Shen Peichuan glanced about the room but saw no glimpse of the bride. “Alright, you’re the best! Now quit being a bully and hand her over to me!” he said cheekily.
Qin Ya crossed her arms and retorted, “Hand her over that easily? Certainly not! You need to pass this test so that we can trust you!”
Shen Peichuan blinked at them wordlessly.
“Well, hurry up, or you’ll miss the auspicious time!” urged Qin Ya.
Shen Peichuan said, “Alright! To help my buddy claim his beloved, I’ll take on your challenge!”
He took off his shoes tentatively and looked at the path ahead. He gingerly tested one step on the durian skin with only his socks before suddenly withdrawing in pain. F*cking hell, this hurts! This is the kind of test Su Zhan should attempt instead.
If he’d known about this, asking Su Zhan to attend might’ve been a better idea.
Guan Jing bit his finger and looked at Shen Peichuan. Warily, he asked, “Does it hurt?”
“Not at all,” replied Shen Peichuan, shaking his head. “The durian must’ve been pretty ripe, for even the thorns are soft.” Did he seriously just ask me that? F*ck’s sake, of course, it hurts! thought Shen Peichuan exasperatedly.
He could not tell the truth. If he hadn’t lied about the pain, how else could he encourage Guan Jing to take the plunge with him?
Guan Jing looked incredulously at Shen Peichuan, not believing a word he said. “I usually prick myself when carrying these b*stards. Imagine stepping on these!”
“Well, if you’re not willing to let your own boss be happily married, don’t help me then!” said Shen Peichuan facetiously.
Guan Jin held his tongue. Empty threats, that’s all they are.
Sighing, Guan Jin removed his shoes. “Why, you’re just as bad as Su Zhan! I used to think you were a good person, but now you’re just being mean.”
Shen Peichuan chuckled. “What of it? As long as someone suffers through this with me, anything goes!”
Guan Jin tutted. “You’re inhumane.”
Soon after he said that, he stepped on the durian skin and yelped in pain.
It felt as if the pricks had gone from his soles straight into his bones. This was the kind of torturous pain that made people scream in agony.
Fortunately, he only had to endure it for a short while because there were only a few of them.
Aunt Yu and the makeup artist were at the table explaining the rules. “You’re to alternate between this glass of chili water and that glass of liquor.”
Guan Jing grimaced. “I only want the liquor.”
He would rather drink liquor than the awful-sounding chili water.
“Absolutely not!” said Qin Ya as she approached him.
Guan Jing made a face. “If only you were the maid of honor. I’ll make your torment even worse than mine!”
Qin Ya smiled. “Unfortunately for you, I’m not the maid of honor.”
Secretly, Qin Ya was relieved. Since she was not a bridesmaid, she didn’t have to go through the same ordeal as Guan Jing.
“I’ll go first,” volunteered Guan Jing. He gathered his wits about him and downed the glass of chili water.
The grimace that followed was a comical sight. Not only was the chili water spicy, but it also hurt his throat. It tasted of torment much worse than liquor.
Guan Jing silently vowed never to become anyone’s best man in the future. If he were already being subjected to this even without the role, wouldn’t his treatment as the best man be even worse?
Fortunately, due to the high number of groomsmen, both men didn’t need to drink much.
Qin Ya grinned. “On the account of your sincerity, I present to you the bride!”
She went to the door and knocked. “Open the door, Chun.”
Soon, the door was opened. She stepped aside, allowing them to enter and see the bride.
The room was decorated traditionally, save for the roses on the bedside table. Lin Xinyan sat at the edge of the bed clad in a white wedding dress with her train spread out. Zhou Chunchun had sprinkled red rose petals over it, giving it a very romantic effect.
Everyone consciously moved out of the way to let the groom take a look at his betrothed.
Zong Jinghao stood at the door and stared. They were no strangers to each other, but he was stunned by how beautiful she looked.
