On the day everyone left the island, they headed to the airport at noon. While eating at the only Chinese restaurant, the local guide who had accompanied them for four days suddenly took out a gift and handed it to Sheng Sheng, saying it was "a gift for the only newlywed couple in this group."
Gu Sheng was eating garlic-flavored water spinach to make up for the lack of vegetables she hadn’t eaten in the past two days. So when the gift was presented, everyone at the table laughed.
Were they accompanying the Top talent and the Little Patron on their honeymoon?
So that’s how it was.
She remained embarrassed all the way, all the way back to Shanghai…
By the time they finally arrived in Shanghai, it was already late at night. The Top talent drove her and her cousin to the building where Gu Sheng lived. When her cousin got out of the car to get the luggage, she wanted to say goodbye but suddenly felt reluctant. Since childhood, this was the first time she had been so close to a boy. It seemed she had completely grown accustomed to seeing his face and hearing his voice before falling asleep and after waking up.
But… isn’t that how everyone in the throes of passion feels?
Don’t be coy, Sheng Sheng Man.
"I’m leaving. Call me when you get home," she finally steeled herself to say goodbye.
"Okay." Those beautiful eyes simply looked at her, then he took her hand.
While she was still feeling sentimental, he kissed her palm and whispered, "I suddenly don’t want to let you go."
…Oh no.
All the resolve she had mustered to say goodbye just vanished.
His voice seeped into her heart, and she truly couldn’t bring herself to say goodbye.
T.T… Please, please don’t talk to me in that voice anymore…
"Do you want me to go upstairs with you? To meet your parents?" he suddenly asked.
She was startled, her first reaction being to shake her head vigorously. She pulled her hand back, said goodbye, added a goodnight, and fled the car. After rushing home, taking a hot shower, and jumping into bed, she finally felt like she could breathe again once she buried herself under the covers… yet her heart felt empty. Had she rejected the Top talent again?
T.T…
But hearing "meet the parents" felt terrifying. Even though they had already met informally, what he was proposing was clearly a very formal request. And she… didn’t seem mentally prepared yet.
Maybe it was because the time was too short… but… she reached under her pillow, hugging the entire soft pillow to her chest. But they were already so close, almost without reservation. What if someday… they had to part?
She hugged the pillow tighter, immediately dismissing the thought.
T.T It’s too scary. Just thinking about those two words makes me sad…
Is this what they call being torn between hope and fear?
She fell asleep like this but still slept restlessly, constantly feeling guilty for rejecting him twice in a row. She didn’t know what time it was when she woke up, probably just as dawn was breaking, but she heard her phone ringing nearby. She fumbled for the glowing phone, put it to her ear, and said, "Hello?"
"I couldn’t sleep well, so I went straight to the hospital," came a voice in the middle of the night, more magnetic and gentle than a radio Disc Jockey. "Did you sleep well last night?" He seemed to really be outdoors, with the faint sound of traffic in the background.
She hummed in agreement, then after a moment, whispered, "I miss you."
"How much?" he chuckled.
"A lot…" She simply surrendered, giving the ultimate answer: "I miss you a lot."
The person she missed, the one she couldn’t sleep over thinking about, was naturally him."I'll go to the supermarket another day to see if they sell coconuts," he seemed to be in a good mood. "Didn't you always want to eat coconut rice?"
Yes, it's a pity that the mangoes on that island were good, but the coconuts weren't very tasty, so I didn't get my wish.
"Okay," her voice was soft, truly tired. "Don't you need to sleep for a while? You went to the hospital so early?"
Mo Qingcheng casually said he wasn't tired, probably mentioning that he had a patient who had a pacemaker installed not long ago and went to play in the tropical rainforest... ended up getting infected, and since he was back, he went to the hospital to check on the situation. After listening for a while, she genuinely felt sleepy. He coaxed her for a bit, and she fell asleep holding her phone.
When she woke up the next day at noon, she thought back on what he had said, and it didn't seem particularly significant.
Phew, he finally stopped obsessing over meeting the parents...
After being away for a few days, the organizing teacher for the graduation gala finally noticed that the guzheng performer was missing, so they urgently called her back to school to begin intensive rehearsals. Being chased down by the teacher like this finally gave her time to snap out of her vacation mindset, but she still found herself spacing out during rehearsals in the auditorium, wondering what he was doing.
From then on, Qiang Qingci was truly just Mo Qingcheng to her.
Dr. Mo.
So, Dr. Mo, what do you do every day?
The him in the Three-Dimensional Space still held many unknown mysteries for her. For example... she only knew that both his parents were doctors, but at which hospital? She didn't know. Could it be that they both worked across from the supermarket? Wouldn't that mean his parents could just cross the street to meet hers in the future? 0.0...
