The next day, Cecilia Adler woke up bright and early.
She deliberately tied her hair into a low ponytail, using a black hairpin to clip back her bangs and reveal her forehead.
When she went out to wash up, she ran into Vivian Lee.
Vivian Lee's gaze paused. Cecilia had such a nice, rounded head shape. Even with her hair simply tied back, it looked neat and tidy. "Why did you comb all your hair back? Wouldn't two braids look much prettier?"
It was the first time Cecilia had worn her bangs up, and she wasn't used to it, feeling inexplicably shy. "I think it makes me look more mature."
Vivian Lee smiled knowingly. "You're so naive, aren't you? Men, no matter their age, all like young women in their late teens. Two braids would suit you best."
Cecilia was displeased and retorted, "If two braids are so great, why don't you wear them?"
Vivian Lee: "..."
Cecilia huffed lightly, went into the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face, and after eating, she took her ID and household register and set off.
Vivian Lee followed.
Along the way, they ran into Ian Quincy.
Cecilia excitedly ran toward him. "Ian, what are you doing here?"
The young woman's smooth, clear forehead was on display, accentuating her exquisite features.
Her eyes were bright and captivating, her lips rosy, and her teeth pearly white.
She was breathtakingly beautiful.
Ian Quincy's eyes lit up, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly. "I came to get you." He took a red envelope from his pocket. "My father asked me to give this to you."
Cecilia was delighted.
'I get a red envelope just for registering our marriage?'
"Please thank your father for me."
"When we see him tonight, you should call him Dad just like I do. He also promised..." Ian stopped mid-sentence when he noticed Vivian Lee. He cut himself off, his expression turning cold. "What's your sister doing here?"
Cecilia said pointedly, "She's accompanying me to register our marriage."
Ian said, "It's not like you can't handle it yourself."
Vivian Lee couldn't understand.
'What on earth is going on?!'
'Why did Ian smile when he saw Cecilia?'
'In my past life, he never once gave me a kind look.'
'There was no marriage registration, no red envelope.'
'Are my memories wrong?'
Her mind was in turmoil. She took a deep breath and said, "Cecilia can't read or write. I'm worried she'll write her name wrong."
Cecilia retorted, "Vivian, I can read and write. The educated youth in the village ran a literacy class. All the young people in our village attended, and the villagers all said I have good handwriting." 'Trying to make me lose face in front of Ian? Not a chance.'
Vivian forced a smile. "Is that so?"
"Yes." Cecilia nodded solemnly.
"That's... great, then," Vivian praised, though very reluctantly.
Cecilia watched the deflated Vivian, a subtle smirk playing on her lips.
They arrived at the registration office.
The main door was closed.
Ian Quincy banged on the main door.
Vivian Lee said, "I guess no one's here?"
The next moment, the main door opened from the inside.
A young man with pleasant features poked his head out. Seeing Ian, his face broke into a wide smile. "You're here early. This must be your wife?" he asked, looking at Vivian Lee, who was standing in front of Cecilia.
Vivian's heart skipped a beat, and she was just about to deny it.
Ian pulled Cecilia in front of the young man. "Open your damn eyes and take a good look. *This* is my wife."
Cecilia: "..." 'He said 'wife' so naturally.'
'Has he been practicing in secret?'
The young man sputtered, "COUGH, COUGH. My apologies, ma'am. I must be blind. Please don't hold it against me."
Cecilia offered a gentle smile. "It's alright."
They entered the main hall.
The young man took out the forms he had prepared and had them fill them out.
Vivian Lee leaned in for a closer look.
'I have to see for myself what Cecilia's handwriting is really like.'
Ian finished his form quickly and looked over at Cecilia.
She wrote slowly, stroke by stroke, but her writing was very neat.
Vivian Lee was also stunned.
'I can't believe Cecilia can actually write.'
'Didn't Father say Cecilia was illiterate?'