MAPF Chapter 76

Chapter 76 Anniversary: Island, Rings, Vows…

Time flies quickly, and another harsh winter arrives.

It’s almost Xie Shiwei and He Qin’s first wedding anniversary.

Xie Shiwei isn’t someone who places much importance on rituals. He had a tough life growing up, where having enough to eat and wear and making a living were the top priorities. He rarely even celebrated his birthday, let alone any anniversaries.

Therefore, Xie Shiwei, now a busy regional manager at Xie Shi Group, completely misses the significance of their upcoming wedding anniversary.

He Qin is also busy, but he started looking forward to this day a month in advance, counting down the days on the calendar.

However, he realizes that Xie Shiwei seems completely unaware of the approaching date.

After several hints and indirect proddings, He Qin finally confirms that he’s the only one counting down.

His busy husband, Xie Shiwei, only remembers that he has to attend a charity event and give two journalist interviews next week, completely ignoring the important date of their wedding and first meeting.

He Qin feels very hurt.

But he also loves this side of Xie Shiwei. He really loves it.

That evening, He Qin watches his husband poring over a computer in the study. Helpless, he walks over, opens the calendar on his phone, and highlights their wedding anniversary date, placing the phone in front of Xie Shiwei’s laptop screen: “Shiwei, think hard about it again? You really don’t remember this date?”

Xie Shiwei had just finished showering and was studying Xie Shi Group’s year-end white paper in his bathrobe. However, the webpage in front of him is suddenly blocked by He Qin’s triple-fold large-screen phone, which displays an enlarged date.

He stares at the numbers for a long time, confused: “Why have you been asking such strange questions lately? Just say what’s on your mind, I’m very busy… hey!”

He Qin leans down and kisses him.

He Qin’s kiss is fierce and urgent. Xie Shiwei tilts his head back to receive it, his mouth completely invaded by He Qin, making it difficult to breathe. Tears are forced out of him, and he angrily, yet also playfully, hits He Qin’s chest. However, He Qin has no intention of letting go. Instead, his large hand opens Xie Shiwei’s bathrobe and slides onto his waist, giving the thin flesh a hard pinch.

Xie Shiwei cries out in pain.

Only then does He Qin release him, whispering, “This is your punishment for forgetting our wedding anniversary.”

Xie Shiwei’s eyes widen.

Wedding anniversary?

He looks at the phone screen again.

January 23rd, an ordinary date. He had actually forgotten. Or rather, he had never remembered it.

But Xie Shiwei knows the significance of this date.

This day isn’t just their wedding anniversary; it’s also the day he came to this world and met He Qin.

At that moment, he feels a strange sense of emotion.

In this world, he also has a day worth commemorating.

“I’m sorry,” Xie Shiwei obediently closes the computer, actively wraps his arms around He Qin’s neck, and kisses him on the cheek. “I remembered it, I won’t forget it again.”

“I have a surprise prepared for you, but it requires you to take ten days of annual leave.”

Xie Shiwei thinks about it and decides to finish his work for next week ahead of time. Such a memorable day should not be spent working.

That night, Xie Shiwei is very touched and is especially unrestrained in bed, radiating an unusual passion. His slender, pale legs are bent and twisted by He Qin, sometimes wrapped around his waist, sometimes draped over his arm, compliant and yielding, making He Qin’s scalp tingle.

.

Soon, everything is arranged, and He Qin unveils the surprise.

He says he’s taking Xie Shiwei to Tahiti for their honeymoon.

Their passports and visas had already been prepared by the original owner of the body; all that was needed were plane tickets, and they could leave immediately.

Xie Shiwei is immediately overjoyed.

In the past few months, in order to take over the company as soon as possible and put Xie Tian’an at ease, and also because of his inherent sense of responsibility, he had wholeheartedly dedicated himself to his career, working harder than a donkey pulling a millstone. It was no different from working for a boss before, except his salary was dozens of times higher, which was fitting for his efforts.

As a wealthy heir, he hadn’t even spent money to enjoy life properly!

Was that right?

.

Xie Shiwei takes his annual leave, He Qin prepares everything, and they depart.

They fly from China to Tokyo for a transfer, and after a long journey, land in Papeete, the capital of Tahiti.

Xie Shiwei is very excited, looking around in the car on the way to the hotel, seemingly unaffected by the fatigue of the journey.

He Qin watches him from the side, smiling.

If Xie Shiwei is happy, he is also happy.

They arrive in the local evening and first check into the most expensive suite in a top-notch hotel to adjust to the time difference, then take a Tahiti Air flight to Bora Bora Island tomorrow.

