Later, the two of them registered their marriage in Pingchuan City. As soon as the Spring Festival ended, on the eighth day of the first lunar month when the Civil Affairs Bureau reopened, Lu Xixiao took Zhou Wan to the Pingchuan Civil Affairs Bureau to get their marriage certificate.
The bureau was crowded, with people lining up, all beaming with smiles.
Zhou Wan remained somewhat dazed, mechanically following the procedures step by step. By the time she regained her senses, she and Lu Xixiao each held a certificate in their hands.
"Is this what counts as being married?" Zhou Wan looked at the Red Book in her hand.
Lu Xixiao chuckled softly: "If I'd known it was this simple, I should've dragged you here to register when you were 20. Let's see where you could've run off to then."
Zhou Wan blinked gently and smiled too: "I won't go anywhere now."
Back in the car, Zhou Wan opened the marriage certificate again to look at the photo inside.
Neither she nor Lu Xixiao were particularly fond of taking photos, which explained why they had so few pictures together. During their school days, there were only a handful, and after reuniting, they only took photos occasionally when the mood struck.
This was their first formal group photo.
Against a red background, both wore white shirts.
Her hair was down, half draped over her chest, and she smiled with a hint of restraint due to nervousness.
Though Lu Xixiao wore a white shirt of the same style, somehow the same clothing took on a completely different aura on him.
With the top button undone, it revealed a glimpse of his collarbone and a corner of his tattoo, exuding an especially bold and untamed vibe.
Very handsome.
While stopped at a red light, Lu Xixiao turned to her: "What are you looking at?"
"Lu Xixiao," Zhou Wan said, "I've noticed you haven't changed much over the years. Wearing a white shirt, you look just like you did back in school."
He laughed, the corners of his eyes and brows lifting, clearly in an exceptionally good mood. He took the marriage certificate from Zhou Wan, snapped a photo, and posted it on his social media.
Zhou Wan paused briefly, then also took a photo and posted it on her social media.
Soon, these two posts exploded online on the first day back to work after the holiday.
In the evening, the two returned to City B.
Pushing the door open and entering, he watched Zhou Wan changing her shoes in the entryway and suddenly spoke: "Wanwan."
"Hmm?"
"What kind of house do you like?"
Zhou Wan didn't understand.
Lu Xixiao reached out, gently tilting her chin with his fingertip: "Since we're registered, shouldn't we buy a marital home?"
"I think this place is quite nice. There's no need to buy another."
Lu Xixiao raised an eyebrow and said to himself: "Do you like yards?"
Zhou Wan thought of his small Western-style house in Pingchuan City and nodded.
Lu Xixiao smiled: "Then we'll buy a house with a yard. You can grow some flowers, just like we did before."
Before Zhou Wan left last time, she had hoped Lu Xixiao could live surrounded by warmth and brightness, so she bought many easy-to-care-for, long-blooming flowers.
But she hadn't been able to tend those flowers herself.
And now, she had another chance to plant a whole flower bed.
Everything could start over again.
Zhou Wan's eyes grew slightly moist as she smiled: "Okay."
Actually, from getting registered until now, Lu Xixiao had been quite composed. Apart from the visibly apparent happiness, he hadn't shown many other overwhelming emotions.
Until bedtime.
Zhou Wan was rendered soft and boneless, sinking stickily into the bedding. Lu Xixiao pressed firmly on her pubic bone with one hand, leaning down to lick and kiss the tattoo on her collarbone.
As her consciousness nearly faded, she heard Lu Xixiao's whisper in her ear.
His voice was low, filled with intense obsession, as if completely immersed—"Wanwan."
"You're mine now."
Since they had gotten their marriage certificate rather abruptly, many aspects of the subsequent wedding preparations had to be handled step by step. Zhou Wan wasn't adept at managing these matters, so most arrangements were taken care of by Lu Xixiao.
In April, the couple prepared to take their wedding photos.
