Xu Moyao and Li Wuxin walked side by side, their hearts still a little shaken, not speaking much. Their hands intertwined.

The tenderness, somewhat awkward, of those who know a threshold has been crossed, but who dare not yet step into the next room.

When they arrived at the pavilion, they slowly removed their shoes. The smell of dry wood and cold herbal tea still lingered in the air.

They were both a little shy, having never really talked about what exactly "being married" meant, let alone sleeping together.

There they were, face to face, standing in the small room, their breath barely quicker than usual, their gazes a bit evasive, as if each was trying to fathom what had just happened.

Li Wuxin nervously ran a hand through his hair, his movements a little more clumsy than usual.

Xu Moyao, as calm as ever, seemed unaffected. Or perhaps it was simply the way he hid his emotions, a mask of tranquility. But Li Wuxin saw right through it. He could sense the beating of his heart behind that serene facade.

Marriage… they had done it.

But there was one simple question weighing heavily on Li Wuxin, one he couldn’t quite bring himself to ask, one he struggled to articulate clearly.

Xu Moyao, watching him from the corner of his eye, finally broke the suspended silence, a soft, almost curious smile curling on his lips.

"What’s bothering you?" he asked, without pressure, as if this question were a natural continuation of the moment.

Li Wuxin blushed. He felt warmth flood his cheeks, an embarrassment that made his heart beat a little faster. He didn’t know how to approach the subject, nor where to start.

"I... I wanted to ask you something," he said, the words weighing heavier than he would have liked.

Xu Moyao looked at him attentively, waiting for him to continue with calm kindness.

"Yes?" Xu Moyao asked, stepping closer to him.

Li Wuxin felt his breath catch, but he forced himself to speak.

"Tonight... we... well, you know... do we sleep together?"

He had blurted it out all at once, almost hurriedly, as though he feared the words would escape him before they even reached his lips. He blushed even more deeply, embarrassed that he had even asked the question. It was both simple and difficult.

They were married, after all, but this symbolic act, of sharing the same bed, had a new dimension. It was another step, another threshold to cross.

Xu Moyao froze for a moment, his gaze tinged with surprise, then he chuckled softly, as if he didn’t need more words to understand.

Li Wuxin looked up at him, a glimmer of hesitation in his eyes. He had thought, deep down, that Xu Moyao would say something more concrete, something more reassuring, something that would sweep away his uncertainty. But all he received was that infinite softness, that exchange of silent glances that made him feel both more vulnerable and more at peace.

"I’m fine with that. But only if you want it too," he added.

The words were simple, but they had a profound effect on Li Wuxin. He suddenly felt calmer, as though the weight of the unknown was lifting, little by little, like fog dissipating in the morning.

Xu Moyao smiled at him tenderly.

"We will share our calm, our daily life, and every step that brings us closer."

Li Wuxin, still a little nervous, nodded, a small smile beginning to form on his lips. He approached Xu Moyao slowly, feeling at once strangely shy and deeply reassured.

They changed their clothes back to back, in silence, embarrassed. It was just the two of them, and nothing else.

Lying side by side in the bed, Xu Moyao turned slightly, his eyes gently settling on Li Wuxin. The soft moonlight filtered through the curtains, grazing his features, casting subtle shadows.

Xu Moyao didn’t dare move too abruptly, afraid of disturbing the fragile tranquility. He felt... good. Better than he had ever imagined. Even though he was still a little uncomfortable, a faint embarrassment hung in the air between them, he couldn’t deny that Li Wuxin’s presence beside him brought a peace he had never known before.

The sheets, slightly crumpled beneath their bodies, were of an incomparable softness, but this moment felt so special.

Embarrassment gently enveloped him, but this embarrassment seemed soft, almost reassuring, like a silent promise he was ready to accept, to explore.

He propped himself up slightly on one elbow, his eyes still fixed on Li Wuxin.

"Are you sleeping?"

"Not really."

A silence.

Then Li Wuxin sighed, almost shamefully:

"I feel like we just did something huge, and yet... nothing has changed."

"Maybe that’s what it’s like to be with someone," Xu Moyao said in a hushed voice. "That everything changes, but everything stays familiar."

A light breath. The sheet rustled. Xu Moyao had moved a little closer, planting a kiss on Li Wuxin’s forehead. This simple, delicate gesture seemed to say more than words ever could. He stayed there for a moment, his breath brushing Li Wuxin’s warm skin, his heart beating faster with each passing second.

A fleeting smile passed over Li Wuxin’s face.

Xu Moyao then laid his head on the pillow, near Li Wuxin, their faces only a few centimeters apart.

Their eyes met, and for a moment, everything seemed to pause. No words, just a silent exchange. Their hearts beating together, softly, calmly. The outside world ceased to exist. Without another word, Xu Moyao gently pulled the blanket over them both, enveloping them in the warmth of a silent cocoon.

"Good night," he whispered.

And Li Wuxin, his heart beating just a little too fast, finally replied:

"Good night... my husband."

A quiet laugh escaped Xu Moyao’s lips, quickly muffled into the pillow. He didn’t say anything, but he was smiling.

The next morning, Li Wuxin slowly opened his eyes, half-asleep at first, his thoughts floating. Then, he became aware of the warmth surrounding him, the comforting weight of an arm around his waist, the steady breath of Xu Moyao on his neck.

A subtle shiver ran through his body, not from cold, but from the strange sensation of not being alone. He turned gently, careful not to wake the other man. His heart tightened for a moment. He was here, in his arms, and for the first time, Li Wuxin felt completely in place.

