"But he hadn't figured it out yet."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Zisu took a step forward, clearing the path behind him. "Let's go."
Wu Shao watched him leave, saying nothing more. He clenched his fist secretly, resolving that he had to take the initiative. Tonight's scene was perfect for it.
After walking a few steps, Zisu saw Wu Shao wasn't following and looked back at her with confusion. Thinking she had encountered trouble, he was about to turn back when he saw her happily catching up.
He couldn't quite understand why. She had been so serious just moments ago, yet in this brief interval, her face had bloomed into a smile. It was truly perplexing.
This time, they weren't just aimlessly wandering. Wu Shao led him through various stalls, carefully selecting items without saying what he was looking for.
"Young Master Zisu, I see sugar cakes over there. Wait for me, I'll go buy some." Wu Shao's heart leaped with joy seeing a crowd gathered ahead. The opportunity had arrived!
"Alright." Zisu, suspecting nothing, obediently waited where he was.
After the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, most of the people around the stall had changed, but Wu Shao was nowhere to be seen.
Why hadn't she returned yet?
Zisu hesitated, then took a step towards the bustling stall.
He stood at the edge of the crowd, hesitating for a moment, not pushing his way in.
"Zisu!"
Hearing the familiar voice from behind, Zisu's brow instantly unfurled. It was her, coming back to find him. He couldn't help but slightly curl his lips and turn to look into the distance.
The moment he turned, his attention was completely captured by the lantern in her hand. Wu Shao stood at their agreed-upon spot, holding a lantern in one hand and a small item in the other, which looked like the sugar cakes she had just bought.
Sensing the anxiety of the person not far away, Zisu opened his mouth as if to respond loudly, but years of ingrained etiquette made it impossible for him to shout his reply. He stomped his foot in frustration and quickly walked towards Wu Shao's side.
But deep down, he didn't want Wu Shao to worry. After a moment of internal struggle, he looked at the passersby, lowered his eyes slightly, and as if making a decision, raised his arm and waved at Wu Shao.
He waved as he walked quickly towards Wu Shao, his eyes fixed straight ahead in nervousness, not daring to shift even a little to the side, looking directly at Wu Shao.
Under so many years of feudal upbringing, him waving to signal in such a public place was already incredibly difficult. He had summoned all his courage.
Something exciting seemed to have happened behind them, drawing most of the pedestrians away in a hurry. The clamor passed by his ears, but Zisu didn't look back, moving against the flow to Wu Shao's side.
Seeing him wave from afar, Wu Shao smiled, suppressed the flutter in her heart, and ran to Zisu's side.
Just a few steps, and she was panting, standing before him with a slightly flushed face and rapid breathing, appearing both tired and nervous.
As the two reached each other, their eyes met. The surrounding noise seemed to fade away, irrelevant to them.
Zisu glanced at the lantern in her hand, then quickly averted his gaze, remaining silent.
"I just went to buy this," Wu Shao licked her lips, which had become dry from nervousness. Her fingers gripping the lantern were pale. "I, I want to make a wish."
Zisu suddenly had a very, very strong premonition. He couldn't help but hold his breath, his whole body tensed, unable to move. He could only stiffly await her next words.
"I, Wu Shao, wish to ask the Flower God through this lantern, for but one heart, to grow old together without parting." Every word, every syllable, struck Zisu's heart heavily, making his blood boil and surge within him. She hadn't finished yet. "I hope the Flower God grants this believer's wish, and I, Wu Shao, will never fail him."
After speaking, she slowly opened her eyes and looked at the person she adored before her. Her eyes seemed to hold all the lanterns on the street tonight, each flicker a testament to her deep affection. "I am in love with you. Wu Shao loves Zisu."
As her words fell, she said no more. The pedestrians on the street were all drawn to the lively scene in the distance. At this moment, there were no pedestrians around them, only the distant hubbub of noise, adding a touch of reality to the scene.
They stood there, she as if waiting for the Flower God's response, or perhaps for the response of the person in her heart, unhurried, her affection unwavering.
"I—" Perhaps it was nervousness, his throat felt tight, and the tone that came out was unrecognizable even to himself. Startled, he stopped speaking and instinctively looked up to find his voice again.
Their gazes collided unexpectedly. At this moment, no answer was needed; it was a lifetime in a glance.
No need to ask further, Wu Shao opened the cloth bundle she had been clenching in her left palm. A red cloth bundle, about five inches long, was presented to Zisu. Wu Shao swallowed nervously. "This is what I wanted to give you. Open it and see."
Everything that was happening before him was too incredible. Zisu was now acting purely on instinct. He took the red cloth bundle from her hand. The bundle was slightly damp, likely from the sweat on her palms due to nervousness.
Taking the bundle, Zisu had a rough idea. Judging by its size, it should be a piece of jewelry. But he never expected that upon opening the bundle, he would find a purple jade hairpin with gold filigree.
It was a hairpin!
A hairpin held great significance. Only married men could wear them. Furthermore, a hairpin personally given by a woman to a man represented the status of the primary husband, which was tantamount to a marriage proposal.
"Are you willing to wear it for me?"
This question was more touching than any love confession in the world. Zisu couldn't help but feel a prickling sensation in his nose. He opened his mouth to answer but couldn't speak. His slightly curved eyebrows twitched uncontrollably, and his long eyelashes trembled. After a long while, a trembling voice emerged from his throat, hoarse but firm: "Yes."
"Then let me put it on for you!" Wu Shao was overjoyed beyond measure. Trembling, she took the hairpin from Zisu's hand and carefully placed it on his head.
The fireworks, surrounded by crowds in the distance, were finally ignited. Large bursts of fireworks bloomed in the night sky, forming a continuous expanse of brilliant colors.
"Zi, Ah Su, you, you look so beautiful." Wu Shao stammered out the words. All the sweet words she had prepared seemed to pale in comparison to this scene. Only sincerity, from the heart, would shine eternally.
"My childhood name is Jian'er," Zisu said, looking up at the brilliant fireworks in the night sky, finally breaking into a genuine smile. "Call me Ah Jian."
"Okay, Ah Jian." His name was as simple and endearing as he was. "I love you."
——————
ps: Zisu and Wu Shao's extra chapter ends here. The next chapter will be an extra about Zheng Yu and Gu Yi regarding pregnancy and childbirth.
She had initially thought that Zheng Yu and Gu Yi's love, sealed by the zither piece "A Phoenix Seeks Its Mate," was the most romantic. She hadn't expected that writing about Wu Shao and Zisu falling in love on the street with lanterns would be no less so.
Lu Yu and Shen Xuan were a marriage of convenience that turned into love. Gu Yitong and Afu were an unplanned pregnancy before marriage. Zheng Yu and Gu Yi were a mutual devotion. Wu Shao and Zisu were a determined pursuit.
Four couples, four pairs of husbands, some with a love that flowed like a steady stream, some with quiet warmth, some with mutual understanding and companionship, and some with passionate pursuit. Each had its own beauty.