little Qinhan, I saw him. At a class reunion.”

Her words were swallowed by the city’s roar. “Little Qinhan, to be honest, I went hoping to see him. I wanted him to have gained weight, to be sporting a beer belly. I wanted him to wear a tacky suit with greasy hair and a powder-white face, putting on airs… I wanted him to be all greasy and worn down…”

But when Xie Ying entered the restaurant, there he sat—just like he’d sat in their high school classroom, legs spread wide, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

Now he could openly smoke without fearing a teacher might suddenly appear to confiscate his lighter.

The man pushed through the crowd, spotting Xie Ying. A small ash flake fell onto his pants.

He smiled nonchalantly. “Long time no see, Xie Ying.”

Qin Han listened quietly as Xie Ying spoke, “I’ve had my moments of weakness too. After all these years, he’s still my type—every detail aligns with my aesthetic. But knowing he married, divorced, and cheated again… what’s the point in lingering feelings?”

The melody of an old song drifted from somewhere down the street—

“How much love can we relive? How many will wait?”

The moment this rhythm came through the phone, Qin Han felt her heart skip a beat.

After a few seconds, Xie Ying’s voice came through, choked with tears, “Little Qinhan, do you mind if your bridesmaid comes early to mooch food and drinks at your place for a few days?”

Qin Han immediately agreed. “I was worried you wouldn’t come early enough!”

With Xie Ying’s decision made, Zhang Yuqing and Qin Han drove to the airport to pick her up. That very night, as the last flight arrived in Imperial City, Xie Ying emerged wearing sunglasses.

Seeing her close friend, she seemed to regain her strength. “Do I look like a celebrity in these sunglasses?”

Faced with this forced cheerfulness, Qin Han was always at a loss for words. She tugged at Zhang Yuqing’s sleeve in silent appeal.

Zhang Yuqing subtly took Qin Han’s hand, smiling as he pulled open the car door and made a “please” gesture. “Ms. Xie, if you would.”

Xie Ying blinked in surprise, then burst out laughing.

As the car drove toward Qin Han’s home, Xie Ying sighed. “Maybe I should just work in the capital. I shouldn’t have come home last year.”

She had originally worked in the capital after graduation at a private school. Later, feeling restless from constantly being on the move, she requested a transfer to the branch campus in her hometown.

Knowing Xie Ying wanted to avoid all news about her ex-boyfriend, Qin Han wrapped an arm around her shoulders like they had in college. “Then come back to the capital.”

“The rent in the capital is too expensive. I need to think about it carefully.”

“You can stay at my place for now!”

Xie Ying smiled, removing her sunglasses to reveal slightly puffy eyelids. “I wouldn’t want to interrupt your new couple’s ‘baby-making’ plans, would I?”

Qin Han’s ears flushed crimson again as she nudged Xie Ying. “What’s with that?”

“Why do I keep sensing a sweet scent on you? Like cream. What brand of perfume is that?” Xie Ying leaned closer, inhaling deeply from Qin Han’s sleeve.

Qin Han didn’t wear perfume regularly. The bottle of cherry blossom fragrance she’d bought for Hu Keyuan during high school graduation had been left unused, now half-empty and long expired.

She pondered a moment before answering. “I baked a cake today. It might be the cream.”

“Holy crap, you two are so romantic! Baking a cake for Valentine’s Day?”

“There’s leftovers. You should try some,” Qin Han offered warmly. “I can also make noodles. Airplane food never fills you up, right?”

Xie Ying sighed wistfully. “Forget it. I can’t risk it. I’m your bridesmaid in a few days. What if I gain weight?”

Zhang Yuqing chuckled from the driver’s seat. “The bride and groom eat. So should the bridesmaid. Enjoy your meal.”

When they returned to Qin Han and Zhang Yuqing’s apartment, Xie Ying finally noticed the “Happy Birthday” message on the cake. She knew Qin Han’s birthday wasn’t on Valentine’s Day, so the celebration must be for Zhang Yuqing.

Borrowing from a close friend was one thing, but asking her fiancé for help felt awkward—especially since it was his birthday today.

Xie Ying, feeling embarrassed, said, “Qing-ge, I’m really sorry for causing trouble. I can’t believe I’m making the birthday boy come fetch me in the middle of the night.”

Zhang Yuqing smiled. “Don’t mention it. Just remember to let the bridesmaids off easy when they block the door later.”

In Imperial City tradition, during weddings, bridesmaids would block the door to delay the groom’s entrance.

Xie Ying, being the female version of Luo Shijin, quickly transformed her momentary embarrassment into the firm resolve of a loyal friend. “Absolutely not! I can’t let you whisk away the bride so easily!”

Over the next few days, Qin Han and Zhang Yuqing busied themselves preparing for the wedding, with Xie Ying assisting them.

While packing boxes of wedding candy, she received a voice message from her ex-boyfriend. He asked in a gentle tone, “Yingying, do you have time to meet during the summer break?”

