18: wedding

By the time the day's busy schedule concluded, it was already dinner time. One usually couldn't eat well at banquets, especially for those busy hosting.

Both were starving, eating with a mix of refined composure and a hint of ravenous devouring. Consequently, they ended up a bit overstuffed.

Jiang Fuyue gave each of them a bowl of Hawthorn Soup, letting them skip the tonic soup for once, and then shooed them into the courtyard for a walk to aid digestion.

The two walked along the path, unconsciously making their way to the Water Pavilion.

Yan Zhuohua suddenly spoke up, "Uncle said he and Aunt are moving out. I reckon my older male cousin and Older Female Cousin have also wanted to live independently and escape parental control for a long time. In two months, only our family will be left here. Oh, I almost forgot that we're moving out too."

"It's only temporary; we'll be back in a few years."

"I know, I'm just feeling a bit sentimental. From it being just our family at the start, to Uncle's family moving back, and then to them moving out again in a while—the people in this house are always changing. We've all grown up."

The afterglow of the setting sun shone upon them, and Yan Zhuohua seemed to see scenes from their childhood.

Yan Qinghe said, "There's no need to keep reminiscing about the past. I will stay by your side for a lifetime."

The streetlights flickered on, casting their hand-holding shadows onto the dappled greenery.

When they returned from their walk, they were greeted by the somewhat excited and perverted gazes of Yan Zhuole and Yan Zhuoyan.

"Since you've entered the genealogy today, it's equivalent to having already received your marriage certificate. Don't you two plan on sleeping in the same room?" Yan Zhuole's voice was somewhat lewd.

Yan Zhuohua's face instantly turned red. "What are you talking about? Are you guys perverts?"

Yan Zhuoyan looked serious. "How can it be perverted? Lust is human nature; it's understandable. So, are you sleeping together tonight?"

Seeing Yan Zhuohua's face turning so red it looked like it might explode, Yan Qinghe chuckled. "I'm not in such a rush for these few days. The wedding night is my true bridal chamber night."

Yan Zhuohua hadn't expected Yan Qinghe, who usually stood by his side, to join in on teasing him. He was so angry he didn't know what to say, finally squeezing out, "I won't stoop to the level of you Single Dogs!" Then, he abandoned Yan Qinghe and ran upstairs.

A few days later was the long-awaited wedding.

On the way to the venue, Yan Qinghe would look at the person beside him from time to time but didn't dare to speak. He had teased him too much that day, and for the past few days, he'd been given the cold shoulder and met with a refusal to communicate. If it weren't for seeing him continue to prepare for the wedding, Yan Qinghe would have wondered if he was going to back out of the marriage.

But it wouldn't matter even if he backed out; once on the genealogy, he was mine, Yan Qinghe thought with a bit of smugness.

Yan Zhuohua had long noticed the gaze of the person beside him, as he hadn't restrained it at all. He actually wasn't that angry; since he'd agreed to marry, he had no reason to refuse sharing a room. He hadn't been ignoring him on purpose these past two days; he was just recalling that just over a month ago, he was still an E-sports Player, fighting on a massive stage to win a championship. In such a short time, he was already about to get married; it felt like his life had undergone a massive upheaval in a brief span.

Could this be Pre-wedding Jitters?

He had been reminiscing about his past life, but before bed last night, he suddenly remembered what Yan Qinghe had said to him that day.

He said he would stay by his side for a lifetime.

Yan Zhuohua was suddenly relieved. The world is always changing, but having someone by your side who will stay forever without changing—that's marriage, right?

Having thought it through, Yan Zhuohua no longer avoided him. When Yan Qinghe looked over again, he looked back. What their eyes met was a gaze full of tenderness.

Yan Zhuohua took the initiative to hold Yan Qinghe's hand as they moved toward the wedding.

The venue was chosen at a hotel under the Yan Family's banner, mainly for the convenience of the guests' commute and rest. Since it was the big boss's wedding, the hotel had been closed to the public three days in advance to focus on decorating the venue.

After arriving at the venue, they still needed to put on makeup, so the two went straight to the dressing room. The clothes were all custom-made in advance and delivered—five sets in total. Three were the main ones: the reception suit, the main wedding suit, and the toasting suit, with two sets as backups. Each suit was meticulously designed and paired with corresponding jewelry.

