Mingze placed her hand gently into Zihan's, not releasing it immediately. His eyes met Zihan's, firm and steady, as though silently warning him of the treasure he was entrusting into his care. Zihan did not flinch, his grip tightening almost imperceptibly on Guo Min's hand, a wordless vow that needed no voice.
The moment their hands touched, the hall seemed to exhale, the air easing after the weight of anticipation.
The officiant's smile was faint but knowing as his voice carried across the quiet hall. "We are gathered here today to witness the union of Zhu Zihan and Guo Min…"
His words flowed, ceremonial and steady, yet in the silence between them, it was only Zihan and Guo Min who existed. His gaze was unwavering, hers shifting nervously beneath the veil, but when her eyes finally lifted, she found herself caught by the steady storm in his.
"… and with this, by the authority vested in me," the officiant concluded, "I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
Zihan moved with deliberate slowness, his hand lifting to brush back the delicate veil. For the first time that day, the room caught the full picture of the bride's face, soft, radiant, her eyes bright with emotion she tried to hide.
He didn't lunge, didn't press, didn't claim her in front of the world with fiery hunger. No, Zhu Zihan kissed differently. His lips found hers in a touch that was gentle, precise, and elegant, like everything about him. A kiss that was not hurried, not long, but warm enough to whisper possession, tender enough to steady her trembling.
The crowd erupted in applause, cheers echoing through the hall.
The rituals had ended. But the party, the true celebration, was only just beginning.
Yufan and the rest of their circle were the first to crowd them with congratulations.
"Brother Zihan… my money bag." Ruoxi chirped, palm stretched out like a greedy child.
Zihan arched a brow, but with faint amusement tugging his lips, he reached into his inner pocket and pulled out his wallet. Without hesitation, he handed her every note inside.
Ruoxi grinned from ear to ear, dancing with her loot before leaning close to his ear. "Brother Zihan, did you know? Guo Min has a butterfly tattoo right on her hip… and a mole on her bosom." Her mischievous smile widened as she slipped away, leaving her words behind like sparks.
The others not hearing what she said but laughed at her antics and drifted off, giving space for the newlyweds to greet the stream of guests.
But Zihan's gaze lingered only on Guo Min. The echo of Ruoxi's whisper played over in his mind, tugging at the corner of his mouth. His eyes narrowed with quiet amusement, an unreadable heat flickering there.
Guo Min shifted under his stare, tilting her head. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing," Zihan said smoothly, though his voice dipped lower, more intimate. A faint smile curved his lips as he leaned a little closer. "Just admiring… my wife."
"…Humph, what did Ruoxi do this time?" Guo Min muttered under her breath, realizing too late she had spoken her thoughts aloud. She brushed it off quickly, straightening her posture.
"Congratulations, Min."
She turned, surprised to see Yufan standing there. He looked genuinely glad for her, but there was a heaviness to his face, shadows etched in the lines of stress.
"…Thank you, Yufan." Her lips lifted into a soft smile before she stepped forward and embraced him. "Brother Yufan, you almost look like an old man. Why do you look so stressed?"
"Ah, it's nothing. There's just been a lot going on with me lately," he replied, his voice brushing off the weight he carried.
She gave him a playful little pat on the back. "Don't strain yourself too much. And Lixi is a good girl, Yufan. Just… go with the flow. Who knows? She might be even better than me when it comes to your love. Besides," her smile softened, "soon enough there will be a little one running around the Yang mansion."
Her words, light as they were, landed heavier than she knew. With that, she excused herself, her figure slipping back toward the guests.
Yufan's face darkened almost immediately, his eyes narrowing as they shifted to Zihan. His jaw tightened, his expression betraying the storm he kept locked inside.
"…Humph. Congrats," he muttered at last, the word tasting bitter on his tongue. Zihan had stolen what could have been his slyly, without ever giving him a chance.
Zihan didn't waver under Yufan's gaze, but his lips faintly curved. "Thank you, Yufan."
Both men drifted toward a nearby table where Xiang was sitting, his eyes glued to his phone. They slipped into the empty seats beside him.
"Congratulations, Zihan," Xiang greeted casually, smiling at him but not sparing Yufan a single glance.
"Thank you," Zihan replied with composure, but after a brief silence, he added, "You know… the two of you better settle things fast. Yufan and Lixi aren't children, Xiang."
