The Second Year After Marriage

Chapter 21: Trip to Hong Kong

Wen Yang let out a soft hum.

Yu Qing said, “Let’s eat, let’s eat. Oh, and don’t forget to bring your camera! Didn’t you want to take pictures of Victoria Harbour? And also Queen’s Road…”

Wen Yang jumped off the bed and added, “And Nathan Road.”

“Right, right.”

Back in their youth, they were obsessed with Hong Kong’s golden era of music.

Advertisements

Nowadays, high-speed rail connects directly to Hong Kong’s Kowloon Station. Wen Yang tore her train ticket in the morning and arrived around noon. After dropping off her small suitcase at the hotel and freshening up briefly, she headed to the client’s apartment.

This particular apartment had been converted from public housing—a 31-square-meter unit that Yu Qing had redesigned to maximize space. Now, it was a two-bedroom unit that could accommodate four adults and one child.

Compared to the previous one-bedroom setup, where the in-laws had to stay in the living room, this was a major improvement.

The following parts of the text will be scrambled to prevent theft from aggregators and unauthorized epub making. Please support our translators by reading on secondlifetranslations (dot) com. If you are currently on the site and and you are seeing this, please clear your cache.

Mbydjp vs Zw Ckdt’p elpktd, csvb vbl bwpcyde yde okql bye vblka sod osajpvyvksdp, yde vblka nbkze bye y eleknyvle pvweu prynl. Rv oyp y aldshyvksd Zw Ckdt bye nsxrzlvle zypv ulya.

Brsd zlyadkdt vbyv Eld Zydt oyp Zw Ckdt’p yppkpvydv, vbl qlxyzl bsxlsodla lmralpple pzktbv ekpyrrskdvxldv vbyv Zw Ckdt byed’v nsxl rlapsdyzzu.

Eld Zydt pxkzle yde oyp ycswv vs byde shla y cwpkdlpp nyae obld Nkw Zw’p vlyx yaakhle. Gxsdt vblx oyp vbl pyxl qlxyzl elpktdla obs bye sdnl yvvlxrvle vs rwpb Zw Ckdt swv sq vbl kdewpvau. Fbl tzydnle yv Eld Zydt, qkdekdt bla qynl qyxkzkya cwv qykzkdt vs alnstdkgl vbyv pbl oyp Zw Ckdt’p nzspl qaklde.

Ekvb y pzktbv nwahl vs bla lulp, Eld Zydt cke vbl bsxlsodla qyalolzz. Myjkdt yehydvytl sq y caklq xsxldv obld vbl qlxyzl elpktdla oyp nblnjkdt bla rbsdl, pbl ekpnallvzu rzynle y cwpkdlpp nyae kdvs vbl bsxlsodla’p byde yde pyke, “Plpktdla Zw byp pvyavle bla sod pvweks. Mbkp kp swa nsdvynv kdqsaxyvksd.”

Mbl bsxlsodla oyp xsxldvyakzu pvwddle cwv iwknjzu vssj vbl nyae yde dseele, pyukdt, “Myjl nyal. Usxl hkpkv ytykd obld usw byhl vkxl.”

Eld Zydt nbwnjzle. “Xq nswapl, sq nswapl.”

Mbl bsxlsodla pyo Eld Zydt sqq kd qasdv sq vbl svbla elpktdla. Xdnl kdpkel vbl lzlhyvsa, Eld Zydt zlv swv y ellr calyvb clqsal rwzzkdt swv bla rbsdl vs alrsav cynj vs Zw Ckdt.

Zw Ckdt alrzkle: “Qsse osaj. Xdnl usw qkdkpb wr, ts ldfsu uswaplzq.”

Wen Yang: “Got it. I’ll also buy you something.”

Advertisements

Yu Qing: “That’s secondary, secondary.”

Wen Yang smiled, put away her phone, and stepped out of the elevator.

The streets of Hong Kong unfolded before her eyes. Unlike the flower-laden avenues of Nancheng, every street here bore the marks of history, classic and vintage.

The public housing unit was in Kowloon—a shopping paradise—so the streets were bustling with people.

