Forever Partners

Although the lobby of the Civil Affairs Bureau was crowded, everything was proceeding in an orderly manner.

Lu Yan took Aemeath's hand and walked straight to the service window.

The two had just taken a number from the queuing machine when the couple in front of them finished their business, and their number immediately appeared on the electronic screen above the window.

"Hello, are you here to register your marriage?"

Lu Yan pulled Aemeath to sit down on one of the two chairs by the window. As he spoke, he handed her the neatly prepared file folder.

Inside, the household registration booklet, the two people's ID cards, and the perfect red-background photo that had just been taken a few days ago were all neatly arranged in the order that was easiest to draw out.

The staff member sitting behind the glass window was a kind-looking woman.

She took the document bag, skillfully pulled out the documents inside, and then typed a few times on the computer keyboard.

"Lu Yan, Aemeath, right?" The older sister looked at the computer screen, then smiled at them and praised, "These photos are really good! They look so much like a married couple. A perfect match, a handsome man and a beautiful woman!"

Hearing such direct praise from an outsider, Aemeath pursed her lips somewhat shyly, but her golden eyes were filled with pride. She secretly hooked her finger around Lu Yan's palm.

Lu Yan gently cupped her mischievous little hand in his palm. "Thank you."

His ears felt slightly hot, but he maintained a calm and composed demeanor.

"You're welcome." The staff member smiled and shook her head when she saw Lu Yan's reddened ears. Then she took out two forms with black lead print from a stack of documents next to her, and handed them out through the recess in the window along with two black pens.

"Here you are, gentlemen. This is the 'Application for Marriage Registration Statement.' Please read the contents carefully and, after confirming that everything is correct, sign your names on the applicant's line at the bottom. Note that your signatures must be clear and without any alterations."

Aemeath released Lu Yan's hand and took the thin piece of paper with both hands. The paper was very light, but at this moment, it felt as if it weighed a thousand pounds.

She lowered her head, her gaze sweeping over every line of the statement. Those originally extremely official and rigorous legal provisions now appeared to her as steps towards happiness.

[Neither I nor the other party are currently married, and we are not related by blood as direct relatives or collateral relatives within three generations. We are aware of the other party's health condition. We hereby voluntarily agree to marry...]

When Aemeath saw the words "voluntarily become husband and wife," her heart beat slightly faster.

She subconsciously turned her head to look at Lu Yan sitting next to her.

Just then, Lu Yan finished reading his statement and turned to look at her. Their eyes met in the air; no words were needed, all their emotions were conveyed in that one glance.

Lu Yan picked up the pen and signed his name on the paper with fluid strokes.

After signing, he handed the pen to Aemeath, gazing at her quietly with eyes full of encouragement and anticipation.

"I'll sign too!"

Aemeath took a deep breath and took the pen from Lu Yan's hand.

She had been brazenly declaring in the car that she wasn't nervous anymore, but when she held the pen in her hand, her fingers began to tremble uncontrollably.

She held the pen, the nib hovering above the paper, hesitant to put it down.

Lu Yan noticed her nervousness, so he simply leaned closer to her, their shoulders touching.

"What's wrong?" Lu Yan lowered his head, his warm breath brushing against her ear, his voice deep and soothing like he was coaxing a child. "Didn't you just say outside that you're someone who's seen it all and would never have your hands tremble?"

"I... I wasn't shaking!" Aemeath retorted in a low voice, like a kitten whose tail had been stepped on.

She bit her lower lip, her large eyes looking at Lu Yan with a hint of helplessness. "A-Yan... I suddenly find this character so hard to write."

"What if I write my name crookedly? Wouldn't you laugh at me for the rest of my life if it was printed on my file?"

Looking at her conflicted yet adorable expression, Lu Yan let out a low, muffled chuckle.

He reached out his left hand and placed it directly over Aemeath's right hand, which was holding the pen, completely enveloping her soft little hand.

"It's okay, even if you write like a puppy crawling, it's still the best in my eyes. Besides, Aemeath's handwriting is beautiful, don't be nervous." Lu Yan guided her hand, gently placing the pen tip on the white paper. "Come on, take a deep breath. Just like usual, let's write your name in this column."

With Lu Yan's reassurance, Aemeath's heart finally calmed down.

Her gaze became focused and serious as she solemnly signed her name in the declarant's section.

Seeing her name on the paper, Aemeath breathed a long sigh of relief.