Xie Ying clenched her teeth and didn’t respond.

In truth, Qin Han didn’t have much to do. Zhang Yuqing had arranged everything meticulously, and any tasks requiring effort were handled by Luo Shijin and Li Nan.

Father Qin also brought along Qin Han’s Uncle, insisting they were all family. “Whether it’s a son or daughter getting married, we should all work together.”

On the day before the wedding, Zhang Yuqing handled all the guest arrivals and departures, allowing Qin Han to steal a moment of leisure. She sat in the dressing room, chatting with Xie Ying.

Xie Ying gently touched Qin Han’s wedding dress and asked, “Little Qinhan, what’s the thing that makes your heart flutter the most about Zhang Yuqing? Tell me about it.”

Qin Han pondered for a moment, finding herself at a loss for words.

Zhang Yuqing had done so many, many things that made her heart flutter.

Noticing Qin Han’s blissful expression, Xie Ying immediately exclaimed, “Never mind, don’t say it! Are there just too many to even begin listing them?”

When Xie Ying spoke like this, she really resembled Luo Shijin.

Qin Han smiled. “Tomorrow you’ll be meeting the male version of yourself—he’s the best man.”

“Luo Shijin? You’ve mentioned him more than once.”

Xie Ying didn’t seem particularly excited, looking somewhat dispirited. “Little Qinhan, he sent me a message.”

She handed her phone to Qin Han and said wistfully, “When I think about this person, there’s actually only one thing that makes my heart flutter.”

In her second year of high school, Xie Ying had nearly fainted from heatstroke. It was her ex-boyfriend who caught her, carried her on his back to the infirmary.

She thanked him, but he smiled and said she was light as a feather.

Xie Ying thought for a moment. “I still prefer men with strength.”

On the wedding day, Qin Han wore a white wedding dress. Father Qin placed her hand, adorned with a white lace glove, in Zhang Yuqing’s hand and solemnly entrusted him, “Yuqing, Xiaohan, I hope you both can be happy—not just for a moment or an instant, but may you be happy forever.”

The wedding was casual, blending Chinese and Western traditions without any cumbersome rituals.

A European-style altar stood on the lawn, adorned with clusters of fresh flowers. The banquet table displayed cold dishes and pastries, while pyramids of champagne glasses overflowed with bubbly effervescence. A violinist played “Shoulder,” the song Qin Han had heard a thousand times.

The guest list wasn’t long, and compared to the extravagant weddings of wealthy families, this ceremony was modest.

But it was warm.

Zhang Yuqing wore a black suit with short, neat hair. His demeanor was serious yet earnest as he addressed Father Qin and Mother Qin, “I will take care of Qin Han.”

After speaking, he gently rested his hand on Qin Han’s head and smiled reassuringly, “Don’t cry now, young lady. You’ll ruin your makeup.”

Mother Qin wiped away tears from her eyes, clasping Qin Han and Zhang Yuqing’s hands tightly. “I know you’ll be happy together,” she said.

She looked at Zhang Yuqing, fighting back sobs. “Yuqing, we’re family now. You’re my son and Father Qin’s son. Don’t carry such burdens alone. We’ll share everything, okay?”

There was no officiant asking if the groom would take the bride, or if the bride would marry the groom.

Only Zhang Yuqing lifting the veil to kiss away Qin Han’s tears.

He pressed Qin Han’s hand to his chest, leaning close to her ear. “Can you hear it? It’s saying ‘I love you’.”

Qin Han nodded through her tears.

Everyone raised their champagne glasses.

The beaming parents, Father Qin and Mother Qin, standing close together.

Du Zhi filming with sunglasses on.

Li Nan, who’d come with his girlfriend, both wearing matching makeup.

Grandma Zhang, missing two teeth.

Dandan, yawning as she listened.

Luo Shijin, who’d lost over 20 pounds to be the best man.

Xie Ying, moved to tears by the sight of love.

As Zhang Yuqing and Qin Han embraced in a kiss, the crowd raised their glasses in a toast, shouting congratulations.

The air was thick with sweet oxygen.

When the evening reception concluded, Xie Ying, tipsy from drinking, stumbled and collided with someone.

Luo Shijin steadied her. “Hey, hey, hey! Watch out—there’s lawn everywhere. Don’t fall.”

Xie Ying shook her head, her eyes bleary with alcohol. She squinted at Luo Shijin, bewildered. “Who’s talking to me?” she slurred, her smudged eyeliner making her look like a child’s drawing. “You sound just like me. Do I have a twin brother?”

Nearby by the pool, Zhang Yuqing brushed a strand of wet hair from Qin Han’s face. He leaned close to whisper in her ear, “Little girl, I love you.”

Qin Han’s cheeks flushed the crimson of early autumn maple leaves. Her voice was barely audible. “I love you too.”

They married in their seventh summer together.

Many beautiful things were only just beginning tonight.