Names mentioned in this chapter :

-苏芮 (sù ruì) – Su Rui, our female protagonist

-苏小芮(sù xiǎo ruì)- Su Xiao Rui, which translates to Su little Rui.

-顾煜城 (gù yù chéng)- Gu Yu Cheng, the male lead

-顾安安(gù ān’ān)- Gu An An, Gu Yan Rui’s nickname.

-唐笑(táng xiào) – Tang Xiao, Su Rui’s friend and daughter of the chairman of Tang Jing Group

-周子渊(zhōu zǐ yuān)- Zhou Zi Yuan, the young chairman of the Zhou Company

-刘玲(Liú líng)- Liu Ling, Su Rui’s university roommate

Unedited

University B’s graduation ceremony was held on July 7th.

Due to a large number of graduates, the graduation ceremony was split into two sessions, in the morning and the afternoon. It was the former for Su Rui’s faculty, which was the morning of the 7th.

Early in the morning, the number of people at the graduation venue was already nearly double the usual number.

Most of them were parents who specially came for their child that studied in the management faculty.

Nevertheless, the corners of Su Rui’s mouth twitched uncontrollably when she saw the four individuals, her parents and parents-in-law. The equipment they brought was sufficient for a family to go on a hike.

She silently sighed and said inwardly, ‘How over the top this is.’. Then, she hurriedly went to help the two mothers carry the bags in their hands. At the same time, she carried Gu An An.

After giving Gu An An a kiss on his cheek, Su Rui looked at Mother Su and Mother Gu and couldn’t help but ask, “Mum, what did you bring?”

She could understand the bag of Gu An An’s necessities, but what about the rest?

“Most of them are clothes and accessories that we will change into later, as well as our little Yan Rui’s,” Mother Su said.

With a smile on her face, Mother Su looked at her daughter and added, “We’ll take a few pictures of you during the graduation ceremony. Then, after the ceremony, we’ll take a few more.”

Mother Gu chimed in, “That’s right. You only graduate from university once, so take more photos to keep as memories for the future.”

What she regretted most was that when Gu Yu Cheng graduated, she hadn’t been able to take any photos to remember it by.

The photos she has now in Gu Yu Cheng’s album are a handful of pictures of him shaking hands and receiving his certificate, as well as a photo of him speaking as a representative of the outstanding graduates.

This time, Mother Gu treated this as a way to make up for her regret.

The only regrettable thing is Gu Yu Cheng. He said he is busy at work!

Hearing the two ladies’ words, Su Rui said to herself, ‘I see.’

Su Rui felt that the most exaggerated was Father Gu.

Instead of sailing and scouring the world for antiques and paintings, he recently became obsessed with photography.

Looking at Father Gu’s “long guns” and the two large bags of cameras carried by the driver behind him, Su Rui wondered if Father Gu had brought all his belongings with him.

“Then let’s head to the ceremony venue first.” Su Rui said.

While they were walking, Su Rui swept her gaze over those bags again.

She had a strong premonition that many silk scarves, sunglasses and sun hats were inside these few bags.

……

After settling the four parents and her own son in the ceremony venue, Su Rui returned to their faculty area.

The first thing she did was to take a picture of her current location and selfie. Then, she sent it to Gu Yu Cheng.

“What are you doing?”

Upon hearing this, Su Rui turned her head and saw Tang Xiao who came from the direction of the Music Faculty.

Looking at Tang Xiao, who was squeezing over, Su Rui raised her eyebrows and asked.”Tang Xiao, why did you come to our faculty again?”

“Tch. Tch. Su Xiao Rui, this is not the right attitude.” Tang Xiao glared at Su Rui and continued, “Our two faculties are at opposite ends. I have scaled mountains and ford rivers to squeeze through the crowds to accompany you. It’s fine if you are not touched, but you actually turn your back on me!”

“I’m touched. I’m very touched. Quickly sit down.” Su Rui pulled Tang Xiao to sit on the chair next to her.

This chick with a pink-collared simply stood out too much just by standing inside the group of grey-collared.

“By the way, what were you doing?”

Su Rui answered, “Nothing, I was sending a picture of the scene to Gu Yu Cheng.”

She unlocked her phone again to check.

The conversation page still contained the two photos she had sent. Unexpectedly, Gu Yu Cheng didn’t reply to her. It seems like he was really busy.

Tang Xiao snorted lightly and said, “Hmph. Hmph. Your Chairman Gu even dares to be absent in his wife’s graduation ceremony. I’m leaving a bad review without explaining myself.”

However, as she thought about how Gu Yu Cheng was probably busy secretly preparing for their wedding recently, Tang Xiao silently took that bad review back in her heart.

