1979: My fiancée is a goddess

"Clap clap clap..."

I finished dinner at eight o'clock, but the rain outside the window never stopped.

April nights in Tokyo are still a bit chilly, especially when it's raining.

A chilly wind, carrying the dampness of rain, drifted in through the window, making the few people in the living room, dressed in only light clothing, feel a bit cold.

The three of them quickly cleaned up the dishes and sat on the sofa to digest their food and chat.

The atmosphere was peaceful and harmonious.

Zhao Ruixue and Uesugi Ayana felt cold after being blown by the wind for a while, so they went back to their room and found a fluffy blanket to cover themselves, leaving only their little feet sticking out as they stepped on the coffee table.

Have you decided where to go shopping tomorrow?

Cheng Kaiyan, sitting to the side, felt a chill on her face and was somewhat envious of the two of them, so she casually asked.

"Let's go to Shinjuku or Ginza. We haven't had a proper shopping trip in ages. We definitely need to have a good time tomorrow. We can go look at evening gowns for Ruixue first, and then buy some summer clothes, dresses, sandals, and the like..."

Let's have a buffet lunch, then catch a movie in the afternoon—a really touching new film just came out… In the evening, after dinner, we'll go see the night view for photos, and then soak in a hot spring, how about that?

When Ayana Uesugi started talking about her schedule for tomorrow, she became quite talkative.

"Hmm."

"Hmm."

Zhao Ruixue and Cheng Kaiyan nodded repeatedly. In fact, they didn't care what they did, as long as they could be together.

"Ugh! It's so boring talking to you two... At least give me some advice!"

Ayana Uesugi sighed.

"Don't schedule it so full, okay? Tomorrow's main purpose is to buy clothes for Ruixue; having fun is secondary."

Seeing this, Cheng Kaiyan laughed and said, "This little round-faced girl really loves to play, her little mouth keeps chattering."

"Fine then." Uesugi Ayana was somewhat disheartened when her plan was rejected.

"Let's talk about it tomorrow, there's no rush."

Zhao Ruixue comforted her.

There will be another chance in a few days.

Cheng Kaiyan sighed inwardly as he thought about how he would be leaving Tokyo for Hokkaido in a few days.

To avoid an awkward silence, he continued, "By the way, Ruixue, didn't you say you sent the wrong version of the manuscript you sent me last time? So now..."

"Then, I'll go get it for you to see, and also bring over the 'Love Letter' that Ayana wanted to read."

Zhao Ruixue agreed without hesitation, got up and went back to her room. Ultimately, it was Cheng Kaiyan's tireless efforts and sincerity during this period that moved her.

A moment later, he brought over a stack of manuscripts and a book with a white cover, and handed them to the two of them.

"There's so much Chinese, but I don't think I recognize many characters. Ruixue, why don't you look at them with me?"

When Ayana Uesugi flipped through the book, she saw that it was full of Chinese characters. She could only speak a few words and didn't recognize many characters.

Cheng Kaiyan, standing to the side, felt her heart leap into her throat and subconsciously looked at Zhao Ruixue.

Zhao Ruixue smiled gently at him, shook her head, and indicated that she was alright.

Then she sat back down on the blanket, hugging her knees and leaning against Ayana Uesugi, leaving only her perfectly beautiful little feet exposed to the cold.

Cheng Kaiyan looked at them with a pang of heartache for a while, then slowly reached out and held the pair of snow-white feet tightly in her hands to warm them.

It feels exceptionally cool and delicate to the touch, leaving skin smooth and supple like solidified cream.

The delicate lotus feet, as graceful and pure as their owner, are like snowflakes falling from the sky, making one want to hold them in one's mouth, wondering if they are so cool and delicious, yet also making one worry that they might melt in one's mouth—so fragile and beautiful.

These thoughts flashed through Cheng Kaiyan's mind as she glanced at Zhao Ruixue out of the corner of her eye.

She seemed to have no reaction, only initially pulling her feet back and snuggling close to Ayana Uesugi.

With her round face, Zhao Ruixue held the book, her clear, delicate voice reading sentences and narration from it.

The sound was like a girl's small feet stepping on snow in winter.

It also quietly and softly stepped on Cheng Kaiyan's tender and loving heart, leaving behind small and light footprints.

The numerous footprints gradually converged into a path, leading deeper into the location, its destination unknown.

At this moment, Cheng Kaiyan forgot many things, but her heart was filled with exceptional contentment and joy.

As the beautiful feet in her hands gradually melted and became warm, Cheng Kaiyan let go of them and covered them with a corner of the blanket.

He then picked up the manuscript filled with writing and began to read it.

Only then did he begin to read the story, titled "Salt and Snow".

The general plot is a touching love story.

The story is set in the country, which is quite relevant to Cheng Kaiyan.

