Chapter 79

Morning sunlight, symbolizing all that was good, streamed through the blinds, casting its glow upon the faces of the two sleeping figures.

The harsh light fell on their eyelids. Liao Xue rubbed her eyes; her first instinct was to check on Shen Qiancheng beside her.

Shen Qiancheng's profile was sharply defined, especially those eyes that slanted upward like a fairy's. Liao Xue lowered her head and, catching her off guard, kissed those eyes.

Her eyelids fluttered like butterfly wings after rain. Shen Qiancheng slowly opened her eyes, greeted by the pale green ceiling adorned with scattered tiny little flowers.

A smile spread across Shen Qiancheng's lips. She slowly rose, noticing an outfit neatly laid out on the quilt, warm water on the nightstand, and slippers by the bed placed toes outward.

Shen Qiancheng stretched widely, then sprang up like a little bird.

A wonderful day was beginning!

The aroma of breakfast couldn't be contained by the thin door. Following her nose, Shen Qiancheng arrived at the kitchen entrance.

The kitchen was tiny. Through the narrow doorway, she could only see Liao Xue with an apron tied around her waist, her neck as fair as a lotus root, and her hair cascading down like a waterfall.

The spatula clinked pleasantly against the pan, and Shen Qiancheng was momentarily entranced.

"Shen Qiancheng?" Liao Xue waved a hand in front of her. "You look like you're in a daze. Hurry up and wash your hands. I made mung bean and millet porridge. What's wrong with you?"

The sound of internal alarms went off in Shen Qiancheng's mind. She blinked, embarrassed. "Haha, I got distracted from hunger."

Liao Xue didn't pay much attention to Shen Qiancheng's odd behavior, her apron cinched at her narrow waist.

"Try some Chinese dishes made with Swiss ingredients," Liao Xue said, a bit nervous, worried it might not taste good. "I couldn't find all the seasonings. Come with me this afternoon to buy some."

It wasn't a question; it was a statement.

Shen Qiancheng chewed on her chopsticks, eyeing the vibrant colors and enticing aromas. Unless her tongue was broken, there was no way this wouldn't be delicious.

"Sure," Shen Qiancheng agreed readily, happily sampling each dish in order. "Since you're new to Switzerland, as a local from before, should I show you around?"

"You have no idea how annoying ETH can be. I studied diligently, scrambled to meet deadlines, sucked up to professors, and obsessed over my GPA. Even so, they delayed my graduation by half a year." Once she started talking about those three years without Liao Xue, Shen Qiancheng couldn't stop.

Liao Xue poked at the rice grains in her bowl with her chopsticks, listening to the other's story, and asked with longing, "What is ETH?"

Shen Qiancheng fell silent. Liao Xue hadn't even finished high school...

Why did she bring this up!

Shen Qiancheng bit her lower lip and clumsily changed the subject. "Tomorrow, I'll take you to see Switzerland's famous sights."

Spring arrived late in Switzerland. The scent of earth, the chirping of birds, and Shen Qiancheng's cries of protest filled the air.

"Liao Xue! You're going to strangle me! It's so warm today, I don't need a scarf!"

Shen Qiancheng, bundled in a puffy down jacket, sporting a silly penguin knit cap, and even wearing a mask, was being held by the shoulders and having a scarf wrapped around her neck by none other than her companion.

Despite Shen Qiancheng's protests, Liao Xue remained steadfast in her task.

Shen Qiancheng, ignored, stomped her feet.

"You have a mark on your neck..." Liao Xue said, tying a beautiful bow at Shen Qiancheng's chest. The snow-white scarf made Shen Qiancheng's complexion look even more vibrant.

Shen Qiancheng's face instantly flushed as red as a teapot.

"Who told you to be so rough?" Shen Qiancheng pulled the scarf up higher. "Let's buy some ointment for the swelling."

###

Shen Qiancheng pouted, her arms crossed, her gaze fixed on Liao Xue moving ahead.

The Chinese supermarket had higher prices, but the shelves were lined with a dazzling array of neatly arranged goods. In the wide aisle, Liao Xue walked upright, pushing the cart.

"I really want to eat it. Please buy it for me." Shen Qiancheng practically lay on the ground, ready to throw a tantrum.

"You can't!" Liao Xue shook her head helplessly. "You're allergic to chili. Why would you want to eat spicy strips?"

Shen Qiancheng's eyes welled up. "I've never had them since I was a kid. I just want to try the taste. Please, please, Little Xuexue."

There were many people passing by. Liao Xue took a deep breath, reached out, grabbed a pack of spicy strips, and placed it in the cart, surrendering completely. "Only one pack. Don't overdo it."