“Come on, let’s take a picture together!”

“Liu Ling, if you continue applying the blush of yours, it is going to turn as red as a plateau!” Tang Xiao pulled Liu Ling, who was still busy with her make-up, over again. “Hurry, let’s take a picture first.”

The three women changed expressions and filters in their seats, and only when the “graduation ceremony begins” was heard did they put their phones away.

“What the frick! This outfit and this aura are amazing!” Tang Xiao said with a gleam in her eyes as she stared at the headmaster and the deans of the various faculties dressed to the nines on stage.

Tang Xiao pulled Su Rui and said, “This red outfit is so bold. I want to wear it too.”

Liu Ling said casually, “You can do that. You can wear it after you study for your PhD, become an associate professor and then a professor. Finally, after you’ve been assessed as an academician and become a principal.”

“Pfft, forget it then. It would be better for me to support my husband and raise children. I will walk on the path of studying and such in my next life,” Tang Xiao said with a shrug.

Su Rui laughed and remained silent.

She also experienced a graduation ceremony before her transmigration.

At that time, she also had the same “I want to wear a bold outfit.” idea as Tang Xiao.

The graduation ceremony at University B was much more impressive than Su Rui’s graduation ceremony at that ordinary university.

However, the overall process is similar.

It was all about the school song, the principal’s speech, the outstanding graduates’ representative’s speech and such…

Nearing the end of the speech, the three women started to be distracted.

Liu Ling was busy applying her blush, Su Rui was busy posting on Moments,[1] and Tang Xiao… was busy snatching red packets in the class group.

It wasn’t until the graduate representative finished his speech that the host’s voice sounded again.

“Next, we will have an outstanding alumnus of University B, Gu Company’s…”

When Su Rui heard the word ‘Gu’, it immediately captured her attention.

After she heard the words “Gu Company’s Chairman, Gu Yu Cheng”, she raised her head in surprise and quickly looked in the direction of the podium.

“Gu Yu Cheng?! Didn’t he say he couldn’t come?” Tang Xiao also asked with a surprised expression.

Su Rui: I want to know too.

“It can’t be that your Chairman Gu is trying to surprise you in this way, would he?”

Su Rui: It’s possible.

When Su Rui recalled how someone told her with a sincere and apologetic expression that he had to attend to the company’s matters, she instantly didn’t know whether to cry or laugh.

Isn’t this surprise a bit too deliberate? Su Rui inwardly complained.

However, it was undeniable that, at this moment, Su Rui’s heart raced uncontrollably, and her gaze was filled with joy as she looked at the man steadily walking up to the podium.

The principal and dean were dressed to the nines for today’s graduation ceremony, but Gu Yu Cheng was equally good.

In Su Rui’s view, the degree of pomp was comparable to that of their engagement party.

The difference was that Gu Yu Cheng wore a modified Zhongshan suit[2] at the engagement party, whereas today, Gu Yu Cheng was wearing an extremely dashing suit.

Gu Yu Cheng’s appearance caused quite a stir in the audience.

Once everyone quietened down, Gu Yu Cheng began his speech.

His calm and composed tone reminded Su Rui of how this man spoke two years ago at the opening ceremony.

The only difference was that Gu Yu Cheng had no expression other than calmness on his face when he spoke then, whereas today, this man was wearing a faint smile.

If one were to look closely, one could even catch a hint of unexpected nervousness in Gu Yu Cheng’s expression at this moment.

Gu Yu Cheng ended his speech succinctly, “… I don’t know if you are tired of leading a life of strenuous studies in the past ten years or so. But after today, you will enter into a new chapter, and I hope everyone will enjoy it. These are the words I would like to say to everyone here.” After a pause, he continued, “And I would like to say the following words to just one person.”

As soon as Gu Yu Cheng said this, an uproar instantly broke out in the room.

Tang Xiao tugged at Su Rui’s arm and said, “I feel like something’s going to happen.”

God, why does she think that Gu Yu Cheng is going to confess his love to Su Rui in front of everyone?

“I think so too,” Su Rui replied, her expression becoming tense.

It may seem that she appears pretty calm now. But, in fact, it is because she is too nervous to even make any facial expressions.

In fact, Su Rui’s heart is in her throat at this very moment.

Gu Yu Cheng found Su Rui in the crowd with unmistakable precision, looked at her and slowly spoke, “My wife, Su Rui.”

“We met two years and a month ago. Two years ago, on August 12th, we had our first misunderstanding. During that time, I contacted you in many clumsy ways and then, you blocked me.”

When Gu Yu Cheng said this, someone in the venue roared with laughter.

Yet, they couldn’t help but want to hear what happened next.

