Appearing on a Marriage Show Before Getting Divorced - Chapter 44

Chu Nian’s life had always been one of following the rules.

When she was a child, Mother Chu was busy with work and rarely looked after her, only checking her report cards at regular intervals. Every time she did, Mother Chu’s expression was solemn while Chu Nian stood timidly by her side. Mother Chu’s requirement was that she must never fall out of the top three. After checking, she would simply nod: “Mhm.”

A perfect score, yet not a single word of praise; nonetheless, the heavy stone in little Chu Nian’s heart would finally drop.

On the rare occasion she underperformed, Mother Chu would stare into Chu Nian’s eyes until the girl lowered her head, and then Mother Chu would let out a heavy sigh: “You’ve disappointed me so much.” In those moments, Chu Nian’s eyes would fill with tears, and she would spend her time at home alone, studying.

Many times, Ruan Youran would call her and she wouldn’t answer. Having no other choice, Youran would run to the bottom of Chu Nian’s building and shout, “Nian Nian, Chu Nian, Chu the Great Beauty!”

With a whoosh, the window would open. Chu Nian would look down at Youran fiercely, while Youran smiled and held her hands over her head in a heart shape: “I missed you! Want to come down and play for a bit?”

Just for a bit…

Ruan Youran was the splash of color in Chu Nian’s black-and-white life. It was true in childhood, and it remained true in adulthood.

As she walked toward the back of the movie theater, heaven knows why she was doing this. She clearly knew what Ruan Youran intended to do…

Youran looked perfectly natural, even wearing a smile on her lips. Seeing Chu Nian moving sluggishly, she urged her: “Hurry up, the movie is starting.”

Chu Nian: “…” There were clearly ten minutes left.

The seats Youran had chosen were truly in a remote corner. Once she sat down, she didn’t busy herself with anything else; instead, she peeked around, searching for the theater’s security cameras. After finishing her patrol, Youran turned back to meet Chu Nian’s reproachful gaze. Youran smiled and leaned onto Chu Nian’s shoulder. “Honestly, Nian Nian, I’ve wanted to do this since we were teenagers.”

What young man or woman hasn’t read a few “colorful” books? From childhood to now, Youran hadn’t changed; the object of her fantasies had always been Chu Nian. Sometimes, verbal stimulation is even more potent than physical touch. As the lights in the theater began to dim, Chu Nian’s face turned scarlet.

Today they had chosen a lighthearted campus youth drama to reminisce about their younger days. Chu Nian looked at Youran: “There are cameras.”

The subtext: So don’t do anything reckless.

Although… although there was a sliver of expectation in her heart, such a thrill… she was still shy after all.

Youran smiled and pulled a large overcoat out of her bag. “I came prepared.”

Chu Nian: “…” No wonder she insisted on buying a heavy coat while they were shopping, even though it wasn’t the season for it.

Youran spread the coat across both their laps. She looked at Chu Nian: “Shall we start now?”

Chu Nian’s hands tightened. She looked at Youran: “Mom said I can’t…”

“Oh, I know,” Youran said with a look of understanding. “Didn’t Mother Ruan say? She told me not to ‘poke around’ with you.”

Chu Nian: “…” This person was truly becoming more and more full of scandalous talk.

And it wasn’t just talk. Youran let out a “yawn” and ducked under the coat, resting her head on Chu Nian’s lap. “I’m tired. I’m going to get busy with my own thing. Tell me when the movie is over.”

Chu Nian: “…”

It was nothing short of torture. The people around them were laughing at the screen, but Chu Nian’s expression was in constant flux. She suppressed her reactions, brow furrowed, having to bite her lips hard to endure it.

Youran was having the time of her life. She had been confident in her looks since she was a child, especially her lips. She once raised an eyebrow and told Chu Nian: “What are you so proud of, acting so cold and not even looking at me? I’m telling you, with these lips of mine, whoever I kiss will definitely love me for a lifetime.”

Back then, Chu Nian had been holding a book and looking at her—specifically, looking at those lips—and for some reason, her face had flushed and her heart had raced. Now, Youran’s lips were soft and warm, yet arrogant and domineering, leaving not a single inch of room to escape.

Halfway through the movie, the audience burst into laughter. Chu Nian, however, couldn’t hold it in anymore. She held Youran’s head, pleading with a hint of a sob in her voice: “Stop it, Youran.”

Her body stiffened as an overwhelming sensation swept through her. Youran naturally felt it. She emerged from under the coat, her face flushed as she looked at Chu Nian. Chu Nian looked back with a reproachful gaze, her eyes shimmering with emotion, her body still trembling slightly.

Youran pouted her lips and looked at Chu Nian: “Look, they taste like you.”

Having just been stimulated, Chu Nian’s body went soft at this provocation, her defensive aura dissipating almost entirely. Youran smiled, hooked an arm around Chu Nian’s neck, and kissed her lips: “It’s very sweet. Taste it if you don’t believe me~”

Chu Nian: “…………”

Jianjian’s mouth was truly invincible. In the past, when they were in a cold war and ignored each other for days, the moment things thawed in bed, Youran would use all sorts of words to provoke Chu Nian, refusing to shut up until she forced her into total surrender and pleading.

It was the same now. However… Youran looked at Chu Nian; the way her cheeks were flushed and her hair was messy was simply too captivating.

