Still Frame Chapter 64
byChapter 64 Rose Kiss
The man speaking was a Silver State native, around thirty years old, with black hair and black eyes. Seeing Zhang Liuxin turn his head, his eyes widened slightly: “It really is you. I’ve watched your show.”
Zhang Liuxin stood up. When the man saw Wen Jin beside him, his breath hitched, and his tone became more excited: “I saw you two walking over there just now and thought you looked familiar. There aren’t many people from outside the state in this town. I thought I might have been mistaken.”
“Are you… Qiuyue’s brother-in-law?”
Zhang Liuxin recalled Qiuyue mentioning that her brother-in-law was from Silver State. He had also heard that Qiuyue’s sister and brother-in-law had moved to Silver State and rarely returned, but he figured they would definitely attend the wedding.
“That’s right. Did Yueyue mention me? My wife and I just returned from Silver State yesterday.”
The man continued: “Mr. Zhang, your show has been off the air for two weeks. That’s a shame. I didn’t expect to see you and Professor Wen here. Are you on vacation?”
Zhang Liuxin truly hadn’t expected Qiuyue’s brother-in-law to watch his show, and it seemed he knew quite a bit about him and Wen Jin.
“Yes,” Wen Jin spoke up. “Liuxin’s hometown is nearby, so we came back for a visit.”
“Oh, I see. That’s quite a coincidence,” the man smiled. “The custom in this town is that anyone can attend a wedding, whether they are relatives or friends of the hosts. It’s quite different from Silver State, isn’t it?”
Zhang Liuxin nodded: “Yes, this is the first time I’ve heard of it. It’s very interesting.”
They chatted for a few more minutes. Zhang Liuxin realized from the conversation that the man didn’t seem to have any ulterior motives; he simply recognized them. This put Zhang Liuxin at ease.
Finally, Zhang Liuxin added: “It’s just the two of us here in Bornholm this time, and we’ll be heading back to Silver State soon, so…”
The man understood his meaning and said: “I know. Don’t worry, I won’t post anything online. This place doesn’t even have internet access.”
He looked at Wen Jin and Zhang Liuxin standing side by side. This couple, even away from the flashbulbs and expensive custom clothing, was still incredibly eye-catching. He sincerely remarked: “You two have such a good relationship.”
Wen Jin curved his lips: “Thank you.”
The wedding on the lawn seemed about to begin. Qiuyue waved at them and jogged over to ask her brother-in-law: “Brother-in-law, what were you talking about with Mr. Chen and them?”
“Chen? Oh, oh… Aren’t we all from Silver State? Just chatting casually. Let’s go, Yueyue, is it starting?”
Qiuyue nodded and said to Zhang Liuxin and Wen Jin: “Let’s go over together.”
The band had moved to the side of the lawn, scaring away the butterflies that had been circling the flowers. The guests were all seated. Zhang Liuxin and Wen Jin found a corner spot. The ribbons hanging from the chairs in front fluttered in the wind, as if they were alive and also rejoicing for the wedding.
The first to appear was the little flower girl, Duofei. The little girl carried a woven basket and scattered pink and white petals, looking exactly like a little flower fairy. The adults sitting around clapped for Duofei. Zhang Liuxin also watched with a smile, regretting only that he didn’t have his phone to take a picture.
As the music swelled, the bride and groom appeared arm in arm. The groom wore a sharp, dark suit, distinguished by a brightly colored boutonniere. The bride, unlike Silver State custom, did not wear a white gown, but a vibrant red dress. It was a sleeveless design with a layered, ruffled skirt that bloomed like a rose with every step, magnificent and romantic.
People along the flower path tossed petals onto the couple. They exchanged a loving smile, their expressions full of happiness.
The officiant was the bride’s best friend, who was also said to be their matchmaker. After recounting the story of how the couple met, knew, and fell in love, she handed the stage over to the bride and groom.
The bride’s gentle face was full of smiles. She looked at her husband beside her, then at the friends and guests gathered to celebrate with them, and slowly began to speak.
At this moment, Wen Jin leaned closer and whispered in Zhang Liuxin’s ear: “Translate it for me.”
Zhang Liuxin nodded: “Alright.”
The bride said: “Thank you all for coming to our wedding. Now, there are a few words I want to say to my husband.”
“The first time we met was at Serlin University. My meal card wouldn’t swipe in the cafeteria, and you happened to be right behind me, so you lent me yours. Although I later learned it was because you were too hungry, I still thank you.”
At this, everyone chuckled. The groom looked at his beloved with affection, his expression somewhat nostalgic.
“Later, we formally got to know each other. As you’ve told me many times, I am very bold, so after I fell for you, I pursued you fiercely. At the time, my friends said I wasn’t reserved, but I don’t agree. Bravely pursuing love is everyone’s right, regardless of gender. What does reserve have to do with it?”
Zhang Liuxin nodded as he translated, feeling that the bride’s words were excellent.
“But I always thought you didn’t like me. You were always a bit cold and indifferent towards me, so I considered giving up. But the day before I was going to quit, I saw you again, and I realized how much I couldn’t bear to let go. At that moment, I thought, even if you were a bundle of wet firewood, I had the confidence to make you burn.”
The groom interjected at the right moment: “What kind of metaphor is that?”
