"Don't worry, Mom. I'll be good to Lele for the rest of my life."
Below the stage, Yan Zhiyi's parents had tears in their eyes, too.
"Mr. Xia Shule, are you willing to entrust your life to Mr. Yan Zhiyi?" The officiant's voice mingled with the wind.
Xia Shule gazed at Yan Zhiyi. The atmosphere of an actual wedding really was something else. It made even him want to cry, tears glimmering in his eyes. "I am."
"Mr. Yan Zhiyi, are you willing to cherish and protect Mr. Xia Shule through whatever storms life may bring?"
Tears shimmered in Yan Zhiyi's eyes as well. He had never imagined a scene like this in his life. "I am."
Yan Zhiyi's throat tightened. He took the ring, his fingertips brushing the back of Xia Shule's hand. It was cool to the touch, yet felt as though it were on fire. His fingers trembled slightly as he slipped the ring onto Xia Shule's ring finger.
He lowered his head and kissed the ring reverently.
Xia Shule admired his ring for a moment, then took the other one out of the ring box. His cool, small hand took Yan Zhiyi's, and he gently slipped the ring onto his finger.
Their hands rested together, their wedding rings gleaming in the sunlight.
At that moment, Yan Zhiyi felt that a wedding ring was an intimate thing. As long as the other person wore that ring, you knew he was yours, that the closest bond was the one between the two of you.
It was only a tiny band, yet circling a ring finger seemed to bind an entire lifetime.
"Now, the groom may kiss the groom!"
Applause and cheers erupted. Yan Zhiyi gently cupped Xia Shule's face, his faintly trembling lips meeting Xia Shule's. So soft, so fragrant, so sweet...
Xia Shule's eyes widened. They had never kissed during rehearsals. Although he had known they would definitely kiss on the lips today... That was my fucking first kiss!! My first kiss!!!!
After that featherlight kiss, Yan Zhiyi pulled back. He wanted another, but it wasn't time for that yet.
Below the stage, Lai Jiangtian sobbed uncontrollably, covering his mouth and crying so hard he nearly threw up. Once the two finished kissing, he cheered through his sobs. "Boohoo... Yan! Be happy!"
Yin Xian could barely take it anymore. His own eyes were a little red, too, but surely there was no need to go this far, man?
"Are you really that moved?"
A few large tears flew from Lai Jiangtian's face as he turned his head. "Boohoo... Don't you think the chances of someone as cold and heartless as Yan finding the person he loves and deciding to spend the rest of his life with him are tiny? He found someone he loves despite those tiny odds. I'm just so happy for him."
Yin Xian smiled in resignation. This guy was so emotional and sensitive. Now that he'd put it that way, Yin Xian wanted to cry even more. What was he supposed to do? He patted Lai Jiangtian's shoulder. "Idiot..."
Lai Jiangtian was too caught up in crying to trade barbs with Yin Xian. When he turned back, two pairs of bright red eyes met, a large tear welling in each man's eyes.
For a moment, they looked like two people from the same hometown meeting far from home, their eyes brimming with tears.
Then... Lai Jiangtian and Xiang Lin hugged each other and cried, telling each other how deeply moved they were.
"Xiang Lin!"
Standing on the stage, Xia Shule shouted to Xiang Lin.
Xiang Lin stopped crying and looked at the radiant Xia Shule onstage. He shone with a dazzling light, just as he had when he stood in front of Xiang Lin to protect him as a child.
Xia Shule threw the bouquet hard, sending it into Xiang Lin's arms. Afraid it might break if it fell, Xiang Lin caught it securely.
Looking at the bouquet in his hands made him want to cry even more. Earlier, he'd said he was getting a great deal because the bouquet was gold, but what truly moved him was that Xia Shule had been so determined to give it to him.
He had been told beforehand, but being there in person felt different.
Xiang Lin immediately cried even harder. "Waaaaah!!!!"
Ming Yue laughed at the sight, torn between amusement and exasperation. She turned and gently wiped the tears from Xiang Lin's little face. "You've cried your face into a mess~"
"Hahahaha!" Everyone burst out laughing.
The atmosphere was warm and harmonious. Only one person wore a dark expression. Jiang Gechen had watched the pair resentfully the entire time.
Xia Shule, you invited me to your wedding just to play hard to get and keep drawing my attention, didn't you? Why else would you ask me to come?
Jiang Gechen pressed a hand to his chest. He admitted that he did feel a little angry right now.
Very good. You succeeded.
Song Dimu knew nothing of the thoughts running through Jiang Gechen's head beside him. He only felt that the man next to him seemed even gloomier than before...
The sharp-eyed Song Jing'an spotted Jiang Gechen. All of them knew the guy.
Song Jing'an held back his questions for the time being, intending to ask when there were fewer people around. He ended up waiting until the gathering broke up.
Their group stayed behind and went straight back to the Yan Residence together for the evening banquet.
When only a handful of people remained, Song Jing'an asked Yan Zhiyi, "I saw that nephew of yours. I wasn't mistaken, was I?"
"No. I invited him," Yan Zhiyi said succinctly.
Song Jing'an asked, "Why?"
If he remembered correctly, Jiang Gechen had cut ties with the Yan Family back then, and they hadn't been in touch for years. Rather than distant relatives, it would be more accurate to say they detested each other.
Yan Zhiyi's expression didn't change. He sounded as though he were stating something perfectly ordinary. "To tell him that some things no longer belong to him."
Song Jing'an didn't understand, which was only natural. After all, he knew nothing about the history between Xia Shule and Jiang Gechen.
So Song Jing'an looked baffled, feeling as though that explanation hadn't explained anything at all.
Lai Jiangtian noticed what was happening and jogged over. Moments ago, he'd cried as though he were made of water; now he was all smiles again.
"What are you two whispering about behind our backs?"
Song Jing'an didn't beat around the bush. "I saw someone from the Jiang Family, so I was asking Yan about it."
"The Jiang Family!?" Lai Jiangtian's voice cracked. "What's going on? I haven't heard anything about the ice thawing between the two families!"
Yin Xian: ...
Yan Zhiyi explained, "Lele used to... like him. I invited him to tell him that he'll never have anything to do with Lele again, and that he needs to know his place."
They were all dumbfounded. That was the only reason he'd invited Jiang Gechen?
Jiang Gechen still thought Xia Shule was trying to attract his attention. If he knew Yan Zhiyi had only invited him to stake his claim, his office would suffer another disaster.
Lai Jiangtian had now reached the point where he could accept anything. He had mastered the art of taking in new information. "Oh! So it's jealousy. Possessiveness. That's normal. Once someone falls in love, he's no different from a lunatic..."
Yin Xian sounded surprised. "Oh~ You're already that good at taking things in stride?"
"Of course. I can improve, too. But Yan, I'm a little curious about the story between Lele and that Jiang Family guy. How did he fall for him? He doesn't like him anymore?"
Xia Shule had just washed his hands. As he approached from the side, he heard something about himself and someone from the Jiang Family.
Before Yan Zhiyi could answer, Xia Shule gave an untroubled smile.