Chapter Two: "Just Passing By"
While her classmates stood around helplessly, watching Luo Yixia in her drunken stupor, fate intervened just as Song Chengyi happened to call. Without much ado, Song Chengyi ended up taking her back to his nearby apartment.
And so it was that Luo Yixia, dead drunk and utterly unconscious, ended up sleeping with Song Chengyi…
Yes, it was indeed Luo Yixia who slept with Song Chengyi.
Had that been all, she might have been able to deny everything and claim she was too drunk to remember. Who could have predicted that both her own mother and Song Chengyi’s mother would “just happen” to pass by at that very moment? Heaven help her—there was simply no way to talk her way out of this now.
The two families had always been neighbors. After Luo Yixia got drunk, Song Chengyi, for reasons unknown even to himself, kindly came to pick her up and even called her mother. He’d said something about it being too late, that Luo Yixia should stay at his place for the night, and he would bring her home the next day.
Her mother, who had been eager to be free of her troublesome daughter, suddenly remembered her first thing in the morning. She ran into Song Chengyi’s mother, who was on her way to check on her son. United by their concerns, the two mothers came straight over and let themselves into Song Chengyi’s apartment with a spare key…
One can only imagine the scene: the two of them lying in the same bed, a sight impossible to explain away no matter how hard they tried.
In truth, Luo Yixia couldn’t recall a thing that had happened. According to Song Chengyi, “Everything that could have happened, did happen.”
He even looked at her with a face full of grievance.
Luo Yixia was convinced she must have forced herself on Song Chengyi, that she’d resorted to some underhanded means. After all, she’d harbored a crush on him since middle school. With such a handsome man before her, who could guarantee they’d hold themselves back—especially after drinking?
And so, muddled and without resistance, they ended up registering their marriage.
They had already spent two days taking wedding photos, but both mothers insisted that marriage was a once-in-a-lifetime event and must not be taken lightly. They demanded even more pictures, so even after registering, they had to continue with the photo sessions.
Luo Yixia had no say in any of it.
After another exhausting day of photos, without even a proper lunch, Luo Yixia finally reached her limit. Her whole body relaxed into Song Chengyi’s arms, giving him exaggerated winks.
Song Chengyi caught on immediately. “Mom, Xiaxia’s had a long day. Let’s call it a day.”
The two mothers agreed at once and called an end to the session, ushering everyone home for dinner.
The meal consisted entirely of the two sets of parents discussing wedding plans back and forth. Luo Yixia ate quietly, while Song Chengyi kept piling food into her bowl. She did her best to fade into the background.
By the end of dinner, the final decision was unexpectedly made: the wedding would be held next month, before Luo Yixia’s new semester began.
Luo Yixia slammed the table and stood up. “No way.”
Her mother shot her a glance. “And why not?”
Luo Yixia immediately softened, smiling brightly. “Mom, I’m only twenty, just started college. There’s no rush for the wedding. Let’s wait until after I graduate.”
A deathly silence fell over the table—an awkward, suffocating quiet.
The silence unnerved Luo Yixia, making her knees weak and her confidence wane.
In the end, it was Song Chengyi who came to her rescue. “I also think Xiaxia’s too young. The wedding can wait. Besides, we already have the marriage certificate. There’s no need to hurry.”
And just like that, everyone agreed. Honestly, it was as if her own words had been completely ignored. She finally realized she had no say in the matter at all.