“Later, we got together, and you confessed to me that you have personality issues, that you’re not good with words, and don’t know how to express care, but you promised to change and work hard to learn how to love me better. The fact that we’ve made it this far shows that your efforts have been quite effective.”
“Speaking of which, I want to say, dear friends, don’t be afraid, don’t shrink back. Be brave in pursuing love, because the essence of love is combustion. With just a spark, a little warmth, it will spread like a prairie fire and bring two people who love each other together, no matter the distance or the thorns in the way.”
Zhang Liuxin paused here and looked at Wen Jin beside him—and Wen Jin’s gaze had not shifted. Since the wedding began, he had been looking intently at Zhang Liuxin.
The newlyweds on the stage shouted “I love you,” exchanged rings amidst cheers, applause, and flowers, and then kissed.
Zhang Liuxin subconsciously translated the phrase “I love you,” realizing belatedly that the Bornholm phrase he had taught Wen Jin might have given him away. But Wen Jin didn’t seem to notice. Zhang Liuxin saw the corners of his eyes slightly lift, his eyelashes fluttering like melting snow, and his usually straight lips curved into a beautiful arc. All the coldness and aloofness around him completely faded away.
Then, in the midst of the bustling crowd, they exchanged a fleeting, light kiss in their corner.
On the stage, it was time for the bouquet toss. The bride held a bunch of blooming white roses. She smiled and suddenly called Qiuyue’s name.
Qiuyue’s eyes were still red. The young girl had been moved by her brother and sister-in-law’s love story moments earlier. She asked tearfully, her voice muffled by her stuffy nose: “What is it, Sister?”
The bride placed the white roses into her hands. Qiuyue looked slightly panicked and hesitated, saying: “Isn’t the bouquet supposed to go to the next person to get married? I’m still young…”
“Who says so?” The bride tucked a strand of Qiuyue’s hair behind her ear. “The bouquet represents our blessing. I don’t have any other family. Now, you are my family, you are my sister. Your brother and I both want to give you our greatest blessing. We hope you will be safe, happy, and have a sweet, fulfilling life, and that you can achieve your own dreams.”
Qiuyue was stunned for a moment, then broke into a wide smile. Crying, she threw herself into the bride’s arms and hugged her, saying: “Sister, we are so happy you joined this family too.”
Zhang Liuxin’s eyes unknowingly became moist. He was an emotional person by nature, but his life in Silver State over the past few years had made him somewhat numb. In this scene today, he couldn’t help but be moved.
The diamond on his ring finger sparkled in the sunlight. Unconsciously, Zhang Liuxin leaned gently against Wen Jin’s shoulder, watching the harmonious family on stage, and murmured, “That’s wonderful.”
This was the wedding Zhang Liuxin had dreamed of: no need for a lavish venue or high-status guests, just the presence of family and friends, and the person he deeply loved by his side. That was enough.
But looking at it now, he didn’t feel much regret, because—he leaned up and pecked Wen Jin’s jaw—no matter what, the person he loved was right here beside him.
Wen Jin felt the light touch. He reached up and stroked Zhang Liuxin’s neck, cupping his face. His handsome, cold face held a surprisingly tender and alluring tone: “Do you want to kiss again?”
His expression was serious, and his eyes held an insatiable desire. Just as Zhang Liuxin was being drawn into this vortex, about to devoutly offer his lips, he caught sight of Qiuyue running towards them, holding the flowers.
He immediately pushed Wen Jin away, his ears burning hot. He looked around nervously and asked: “What’s wrong?”
After speaking, he realized Qiuyue looked confused and remembered he had spoken in Silver State dialect. He bit his lip in annoyance and switched languages: “Qiuyue, is something the matter?”
Qiuyue held out two roses to them: “I heard my sister-in-law speak just now. I’m so happy today, and I wanted to share these flowers, this good fortune, with you.”
Zhang Liuxin looked at the vibrant, dewy roses, his heart softening. He said: “Thank you. Wait a moment.”
He turned to Wen Jin and said: “Doesn’t Inter-State University have an exchange experience program? I think I saw a poster in your college.”
Wen Jin nodded: “Yes, the shortest is a two-day, one-night experience over the weekend. You just need to fill out an application form. Does Qiuyue want to go? I’ll have my college assistant prepare the materials when we get back.”
Zhang Liuxin translated this to Qiuyue and asked if she was interested. Qiuyue hesitated, as the travel expenses were high. Zhang Liuxin said: “It’s alright. You can discuss it with your family. Don’t worry about the rest; we can cover it. Or you can ask your brother-in-law.”
Qiuyue: “Okay, thank you both!”
After the girl left, Zhang Liuxin played with the rose in his hand, spinning one around until the petals trembled and stopped in front of Wen Jin. He deliberately said: “Flowers suit the beautiful.”
Wen Jin accepted the compliment. He took the flower, his long fingers gripping the stem, brushing the delicate petals. Finally, he lifted the rose and gently tucked it behind Zhang Liuxin’s ear, fiddling with it. Zhang Liuxin felt a slight tickle near his temple.
Wen Jin’s fingertip supported the white rose, his palm perfectly cupping Zhang Liuxin’s cheek. He lowered his head slightly and completed the kiss they had interrupted. Zhang Liuxin wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but he felt that Wen Jin’s kiss carried the faint fragrance of roses, making him willingly surrender to the moment.