In the familiar tone and warmth that radiated from Joel's hands, Primrose quietly watched the video being played on the large screen. It was a video of her and Joel's love story, starting from the day they got married after their crazy first encounter.
Primrose didn't know how Joel had compiled and edited them into this video, but everything felt incredibly genuine. From their initial excitement and awkwardness on their wedding day to the gentle kiss they shared, it all felt real.
The video shifted as the two of them moved in together. Primrose saw herself and Joel sitting at the same dinner table; there was no communication between them, not even a glance exchanged. It was a bit amusing.
Throughout, Joel kept his head tilted, watching Primrose closely and observing every expression on her face. He witnessed Primrose's emotions as she looked back on their past. By this point, the video continued playing, showcasing the gradual bonding between Joel and Primrose. Amid the soothing piano melody, Joel's deep and husky voice suddenly echoed.
"Primrose, this was the first time I dropped you off for work. I was nervous and excited at that moment, and I hoped I could drive my wife to the company every day."
To the tune of the piano, Primrose saw a video clip that Joel had filmed while he was in the car, on the way to her company. Remembering something, a faint blush colored Primrose's cheeks, and her hand, holding onto Joel's, tightened silently.
"Primrose, this was the first time I cooked for you. The taste back then wasn't that great, but I'll practice more to cook you even better dishes."
"Primrose, this was the first time we worked together for the same company in the same office all day long. Besides you, I always feel comfortable and happy, even without saying a word."
"This was the first time we went on a trip together; do you remember? I carried you on the beach like I was carrying my whole world, and it was quite heavy."
The scenes kept changing, and Primrose's memories followed the emotions in the video, recalling intimate moments between the two of them. She remembered Joel gently helping her cut the beefsteak, Joel respectfully kissing her forehead as they stepped outside, Joel's unwavering care when she was sick, and the surprise and happiness in his eyes when she kissed him first. Her eyes shimmered with tears as she gazed at Joel, wanting to say so much but finding her words choked up in her throat. She bit her lip, turned away to compose herself, then returned her focus to the screen.
The video paused on a clip of Joel's self-recorded process of editing and piecing the film together. Joel waved at the camera, then positioned a laptop in front of the camera and chuckled.
"The surprise preparations for you are at 99% completion. Most of our cherished memories are captured here. After you finish watching, try not to cry."
Primrose wasn't sure when, but Joel had leaned in closer to her and whispered in her ear.
"Primrose, at the beginning, we got married without knowing much about each other and without trusting each other, so we didn't dare to get closer and create a marriage contract. Back then, we were completely free and not bound by emotions, but now the situation has changed. We're becoming more and more like a real couple."
"I admit that I was initially attracted by your radiance and beauty, which is why I approached you, but later on, I grew to love every aspect of you, both your strength and vulnerability. In my eyes, you're always the most special and attractive girl; no one can compare to you."
"I'm just an ordinary man. Can you give me a chance to take care of you and hold your hand through the rest of our journey in life? We'll be like a couple, going through the simple life together, always by each other's side through all the sweet and mundane moments in this life.
"We don't need that contract anymore, just being together normally. I love you, I will cherish you, and I will always care for you as I have and am doing. My money is for you to spend, the food I cook is for you to enjoy, and every weekend we'll be together watching movies or going out on dates, making life more exciting. Can we do that, sweetie?"
The end of Joel's statement quivered slightly, and Primrose could imagine the confusion and even anxiety in Joel's heart right now. Like her, Joel was also nervous and not overly confident.
Her gaze was increasingly filled with teary water due to the overflowing emotions. She didn't know from where Joel had taken a red rose and placed it in her hand, the beautiful red petals still glistening with fresh dew. Primrose looked down at the lovely rose, then back at Joel, her lips curling into a smile.
"Of course, I love you too."
Joel let out a sigh of relief, holding Primrose tightly in his arms, as if afraid she might disappear. All the tension dissolved, leaving behind overwhelming happiness.
Primrose's tears slowly trickled down her beautiful face. Joel gently reached out and wiped them away, his voice carrying a soft chuckle.
"Sweetie, don't cry. At this successful confession moment, we should be laughing happily."
Primrose took a deep breath and managed to conjure a gentle smile, which Joel joined in with his cheerful laughter. The two looked at each other, seeing reflections of themselves in each other's eyes and vaguely sensing each other's beating hearts full of affection and love.
"Alright, you said you loved me too; now you can't abandon me in the future, okay? I won't allow it. Can we go home now?"
The light illuminated Primrose's face with a mix of emotion and shyness. She nodded vaguely, and Joel held her hand as they left the movie theater, still holding the red rose. Primrose's heart was filled with unnamed emotions, a whirlwind of feelings that made everything feel like a dream. A beautiful dream that she wanted to be immersed in forever.
"Now that we're a real couple, to commemorate this, should we do something more intimate than just a kiss?"
Joel reverted to his mischievous, teasing demeanor from their usual days, leaning in close to Primrose's ear as they both sat in his car. Primrose blushed, tilting her head down, seemingly caught off guard by Joel's words. She pursed her lips and responded.
"You rogue, is that all you can think of?"
Joel's laughter echoed in the cold night wind, carried by a gentle breeze to Primrose's ears. On the way back, both their hearts resonated with unfamiliar emotions, but they shared a common point: they were both very happy. Regardless of what might happen in the future, at least they had each other, and they would stay together for a long, long time.