So awkward.
He stepped down from his pedestal and opened another door in front of her.
And what was the world on the other side of that door? The real him over there, how he grew up, what he had experienced... she wanted to understand it all, slowly and bit by bit.
Isn't it amazing?
But many couples she knew who had developed in the Two-dimensional world, even those who ended up getting married, seemed to care more about each other's hobbies, talents, personalities, and reputations online, while the realities of life seemed less important. Because, in truth... once the halo fades, most people are just ordinary.
But him...
Her fingers lightly plucked the guzheng strings. He would never be ordinary anywhere.
Anyway, the rehearsal was over, and there was free air conditioning here, so quiet, perfect for idle gossip. The people performing alongside her were also chatting, and the topic eventually drifted to City First People's Hospital, mentioning that a patient with a contagious virus had been admitted a few days ago, forcing the medical staff in that department to temporarily stay at the hospital, indirectly quarantined. Gu Sheng's heart skipped a beat—wasn't that the Top talent's hospital?
She hurriedly asked a follow-up question, but the girl only knew about it from family chatter: "Which department? I don't know..." Before she could finish, Gu Sheng had already put down her guzheng and run off.
It seemed like he had indeed been very busy these past few days, too busy to really get in touch with her.It's all my own fault. I had gotten used to his busy work schedule and erratic sleep patterns, accustomed to him sending texts or WeChat messages after I'd fallen asleep, and occasionally a phone call... But this time, the contact was even shorter. I thought it was because there was too much work after a few days off, and he didn't have time to handle it, so naturally, there was less contact.
It seems he did mention... something about making coconut rice... No, he said a patient went to the rainforest?
And came back infected?
It seems it was after that when contact became less frequent?
Could it really be his department? No way?
And of all times, his phone is off.
She called several times, each time greeted by "the number you have dialed is powered off." How could it be off at such a critical moment? She tried calling Jue Mei, but his phone was also unreachable. It felt as if, overnight, both people from that room had vanished from the world?!
Forget it, it's better to just go see him in person.
Holding her bag, she stood at the subway station, even spacing out as the train arrived. Only when people around her started boarding did she belatedly get on. Thirty minutes by subway to his home, forty-five minutes to the hospital—where should she go?
T.T... What a mess.
She hugged her backpack tightly, feeling more confused than ever before.
Everything was in chaos, and logical thinking had completely deserted her...
Epilogue: A Lifelong Meal Ticket
Worry leads to confusion.
As the train moved from station to station, the distinctive sound of the tracks grinding and the unique smell of the subway car made her increasingly unsure of where to go. Fortunately, while holding her phone, she thought of Geng Xiaoxing. With the mindset of finding anyone she could, she called Xiaoxing.
Clearly, this graduate student with guaranteed admission had even more free time than she did. When she answered the phone, she sounded half-asleep.
And there was a hint of whispering...
"Can you reach Jue Mei?" Gu Sheng really wasn't in the mood to ask why she was speaking so quietly, like a thief.
"Him... not necessarily. Is it urgent?"
"Yeah," she kept it brief. "His phone is off, and I don't know what's going on. I can't reach him... I don't know whether to go to the hospital or his home. So I wanted to ask Jue Mei if he's at home."
Since Jue Mei worked from home, asking him was naturally the most reliable option.
"Looking for the Top talent? Maybe he'll turn his phone on soon..."
Geng Xiaoxing's voice trailed off, as if she was thinking about something...
"But I'm already on the subway," Gu Sheng sighed softly. "The next stop is his home."
"Ah? So urgent? What's wrong?" Geng Xiaoxing also noticed she seemed down.
"Nothing... I just heard there's some infectious patient at their hospital, and many medical staff have been temporarily isolated. I was already a bit worried, and now I can't reach him... I figured he should be off work at this time, so I decided to come see."
"The Top talent is so good, how could he be so unlucky, right?" Geng Xiaoxing lowered her voice. "I guarantee, the Top talent is absolutely fine. Maybe he just forgot to charge his phone..."
...
Gu Sheng finally realized something was off about Geng Xiaoxing. With four years of living together, she could tell something was definitely wrong!
"How can you guarantee?" she redirected the question to Geng Xiaoxing.
"Anyway..."
"You've seen him?"
"...""Geng Xiaoxing?" Gu Sheng's voice was serious.
"I give up... come over, I'm at Jue Mei's place, Top talent seems to be sleeping..."
Sure enough ( ⊙ o ⊙) ah!