“Two years ago, on August 31st, it was the day your third year of university began…”

“It was our first date two years on September 16th.”

……

Gu Yu Cheng slowly spoke about the two of them meeting, dating, getting engaged, obtaining their marriage certificate, and then Gu An An’s arrival.

The whole room fell silent as Gu Yu Cheng spoke of these.

Or rather, it was unexpected.

Everyone didn’t expect that the man, who was eloquently and calmly sharing his social experiences and philosophy of life with them on the lectern a minute ago, would be so… Er… relatable when talking about his relationship experiences?

And what surprised the crowd the most was the relationship and marriage between Su Rui and Gu Yu Cheng.

There was no involvement of interests, marriage for commercial benefits, and the so-called rich families’ dog blood[3] as previously discussed online.

It was just simply a relationship and marriage.

Simple, yet sweet.

“Before I met you, love, marriage and family were only a vague concept to me. But, thanks to you, I have a beautiful wife and family. This allowed me to experience the responsibility of being a husband and the joy of being a father… And I seem to still owe you a wedding.”

“If I understand correctly, Gu Yu Cheng… This… This… This is a marriage proposal?!” Tang Xiao said with wide eyes.

It is not a confession but a marriage proposal!

She was aware that Gu Yu Cheng was planning a wedding.

Unfortunately, Zhou Zi Yuan was tight-lipped, and she couldn’t get any more details out of him, no matter how she tried.

Tang Xiao did not know whether this marriage proposal was in Gu Yu Cheng’s plans or not.

However, he proposed at the graduation ceremony.

This dog food[4] is way too much!

She wants that too!

At this moment, not only was Tang Xiao shocked, but the parents of both sides sitting in the viewing area were also astonished.

“Gu Yu Cheng actually pulled a stunt like this. He didn’t even tell us about this. Rui Rui is probably going to be startled.” Mother Gu spoke in a querulous tone, but a smile of relief and surprise on her face.

“Indeed.” Mother Su also agreed with her as she covered her mouth.

“But he’s also really too attentive,” Mother Su added. As she spoke of this, she did not forget to glance at her husband beside her.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Didn’t I also propose to you at first?” Father Su said.

“When? How come I’m unaware of that?”

“Just back then, after the Mid-Autumn Festival, when I went to your house for the first time.”

Upon hearing Father Su’s response, Mother Su carefully recalled it for a while. Then, she rolled her eyes unceremoniously in response.

“You call that a marriage proposal by just carrying a box of fruits and white wine to my house?”

“Isn’t that the case during our days?” Father Su retorted.

“That can only mean that different times have different types of romance.”

Mother Su looked disdainfully at Father Su. Then, she turned her attention to the direction of Gu Yu Cheng and Su Rui in the middle of the venue below.

At this moment, in the venue, Gu Yu Cheng had already walked up to Su Rui.

The entire venue was abuzz with excitement when Gu Yu Cheng knelt down on one knee.

“Mrs Gu, are you willing to marry me?”

Looking at the man in front of her, Su Rui couldn’t help but laugh, “Pfft.”

“Are you stupid? You’ve already called me Mrs Gu, and you’re still asking if I’m willing to marry you?” Su Rui bent down and kissed Gu Yu Cheng’s lips.

Su Rui had thought a lot in her previous life when her life was coming to an end.

If she could, she would like to find someone to share her joy with when she is happy, listen to her when she is perplexed, give her something to lean on when she is tired, and tell her that everything would pass. The two of them would cry, laugh, go through hard times, be happy, mature and grow old together.

“Gu Yu Cheng, I’m so glad I met you.”

(End of the main story)

[1] 朋友圈[Péngyouquān]- Moments (social networking function of smartphone app WeChat.) The Chinese translation of moment is known as ‘Friends’ circle’, which means users can share and get access to accepted WeChat friends’ information, creating an intimate and private communicating circle within the users’ choice of close friends.

[2] 中山装 (Zhōngshān zhuāng) / Mao suit: it’s a suit named after the republican leader Sun Yat-sen. It is a form of national dress with distinct political overtones. Credit: Wikipedia

[3] 狗血[gǒuxiě]- dog blood/unbelievable/exaggerated/Melodramatic. Firstly, it could be describing trite and highly predictable movie or Tv drama scenes. Secondly, it could be relating to ludicrously unrealistic movie or TV drama scenes. Thirdly, it could relate to or characterised by schmaltz, dramatised sentimentalism, as in TV shows and movies. Lastly, it may be relating to life events that are ridiculous or infuriating.

[4] 狗粮(gǒuliáng)- Dog food. An internet slang which means public display of affection which is a term used by singles.