Xie Shiwei’s heart is already floating on that beautiful island, but the journey had been tiring, and he falls asleep as soon as he lies on the bed, sleeping peacefully.

.

The moment they finally set foot on the island, it’s midday.

The sunlight pours down on the sea, which transitions from light blue to dark blue. The sea is sparkling, and the fresh scent of seawater drifts in the air. Coconut and palm trees sway in the wind, and the magnificent volcanic outline in the center of the island is clear, like an oil painting.

Xie Shiwei takes a deep breath and runs to a beautiful coconut tree, asking He Qin to take a photo of him in a cliché manner.

But He Qin has already been taking pictures. His phone is full of various photos of Xie Shiwei since they got on the plane.

And he continues to take pictures now.

Xie Shiwei is wearing a simple white short-sleeved shirt and white trousers, holding up a peace sign.

He doesn’t need to dress up deliberately to look good.

The two of them take the hotel shuttle to their accommodation.

He Qin is used to planning and arranges the itinerary with a balance of activity and rest, making it rich but not too tiring. There is enough time to lie in the overwater bungalow and watch the lagoon, look at the starry sky, and sunbathe on the private beach.

In just a few days, Xie Shiwei follows He Qin, experiencing all aspects of island tourism.

They visit the Vaitea Lagoon Conservation Area to see marine flora and fauna, take a luxury yacht to tour the lagoon, admire the volcano, coral reefs, and tropical fish, and take a four-wheel-drive vehicle to the island’s inner primeval forest to see ancient civilization relics.

Snorkeling, surfing, spa treatments, picnics.

Every second of this trip is novel for Xie Shiwei. There are magnificent landscapes he has never seen, novel things he has never experienced, and authentic French meals he has never eaten before.

On the last day, He Qin takes Xie Shiwei to a deserted private island.

This island was bought by a French artist, and it has a small but exquisite church on it.

The white building stands among the island’s dense woods, very beautiful.

They walk into the church.

Inside the church, a huge brown four-faced clock hangs from the top in the center, and the second hand makes a ticking sound as it moves.

He Qin pulls Xie Shiwei to stand under the clock and then takes out two small boxes from his pocket, placing one in Xie Shiwei’s palm.

“Shiwei, I remember you said that your ideal wedding is a travel wedding.”

Xie Shiwei’s heart pounds. He thought He Qin was just taking him on a honeymoon. But it looks like it’s more than just a honeymoon. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have asked him to take off his old ring before coming.

A travel wedding was one of Xie Shiwei’s past wishes.

He Qin has always remembered.

“Actually, I brought you here for more than just a honeymoon.” He Qin looks at Xie Shiwei tenderly. “I want to give you a real wedding that belongs only to the two of us, not the wedding you accidentally participated in before.”

Xie Shiwei remembers his and He Qin’s wedding a year ago. They both disliked each other and couldn’t wait to kick each other away on the spot.

He can’t help but smile, but he also feels a little like crying. At that time, he never would have imagined that He Qin would be the person who would spend the rest of his life with him.

He Qin opens the velvet ring box.

Inside lies a sparkling diamond ring. The silver surrounding the diamond is shaped like a magnolia flower.

The magnolia tree that used to be in front of Xie Shiwei’s house.

“You like both magnolias and roses, but I guess magnolias have more meaning to you, so I had this set of rings custom-made. You didn’t pick out the original wedding ring either, so let’s put it away from now on.”

At this time, the clock strikes one in the afternoon.

He Qin signals Xie Shiwei to exchange rings with him.

“Converting this time to domestic time is the moment we exchange rings.” He Qin gently pushes the ring onto Xie Shiwei’s ring finger.

Xie Shiwei does the same, his nose unbearably sore, as if he’s about to cry immediately.

“You didn’t choose the ring back then, and the vows I said to you were also insincere.”

Beneath He Qin’s calm words is a constant stream of love, like the tide on the shore.

He raises Xie Shiwei’s beautiful hand, kisses the back of it, and says softly, “Shiwei, I love you. I’m so happy to have met you. With me here, you won’t suffer any more grievances. You will only be happier every day than yesterday.”

This time, Xie Shiwei really cries.

These are the most moving words he has ever heard He Qin say.

He throws himself into He Qin’s arms, hugging him tightly, wiping all his tears on his shirt, and then kisses him, sobbing.

The bells ring, and birds outside the window flap their wings.

Sunlight falls through the window onto them, embracing in the church.

In this vast world, in a mismatched spacetime, they have grasped each other’s hands, for life.