Gu Feng put down the photo frame, packed away the memories of the past, and with his household registration in hand, went to the Civil Affairs Bureau to take care of the formalities.
By the time he arrived, Lin Yue's car was already waiting there.
The two entered to register their marriage.
The staff member asked, "Have you brought your photos?"
The two first-timers were momentarily taken aback.
Lin Yue looked at Gu Feng, and Gu Feng couldn't help but laugh and cry, "Don't look at me, this is my first time too."
The staff member told them, "There's a photo studio nearby, not far from here. Just tell them you're there to take marriage certificate photos, they'll know what to do."
Next, inside the photo studio.
The photographer squinted through the lens at Gu Feng and Lin Yue and said, "You two, come a bit closer."
"Sir, can you wrap your arm around your wife's shoulder, and tilt your heads together?"
Gu Feng cast an inquiring glance at Lin Yue.
For the sake of getting the paperwork done quickly, the bashful Lin Yue forced herself to lean against Gu Feng.
Feeling the warmth of the opposite sex for the first time, Lin Yue's heartbeat inexplicably sped up. Although she looked composed in front of the camera, her blushing ears betrayed her inner emotions.
Thankfully, marriage certificate photos are not as complicated as wedding photos.
Soon, they returned to the Civil Affairs Bureau with the photos in hand.
Gu Feng, having been abroad for a long time, curiously asked the staff member, "Is a health check report not required for marriage anymore?"
He remembered that when other elders in the compound got married, they seemed to need to provide a health check report.
The staff member shook their head, "It's no longer mandatory now."
Gu Feng turned to Lin Yue and said, "Then I must also be honest with you, I have a history of post-traumatic stress disorder. To put it simply, I'm mentally ill. It's not too late to back out now if you want."
Lin Yue was taken aback, but considering it was only for a marriage certificate, what did his mental illness matter? They wouldn't live together afterwards.
The two were merely using each other's marital status for the purposes of their household registrations, and their assets were bound by contract.
Without a second thought, she said, "Even if you're impotent, I don't care."
The staff member immediately looked at Lin Yue with newfound respect and then said to Gu Feng, "Sir, it's clear, your girlfriend truly loves you. In today's fast-paced love culture, it's hard to find a woman like that. You have to treat her well."
Gu Feng grinned, "I will, I'll love her dearly."
Then, he looked at Lin Yue with feigned tenderness, eliciting an eye roll from her.
Lin Yue thought to herself that the staff member might have misunderstood.
They probably thought she was at the point of 'loving her boyfriend enough to not care if he's impotent.'
She wanted to explain, but felt it was unnecessary.
The staff member remarked wistfully, "I wish you two never have to come here again."
Lin Yue and Gu Feng gave a sheepish smile.
They were probably going to disappoint the staff member.
After obtaining the certificates, the two left the Civil Affairs Bureau. Lin Yue said, "Alright, our contract is officially in effect; from now on, you're my husband, Lin Yue, but that's all there is to it. For any other necessary considerations, please go home and read the contract carefully."
"Let's add each other on WeChat and exchange phone numbers. If I need your cooperation later on, I'll contact you."
The two exchanged WeChat and phone numbers.
As agreed, Lin Yue tried to transfer 3 million to him, but Gu Feng, having not returned for three years and without his bank card, said, "I didn't bring my card; we can transfer it later. Tell me what I need to do next?"
Lin Yue, "Can you come to Magic Capital tomorrow?"
Gu Feng, "What's up?"
Lin Yue, "My cousin is getting married tomorrow. I figured family and friends would be there, and it would be convenient for them to meet you. I'm worried that if we wait too long, my mom will start arranging other matches for me!"
"Alright," Gu Feng nodded.
After putting on her sunglasses and getting into her car, Lin Yue rolled down the window to remind Gu Feng, "Oh, and send me a photo of you in your military uniform, do you have one?"
Gu Feng took out his phone and immediately sent her a photo of himself from a few years earlier in his Lieutenant Colonel uniform.
After Lin Yue drove away, he opened the marriage certificate to glance at their photo and let out a somewhat absurd chuckle.
It wasn't long before he saw Lin Yue update her WeChat Moments.
She posted two pictures.
One of the marriage certificate, and one of Gu Feng in a military uniform.
That was the uniform of a Lieutenant Colonel.
Lin Yue, not understanding the significance of the lavish military strategem badge and rank on Gu Feng's chest, thought it was just a prop uniform he found to accommodate her needs for the photo.
She composed a short message: [Got married], and posted it.
True to her straightforward style.
After posting on Moments, Lin Yue turned off her phone and took a flight back to Magic Capital.
Upon landing, her childhood friend Liu Yuan picked her up from the airport.
As soon as she got into the car, Liu Yuan teased, "Your Moments is full of heartbroken men, aren't you going to comfort them?"
That's when Lin Yue remembered to check her Moments.
There were already dozens of likes.
Jiang Xue: [Babe, be happy (hug)]
Li Qingyu: [You kept this pretty hidden, huh? When are you going to bring him out?]
Business partner (Miss Zhao): [A military man is reliable, not bad.]
Director Li: [Is this an April Fool's joke? I can't accept this.]
Mr. Zhao: [What the hell, is the rumor true? You actually have a fiancé in Beijing?]
There were blessings, and of course, some sarcastic comments.
Mr. Chu: [Photoshopped, right? I don't believe someone your age could have that rank!]
Guo Zhenming: [A senior colonel after 8 years in service? This...]
Liu Xianhua: [Are you sure that rank isn't Photoshopped? (tears of joy)]
Vice President Li from Huangpu District: [Damn, a senior colonel at your age?]