The glow of the setting sun cast golden hues over the buildings, adding a vibrant touch to their aged facades. Wen Yang took out her camera and wandered into the streets, capturing the footprints on the pedestrian paths, the black-lettered street signs, and the endless flow of taxis, buses, and people.

Various cars passed by—yellow license plates, black license plates, and even the occasional convertible roaring down the street.

Standing on the sidewalk, Wen Yang gripped her camera and adjusted the focus. The sunlight slanted across the building corners, spilling onto the pavement and onto her. She wore a long-sleeved off-shoulder dress and comfortable low-heeled shoes, with her hair casually draped over her shoulders as she snapped photos with professional precision.

On the second floor of a nearby building, two men sat playing chess.

The black pieces had formed an aggressive encirclement, while the white pieces struggled to break free. Lu Zhan, speaking idly, suddenly paused, his gaze shifting toward the sidewalk across the street.

Fu Xingzhou, setting down his king, followed Lu Zhan’s gaze.

He saw Wen Yang.

Lu Zhan raised an eyebrow. “She’s stunning.”

Advertisements

Fu Xingzhou remained silent.

The setting sun bathed the vintage streets in golden light. Wen Yang’s dress was a soft apricot shade, loose-fitting yet elegant. Her hair, dyed with subtle highlights, cascaded gently over her shoulders, making her fair complexion stand out even more. As she adjusted her angles, she occasionally shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand. A camera strap hung around her neck, and her photography technique was meticulous.

A breeze occasionally lifted the hem of her dress, creating the slightest ripple before it settled back down.

Of course, Lu Zhan and Fu Xingzhou weren’t the only ones watching her. Many people on the street were drawn to her presence—she was like a freesia flower, delicate and serene amidst the nostalgic, timeworn streets.

Lu Zhan commented, “Haven’t seen a girl like this in a long time.”

Fu Xingzhou retracted his gaze and moved his king piece. His voice was clear. “She’s a woman.”

Lu Zhan looked at him. “How do you know? What if she just graduated from college?”

With that, he set down his chess piece, picked up his phone, and said, “I’m going down to ask for her contact information. Maybe even invite her to dinner.”


Wen Yang took numerous photos, including street signs, as she searched for the one marking Nathan Road.

At a pedestrian crossing, as the red light flicked on, a black sedan pulled up beside her. The door opened, and a handsome stranger stepped out, greeting her in Cantonese with a warm smile. “Hello.”

The unexpected voice pulled Wen Yang from her thoughts. She looked up and saw an unfamiliar yet strikingly attractive man. Just as she was about to return the greeting, her peripheral vision caught sight of someone sitting inside the car—the man was Fu Xingzhou.

Fu Xingzhou met her gaze and gave a slight nod. “Miss Wen.”

Advertisements

Wen Yang immediately responded, “Mr. Fu! What a coincidence, meeting you here.”

Lu Zhan raised an eyebrow and turned to Fu Xingzhou. “You know her?”

Fu Xingzhou replied, “Miss Wen is currently designing my house.”

“You’re a designer?” Lu Zhan finally realized and turned back to Wen Yang.

Wen Yang smiled. Now that she knew the man before her was a friend of Fu Xingzhou’s, she felt less nervous. “Yes, something like that.”

Lu Zhan grinned. “What a small world.”

“I’m a photography enthusiast too. Miss Wen, are you free tonight? How about joining us for dinner?” Lu Zhan asked sincerely.

Wen Yang hesitated for a second, instinctively glancing at Fu Xingzhou.

Fu Xingzhou gave her a slight nod.

It dawned on her that he was her client, and now he had caught her in Hong Kong taking photos instead of working on his designs. Wen Yang blinked and smiled gently. “Then let me treat you both.”

Lu Zhan responded with enthusiasm, “Sounds great!”

Wen Yang breathed a small sigh of relief. Treating a client to dinner seemed only proper.

Advertisements

Besides, he had treated her to drinks before.

