1979: My fiancée is a goddess

"what……"

Cheng Kaiyan slowly woke up from her deep sleep and gave a light yawn.

Sunlight streamed down from above, illuminating my vision, and the sound of fingertips turning pages filled my ears.

"woke up?"

The beautiful woman, reclining in a soft chair, flipped through a magazine and asked softly.

"Ah."

Cheng Kaiyan took a deep breath, and the rich, sweet, cool honey fragrance emanating from the beautiful woman filled her lungs, making her feel refreshed and reluctant to leave.

He slept very soundly during his afternoon nap, with his aunt by his side.

This calmed down his turbulent and indescribable emotions that had been swirling since he boarded the plane.

"Have a cup of hot water, the plane is almost here."

A pair of pale, delicate hands came into view. She unscrewed the lid of the thermos and said casually.

"Thank you."

Cheng Kaiyan took the hot tea and sipped it slowly, while turning her head to look out the porthole.

The plane was flying smoothly at an altitude of several thousand meters and was slowly descending.

After a day's drive, the journey of thousands of kilometers was nearing its end.

In the hazy, warm mist, one can clearly see clusters of thick, dark clouds, and towering buildings piercing the sky.

Looking down, you can see a vast, neon-lit international metropolis stretching for dozens of miles.

Tokyo.

The physical distance is now very short, but five years have already passed.

"Five years..."

Cheng Kaiyan took a sip of hot tea and gazed silently into the distance at the familiar yet unfamiliar red and white Tokyo Tower.

After an unknown amount of time, the overhead loudspeaker began broadcasting an announcement in both Chinese and English by a flight attendant.

The plane is about to land at the airport.

With a strong feeling of weightlessness, we landed successfully.

After waiting for more than ten minutes, Cheng Kaiyan and Jiang Ting packed their backpacks and disembarked with the crowd.

It was already 5:30 pm, and the orange-red sunset rose and fell with the waves on the distant sea.

Standing on the vast tarmac of the airport, a cold wind blew from afar, carrying the pungent smell of burning rubber tires, and blew against their faces.

It feels cold and stinging.

"It seems someone's here to pick you up?"

Jiang Ting, wearing a black scarf and a light gray lady's hat, looked at the white sign with the Chinese characters "Cheng Kaiyan" clearly written on it in the distance and asked curiously.

"Hmm, they must be staff members from the cultural department."

Cheng Kaiyan smiled and nodded.

He is now an internationally renowned literary figure and an insurmountable peak in the field of children's literature.

In Japan, a country where literary figures hold a high status, the arrival of such an international luminary would certainly warrant at least the highest level of hospitality, if not the absolute highest.

I remember when he first came to Tokyo to film a movie many years ago, he was also greeted by a special person.

"Let's go."

As the two approached, the group of people holding signs became clearer; they were four or five young people, both men and women, wearing black down jackets.

"Long time no see, Teacher Cheng!"

Upon seeing Cheng Kaiyan and Jiang Ting arrive, a young woman in her early thirties, wearing a down jacket and possessing a noble and aloof appearance, walked up to them, extended her hand, and greeted them with a smile in fluent Chinese.

"Are you... Chia-nee?"

Cheng Kaiyan looked closely and exclaimed in surprise.

"What? It's only been a few years, and Teacher Cheng has already completely forgotten me?"

Tachibana Chiai frowned slightly and said, feigning sadness, "Sigh...it's really heartbreaking. I came all the way here to pick you up when I heard you were coming, Teacher Cheng."

"How could that be? I have a very deep impression of Chia-nee."

Cheng Kaiyan smiled, unmoved by the woman's emotions.

Hehe~ Me too~~

Tachibana Chiai stared at his handsome face and his deep, swirling eyes, then let out a soft laugh, the last syllable carrying a profound meaning.

Compared to his youthful and spirited appearance five years ago, he has become more mature, steady, and manly.

Besides... how could I not recognize this face?
"Cough cough."

A cold, light cough came from beside him.

Tachibana Chiai turned her head and saw a mature and stunningly beautiful woman with an icy demeanor. "This must be Professor Jiang Ting, right?"

"Ah."

The beautiful woman raised her slender neck slightly and gave a simple reply, seemingly not wanting to say anything more to this woman.

"It's our first meeting, please take good care of me."

Chiai Tachibana reached out her hand.

"Let's go."

Jiang Ting met her gaze indifferently. She didn't have the habit of shaking hands with strange women, so she turned and walked towards Cheng Kaiyan.

