Walking This Stretch of Road

Why not ride a bike?

Hua Xin had her hands in her coat pockets, and a deliberately feigned look of disdain appeared on her delicate face, which was lightly made up. Although she was saying this, her steps, which were in sync with Xia Yan's, were still light and graceful.

Actually, there was nothing strange or special about this day; it was just another ordinary day in an otherwise mundane life.

But for some reason, Hua Xin felt a strange, indescribable emotion as she strolled along the streets that were still bustling with people as usual.

Are you happy?

It doesn't seem so.

Are you nervous?

Probably not.

Although they were supposed to go to the Civil Affairs Bureau, which was a bit further away, to get their marriage certificate with Xia Yan, they were now moving towards their destination on foot at a speed like a tortoise.

I didn't take the bus or a taxi; I just walked.

"My beloved motorcycle seems to have some health problems. It probably caught a cold last night from running against the wind."

Xia Yan shook his head with some regret, his handsome face showing no other expression, as if he were telling the truth.

"It's resting and getting injections in the garage right now, so it can't come and take us."

"..."

Hua Xin glanced at Xia Yan beside her, barely suppressing the urge to punch him twice.

Getting a cold and needing a shot while riding a motorcycle—this is a dry, humorous joke that only Xia Yan could tell.

Because most normal people probably wouldn't be able to articulate such a metaphor as mushroom poisoning.

Seeing that Hua Xin didn't complain about him, Xia Yan assumed she was genuinely tired. He then slowed his pace, blinked, and softly asked:

"Honey, if you're tired, we can take a taxi."

"It's still a bit far, after all."

"Then guess whether I'm tired right now?"

"Not tired."

After hearing Xia Yan's answer, Hua Xin was so speechless that she almost didn't want to reply to him anymore.

Since you can so perfectly understand her thoughts, why ask such a silly question...?

I'm starting to regret being with this jerk. What if he corrupts our child in the future?

Hua Xin couldn't help but imagine the scene where Xia Yan, with a sly smile, would be accompanied by a miniature version of Xia Yan, all saying these things that they thought were humorous but were actually quite annoying.

I'm afraid of marriage.

I'm afraid of men.

I'm afraid to have children.

However, if I had a daughter as cute as myself, I wouldn't be afraid anymore.

Thinking of this, Hua Xin's lips curled up slightly.

"Then what are you asking?"

"Do you really think I'm still the same weakling I was a few years ago?!"

Hua Xin snorted coldly, then showed off his perfectly flat biceps in a very "manly" manner.

In the past two years, she has changed from being a stay-at-home girl who only plays games and lies around at home. Instead, she has become very self-disciplined and has strong self-control, exercising with Xia Yan.

Although most of the time it was just following his movements in bed.

But they're all forms of exercise, and they all help improve physical strength.

Xia Yan stopped and glanced at the girl's body, which still looked like it could be knocked down with a single punch. Maturely, he refrained from mocking her and suppressed his laughter.

"I'm sorry, I underestimated Lady Hua Xin."

"Please continue the hike, Miss Hua Xin."

After seeing Xia Yan speak so sincerely, Hua Xin finally took her hand out of her pocket and placed it in Xia Yan's outstretched hand, shaking it together.

The weather wasn't too hot; it was slightly cool. This made Hua Xin's skin feel cold, as if it were her natural constitution, after the summer.

However, despite Hua Xin's diligent exercise and careful attention to her diet and rest over a long period, the problem persisted.

Xia Yan was relieved to find that Hua Xin was perfectly healthy.

After all, he was able to slowly warm the icy temperature up.

Whether now or in the more distant future.

This is not just a promise without any guarantees, but a goal that Xia Yan is determined to strive for.

The two, each wearing a coat that concealed their matching shirts, walked slowly down the street, their fingers intertwined.

Hua Xin, who usually complains of being tired and wants to rest near a snack shop after only a few steps while shopping, surprisingly didn't say anything. Xia Yan, who had just been being incredibly unfunny, also remained silent.

The little incident from earlier seemed to have never happened, and the conversation that was supposed to be about to start while passing the time on the street didn't continue.

They simply held hands, maintaining the same pace, and walked slowly.

The scenery on the street changes every day.

Perhaps one day the street tree survived the winter and sprouted a tender green leaf in the spring. Or perhaps the tree survived autumn, only to have all its leaves fall off again in the coming winter.

Perhaps the pedestrians who usually take this road suddenly changed their route for some reason, choosing not to take this road anymore and instead plunging into another alley.

Perhaps the shops that opened and closed on time every day on the street went out of business due to poor management, and another shop was reborn in this place.

Nothing lasts forever; everything changes its course through seemingly insignificant coincidences.

Passing by the gate of an elementary school, Hua Xin and Xia Yan saw many children playing on the playground.

There were several parents at the entrance, possibly arriving due to various unforeseen circumstances, talking to their children inside the fence.

Not far away, a young couple walked into a clothing store. They seemed to have already decided what they wanted to buy. The man's face was full of confidence, and the woman's face was full of happy joy.

An elderly man and woman were tending to and watering the plants in front of the flower shop across the street. The lush and vibrant plants contrasted sharply with the elderly woman's presence.

It's a good thing if you can stay young at heart even when you're getting old.

Hua Xin and Xia Yan continued walking forward.

The people around her kept changing, and the cars constantly passing by on the road switched back and forth from bicycles to electric bikes, trucks, cars, and so on. Hua Xin even almost laughed out loud when she saw an old man in an electric wheelchair getting on the road, causing all the surrounding cars to avoid him.

They are still walking.

Everything around us is changing.

But it seems that only they have never been separated, nor have they changed.