"You've signed it. Next, we need to put your fingerprints on it, right?" Aemeath looked up at the staff member with bright, sparkling eyes.

"Yes, put your red handprint here." The older woman handed over a red inkpad.

Lu Yan was the first to extend his thumb, press it firmly into the inkpad, and then accurately stamp it above his name.

Aemeath followed closely behind. The moment she pressed her thumb, smeared with red ink, onto the paper, she felt Lu Yan's hand quietly reach out and gently support her wrist under the table, as if giving her a final bit of support and strength.

The two signed and fingerprinted statements were returned to the window.

Over the next few minutes, the sound of rhythmic flipping of papers and tapping on a keyboard could be heard coming from inside the window.

Aemeath sat in the chair, her legs involuntarily slightly together, her hands tightly clasped on her knees. She looked like a student waiting for the teacher to announce the grades, so nervous that she didn't even dare to breathe.

"Click, click."

The printer ejected two inner pages containing their information.

The staff member skillfully pasted the perfect red-background photo they had taken the day before onto the inner page, then picked up the heavy steel stamping machine next to her.

"Bang! Bang!"

Two dull mechanical sounds rang out, and the stamp pressed heavily onto the boundary between the photograph and the inner page, leaving its mark.

Aemeath felt that the two muffled thuds didn't strike the paper, but rather struck her heart directly.

The older sister closed the two small, dark red booklets, each with photos pasted on and stamped with an official seal, and handed them out through the window with both hands.

"Congratulations to you both! From this day forward, you are legally married. Here is your marriage certificate. Please keep it safe. Wishing you a happy marriage and a long and harmonious life together!"

"Thank you!" Lu Yan accepted the two marriage certificates, which still seemed to be warm from the printer, with both hands, his voice trembling slightly.

He glanced down at the gold-embossed national emblem and the words "Marriage Certificate" on the cover, a gentle light flashing in his deep eyes.

He then handed one of the books to Aemeath was still sitting in her chair lost in thought.

"Wife, your marriage certificate." Lu Yan's voice was very soft.

Aemeath stared blankly as she reached out and took the marriage certificate.

The cover has a slightly rough texture, which gives a reassuring feeling.

She turned to the inside page and looked at the photo of the two of them smiling broadly, their shoulders pressed tightly together, and the registration date below the photo, which symbolized the legal validity of the registration.

Everything felt so real it couldn't be more real.

However, Aemeath still felt somewhat dazed.

She remained holding the marriage certificate, slowly raising her head, her eyes filled with incredulous bewilderment.

She glanced at the marriage certificate in her hand, then at Lu Yan beside her, her cherry-like lips slightly parted, and asked with a somewhat dazed expression:

"This... it's done already? So fast?"

Aemeath's voice carried a hint of unreal lightness as she glanced instinctively at the clock in the hall. "It hasn't even been ten minutes since we sat down..."

In her subconscious, shouldn't such a big event as marriage involve going through countless difficulties, or at least going through a whole day of tedious procedures?

Just by stamping a document and signing it, she's handed over her entire life?

Looking at her adorable, dazed expression, as if she were dreaming, Lu Yan couldn't help but chuckle softly.

He shrugged, casually spreading his hands, and followed up on her words, saying, "Well, maybe... it'll be that fast."

Lu Yan reached out and pulled her up from the chair, wrapping his arm around her waist. "What? You think it's not challenging enough now? Honey, you have no way to back out."

"Who... who said I was going back on my word!"

Aemeath's ears tingled at his calling her "wife," and she immediately clutched the marriage certificate to her chest like a precious treasure, proudly raising her chin. "I just felt the efficiency was too high, I was a little caught off guard."

The older woman sitting by the window watched the young couple flirting and teasing each other, oblivious to everyone else, and was amused.

Watching the couple obliviously handing out their love at the window, the staff member inside couldn't help but chuckle and interject, "Young ladies, the marriage registration and stamping process is indeed quick, but the actual life together takes a long time. By the way, turn right when you exit, and walk to the end of the corridor. There's a special certificate-issuing ceremony hall set up by our bureau. You can take photos there and recite vows. Many young people like to go there; it's very ceremonial. Would you two like to experience it too?"

Aemeath heard "certificate awarding ceremony hall" and "photo taking," her eyes lit up instantly. She looked at Lu Yan, her face full of anticipation.