He watched Xu Moyao, still peacefully asleep, his face relaxed, almost childlike in the soft morning light. This was no longer the impassive mask he usually wore. Li Wuxin suddenly felt overwhelmed by a deep tenderness, a desire to protect this moment, as if nothing else mattered.

He gently raised a hand, brushing the warm skin of Xu Moyao, almost timidly touching his arm, before rising slightly, not wanting to disturb him. But before he could get up completely, Xu Moyao instinctively tightened his arms around Li Wuxin, as if wanting to pull him even closer.

Li Wuxin, caught off guard, froze for a few seconds, before letting out an amused sigh.

Eventually, Xu Moyao opened his eyes, a slight smile on his lips, still half-asleep.

"Have you been awake for long?" he asked in a hoarse voice, still marked by sleep.

Li Wuxin, a little embarrassed, shook his head.

Xu Moyao raised an eyebrow, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "You look beautiful when you sleep."

Li Wuxin smiled, the red creeping up his cheeks. He rested his head on Xu Moyao’s shoulder, hiding his face.

Xu Moyao gently stroked his hair, his movements tender, natural.

Li Wuxin closed his eyes for a moment, letting himself be enveloped by the warmth of this presence.

"You know," Li Wuxin said, "I’m not used to... staying like this in the morning."

Xu Moyao chuckled softly. "You’ll get used to it. To us, to this calm."

Li Wuxin didn’t reply right away. He curled a little closer to him, feeling strangely reassured by the stability of the situation. The outside world could wait.

The afternoon stretched on quietly, each moment marked by the softness of the other’s presence. Li Wuxin, still a little nervous and thoughtful, finally stood from his chair, determined to announce their marriage to Lan Boxiao.

He turned to Xu Moyao.

"I think it’s time we tell Lan Boxiao... you know, about the marriage," Li Wuxin said, a little hesitant, his hands still slightly trembling.

Xu Moyao turned his head, a smile of understanding on his face. "You’re right. Let’s go together."

They both walked toward the reception room, where Lan Boxiao was sitting, reading a book.

When she saw them, a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes, but her smile quickly appeared.

"So, you two, what’s going on? You came back late last night," she asked, looking up from her book.

Li Wuxin took a deep breath. "We have something to tell you." He turned slightly toward Xu Moyao, who gave a gentle nod of support.

"We... we got married," he announced, his voice a little hesitant, but with a gleam of sincerity in his eyes.

Lan Boxiao froze for a moment, as if processing the news, before a broad smile spread across her face. She jumped to her feet, almost too joyful to contain herself.

"Really?!" she exclaimed. "I knew it, I could feel it!"

She quickly moved toward them, looking at each of them in turn, as if trying to scrutinize this new reality. "I’m so happy for you both!" A little laugh of happiness escaped her lips.

Li Wuxin blushed a little, embarrassed by her enthusiasm. Xu Moyao, on the other hand, remained calm, but his eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief.

"We thought it would be good to tell you now," Xu Moyao replied, a peaceful smile on his lips.

"This is wonderful," said Lan Boxiao, her eyes shining. "But wait, I absolutely must give you something!"

She rushed toward the door.

The rest of the afternoon passed quietly. Li Wuxin, a little less nervous, finally felt at ease in this new space, the one where he was fully himself with Xu Moyao, his husband.

She returned three hours later... with a decorated kite in hand.

On it, she had awkwardly drawn a symbol: two cranes intertwined, with a small red character embroidered in the center: 合 (hé, "union").

"It’s ugly, but it’s made with love," she said, handing it to them.

Xu Moyao took it with an almost reverent seriousness.

"It’s beautiful," he said.

As the sun began to set, bathing the room in a soft, golden light, Xu Moyao slowly turned toward Li Wuxin and Lan Boxiao. His eyes shone with a quiet tenderness. "Shall we prepare some tea for tonight? It would be nice, wouldn’t it?" he suggested, his voice full of calm.

Li Wuxin immediately replied, a light smile lighting up his face. "With pleasure," he said, his voice as soft as the evening air.

The smell of tea began to spread, bringing with it a sense of comfort. The evening promised to be calm, almost magical.

At that moment, Lan Boxiao, who had been quietly observing, slowly rose from her chair. She stretched, as if to break the peaceful atmosphere that had settled in the room. Then, with a soft smile on her lips, she turned to the two men and said:

"You know... one day, I’ll marry Lu Xiaoqian too."

Her smile grew a little softer, but a shadow passed in her eyes, a fleeting sadness that contradicted the lightness of her words.

"But..." she murmured, before falling silent for a moment, her thoughts visibly heavier. "I sometimes wonder if she... will still love me."

Xu Moyao, who had been quietly observing, tilted his head slightly, his gaze filled with understanding. He knew that behind this smile was a deep worry, a fear that few could grasp. He took a moment before responding, his voice soft but carrying a certain gravity.

"Lan Boxiao..." he said slowly, as if weighing his words. "Love isn’t something we can force or predict. But... there are ways to cultivate it, to nurture it, even in moments when doubt creeps in."

Li Wuxin turned toward them, his gaze genuinely empathetic. "There’s no certainty in love," he added softly, "but there are gestures, shared moments. Those little things, that over time, strengthen that bond. If you truly love her, there’s only one thing to do: be there, every day, for her, with sincerity."

Lan Boxiao lowered her eyes for a moment, absorbing their words. Then, a quiet sigh escaped her lips, as though carrying a weight she had borne for too long.

"I guess that’s what I’m afraid of... being there, but not knowing if it will be enough."

A silence fell in the room.

Then, with a small, knowing smile, Xu Moyao added: "We all have our uncertainties. But we carry them together. It’s what makes us human."