The new red background wall of the marriage registration office was so dazzling that I moved it to the right to make the fake pregnant belly look more natural in the red ID photo. This silicone belly pad was custom-made by Jiangyu for RMB 3,000. It is said that it has the same feel and weight as it would at the 24th week of natural pregnancy. Three hours ago, I was practicing in a rental house on how to make my "pregnant belly" look less like I had stuffed two pillows secretly into it. Now I'm standing here, smiling like a real happy bride.
"Miss Shen Nian, please check your personal information."
The staff handed over the form, and I glanced at it - Shen Nian, female, twenty-seven years old, unmarried - no, she won't be unmarried the next second. The tip of the pen hovered over the signature line for a moment, and I mentally reviewed the three months of undercover training: identity packaging, expression management, and micro-expression control. I got excellent marks in all courses.
But no course taught me how to keep my heartbeat steady while signing the marriage registration form.