Getting what she wanted, Shen Qiancheng stuffed her hands in her pockets and wiggled after Liao Xue, eyeing the vegetables on the shelves.

Liao Xue multitasked, comparing prices while observing Shen Qiancheng.

The latter leaned on the shopping cart, staring at Liao Xue with a big question mark over her head. "Is there something on my face? Aren't you done yet?"

Liao Xue averted her gaze, holding up an unlabeled vegetable and instructing Shen Qiancheng, "Go ask the staff how much this costs."

Shen Qiancheng didn't like vegetable salad. "Why not just get one with a price tag?"

Liao Xue just stood there, arm extended.

Shen Qiancheng surrendered. "Fine."

The vegetable salad was labeled, scanned, and placed in a shopping bag. Shen Qiancheng watched the cart without blinking.

Liao Xue paid promptly, and Shen Qiancheng frowned. "Where are my spicy strips? Liao! Xue!!"

Liao Xue said calmly, "The gaps in the shopping cart are so big, and the spicy strip package is so small—who knows, it might have slipped through."

Shen Qiancheng widened her eyes: I don't believe you for a second.

Liao Xue added, "President Shen, I'm supporting you now."

Shen Qiancheng got even angrier, puffing up like a frog.

###

The two, stuck in an oddly sweet honeymoon phase, did nothing but go out hand in hand, take walks, stroll through the supermarket, and bicker and argue as days passed.

Shen Qiancheng didn't mind, but Liao Xue insisted on visiting Shen Qiancheng's alma mater.

For the sake of the spicy strips, Shen Qiancheng flexibly agreed.

ETH was founded 141 years ago, renowned for Einstein.

Not even the resourceful Shen Qiancheng could arrange a meeting with the deceased Einstein.

ETH was just a Swiss university, nothing special, but because Shen Qiancheng had studied there, it was something Liao Xue wanted to understand.

The main building, a masterpiece of Neo-Renaissance style, stood solemn at the heart of the ancient campus like a sleeping poet. Strict symmetry and heavy stone facades lent it a profound historical gravitas. The arcades featured straight lines with subtle curves, and the marble floor reflected the dim yellow light.

Standing beneath the grand architecture, Liao Xue looked up at the dome, where sunlight painted a faint halo of sanctity.

"Three, two, one—" Shen Qiancheng, wearing a white scarf, bent down and made a peace sign. "Cheese!"

The moment was captured. Proudly, Shen Qiancheng brought the camera to Liao Xue and flipped through the images.

In the scenic, scholarly backdrop, Liao Xue looked like a lost white crane. Though out of place with her surroundings, her tranquil aura radiated like a blinding light.

Liao Xue sighed, "It's so beautiful."

Shen Qiancheng's chest puffed with pride. "Of course. Who do you think took it? Come on, I'll take you to ZHdK for dinner."

Liao Xue frowned. "What is ZHdK..."

Before she could finish, Liao Xue was pulled by the hand and ran forward.

The evening breeze and sunshine rushed to meet them, cool and warm simultaneously.

A sourness welled in Liao Xue's heart, as if a lemon had been squeezed there; a gentle squeeze of her hand yielded pure acidic juice.

She had missed three years of Shen Qiancheng's life. In Shen Qiancheng's twenty-two years, Liao Xue's presence barely accounted for even one.

Dinner was alright, but Liao Xue wasn't used to Swiss food.

"Every time I eat it, I think of the food you made." Shen Qiancheng recalled how every Swiss meal inevitably reminded her of Liao Xue's delicious, colorful dishes, eating with tears welling up as she choked them down.

Liao Xue was lost in that inexplicable sourness; both were eating with heavy hearts.

Shen Qiancheng wiped her mouth and said, "You said you couldn't get used to it? How do you find it?"

Liao Xue hadn't expected Shen Qiancheng to ask her opinion. She was stunned for a moment, then shook her head. "It's okay."

That meant it wasn't good.

Shen Qiancheng tilted her head, gazing out the window.

Spring was here, a perfect time to see Lake Zurich.

Liao Xue put the last piece of meat coated in strange sauce into her mouth, looked up, and saw Shen Qiancheng looking bored. Then Shen Qiancheng's head lifted, eyes sparkling. "Since we're near ETH, the Fraumünster Church is close by. Want to go?"

Shen Qiancheng's eyes were incredibly bright. The intensity made Liao Xue suppress her wandering thoughts, wipe her mouth, and nod.

In Western tradition, they enter the wedding hall under the witness of a priest in a church.

A green tower pointed skyward like a finger, its blue-gray stone walls glinting faintly in the sunlight. The walls bore intricate patterns etched by centuries of wind and rain, much like the deep, shallow wrinkles on an old man's hand—and the ripest wine carries the historical depth of its age.

