Chapter 96: The End

This translation was originally posted on

https://love4baihe.blogspot.com

Because of having the full support of her wife this time, Shen Qingzhi accomplished the creation of Spring Festival couplets for her room with astonishing efficiency.

Shortly after lunch, Shen Hanzhi took Yu Kexin to bid farewell to the family. During dinner, Gu Jinrong seized the opportunity to show off a bit and was highly praised by the two Shen elders.

After dinner, Gu Jinrong accompanied the Shen mothers in the living room, while Shen Qingzhi was "exiled" alone to the kitchen to wash dishes.

Shen Qingzhi and her wife received a big red envelope not long ago. Now, with great enthusiasm, she quickly washed eight out of ten bowls in no time at all.

Suddenly, Shen Wangshu also entered the kitchen at some point. Shen Qingzhi initially thought she was searching for something, so she consciously moved aside.

Unexpectedly, the other party didn't walk through the nearby spacious area but chose to sway around beside Shen Qingzhi.

Being squeezed twice, Shen Qingzhi helplessly turned off the faucet, "Mommy, do you need something from me?"

"No problem, no problem, just keep busy." Shen Wangshu said this, but she didn't move an inch.

She stared into Shen Qingzhi's eyes, lifted her palm, and shook it twice. “Yao'er, do you feel that Mommy is different today?"

Embedded on Shen Wangshu's middle finger was a pearl ring almost as big as an eyeball. Shen Qingzhi doesn't quite understand the aesthetic preferences of some middle-aged and elderly women.

“No difference at all, Mommy, haven't you always been youthful and energetic?"

Shen Qingzhi blinked, pretending not to know.

"Not like that! Ugh..." Shen Wangshu's hand was almost tired from shaking, and there was no response from her own daughter. She had to add on her own.

"Just a reminder, this year marks your Mom and Mommy's 30th wedding anniversary. Pearl Anniversary, isn't it awesome?”

"Oh~" Shen Qingzhi nodded, "So you bought a pearl for commemoration."

Seeing her own daughter being so clueless, Shen Wangshu became a bit anxious. “I didn't buy this. Your Mom made a special trip and had it customized in F Country.”

On how a single sentence can transform a person's expression from anxious to sweet.

Shen Qingzhi stared in amazement at her own mom's swift change of expression, thinking to herself: This acting talent, it seems I inherited it from Mommy.

Now she somewhat understands why Shen Wangshu didn't wait for her to finish washing the dishes and instead came to the kitchen specifically. After all, with no one else around, she can show off her love more unrestrainedly.

Similar tricks have played out almost every year since Shen Qingzhi can remember. She has gone from initially cooperating with the performance to her current nonchalant attitude, experiencing a long process of change.

However, at this moment, Shen Qingzhi is just playing the role of an NPC witnessing their love show. Her reaction doesn't affect Shen Wangshu's desire to show off, as expected, the other side hasn't finished talking yet.

"Ah, it's a pity, your sister left too early this year."

Of course, Shen Hanzhi now also has a girlfriend.

"Mommy didn't have a chance to flaunt... oh no, I mean, share with her. But luckily, Yao'er is here."

I also have a wife now. Who would want to eat dog food here? But this does remind me of something...

"Mommy, I've shared in your joy, and now I'm going to share with my wife. So, I'll leave the remaining two bowls to you."

While Shen Qingzhi spoke, she wiped her hands with a towel and swiftly ran off.

"Ah, no..." Shen Wangshu looked at her daughter's back, faster than a rabbit. The remaining half of the sentence was swallowed back down.

But I just shared it with Jinrong just now.

When Shen Qingzhi ran into the living room, Gu Jinrong was playing chess with Shen Qiong. She watched for a few minutes and then directly took over.

"The knight goes here, the pawn goes here, okay, we win!"

Shen Qiong, seeing her originally well-played chess game being interrupted, got so angry that she grabbed a nearby magazine, contemplating giving someone a beating.

"Silence is golden when watching chess. You little brat, don't you understand the rules?!"

However, this time her action was just a feint. Shen Qingzhi quickly pulled her wife out of harm's way.

This translation was originally posted on

https://love4baihe.blogspot.com

"Mom, it's late. My wife needs to rest. Go find Mommy to play."

Although Shen Qingzhi hadn't visited the old Shen family residence in a few months, she still knew her way around when it came to finding her own room.

She pulled Gu Jinrong into the room, closed the door, and entered their own little world.

Shen Qingzhi peeked through the peephole, saw that the two elders didn't follow, and let out a soft hum.