Lu Zhan turned to open the car door for Wen Yang. This was not Fu Xingzhou’s usual extended sedan, and the driver was not his secretary, Jiang, but a middle-aged chauffeur wearing white gloves.

Wen Yang bent down and got into the car.

The backseat was spacious.

Fu Xingzhou was dressed more casually today—black shirt, black trousers, with his sleeves unbuttoned and rolled slightly, exposing part of his wrist.

Unlike their previous three encounters where he was always in a formal suit, today he seemed less imposing.

Lu Zhan got into the front passenger seat and instructed the driver to depart. Cars behind them had already been waiting for their turn—this was a one-way street.

As the sedan pulled away, leaving the honking behind, Lu Zhan turned and asked with a smile, “Miss Wen, what’s your full name?”

Wen Yang placed her camera on her lap, lifted her gaze, and replied, “Wen Yang, as in the gentle ripples of water.”

Lu Zhan nodded. “Rippling waters floating with water caltrops and duckweed, clear reflections of reeds and rushes. It’s a beautiful name. I’m Lu Zhan—Zhan, as in deep blue. Nice to meet you, Wen Yang.”

“Hello, Mr. Lu,” Wen Yang greeted with a smile.

Lu Zhan also smiled. “No need to be so formal. Just call me Lu Zhan.”

Wen Yang gave a gentle smile and blinked, her appearance naturally charming.

Lu Zhan rarely met women like her. He turned to Fu Xingzhou with a smile and asked, “Which house are you renovating?”

Fu Xingzhou held his phone in one hand, resting it on the armrest, his tone casual. “Washington.”

“The old house isn’t livable anymore?” Lu Zhan immediately understood.

Fu Xingzhou let out a soft “hmm” while scrolling through messages on his phone.

Lu Zhan then turned to Wen Yang. “That means we’ll have to trouble you to design the Washington house well.”

Wen Yang nodded.

Lu Zhan glanced at the road ahead and spoke to the driver in Cantonese, asking him to take a different route to another restaurant. He then made a reservation over the phone.

Wen Yang gazed out at the streets of Hong Kong, where towering buildings passed by, including iconic landmarks like the International Finance Centre and Qingzhou Tower. She picked up her camera and captured images of these famous structures.

Looking up from his phone, Fu Xingzhou saw her taking pictures of the distinctive Qingzhou logo. His voice was clear and cool as he asked, “Visiting Hong Kong for fun?”

His pleasant voice interrupted Wen Yang’s framing. She lowered her camera, turned to him, and replied, “Our studio has a property that needs to be handed over, so I’m here to finalize things for Yu Qing.”

“Yu Qing is our studio’s lead designer,” she added, as if reporting her itinerary to a boss.

Fu Xingzhou nodded. “There’s a good vantage point in Kennedy Town. You could check it out.”

Wen Yang was slightly surprised. “I was planning to go there tomorrow.”

Fu Xingzhou looked back at his phone. “The night view is better.”

Wen Yang responded softly, “Alright.”

Lu Zhan finished booking the restaurant and turned to Wen Yang. “Wen Yang, shall we have Shandong cuisine?”

Shandong cuisine. Wen Yang had a university friend from Shandong who cooked delicious hometown dishes. She nodded. “Sure.”

The car pulled up in front of a high-rise building.

Lu Zhan got out first, followed by Wen Yang and Fu Xingzhou. The restaurant’s signboard clearly indicated it specialized in Shandong cuisine. Wen Yang glanced at it, estimating the price range in her mind.

Walking alongside Fu Xingzhou, Lu Zhan noticed her gaze lingering on the sign. She had delicate features, exuding an elegant beauty. He whispered to Fu Xingzhou, “I wonder where Wen Yang is from—she looks like a Jiangnan woman.”

Fu Xingzhou pressed the elevator button and replied, “Nan’an.”

Lu Zhan nodded in realization. “Oh, Nan’an. No wonder. Your cousin’s wife is from Zhoushi, which is in the same region as Rongcheng. She’s also very beautiful.”

The elevator doors opened.

Both men waited for Wen Yang.

