Chapter 57 Part 3

Qi Shi'an laughed sheepishly. “Actually, I started trading stocks because it was a quick way to make money for game gear.”

“How expensive was it?” Shen Duoyi was incredulous. “You needed stock profits to buy it?”

“It was an addiction,” Qi Shi'an admitted. “I spent around seven or eight hundred thousand.”

Gazing at the rolling clouds outside, Shen Duoyi felt as if he’d just glimpsed another world. Leaning back against Qi Shi'an’s shoulder, he muttered, “Better than online dating, I guess…”

Qi Shi'an wrapped an arm around him. “Let’s talk about something else. After we visit my professor in Berlin, how about we take a train to Munich?”

Before they’d met in person, their correspondence had started with emails while Qi Shi'an was in Munich. Shen Duoyi rubbed the back of his head against Qi Shi'an’s nose and asked, “Aren’t there a lot of churches there?”

Churches were abundant across Europe. Upon arriving in Berlin, they rested for a day at the hotel before visiting Qi Shi'an’s professor the next morning. The elderly professor had a sharp sense of humor. Despite not understanding German, Shen Duoyi felt at ease during their interactions.

Later, they attended a reunion with Qi Shi'an’s classmates, including several fellow Chinese students. The group, all in the same field, exchanged both complaints and praise about markets in their respective countries.

After wrapping up their visit, they took a train directly to Munich.

“The train station is close to the old town. Shall we walk there?” Qi Shi'an suggested, avoiding eye contact as if hiding something.

Shen Duoyi didn’t notice and said, “I checked online—it looks like we’ll pass a square.”

They strolled down Sudstern Street, with Qi Shi'an acting as a tour guide. “This is Karlplatz, that over there is St. Michael’s Church, and to the left is the Frauenkirche.”

“Where were you when you got my first email?” Shen Duoyi asked.

“That would be back the other way.” Qi Shi'an led him down another street, where the crowd thickened with tourists visiting the Town Hall. “This is Marienplatz. I was standing over there feeding birds.”

Qi Shi'an didn’t mention how thrilled he’d been to receive Shen Duoyi’s email back then.

They walked far, visiting several buildings and snapping photos. Taking a break at a restaurant, they enjoyed the signature dishes. Around 3 p.m., Qi Shi'an checked his watch.

“Duoyi, let’s go somewhere.”

“Where?” Shen Duoyi asked, tossing coins into a fountain.

After another twenty minutes of walking, they arrived at a secluded estate. With few buildings around, it didn’t even feel like they were abroad. Shen Duoyi’s legs were sore, and he slowed down, dragging Qi Shi'an’s arm.

Finally, they stopped in front of a small, weathered church.

“I used to come here on weekends for free bread when I was studying abroad,” Qi Shi'an said. “When the church closed, I was really disappointed.”

“Was the bread that good?” Shen Duoyi teased.

“No,” Qi Shi'an replied, looking at him intently. “It was because I’d thought about bringing my partner here to get married someday.”

Birds hidden in the grass suddenly took flight, echoing the whirlwind rising in Shen Duoyi’s heart. Hand in hand, Qi Shi'an led him into the small church, its long aisle stretching toward the altar.

Standing at the altar was an elderly priest, as though he had been waiting just for them.

Qi Shi'an extended his palm. “There’s no music. I hope you don’t mind.”

Shen Duoyi took his hand, stepping forward with resolve. There were no floral arches, no red carpet, no guests, and no clamor. The old church resonated only with its somber bells, and the kindly priest's face was etched with wrinkles.

Hand in hand, their palms damp with sweat, they walked past the rows of pews.

The priest spoke a sentence Shen Duoyi couldn’t understand, so he looked at Qi Shi'an quizzically. Qi Shi'an explained, “He asked if the wedding ceremony could begin.”

Shen Duoyi’s mouth slightly parted in disbelief. Caught in a daze, he nodded at the priest. Then, as if the gesture wasn’t real enough, he nodded again.

German words echoed through the church, and Qi Shi'an murmured softly, “The first time I saw you, I was just attracted by your appearance. Thank you for looking so perfectly my type.”

Shen Duoyi’s expression remained unchanged. “Are we really… getting married?”

Qi Shi'an continued without pausing. “Later, I clung to you for a long time. It wasn’t exactly scheming, but I guess you could call it a mix of soft and hard tactics. When I left, I didn’t dare hope you’d remember me.”

“I don’t believe in God or destiny, but after ten years of twists and turns, when I met you again, I believed in everything.”

“I’ve offended you with prejudice and pride, and I’ve also felt hurt by your misconceptions about me. But the moment we decided to get along properly, I knew I’d hold onto you for the rest of my life.”

“These past few months, we’ve gone through a lot of challenges. We might face even worse ones in the future, but I’m ready for all of it.”

The priest had already stopped speaking. All Shen Duoyi could hear now was Qi Shi'an’s heartfelt confession, each word striking a chord. Tears brimmed in his eyes, falling as he lowered his gaze. But he smiled. “You’re saying too much.”

Qi Shi'an reached out to wipe Shen Duoyi’s face. “Then you say something short.”

Shen Duoyi spoke directly. “Mr. Qi, will you marry me? The kind where we grow old together.”

He was pulled into a tight embrace, Qi Shi'an holding him as though never wanting to let go. Stroking the back of his head, Qi Shi'an replied, “I will. Will you?”

Shen Duoyi answered, “My biggest regret is not asking for your name back then.”

The bells tolled. The priest handed them two small flowers, which they placed on each other’s chests. Qi Shi'an then retrieved a prepared ring from his pocket, ready to slip it onto Shen Duoyi’s finger.

But Shen Duoyi hesitated. “What should I do?”

Qi Shi'an, alarmed, asked, “What’s wrong? You can’t refuse me.”

Shen Duoyi laughed, pulling out a small box from his pocket. “I prepared something too.”

Opening the box revealed two men’s rings. Qi Shi'an realized what was happening, gripping Shen Duoyi’s nape as he teased, “You even tricked me into buying a watch strap. If I hadn’t brought you here, when were you planning to use these?”

Shen Duoyi confessed honestly, “I hadn’t decided. Maybe I’d sneak one on your finger while you were asleep.”

They lowered their heads, placing the rings on each other’s fingers. Their left ring fingers now gleamed with matching bands. The priest, having completed his role, departed, leaving them alone in the church to kiss gently, careful not to disturb the spirits painted on the walls.

The sky darkened, the moon faint, and the only light around the church came from two dim street lamps. As they left, they paused at the door.

Shen Duoyi picked up a piece of chalk and wrote a message on the small blackboard by the entrance. Qi Shi'an added a line beneath it.

“Mr. Qi, may you have fortune and blessings.”

“Duoyi, may you have peace in all seasons.”

Their fingers dusted with chalk, they held hands as they walked away from the church, heading forward together. The door closed behind them, drawing the curtain on everything that had just transpired.

It began with a fleeting glance, and again with a reunion after parting.

One look, unforgettable for a decade. Relentless pursuit, countless words unspoken, countless moments shared.

“This path is so long.”

“Then let’s walk it slowly.”

A long road ahead, to watch the moon rise and set, and to see the lights extinguished and rekindled.

- The End -

Author's Note:

After two months, the story of Mr. Qi and Duoyi is complete. Writing this has been both exhausting and joyful, and I hope you felt the same while reading. Thank you for accompanying me during these two months. Extras are on the way—I’m just taking a short break first!