小星星今天要介紹的愛情故事就發生在身邊：來自美國的中國日報資深編輯Randy Wright，通過相親網站結識了小他10歲的中國妻子Wang Shijun，一位來自天津的49歲教師，並於近日在中國日報北京總社舉行了溫馨而浪漫的婚禮。祝福的同時，一起來看看他們如何從匆匆的相識，快速走進婚姻殿堂！
為什麼一個女人願意花五個小時的時間，搭乘著大巴、火車、地鐵幾度輾轉從天津到北京朝陽區，只是為了和一個剛在相親網站上認識的59歲美國人吃頓飯？更何況兩人只在Skype上聊了幾句，這老美對她來說可是名副其實的陌生人。
我問過她這個問題，也就是我的妻子。
我十月份從美國來到中國，就職於中國日報。我想讓全世界一起來見證這個快速發展中的國度，而且在美國媒體奉獻了35年的光陰，對我來說第一次到亞洲一定是一次刺激新鮮的經歷。另外，一直以來我都想學中文。所以，我來到了這。
說實在的，如果早料到自己會結婚，我一定會把燕尾服帶過來。
當然，我熱愛我的工作。我喜歡繞著北京城騎單車，喜歡和熱情好客的人打交道。雖然喝熱水、魚頭湯對一個西方人來說還是一件很新奇的事，但這絲毫不阻擋我對中華美食的喜愛。
幸運如我，因為我49歲的靈魂伴侶Wang Shijun上得廳堂下得廚房，當她在廚房裡忙活時，我也能樂在其中，等待著色香味俱全的美味出爐。這比我給她做菜好多了。
她驗證了一句老話：要想徵服一個男人的心就得先徵服他的胃。
不過在她徵服我的胃之前我就為她淪陷了。她第二次來北京找我，我就完完全全地愛上了她。
她的優雅、高貴、好脾氣讓我抵擋不住。「我想娶她」，還記得這個念頭第一次出現在腦海裡時是在我家的客廳。她回天津前在火車站向我吻別，那時我更堅定了信念，我娶定她了。
第一次約會，我們在公園漫步，看了一場朝陽大劇院的雜技表演，吃了TGI Friday’s餐廳的晚餐，冒著嚴寒看鳥巢場館，還站上了天壇的天心石。
天壇的建築多以九和九的倍數為主，原來在中國的傳統文化中九代表吉祥。所以我們的婚禮上有一個九層的大蛋糕，象徵了我們的新生活有一個幸運的開始。
婚禮的舉辦地點有些不一般—在辦公樓，中國日報的領導和250個同事出席了典禮。
這些人都是我在中國最親近的人，所以邀請他們在一個方便的地方參加婚禮也不覺得突兀。還有什麼地方會比一樓大堂更方便呢？
多虧了有Wifi，我在美國的父母通過Skype參加了婚禮。這是一場非常歡樂的聚會，九層的幸運蛋糕被一掃而空。
現在，我和Shijun正打算去度蜜月，上海是候選城市之一。
對應屆生的調查顯示上海已經超過北京成為了最受歡迎的城市。它很年輕又充滿活力，我一直想去東方明珠旋轉餐廳體驗一下。我的腦子一直在轉，所以我可能不會察覺到餐廳是不是在旋轉。
還記得我開頭提到的那個問題嗎？為什麼一個女人會不顧5個小時的路程千裡迢迢地去見一個剛在網上認識的男人？
我問了Shijun，她毫不猶豫地回答道： 「隨心而動。」
A meeting online is followed by several journeys of discovery in which they followed their hearts. It ended in a most unusual wedding.
Why would a woman make a five-hour journey by bus, train and subway from Tianjin to Beijing’s Chaoyang district to have dinner with a virtual stranger, a 59-year-old American man she had met only recently on an Internet dating site and talked to only a few times on Skype?
That’s the question I asked her — the woman who is now my wife.
I came to China from the United States in October to work at China Daily because I wanted to be a part of presenting this extraordinary country to the world, and I thought coming to Asia for the first time would be an exciting new experience after 35 years as a journalist at big US newspapers. Besides, I always wanted to learn to speak Chinese.
If I had known I』d be getting married, I would have brought along my tuxedo.
Of course, I love my work. I love riding my bicycle around Beijing. I love interacting with the warm and generous people here. And the food is amazing — though hot water to drink and fish-head soup remain novelties for a Westerner.
Lucky for me, my soulmate, Wang Shijun, 49, loves to cook, and when she does her magic in the kitchen, the result is invariably both delicious and eye-catching, much better than when I cook for her. She proves the old saying that the road to a man’s heart passes through his stomach.
My heart, however, was lost long before she fed me. I fell in love, without a doubt, on her second visit to Beijing. Her grace, gentleness and good humor were irresistible. I remember the moment in my living room when the thought first entered my mind: 「I think I want to marry this woman.」 When she kissed me goodbye at the railway station before returning to Tianjin, there was no doubt.
Our first dates included walks in local parks, a Chinese acrobatics show at the Chaoyang Theater, dinner at TGI Friday’s, avisit to the Birds Nest stadium on a freezing winter day and standing on a stone, the Heart of Heaven, at a temple where emperors once prayed for good harvests.
The ancient architecture makes generous use of the number nine and its multiples, which I』ve since learned is auspicious in Chinese tradition. And so it was fitting to have a nine-layer cake at our wedding ceremony to symbolize an auspicious start on our new life together.
Our ceremony took place in an unusual setting — at the office, with the participation of China Daily executives and about 250 colleagues. These people are the nearest thing I have to family in China, and so it felt right to invite them all to the wedding at a convenient venue. And what could be more convenient than the lobby on the first floor? Thanks to wifi, my parents in the US were able to attend via Skype. It was a lot of fun, and all nine layers of the auspicious cake disappeared.
Right now, Shijun and I are planning our honeymoon, and Shanghai is on the list of possibilities. A recent survey of college students nearing graduation showed that it topped Beijing as the most preferred city. It’s youthful and energetic, and I』ve always wanted to check out the Oriental Pearl TV Tower’s rotating restaurant. My head is already spinning, so I might not even notice.
But what about that first question? Why would a woman make a five-hour journey to see a man she only just met online?
I asked Shijun that question, and she answered without hesitation: 「I followed my heart.」
About the couple
Date: July 24
Venue: China Daily's Lobby Hall
Groom: Randy Wright, 59, senior editor of China Daily from the US
Bride: Wang Shijun, 49, teacher from Tianjin
【歡迎投稿】
對一些人來說，生活中可以沒有一切，但唯獨不能沒有愛情。如果您跟我們剛才介紹的這對新人一樣，有一個動人或者甜美的愛情故事，一定要跟我們分享!
星報每周設置了專門的版面刊登愛情故事以及婚禮照片，讓我們把您的浪漫變成永恆... (具體刊載要求請諮詢微信君^_^)
TELL US YOUR LOVE STORY！The Star has a page where we』d like to hear your love story, and share your wedding photos. If you have an unusual romance or a spectacular wedding, we want to hear from you. Send your story (500 words) and 6 to 8 photos with captions to shanghaistar@chinadaily.com.cn.
查看【愛情故事】系列（全部雙語）
回復「0803」，查看婚紗照新拍法
回復「0724」，查看跨越60年的愛情故事
回復「0716」，查看遠東的俄羅斯浪漫
回復「0709」，查看為酒瓶設計婚紗的人
回復「0625」，查看24小時內的三次求婚
回復「0618」，查看小紙條裡的愛情故事
回復「0611」，查看命中注定遇見你