She quickly withdrew her gaze, took two hurried steps forward, and entered the elevator.

The restaurant was on the third floor, right by the elevator. They took their reserved seat by the window. The restaurant had a traditional Chinese décor, with a comfortable ambiance.

Lu Zhan handed the menu to Wen Yang with a smile. “Wen Yang, you order.”

Not knowing their preferences well, Wen Yang hesitated. She pushed the menu back. “Mr. Lu, you should order. I’m not familiar with Shandong cuisine.”
Lu Zhan raised an eyebrow, then chuckled, taking back the menu. He passed it to Fu Xingzhou instead. “Since the lady isn’t ordering, you should—you’re the wealthiest here.”

Under the warm lighting, Fu Xingzhou looked strikingly handsome. He opened the menu while the waiter stood beside him, waiting. Wen Yang, seated nearby, caught a glimpse of the menu—tiny portions, exorbitant prices.

She blinked.

Fu Xingzhou glanced up. “Any dietary restrictions?”

Wen Yang paused for a moment before shaking her head. “No.”

Fu Xingzhou nodded slightly, continued browsing the menu, and instructed the waiter to add an extra serving of pre-meal fruit.

Lu Zhan joked, “Why didn’t you ask if I had any dietary restrictions?”

Fu Xingzhou closed the menu, shot him a glance, and ignored him.

Lu Zhan laughed. Then he turned to Wen Yang. “Your camera is a Nikon, right?”

Wen Yang had taken the camera off her neck and placed it on her lap. Hearing his question, she picked it up and showed it to him. “Yes.”

Lu Zhan reached out, adjusted the settings, and commented, “Nikon is great for landscapes—perfect for travel photography. But don’t most women prefer Leica?”

Wen Yang replied, “I use Leica too.”

Lu Zhan gave her an approving look. “A true professional.”

“I bought a Canon specifically for my Iceland trip two years ago, but work got busy, and now it’s just collecting dust.” Lu Zhan didn’t check the photos on her camera; he simply adjusted the lens, showing genuine interest as a photography enthusiast.

Wen Yang said, “I had a Canon in my early days too, but I got used to Nikon over time.”

Lu Zhan smiled. “So you mostly shoot landscapes, not people?”

Wen Yang nodded. “Not often.”

Throughout the meal, Lu Zhan dominated the conversation, chatting with Wen Yang about cameras, while Fu Xingzhou remained mostly silent, occasionally replying to messages.

When the food arrived, Wen Yang noticed an extra small dish of fruit in front of her—carefully arranged slices of cantaloupe and cherries, in an elegant, tiny portion.

After dinner, it was already past 8 PM.

Wen Yang excused herself to use the restroom and attempted to pay the bill on her way back. However, she was informed that the restaurant operated on a membership system, where payments were directly deducted from registered accounts.

She was momentarily stunned, feeling awkward with her phone in hand.

Turning around, she saw Lu Zhan and Fu Xingzhou already standing at the entrance, having clearly noticed her attempt to pay.

Lu Zhan immediately eased the situation with a smile. “Don’t worry. When I visit Nancheng, you can treat me to the best restaurant you know.”

Wen Yang sighed helplessly and walked toward them. “Alright then.”

Fu Xingzhou glanced at her, a faint smile in his eyes.

The three of them headed to the elevator, pressing the button to go downstairs.


Thanks for visiting. If you like this story, then I’m shamelessly asking you to visit NovelUpdates and give a 5⭐ review. (人❛ᴗ❛)♪тнайк чоц♪(❛ᴗ❛*人)

You can also check out my other translations Here


Support "The Second Year After Marriage"

The original of this novel is published at JJWXC. To support the author, you can follow this guide.


sansukini [Translator]

Thanks so much for everyone who's been reading my translations.
I also appreciate your comments so please comment some more to motivate me to translate harder.
Please give a like or a good review on NovelUpdates!
I would really appreciate it.
Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com
Second Life Translations' Comment Policy

1. Be kind and respectful. Comments with curses will be put under moderation.

2. No links to other websites or asking for links.

3. No spoilers!

Leave a thought