TIMO - Chapter 75

Chapter 75

I love you.

This phrase seemed to carry much more weight than "I like you."

That was why Fu Zhao hadn't said it, even during her earlier confession. She always felt it was inappropriate to toss those words around casually.

But if she were to say them with true sincerity, she didn't know if it would burden the person who heard them.

So she had never said it before.

And so, after saying it, she started to feel flustered all over again. Although letting the words out had been much simpler than she had imagined.

"Ding-dong-"

"Dear passengers, you have arrived at Haichuan City on RT Planet..."

An announcement came over the starship's broadcast system, perfectly breaking the silence that had followed her words.

Fu Zhao secretly breathed a sigh of relief. While gathering her things, she tried to change the subject, her gaze flitting everywhere but at Shi Nan. "I... uh... ahem..."

"We should... get going."

After finally stammering out a complete sentence, she found herself at a loss, holding her luggage. Dejectedly, she sat back down in her seat, her back ramrod straight, her face burning hot.

"I... just suddenly felt like saying it."

"If... if..." She couldn't continue, taking a breath before finishing the sentence. "If it feels like a burden to you, just... just pretend I never said it."

Only after she finished did she feel the heat in the air begin to subside a little.

A soft sigh came from beside her, brushing against her earlobe.

Then came the soft, warm touch on her wrist. Slender, fair fingers covered it, pulling her hand over to rest on her lap. Their fingers intertwined, tips brushing gently against each other.

The warmth from her palm seemed to spread to her face.

"Why should I pretend you never said it? Why would you think it's a burden?" Shi Nan looked at her, her eyes shimmering with a gentle light, her lashes trembling in a captivating arc. Her voice softened considerably, taking on the light, coaxing tone one might use with a child.

"If I were to say I love you right now, would you also pretend I never said it? Would you also feel burdened?"

The soft, gentle voice filled her ears, drowning out all other sounds. In that instant, Fu Zhao understood what Shi Nan meant. Her anxious heart was soothed by Shi Nan's quiet, tender words.

"No," she said, her gaze meeting Shi Nan's, her lips unconsciously curling into a smile.

Shi Nan smiled back, lifting their intertwined hands and giving them a little shake. Her eyes curved with a gentle, tender affection, and her voice was soft.

"So..."

"I love you, too."

"I love you" and "I love you, too" were two completely different statements.

It was the difference between one-way and two-way.

Fortunately, Fu Zhao had offered the former, and the reply she received was the latter.

It was an incredibly perfect question and answer.

If she had said those words in her past life, would things have been different?

Fu Zhao couldn't help but wonder, but she immediately stopped herself. The present was different from her past life. Since she had a fresh start, she didn't need to dwell on the regrets of the past.

Because, as of now, those regrets had been completely made up for.

Fu Zhao came back to her senses and looked at Shi Nan with open honesty. Their clasped hands pressed tightly together, and her eyes curved into a smile. She gave Shi Nan the response she most needed to give at that moment.

"I love you, too, more than you can imagine."

Shi Nan was stunned for a few seconds, a glimmer in her eyes. "Mm, me too."

"So when are you two getting married?"

A teasing voice suddenly sounded in her ear. Fu Zhao snapped back to reality and noticed a woman in a khaki trench coat and a black baseball cap sitting diagonally across from her. When the woman saw Fu Zhao look over, she even gave them a wink.

"I mean, is the wedding going to be on Nanke Island or RT Planet?"

"Will I be invited?"

Before Fu Zhao could respond, the woman continued on her own. "You should invite me, right? After all, we're friends who've faced life and death together."

"Shen Caiwei?"

Fu Zhao recognized the woman before her. The thought that Shen Caiwei had overheard her conversation with Shi Nan made her face feel hot again. "What are you doing here?"

"Returning to RT Planet, of course."

Shen Caiwei pouted. "I'm serious, you'll invite me to your wedding, right?"

"Don't let me find out about your wedding from the papers and the StarNet."

She puffed out her cheeks, her eyes wide. "I'd be really hurt if I was kicked off the wedding invitation list without a word."

"What are you talking about?" Shi Nan casually linked her arm with Fu Zhao's, picked up their luggage, and left only a single sentence behind. "If we get married, we'll naturally have ceremonies on both Nanke Island and RT Planet."

"Wouldn't you agree?"

"Zhaozhao~~"

Caught off guard by the name, Fu Zhao didn't react at first. She blinked in confusion, but upon seeing Shi Nan's beaming smile, she understood the situation.

Although she didn't know why they still had to act so affectionate in front of Shen Caiwei, Fu Zhao played along with Shi Nan's idea, softening her voice.

"Whatever you say, Nannan."

Left behind, Shen Caiwei quickly caught up to them, blinking her eyes with a hint of urgency. "What about me? Can I come to the wedding?"

"You're someone I've rejected. Why are you so eager to attend my wedding?" Shi Nan asked distractedly, pulling Fu Zhao forward.

"What do you mean, why?"

Shen Caiwei gave her a strange look, rubbing her chin. "Of course you go to a wedding for the excitement..."

"Especially your wedding of the century, especially you two..." She subtly shifted her eyes, her words flowing smoothly. "Aren't we on good terms?"

As she spoke, she affectionately slung an arm around Fu Zhao's shoulders, walking with them off the starship. "Of course I have to join in on the fun."

