May You Draw the Luckiest Lot

I thought it over and decided to post this. It's a story about ordinary people, but surely someone will read it.

Marriage first, love later | Complete strangers | Slow burn | Pure sweetness, no angst

Gentle office worker X steady, dependable surgeon

1-

Fed up with endless overtime, Ye Zhiyu quit her job in the big city and returned to her hometown, where her family introduced her to a man.

The matchmaker sang his praises: tall, long-legged, handsome, with a house, a car, savings, and no debt.

Mature and steady, with no romantic history and no mother-in-law troubles. A man this perfect was a once-in-a-lifetime find.

Ye Zhiyu didn't believe a word of it, but went to meet him out of politeness.

They met for the first time at a cafe. Judging by Chen Xingjian's looks alone, the matchmaker hadn't exaggerated.

As they parted, Chen Xingjian gave Ye Zhiyu a bouquet made of gold. He scratched his head. "Gold holds its value. It can come in handy in an emergency."

It was so genuine, it was kind of adorable.

2-

Ye Zhiyu had no expectations of marriage. She figured they could just get along respectfully, keep their boundaries, and make do. After meeting a few times, she and Chen Xingjian registered their marriage.

After they married, Chen Xingjian became the perfect son-in-law in her parents' eyes: steady at work, filial, and well-mannered.

To Ye Zhiyu, he was more bland and boring, often working overtime and unreachable whenever he was at the hospital.

One late winter night, snow drifting down outside, Chen Xingjian had just finished his night shift and arrived home when Ye Zhiyu casually said, "I'm hungry. I really want some lean pork meatballs."

The man immediately took off the snow-dusted coat from his shoulders and went into the kitchen, following a recipe and figuring out how to make the meatballs.

Ye Zhiyu leaned against the kitchen doorframe. Warm white light fell across the man's shoulders and neck as she thought back over their married life.

When her parents had surgery, he stayed by their side day and night.

When she said she wanted to change careers and do something she loved, he offered her all his savings to support her.

When she said she wanted to watch the sunrise, he took time off and brought her to the seaside.

When she glanced at some male celebrity for a little too long, he got jealous and coaxed her into doing it again.

Maybe a quiet, ordinary life was pretty wonderful after all.

"Meeting you was the luckiest draw of my life."

Theme: Cherish the present