A stag sent by God, with a candle balanced on one antler and a silver cross on its chest, led two princesses to establish this sacred site for humanity.

Liao Xue froze at the entrance, struck by the overwhelming artistic atmosphere. Shen Qiancheng, hands in pockets, smiled slightly. "Let's go; the inside is even more beautiful!"

The most striking feature inside the church was the sunlight filtering through stained glass, creating a prism of colors. Reds, yellows, and blues jostled noisily, surrounding the green Christ window in a grand, passionate convergence, impossible to turn away from.

In the open interior of the Fraumünster, a wedding was taking place.

The bride wore a simple satin gown that highlighted her cool elegance. Beside her, the groom in a formal suit smiled brightly, his eyes only for the beautiful bride.

No words or descriptions were needed; no one could intrude on their unique happiness.

Tourists watched from the sidelines, infectious smiles spreading.

Rings symbolizing fidelity and true love were slipped onto each other's ring fingers, and the newlyweds shared a shy kiss, sealing their lifelong commitment, which they called happiness.

Liao Xue kept her eyes on the couple, then let out a deep breath. "We could also get married in a church."

Shen Qiancheng, absorbed in the beautiful romance of others, smiled. "Sure! We can hold ours at the Fraumünster! We'll be just as happy as them! No—even happier!"

"Yes, yes!" Liao Xue curved her lips, a shy smile just like the bride's.

So what if she'd missed twenty-one years of Shen Qiancheng's life? The next ten, twenty, thirty years—even a hundred—would belong to her and Shen Qiancheng.

As the church's closing time approached, Shen Qiancheng and Liao Xue exited hand in hand.

A figure, head lowered, bumped into them. He wore a large hood, revealing only a ring of beard.

After the collision, he didn't apologize but kept walking, as if nothing had happened.

Shen Qiancheng, annoyed, steadied herself, reached out, grabbed his arm, and said in German, "Do you lack eyes and a mouth? Don't you know to apologize when you bump into someone?"

Liao Xue had been pushed back, but Shen Qiancheng's arm at her waist had gently supported her.

The man threw back his hood, revealing a face common in China but easily forgotten.

Shen Qiancheng frowned. Maybe he was an illegal immigrant.

Liao Xue steadied herself. While the man's eyes were bewildered but fierce, her instincts screamed. She reached out and tugged Shen Qiancheng's wrist.

Shen Qiancheng turned back; Liao Xue gave a slight shake of her head.

"Better to avoid trouble" was Shen Qiancheng's usual motto, but looking into Liao Xue's round, earnest eyes, all principles and mottos faded away.

Shen Qiancheng turned and led Liao Xue in another direction.

A hand blocked their path.

"Hello, are you two Chinese? I'm Chinese too," the man said, pointing at himself, head lowered. "I just arrived in Zurich when my wallet and luggage were stolen. Do you know where the Chinese consulate is? I need help."

Shen Qiancheng raised an eyebrow with impatience. He was a big, burly guy; would a Swiss person even bother robbing such a hulk?

She couldn't be bothered, starting to leave.

But Liao Xue stopped, shook her head at Shen Qiancheng, then pulled out some francs from her wallet and pressed them into the man's hand, carefully explaining the consulate's address.

The man thanked her profusely and left, beaming.

Shen Qiancheng sulked; Liao Xue didn't notice.

The air and scenery by Lake Zurich were unmatched. Shen Qiancheng walked ahead, Liao Xue followed; they weren't holding hands.

For ten minutes, Shen Qiancheng kept a deliberate distance but ensured Liao Xue could keep up.

Shen Qiancheng stomped her foot in frustration. Liao Xue, you silly goose, can't you tell I'm upset? How infuriating!!

A gentle breeze swept over the lake; the blue sky and azure waters folded into a mirrored screen.

Shen Qiancheng turned, rose on her tiptoes, closed her eyes, and said, "Kiss me."

Liao Xue, who had been leisurely making sure Shen Qiancheng wouldn't wander off, fall into the lake, or chase the birds, froze. She silently repeated the words before understanding Shen Qiancheng's meaning.

There were plenty of people strolling around. Liao Xue recalled the newlyweds at the Fraumünster and that scorching, passionate kiss before onlookers.

Just thinking about it made her heart race.

Liao Xue's breath quickened; her face flushed. "There are too many people..."

Those lips look mighty kissable; why waste words.

Shen Qiancheng reached out, grabbed Liao Xue by the nape, gently applying pressure to pull her down.

The moment their breath mingled, their soft, warm lips met, and a thousand fireworks exploded, sparking all the way from her mind to her heart.

A colossal ship hitting an iceberg, a dormant volcano erupting—and Shen Qiancheng kissing Liao Xue.

