Hai Ling held Feng Qing’s hand, “Feng Qing, I wish you and Fang Yao a lifetime of happiness, growing old together. Let go of past hardships, let’s look forward.”
“Look, Tongtong and I faced a lot of unfair treatment before too. My sister and I have let it go, released the hatred, and our lives are much lighter now.”
“Those so-called relatives who treated us poorly now have to look up to us to get by. Living happily and fulfilled is the best revenge against them.”
Feng Qing slowly let her smile fade, lost in thought.
After a long pause, she said to Hai Ling, “You’re right, we should all look forward.”
They hugged each other.
When they parted, they saw support, encouragement, and blessings in each other’s eyes.
*Beep beep beep…*
Feng Qing’s phone chimed with a new WeChat message.
She checked it; it was from Fang Yao, telling her to rest early.
Feng Qing replied, suggesting they go to the Civil Affairs Bureau tomorrow to get their marriage certificate.
Fang Yao couldn’t have been more eager.
“Hai Ling, I’ve decided, tomorrow Fang Yao and I will go to the Civil Affairs Bureau to register.”
“Congratulations.”
Hai Ling smiled, offering her blessings, “Rest early then, no need to wake up too early tomorrow. Sleep until around nine, have some breakfast, put on light makeup, and head out looking beautiful.”
“At noon, Dongming and I will treat you and your husband to a meal to celebrate your marriage registration.”
“Thank you, it’s good to have you, so I can share my joy.”
Hai Ling laughed, “We’re friends, aren’t we? Go to bed.”
Feng Qing nodded.
They went upstairs together, each returning to their rooms.
Hai Ling pushed open her door quietly, careful not to disturb Lu Dongming, but as soon as she closed it, the light flicked on.
She heard Lu Dongming ask, “Where were you in the middle of the night? I woke up, reached for you, and my wife was gone.”
Lu Dongming was leaning against the bedroom door, looking like he was about to go looking for his wife.
Hai Ling walked over, helped him into the bedroom, and they sat on the bed.
“Feng Qing just got back, I was checking on her. She’s just out of the hospital, still a bit weak.”
“Where’d she go?”
Lu Dongming knew his wife cared about Feng Qing, so he showed some concern too.
“Fang Yao took her out to dinner and proposed. They’ve agreed to get their certificate tomorrow. Dongming, do you know who set off half an hour of fireworks tonight? It was Fang Yao.”
“Those fireworks were prepared for Feng Qing, a surprise for her. They were so beautiful, lighting up Jiangcheng’s night sky, absolutely stunning.”
Lu Dongming pulled her down to lie beside him, saying, “If you like fireworks, I can buy heaps of them and set them off for an hour, longer than Fang Yao’s display for Feng Qing.”
Hai Ling gave him a light push, “We’re an old married couple, why waste money like that? It’s not even New Year.”
“Old married couple? We only got our certificate before the year, haven’t even had the wedding yet, we’re still a fresh couple.”
Lu Dongming kissed her cheek, his eyes twinkling with amusement, “For our wedding, I’ll prepare a fireworks show for you and Yangyang. I won’t follow the trend now, lest Fang Yao says I’m copying him.”
“You are copying him. If I didn’t mention it, you wouldn’t have thought of it.”
Lu Dongming, a bit of a straight man, wasn’t great at romancing women. When it came to romance, he lacked ideas, at most copying others by sending flowers or jewellery to please Hai Ling.
