The Wedding Ceremony Ends

As the newlyweds entered, "Wedding in a Dream" began playing at just the right moment.

Ji Mingzhu wore a moon-white suit, while Gu Shang wore an understated yet luxurious black one. Hand in hand, they walked down the long, scarlet carpet to the spot where they would exchange their vows.

Nervous, Ji Mingzhu felt a slight chill in his fingertips, but a warm, dry, broad hand held his, enveloping it entirely in Gu Shang's palm. The young man's soft lips parted and closed as he followed the ceremony's script, reciting wedding vows sweet with the flavor of strawberry cream.

Once the ceremony was complete, the wedding was essentially over.

Everyone present was busy managing substantial family fortunes and businesses. Even Gu Shang had dealt with the day's work ahead of time to squeeze out time to get married. Now that the wedding was over, naturally, everyone headed home.

Still rather dazed, Ji Mingzhu followed his husband into the wedding car and set off for the Gu Residence.

Unlike the spacious wedding hall, even the most luxurious car suddenly made everything feel close and confined. Ji Mingzhu could smell the pleasant scent of the man beside him.

The young man wrinkled his nose in a slightly childish manner, wondering why he smelled so different from his husband.

His husband's scent was steady and mature, with a cool note to it, much like Gu Shang himself, giving an impression of aloof indifference. That was fine, though. Other people would hardly dare approach a man who kept his distance, which meant fewer unwanted admirers.

The man's presence was so overpowering that Ji Mingzhu could faintly feel his warmth along the leg closest to him.

Strange. This wasn't his first time riding in one of these vehicles that moved on their own. Why hadn't he felt this uncomfortable when he sat with Ji Zhian?

When Ji Mingzhu had sat beside that unrelated younger brother he had acquired, he had been more than merely comfortable. He had practically treated himself as the master and everyone else as servants pulling his carriage.

That had been Ji Mingzhu's first ride in a modern car, yet the coolness in his proud, alluring eyes had startled Ji Zhian. It was as though this country-bumpkin brother of his were actually a young master from an illustrious family, raised in luxury and accustomed to being waited upon. Fortunately, Ji Mingzhu's fascination with everything along the way had dispelled that absurd notion. He was just a country bumpkin coming to the city and putting on airs.

Ji Mingzhu's beautiful eyes darted about. He made no sound, but the perceptive man beside him, who had been resting with his eyes closed, noticed anyway.

Gu Shang frowned and looked over. "What is it?"

Ever since the ceremony ended, Gu Shang had gradually calmed down and begun reviewing his earlier actions.

He felt he had made a few mistakes and had not been composed enough. Testing Ji Mingzhu's true intentions on the spot, for instance. He could easily have waited until the wedding was over and they were back at the Gu Residence, then slowly sounded him out in the days that followed.

He had still been too hasty.

Perhaps it was because Ji Mingzhu was the first person outside his family with whom he had formed such an intimate bond.

Gu Shang was cold and emotionally detached. Faced with the unfamiliar role of a spouse suddenly appearing in his life, he felt a rare touch of uncertainty.

Now that he had reviewed everything, his mind was much clearer.

A spouse could simply be an ornament to him. Fortunately, Ji Mingzhu really was exceptionally good-looking. Even if he took him out in public in the future, he would make a very exquisite piece of arm candy.

As for Ji Mingzhu's turbulent background, the larger the business, the less such things mattered. Only smaller companies were desperate to climb higher and improve their corporate image, and a blemish on a marriage partner's reputation could indeed affect their share prices. But for an enterprise as vast as the Gu Corporation, the identity of the family head's spouse did not matter at all.

So no matter how many schemes Ji Mingzhu harbored, as long as he kept them out of the open, Gu Shang was willing to turn a blind eye. As long as Ji Mingzhu fulfilled his role as the family head's spouse, he would not mind indulging whatever vanity and small appetites for wealth the young man might have.

As long as he did not overstep.

In short, as long as Ji Mingzhu had the sense to follow his lead, he was willing to give him a few benefits. The young man would accommodate him, not the other way around.

As for anything more, he would never give it.

Sensing that the young man beside him seemed a little restless, Gu Shang opened his eyes and looked over.

Ji Mingzhu pressed his lips together and asked, "Have we finished all the steps of the ceremony?"

The man raised one sharply defined brow, conveying a rather perfunctory, "What else?"

The young man frowned slightly, his clear eyes full of confusion. "Are we going home now?"

Gu Shang lowered his eyes, savoring the words "going home." "Yes."

Ji Mingzhu asked in surprise, "Aren't they coming to play bridal-chamber games? What about feeling for apples? Aren't we doing any of that?"

In the Great Ning Dynasty, those had all been essential parts of the proceedings!

The guests would merrily tease the newlyweds, who would receive their blessings amid laughter and good cheer. What a lovely occasion that would be.

Gu Shang was speechless.

Gu Shang had wondered what the young man was going to say, only to hear such a naive question.

He rubbed his temple. "No one dares play pranks on me, and no one would make me drink."

He had indeed had two drinks, but only out of courtesy. That was nothing like being plied with alcohol.

Ji Mingzhu gave a subdued "Oh."

Gu Shang was speechless again.

Wasn't it a good thing that his husband held such a high position that no one dared offend him?

Looking at the young man's fair, delicate profile, President Gu sank into thought.

Why did it seem as though he and Ji Mingzhu were on completely different wavelengths? Was he getting older? Was there a generation gap between him and young people these days? Twenty-seven wasn't old, was it...? All those articles said he was young and accomplished.

"What is it now?" Rather than overthinking it, he might as well ask.

Ji Mingzhu hid his disappointment and pressed his lips together. "Nothing."

Ji Mingzhu felt a little out of sorts. Having eaten only a single strawberry cupcake throughout the wedding, the young man belatedly realized he was thirsty. He pressed his lips together twice, but his mouth was still dry, so he licked his lips.

The young man's lower lip was a little damp, soft and pink.

The man's indifferent gaze lingered on those tender lips for a few moments longer before he looked away without a word.