Completely unable to sleep any more, Jian Hang simply got up.

After a brief wash, she took a bottle of water and went to the terrace. Within two minutes, she returned to the room.

The wind outside was strong; she was only wearing a nightgown, and it was a bit cold. She found a women’s robe in the closet and put it on. She tied the belt around her waist as she walked and returned to the terrace to watch the sea.

Qin Moling also didn’t intend to sleep anymore, so he got up and went to the bathroom to take a shower.

He was a normal man with normal physiological needs. Now, he could only rely on himself to relieve them.

The more they looked forward to dawn, the less bright it seemed to be.

Jian Hang finished drinking the bottle of water; she had been out on the terrace feeling the sea breeze for a long time, probably an hour. 

She went back to the room and took her mobile phone to check the time: it was only four fifty-nine.

She thought that an hour had passed, but in fact it was only over twenty minutes.

The makeup artist wouldn’t come until seven o’clock—how was she to spend the remaining hours?

Jian Hang was leaning against the terrace railing, just thinking about what to do next when the bathroom door opened.

When Qin Moling came out, he had already taken a shower and changed into trousers and a shirt. He had to wear a suit for the wedding photos later, so he changed into them in advance.

Judging by his outfit, he didn’t intend to go back to sleep again.

Qin Moling took his laptop to the terrace. There were leisure tables and chairs. He would work on the terrace, so he could accompany Jian Hang. She couldn’t play the game because of 3D dizziness, so she must be feeling uncomfortable.

There were two empty chairs. He chose the one closest to Jian Hang and sat down.

The sea breeze lifted the hem of Jian Hang’s nightgown, and it kept sweeping against his trouser legs.

Jian Hang didn’t move farther to the side, and Qin Moling didn’t change his sitting position.

She leaned against the railing and lowered her head to look at her phone. The two of them did not disturb each other. When she looked up, quite inadvertently, it seemed that she could see Qin Moling’s laptop screen clearly from this angle.

His WeChat was logged in, and Qin Moling was looking at Secretary Gao’s dialog box.

Jian Hang saw her profile picture on the list. Qin Moling’s name for her was: Wife.

She had thought he would use her name.

Qin Moling was typing in the dialog box. In case he would be discussing any business secrets, Jian Hang consciously turned around.

She leaned on the railing and looked out at the sea.

… …

Finally, at dawn, Qin Moling called room service to order breakfast.

Jian Hang told him, “You just order breakfast for yourself—I won’t have any.”

Qin Moling had already dialed the number and now had to cancel the call, “If you are angry at me because I don’t want to learn to play your game, don’t punish your body. Did you forget about your stomachache a few days ago?”

His words brooked no argument, “Breakfast must be eaten.”

Jian Hang: “… I’m not angry.”

She explained, “If I eat, my belly won’t be flat, and it won’t look good in a wedding dress. I’ll wait until we finish taking photos before eating.”

Qin Moling glanced at her waist. She had a thin waist and a flat belly. She was even a little thinner than before she went on a business trip. Even if she ate breakfast, it would have no effect on the wedding dress.

“Then just eat until you’re half full.”

He dialed again to order food.

Jian Hang heard him say to the hotel waiter in English, “One egg, hard-boiled.”

After two seconds, he said again, “Yes, hard-boiled.”

She didn’t like eating soft-boiled eggs, and he remembered this detail.

… …

Twenty minutes later, breakfast was delivered to the room.

Jian Hang’s breakfast only consisted of one hard-boiled egg and half a cup of orange juice.

The hard-boiled egg was placed in an egg cup. Just as Jian Hang was about to pick up the egg cup, Qin Moling reached out and took the egg. 

Before, on the day she went on a business trip to Suzhou City, he took the initiative to peel tea eggs for her but she didn’t get to eat them. He would make up for it today.

After peeling her hard-boiled egg, he put it back into the egg cup.

“Thank you,” Jian Hang picked up the egg cup and directly took a bite of the egg. She didn’t know when she started to stop paying attention to dining etiquette in front of Qin Moling.

… …

At seven o’clock, the makeup artist arrived as scheduled.

The clothes Jian Hang would wear for today’s photoshoot today were all wedding dresses. There were three in total, all with different styles.

She originally thought they were wedding dresses provided by the photography studio. It was only when chatting with the makeup artist that she learned that one of the dresses was actually borrowed by Qin Moling from Paris and was an exhibition model.

She greatly liked each and every one of the wedding dresses. She had tried them all on just now, and even she could see that her eyes shining brightly.

[Thanks.] She sent it to Qin Moling.

Qin Moling: [Thanks for what?] 

Jian Hang looked at Qin Moling through the mirror, and he happened to look over as well. Their eyes met in the mirror, and she pointed to the wedding dress on her body.

Qin Moling understood what she meant. He looked away, lowered his head, and typed: [My mother asked a friend to borrow it.]

He asked again: [Which one do you like?]

Jian Hang: [They are all good. My favorite is the one I tried on last.]

The last piece was a diamond-encrusted wedding dress. It was fairy-like and dreamy. It shimmered every time she moved, looking noble and luxurious.

Qin Moling also thought that that one looked good, so he would have one customized for her to wear on their wedding.

The first photoshoot was to be held on a scenic spot next to the hotel. It was a few minutes walk to get there, and the photographer planned to take some pictures while walking.

Old Madam Qin had talked to the photographer. She said that the couple had a flash marriage and had no emotional foundation, and she wanted to use wedding photoshoot to promote their relationship.

The photographer was paid a high salary, and in addition to taking photos, he also worked part-time as a relationship promoter.

For couples who were not in love, wedding photography was almost like filming a movie and they needed to get into the mood slowly. Therefore, when doing the first shoot of the day, the photographer did not ask Qin Moling and Jian Hang to do anything too intimate—simply to hold hands.

The photographer asked them to hold hands and walk up the trail.

Jian Hang was holding the skirt of her wedding dress with both hands; she waited for Qin Moling to take the initiative to ask for her hand.

Qin Moling saw through her thoughts and stretched out his hand to her.

Even if she wasn’t holding up her skirt, he would naturally hold her hand first and not force her to take the initiative.

Jian Hang handed her hand to him, and Qin Moling held it gently.

The pads of his fingers pressed against her palm, and it was as if an electric current flowed through her.

This was the first time they held hands, and it was in a small town she liked very much.

Marriage First, Love Later translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

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T/N: I am also translating another story written by this same author: Seventh Year of My Secret Love For You featuring Qin Moling’s good friend since childhood, Jiang Shenghe. After seven years of pining and watching over the girl he loves, the idiot prince charming falls from grace, and Jiang Shenghe—representing all the worthier second male lead we ever cried for—finally gets a chance to get the girl. It starts out melancholic but ends in such well-deserved sweetness.

If you’re enjoying my translations, do consider buying me ko-fi and get access to advance chapters as reward. Thank you for your support! ☺️

Chapter 32.3 — Accelerated Heartbeat
Chapter 33.1 — Unforgettable
Chapter 33.2 — Unforgettable
Chapter 33.3 — Unforgettable