“There’s no need to gush so much over it. Let’s pick up the pace. She hasn’t even gotten her makeup done yet,” Qin Ya urged impatiently.
The stylist laughed and gingerly placed the crown on Lin Xinyan’s head. He held off from putting the veil on her for now as it would get in the way of her makeup.
After ten minutes, the makeup artist was done with Zong Yanxi and began to work on Lin Xinyan’s makeup.
While this was happening, the makeup artist remarked, “You have such beautiful features. Individually, they’re all delicate, and when they’re put together, it doesn’t result in the kind of beauty that would stun the crowd; instead, it results in the exquisite kind that appears more beautiful the more one look at you.”
Lin Xinyan smiled bashfully.
The makeup artist had already mentioned it the previous day, but she could not help repeating herself. “You don’t look like a mother of three at all; you look so young.”
Lin Xinyan just smiled politely.
She was at a loss as to how to reply because it was true. She was indeed young. At her age, most people would have only just gotten married. When she was eighteen, most girls were still in school, but she was already a mother.
After about an hour, her makeup was done. Even on ordinary days when she did not wear makeup, she was beautiful with a fresh and pure look. When she wore makeup, however, her beauty was greatly enhanced and she exuded a unique feminine charm.
Qin Ya sighed. “You look stunning. I think you should wear makeup more often.”
“Is that a compliment or are you saying that I look bad without makeup?” Lin Xinyan asked, teasing her.
“You’re pretty even without any makeup. It just enhances your beauty,” the makeup artist explained.
Lin Xinyan went to go put on her wedding dress. Zong Yanchen was the last to get his makeup done. It was almost eleven when everyone was finally ready.
As part of the finishing touches, Qin Ya smoothed out Lin Xinyan’s wedding dress and the stylist put the veil on her.
Since Lin Xinyan did not have many friends, she wanted Qin Ya to be her maid of honor. However, she refused due to her own circumstances.
There were many traditions that one needed to observe when planning a wedding. Those who were married or those who were in unhappy marriages were not suited to be maids of honor. While Lin Xinyan did not mind, Qin Ya did not want to take the risk of passing her unhappiness unto others.
While Zong Jinghao had many candidates in mind for his best man, he decided not to choose one since Lin Xinyan did not have a maid of honor. Hence, the wedding did not have a maid of honor nor a best man.
Once all the preparations were done, Lin Xinyan sat on the sofa awaiting the entourage that would bring her to the groom’s house.
Qin Ya and Zhou Chunchun helped hold her train while Aunt Yu and Aunt Wang got the dowry ready.
The dowry was prepared by Shao Yun, as he felt it was his duty to do it since Lin Xinyan’s parents were no longer with them.
He had the money, and furthermore, that money was from Lin Xinyan’s father, so it was only natural that he spent it with no reservations.
The dowry consisted of jewelry, artifacts made of jade and gold, property, and cash. In addition, it was said that one’s dowry had to include a blanket, so he prepared one with gold embroidery.
Shao Yun went to great lengths to procure these items. While he originally knew nothing about these customs, he decided to go all out after he heard about them from the wedding planners.
The dowry was so extravagant that it took up half the living room.
Because many media companies came to Zong Jinghao’s aid during the previous incident, he agreed to do exclusive interviews with some of them.
Aunt Wang and Aunt Yu organized the dowry and specially arranged it so that the red leather boxes in which the cash was kept could be clearly seen. There was so much cash that it took up three whole boxes.
Shao Yun’s intentions were simple. While Zong Jinghao’s family was wealthy, Lin Xinyan’s was not far behind either. He would not allow any rumors that she married Zong Jinghao for the sake of social climbing.
He wanted everyone to know that her family was wealthy too and that she and Zong Jinghao were not only an ideal couple, but even their family status was well-matched.
The reporters gathered around, taking numerous pictures of the dowry.
Aunt Yu stood in front of the window, waiting for the entourage.
They arrived at exactly twelve noon. There were so many of them that the black limousines driving down the street resembled a giant dragon. “They’re here!” she announced excitedly.
