During the weekend, Leonard and Sophie stepped out hand in hand for a rare day off together. With no meetings and no urgent calls, they slipped away from the pressure of family expectations and business affairs for something simpler—a quiet date, just the two of them.
Their first stop was a cozy café tucked in a quieter corner of the city, the scent of roasted beans and fresh pastries greeting them as they entered. Sophie picked the window seat, and Leonard—still in his usual fitted shirt, sleeves rolled up—settled across from her with his fingers laced around hers on the table.
"You're staring," Sophie teased, taking a sip of her caramel latte.
Leonard gave a lazy smile, his eyes warm. "Just wondering how I got so lucky. You're even prettier in the sunlight."
Sophie blushed, pretending to hide behind her cup. "Flattery won't get you another bite of my croissant."
"It's not flattery if it's true," he said smoothly, before stealing a bite anyway.
After their light breakfast and some quiet laughter, Leonard tugged Sophie to her feet and led her into a sleek, modern jewelry boutique nestled in the nearby shopping mall. Sophie looked at him, puzzled.
"Why are we here?" she asked.
Leonard paused in front of a display of simple yet elegant rings. "Because," he said, turning to face her fully, "we never had a proper wedding. No ceremony. No ring. I want to fix that."
Sophie blinked, surprised, as her heart fluttered. "You mean now?"
He nodded. "Let's get them custom-made. Something that's just ours." Then he added with a playful smirk, "Also, a ring might keep other men from eyeing you every time we step outside."
Sophie burst into laughter. "Oh? Then I suppose my ring better be extra shiny. It'll help keep the women away from you."
Leonard leaned closer, brushing her cheek with the back of his hand. "You're the only woman I want near me."
They spent the next hour selecting their wedding bands—Sophie chose a slender rose gold ring with subtle vine patterns engraved along the band, while Leonard's was a clean platinum band with her name etched delicately on the inside. Watching him place the order with such quiet seriousness made Sophie's heart swell.
Later, as they wandered through the mall, bags swinging lightly from their hands, Sophie suddenly paused, spotting a familiar figure in the crowd.
"Oh no," she whispered, subtly ducking behind Leonard.
"What is it?" he asked, amused.
"My department manager, Vivian. She has admired you for very long," Sophie muttered.
Leonard raised an eyebrow. "Should I be flattered?"
"Maybe I should step away for a while," Sophie hissed, pulling him in another direction.
Right after Sophie and Leonard were separated, Vivian spotted Leonard.
"Mr Yan?" she called out, quickening her pace. "I didn't expect to see you here! Are you alone? Maybe we could catch up over a drink?"
Leonard's expression didn't change, but his tone was firm. "Actually, I'm with my wife."
Vivian blinked. "Wife? You are already married?"
Leonard nodded. "Yes. The family arranged our marriage after my accident. We'll be having a proper wedding ceremony in two months. I'll be inviting the management team."
Vivian's smile faltered. "Oh… that's… nice to hear. Congratulations." She offered a quick, strained smile and excused herself without looking back.
Sophie walked back to Leonard once Vivian disappeared. "You really enjoy watching women retreat when they find out you're married, don't you?"
Leonard chuckled. "I just like reminding the world you're mine."
*****
That evening, they returned to the Yan residence just as the sky turned a dusky rose. Madam Yan and Grandpa were seated at the stone table beneath the old camphor tree, enjoying their usual evening tea ritual.
Leonard and Sophie walked hand-in-hand down the stone path. Sophie glanced up at Leonard. He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze before she stepped forward. "We have something to share," she began, her voice soft but clear. "We've set the date for the wedding. Two months from now."
Madam Yan's teacup halted midair, her eyes sparkling instantly. "Finally!" she exclaimed, placing her cup down with a decisive clink. "I've been waiting to throw you two the celebration you deserve."
Leonard chuckled. "We figured it was about time."
Grandpa leaned back in his chair with a satisfied nod. "It's about time this house hosts something joyful again. A proper Yan wedding, hm?" He looked at Sophie, his stern expression softening.
"You'll make a fine bride, child. And Leonard…" he turned to his grandson, "don't you dare make her cry on that day."
"I wouldn't dare," Leonard replied with a rare smile. "She'd make me sleep in the garden."
Madam Yan laughed, her laughter rich and melodic. "Then I'll have the gardener prepare a pillow and blanket just in case."
Sophie giggled, the warmth of the Yan household wrapping around her like a gentle embrace.
"We'll send out the invitations soon. But we wanted you two to be the first to know."
Madam Yan rose and walked over to Sophie, taking both her hands into hers. "Thank you, dear. For coming into this family. For loving my son the way you do."
Sophie's eyes glistened with emotion. "And thank you—for accepting me."
Leonard wrapped an arm around her waist and added with sincerity, "She's not just part of the family. She is the heart of it now."
Grandpa cleared his throat, blinking away the emotion in his eyes. "Hmph. Sentimental boy."
*****
That night in their bedroom. Leonard was lying on his side of the bed, flipping through a magazine of wedding highlights, while Sophie sat cross-legged with her laptop on her lap, scrolling through pictures of wedding venues and bridal dresses.
Her eyes sparkled as she paused at a photo of a garden wedding with twinkling fairy lights strung between trees. "This one's so pretty," she murmured, more to herself than anyone else.
Leonard looked up and leaned over, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her closer until her back rested against his chest.
"Mmm," he said, planting a soft kiss just below her ear, "You'd look beautiful anywhere… but I'd like to see you walk down an aisle under those lights."
Sophie blushed, her fingers nervously brushing the trackpad. "Do you think I should invite… my family?" she asked softly. "Not that they care. But it feels strange not to."
Leonard's arms tightened around her slightly, his voice steady and warm. "If you want to, we will. But only the ones who truly matter to you. This wedding is for us, Sophie—not a show for them."
She turned her head to look at him, eyes glimmering. "Just having you and your family feels more like home than anything I had before."
Leonard smiled, cupping her cheek. "Then that's all we need."
Their lips met in a soft kiss, slow and tender. Sophie melted into him, Leonard put her katop away and laid her down against the pillows. His kisses deepened, unhurried, his touch tender and deliberate.
His fingers traced the curve of her jaw, then slid into her hair, cradling her head as his mouth explored hers with aching sweetness. She sighed against his lips, her hands roaming his shoulders, then down his chest, feeling the heat of his skin beneath his shirt.
He broke the kiss only to trail his lips along her throat, nipping lightly at the sensitive spot just below her ear. A shiver ran through her, and she arched into him, her breath hitching as his hands glided down her sides, teasing the hem of her shirt before slipping beneath.
The brush of his fingertips against her waist sent a jolt of desire through her. She tugged at his shirt, desperate to feel him skin to skin. He obliged, pulling it over his head before returning to her, his body pressing hers into the mattress. The weight of him and his warmth was intoxicating.
His mouth found hers again, this time with a hunger that made her pulse race. She tangled her fingers in his hair, losing herself in the slow, sensual rhythm of their bodies moving together.
His hand slid up her ribs, his thumb brushing the underside of her breast, and she gasped, her hips lifting instinctively. He smiled against her lips, teasing, taking his time—savoring her.
"Tell me what you want," he murmured, his voice rough with desire.
She answered not with words but with action, rolling him onto his back and straddling his hips. His hands gripped her waist, his gaze darkening as she leaned down to claim his mouth once more.
The night stretched before them, endless and sweet, every touch a promise of pleasure yet to come.