579. Wedding Feast
“Wow! Ning Chu is really stunning now~ She had no femininity at all before, I never even thought of her as a girl!”
“Wen Yang looks pretty good in that suit too, but he’s still a bit lacking compared to me. I guess he and Ning Chu make a decent pair?”
Inside the banquet hall, the groomsmen, having completed their task of welcoming the bride, had already settled down at the wedding site, munching on sunflower seeds while waiting for the show to start.
After mumbling to himself for a bit, Zhang Shaoqing turned to his side and asked, “It’s been so many years since we last met; why do you seem even more closed off?”
“Ning Chu is getting married now. Wang Jie, you’re not still single since the breakup, right?”
Wang Jie shook his head, his expression as flat as a pancake. “My family is extremely poor, and I don’t earn much either…”
Years later, Zhang Shaoqing was still that rich second-generation kid, while Wen Yang and Ning Chu were bringing in decent salaries and even bought their own places. Meanwhile, he was back in his hometown working as a small employee in a company, doing six days on and one day off, occasionally with overtime, pulling in a measly six to seven thousand a month.
In a county town, that kind of salary was actually considered decent, but given that house prices had hit over ten thousand a decade ago, affording a place was still a pipe dream with six or seven grand.
He had become increasingly silent, leading a solitary life, lost in his own world.
“Living alone is just fine; I spend what I earn, and if I’m full, my family has nothing to worry about.”
Zhang Shaoqing frowned and asked, “Want to come work at my company? My mom is sending me to be a project manager next month, you could…”
“No need.”
Wang Jie rejected the suggestion so decisively that he didn’t even think about it.
“Well, suit yourself.” Zhang Shaoqing shrugged indifferently.
There weren’t many guests in the banquet hall – only about ten tables for both families’ friends – but the space was ample. At the front was a T-shaped stage where some local singers and dance troupes were performing for atmosphere.
But the performances and the snacks on the tables didn’t catch Wang Jie’s attention. As he casually looked up, his gaze fixed on something far off, and he seemed lost in thought.
“What are you looking at?”
Zhang Shaoqing followed his line of sight and spotted a pair of conspicuous white long ears.
Those ears stood high above the crowd like a crane among chickens – impossible to ignore!
“Is that a Rabbit Girl? Have you got your eye on someone?”
“No.” Wang Jie withdrew his gaze.
Zhang Shaoqing nudged him playfully with his shoulder. “What? You think XP is a rabbit? I find catgirls much cuter.”
“If you like her, just pursue her~ Want me to ask for her contact info? Don’t be shy!”
Wang Jie, shy as ever, felt his cheeks heat up, scratching his head as he mumbled, “She just looks familiar; I don’t want to waste her time.”
“What’s familiar about a pair of ears? The guests haven’t all arrived yet; let’s go check it out together!”
“What for?”
Zhang Shaoqing grinned like a mischievous rascal. “To see if she’s pretty, and how great her figure is!”
“I’m going to the bathroom.”
Wang Jie got up and headed toward the bathroom. But as he walked past the Rabbit Girl, curiosity got the better of him; he stopped and turned back to look.
The Rabbit Girl seemed to sense this and turned back, flashing a cheerful smile as their eyes met.
“……”
One by one, the guests filed into the banquet hall, waiters weaving through the crowd with trays of food. The performers wrapped up their act, and Yan Xinya, dressed in a beautiful gown, stepped onto the stage with a microphone, proudly kicking off the wedding.
“Dear guests, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon…”
She had been the host for various events since school, and during college had hosted New Year’s parties and talent shows, but this was her first time hosting her best friend’s wedding.
Occasionally glancing at the notes in her hand, she wasn’t too nervous, only regretting her pregnant state, which wasn’t the best look for the occasion.
“The moment has come! Let’s give a warm round of applause for the arrival of our bride and groom!”
As the wedding march played, fireworks went off with loud bangs, showering the room in colorful paper and ribbons.
In a dazzling white mermaid wedding dress and a sharp black suit, the two figures appeared, prompting an even louder eruption of applause and cheers from the audience.
Ning Chu clung to Wen Yang’s arm, her nervous mind completely blank as they slowly walked down the red carpet.
Cheers, applause, and whispers intertwined in a chaotic symphony pouring into her ears. She could feel the stunning gazes of the guests, but could also sense the bewildered looks of distant relatives.
Her steps were a bit shaky, and those ten-centimeter heels made her worry about tripping over on this red carpet. Ribbons floated down onto her shoulders, but she didn’t have time to brush them off; she took a deep breath, tilted her head back, and looked at Wen Yang’s profile.
“Don’t be nervous.”
That single reassuring phrase calmed her nerves and instinctively made her tighten her grip on Wen Yang’s arm.
In the past, she had never imagined she would step into the hall of marriage…
Especially with a man, playing the role of the bride.
Back then, he had nothing, never considered marriage or children, not wanting to delay other girls, just wishing to live a low-desire life, aimlessly.
Today, however, she had the whole world – a healthy mother, a harmonious family with her brother, and a man who would always support her, take care of her, and walk with her into old age.
Standing on stage, Ning Chu gazed at the guests below, her mind racing with flashbacks from her journey after crossing over.
There was bitterness, tears, and moments of watching herself fall into the abyss of despair, that anger and helplessness…
Yet, the memories were mostly filled with joy spent with Wen Yang~
“Mr. Wen Yang, do you vow to care for Ms. Ning Chu for a lifetime, through poverty and wealth, through life and d*ath, never parting ways?”
Yan Xinya stepped in with her microphone, her eyes sparkling with the success of this couple she had helped bring together.
This pair was a product of her own matchmaking! From their flirty days to now being the wedding host – she was the queen of this ship!
“Of course, I do.”
“Ms. Ning Chu…”
“I do!”
Ning Chu turned to look into Wen Yang’s eyes, nodding emphatically.
“Looks like the bride can hardly wait~”
Suddenly, someone’s sharp voice cut through, “Kiss her!”
Instant chaos erupted, and everyone joined in the chant, their voices drowning out the music.
“Kiss her! Kiss her!”
Wen Yang instinctively turned to see Zhang Shaoqing, who was completely focused on his food, seemingly oblivious to all that was happening.
“This guy…”
He knew Ning Chu was shy and wanted to help her diffuse the situation.
But Ning Chu stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Wen Yang’s neck. Their chests pressed tightly together as her sparkling peach blossom eyes gazed up at him, flirtatious and bright, her luscious lips slightly parted, shimmering invitingly, begging for a kiss.
With her eyes closed, she offered her lips, even hoping to pry his mouth open with her own.
“Wow~ The sister is so forward!”
Below, Black Bean looked on with envy, resting her chin on her hands as she watched the embracing couple kiss on stage.
“Isn’t that sweet?”
