The custom-made marriage certificate was more ornate.
The paper was ivory cardstock with a delicate texture, its edges stamped with a barely noticeable border of champagne gold.
Flowers were printed along the bottom, colorful and much like those on the invitations Little Bai had sent out earlier.
The photo was Ding Ding's favorite, carefully chosen from many. It was anything but formal: a silhouette of the two of them kissing by the sea.
Beneath it were their names and dates of birth, in a simple, dignified typeface.
There were no lengthy legal provisions, only a line of small print at the very bottom, words Ding Ding had chosen himself:
[Let this bear witness: together, morning and night.]
It was less a marriage certificate than a work of art.
It was a little different from the one in his memory, but to Bai Congming, it was enough to pass for the real thing.
"A marriage certificate!"
"A marriage certificate."
"A marriage certificate!!!"
Ding Ding smiled. "Are you happy, baby?"
"Happy!"
So happy he felt as though he might fly. Bai Congming thought that perhaps Brother Ding really was an immortal; otherwise, how could Ding Ding bring everything Auntie Zhou had said was impossible right before his eyes?
"A wife! Brother Ding is my wife! Little Bai has a wife!"
"..."
It was getting late, so Ding Ding let the title slide, took Little Bai to the car, and drove toward the hotel.
But he did not stop outside the hotel. Instead, he stopped a block away, saying he wanted to walk.
Bai Congming held the marriage certificate in both hands, unwilling even to spare one to hold hands.
By the sea, the guests who had been waiting for a long time peered toward the end of the road. Ding Shu checked