Chapter 697: A Good Day

Back in the room, Song Yu pulled out her cherished camera from her bag, adjusted it, and aimed it at Li Heng: “Stand by the window, I’ll take your picture.”

Hearing this, Li Heng happily stepped to the window and asked, “Why such a good mood today? Taking photos this late?”

Song Yu replied calmly, “Today is very important to me.”

Though she was no Cinderella, watching the man she loved soar to great heights, watching more and more outstanding women gather around him, Song Yu sometimes felt worry.

Today, before both sets of elders, Li Heng had declared in an unyielding tone that he would marry her, and would welcome her into his home with a grand Chinese wedding—something irresistible to any woman.

Even she, a child of fortune, was no exception.

Under her careful guidance, they quickly finished a set of photos. Li Heng grinned and said, “You stand over there—I’ll take a few of you.”

Song Yu said, “Okay.”

When she stood by the window, Li Heng gazed at her in the camera and couldn’t help praising: “My wife looks like she stepped out of a painting—so beautiful. Every morning I wake up and see you, I’ll have a good day.”

She gazed quietly into his eyes for a moment, then smiled faintly and said, “Do you know Bai Juyi’s ‘Poem of the Inner Palace’? Two lines there left a deep impression on me: ‘Her beauty fades before favor does, she leans against the incense stand, sitting till dawn.’”

In ancient times, emperors had three thousand concubines—all chosen at their peak when they first entered the palace, all initially favored and cherished—but how many truly stayed by the emperor’s side until the end?”

Uh…

Was this a veiled critique of the present?

Or a premonition, a hidden fear of the future?

Or was she scolding him?

Li Heng held her gaze steadily and said seriously, “You’re Song Yu—you can’t be so insecure. This lifetime, I’ll never tire of you. In the next life, I’ll find you again. I want to be your husband for three lifetimes.”

Their eyes met. Feeling the depth of his affection, Song Yu remained silent, but inside, for once, her heart was soaked in something called sweetness.

After taking photos, Song Yu sat before the vanity mirror. “Let me fix my hair—you go to bed first.”

Li Heng sat beside her. “I won’t go to bed. Let me help you.”

Song Yu smiled faintly and asked, “This is women’s work—can you even do it?”

Li Heng said nothing, picked up the comb, and began brushing her hair.

Song Yu let down her dark tresses and sat quietly before the mirror. Li Heng stood behind her, holding a yellow rosewood comb, carefully brushing each strand.

Watching the man in the mirror, so focused, Song Yu suddenly recalled a line from Su Shi’s ‘Linjiangxian’: “Combing her hair a hundred times, she lets it fall, sleeps deeply till dawn.”

Savoring the verse quietly, she relished the feeling of being cherished by the man she loved.

One minute later, Song Yu spoke softly: “Li Heng.”

Li Heng, half-bent over, didn’t look up, merely murmured, “Mm.”

When she didn’t speak again, he finally snapped back to awareness, raised his head, and asked the reflection, “Did you just call me?”

Song Yu teased him: “No.”

“Oh, must’ve been my imagination—tinnitus. I thought my wife was sweetly calling my name.” Li Heng muttered to himself, bending back down to continue combing.

Song Yu smiled, her right hand unconsciously rising to rest on his right cheek, gently stroking for a moment. “Li Lang, carry me to bed.”

This time, Li Heng heard clearly: “Li Lang?”

Song Yu met his clear black eyes for several seconds, then leaned back against his chest, tilting her head up slowly and closing her eyes.

Li Heng froze, then was flooded with overwhelming joy. He bent down and kissed her red lips.

Holding her tightly, he lifted her into a bridal carry, walking toward the bed.

Suspended in his arms, Song Yu didn’t fear—instead, she gripped his chest with both hands, her lips parting to match his kiss.

At this moment, they embodied the very essence of tender affection.

Their tongues entwined; Song Yu was swept by strange sensations, her body growing softer.

As she lay flat on the bed, as he climbed atop her, Song Yu finally sighed, her body burning hot, her hands shifting from clutching his shirt to wrapping around his back—perfectly fused, inseparably merged.

Long, long time.

The passionate Li Heng released her lips, eyes flushed, gazing at her with deep emotion: “Wife, I love you.”

Song Yu gently raised her right index finger to his lips, gazed at him a moment, then said with utmost tenderness: “Li Lang, I love you too.”

In this moment, she was moved—finally voicing the feelings long buried deep within.

Today was her great day. At the table, before the elders, this man had moved and conquered her with his decisive resolve.

So tonight, for the first time, she boldly kissed him—returning his love, giving him her love.

As for calling him Li Lang—it was because he promised to marry her with the most grand ceremony. In ancient times, wives called their husbands “Langjun.” Unconsciously, she loved this term.

Li Lang—her own Langjun. She was willing to be his woman for three lifetimes.

Hearing “Li Lang,” Li Heng felt as if he’d heard celestial music—overwhelmed with excitement, his blood surging, his pride exploding. He bent down again, kissing her like crashing waves.

Song Yu’s face was filled with tender affection, words unspoken, thoughts unvoiced—until, summoning every ounce of courage, she pressed her cherry-red lips to his.

This kiss held no words—only action, revealing her heart’s tremor.

Revealing the depth of her feelings for him.