It was a peck, pure and simple, with raw desire. When it ended, Shen Qiancheng showed no trace of shyness, only determination. "When I set my mind to something, I see it through."

A swan's elegant arc, preening its feathers under the sun.

Shen Qiancheng leaned against Liao Xue's shoulder, breathing in the comforting scent that was Liao Xue, nearly drowning in the Swiss spring breeze.

###

Even without authentic Chinese vegetables in Switzerland, Liao Xue managed to make every meal hearty and flavorful.

At dinner one evening, Shen Qiancheng seated herself at the table with practiced ease. The white rice, each grain distinct, was served in brightly colored bowls, looking especially appetizing.

"Shen Qiancheng."

Shen Qiancheng looked up. "Mm?"

Liao Xue hesitated. "Do you want to go out and have fun?"

"Go out?"

Liao Xue nodded. "You've been cooped up at home for so long. Don't you feel bored?"

Shen Qiancheng shook her head. "With you here, I'm never bored."

Liao Xue blushed and sighed. "I want to go out."

"Oh," Shen Qiancheng took out her phone and, biting her lower lip, said, "I'm broke."

Liao Xue handed over her phone, showing the account balance.

"I've got money here."

Shen Qiancheng smiled, triumphant. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's head out tomorrow."

The next day, they left.

Shen Qiancheng tilted her head in confusion, staring at Liao Xue stuffing a bulky down jacket into the suitcase, then at the temperature in Switzerland.

"Are we going to Antarctica?"

Liao Xue continued packing as she spoke, her bangs falling over her eyes. "Zermatt."

Zermatt—known for its glaciers, a hidden paradise in the Alps.

Shen Qiancheng had been there; its most famous sight was the sunrise on the Matterhorn.

Taking the earliest train, they arrived at Rotenboden at 7 AM, walked for about half an hour, and around that time, the golden sunrise began.

But Liao Xue rested in the town for a day, then took Shen Qiancheng to a viewpoint on the outskirts of Zermatt.

Frost-like snow dusted the hard rocks, a thin layer of blue-green tint covered the brick-red soil, and the silent, majestic mountain stood tall.

The peak of the mountain blushed orange; the golden sunrise began.

Three years ago, Shen Qiancheng had stood in this very spot. The golden sunrise had been beautiful and awe-inspiring, but her heart had felt hollow, and she'd been alone.

Three years later, standing in the same place, she had a loved one by her side.

The golden sunrise had taken on new meaning.

Shen Qiancheng turned, about to urge Liao Xue to look, when the mountain top was dyed orange into a triangle.

But her side was empty. Panic surged in Shen Qiancheng's chest.

"Shen Qiancheng, look down." Liao Xue's gentle, soft voice came from below.

Liao Xue knelt on one knee, holding a small box in both hands. Shen Qiancheng rubbed her eyes; the rustle of her down jacket was nothing compared to the thunder of her heartbeat.

Resting on black velvet was a sparkling diamond ring.

Shen Qiancheng was speechless, covering her mouth. Her heart raced louder than the wind.

"Shen Qiancheng, I know your flaws, but I love your goodness. From now on, there will be no more secrets between us, and we will be faithful to each other for life. I swear here: whether in life or death, I will love you unchangeably. My vow will never change through all eternity. Can you entrust your life to me?" Liao Xue's words were solemn, each one striking like a grand bell.

Liao Xue's eyes were more captivating than the grand scenery behind her. Shen Qiancheng's long hair lifted in the wind.

Something she had never even imagined, Liao Xue had quietly prepared.

Shen Qiancheng's brow furrowed deeply; her mind was a whirlwind.

Under the golden sunrise, dawn symbolized rebirth and hope.

Wasn't Liao Xue also her rebirth?

Shen Qiancheng heard herself ask, "If I have lied to you, would you still..."

Liao Xue, who had been tense, relaxed her brow and smiled. "You've lied to me so many times; have I ever not forgiven you?"

Right, Liao Xue always forgave Shen Qiancheng, didn't she?

Shen Qiancheng said solemnly, "Then I accept."

A cornflower blue sapphire, encircled by a halo of tiny diamonds, sparkled brightly.

Liao Xue rose to her feet and, with utmost care, slid the ring onto Shen Qiancheng's ring finger, making her pale, slender finger look even more like jade next to the sapphire.

Instead of getting up right away, Liao Xue bent down and kissed the back of her hand, like a devout worshipper paying homage to their sole deity.

That night, they stayed in a small inn where the double bed was so narrow they had to cling to each other.

Liao Xue had come well-prepared, and Shen Qiancheng was utterly content; they didn't sleep a wink all night.