Marriage at Thirty - Chapter 15

Fu Linling returned that same evening. Although the conference had concluded and several top figures were organizing a dinner, she excused herself, citing urgent family matters, and took the earliest flight back.

Upon entering the door, she was astonished by the sight before her.

A heap of unpacked boxes lay open, filled with all kinds of things. Clothes puffed out, and a box full of dolls rested on top.

She tiptoed through the narrow gaps into the living room and continued inside, finally finding Lin Ran in the study.

Lin Ran was wearing casual loungewear, her hair clipped up haphazardly with some loose strands framing her cheeks.

“You’re back,” Lin Ran turned to look at her, then turned back, staring at the study in thought. “I’m figuring out where to put my work desk.”

The study had one wall entirely dedicated to bookshelves. Next to it was a desk with a computer, likely Fu Linling’s work area.

If Lin Ran put her desk on the opposite side, it would block Fu Linling’s movement, and the position was backlit, which wasn’t suitable for painting.

The best location was actually Fu Linling’s work area.

“Put it here,” Fu Linling walked forward and tapped the computer desk.

“But what about you?”

“I rarely work in the office at home. Even if I do, I can work in the living room, bedroom, or balcony. I’m not restricted, and you need a good workspace more than I do,” Fu Linling said.

“That’s so kind of you,” Lin Ran looked at her gratefully.

“We’re family. Don’t be so polite.”

Lin Ran smiled: “You’re adapting quickly.”

I could adapt even faster, Fu Linling thought to herself.

They moved her computer to the living room, setting it temporarily on the coffee table, and then arranged Lin Ran’s work desk. The previously empty desktop quickly looked crowded, now covered with tools and interesting decorations.

Lin Ran heard a “gurgle” sound and looked at Fu Linling: “Did you not eat?”

“Mm. Did you?”

“I ate already. You should go eat. I’ll take care of this,” Lin Ran said.

“Okay.”

A moment later, Lin Ran heard the sound of the range hood. She walked over to the kitchen to take a look and saw Fu Linling wearing an apron and holding a wok ladle. She was surprised: “You cook for yourself?”

“Mm.”

“You can cook?!”

“Yes. Do you want to eat a bit more?” Fu Linling asked.

“I just finished eating; I’m not hungry yet,” Lin Ran had seen her holding medical instruments, but she’d never seen her holding a spatula. She was momentarily incredulous and watched her in a trance.

“When did you learn to cook?”

“When I was little. When my parents were busy, they didn’t have time to cook, so I made my own food,” Fu Linling said.

“That’s incredible. If no one cooks, I usually just eat out.”

“Eating out isn’t clean, and it’s expensive.”

Lin Ran laughed: “You’re very thrifty.”

“Isn’t life just about managing day-to-day?”

“Hmm, that’s true.”

Soon, a plate of broccoli and stir-fried beef was ready. Lin Ran was organizing things in the living room. Smelling the aroma, she went over to look and sniffed deeply: “Smells amazing.”

“Want some?” Fu Linling offered her a pair of chopsticks.

“Just a few bites.” Lin Ran took an empty bowl, tried a bite of broccoli, then a piece of beef, nodding repeatedly. “The cooking is excellent.”

Fu Linling smiled: “I usually cook at home. You won’t have to eat out anymore.”

“What if you’re very busy?” Lin Ran asked.

“Then I’ll try to finish my work earlier.”

Lin Ran had expected her to say that if she were busy, Lin Ran could eat out or order takeout. She hadn’t expected the reply to be to finish work earlier. She felt a little warmth inside and teased: “Why? Are you hurrying home because you have a treasure at home?”

Fu Linling looked up, picked up a piece of broccoli, looked at Lin Ran again before eating it, and then said: “Yes.”

Lin Ran was delighted, very satisfied with her cooperation.

She only intended to have a couple of bites, but before she knew it, Lin Ran had helped herself to half a bowl of rice. Feeling full afterward, she realized it was a perfect time to pack things up and aid digestion.

