AAUMOBIP C43

Chapter 43

Liu He entered the research institute he had long dreamed of.

He also officially moved into Yun Jingqiu’s home in City A.

After more than two years of online dating and one year of long-distance, they were finally living under the same roof.

Right as Liu He moved in, Yun Jingqiu was with a film crew. He was now shooting on an accelerated schedule—whatever the director arranged, he followed.

He never again showed that previous degree of bone-deep exhaustion.

Liu He got along well with his colleagues. Like a sponge, he soaked up knowledge madly.

Back when he interned at the institute, he had thought working there would be an easy gig—at least easier than school laboratories.

But after joining as a full-time employee, the ease on Liu He’s face vanished.

He should never have believed the institute would be easy.

Easy where?!

Endless experiments, never-ending research—working overtime every other day, and sometimes weekends too. It was several times busier than school life!!

Not even any nightlife!

Liu He complained, then buried his head back into the institute’s experiments.

Yun Jingqiu felt both heartache and pride.

A year after entering the institute, Liu He had settled in and started his own research; barring accidents, this would be his PhD dissertation.

That day, Yun Jingqiu posted on Weibo.

[Yun Jingqiu: After a four-year love marathon, we’ve decided to break up.]

[??]

[Yun-ge and Yun-sao broke up? Then who am I supposed to follow?]

[Who does Cream go with?]

[Why a breakup? A fight? After four years together, why suddenly break up now?]

[Weren’t they eating food Yun-sao cooked just yesterday? How is it breakup today?]

[Too sudden! Not a single warning sign!]

Liu He saw the post too. He poked the Yun Jingqiu beside him and scolded, “What is this supposed to be?”

“Shouldn’t you hurry up and explain?”

Wearing a neat suit with light makeup, Yun Jingqiu’s already handsome features looked even more striking.

Liu He, too, wore a suit; the makeup flattered him, accentuating his features and doubling his handsomeness.

Yun Jingqiu took Liu He’s hand and kissed it.

Seeing the lipstick mark left on his lips, he clicked his tongue: “This lipstick transfers. Tell the makeup artist not to use it again, or else Xiao He will keep ending up eating my lipstick.”

Liu He pulled his hand back and scolded, “Where does it transfer? Isn’t it still on your mouth?”

“Then kiss me again?” Yun Jingqiu pushed his luck.

“We’re up next—kiss what?” Liu He refused. “Doesn’t the makeup artist still need time to touch up?”

“For this level of touch-up, I’d still do it,” Yun Jingqiu muttered.

Their number was called soon. The two walked to the window, presented their IDs, and then had their photos taken.

Two handsome men appeared at the civil affairs bureau, attracting many gazes.

Especially since one of them was the reigning Best Actor, Yun Jingqiu.

He had many fans, but it wasn’t like everyone on the street recognized him.

The world is full of coincidences.

The clerk in charge of their registration turned out to be his fan.

The staffer suppressed a scream, maintained professional decorum, and registered their information.

It was also her first time seeing Yun-sao.

Protected so well by Yun-ge, Yun-sao looked well-behaved and clean—his features sparked a natural fondness; together with Yun-ge, they were a perfect match, a pair of handsome gentlemen, wonderfully suited.

Was today her day of incredible luck? How was she the one registering her idol’s marriage?!

Dizzy with excitement, she processed the marriage registration for Yun-ge and Yun-sao, handed over the freshly printed red booklets, and said, “Wishing Yun-ge and Yun-sao a hundred years of harmony.”

Only after the words left her mouth did she realize she’d slipped; she should have said: Wishing the two of you a hundred years of harmony.

How did she blurt out what was in her heart!

Liu He glanced at her in mild surprise, then whispered to Yun Jingqiu, “She’s a fan.”

Delighted to hear it, Yun Jingqiu curved his lips: “Thank you.”

Then he led Liu He out.

Back at the car, Yun Jingqiu took a signed poster set and some gifts, and asked Song Zhiyuan to deliver them to the staffer.

Baffled, Song Zhiyuan said, “You’re making me do this too? Wouldn’t it be better if Yun-ge went himself?”

Yun Jingqiu, busy taking pictures of their freshly minted marriage certificates, didn’t even look up: “I’m busy.”

The previous Weibo post had already caused an uproar; the breakup news had even rushed onto the trending chart.

“Xiao He, give me your hand.”

Liu He reached out.

A ring gleamed on the ring finger of his left hand.

Holding his hand, Yun Jingqiu snapped a photo.

[Yun Jingqiu: From today on, we are no longer ‘boyfriends’—we’re something closer. Thank you for the rest of my life. (photo)(photo)]

The photos: their marriage certificates and their clasped hands.

[…]

[%@%￥]

[Getting married is fine, but why the theatrics first?!]

[Yun-ge and Yun-sao 99!]

[Hahaha I knew something was off—yesterday the “breakup,” and the real surprise was waiting here]

[Wishing Yun-ge and Yun-sao a hundred years of harmony]

“Haha…”

“Kiss me.”

Liu He shook his head: “No.”

“Why deceive the fans like this? Just announcing it would’ve been fine—why post a ‘prelude’ that people would misunderstand?” Liu He said.

“I thought my fans already believed our love was stronger than gold,” said Yun Jingqiu.

Liu He was even happier.

After delivering the gifts to the staffer and explaining they were from Yun-ge, Song Zhiyuan left.

He paused outside the car.

He could hear the sound of “sister-in-law” from outside—was something amusing happening? Should he go in?

As he hesitated, Liu He spotted him, rolled down the window, and said, “Song-ge, why not come in?”

