This was a gift his late mother had prepared for his future wife, a treasure she had entrusted to Grandma's care. Until now, Su Wen had never taken it out himself, for each time he looked at it, a wave of emotion… both warmth and longing… washed over him.
Now, Grandma took it out, meaning her intention was clear. Du Yue looked at the box with curious eyes, wondering what was so special about the box that they all suddenly fell silent.
Just then, Su Wen reached out and lightly tapped her head. Du Yue looked up at him, a little puzzled, her cheeks already tinged with pink.
Su Wen placed the small box gently on the table and opened it. Inside lay a pair of exquisite Golden Phoenix Earrings, gleaming as if catching the light from every angle.
He picked one up carefully, bringing it closer to her ear. With deliberate gentleness, he fastened it in place.
Du Yue froze, completely stunned by the sudden, intimate gift. Her face flushed crimson, but unlike before, she didn't look away. Instead, her eyes remained fixed on her 'Husband,' full of surprise, awe, and a silent, growing affection that made her heart race.
Once the earrings were in her ears, they sparkled brilliantly, like golden flames dancing on a silver moon in the dark night. Their radiance seemed to have been made just for her, illuminating her features and making her look ethereal.
Su Wen gazed at her with a soft, almost dazed expression and spoke quietly, "These earrings… they were given to me by my late mother, Su Qing. She intended them for the one I would be with… in the future."
The moment she heard that, Du Yue's heart leapt with joy. Her cheeks flamed crimson, and in a flustered rush, she turned and hugged Grandma tightly, burying her face to hide her embarrassment.
Everyone around couldn't help but chuckle at her adorably innocent reaction, charmed by the mixture of shyness, excitement, and sheer cuteness that radiated from her.
After a brief moment, Du Yue lifted her head and, her voice barely above a whisper, said, "T-thank you, Husband." Then, as if overcome by shyness all over again, she buried her face in Grandma's embrace once more.
They all looked at her with strange expressions and all had one thought, 'Husband?? Today was just your first date!!'
Su Wen coughed and immediately poured wine in his Grandpa's empty cup to hide his embarrassment. Grandpa, who always wanted to see this reaction on his grandson's face, finally laughed out loudly.
"Hahaha, brat. No one can save you now," and gulped down the wine in a single breath.
They continued bickering back and forth, and Su Wen kept hugging his Grandmother tightly.
Du Yue once again sensed something was off but couldn't pinpoint the origin. It was already midnight, with a full moon hanging over their heads, shining brightly.
Grandma suddenly spoke in an emotional tone, "Grandson, we..."
Before she could finish, he already interrupted and hugged her tightly, and said softly, "I know..."
Du Yue, this time couldn't help but frown, sensing something was really wrong. Both Grandpa and Grandma were stunned, not expecting him to already know.
Grandma reached out and gently patted Su Wen's head, her touch filled with affection. Then she leaned forward and pressed several soft kisses onto his forehead, as though unable to contain her love for him.
Afterward, she turned her tender gaze toward Du Yue. Resting her left hand against the girl's cheek, she spoke with a gentle, trembling warmth,
"Thank you… truly, thank you for coming into our lives, and for choosing to stay by my little grandson's side. I'm so happy… so blessed… to have such a gentle, innocent, kind, and beautiful girl as our granddaughter-in-law."
Her thumb brushed Du Yue's cheek in a comforting stroke as she continued, voice soft but earnest:
"Please… promise me that you will always love my grandson. Never break his heart. I don't want him to be alone anymore."
Grandma's eyes glistened with sincerity, her words filled with lifelong longing and hope.
Du Yue would have blushed several times by now if not for this heavy and emotional atmosphere. 'Of course, we are already husband and wife, starting today. You don't have to worry, Grandma, I will be with him no matter what we face in the future,' she thought in her mind.
She looked at Grandma, then Grandpa, and finally at Su Wen before slowly rising to her feet. With heartfelt sincerity, she bowed deeply to the elderly couple. When she lifted her head, her eyes were filled with gratitude that shimmered like starlight.
"Grandma… Grandpa," she began softly, her voice trembling ever so slightly, "when you saved my life, you didn't just save me… you gave me love. You treated me as your own."
She clasped her hands before her, holding back the emotions swelling in her chest.
"I was so happy… truly happy… when you told me to call you Grandma and Grandpa instead of 'Seniors.' From that day onward, I began to see you as my real grandparents."
Her gaze softened even more as she bowed her head again, this time slower, deeper, filled with reverence.
"Thank you… thank you so much for not giving up on me, for accepting me, and for treating me as part of your family."
Her respectful eyes shone with warmth and devotion, carrying every ounce of emotion her words couldn't express.
Grandma and Grandpa exchanged a quiet glance, their eyes softening with a mixture of warmth and sorrow. Looking back at Du Yue, they felt as though fate itself had blessed them. In these final two weeks of their lives, to meet such a lovely girl… it was more than they had ever hoped for. All they wished for now was just a little more time… time to love, cherish, and watch over these two precious grandchildren.
Du Yue then turned her gaze to Su Wen, her expression gentle yet firm with conviction.
"Not only did he save my life," she said softly, "but he treated me with pure sincerity, without asking for anything in return. He never looked at me the way those men did, with filthy intentions… he never approached me with a hidden motive. He always looked at me with respect… with kindness."
Her voice trembled slightly, but her eyes shone with unwavering devotion.
"I will always love him with the best part of my heart, and I will never let him down. I… I don't have enough words to express how sincere I am."
Her quiet vow lingered in the air, warm and heartfelt, leaving the room filled with a deep, touching silence.
All four, including Little Sparrow, looked at her with admiration. Both Grandma and Grandpa patted her head and pinched her cheeks with love.
Before Grandma or Grandpa could respond, Du Yue stepped lightly toward Su Wen. She clasped her hands together shyly, but her voice carried a conviction that was impossible to ignore.
"Grandma, Grandpa," she said softly, "I don't fully understand what's going on… but I can feel that you are a little worried about my husband due to some reason."
Su Wen twitched slightly at the word husband, but she continued earnestly.
"You don't have to worry about him anymore. Whatever dangers or troubles come, leave them to me. I will become his sword… sharp, unyielding… and I won't allow anyone to touch him."
Then she lifted her chin proudly, her tone shifting with almost regal confidence.
"And besides… he is my husband. I will never leave him alone."