The white wedding dress wrapped her slender body in all the right places. Her exposed neck and collarbone looked pale and delicate, like nephrite jade.
Her eyes had a gentle sparkle in them, and her scarlet lips turned upwards in a charming smile. Both elements gave her a regal, elegant air.
She was quite a stunner.
Lin Xinyan also looked up at her groom, who was dressed in a suit. He exuded maturity and stability, something she thought suited him well.
He stepped over the threshold and gently brushed a strand of hair off her forehead. “My bride is very beautiful today.” He grinned.
She’s so beautiful that I want to hide her away and keep her to myself.
Lin Xinyan lowered her eyelids, seemingly coquettish and shy.
Zong Jinghao smiled, captivated by her beauty.
Qin Ya brought over the bride’s wedding shoes.
“Since I’ve taken the initiative to bring these over, don’t I get a thick red packet for my efforts?” she asked mischievously.
Zong Jinghao received the shoes and said, “Peichuan, give her a nice big one!”
It was his wedding day and he was feeling elated.
Shen Peichuan handed Qin Ya the remaining red packet after stuffing in a few more banknotes. “You’re buying me a drink later!”
“No, I’m saving this up!” replied Qin Ya gleefully.
“How stingy of you,” Shen Peichuan huffed, feigning annoyance.
“Haven’t you noticed that from the start?” retorted Qin Ya playfully.
Shen Peichuan smirked wordlessly and let the conversation die down. Instead, he took out his phone and started to photograph the scene—Zong Jinghao had gotten down on one knee to help Lin Xinyan into her shoes.
The heels on her shoes were about five centimeters. They were not too high due to her pregnancy. Lin Xinyan might be tall, but even she could not pull off a wedding dress in flats.
Her dramatic-looking wedding dress would have made her seem shorter and a little unflattering. To counter this, she decided on mid-height heels for the ceremony. After all, she didn’t need to move around much and she could wear something more comfortable after the ceremony.
The silvery-white pair of wedding shoes were rhinestone-studded and glimmered in the light.
Lin Xinyan had slender and delicate feet, with fair-looking toes. Even her toenails hadn’t needed much work.
Zong Jinghao picked up one foot gently and slid on her shoe. Lowering his eyes, he said, “You had been wronged in the past.”
That year, she had become his wife under more muted circumstances. There was no grand wedding, and they didn’t even register their marriage together.
Lin Xinyan had no intention of crying, but the thoughts of her past made tears stream down her face beyond her control.
Zong Jinghao looked up and noticed her crying. He reached over to wipe her tears away and asked, “Today is our special day, so why are you sad?”
She smiled. “Sad? These are tears of joy.”
“If you keep crying, you’ll ruin your beautiful makeup. Do you want to look like a ghost on your wedding day?” asked Zong Jinghao playfully as he wiped more tears off.
“Zong Jinghao! Are you calling me ugly?” she asked in mock indignance. “Fine, I won’t marry you then!”
Zong Jinghao leaned over to hug her. “Too late for that, I’m afraid! You have to marry me, like it or not!”
Someone in the crowd yelled for the ceremony to begin, and the bride was ready to leave her home.
Immediately, the air was filled with festive cheer. Qin Ya and Zhou Chunchun lifted Li Xinyan’s train and the whole bridal party left the villa.
Just then, a loud bang was heard and colorful confetti descended from the sky.
The leading wedding car was a white Rolls-Royce Phantom, decorated with flowers and ribbons.
It really stood out among the other black cars in the wedding entourage.
Zong Jinghao placed her in the car and sat next to her. He picked up her hand and put it to his lips, leaving a gentle kiss. “With me by your side,” he said, “There’s nothing to fear.”
Lin Xinyan turned misty-eyed and murmured softly in response.
She wouldn’t have to be afraid of anything with him there.
Qin Ya and the kids were sitting in the car behind them.
Soon after the leading car departed, the rest slowly followed suit.
