Song Qingchun and Su Zhinian’s wedding was set for February 14th, Valentine’s Day. On February 12th, Su Zhinian and Song Qingchun threw their joint bachelor and bachelorette party.
The party was organized by Tang Nuo; he booked a big room in Eldorado and had practically invited all of their high school friends. The atmosphere was great that night from meeting old friends, and the party was still going strong even at 1 am.
Song Qingchun was still in the period of breastfeeding, so the extended period out of home made her feel slightly uncomfortable in her chest area. She excused herself to the bathroom to fix it.
When she was leaving, Qin Yinan lost a game and was forced to the karaoke machine to sing a song. Qin Yinan’s choice of song for that night was a popular recent song called Gentleman.
Qin Yinan’s voice was low, giving the song a melancholic touch. If not for the displeasure in her chest, Song Qingchun really would have stayed to listen to him.
When she opened the door and walked out, Qin Yinan reached the chorus, singing, “Can I still give you a hug like how it used to be? The one little step back you take when we’re in conversation, I can only pretend that it doesn’t hurt; I can only pretend to be a gentleman, to continue as if nothing has happened…”
As Song Qingchun closed the door of the room behind her, Qin Yinan, who closed his eyes as if he was focusing on the song, slowly opened them to look at the door that was swinging shut.
Song Qingchun, who had come out of the bathroom, deposited the mechanical milker and milk bottle inside her bag, washed her hands, and was about to return to the room when a familiar voice called, “Song Song.”
Song Qingchun turned toward the sound, and Qin Yinan was leaning against the wall of the corridor with the top of his shirt slightly open. There was a sconce above him, and the dim light enhanced the lines of his facial features. As recognition dawned on Song Qingchun, she smiled and said, “Brother Yinan.”
Qin Yinan stared at Song Qingchun for a moment before straightening up to point at the corridor leading towards the garden, asking, “How about a walk?”
Song Qingchun was silent for a few seconds before nodding with a smile. “Sure.”
The pebbles crunched under their footsteps, and they stopped when they reached the swing. Song Qingchun, who was feeling rather tired, planted herself on the swing. With both her hands on the ropes of the swing, she swung lazily.
Qin Yinan leaned against the trunk of a tree as he stared at Song Qingchun. Then he pulled out an exquisite box from his pocket and passed it to Song Qingchun. “Congratulations on your wedding.”
Song Qingchun accepted it with a smile. Like she used to, she opened it before Qin Yinan. A pretty diamond necklace sat within. She smiled and raised her head to thank him. “Thank you, Brother Yinan.”
Qin Yinan smiled in kind and reached out habitually to pat her on her head like he used to. However, when his fingertips fell on her head, he could feel the girl freeze under his touch. She used to like this. Then again, so many things have changed.
Qin Yinan’s hand hung awkwardly in the air for a second before he pulled it back. He added, “In the blink of an eye, Song Song is already going to be someone’s wife.”
“Indeed, in the blink of an eye, Brother Yinan, it’s going to be a year since you married Qingchong.” Song Qingchun leaned her head against the swing rope and looked up at Qin Yinan.