As soon as she turned around, she plunged into the eyes of Gu Jinrong, who was smiling. The person before her had gentle features, and clear and smooth skin, showing no signs of breathlessness from the brief rush just now.

"Are you happy?"

While Shen Qingzhi had been quite lively in front of her mothers, at this moment, she felt a bit timid under the intense gaze of her wife.

"I am very happy. The way Qingqing casually calls me 'wife' in front of Mom is getting smoother."

This simple sentence made Shen Qingzhi's originally fair face suddenly turn a shade of red.

"Ah, it's just the truth." Shen Qingzhi unconsciously raised a hand to scratch her face.

"You need to learn to adapt slowly. Look at Mom and Mommy, they're always using 'wife' back and forth. Someone even made a special trip to the kitchen to show off their love."

Gu Jinrong keenly noticed that Shen Qingzhi's nails had grown a bit longer recently. She held one of her hands, preventing her from continuing to fidget with her face.

"I'm adapting well and very happy. Are you talking about Mommy's pearl ring? She just made me admire it for quite a while."

Shen Qingzhi had an expression that confirmed her thoughts. "I knew it. It wouldn't be her if she didn't seize every opportunity to show off."

"You're also enjoying the 'blessings' now. In the past, it used to be an annual mandatory course for Shen Hanzhi and me. But this year, Shen Hanzhi is at Kexin's house, so you've inherited that role."

Gu Jinrong changed from holding Shen Qingzhi's hand to interlocking their fingers, nodding with a smile. 

The originally good conversation atmosphere, due to this subtle gesture, inexplicably gained a hint of ambiguity.

This made Shen Qingzhi's thoughts scatter like a startled deer, almost forgetting her original purpose.

But someone didn't seem to think it was enough, and teased her in her ear intentionally or unintentionally, "It's eight o'clock in the evening now.”

Shen Qingzhi said, “Mm?”

"So, it's this late, and Qingqing urgently pulls me back to the room. Is there ‘something I should do'?”

"It's this late", “urgently", "something I should do'.

Do people in the entertainment industry speak so sharply now?

Shen Qingzhi's ears itched and almost led into the ditch, luckily she recovered clarity at the last moment.

Her right hand was held and was unable to move, so she could only reach her right pocket with her left hand.

"I did bring you here for something, here, this is for you."

The carefully prepared gift box was casually stuffed into Gu Jinrong's hands.

"For me?" Gu Jinrong opened the gift box, inside lay a pair of crescent-shaped earrings crafted from gemstones.

The lines are smooth and the texture is clear. Even though they now lie quietly in the pure black sponge, they still shimmer with the brilliance of the moon. 

At a glance, one can see the giver's thoughtfulness.

"I thought they looked pretty good before. Do you like it?"

After saying this, Shen Qingzhi almost wanted to bite off her own tongue.

What's going on?! A carefully planned scene, a deeply touching confession, and the result... is just this?

It's all because Shen Wangshu suddenly came to stimulate her!

It’s all Gu Jinrong’s fault for seducing her!

Gu Jinrong's eyes exuded sincere joy, so much so that she missed the regretful expression on Shen Qingzhi's face.

"I really like them. Would you help me put them on, Qingqing?" The recipient proactively cued the process.

“Oh, okay." At this moment, Shen Qingzhi obediently did whatever was asked of her.

These hanging earrings don't require pierced ears; they can easily hang on the back of the ear. However, Shen Qingzhi fumbled for a while without finding the right position.

"Mm~"

A soft cry caused Shen Qingzhi's hand to tremble slightly, and the almost hung earring ended up back in her hand.

"What happened?"

"It's a little ticklish."

"Then I'll be gentler... no, I mean, I'll be firmer..." Someone usually eloquent suddenly stumbled over words.

"Heh~"

"Don't laugh at me."

Finally, the crescent earrings hung on Gu Jinrong's ears. The polished gemstones shone under the light, even more dazzling than the light itself.

The bright brilliance of the earrings complemented the moon-like temperament of the owner as if they were always a perfect match.

Shen Qingzhi looked at the person in front of her, feeling a sense of melancholy. For a moment, she felt as if a bright moon was hanging in the sky, to be admired from afar but not to be desecrated.

Gu Jinrong stood in front of the full-length mirror, also looking very satisfied, then somewhat regretfully put her hands into her pockets.

"I didn't expect you to prepare so carefully for the New Year's Eve gift this year, Qingqing. But I only have this with me.”

Shen Qingzhi thought to herself: Actually, I hadn't planned to give it on New Year's Eve.

She keenly spotted the candy wrapper peeking out of Gu Jinrong's pocket and generously reached out, saying, "It's okay, I just like lollipops."

