The wedding and the sixty-second challenge

Time flew by amidst the sweet and tense preparations, and before we knew it, the wedding day arrived.

Inside the banquet hall of the "Garden Above the Clouds" hotel, soft simulated sunlight shines through the dome, intertwining with carefully arranged star lights to create a dreamlike atmosphere.

There weren't many guests, but they were all close relatives and friends.

Luo Li's parents, Zhou Wan and Luo Mingyuan, wore brand-new formal attire, their faces beaming with undisguised joy and excitement.

Yang Shan, Qingqiu Ze, and Kong Yan'er sat to one side. Kong Yan'er even secretly started a mini live stream, ostensibly to "record happy moments for his brothers."

Lu Jingheng sat quietly in the corner, a gentle smile on his face.

As the wedding march began, all eyes turned to the entrance of the banquet hall.

Wearing a pure white wedding dress and a lace shawl that was barely visible, Castorice walked slowly towards Luo Li, supported by her mother, Zhou Wan.

Her long, silver-purple hair was elegantly styled and adorned with delicate crystal headpieces, which accentuated her long neck and stunning beauty.

She lowered her head slightly, her cheeks flushed with a beautiful blush, and her purple eyes held a mixture of shyness, nervousness, and an almost sacred determination.

At the other end of the red carpet, Luo Li stood tall and straight, dressed in a sharp black gown.

He watched his Castorice walk towards him step by step, his heart feeling as if it were filled with something, swollen and burning.

His eyes were fixed on the figure that drew ever closer, the one who would drape a wedding gown over his shoulders.

Finally, Zhou Wan solemnly placed Castorice's hand into Luo Li's hand.

Treat her well.

Zhou Wan, her eyes red-rimmed, whispered her words of advice.

"I will, Mom."

Luo Li held Castorice's slightly cool hand tightly, his voice low and firm.

The ceremony proceeded smoothly and in an orderly manner.

During the ring exchange, when Luo Li slipped the ring inlaid with a purple crystal onto Castorice's slender ring finger, he could feel her finger trembling slightly.

When he felt her carefully placing the men's ring on his hand, a strange sense of fulfillment, a feeling of "belonging," welled up inside him.

Finally, the most crucial moment has arrived.

With a smile, the emcee announced in an engaging voice, "Now, the groom may kiss the bride!"

Good-natured laughter and applause immediately erupted from the audience. Yang Shan whistled, Qingqiu Ze pointed his miniature camera at the stage, and Kong Yan'er wore an expression of anticipation for the show.

Luo Li took a deep breath and turned to look at Castorice.

Their eyes met.

Castorice's purple eyes shimmered with moisture, filled with shyness, and her long eyelashes trembled like the wings of a startled butterfly.

She could feel Luo Li tighten his grip on her hand slightly, his burning gaze seeming to say, "Are you ready?"

She gently closed her eyes and tilted her head back slightly, a gesture of complete trust and surrender.

[Limited-time mission "The Kiss of the Vow" - timer begins! Emotional investment monitoring activated!]

The system's notification sounded in Luo Li's mind like a starting gun.

"Don't rush!" Luo Li told herself.

He recalled his experience from the past few days of "practical teaching" and realized that what the system needed was not lust, but genuine emotional resonance.

He didn't kiss her immediately. Instead, he raised his hand and gently stroked her burning cheek with his fingertips, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

This small, cherished gesture quieted the commotion from the audience slightly, and Zhou Wan wiped her eyes with emotion.

Then, he slowly lowered his head, as if handling a rare treasure, and gently, tentatively touched those two soft lips.

At first, it was just a brief, tentative caress, filled with endless tenderness.

He could feel the stiffness in Castorice's body, but under his gentle guidance, that stiffness gradually softened.

Her arms had somehow wrapped around his waist, and she responded awkwardly but with effort.

The kiss deepened.

Luo Li skillfully used the results of her "diligent study" over the past few days, patiently and calmly describing and inviting the taste with her tongue, leading her to immerse herself in the experience.

He closed his eyes, fully immersing himself in the scent, warmth, and unconditional dependence of the person in his arms.

What flashed through my mind were her confusion at our first meeting, her clumsiness and gentleness in our daily interactions, her resolute decision to stand up for him, and the starlight in her eyes when she agreed to marry him...

