The Lover's Prattle

The CEO//7

— "For example, by marrying a rich man so I can sit at home every day, counting money."

Unless it was New Year's Eve or New Year's Day, setting off fireworks was strictly prohibited in the urban areas.

Qingruo wasn't sure how much money Feng Qi threw in to be permitted an exception, but that evening, she nestled in his arms and watched the fireworks on the rooftop.

The fireworks blossomed into a giant red heart, and that was when Feng Qi took a ring out of his suit pocket and perched his chin on her head, breathing warm air against her hair as he popped the question.

"Baby, be my Mrs. Feng?"

"Uh-huh." She pulled away from his arms. "What are the benefits?"

He pulled her back and pressed his forehead against hers. "Benefits? I'll buy you anything you want."

"What if I want a star?"

Feng Qi furrowed his brows and contemplated it. "I'll contact the aerospace bureau tomorrow and ask if there are any unnamed stars that I can buy for you."

Sniggering, Qingruo lifted her hand and pressed her fingertips against his chest. She raised her chin and said, "Put the ring on me."

He lowered his head and melded their lips in a long and tender kiss, simultaneously sliding the ring onto her fourth finger.

As the fireworks continued to bloom and bleed a myriad of colors across the night sky, Feng Qi held her and murmured affectionately, "From now on, this is your home. When we quarrel, wait for me to come and beg you for forgiveness. Don't leave."

***

Before going to get their marriage certificate, Feng Qi went to set up a prenuptial agreement[1]. This perplexed Chu Yang. "You don't want to give her it, and you won't get a single penny out of it either, so why did you bother getting it notarized?"

[1] "An agreement made by a couple before they marry concerning the ownership of their respective assets should the marriage fail." - Google

Feng Qi was sitting in the backseat of the car. He loosened his necktie and tossed it aside. His last marriage with An Qi had been so troublesome that it left a mark on him, and since Qingruo herself said that she would rather not entertain so many people, they'd decided to forgo the wedding.

For the sake of having time for their honeymoon, Feng Qi had been working overtime and was exhausted.

Hearing no response, Chu Yang glanced at the rearview mirror and gloated over the man's tired and gloomy state.

When Feng Qi got home, he saw that the porch lights were turned on and his slippers were sitting off to one side.

Qingruo was lounging on the living room sofa. The television was running, but her attention was on the sketchbook in her hand. She seemed to have gotten into drawing lately.

"You're back."

"Mhm." He took off his coat and hung it on the coat rack before making his way over, his gaze fixated on the sight of her back. As he neared, every step he took gave his exhausted body a burst of energy.

He bent down and carefully examined her sketchbook before praising, "You've improved, this duckling looks very cute."

Her pencil ceased its movement.

Sensing that something was wrong, he gave a wry laugh and sat down beside her. He took her hand and waggled it. "Tell me what you drew?"

She looked at him sadly. "A swan..."