Chapter 3: Wedding Rings
The process of getting the certificate was quick. After listening to the staff read the vows in the Oath Hall, they were free to leave with their marriage certificates.
Lu Ciheng snapped two photos of the marriage certificate and sent them to his family group chat, eliciting a long string of shocking exclamation marks.
Xie Shibai looked at the marriage certificate for a few seconds, already guessing the foolish expressions those people would have upon learning he was married.
In the next second, a tangible “paw” waved in front of his eyes, a large palm blocking the red booklet.
Xie Shibai lifted his eyelids. “What are you doing?”
Lu Ciheng stepped closer, leaning in with a smile. “Teacher Xie, do you notice something missing from our hands?”
Xie Shibai’s cool gaze watched the hand waving in front of him. Although he understood Lu Ciheng’s meaning, he didn’t play along, mocking lightly, “Don’t feel anything, though it’s true your hand is quite superfluous.”
Lu Ciheng wasn’t discouraged and persisted, turning his hand over and over in front of Xie Shibai. “Why do I feel like we’re missing a big gold bracelet or a gold ring?”
Xie Shibai glanced at him, in this moment strangely understanding Lu Ciheng’s neurotic train of thought.
Lu Ciheng let out a long sigh. “I guess I just don’t have that kind of luck. I finally got a marriage certificate, yet I don’t even have a ring. Looks like I can’t count on the ‘Three Golds’ either; I’m just a neglected, unwanted husband.”
“…”
Xie Shibai suddenly felt the marriage certificate in his hand was a bit hot to the touch, and he wanted to go queue up at the divorce registration next door.
There were quite a few people coming and going outside the Civil Affairs Bureau. Lu Ciheng, whose desire to perform had exploded, could attract attention at any moment.
Most importantly, compared to Lu Ciheng who was covered up tight, Xie Shibai, who was uncovered and already had outstanding looks, was more likely to be the one losing face.
Considering Lu Ciheng was sick in the head, Xie Shibai silently moved a few steps away.
Lu Ciheng followed unhurriedly behind Xie Shibai, dragging out his final syllable. “Teacher Xie, turning and walking away like that? Too heartless.”
Xie Shibai said calmly, “You want too much. Let’s divorce.”
Lu Ciheng’s mouth drooped, his tone pitiful. “Don’t be like that. I’ll pay for the Three Golds myself, and I’ll even throw in a dowry.”
Xie Shibai’s cool, plain face showed no fluctuation, but his pace quickened, distancing himself further and further from Lu Ciheng. He looked as if he didn’t want to be tainted by anything embarrassing, his tone cold. “Save it for your second marriage. Stay away from me.”
Lu Ciheng, completely lacking self-awareness, kept up with Xie Shibai’s pace. From a distance, the two looked like they were race-walking.
“That works too. Let’s go queue at the divorce registration first, and after we divorce, we can go register for marriage again next door,” Lu Ciheng said. “Experiencing marriage twice in one day—doing nothing but boosting the Civil Affairs Bureau’s performance numbers.”
Xie Shibai didn’t look back, his steps unceasing.
This person’s brain circuitry was abnormal.
Lu Ciheng pondered for a few seconds. ” speaking of which, the Civil Affairs Bureau should give us an award. Such a big performance boost is at least worth a silk banner.”
Xie Shibai’s voice was indifferent, his enunciation heavy on two specific words. “Then I really must congratulate you in advance. Tomorrow’s social news will definitely report your ‘charitable deed’.”
#Man marries and divorces in a flash; marries twice in one day and demands a silk banner from the Civil Affairs Bureau#
Anyone would click in to see what a person with brain problems looks like.
The voice beside him was quiet for a few seconds. Just as Xie Shibai thought his ears could finally have some peace, he suddenly heard a murmur.
“Since there’s going to be an interview, then there must be a ring.” Lu Ciheng rubbed his chin with his thumb, genuinely considering it seriously, as if reporters would interview them in the next second, followed by appearing on the social news so everyone would know Xie Shibai married him. “Let’s go, honey. We’re going to buy rings.”
Xie Shibai’s eyelashes fluttered slowly, a trace of confusion dyeing the bottom of his eyes.
How did he connect those things?
Lu Ciheng walked shoulder to shoulder with him, raising a hand to adjust the brim of his hat that pressed down on his black hair. “Besides, getting married without even a ring—how can we explain that when we get back?”
“We’ve already committed to the act; we can’t let all our efforts go to waste just because someone spots us missing a ring, right?”