Once the “serious business” was concluded, Youran finally remembered she was there to watch a movie. She ate popcorn while watching the screen, while Chu Nian shot her a glare.

The movie was a typical idol drama—romantic campus days followed by a separation after facing the cruel reality of society. By the end, when the lead couple broke up, the sounds of sobbing could be heard throughout the theater.

Youran didn’t feel much, but Chu Nian’s eyes turned red. Youran tilted her head to look at her. “Is it really that bad?”

Chu Nian looked at her. “Don’t you think it’s very sad?” Two people still in love having to part ways—that was perhaps the most painful thing in the world.

Youran gave a “pssh.” She looked at the female lead crying on the big screen and said flatly: “They talk about reality being cruel, but it’s just that they aren’t determined enough. They don’t love enough. If you truly love someone to your core, how could you let go so easily?”

Chu Nian’s heart jolted. She looked at Youran, who was still eating popcorn, her mouth stuffed full like a cute hamster. Chu Nian reached out and hugged her. Youran froze as a fragrant kiss landed on her forehead: “To have you is the luck of three lifetimes.”

Wow… To have Film Queen Chu say something so moving. Youran hugged her back: “Want to go again?”

Chu Nian: “…………” In the middle of the nice movie theater, Youran was pinched hard.

When the movie ended and they were walking out, a boy in black-rimmed glasses kept staring at Chu Nian, eventually sneaking a slip of paper into her hand. Chu Nian was helpless, and Youran was flabbergasted: “No way. Even disguised like this, you’re still attracting admirers.”

They opened the note. *—Beauty, you are so pretty. Can I get to know you? This is my number *****.

Youran curled her lip. “So cliché.” Chu Nian looked at it. “He’s just a child.” Youran grew unhappy. “Yeah, you could be his aunt. Ouch, ouch, ouch—it hurts! I’ll stop talking—”

She was pinched again, yet she was happy.

Once in the car, Chu Nian looked at Youran: “Home?” Youran looked at her with amusement. “Your eyes are as wide as lightbulbs and you want to go home? Let’s go to the mountaintop. We haven’t looked at the stars there in a long time.”

In the past, because of their celebrity status, their range of activity was limited. Back then, they would drive to the deserted mountaintop to watch the stars. Whenever Chu Nian was stressed or couldn’t shake off the emotions of a character she just finished filming, she would lean on Youran, feeling her warm embrace while watching the vast starry sky. No matter how bad she felt, it would all melt away.

It had been three years since they had been here. Fearing Chu Nian’s body couldn’t handle the hike, Youran drove the car directly up. They leaned against the hood, looking up at the sky together. The weather was perfect; every star was crisp and bright.

“I heard there’s a meteor shower today. Let’s wait a bit. Are you cold?” Youran asked softly. Chu Nian shook her head and snuggled closer into Youran’s side.

Youran gave a mischievous laugh in her ear: “See, that overcoat wasn’t a waste. We used it in the theater, and we’re using it now.”

Chu Nian’s face felt hot. She bit her lip: “You aren’t allowed to misbehave again.” Youran didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: “Misbehave how? Outdoor action?” It wasn’t possible to go so many times in one day; Nian Nian’s body couldn’t take it, and Youran wasn’t a glutton.

The shining stars were like jewels studding the sky, twinkling as if into their hearts. They watched in silence, and as luck would have it, a naughty star finally traced a beautiful golden arc across the dark sky.

Youran cried out: “A shooting star! A shooting star!”

Chu Nian saw it too, a smile on her lips. She tugged at Youran’s lapel. “Youran.”

Youran turned to face her eyes full of deep affection, then watched as Chu Nian pulled her into a hug and captured her lips. It was… absolutely dominant. Accompanied by the stars and the moon, they kissed sweetly, surrounded by pink bubbles of happiness.

Finally, Chu Nian looked into Youran’s eyes. Her hand reached around Youran’s neck, finding the thin necklace and gently pulling it out—the one holding the ring she had personally placed on Youran’s ring finger years ago. Now, after being sealed away by three years of separation and pain, it finally saw the light of day again.

Youran watched without blinking as Chu Nian reached up and untied the one around her own neck as well. She looked at Youran, gently took her left hand, and murmured: “This time, you are never allowed to take it off again.”

Youran smiled. She watched Chu Nian slide the ring onto her finger, then took Chu Nian’s ring and slid it onto hers. Their fingers intertwined. The two rings gave off a faint, soft glow.

—To hold your hand and grow old together. If only time could stop at this moment.

“Make a wish,” Chu Nian said. Youran smiled and pressed her hands together with ultimate devotion, closing her eyes as she chanted the wish she had made a thousand times in her heart. When she finished and opened her eyes, Chu Nian was looking at her, her eyes rimmed with red. Even without words, their soulmate-like connection told her exactly what Youran was thinking.

The night grew deep, and the chill began to set in. Fearing Chu Nian would catch a cold, they were packing up to leave when Chu Qing’s call came through. It was nearly eleven.

Youran smiled: “Is Zhengzhi waking up and looking for her Mamma?”

Youran pressed the speakerphone button, thinking they would coax the child together. Unexpectedly, Chu Qing’s voice on the other end was hurried.

—Jianjian, where are you?

Youran froze. “Nian Nian and I are coming home now. Mom, what’s wrong?”

Chu Qing’s voice was trembling, carrying a hint of a sob.

—We’ve found a heart donor!