Seeing her eager expression, Lu Yan politely nodded in response to the staff.

"Okay. Thank you for reminding us, we'll head over now."

The two held hands and followed the direction the older sister pointed out, walking towards the corridor on the right.

Throughout the journey, Aemeath's gaze remained fixed on the marriage certificate in her hand.

She touched the national emblem on the cover for a while, then flipped through the pages to look at the photos inside, her smile stretching almost to her ears.

"A-Yan, look at this photo, am I smiling a little too exaggeratedly?"

"No exaggeration, she's very cute and beautiful."

"You were saying you were nervous outside just now? You seemed perfectly calm!"

"That's because you're by my side. I'm not nervous. I can't possibly show weakness in front of my wife, can I?"

The two bickered as they walked briskly to the door of the certificate awarding ceremony hall.

As soon as I stepped through the door, a warm and welcoming atmosphere enveloped me.

This hall is much quieter than the outer service hall.

On the wall directly in front, a solemn national emblem hangs, below which is a large, festive red backdrop.

In front of the backdrop, there is a small wooden oath-taking platform.

At this moment, there were already several other couples in the certificate-issuing hall who had just received their marriage certificates.

One couple was standing on the oath-taking platform, holding their newly received marriage certificates, and asking a volunteer to take a photo.

Aemeath and Lu Yan did not make a sound to disturb them, but simply stood quietly at the door, watching a couple in front of them holding a ceremony on the stage.

The couple looked very young; the woman was wearing a white wedding dress, and the man was wearing a black suit.

Holding their two marriage certificates together, they were loudly reciting their vows under the guidance of the officiant.

When the girl recited "sharing weal and woe, joy and sorrow," her voice suddenly choked up, and tears streamed down her cheeks. Seeing this, the boy immediately and gently wiped away her tears and hugged her tightly.

A warm and enthusiastic round of applause erupted from the audience.

Seeing this scene, Aemeath and Lu Yan, who were standing at the door, gradually stopped joking around, looking at the infectious scene before them.

Aemeath looked at the couple on the stage, her heart began to race again.

She turned her head and looked at Lu Yan her, only to find that his deep golden eyes were fixed on her.

His gaze was no longer filled with the usual teasing and doting, but with a solemnity that seemed to penetrate the soul.

At this moment, their emotions were completely ignited by the surrounding atmosphere.

"A-Yan ~" Aemeath called softly, her voice becoming exceptionally gentle.

"I'm here." Lu Yan didn't say much, but silently reached out and pulled her into his arms.

"Did you feel that those ten minutes just now went by too fast? Now that you see this, you truly feel the reality of getting married?" Lu Yan whispered in her ear.

Aemeath nodded heavily in her arms. "Yes. Looking at them, I thought, we'll be together forever, just like our vows say."

"We will. We absolutely will." Lu Yan's tone was extremely firm.

After the couples in front of them finished taking their photos and walked off the stage with tears of joy on their faces, the certificate issuer smiled and looked at them standing at the door.

"Next couple, please come up on stage."

"Go ahead." A kind auntie next to them waved and handed them two red pledge cards. "Come on, young man and young woman, you're really good-looking, hurry up and go up."

Holding Aemeath's hand, Lu Yan walked steadily up the not-so-high platform, which had witnessed the vows of many couples.

The officiant's voice was solemn and sacred as he announced, "Please, you two, raise your marriage certificate together, face each other, and solemnly recite your marriage vows."

The hall fell completely silent.

Lu Yan turned around and stood face to face with Aemeath.

The two were so close that they could feel each other's warm breath.

He reached out his hands and gently, yet with unwavering determination, grasped Aemeath's hands.

Aemeath raised her head, a thin layer of tears gradually welling up in her eyes, but her gaze remained incredibly bright.

"Aemeath," Lu Yan spoke first.

He looked into her eyes and spoke each word with the solemnity of a declaration to the world, "From now on, in good times and in bad,"

Aemeath sniffed, suppressing the stinging in her eyes, and continued without hesitation, her voice clear and resolute:

"Whether rich or poor,"

Lu Yan gently stroked the back of her hand with his thumb, his eyes slightly reddening. "Whether in health or sickness,"

Aemeath gazed at his face, a radiant smile on her lips, "Whether in youth or old age,"

In the final moment, the two of them took a breath in unison, and then, their two distinct yet perfectly synchronized voices overlapped seamlessly under the dome of the awarding hall:

We've weathered storms together, shared hardships and joys, and become lifelong partners!

