Nyoi-Bo Studio

  Nyoi-Bo Studio

  The whole matter passed over smoothly.

  On the night that Ye Qianqian and Shen Zhilie returned to Kingstown, Old Mrs. Shen called. She seemed very happy and said to Shen Zhilie, “I’ve arrived at a wedding date for the both of you! The fifth day of the third month is the best day of the year, according to Ye Qianqian’s horoscope! It’s especially auspicious.”


  Hearing the old lady’s happy words, Shen Zhilie and Ye Qianqian smiled at each other.

  The date that Old Mrs. Shen announced was the same date that Uncle Blind Man had given them two days ago.

  It was the same day.

  “All right. Got it,” Shen Zhilie replied to his grandmother.

  However, Old Mrs. Shen’s tone turned unhappy. She said, “What do you mean by ‘got it’? Aren’t you happy that you’ll be able to get married so soon?”


  Shen Zhilie knew better than to tell her about Uncle Blind Man, so he quickly changed the topic. “Grandma, you said that it’s a really good day, but why?”


  “Well, the time and place are perfectly aligned with Qianqian’s horoscope, and on that day, your horoscope will also help to complement hers. In fact, if you get married on that day, you may even be able to reverse her ill fortune!”


  Shen Zhilie had turned on the speakerphone, and when Ye Qianqian heard what Grandmother had said, her eyes lit up.

  What did that mean?

  Her ill fortune could be reversed?

  Ye Qianqian suddenly felt a glimmer of hope.

  The word that Uncle Blind Man had repeated umpteen times resurfaced in her memory: Fate.

  But if her ill-fortune was reversed, wouldn’t that be an instance of fate, too?

  Ye Qianqian’s spirits suddenly soared.

  “Are you serious?” Shen Zhilie was ecstatic. “Grandma, you’re so awesome!”


  Old Mrs. Shen laughed cheerily. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” she said. “Of course I’m awesome! Oh, yes! Bring Qianqian back on the twenty-fifth of next month to get your marriage registered.”


  “On the Gregorian calendar?”


  “Yes, the Gregorian calendar.”


  Shen Zhilie subconsciously walked over to his desk calendar and flipped though its pages. “That’s a month from now,” he remarked.

  “That’s right. It’s a good day, too, most suitable for registering your marriage.” The smile could be heard in Old Mrs. Shen’s voice. “All right, I won’t chat with you any longer. I’m going to look for Dongfang now.”


  “Hold on, Grandma……”


  But before he could finish his sentence, Old Mrs. Shen had already hung up the phone.

  There was nothing Shen Zhilie could do about it. However, the moment he turned around, something pounced on him.

  Ye Qianqian had leapt over and declared joyously, “We’re getting married!”


  Shen Zhilie steadied her in his arms. Feeling exuberant, Ye Qianqian hooked her arms around him and shrieked, “We’re getting married! We’re getting married, Old Shen! We’re registering our marriage next month!”


  Shen Zhilie carried her in his arms and headed into the bedroom. “Didn’t you say that you didn’t care about the official papers?” he asked. “What made you change your mind so quickly?”


  “Ha ha!” Ye Qianqian cradled his head and replied happily, “How could I not care about it, silly? I only said that to console you!”


  Shen Zhilie lowered her onto the bed, but Ye Qianqian still kept her arms around him and refused to let go.

  Images of their happily ever after played in her head.

  However, Shen Zhilie’s face had turned red, and he eked out, “Let go of me! Are you out to kill your husband?”


  “Ha ha!” Ye Qianqian released him immediately. She took off her shoes and jacket before lying on the bed and opening a browser on her cellphone.

  Shen Zhilie also removed his outerwear and climbed on top of her back. “What are you doing?” he asked.

  “I’m checking what I need to do to prepare for the wedding, and whether or not we need to do a medical checkup before that,” Ye Qianqian replied with her eyes still glued to the screen.

  “Okay. Let’s go tomorrow.” Shen Zhilie hugged her from behind. He snaked his hand under her clothes, and with his other hand, plucked the cell phone away from her. “There’s no rush. Leave the checkup to me.”


  Ye Qianqian turned around, but before she could say anything, Shen Zhilie silenced her with his lips.

  “Oh……”