All the anxiety and panic from the past twenty-some minutes vanished in an instant. She didn't even have time to gossip about how Geng Xiaoxing and Jue Mei Sha Yi had secretly progressed to the point of dating at home. Just then, the subway arrived at the station. She grabbed her bag, rushed out, swiped her card, exited the station, crossed the street, and entered the residential complex.
She sprinted all the way, and by the time she fished out her key and opened the door to Top talent's apartment, her forehead was already damp with sweat.
The living room was quiet, as if no one was there. She glanced at the tightly closed door of Jue Mei's room. I'll deal with you later, hmph... She walked to the door of Top talent's room but heard the sound of running water from the bathroom. Turning around, she followed the sound.
Top talent was holding a white towel, drying his hair and face.
It was his habit to wash his hair along with his face every time he woke up...
So, once again, he looked lazy with his hair wet.
She saw him.
Suddenly, her heart felt light.
It had been three days since their farewell after the vacation...
Three days felt so long.
"Jue Mei just woke me up," he said drowsily, hanging the towel back up and reaching out to stroke her hair. "He said you came over. What's wrong? Why did you suddenly come looking for me?" As he spoke, he walked out of the bathroom with her and returned to his room.
He closed the door behind him.
But Gu Sheng still hadn't figured out how to explain why she had come over.
Looking back now, the reason for coming over was a bit silly... It was the kind of thing that had a one-in-a-thousand chance of happening, yet she had immediately thought of him. It was embarrassingly silly T.T...
Casually, she said, "Is your phone... out of battery?"
"Out of battery?" Mo Qingcheng picked up his phone from the sofa and glanced at it. "Seems like it is."
He took out the charger, plugged it in, and turned it on.
Only then did he seem a bit more awake. Sitting on the bed, he stretched out his arms to her.
Gu Sheng walked over, and he naturally wrapped his arms around her waist, burying his face against her chest and taking a soft breath. "I really wish I could wake up and see you every day." Such a gentle voice, filled with undisguised longing. She hummed in response. Her emotions had just gone through a rollercoaster, and now he was suddenly being so sentimental, leaving her completely defenseless...
"I'm still a bit sleepy..." He really did seem tired, probably having slept only two or three hours after getting home before being woken up. Washing his face had briefly cleared his mind, but now, holding her and smelling her scent, he felt sleepy again. "Keep me company while I sleep?"
"...Okay."
Obediently, she took off her shoes and outerwear, wearing only a short-sleeved shirt and long pants, and slipped under his blanket. She decided to coax him to sleep first before telling him why she had suddenly rushed over...
He naturally pulled her entirely into his embrace. After a while, though, it seemed he wasn't sleepy anymore. Since he wasn't sleepy, it was time to start "eating."
Now, Mo Qingcheng's appetite seemed to lean more toward her than potato chips, yogurt, scallops, beef, or any kind of fish. Under his touch, she immediately felt her whole body heat up, feeling as if she had personally seasoned herself and delivered herself to him to be eaten... In the end, clutching the cotton blanket, she couldn't help but poke her head out to protest.
She was drenched all over..."There are coconuts bought and stored in the fridge. I'll make coconut rice for you in a bit," he suddenly said.
She hadn't quite caught up with his rhythm yet, murmuring, "You really bought them... Is it enough for four people?"
"Not four people, just you and me."
Huh?
Are Jue Mei and Xiao Xing going out to eat?
"Sheng Sheng?" he called her.
She looked at him.
Mo Qingcheng leisurely changed the subject: "Do you want to see me often?"
"Well... but you're busy, so there's no way."
Besides, she was still studying, although... actually, she had quite a lot of free time this semester.
He continued asking: "Do you want to be able to find me anytime?"
Of course she did...
"Do you want to sleep in our bed even when I'm not home at night, waiting for me to return at dawn?"
Could he mean...
His voice softened, already carrying a somewhat husky, captivating quality: "Do you want to hear my voice every day...? No matter how late, I'll coax you to sleep?"
"I do..." she finally surrendered.
Have you ever seen anyone who asks for that while in bed T.T...
He chuckled: "As long as you want it."
So, does this mean...
It really means...
His voice lowered again as he told her: "So, from now on, it's only you and me. I'll only cook for my wife."
This was clearly the most obvious voice seduction, just like how the story began with her seducing him with her voice, and he used his voice to make her see no one else...
Even where you are not, rumors of you will continue to spread.
Even without the internet as a medium, you remain an insurmountable name, still appearing in the credits of countless advertisements, TV dramas, games, movies... letting all who love you pursue your voice.
That voice that strikes upon hearing, unforgettable.
And the real you is by my side.
So real.
Qiang Qingci.