Shi Nan stopped, her tone lazy and drawn out, sounding as if she were just humoring her. "Yes, you're right. That's a good reason."

"So I have a chance of being invited?" Shen Caiwei's voice grew excited. "Can I bring a plus-one?"

"Bring who?" Fu Zhao couldn't help but interject.

Shen Caiwei suddenly clammed up, speaking hesitantly. "Ahem... my wife, of course."

"You're married?" Fu Zhao was stunned for a good while before it sank in, and for some reason, she felt a sense of relief. "When did that happen?"

"Just a few months ago. She likes to keep a low profile, so we didn't make it public." Shen Caiwei raised an eyebrow. "It was a business marriage, but she's wonderful. I like her a lot."

"Congratulations." Fu Zhao's eyes shone with sincere happiness.

Shi Nan's lips moved. This time, she finally gave Shen Caiwei her full attention and nodded. "Congratulations."

"Thanks." Shen Caiwei became serious, clearing her throat. "You're not going to hold the fact that I didn't invite you to my wedding against me and not invite me to yours, are you?"

"Mm," Shi Nan replied decisively without even lifting her eyelids. "You're right."

Shen Caiwei froze. "No way, you wouldn't be that cruel."

"I really couldn't get in touch with you before. Weren't you running all over the galaxy, Shi Nan? I was afraid of interrupting you, so I didn't want to bother you..."

"As for Fu Zhao..." She pursed her lips. "Weren't you the one who forbade her from coming to RT Planet?"

"How did you know?" Fu Zhao caught the key point, her eyes filled with confusion. "How did you know that Shi Nan didn't want me to come to RT Planet?"

Shen Caiwei waved her hand. "Kong Weiyan told me."

"To avoid any misunderstanding, I specifically asked her first. She said you had trouble acclimating before, so Shi Nan didn't want you to come here."

"So that's how it was..." Fu Zhao nodded. That made sense.

She didn't dwell on it. Her gaze was fixed on her and Shi Nan's intertwined hands. As she looked at them, her other hand subconsciously slipped into her pocket, clutching the small cloth pouch inside.

Lately, many people around her had brought up their marriage, assuming they had been together for a long time. But in reality, they had only been together for a few days.

It shouldn't be this rushed.

Fu Zhao pressed her lips together, her gaze lowered for a moment. She pulled her hand out of her pocket and pried Shen Caiwei's arm off her shoulder, saying gently,

"There's no rush to get married."

"But if we do have a wedding someday..."

She couldn't help but imagine the scene in her mind, her eyes curving down unconsciously. "We'll definitely invite you to give a wedding speech."

Having received a satisfactory answer, Shen Caiwei didn't mind Fu Zhao's blunt action. She just patted Fu Zhao's shoulder again with a gratified look. "Then you'd better remember. I'll start preparing the speech right now."

After saying this, she glanced at Shi Nan up ahead and leaned closer to Fu Zhao's ear, lowering her voice.

"Better make it soon."

"Don't keep us waiting too long."

Without waiting for Fu Zhao's response, Shen Caiwei waved enthusiastically at a white car in the distance. Then she walked a few steps forward, turned back, and smiled at them.

"Remember to invite me!!"

She shouted this before turning and walking toward the white car.

Someone got out of the car-a person with brown hair, dressed in black, with a gentle demeanor. They reached out and embraced Shen Caiwei, who ran up and nuzzled against them like a puppy, holding on tight.

"That must be her..." Fu Zhao watched the scene, murmuring to herself. But the next word made her hesitate for a moment before she slowly said it aloud, "...Wifey."

After all, they had used the word "Wifey" a few times themselves.

Especially Shi Nan.

"Hm?" Shi Nan turned to look at her, a smile playing on her lips. "Were you calling me?"

Fu Zhao froze for a few seconds, then grew flustered when she understood. "I wasn't calling you..."

"Not calling me?" Shi Nan asked back, raising an eyebrow. "Then who were you calling? Do you have another wifey?"

Fu Zhao pursed her lips. "No. I was just afraid you'd think-"

"Afraid I'd feel burdened?" Shi Nan crossed her arms, her gaze fixed on her. "I already told you, don't say things like that anymore."

"I'm the type of person who loves to hear these sweet things..."

She stepped closer, leaning in. The hair over her shoulders cascaded down her chest with the movement, and gentle ripples stirred in her eyes. "So..."

"Whether you're telling me you love me..."

"Or calling me Wifey."

"I will only ever feel happy and delighted. I will never feel burdened."

After saying this, Shi Nan looked at her with an open, honest gaze, full of tenderness and affection.

"Do you understand what I mean by all this?"

Fu Zhao was slightly taken aback. Meeting Shi Nan's tea-brown eyes, which reflected her own image, she thought she had understood. But now that Shi Nan had asked, she felt she didn't understand at all. So she bit her lower lip gently and asked tentatively, "What do you mean?"

"Silly~~"

Shi Nan called out softly, a faint smile still in her eyes. She reached out to ruffle her hair, then pointed toward the affectionate Shen Caiwei and her partner.

"I mean, I hope we can have that kind of relationship too."

"Where you can express your feelings without restraint, without worrying if it's a burden for me, and without immediately taking back what you've said. You don't need to be so cautious with me."

"Most importantly... I want our relationship to be the kind that's recognized by interstellar law."

Shi Nan paused, her gaze wavering slightly.

"In other words, I actually want to marry you. Do you understand?"

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