Chapter 264: About Our Family

Zhiyi looked down at Jingwei’s hands around hers.

He had gone quiet after asking, and his thumb had stopped moving over her fingers.

She was used to seeing him wait patiently for an answer, but he was holding himself so still that she wondered whether he had remembered to breathe.

She had already thought about spending more nights here. She wanted clothes in his drawers and a reason to come looking for him after dinner that didn’t involve checking the cameras. Until he asked, she hadn’t pictured another wedding.

Now she found that she liked the thought of standing beside him and telling the others she wanted him as her husband.

"Yes," Zhiyi said, moving closer across the rumpled blanket. "I want to marry you."

Jingwei let out a breath and bowed his head over their hands.

When he looked up again, his smile was so wide that she reached to touch his cheek. Before she could say anything else, he slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her close, laughing softly as he kissed her.

Zhiyi wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

She liked feeling him smile against her mouth, liked that he held her without immediately loosening his arms to check whether she wanted to move.

When he finally drew back, she stayed against him, her fingers resting at the back of his neck.

"I had more to say before I asked," Jingwei admitted, brushing her hair away from her cheek. "I’ve thought about it enough times. You’d think I could remember some of it."

"You can tell me now," Zhiyi replied. She stroked the short hair beneath her fingers while he considered her answer. "I still want to hear it."

"I love you," Jingwei said, his smile softening as he touched her face. "That was the part I didn’t want to leave out."

Zhiyi had known he wanted her company. He kept a chair free beside him and stayed to listen when his watch ended if she hadn’t finished talking.

Lately, he had begun reaching for her when she passed, drawing her close for a kiss before letting her continue. She liked all of those things, but hearing him say he loved her made her hold him a little tighter.

"I love you too," Zhiyi told him. "I don’t know when it happened. I started wanting to find you every day, even when I had nothing to ask."

Jingwei rested his forehead against hers, and she stayed close until she became aware of the foot folded beneath her.

When she shifted to free it, he lifted the blanket and made room, keeping one hand at her waist while she stretched her leg.

"I’ve been sitting on it," Zhiyi explained, flexing her toes. She leaned against him again while the tingling eased. "I wasn’t paying attention."

"I noticed," Jingwei replied, kissing her cheek. He reached for the clothes beside the bed, but paused to kiss her mouth before handing them over.

Getting ready took longer than usual. Zhiyi had to remind him about breakfast when he caught her around the waist beside the dresser, though she let him kiss her before turning back to the mirror.

By the time she finished brushing her hair, he had found both her slippers and set them at her feet.

Downstairs, Hanchuan was cutting fruit at the kitchen counter while Qinghe waited beside the kettle.

Zeyu and Shichen sat at the table with a page of drawings between them, arguing quietly over something Zeyu was pointing at.

The smell of breakfast made Zhiyi realize how hungry she was, but she went to Hanchuan first when he put down the knife.

"There you are," Hanchuan said, resting his hand at her back as she came close. "I was about to come looking for you."

Zhiyi lifted her face for his kiss and stayed beside him afterward. "Jingwei asked me to marry him," she told Hanchuan. "I said yes."

His hand paused against her back. He looked toward Jingwei, then returned his attention to her, brushing a strand of hair away from her cheek.

"Are you happy?" Hanchuan asked gently.

"Very happy," Zhiyi replied, smiling up at him. She watched his expression soften before he bent to kiss her again.

"Then we should have a wedding," Hanchuan said, keeping his arm around her as he turned toward the table.

Zeyu had stopped pointing at the drawing. He looked from Zhiyi to Jingwei, then leaned back with a grin while Shichen pulled the papers out of the way.

"You asked her before breakfast?" Zeyu said. "I’ve been sitting down here wondering whether to keep your eggs warm."

"I had something else on my mind," Jingwei replied, pulling out Zhiyi’s chair. His smile returned when she took his hand before sitting down.

Qinghe brought their cups over and set them on the table. "I’m happy for both of you," he said warmly, resting a hand briefly on Jingwei’s shoulder before returning to the kettle.

Zhiyi sat between Jingwei and Hanchuan while Zeyu fetched the food.

She kept looking at Jingwei, pleased to find him watching her each time. Around them, cups touched saucers and Shichen asked for the pen beside Hanchuan’s elbow. She wanted to remember all of it.

"When would you like to do it?" Shichen asked, turning his paper over. "We could move the furniture in the sitting room and have the meal here."

"I don’t want everyone working for weeks," Zhiyi replied. She looked toward Jingwei before continuing. "I liked my first wedding, but I don’t need hundreds of guests."

"Everyone I want there is already here," Jingwei told her, laying his hand beside hers on the table.

"Then feeding them should be easy enough," Zeyu said as he set down a plate. "Just tell me before you decide you want a cake. I’ll need more warning for that."

Zhiyi looked around at the men discussing food and where they could put the chairs.

Beside her, Hanchuan reached for his mug, his wedding ring catching the light. She took his other hand beneath the table and leaned closer when he turned toward her.

"I’m still your wife," Zhiyi said quietly. She knew he understood, but she wanted to reassure him anyway.

"I know," Hanchuan replied, lifting her hand to kiss her fingers. "And I’m happy to see you happy. You can enjoy this with him."

She kissed his cheek before turning back to Jingwei. He was listening to Zeyu explain how much space he would need in the kitchen, but he stopped when she rested her hand over his.

"I’d like us to write our own promises," Zhiyi told him. "There are things I want to say to you that weren’t part of my first wedding."

"I’d like that," Jingwei replied, turning his hand beneath hers. "We can take some time today."

Zhiyi nodded, then looked at the others.

They had spent years discussing supplies, shelters, and what they would do if something went wrong. She wanted to know what they hoped for when nothing needed fixing.

"I’d like to hear what the rest of you want, too," Zhiyi said. "We talk about keeping everyone safe, but we have a life here. What would you like us to do with it?"

Shichen set down his pen while Hanchuan drew his chair closer.

Across the table, Zeyu lowered the serving dish he was still holding and turned toward her, his breakfast forgotten.