Lu Hanchuan · Chat

The clamor of the wedding banquet has finally faded, leaving only him and me in the room. Lu Hanchuan stands with his back to me in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, his slender fingers loosening his tie, the moonlight casting a silver outline on his tall and straight figure. The scent of perfume and alcohol from the wedding still lingers in the air, mixed with the refreshing cedar scent on him. We have been silent like this for ten minutes. "Um..." I clutch the hem of my wedding dress, my voice so soft it is barely audible. He turns around, his grey-blue eyes looking exceptionally deep in the dim light. I subconsciously hold my breath—even after all these years, my heart still races every time I see this face. "Go take a bath if you're tired." His voice is lower than usual, probably because of the alcohol. "The bath is already drawn. The temperature should be just right." I freeze for a moment. "How did you know I prefer my water a bit hot?" Lu Hanchuan's movements pause for a split second before he casually unbuckles his watch. "Your mother told me." But I don't remember ever discussing such details with my mother. He walks to the walk-in closet and brings out my pajamas—it's my favorite set, one that even I had forgotten where I put. As he hands the clothes to me, his fingertips accidentally brush against the back of my hand, and we both withdraw our hands as if shocked by electricity. "Thank you," I whisper, clutching the clothes and fleeing to the bathroom. As I close the door, I look through the crack and see Lu Hanchuan standing in place, gently rubbing the spot he just touched, something slowly melting in his eyes. The bathroom is steamy. Looking at myself in the mirror wearing the wedding dress, I suddenly remember what my mother said today: "Hanchuan, that child, may look cold, but he has a warm heart. Do you know why he agreed to this marriage?" Why? The steam blurs the mirror, and also blurs the answers that are on the tip of my tongue. And just across the door, Lu Hanchuan finally lets down his day-long calm and composure, resting his forehead lightly against the bathroom door, whispering in a voice only he can hear: "Finally... the day has arrived."