With that, Director Chang stepped back, leaving the stage entirely to the newlyweds.
Ji Yanzhi and Ji Ting stood facing each other. Ji Yanzhi took a deep breath and spoke first. "Ji Ting, many people say marriage is a complicated commitment. But to me, it's simple."
"I promise to always be your strongest support, through hardship and good fortune alike."
"I promise to always respect every decision you make and protect your dreams as I would my own life."
"I promise that my love will never fade, that it will remain just as it was on our first day together."
These words might have sounded simple, perhaps even too plain. But he had already made his most solemn, lifelong vow to Ji Ting the moment he proposed.
"Ji Ting, I belong to you. Forever."
Ji Ting listened quietly, his clear eyes reflecting Ji Yanzhi's utterly earnest expression, as though he wanted to engrave every subtle change on his face into his heart.
When his turn came, he drew a small breath. "Thermodynamics tells us that the universe ends in entropy increase and heat death. But I promise to do everything I can to keep the gravity between us pulling toward you, toward order and warmth."
"When you're tired, my shoulder will always be here for you to lean on."
"When you want to talk, I'll be your most attentive listener. When you don't, we'll sit together in silence."
Ji Ting's voice grew softer, carrying an almost reverent sincerity. "There is no constant called 'forever' in physics. But I want to take every ordinary 'today' and, together with you, make it into the 'forever' we want."
"That's the best promise I can think of."
As his words faded, a profound silence settled over the banquet hall, then broke with faint but