Quiet Lake.
"What made you think of coming here today?"
"It’s peaceful. Since we’ve been back, I haven't had a chance to come here with you. Actually, Quiet Lake is quite beautiful at night. Look, we have wine and food—it’s just a pity about all those herbs and flowers." It was a painful thought; Nan Menghua was truly wicked for destroying so many precious medicinal plants. Only someone with the Little Scorpion’s temperament could remain so unfazed.
Nan Muxue cupped Chu Ruo’s face. "I thought that after what happened last time, you wouldn't like this place."
"You mean when we jumped into the lake? But we have so many more memories here that belong only to us, and they’re all wonderful." Under the bright moonlight, the two lay side by side. Chu Ruo pointed at a streak of light across the sky. "Look, a shooting star! You can make a wish. Though, do you ancients view shooting stars as bad omens? In the modern world, everyone says that if you make a wish upon a star, it’ll come true. Hmm, I’ll make one too." As she spoke, she pressed her palms together and closed her eyes, her heart harboring an unknown wish.
"Vague and impractical," Nan Muxue remarked.
"You... Little Scorpion, are you allergic to romance?"
Nan Muxue smiled. "Rather than praying to a star, you would be better off asking me. Whatever you want, your Master will give it to you."
"You said it yourself."
"Yes." Her gaze was earnest. "I never go back on my word."
"How can you be so good to me?"
She didn't answer directly, only saying, "I want my Ruo’er to be this happy forever."
*Whiz—Bang!*
Brilliant fireworks erupted in the sky. Excitedly, Chu Ruo pulled Nan Muxue up and walked a few steps closer to the lakeshore. "Look, isn't it beautiful? I specifically asked them to set these off. It’s the New Year." She blinked, her beloved woman standing beside her. "Want to make a wish? Surely you won't be a killjoy for a New Year’s wish, right?"
The fireworks soared, bursting into multicolored blooms before fading into the night, only for new ones to flourish in a continuous cycle. Facing the lake, Nan Muxue’s face was filled with smiles as she spoke her heart's desire: "I, Nan Muxue, wish to be Chu Ruo’s wife."
As the words fell, she turned to look at her lover, only to see a ring held out before her. "Is it this?"
Nan Muxue’s smile deepened. "You..."
"Today, I have a request for you—the 'request' in 'marriage proposal.'"
Without waiting for a response, Chu Ruo began to ramble, "Do you remember me mentioning that in my hometown, a proposal requires a ring? And, of course, kneeling." Having said this, Chu Ruo dropped to the ground, not forgetting to give a playful wink. "But it’s just one knee! Ahem... this disciple has found a fine person and humbly asks Master to grant her hand."
Nan Muxue felt like laughing and played along with the clumsy performance. "Who?"
Chu Ruo spoke a name: "Nan Muxue."
"How bold of you. I am your Master."
"I know. The one I want to marry is you, Nan Muxue. I’ve never liked being tied down, but for you, I am willing. If I have any desire at all, it is to ask you to look after me. Nan Muxue, for the rest of my life, for my entire existence, I beg you to keep me by your side."
Nan Muxue smiled. "You want your Master to worry over you for a lifetime?"
"Yes. But wait, why do I feel like you don't look very surprised?"
"Weren't you planning to do this a long time ago?"
"Truly, the one who knows me best is my Little Scorpion. Actually, I wanted to propose the moment we escaped the treasure vault, but you stopped me then. Hey, did you always know I was going to propose?"
Nan Muxue neither confirmed nor denied it. "So, you just happened to pick up this ring from the treasure? You certainly know how to calculate."
"I just thought it looked pretty! Since it was in that vault, it must be worth a fortune. Most importantly, a long time ago, I was already certain that I wanted to marry you."
"Ruo’er..."
Nan Muxue was visibly moved, and Chu Ruo felt the same. "Xue’er, marry me. Didn't you say I should ask you instead of the stars? I wished upon the shooting star, but I am proposing a wedding to you. You said you’d give me anything."
Nan Muxue didn't freeze; she simply remained silent for a moment, but her eyes and the corners of her mouth were overflowing with love.
"Marry me. There’s no disciple worse than me, and I need you to take care of me. I want to marry you, I want you to keep pampering me, protecting me, and indulging me. I’ve always been thick-skinned. I want to be with you. If you marry me, I’ll be so happy." Chu Ruo started with a laugh, then her tone softened. "But I also want to take care of you. I want you to be able to lean on me, to be as happy as I am. I’ll work hard. I’ll handle all the housework from now on, and I’ll give you all my secret savings. I’ll listen to you obediently—every single word. Everything I have is yours. I want us both to share the same happiness."