"Hehe, let's go then. Professor Jiang and Teacher Cheng have been on a plane all day and must be tired."

Tachibana Chiai smiled dismissively and waved her hand, giving the order.

A group of people escorted Cheng Kaiyan and Jiang Ting into a luxurious extended sedan, which gradually drove away.

Whether it was intentional or not, Tachibana Chiai is still living in the same mansion she lived in a few years ago.

The view from the sixth floor is quite nice.

Tachibana Chiai dismissed everyone, had a simple dinner with Cheng Kaiyan and Jiang Ting, and then left on her own.

During this time, Cheng Kaiyan wanted to ask something, but after thinking it over, she finally gave up.

After dinner, we didn't go out to visit Tokyo's famous attractions or see the night view.

After saying goodnight to each other, Cheng Kaiyan and Jiang Ting went back to their respective rooms to shower and rest.

Because there are other plans for the next day.

The International Grimm Prize was established last year, in 1986.

The organizer is the International Children's Literature Museum in Osaka, Japan.

The awards ceremony was naturally held in Osaka.

This is the first time the selection has been held, and awards will be presented every two years.

The International Grimm Prize is open to scholars, writers, illustrators, publishers, librarians, and other senior professionals who have long been deeply involved in the field of children's literature worldwide. It focuses on sustained influence rather than a single work.

The prize money is said to be three million yen, which is a considerable sum in this era of a strong yen.

Nothing was said that night; I tossed and turned until the early hours of the morning before finally falling asleep.

The next morning at seven o'clock, as dawn was breaking, Cheng Kaiyan got up early.

After washing up, I put on a scarf and a warm hat before going out.

My flight is at 10:00 today. If I manage my time well, I can go out for a stroll without any problems.

Without calling his aunt, he went downstairs, reminiscing as he slowly walked forward along the route he had taken many years ago, a route that was both clear and somewhat blurry, with a mix of trepidation and anticipation.

In the early morning, wisps of mist shrouded the clean sidewalks.

The cherry blossom trees along the roadside that haven't bloomed yet are bare and not very pretty.

Cheng Kaiyan crossed the road, passed the train tracks, and stepped onto the high steps.

Finally, we arrived at a bustling commercial street.

Most of the small shops on the street were closed, with only stores selling breakfast, vegetables and fruits open.

He's been here many times; he's ordered roses here, learned guitar here, and made clay figurines here...

Five years have passed, and this place has changed a lot.

When Cheng Kaiyan revisited the place, she found it difficult to find the small shops she had visited before.

He walked to the entrance of a ramen shop.

A middle-aged man wearing a chef's apron and a white hat is kneading dough to make chewy ramen.

"A bowl of clear broth tonkotsu ramen, please..."

Cheng Kaiyan glanced at the menu and spoke in Japanese, which she hadn't spoken in years and was clearly out of practice.

"Six hundred yen... sigh!"

The middle-aged man subconsciously looked up and saw Cheng Kaiyan's face. He felt that the face was very familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before, but he couldn't remember who this young man in front of him was.

"what happened?"

Cheng Kaiyan took out her wallet, counted out six hundred and gave it to him, then casually asked...

"N-nothing, sorry."

The middle-aged man accepted the money, apologized profusely, and got to work.

"It's alright, sir. Is there a musical instrument shop nearby called Akiko's? Do you know where it is?"

Cheng Kaiyan asked.

"Akomiko? I think there used to be a music store there, next to the private middle school, right?"

The middle-aged man pondered.

"Yes, yes, yes."

Cheng Kaiyan's eyes lit up, and she quickly asked.

"They closed down and moved away a long time ago. I heard that the owner's husband went bankrupt from investments a few years ago and went back to his hometown in Hokkaido after the divorce."

The uncle sighed, then went on to tell Cheng Kaiyan how developed and prosperous Japan's economy had been in recent years, saying that anyone who could go bankrupt under such circumstances was simply an incurable fool...

He then talked about how many stocks he had bought, waiting for them to appreciate and make him rich so he could retire comfortably.

"Okay, then."

Cheng Kaiyan could only shake her head helplessly after hearing this.

The current economic bubble is at its peak; it will burst in two years.

This hopeless country will inevitably enter a lost two decades.

As for the stock? It's good enough if it doesn't get delisted.

The ramen was ready in no time, and Cheng Kaiyan found a seat to eat.

Not getting the result she wanted left Cheng Kaiyan feeling somewhat uneasy.

He had planned to visit the music store, the flower shop, and the clay sculpture shop...