Because the protagonists of the wedding were two men, many matters and procedures could be omitted or changed.

According to the modified schedule they had rehearsed, Yan Zhuohua and Yan Qinghe first changed into their reception suits in the dressing room and then stood at the entrance with their family to welcome guests.

Although the social mainstream still didn't particularly recognize two men marrying, the Yan Family held a transcendent status and had years of tradition and precedent, so everyone gave them this face.

Yan Zhuohua and Yan Qinghe, as the newlyweds, were responsible for welcoming guests at the entrance of the hall on the second floor of the hotel. Yan Zhuoyan, Zhuoyue, and several people from the Yan Family branches were responsible for welcoming guests at the hotel entrance. The three elders and Yan Zhuoyi were arranging for the guests entering the venue to be seated, while other Yan Family members, led by Yan Zhuoyang and Yan Ru, were handling various trifles inside. Everyone had a clear division of labor.

At ten o'clock, everyone was in position, and the prepared pair arrived at the hall entrance to welcome guests. People had begun to arrive one after another. They were all dressed up and brought gift money and wedding presents. Everyone had some family wealth and didn't care about that bit of gift money, by default putting in one or two hundred-yuan bills. However, besides those very close who would carefully prepare gifts, there were always some people with certain goals who would go to great lengths with their presents.

The early arrivals were mainly of two types: friends and relatives of the host family coming early to help, and those wanting to socialize early. Given the Yan Family's status, the people coming today would inevitably be big shots from various families. With the intersection of various interests, this wedding was destined to be an occasion for some to seek a path to the top. Such things were unavoidable. Generally, as long as it wasn't excessive, didn't cause trouble, or overshadow the hosts, everyone tacitly agreed not to make a fuss.

By ten-thirty, it was time for most guests to arrive. The crowd grew, and the groomsmen also came over to help.

After the scramble and noise half a month ago, it was finally decided there would be only one Groomsmen Group, basically the same people from the Welcome Banquet a month ago. They didn't distinguish between themselves; after all, both grooms were men and from the same family, so there was no traditional 'fetching the bride' ceremony. It was even less important whose groomsmen they were.

When the Zhao family arrived, Yan Qinghe happened to be called away to confirm some matters. At the hall entrance, mainly the two groomsmen, Sheng Xufeng and Li Wu, were accompanying Yan Zhuohua to welcome guests.

As one of the Four Great Families in A City, Yan Zhuohua still gave the Zhao family some face. Moreover, the people who came were the current Head of the Zhao Family, Zhao Zhongkai, his wife Su Mo, and his children Zhao Zixing and Zhao Zijing. Behind them followed two young people, a man and a woman, who looked like strangers.

He hadn't heard that the young master and young lady of the Zhao family had gotten married. And their positioning didn't look like two couples. Despite his confusion, seeing them approach, Yan Zhuohua still greeted them with a smile: "Uncle Zhao, thank you for coming to my wedding today."

Zhao Zhongkai looked at him with the gaze of an elder: "Zhuohua, it's been many years. I didn't expect you'd come back just like that."

These words sounded uncomfortable, but today was his wedding, so there was no need to fuss over such trifles. "My home is here; I was bound to return sooner or later. These must be the eldest Young Master Zhao and Miss Zhao? Five years away, and I almost can't recognize them."

"It's fine, we'll see each other often in the future and slowly get reacquainted." Seeing that Yan Zhuohua hadn't asked about the last two people, Zhao Zhongkai took the initiative to introduce them: "These are my other pair of children, Zhao Zichuo and Zhao Zijing. They are a year younger than Zijing. In the future, you should take them under your wing and make friends."

Su Mo clearly rolled her eyes, and Zhao Zixing and Zhao Zijing also had looks of disdain.

So they were illegitimate children around the same age as the legitimate ones. Yan Zhuohua understood now. Asking me to take them under my wing—is this a joke? This is an insult, isn't it?

Although Yan Zhuohua was the fake young master and had been gone for five years, he was still the most pampered and capable child in the family. Furthermore, he was now the mistress of the Yan Family. Asking him to lead two illegitimate children was undoubtedly an insult to Yan Zhuohua and the entire Yan Family.