Nan Muxue stroked her lover’s cheek. Chu Ruo had never seen her Xue’er like this; it was an indescribable beauty—or rather, a profound sense of goodness. Yet, the woman remained silent, which was agonizing. Chu Ruo kept her bright, smiling face upturned. "I remember you said that to wed in this era, one needs the Three Letters and Six Rites, the Three Matchmakers and Six Betrothals, an eight-man sedan chair, and a formal marriage. Those things..."
"Those things, I have never cared for." Under the fireworks, Nan Muxue looked incredibly gentle. "I only want a person and her heart."
"I don't have much else, but..." Chu Ruo pulled a piece of paper from her robe and handed it over. "I wonder if this can serve as the betrothal gift."
Nan Muxue opened it, a smile touching her eyes, though she teased, "A few thin sheets of paper? You think you can brush me off so easily?" The paper listed her virtues; every deed she had done and every word she had said, Chu Ruo had kept them all in her heart.
"Well, last time I got punished for writing a list of yours and Zhier’s pros and cons. This time, it’s nothing but your virtues."
"Still not enough." A glint of mischief appeared in Nan Muxue's eyes. "Master wants to see her flaws."
"Then... you have to promise to marry me first."
When Nan Muxue didn't speak, Chu Ruo simply hugged her legs, looking up pitifully. "Sister, please agree! If you don't marry me, I’ll be so miserable. I traveled all this way to this world only to be lonely and unloved. Wotou was just a little thing when we got together, and now he’s grown enough to take a wife, yet you still won't marry me. Marry me, Xue’er~"
Nan Muxue slid the ring onto her own finger and said only one thing: "After today, I never want you to kneel to me again."
Chu Ruo stood up with a joyful leap, her happiness beyond words. Trembling with excitement, she pulled the other woman into an embrace. "In that case, from now on, you need to learn how to cook properly."
"Why?"
"Otherwise, how will you take care of your husband?"
"You certainly know how to order your Mas... me around." Yet Nan Muxue truly intended to comply. In the days to come, she would learn to cook whatever Chu Ruo loved to eat, ignoring anything others made for her.
At that moment, a single tear escaped Chu Ruo’s eye—a tear of pure bliss. "Xue’er, I’m so happy today. Truly, so happy."
"Mhm." For Nan Muxue, it was no different.
"We failed last time, but this time, we definitely won't. I’m going to marry you, and no one can stop me."
"Alright."
Under the glow of the fireworks, Chu Ruo earnestly kissed her lover’s forehead. "Promise me, you are my life’s pursuit."
Nan Muxue closed her eyes, reaching up to caress the love of her life. "I am yours." She had been, for a very long time.
Seeing Chu Ruo pick up the wine made Nan Muxue laugh. In her memory, this fellow hated medicine and rarely drank. "You have such high spirits today?"
"Because I’m happy! It’s a day worth celebrating. Shall we have a drink together?"
Nan Muxue pushed the hand away and leaned in to hook her arms around Chu Ruo. In the next second, Chu Ruo felt the wine she hadn't yet swallowed being drawn away by a wave of sweetness. Then came that enchanting voice: "Yes."
...
"Ruo’er, Ruo’er~"
"I’m here." Chu Ruo supported the swaying woman as they headed back. This was the second time Nan Muxue had ever been drunk. The first was when they reunited at the branch sect; tonight, it was for the sake of happiness, for the fact that they would never be apart again.
Back in the room, after finally coaxing her to lie down, Nan Muxue suddenly propped herself up. Chu Ruo felt a mix of exasperation and amusement. A drunk Little Scorpion was quite adorable, definitely different from her usual self. "Ruo’er."
"Alright, be good. I’m right here, I’m not going anywhere. Go to sleep."
"What did you call me?"
"Xue’er."
She shook her head. "Wrong."
"Little Scorpion? Master?"
Nan Muxue petulantly bit her lip. "Who am I to you?"
Suddenly, a light went on in Chu Ruo's head. "Wife? Darling? I know, you’re my spouse, my... Madam?"
"Mhm, mhm." Nan Muxue clutched Chu Ruo’s collar and settled down to sleep, looking exactly as she had that first time. "Sleepy..."
Chu Ruo tucked the quilt around her, unable to resist kissing her forehead. She couldn't help but smile with joy.
"Goodnight, Madam Chu."
***