Following the photographer's suggestion, they decided that one set of photos would be taken back at Yangming High School, both wearing their school uniforms as a memento.
Lu Xixiao contacted the school in advance, and on a Friday evening, they returned to Pingchuan together. Zhou Wan hadn't taken her school uniform with her when she left back then, and it was still kept at Lu Xixiao's home. They went back to retrieve the uniforms and changed into them.
Zhou Wan often heard people lament how they used to think their school uniforms were utterly unattractive during their student days, but upon looking back after graduation, they realized those were actually the best-looking clothes—full of youthful vitality, spirited and bold.
This sentiment was even more pronounced when it came to Lu Xixiao.
No matter how much time passed, seeing him still evoked the same flutter of excitement she felt in her youth.
It strongly resembled the way Zhou Wan had felt when she first laid eyes on him.
...
Back in the day, the principal was always catching Lu Xixiao and reprimanding him incessantly, resulting in numerous disciplinary actions. However, by his senior year, his grades skyrocketed, and he ended up becoming the most memorable student in years.
So when the school received his call requesting to take wedding photos on campus, they immediately agreed.
Over the years, academic pressure at the school had intensified, and students no longer enjoyed full two-day weekends like they used to.
On Saturdays, everyone was still in class, with no break.
When students spotted them returning to campus for photos, they couldn't help but glance back curiously.
Upon learning it was for wedding photos, their excitement grew even more.
During a break in the photoshoot, a female student came over and asked, "Sis, did you both study at Yangming before?"
"Yes," Zhou Wan replied.
"Wow, so you were dating back in school?"
Zhou Wan smiled, her eyes curving, and nodded.
"That's so romantic! And that brother over there is really handsome!" The girl turned to look at Lu Xixiao, who was standing not far away, talking on the phone. "Was he the school hunk back then? I feel like our current school hunk doesn't even compare to him."
"Yes, he was."
Zhou Wan also turned to gaze at Lu Xixiao's back. His shoulders were straight and broad, making even the school uniform look exceptionally good on him.
They took many photos together.
In the classroom, on the sports field, at the basketball court...
It was sunset, and the evening glow dyed the entire sky orange, warm and radiant. The cherry blossom trees on campus were in full bloom, their petals scattered across the ground by the wind.
Everything was as beautiful as a dream.
After the shoot, Lu Xixiao casually sat on the grassy field, leaning back on his hands, his eyes slightly narrowed against the sunlight, exuding a carefree aura.
Zhou Wan finished reviewing the photos and walked over to squat beside him.
"Tired?" she asked.
Lu Xixiao shook his head and hooked his finger around hers.
Sensing his affection, Zhou Wan couldn't help but smile. "What's up?"
"It feels like I've dreamed of this exact scene before, just like this."
The most beautiful scene I could ever imagine is precisely this.
Zhou Wan looked at Lu Xixiao before leaning in to gently brush her lips against his. "Lu Xixiao, I never even dared to dream of something like this before."
To her, Lu Xixiao was simply too good.
So good that she didn't dare to hope she could have him forever.
Lu Xixiao, ever the opportunist, replied, "Exactly, so you have to treat me well."
"Mm."
"You have to be good to me for the rest of your life.""Mm." Zhou Wan curved her lips. "If there's a next life, I'll tell you I like you first."
If given another chance, I would use all my courage to love you.
After leaving school, the two had dinner together and walked back.
Zhou Wan still remembered that when Grandma passed away, the cherry blossoms along this road hadn't bloomed yet. Now they were in full bloom, a sea of pink and white.
It seemed like everything was getting better and better.
Zhou Wan held Lu Xixiao's hand, swinging it back and forth, feeling particularly happy.
Passing by the old residential complex, Lu Xixiao stopped. "Want to go back and take a look together?"
"Sure."
They were still wearing their school uniforms, which made them particularly eye-catching on the street, like students in a puppy love.