Fu Linling washed the dishes and returned to the study to help Lin Ran organize the books she had brought over, while Lin Ran went to sort her clothes.

The bookshelf was already full. Fu Linling took a measuring tape to measure the wall and ordered another bookshelf online. She temporarily stacked the comics in a corner and unintentionally came across the yearbook, flipping through it.

Lin Ran’s popularity was evident.

Many people had written lengthy messages, praising her, and several had outright confessed—their language so direct and cliché that it made Fu Linling question their intelligence.

She closed the yearbook and placed it on the top shelf of the original bookcase.

Around ten o’clock was Fu Linling’s usual shower time. She was typically in bed by 10:30 PM, read for a bit, and fell asleep by 11:00 PM.

But tonight was delayed because Lin Ran was still unpacking. Fu Linling tried to gently rush her: “It’s getting late. Let’s go to bed early and finish packing tomorrow.”

“Alright.” Lin Ran was indeed a little tired.

Fu Linling took a shower first, then stared blankly at the bed in the bedroom.

The consensus they reached was to genuinely be married, so sleeping together should also be part of that, right?

Just thinking about it made Fu Linling’s face flush.

She took a set of clean bedding and put it on the bed in the guest bedroom, deciding to leave the choice to Lin Ran.

“Where’s the hairdryer?” Lin Ran called out.

Fu Linling went to the bathroom, took the hairdryer from the cabinet next to the sink, and started to speak, but her voice was immediately drowned out by the noise of the hairdryer.

A moment later, Lin Ran walked toward the bedroom, rubbing her damp hair. She stood at the main bedroom doorway, saw Fu Linling lying on the bed, and asked: “Where do I sleep?”

“I just changed the sheets in the guest room—”

“OK, got it. I’ll head over there then,” Lin Ran said and immediately turned to the guest room.

Fu Linling stretched out her hand in vain—I wasn’t finished talking!

I just changed the sheets in the guest room, but you can sleep wherever you like!

However, since the other person agreed so quickly, she must definitely prefer sleeping in the guest room.

It’s fine, it’s fine. Sleeping together now would be awkward anyway. She might even lose sleep and affect her work tomorrow.

We’ll adapt slowly.

She got up and went to the guest room. Lin Ran was applying face cream. Hearing the movement, she looked up: “Something else?”

Fu Linling looked at her. Lin Ran was wearing a pink slip dress; her skin was excessively white, and a subtle line of desire was faintly tempting the deepest, most hidden dark thoughts in Fu Linling’s heart.

She turned to look at her reflection on the window and said: “I have work tomorrow. You can get up at 8:30 AM, and we can eat breakfast together.”

“8:30 AM?” Lin Ran shook her head in alarm. “I don’t eat breakfast. Don’t worry about me.”

“Alright then. Good night.”

“Mm, good night.”

Fu Linling still struggled with insomnia for a while. In the dark, she heard a rustling sound outside. She got up curiously to check and saw the light still on in the living room.

“Why are you still up?”

“Did I wake you?” Lin Ran was sitting on the sofa with a pile of candy in front of her. She gave an embarrassed smile. “It’s still a bit early. I couldn’t sleep, so I got up to find something to do.”

“What are you doing?” Fu Linling noticed she was holding a red box and putting candy inside.

“Wedding candy! You have work tomorrow, don’t you? Bring some to share with your colleagues.”

Fu Linling’s heart felt as if something had struck it, then tumbled into the clouds, floating beyond control.

She crouched down and looked up at Lin Ran: “I feel like I’m dreaming.”

“What kind of dream?” Lin Ran focused on filling the box with candy.

“I’m actually married to Lin Ran, my classmate.”

Lin Ran chuckled, unwrapped a piece of candy, and put it into her mouth: “You’re right. Eighteen-year-old me never would have thought I’d end up marrying the quietest top student in the class either.”