Song returned to the driver’s seat and mumbled, “Just wanted some fresh air.”

Liu He didn’t suspect him.

After the wedding comes the honeymoon.

Yun Jingqiu, under Brother Wang’s deathly glare, requested two months of marriage leave.

Liu He’s side was simple too—after reporting to his supervisors, the honeymoon leave was quickly approved. He also took two months.

With this rare vacation, they intended to play to their hearts’ content.

They went abroad, where fewer people recognized Yun Jingqiu than at home.

There, he didn’t even need disguises to enjoy being out and about.

He and Liu He played on beaches, camped in the mountains, and explored the jungle.

Yun Jingqiu’s Weibo kept updating their honeymoon progress.

They were having a great time.

When the two-month vacation ended, they returned home.

Liu He resumed work; Yun Jingqiu prepared to enter a new crew.

They were both very happy.

One weekend, after intimacy, Liu He had work the next day, but Yun Jingqiu hadn’t spent all his energy.

Leaning on Yun Jingqiu’s arm, Liu He scrolled on his phone. Yun glanced over—social app interface; Liu He was chatting with Jiang Yi.

Seeing this, he thought of something and asked, “Xiao He, why is your social handle ‘fon’? Want to be a free ‘wind’?”

He couldn’t help guessing. The dictionary didn’t have that word; by sound alone, he suspected it was a homophone.

Liu He had used this ID for a long time, and Yun Jingqiu’s curiosity finally made him ask.

Busy messaging Jiang Yi, Liu He answered without looking up: “My birthday is April 19th—‘419,’ and in English ‘for one night,’ so I used ‘fon’ as my ID.”

Yun Jingqiu: ?

“For one night?” he repeated slowly, voice full of doubt.

Only then did Liu He realize what he’d said and rushed to correct himself: “I was wrong—it’s four one nine, you’re overthinking.”

“Overthinking?” Yun Jingqiu let out a cold little laugh, flipped over and pinned Liu He down, looking at him from above, enunciating each word, “Explain. Properly.”

“I already said I misspoke,” Liu He bluffed, his acting improved after so long together. Without changing expression, he fobbed him off: “It’s four one nine—I use my birthday as my ID. You should be happy.”

“I think ‘four one nine’ is your cover-up.”

“Change it,” said Yun Jingqiu, displeased.

Liu He didn’t want to—he had used the ID for ages; it sounded nice, and it was a hidden confession to Yun-ge.

Yun-ge had no sense of fun at all.

“If others find out, they’ll think our love started from a one-night stand.” Yun Jingqiu grabbed Liu He’s phone and changed it directly.

Snatching it back, Liu He looked, opened his mouth, but in the end didn’t manage a word.

His ID had changed from “fon” to “Protect the Cutest Yun Jingqiu in the World.”

Did Yun-ge have any shame?

He could not use this ID!

But he couldn’t think of a better one right away, and didn’t dare switch it back either—Yun-ge would go ballistic.

After thinking a moment, he changed it to “Xiao He.”

Yun Jingqiu was barely satisfied.

“For one night—one-night stand.” Yun Jingqiu was still murmuring those words.

“Xiao He, so that’s what you are.”

This “compliment” didn’t sound like anything good.

To avoid punishment, Liu He turned off his phone and shoved Yun Jingqiu away, burying his head under the covers.

Muffled, he said, “Good night.”

“Good night,” Yun responded, then added, “Running won’t help—I’ll remember this.”

“Please forget it,” said Liu He.

“I can’t. To think Xiao He’s love for me was only a one-night stand. I’m devastated,” Yun sighed theatrically, leaning against the headboard, drifting toward sleep.

“Why would it be a one-night stand?” he lamented.

Liu He was in no mood to listen. A hand emerged from the covers, clapped over Yun’s mouth. “I’m going to sleep—no more talking.”

Only after achieving silence did Liu He withdraw his hand.

Suddenly changing a habitually used ID left him a bit out of sorts.

But there was no help for it—once a one-night-stand ID was discovered by one’s lover, it had to be changed.

[Jiang Yi: hahahahahaha]

[Jiang Yi: a one-night stand got discovered]

[Jiang Yi: how did he punish you?]

Liu He replied slowly.

[Xiao He: He punished me by making me finish the food he cooked.]

[Jiang Yi: That’s it?]

[Xiao He: He put carrots and fish mint (houttuynia) in it.]

[Jiang Yi: Vicious!]

Although Liu He was picky, there were vegetables he really disliked.

Carrots and fish mint were exactly the ones he could not stand.

He had paid too much for this ID.

Of course, Yun-ge’s “punishment dish” did eventually get made—on a later day off.

Liu He woke up at noon the next day still sulking.

“Our love was never a one-night stand!” he protested.

Hugging him, Yun Jingqiu soothed, “I know.”

— End of main text —

Footnotes

 

 

1. Yun-sao (云嫂): “Sao” literally “sister-in-law.” Fans/netizens playfully use it to refer to a celebrity’s partner as a term of endearment. 
2. 99: Chinese internet slang wishing a couple “long-lasting” love; numerically reminiscent of “long long” or “forever.” 
3. Civil affairs bureau marriage certificates: In mainland China, civil marriages are registered at the civil affairs bureau; couples receive red marriage booklets as proof. 
4. “419” / “for one night”: A Chinese internet homophone joke—419 (four-one-nine) sounds like “for one night,” slang for a one-night stand; here used as a cheeky ID backstory. 
5. Fish mint (折耳根/鱼腥草, houttuynia): A pungent herb/vegetable popular in some Chinese regions; highly divisive in taste.