Perhaps only in the end will I be able to, or rather, only then will I dare to, visit that little house located near Waseda University.

But now, his mission has failed before he even got started.

While eating noodles and pondering, Cheng Kaiyan finally decided to go to that place.

"Let's go, uncle."

"Take care!" the middle-aged man replied, turning around and going inside to clear the dishes.

"Dad, let me help."

A young girl came down the stairs.

"No need, what would you like to eat?"

"Egg and tonkotsu ramen, please... Oh, and give me some money, I've made plans with my classmates to attend Ms. Yuki's autograph session today! I'm sure I'll get Ms. Yuki's autograph!"

"My daughter said excitedly."

"Miss Xue?"

"It's the famous writer, Ms. Xue, who starred in 'Love Letter' and was hailed as the 'Snow Beauty of the Century' by domestic and international media! We've seen this movie before."

The daughter explained with dissatisfaction that everyone in the family knew she liked Miss Xue the most.

"Love letter? Wait a minute!"

The middle-aged man was taken aback. "Miss Xue, I think I just saw Fujii Itsuki?!"

"Fujii Itsuki?"

"Yes! Fujii Itsuki from the movie Love Letter, Miss Yuki's lover."

"real or fake!"

The girl glanced at the bowls and chopsticks left on the table, then quickly ran out of the store and onto the street, only to see a lonely figure disappear around the corner.

……

As she climbed the steps, Cheng Kaiyan took a deep breath and walked to the light-colored wooden door that had appeared many times in her dreams.

He reached out to knock on the door, but his hand remained suspended in mid-air, without taking any further action.

After standing there quietly for an unknown amount of time, Cheng Kaiyan sighed, turned around, and left.

The wooden door was covered in dust, indicating that it had been uninhabited for a long time.

Back at the mansion, Tachibana Chiai had already arrived and was chatting with Jiang Ting when Cheng Kaiyan returned.

"came back?"

"Ah."

"Then let's set off."

Go back to your room, grab your luggage, and set off.

We arrived in Osaka at 11:30 a.m.

With the help of Chia Tachibana and the staff of the Osaka Children's Literature Museum, we checked into a hotel near the museum.

We've arrived here.

Cheng Kaiyan met many acquaintances, some of whom she met at the Hans Christian Andersen Award ceremony, some of whom she met at the International Society for Children's Literature, and of course, her old acquaintance Professor Ansel.

Cheng Kaiyan briefly forgot her emotions and, along with Jiang Ting, exchanged ideas with a group of scholars and writers.

Time flew by and it was January 18th when the International Grimm Prize award ceremony began.

The awards ceremony was held at 10:30 a.m.

"I hereby declare—"

"The first recipients of the International Grimm Prize are... Cheng Kaiyan, a writer, children's literature scholar, and philanthropist from China! and Professor Jiang Ting, a scholar from China!"

Congratulations to Professor Cheng Kaiyan and Professor Jiang Ting!

The host, holding the microphone, solemnly announced the grand prize winner.

"Clap clap clap!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the top floor of the literary hall was filled with applause.

Like waves, like thunder, it lingers on and on.

The following day, several Japanese media outlets quickly published the news.

The topic sparked heated discussions.

Some observant people even recognized Cheng Kaiyan as the actor who appeared on the big screen a few years ago, playing the male lead Fujii Shu in the movie "Love Letter".

Amidst the commotion, Cheng Kaiyan disappeared from the media spotlight and left Osaka alone.

As for his aunt Jiang Ting, she was very perceptive and had already understood his complex emotions about returning to his old haunts. Knowing that he wanted to be alone, she stayed behind to deal with the media and attend the subsequent academic seminar.

……

January 20th, the Great Cold in the lunar calendar.

It's 9:30 in the morning.

The sky was cloudless and the sun was shining brightly.

"Splash!"

The scenery of Tokyo Bay is exceptionally beautiful and pristine. The pale golden sunlight piercing through the clouds is reflected on the deep blue sea, like silk with golden threads, undulating and rolling with the gentle sea breeze.

A flock of white seagulls circled and danced in the air, occasionally landing on the shore to preen their feathers.

Cheng Kaiyan leaned alone against the cast iron railing by the sea, a cigarette between her fingers, gazing into the distance, lost in thought for a long time.

The white waves crashed against the shore, splashing tiny droplets that soaked and darkened his trouser legs, but he didn't care.

Or rather, it's impossible to detect.

Sunlight fell on his thin, silent back, creating a strange and indescribable feeling.