"As long as Qingqing likes it." Gu Jinrong placed the lollipop into Shen Qingzhi's hand and simultaneously pressed a button.

Shen Qingzhi:!

This darn thing is actually electric again!

Is the technology for these small toys so advanced now that they can look like the real thing to this extent?

She looked up at Gu Jinrong, who always wore a gentle smile. However, at this moment, she could sense a hint of mischief behind that smile.

What bright moon hanging in the sky, what admiring from afar and not desecrating – she must have lost her mind just now! Meow! Before Shen Qingzhi could get irritated, Gu Jinrong skillfully patted her head.

"Okay, I won't tease you anymore. Actually, I have prepared something else, just didn't plan to give it today. Luckily, I've been carrying it with me."

As soon as the words fell, Shen Qingzhi felt a cool sensation on her ring finger. With a closer look, a lotus-shaped diamond ring had appeared on her previously bare finger.

Ring finger?!

Isn’t this so sudden?!

"What... what do you mean by this?"

"It means exactly what you're thinking."

Gu Jinrong embraced her little girl and, gazing at the myriad lights outside the window, said, "We've been married for half a year, and it seems like we've always been missing a wedding. What do you think about having it this March.."

"March, huh? I'll have to see if I have any time off."

In fact, with Shen Qingzhi's current status, she already has some autonomy. However, considering that this person just played a prank on her, she doesn't want to agree too easily.

Just speak if you want to speak, what are you pinching my ears for?!

Gu Jinrong naturally understands her wife's little thoughts, so she rubbed the earlobe with her fingers, being more unscrupulous.

"How about I blow some wind in your ear now? Would Boss Shen be able to free up some time in March?"

"Mm-huh~" The ears were Shen Qingzhi's sensitive spot, and she couldn't help but hum a little.

The two of them had been wandering around the edge of driving the car several times in just over ten minutes since they returned to their room.

*dirty talking 

But that's not possible right now. It's the Lunar New Year and there are still elders at home.

Gu Jinrong also understands this, so she has only been teasing playfully, always mindful of keeping things within bounds.

Strangely, someone is becoming more and more sensitive now. If she teases her a little, she will become a puddle of water.

"Qingqing."

"Mm?"

"Your ears are so red."

Of course, wasn't it you who made these with your nonsense!

Shen Qingzhi's anger flared up and pushed the person behind her away. She opened the door and walked briskly outside.

"It's hot, let’s go out for a walk."

To feel hot enough to go out on a February night in the South, Shen Qingzhi could be considered quite rare.

On New Year's Eve, most busy adults who have worked all year choose to stay at home. However, many children playing with fireworks and firecrackers on the streets can still be seen.

The two of them wore masks and walked through the night without being recognized for a while.

Shen Qingzhi did not go to a crowded place, but turned around and went to a relatively quiet shopping street.

This place is usually busiest during the day and is a prime location where advertisers compete for every inch of land.

As Shen Qingzhi walked, she came across a large poster, towering several people high. It made Shen Qingzhi, standing next to it, look particularly small. She had to tilt her neck to see the whole picture clearly.

The woman in the poster had thick, seaweed-like jet-black hair, a crescent-shaped earring with a metallic hue on her ear, and jade-like fingers holding a brightly colored lipstick. She looked charming and beautiful.

Such a familiar scene...

The lipstick-selling business is indeed loyal; it's been half a year, and the styles haven't changed at all.

Shen Qingzhi remembered standing under such a poster half a year ago when she didn't know who her blind date would be. She stood amidst the bustling crowd, looking up, listening to passersby discussing.

And now...

“Ai, the life-sized person is standing right next to you, and you're still staring at that poster without blinking. So, if Qingqing likes that style, you should have told me earlier."

Gu.life-sized.Jinrong, pretended to sigh at the side.

Shen Qingzhi looked at the poster and then glanced at her wife. Suddenly, she reached out and, just like how she's usually teased, pinched her wife's delicate and soft cheek.

The other party was surprised for a moment but still looked indulgent.

Shen Qingzhi nodded with satisfaction, "No, I still prefer your current style."

"I really like your current style too."

In the pitch-black night sky, brilliant fireworks burst forth, illuminating the night with a dazzling display. The scene reflected a festive atmosphere, showcasing the union of two graceful figures drawing closer.

[End of text]

Author's Note:

Let's leave the ending at this ordinary yet romantic moment. Finally, we've reached the cover image. In fact, when I requested the illustration for this chapter, I asked for a simple lollipop. However, it turned out to be...