The words felt strange coming from him. In their group, it had always been Zihan versus Yufan, with Xiang playing the mediator. Now, suddenly, Zihan was the one stepping in.
The two men blinked at him for a beat before bursting into laughter.
"Did you lose a screw in your head, Zihan?" Yufan chuckled, shaking his head.
"You don't usually care if we fight," Xiang added, smirking.
Their mocking tone made Zihan's eye twitch ever so slightly. He was trying here, actually trying, and these two were making fun of him. How dare they.
"We aren't fighting anymore then," Xiang declared with exaggerated finality. "This is a once in a blue moon request from you. Very rare. "With that, the tension dissolved.
Everyone went home except family and close friends, the three of them slipped into conversation, reminiscing, teasing. Sometimes Xiang and Yufan would burst into laughter at some shared memory, and though Zihan only gave the occasional thin smile, the warmth was still there.
That peace lasted until, "Brother Zihan! Oh my God!" Ruoxi's voice rang out, followed by the thunder of her heels as she sprinted like her life depended on it. Behind her, Guo Min was chasing her, heel raised like a weapon.
The shoe went flying through the air. Ruoxi tried to dodge, only for fate to betray her. She slipped and fell right onto Xiang's lap. Their lips collided in a clumsy, shocking impact.
For a moment, Xiang actually froze, eyes wide, his gaze caught on her startled face. He almost... almost admired her before Ruoxi shot to her feet like lightning.
"Thief!" she screamed, pointing at him dramatically.
"Huh?!" Xiang blinked, jarred from his daze.
"My first kiss! How dare you, thief!"
"…Wait, but that's my first one too."
"Oh, so I get to play Cupid." Guo Min smiled mischievously, clearly enjoying the chaos.
"Cupid? No, never! That was purely a mistake," Ruoxi snapped before anyone could get ideas. She turned to Xiang with a scoff. "Him? He's not my type. Too cheap for me."
The entire table went silent, jaws dropping. The owner of Wu Empire, too cheap?
Xiang sat frozen in his seat, stone-faced. He'd faced cutthroat negotiations, betrayals, even assassination attempts. But this...this blunt rejection was brand new.
"Who then is your type?" Lixi asked curiously, tilting her head. Then, almost teasing, she added, "Zihan?"
Ruoxi snorted. "While I receive tons of cash from Zihan, he's too icy. We can't sit in the same place for more than ten minutes without me freezing up. So, no." She waved her hand as if dismissing the very idea.
"Yufan?" Lixi pressed, unable to resist.
Ruoxi rolled her eyes. "No. As much as I hate to say it, maybe because he's in the army, he's too annoying, even when he talks to women. Only you could take his shit. If it were me, I'd be thrown out of the house, I can't take shit from anyone."
The group snorted, some even choking on their drinks. Yufan's expression darkened, his jaw ticking, but he couldn't say anything without proving her point.
Ruoxi raised a brow, satisfied, then flicked her wrist. "Don't ask me any more questions. Xiang is a big baby, sis-con, and mama's boy… so no."
The silence that followed was explosive. Zihan's lips curved faintly, his cold mask not enough to hide the trace of amusement in his eyes. Yufan coughed into his glass, shoulders trembling. Even Lixi tried, and failed to cover her giggle behind her palm.
Xiang… sat there, stone-still, his soul halfway out of his body. Never, in all his years, had anyone dared put him down so casually.
"...Mama's boy… sis con?" he finally repeated, his voice dangerously low.
Ruoxi smirked, chin tilted up. "Yes."
Xiang leaned forward, his gaze steady. "What's your type then?"
The question sliced through her like a knife. For once, Ruoxi froze, caught completely off guard. Her lips parted, but no words came out.
Xiang's lips curved faintly, a rare spark of triumph in his eyes. "…Really? You don't even know what you want. And here you are, downgrading what others want."
The table erupted. "Xixi, your singleness might be forever," Guo Min and Wu Lixi chorused in unison.
Ruoxi shot them both a glare, cheeks puffed in mock offense. "Humph! Better single than stuck with a mama's boy."
"Better mama's boy than no boy at all," Xiang shot back smoothly, his usual calm laced with smugness.
And bang. Ruoxi was left speechless.