"call--"

The cigarette between her fingers flickered, and Cheng Kaiyan took a deep breath, exhaling swirling blue-green smoke rings.

"Perhaps I'm pretty much in the same boat as Chen Touna now..."

He suddenly thought of his first work and chuckled softly, his voice a little hoarse.

She didn't know how much time had passed, but Cheng Kaiyan just wanted to stand there quietly.

Let the winter sun bask in my body, my thoughts, my soul, and everything about me.

"Mom! Let's take pictures here~ The sea is so beautiful today!"

A clear, childlike voice rang out from very close behind me.

"Okay, Xue'er~"

"Move a little more to the right, don't stand in front of others, okay!"

"That's it, cheese!"

I heard the voices of a young mother and daughter taking pictures and talking behind me, but they were speaking Japanese.

Whether it was the familiar name or something else, Cheng Kaiyan listened patiently to their interaction for a while.

He thought it was pretty good, quite wonderful.

However, he did not turn his head to look over.

The Japanese are very particular about maintaining a sense of distance.

When mothers and daughters take photos together, there is often pressure and unease if a strange man is watching.

Cheng Kaiyan simply pretended not to know and secretly listened to other people's happy stories.

My mood has improved somewhat.

Less than ten minutes later, the mother and daughter's voices gradually faded away, disappearing into the wind, waves, and cries of seagulls.

As if by some strange twist of fate, Cheng Kaiyan turned her head and glanced at it.

A woman wearing a white knee-length coat, a beret, and long, flowing black hair held a silver camera in one hand, looking down at the photos she had just taken, while holding the hand of a five- or six-year-old girl in a white down jacket as they walked away into the distance.

"Xue'er, she truly lives up to her name..."

Cheng Kaiyan could see a glimpse of the mother and daughter's delicate profiles, and their skin, which shone brighter than snow and jade in the sunlight.

Perhaps it was because they had been standing for too long, or perhaps it was because the mother and daughter had left.

Cheng Kaiyan was also a little tired, so she stretched her limbs and turned to leave in the opposite direction.

He walked aimlessly along the sidewalk for a long time until he came to a high platform from which he could see Mount Fuji in the distance.

Cheng Kaiyan paused briefly, then slowly walked down the long steps.

At the bottom is a train track blocked off by railings on both sides, and many people are walking across the road.

Reaching the bottom, I was about to follow the crowd across the railway tracks.

Suddenly, two familiar, snow-white figures appeared in the crowd facing them.

"What a coincidence, it's them?"

Cheng Kaiyan looked over curiously.

But this one glance was like absolute zero ice and snow, freezing his steps, body, soul, and thoughts in place in an instant.

It's like there's some kind of unseen connection between us.

The woman followed the gaze and looked over, her eyes gentle and serene, showing no sign of emotion.

The two looked at each other across the surging crowd.

"Ding Ding Ding!"

At that moment, the clanging sound of the train passing over the tracks and the crisp sound of the warning bell echoed all around, and people quickened their pace to cross.

"What's wrong, Mom? Come on, the train is coming."

The daughter tugged at her mother's soft sleeve, urging her with a puzzled look.

"Oh."

Zhao Ruixue snapped out of her daze and responded, then looked down at her daughter, picked her up and held her in her arms. With her eyes lowered, she followed the crowd slowly across the railway tracks and railings to the other side.

Even as he brushed past Cheng Kaiyan, he never stopped walking.

Cheng Kaiyan wanted to turn around and chase after it, but the sound of the train tracks was getting closer and closer, and the train was about to arrive, so he had to hurriedly run to the other side.

"Whoohoo-"

The train narrowly missed him, whipping up a strong gust of wind that smelled of engine oil and rust, ruffling Cheng Kaiyan's soft hair and making it hard for him to open his eyes.

Cheng Kaiyan shielded her eyes from the wind and could barely make out two blurry figures through the fleeting gaps between the trains.

Clang! Clang!

Half a minute after the train passed by.

It seemed so brief, as brief as raindrops gliding across a windowpane.

It was also very long, as long as the unbearable heat of summer.

But no matter what, it will eventually pass.

The train sped off into the distance, the wind died down, the railings slowly rose, and the surroundings gradually quieted down.

But her figure vanished in an instant.

Like a snowflake that is currently swirling in the air and lands in Cheng Kaiyan's palm.

It's snowing...

He withdrew his gaze and quietly looked at the snowflakes in his palm, which had mostly melted. He lowered his voice and softly asked the snow, "How are you?"

"I'm very good."

Xue said.

(The End) (End of Chapter)