He loved her so much, to the very core of his being. This love was so intense, it almost burst from his chest.

The Castorice, too, succumbed.

Her initial shyness gradually melted away in Luo Li's passionate yet restrained kiss.

She could clearly feel the intense, unwavering love and affection he conveyed.

Everything around us seemed to disappear, the noise faded away, leaving only our intertwined breaths and heartbeats.

She stopped thinking about tasks or durations, and simply instinctively drew closer to him, responding to him and immersing herself completely in the happiness of being enveloped in love.

[Emotional engagement: 91%...92%... Continuing to rise!]

Time seemed to stretch out, yet also seemed to pass in an instant.

Below the stage, the jeers had long since turned into quiet observation and touched smiles.

Kong Yan'er silently mouthed "awesome" to the camera.

Yang Shan smiled honestly, while Qing Qiuze quietly adjusted the camera to record this beautiful moment.

[58 seconds, 59 seconds, 60 seconds! Timer expired!]

[Ding! Congratulations, host, for completing the limited-time wedding special mission: "The Kiss of the Vow"!]

[Task Rewards: The special two-player buff "United Hearts Lock" (permanent) has been activated! 3 'Happy Memories' crystals have been stored in your system space!]

The system notification sound finally relaxed Luo Li's tense nerves.

He reluctantly and slowly brought the long and passionate kiss to a close.

Their foreheads touched, they breathed softly, their cheeks flushed with passion, their eyes seeing only each other's reflections, as if the whole world had nothing to do with them.

Wow--!

"Have you kissed enough, Li Zi?"

"The bride is so beautiful!"

The audience erupted in enthusiastic applause, cheers, and good-natured banter.

Castorice finally snapped out of the almost suffocating kiss and realized what had just happened, especially in front of so many people! She let out a soft moan and buried her burning face in Luo Li's chest, too ashamed to look up.

Luo Li hugged her tightly, his face filled with unprecedented satisfaction and pride. He gently patted Castorice's back to comfort her while grinning at the audience below. His smile was bright yet roguish, as if to say, "How about it? My wife, I can kiss her for as long as I want!"

The wedding concluded successfully in a lively and warm atmosphere.

That night was their wedding night.

Inside the newly decorated bridal chamber, red candles flickered, creating an ambiguous atmosphere.

Castorice had changed out of her elaborate wedding dress and was now wearing a more form-fitting red silk nightgown. She sat on the edge of the bed, still a little shy, but her eyes held a greater tenderness and anticipation as a wife.

After seeing off the last group of friends who were making a ruckus at the wedding night, Luo Li closed the door, shutting herself off from the outside world.

He walked to the bedside, looked at the beauty under the lamp, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

"Castorice..." His voice carried a languid quality and a barely perceptible hoarseness, "Are you... tired today?"

Castorice gently shook her head, her purple eyes shimmering with a captivating glow under the warm light. "It's alright."

Luo Li sat down beside her, naturally taking her hand and stroking the brand-new ring with his fingertips.

"Today's kiss..." he deliberately dragged out the words, with a teasing tone.

Mentioning that kiss, Castorice's face flushed again. She glared at him reproachfully and muttered softly, "... You still dare to say that! For so long... everyone was watching..."

"What's wrong with looking?" Luo Li put his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. "It's only natural for me to kiss my wife... Besides... weren't you... quite engrossed too?"

Unable to argue with him, Castorice could only lightly punch him in embarrassment and annoyance.

Luo Li laughed as she hit him, then his gaze fell on her slightly open neckline caused by her movements, and the sight of her snow-white skin and delicate collarbone darkened his eyes.

"Castorice..." He lowered his head, bringing his breath close to her ear, his hot breath brushing against her sensitive skin, his tone full of suggestion and seduction. "A moment of passion is worth a thousand pieces of gold... Shouldn't we... proceed with the next 'traditional ritual'?"

Castorice's body went limp instantly, her purple eyes glistening with tears. She bit her lower lip, not answering, but instead reaching out to wrap her arms around his neck and pressing her burning cheek against his.

This is a silent invitation.

Luo chuckled softly, and without further hesitation, gently pushed her down onto the soft bed covered with bright red sheets.

The red curtains swayed, their crimson hues reflected in the waves.

Outside the window is the eternal dark red sky of the Blood Age; inside is a warm bridal chamber where love burns brightly.