Chapter 8: Moonlight After the Rain

Half a year later, Yirou’s mother had fully recovered after successful heart surgery and was living with her daughter and son-in-law in the mansion on the hill, which was now filled with laughter instead of the cold silence of before.

One evening in late autumn, Xie Yushen took Yirou back to the stage where their wedding had been held. It had been completely redecorated. No more blinding, extravagant lights, only thousands of white chrysanthemum petals drifting gently in the breeze beneath a sky full of stars.

“The first time we stood here,” he said, kneeling on one knee and opening a small velvet box that held a ring set with a teardrop-shaped diamond, “you were wearing a dress that didn’t fit, and I never thought I’d one day willingly kneel for a woman.”

“This time,” he went on, his voice trembling with rare emotion, “I want to ask again. Not because of a contract, not because of an old debt of gratitude, but simply because I love you. Tang Yirou, will you be my wife once more, this time for real love?”

Tears streamed down Yirou’s face, but the smile on her lips was brighter than any of the stage lights from that day.

“Yes,” she answered, her voice choked but certain. “From that rainy day to tonight’s moonlight, all I want is to walk the rest of the way with you.”

The autumn night wind blew softly, lifting the white chrysanthemum petals to swirl around the two of them, like the gentlest blessing heaven and earth could give to a love that began with a mistake but ended with true hearts.

— THE END —