This was Xila Hutong. This was the sihe courtyard. This was the house he bought for her. In her bedroom, sharing joy with the one she loved—this was the scene she had always dreamed of.

She cared for him. She was willing to give him all her love without reservation, to spend the rest of her life with him.

…

The next day, when Li Heng slowly opened his eyes, he found Song Yu quietly watching him.

Li Heng blinked. “Wife, what are you looking at?”

Song Yu whispered softly: “I hope every day from now on has you in it.”

Li Heng was moved, pulled her close, and murmured into her ear: “I’ll always be here. I’ll never leave you—you can’t chase me away.”

Song Yu smiled, hugged him briefly, then said: “Let’s get up. Dad, Mom, and Second Sister seem to be awake already.”

“Okay.”

Hearing movement in the courtyard, Li Heng replied: “I’ll comb your hair.”

Song Yu murmured, “Mm.”

Dressing and rising, Song Yu sat before the vanity mirror, watching through its reflection as the man behind her meticulously combed her dark tresses.

Seeing his skillful hands, she asked calmly: “Have you ever combed Mai Sui’s hair?”

Li Heng said: “No. When I was little, to avoid chores and please Mom, I used to comb her hair often.”

It was true.

But his experience came mostly from his past life. In his former existence, he had always loved styling Song Yu’s hair—why, he didn’t know, but it always felt right, as if their souls merged in another way.

Hearing this, Song Yu didn’t press further.

Before leaving the bedroom, she suddenly grew uneasy, hesitant.

Li Heng noticed something was off. “What’s wrong?”

Song Yu met his gaze, paused, then said: “We haven’t married yet, but I slept with you—will Dad and Mom…?”

Will they what?

She didn’t finish. She didn’t know how to say it.

But Li Heng understood at once. He wrapped his arm around her slender waist and asked: “Afraid your in-laws will look down on you?”

Song Yu’s lips moved, but no sound came out.

Li Heng gave her forehead a light kiss and smiled: “Don’t worry. My parents aren’t old-fashioned. Besides, we’ve already changed how we address each other. We’ve even set the wedding date. And don’t you think they know what kind of son they raised?”

Song Yu laughed softly at his words.

Li Heng reached for the doorknob and said: “If you’re still nervous, just stay behind me. If any swords or spears come at you—I’ll shield you.”

Song Yu smiled beautifully and followed him out of the bedroom.

As luck would have it, they stepped out right into Tian Rune’e, who was carrying a basin of freshly washed vegetables toward the kitchen.

Hearing them, Tian Rune’e turned instinctively. Seeing the naturally elegant Yu Bao hiding behind her son, she couldn’t help smiling.

Seeing her mother-in-law, Song Yu became bold, walked over, and said: “Mom, good morning.”

For some reason, Tian Rune’e found the word “Mom” especially warm, and replied happily: “Yu Bao, good morning. Did we wake you?”

Song Yu said: “No, it’s time for us to get up.”

As they chatted, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law walked together to the kitchen.

Li Heng was speechless—his own mother had completely ignored him the whole time. Was he invisible?

At that moment, Second Sister entered from outside, strode up to him, and stared at him as if he were a rare artifact.

Li Heng felt uneasy. “What? What’s with that look first thing in the morning? You gonna eat me?”

Li Lan glanced toward the kitchen, lowered her voice, and asked: “Did you sleep with Song Yu last night?”

Li Heng nodded.

Li Lan asked: “Did you two… have relations?”

Li Heng rolled his eyes. “You’re being so secretive just to ask this?”

Li Lan urged: “Don’t dodge. Answer me.”

Li Heng rolled his eyes again. “Do you think it’s possible?”

Li Lan was surprised, tilted her head, and scanned him up and down. “Huh? You really didn’t? That’s not like you. My brother’s always chasing women—even with Song Yu, a beauty like that, you could hold back? Are you even a man?”

Li Heng rolled his third eye. “If it were anyone else, maybe I couldn’t hold back. But this is Song Yu—she’s deeply traditional. You don’t understand how I feel about her.”

In his past life, Song Yu had once said upon waking: “The most perfect moment in life is giving one’s first night to the one you love, on the wedding night.”

In that life, her wish went unfulfilled.

Because they never married, never registered, never held a banquet—just came together one simple night, naturally, inevitably.

Seeing his earnest tone, Li Lan smirked. “If you didn’t, then why did you sleep together?”

Li Heng rolled his fourth eye. “Mind your own business. In Dongting Lake, we did it this way too.”

Li Lan suddenly understood. "No wonder—I knew something was up. That’s why Song Shi and his wife came along this time. You slept with their daughter for a month in Dongtinghu. If it were my daughter, I’d be frantic too."

Li Heng was about to roll his eyes again…

But Li Lan stopped him with a hand gesture, glaring menacingly: "If you dare roll your eyes again, I’ll beat you up."

Li Heng: "…"

He thought to himself: Who’s going to beat whom isn’t even certain yet.

But a good man doesn’t fight with a woman. He remembered something and asked: "Have you been getting close to Wang Ye lately?"

Li Lan replied with a meaningful look: "Why? Afraid Wang Ye isn’t behaving himself?"

Li Heng said: "Not at all. With Wang Ye’s abilities, if he truly had ambitions, he wouldn’t need to work for me—he could strike out on his own and succeed effortlessly."