The moment the words were spoken, the entire hall seemed to stop turning.

Aemeath finally couldn't hold back her tears, which slid down her cheeks.

Lu Yan didn't speak; he simply pulled the girl who had just made a vow to him under the national emblem into his arms tightly.

He placed a deep kiss on the top of her head.

"Aemeath, please guide me for the rest of my life."

Aemeath buried her face in his chest, nodded vigorously, and replied in a muffled voice:

"A-Yan ~ You'll never get rid of me~"

A professional photographer standing below the stage keenly captured this heartwarming moment, and with a "click," the flash went off.

This kiss, tinged with tears and smiles, and this vow that transcends a lifetime, were perfectly captured on film.

A few minutes later, the two walked out of the certificate-awarding hall hand in hand, holding a freshly printed, beautifully framed photo of themselves together.

In the photo, the two are holding their marriage certificate, smiling at each other in front of a red curtain. There are still tear stains on Aemeath's eyes, but her smile is brighter and more dazzling than ever before.

The way Lu Yan looked at her was as if he were looking at the most precious treasure in the world.

He carefully placed the photo together with the two marriage certificates into a document bag and kept it close to his body.

He turned his head and saw that Aemeath was still somewhat immersed in the oath she had just taken. A smile appeared on his lips, and he reached out and ruffled the top of her hair.

"Alright, all the necessary stamps have been affixed, all the photos have been taken, and all the vows have been sworn. Now that we have the photos, there's nothing else to do at the Civil Affairs Bureau."

Lu Yan took her hand, his voice carrying a uniquely husbandly calmness and certainty, "Let's go, wife, let's get ready to go home."

"Mmm~" Aemeath responded with a long, drawn-out sound. She raised her head, her golden eyes filled with an indescribable happiness and longing.

Aemeath let him lead her out. As they stepped out of the ceremonial hall, the intense solemnity gradually faded, replaced by a light, floating sense of happiness, as if she were on a cloud.

As she walked, she looked down at their clasped hands and couldn't help but sigh again:

"A-Yan... I was so moved I cried during the oath just now, but... walking out now, it still feels like a dream~"

She pursed her lips, as if savoring the memory. "I just got my marriage certificate done at the window in less than ten minutes. But the aftereffects are so strong; after reading the vows, I actually embarrassingly cried..."

"It's not shameful," Lu Yan chuckled, hugging her and shaking her gently. "Those are tears of joy, I love them."

"Ugh!" Aemeath burst into laughter through her tears, giving him a sidelong glance.

The two walked side by side through the lobby and pushed open the heavy glass doors of the Civil Affairs Bureau.

The bright midday sun enveloped the two of them in the warmth and vibrancy of midsummer.

The streets outside were bustling with traffic, and the cicadas chirped incessantly from the trees.

The world continued to operate according to its original laws, but for Aemeath, from the moment she stepped out of that door, she was completely transformed.

She stopped and stood on the steps in front of the Civil Affairs Bureau, taking a deep breath of the summer air.

The next second, she suddenly let go of Lu Yan's hand.

Under Lu Yan's questioning gaze, Aemeath, like a light butterfly, suddenly pounced on Lu Yan.

She wrapped her arms tightly around Lu Yan's neck, lifted her legs off the ground, and used the height of the steps to hang on his broad shoulders.

Lu Yan instinctively stretched out his arms and steadily supported her waist, his eyes full of indulgent and doting smiles. "Be careful, don't fall."

"I won't fall! You'll catch me!"

Aemeath buried her face in Lu Yan's neck and took a deep breath of his familiar scent.

She looked up, and the starlight reflected the brilliant summer sunlight, and also reflected A-Yan, who belonged only to her.

She raised one hand high, pointed to the sky, and with all her might, in a very clear and loud voice, joyfully cheered in the street:

"A-Yan ~ Come home! Come home to our home--!"

The clear, melodious sound pierced through the summer cicadas' chirping and the gentle breeze, echoing for a long time in the square in front of the Civil Affairs Bureau.

Passersby cast envious glances, but the two of them were oblivious to everyone else.

Lu Yan raised his head and kissed Aemeath's lips deeply.

Then Lu Yan picked her up and spun her around a little, laughing heartily in the bright sunshine:

"Okay, let's go home."

"Let's go back to our home!"