Xie Shibai paused for a few seconds. He originally had no intention of choosing rings, but Lu Ciheng had a point.
When deciding on the contract marriage, Xie Shibai had searched for many details in this regard. A normal marriage required rings, although he didn’t understand the “sense of ritual” and “necessity” discussed online.
If a ring could make this act more realistic, there was indeed a need to prepare one.
They found a nearby shopping mall, where high-priced brand jewelry stores were not uncommon.
There weren’t many people in the store. Under the sales assistant’s introduction, he casually designated a classic ring style, wanting to buy it and leave as soon as possible. After confirming the ring size, Xie Shibai paused slightly when it was time to try it on.
The sales assistant wore black professional gloves while holding the ring. It was a perfectly ordinary scene, but Xie Shibai hated directly touching things that had been handled by others. He paused for two seconds, adjusting to his most normal state without anyone noticing.
Following her past experience, the sales assistant pushed the ring in front of Lu Ciheng with a smile.
Generally, those who came to try on rings wanted to put them on each other. Previously, when she helped put them on, she often received complaints. This time, based on her solid one month of experience in the industry, letting the couple put rings on each other couldn’t be wrong.
Xie Shibai paused for a second.
Lu Ciheng immediately understood and picked up Xie Shibai’s ring, his low tone carrying amusement. “Honey, hand.”
Xie Shibai’s gaze landed on the ring, his brow furrowing imperceptibly. “I’ll do it myself.”
Lu Ciheng didn’t move. The hand holding the ring was very close to Xie Shibai, and excitement was visibly dyeing the bottom of his pitch-black eyes. “That won’t do. How can I miss such a precious opportunity?”
Xie Shibai’s gaze sank for a few seconds, somewhat displeased, and he warned in a low voice, “Lu Ciheng.”
Lu Ciheng hummed “Mm-hmm” twice, answering like an AI. “I’m here. Hand.”
Xie Shibai delayed making a move.
Lu Ciheng leaned forward slightly. The dark eyes under the baseball cap curved as he lowered his voice. “Teacher Xie, didn’t we agree to put on a show?”
Xie Shibai’s hand hanging by his side curled slightly. He hated any physical contact with people, and likewise, he was even more resistant to having this discovered.
Some contact could be avoided, but some social contact was inevitable.
From the moment he decided on the agreement, Xie Shibai had prepared himself for performances involving physical contact; he just hadn’t realized it would be this soon.
He tightened his grip with his fingertips and looked up to stare into Lu Ciheng’s pitch-black eyes. He always felt the person before him was very excited—he had been like this since signing the agreement. It was as if every time he saw this person, those bright black eyes stared straight at him like a dog seeing a bone.
As soon as his slender, pale hand was raised, his fingertips were held. Lu Ciheng lowered his eyes to help Xie Shibai try on the ring, his expression as focused as if it were their wedding. The eyes under the baseball cap were lowered and attentive as he pushed the platinum ring to the base of the finger, the emotion hidden in the depths of his eyes no different from the excitement when he got the marriage certificate.
Xie Shibai’s cool demeanor was icy. His body was imperceptibly tense, desperately controlling the anxiety sprouting in his heart. The pain on his arm began to intensify vaguely. The moment the ring was on, he withdrew his hand.
Although he hated others touching him, he could vaguely sense that this anxiety was strange and wrong. It was as if his condition had worsened. Aside from the aversion to touch, this kind of emotion rarely appeared. The few vague instances were from when he was very young, and his memories of that time had long begun to blur.
The platinum ring felt slightly cool against the base of his finger, binding his ring finger as it gradually took on his skin’s temperature.
Under the warm lights, the inlaid diamond sparkled, accentuating his slender, cold-white fingers with a fluorescent glow. Even a low-key, simple classic style had a strong presence, making one’s gaze involuntarily fall on Xie Shibai’s hand.
The size of the ring was just right; even as a simple style, it was exceptionally beautiful.
Just as the sales assistant finished her praise, Xie Shibai took the ring off. At the same time, he pushed a black card forward, his tone flat and devoid of fluctuation. “After he finishes trying his, please wrap them up.”
The sales assistant responded, “Okay.”
Xie Shibai turned and walked toward the restroom, his palm hanging by his side tense.
Lu Ciheng stared at Xie Shibai’s back, his gaze thoughtful. His fingertips, which had just touched the other’s fingers, rubbed together lightly a few times. At the sales assistant’s inquiry, he put the other ring on his ring finger.