He writes stories about Japan while he is in the country, while Zhao Ruixue writes stories about China while she is in Japan.

In the courtyard, there lived a girl named Xue and a boy named Yan. They grew up together since childhood, childhood sweethearts.

The two attended high school together during their teenage years, a time of puberty and the innocent, budding feelings of youth.

This is precisely a time when personal dignity is most sensitive.

Two boys and girls who were once inseparable began to drift apart due to their overly affectionate behavior compared to that of classmates and friends, which drew gossip from parents and teachers. The story is told from the perspective of the girl named Xue.

For a while, the girl and a boy from a wealthy family at school, who was academically outstanding, became quite close because of the teaching assignments given by the teacher. The main task was for the two of them to tutor each other and make up for each other's weaker subjects.

And coincidentally, it was the girl's birthday around that time. Although Yan and Xue were somewhat estranged, Yan specially prepared a birthday gift for the girl, a little clay figure.

It was a Friday afternoon when the boy carefully carried a gift to find the girl, only to discover that she and the other boy had arranged to meet in the woods. The boy had somehow found out the girl's birthday and had prepared a very beautiful doll for her.

This naturally saddened the boy who was peeping from behind the tree. The little clay figure fell to the ground, and he left dejectedly.

However, the girl refused the boy's gift. While passing through the woods, she found a small clay figure left by a tree and took it home.

This misunderstanding, however, caused the two to drift further apart.

One person assumed the other had accepted a gift from someone else, while the other assumed the other hadn't prepared a gift.

Even after graduating from high school, although they developed feelings for each other, they remained cold and distant towards each other.

When a difficult choice arose—whether to be sent to the countryside as an educated youth or to join the army—the two clashed again.

For the first time, the girl tried to be gentle, hoping the boy would be with her, but the boy didn't agree.

The two parted ways.

Although they longed for each other and wrote countless letters, they never sent a single one, only inquiring about the situation indirectly from others.

Later, the girl returned to the city and was admitted to university.

Until one year, the boy died in battle on the front lines during a mission... but the news never came back.

Because the boy's mother had also been worn down by years of illness, the girl prepared blood, took care of the boy's mother, and silently waited for that person.

However, pressure from her parents and societal norms and expectations forced the girl to make a five-year agreement with them.

Many years passed, and no more news came from the front lines.

Until the day the girl was about to get married, a messenger from the front brought news of the boy's death and his belongings.

As she read through those letters, the girl finally understood the weight of this love...

……

Time slowly passed between the clocks in the living room.

Cheng Kaiyan's eyes were slightly red. She put down her book and turned to look at the girl who was curled up in the blanket, blinking her eyes sleepily.

As she watched, Cheng Kaiyan suddenly smiled, raised her hand to tuck a stray strand of hair from the corner of the girl's mouth behind her ear, and said softly:

"Just like before, I get so sleepy when it's time to go to sleep."

"Fortunately."

Zhao Ruixue looked up and saw the moisture and redness in the other person's eyes. Her heart tightened, and she asked worriedly, "Are you... alright?"

"It's alright, it's getting late, it's already 9:40, I'll head back now."

Cheng Kaiyan slowly shook her head and discussed it.

"But... it's still raining outside, why don't we stay here for the night?"

Zhao Ruixue looked out the window and offered her suggestion.

After all, Ayana is at home, so it's not like they're a lone man and woman.

"No need, I'll go back now."

Cheng Kaiyan politely declined, then said, "I'll come over tomorrow morning."

"okay."

Zhao Ruixue didn't press the matter further, as the rain had lessened. Suddenly remembering something, she asked softly, "Then, will there still be...flowers tomorrow?"

"Yes, there are ninety-nine flowers."

Cheng Kaiyan smiled and thought for a moment before continuing, "It's not just flowers; I've also prepared other surprises, but you'll have to wait a few days."

"Um, can you tell me what it is?"

Zhao Ruixue's tone unconsciously became exceptionally soft, with a hint of coquetry: "Okay?"

"We'll know when the time comes."

Cheng Kaiyan remained unmoved. "Alright, I'll be going now. You guys should get some sleep."

"Then I'll take it to you."

Zhao Ruixue carefully got out of the blanket so as not to wake Cai Nai.

Wearing sandals, she followed Cheng Kaiyan to the door, watched him put on his shoes and socks, and then planned to see him downstairs.

However, Cheng Kaiyan stopped her, saying she was worried that she might catch a cold or encounter bad people.

Zhao Ruixue could only lean against the door and watch Cheng Kaiyan leave.

After taking only a few steps, Cheng Kaiyan turned back, hugged her, and breathed heavily.

Then he quickly left.

"She walked away shyly, leaning against the door, turning back to smell the green plums..."

Zhao Ruixue bit her lip and murmured. (End of Chapter)