Yan Zhuohua had always been very confident, so he spoke directly: "That would be inappropriate."

The faces of Zhao Zhongkai and the two illegitimate children all changed.

Zhao Zhongkai hadn't expected a fake young master would have the courage to refuse him and spoke out in anger: "How is it inappropriate? They are my biological children, and you are just..."

"Just what?" Yan Qinghe interrupted Zhao Zhongkai. He had heard what was happening as soon as he returned. He hadn't expected someone would dare to provoke Yan Zhuohua at his own wedding. "Head of the Zhao Family, calling you 'Uncle' is out of respect for your age. Zhuohua is my lover, the mistress of the Yan Family, and the most beloved third young master of the Yan Family. He isn't someone just any random person can get to know or talk to."

Although Yan Zhuohua was very happy with Yan Qinghe's defense, he still felt he had returned too quickly and affected his own performance: "So the Head of the Zhao Family has always judged people only by their birth and not their strength. I wonder where a person who values birth so much got two illegitimate children from."

Hearing this, Zhao Zhongkai was on the verge of exploding, but his wife held him down firmly. "Haven't you lost enough face? Look at where this is and what their status is. What are your two illegitimate children worth in the entire socialite circle? You dare ask a legitimate young master of the Yan Family and the future mistress to lead them? Where do you get the nerve?"

Su Mo's voice wasn't loud, but the two illegitimate children behind her heard it. Their faces turned even paler, and their eyes were filled with fury.

In the end, Zhao Zhongkai didn't dare do anything. Although the Zhao family was one of the Four Great Families, its development in recent years had been poor, a world of difference compared to the Yan Family. Moreover, although he had succeeded as the head a few years ago, most of the power was still in the hands of his father, Old Master Zhao Mingting. His two legitimate children also had mediocre abilities. He truly lacked the confidence to be insolent in front of Yan Qinghe and Yan Zhuohua.

Zhao Zixing stepped forward to diffuse the situation: "My father has been muddled with work lately. Zhuohua, now that you're back, let's gather often in the future. There are others coming in behind us, so we'll head in first and not delay you." After saying that, he hurriedly pulled the Zhao family inside.

Since they still needed to maintain relations—mainly to give Old Master Zhao some face—Yan Qinghe didn't throw them out directly.

Sheng Xufeng spoke only after they went in: "This Zhao family really has some nerve, even daring to bring illegitimate children in." He and Li Wu were groomsmen, and it was indeed awkward to interject in that scene just now. Actually, they mainly couldn't get a word in; Yan Zhuohua's combat power was top-tier. In their view, Yan Qinghe's arrival was also a bit redundant—it completely interrupted Yan Zhuohua's performance.

Li Wu also started teasing at this point: "He's not just shameless; he's quite bold too. It's only been a few years, and he's already forgotten Zhuohua's combat power, daring to provoke him directly."

Back then, the trio of Sheng Xufeng, Yan Zhuoyan, and Yan Zhuohua was a formidable weapon. To deal with someone, they'd send Sheng Xufeng to cause trouble, Yan Zhuoyan to dig a pit, and Yan Zhuohua to enter and finish it off—a perfect combo that was unstoppable, sweeping through everyone. It was just that the trio hadn't appeared for the years Yan Zhuohua was gone, which made people forget their glorious battle record.

Yan Qinghe's expression also softened as he joked with Yan Zhuohua: "I've also heard of Zhuohua's combat power. It seems I shouldn't have spoken just now and interrupted our Zhuohua's display of authority."

Yan Zhuohua, having his dark history poked at, gave him a somewhat shy glare. "As long as you know. Seeing as you were helping me, I'll forgive you this once!"

Sheng Xufeng and Li Wu couldn't bear to watch these two anymore. Seeing that the guests had mostly arrived, they urged the two to hurry and change into their main wedding suits. The wedding was set to begin in just over an hour.

Seeing that it was indeed time to prepare, Yan Qinghe led Yan Zhuohua away. Left at the entrance to continue welcoming guests, Sheng Xufeng and Li Wu watched their retreating backs with a sense of envy.