He raised his hand to press down on the card Xie Shibai had placed on the counter and handed over his own black card, rigorously fulfilling his claim of paying for the “Three Golds.” “Wrap the other one up. Charge it to me.”
Splash, splash. The water rinsed over slender fingers.
Xie Shibai’s fingers were wetted by the cold stream, alleviating the anxiety in his heart by a few degrees.
He scrubbed his hands over and over again, the stereotyped behavior having become mechanized. He didn’t stop until his knuckles and skin turned red, looking somewhat shocking, and even a touch generated stinging pain.
The pain on his fingers covered the stinging on his arm, creating a chaotic illusion. At the same time, it smoothed over the unknown anxiety spreading in his heart. The cold water flow calmed his emotions.
Xie Shibai looked at himself in the mirror, frowning slightly. He thought the situation was under control, but unexpectedly, it had become even more serious.
He adjusted his emotions to make himself look no different from usual.
When Lu Ciheng finished paying and found Xie Shibai, he was just coming out after drying his hands. His pale, slender fingers were visibly red in large patches, the knuckles exceptionally bright red and obvious.
Pitch-black eyes suddenly fixed on the reddened fingers. After a few seconds, he suppressed the emotions in his heart and handed over the wrapped ring, along with the black card.
“The ring is tried and fits. Teacher Xie has really good taste.”
Xie Shibai calmly took the ring box and the card. His fingers, which appeared calm and flat on the surface but were actually red, trembled slightly. His fingertips pinching the packaging box were somewhat white, forming a sharp contrast with the bright red of his abraded knuckles.
Lu Ciheng leaned against the restroom door frame, his gaze sweeping over Xie Shibai’s fingers. His slightly raised eyes were deep, his low voice hiding a probe. “Teacher Xie, are you a germaphobe?”
Xie Shibai’s reddened knuckles throbbed with slight pain. “No.”
Lu Ciheng blocked the doorway, his black eyes resting on Xie Shibai’s finger bones for a few seconds, a guess surfacing in his heart.
“Not a germaphobe, then you hate physical contact?”
Xie Shibai’s nerves jumped. His fingers hanging by his side curled slightly, and his cold eyes lifted unkindly. Beneath his beautiful face was a well-hidden guardedness that was hard to catch without careful observation. “Aren’t you a bit too curious? There is no such clause in the contract.”
Lu Ciheng leaned his shoulder against the door, the black bangs under his baseball cap half-covering his eyes. His tone was unhurried. “With our current relationship, it’s better to know some things in advance. To avoid stepping on landmines later without knowing, affecting our beautiful and harmonious married life.”
Xie Shibai suppressed a bit of pathological anxiety in his heart and flatly denied it. “No. We are just cooperating; it’s best not to be too curious about some things.”
Lu Ciheng’s brow twitched slightly. His tall figure completely blocked the door. He spread his palm face up in front of Xie Shibai. “Then shake my hand, let me confirm.”
The temperature around Xie Shibai dropped several degrees.
Just as Lu Ciheng thought Xie Shibai wouldn’t reach out, smack, his palm was slapped away heavily. The sensation on the back of his hand was cold and damp. As the moisture evaporated into the air, the contact surface gradually developed a pain, like being scratched neither lightly nor heavily. After the pain came a dense itch.
Xie Shibai brushed past Lu Ciheng, cursing in a low voice, “Lunatic.”
Lu Ciheng turned to look at Xie Shibai’s back. The bangs under his baseball cap blocked his eyes. He added a line to his psychological assessment.
Xie Shibai hates physical contact with people.
When leaving the mall, the atmosphere between the two was somewhat stiff.
Xie Shibai was silent, even considering whether his decision to cooperate was correct. Lu Ciheng’s personality seemed too jumpy; if they lived together, would it really be as he said?
Lu Ciheng also seemed to be pondering something, rarely quiet. Silence and stillness permeated the space between them.
Just as Xie Shibai was about to drive away, the car door was pressed down by a large palm.
Lu Ciheng smiled. “Teacher Xie, I reflected on it, and indeed I shouldn’t go beyond the contract. We should strictly follow the contract to fulfill our cooperation.”
Xie Shibai was just wondering why Lu Ciheng suddenly changed his nature, but if he kept quiet and maintained distance, he was indeed a decent partner.
In the next second, he heard Lu Ciheng speak unhurriedly, “If we follow the contract, our next step should be cohabitation.”
“Will you move, or should I?”
Xie Shibai: …
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