Zhou Wan unlocked the door, took off her school uniform jacket, then took Lu Xixiao's and walked to the washing machine.
After so many years of disuse, it surprisingly hadn't broken down. She stuffed the clothes inside and started the wash.
...
Over the years, Lu Xixiao had visited this place a few times, but he had never properly looked at this apartment.
The room wasn't large, but it was extremely tidy. Though no one had lived here for years, one could still tell it had been warmly decorated before - with warm-colored carpets and bright tablecloths.
He pushed open the door to Zhou Wan's bedroom.
Dust particles floated up.
Lu Xixiao waved his hand to clear the air and stepped inside.
Back then, Zhou Wan had left in a hurry, alone with just one suitcase, unable to take many things with her, including those heavy textbooks.
Lu Xixiao casually pulled one out and opened it.
The notes inside were exceptionally detailed and carefully written, with elegant handwriting.
Back when he had missed so many years of studies, it was entirely thanks to those notebooks Zhou Wan had left in his desk.
Those notes weren't ones she had written before and given to him - they were specifically written for him, with every knowledge point recorded in detail, as if afraid he wouldn't understand. Who knows how much effort she had put into them.
Zhou Wan was always like this.
Clearly having done so much, yet saying nothing about it.
Lu Xixiao tugged at the corner of his mouth and pulled out another book.
It was a notebook, a very old-fashioned notebook with a three-digit combination lock on the side - the kind that had been popular among students back in their school days.
Lu Xixiao raised an eyebrow slightly, surprised that Zhou Wan would buy such a notebook.
She had never been interested in overly complicated or fancy things.
Lu Xixiao used Zhou Wan's birthday to set the three-digit combination - 325.
It didn't open.
He raised his eyebrows and tried his own birthday, but that didn't work either.
He didn't really think this notebook would actually contain any important records - just like most notebooks from their school days, they usually only contained hastily written, spur-of-the-moment thoughts that would soon be forgotten.
He was just curious about what numbers Zhou Wan would use as the combination.
But after many failed attempts...
After a while, Lu Xixiao suddenly thought of something and turned the combination dial again.
Back then, Zhou Wan had saved his contact as "6".
Including the tattoo on her collarbone, which also had a "6".
With a "click", it opened.
The combination was related to him. Lu Xixiao chuckled softly.
Then he casually opened to the first page. The top line read - August 15, 2013, sunny.
Lu Xixiao suddenly paused, his expression turning serious.
...
August 15, 2013, sunny.
I met someone.
August 26, 2013, sunny.
He gave me an ice-cold cola.
September 29, 2013, thunderstorm.First Photo Together.
October 8, 2013, Overcast.
I learned his name, Lu Xixiao.
December 31, 2013, Rainy.
I couldn't help but look at you, even though I knew nothing about you.
February 3, 2014, Sunny.
I want to be like you—pure, candid, and sincere, like the clearest wind in this world.
May 5, 2014, Rainy.
Could you spare a little bit of your light for me?
...
September 15, 2014, Sunny.
I heard that if you make eye contact with someone twice, they'll remember you.
September 30, 2014, Sunny.
I quietly reached out toward that clear wind, spreading my fingers.
October 10, 2014, Rainy.
I want to fulfill a dream of mine.
A dream that no one else will ever know.
A dream that might be fleeting, gone in an instant.
November 18, 2014, Sunny.
Lu Xixiao, happy birthday.
I hope you'll always dare to love and hate, and that everything goes smoothly for you.
...
This is Zhou Wan's diary.
Perhaps it doesn't quite qualify as a diary.
The words recorded here are fragmented, intermittent.
Often just a few words, mere fragments.
But in the end, Lu Xixiao still witnessed Zhou Wan's unknown dream with his own eyes.
That small, helpless girl secretly watched the candid, sincere, wildly unrestrained boy before her,
The girl fell, sinking deep into the mud.
Yet she still walked toward him, step by step.
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