—— Online Version Complete ——
This work is dedicated to my Favorite Voice Actor
Author's Note: ╮(╯▽╰)╭ Stop kidding around, it's really finished.
Gosh, what did I say last time when I finished? I forgot. Anyway, just one sentence: there is no prototype, absolutely none. Even though I like Jiang sir... I insist, Qiang Qingci has no prototype. Also, stay calm, this isn't documentary literature. The probability of Two-dimensional world romance is similar to game romance or online romance—some succeed, but of course, many more fail.
As for publication, it's still scheduled for next year. I'll add lots of fun extras, like Sheng Sheng meeting her mother-in-law for the first time or something. I haven't thought of what else to write yet, we'll see then... Publication news will be posted on Weibo, and I'll also update here to notify everyone.
And, for those who missed my June 9th song event, there's one by Qi Ran on the evening of August 11th. I checked the list, and it basically covers the Two-dimensional world cosplay, Writer, CV, and singer circles. Those interested can check out the event poster I reposted on my Weibo.
That's all, bow, goodbye everyone.
Next story starts on August 20th.
Let me play and rest for a few days T.T...
Weibo Mini Theater
Author's Note: Throw flowers, celebrate the opening of "One Centimeter of Sunshine"!1. Honeymoon trip. The Top talent discovered that the local currency in his wallet was all used up. Sheng Sheng saw a "Currency Exchange" sign, took out four hundred yuan, and walked over. There were five or six women standing at the shop entrance, none of whom paid her any attention. Even when she asked a question, they would take a step back. The Top talent hooked an arm around her and pulled her back, his voice low and gentle as he told her: "In this country, people queuing under such signs only provide services to male tourists..."
Honeymoon trip. Sheng Sheng kept sweating: "Why is there no air conditioning in the hotel?" The Top talent propped his head up with his right hand, lying on his side beside her: "This place is different from where we went a few days ago. There's rarely sun year-round, and summers are short, so the locals don't like installing air conditioning. They prefer to enjoy the summer." Sheng Sheng silently marked an X on the map. She must tell Geng Xiaoxing that if Jue Mei has stamina as good as the Top talent's... this place isn't suitable for a honeymoon...
During the trip when the Top talent won over Sheng Sheng, on a certain island. Geng Xiaoxing went to the supermarket. The cashier pointed at a poster behind her. She didn't understand. The cashier explained, but she still didn't get it. Jue Mei: "They're asking you to buy a shopping card. You can get discounts every time you come throughout the year." Geng Xiaoxing complained: "I'm just here on vacation..." She suddenly exclaimed, "Have I gotten as tanned as the locals here!" Jue Mei cleared his throat: "It's fine. In case of any violent incidents, you'll be safer than any of us."
During the trip when the Top talent won over Sheng Sheng, on a certain island. Mu Mu came out of the shower wearing only his underwear. Suddenly, the balcony door was pulled open by Dou Dou Dou Bing: "...Ah!!!!" Mu Mu frowned but didn't say a word. Dou Dou Dou Bing looked him up and down several times: "I think I need to take responsibility for you..." Mu Mu continued frowning, then pulled Mo Bai out from the bathroom—who was still drying himself with a towel and wasn't wearing any clothes: "Now that you've seen both of us, you don't need to take responsibility anymore." Dou Dou Dou Bing screamed and ran away in tears...
For a while, Gu Sheng had a poor appetite. No matter what Qiang Qingci SAMA made, she would leave some leftovers. Finally, SAMA let out a soft sigh, leaned on the table, bent down, and whispered to her: "Generally, people who like leaving leftovers will go to hell after they die, and every day they'll have to eat all the food they left behind in their lifetime." Gu Sheng was embarrassed: "Then wouldn't I have to eat decades' worth of leftovers?" She fed all the food into his mouth: "My Top talent is the most caring husband..."
Gu Sheng continued to have a poor appetite. One night, she suddenly panicked while sleeping. Taking advantage of the Top talent going to the bathroom, she got up, took out a large box containing hundreds of small packets from the bedside drawer, and carefully felt each one. The Top talent walked up behind her, amused: "Want to count if any are missing? To see if I've secretly used any?" She turned around anxiously: "No... I just wanted to feel... if you've poked holes in them with a needle..."
About those hundreds of small packets. During a group meal, Mu Mu arrived late and took out a large box from his backpack: "My friend works in quality inspection. This week, they're spot-checking these." He opened it, and everyone fell silent. Mu Mu: "After the spot-check, the leftovers are useless," he casually pushed the box toward Qiang Qingci, "You probably need them more." ...Mu Mu never understood that his one sentence created one SAMA and dismissed a whole table of SAMAs...
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