Chapter 42

Two days before the wedding.
The Lin and Lu families flew out to the island venue.
Years ago, the Lin family had built a private resort on this island: thirty luxury villas scattered across breathtaking scenery, with golf courses, a spa, and every water sport imaginable. Utter perfection.
The entire resort would be open, free, for guests for half a month, from pre-wedding to post-wedding celebrations.
With the announcement of the Lin-Lu union, word officially broke online.
A marriage between the nation’s premier hotel magnates and the ultimate home decor dynasty, two powerhouses joining forces. Social media was on fire.
Guests who arrived early started posting pics online. Even though the main wedding setup was under wraps, the internet’s finest detectives scoured every photo for clues and pieced together the details.
Flowers everywhere, clouds of Ecuadorian roses in every color, grown at 3,000 meters above sea level. Each bloom lush and lavish, worth a small fortune on its own, yet piled here like confetti.
In the background, a castle loomed, serene, stately, dripping with old-world charm. You could almost imagine a nineteenth-century ball unfolding beneath those stone arches.
The resort staff pampered guests at every turn: welcome gifts on arrival, each worth a hefty sum, handwritten notes, personal butlers assigned to every villa, the works, all the way up to departure.
From gourmet feasts to customized activities, there was zero chance of boredom. Galas and cocktail parties every night, peak high-society extravagance.
Even conservative guesses put the wedding’s costs in the tens of millions.
Only the who’s-who even made the guest list. These people had seen it all, but a wedding this perfect, this obsessed-with-detail, was rare, and they couldn’t help flexing it all over social media.
Netizens weighed in: [Confirmed: I’m just an NPC in this universe. Hey, karma, how are you planning to pay me back for this?]
[Done with you rich people! Why not just invite me too?! One more person won’t break the bank, will it?!]
[Saw someone on my feed bragging, honestly, they said it was next-level thoughtful, princess treatment from start to finish. I’m so jealous I could cry!]
[This wedding is honestly so thoughtful, you can actually feel how much they care, it’s not just about throwing money around. I’m dying to see what the bride and groom look like!]
[Both families are so low-key, no one's ever seen them. Maybe they’ll show up for the first time at the wedding.]
[Young Master, Miss, don’t tell me you’ve forgotten your loyal old servant!]
[…]
Yu Yin shared some online comments with Lu Yi, every last one of them was hilarious.
Lu Yi hadn’t had a moment to relax these past few days, constantly busy with makeup trials, coordinating all the wedding details, and meeting endless streams of friends and relatives. She was spinning in circles with how much there was to do, thank god for Yu Yin and her crew or stuff would definitely have fallen through the cracks.
It was the same on Lin Jinshen’s side, wedding stuff piling up everywhere. The only time the two of them actually saw each other was at meals, and that barely lasted ten minutes before somebody needed something. Whenever their eyes met, they didn’t even need words, they just got it.
The night before the wedding, the rules said the bride and groom had to sleep apart.
Madam Xu and Madam Qin both stopped by. One, to check if Lu Yi needed anything else, and two, because the excitement wouldn’t let them sleep, so of course, chatting was mandatory.
Lu Yi had just finished a spa treatment; her skin glowed like freshly polished jade beneath her fluffy bathrobe. She slouched lazy and loose on the couch, outwardly calm, but the way her fingers twisted in her lap gave her nerves away.
This wasn’t like the day they registered their marriage, instead, tomorrow, in front of everyone they cared about, they’d be making it real for the whole world to see.
Madam Qin brought in a little velvet box. She opened it, revealing three jade bangles, flawless glassy green. She took one out and slid it onto Lu Yi’s wrist. “These three were gifts to me from Jinshen’s grandmother on my own wedding day.”
“I’ve lost count of how many years they’ve been passed down. And now, finally, I get to give them to you.”
Lu Yi’s wrist was slender, her skin smooth and pale, she made the jade look even more stunning.
“Thank you, Mom.”
The three bracelets, each more precious than the last, shimmered with a quiet luster, carrying all those years with them.
Madam Xu came by to fuss, insisting Lu Yi get to bed early. "You’ll have to get up before the sun, and once you open your eyes, you won’t have a second to rest. If you get tired, just..." Lu Yi squeezed her mom’s hand. “Mom, will you stay with me tonight?”
“You’re a grown woman and still want your mom to sleep over? If people hear, they’ll never let you live it down.” Madam Xu was all talk though, she gave Lu Yi’s hand a squeeze and wouldn’t let go.
Lu Yi grinned. “Were you this nervous when you married Dad?”
“I think it was your father who was the nervous one, having me as his bride.” Madam Xu brushed Lu Yi’s hair gently. “Feels like my wedding was just yesterday, and before I knew it, you grew up and now you’re getting married.”
Lu Yi smiled softly, warm as ever.
“No more sappy talk, it just makes me cry. Get some sleep,” Madam Xu sniffed, then headed out.
Outside the door, Lu Kangcheng waited. In quiet solidarity, they held hands before heading downstairs and out into the night, where a full, brilliant moon hung above the villa.
Maybe, right now, everything really was just as it should be.
Lu Yi curled up on a balcony sofa, hugging her knees. She’d barely eaten dinner for fear of waking up puffy, settling instead for a single glass of red wine to help her sleep. She watched the moon, the night gentle around her, the breeze teasing her hair over her shoulders.
But tonight, the wine did nothing. Sleep wouldn’t come.
She’d gotten used to sharing a bed with Lin Jinshen lately; sleeping alone felt empty and strange.
Memories came back, like that night Lin Jinshen got tipsy and insisted on teaching her billiards and golf, later stumbling home and clinging to her, snuggling close and whining “Wife” in her ear, basically transforming into a giant, possessive puppy. By morning, the ever-stoic Mr. Lin had cracks all over his expression, she could tell he was mortified.
Lin Jinshen had emerged from the bathroom still not recovered from the embarrassment of the previous night.
Lu Yi couldn’t resist teasing: “Need me to find you a hole to crawl into?”
Lin Jinshen forced out, through gritted teeth, “No need.”
She broke into helpless laughter while his brow furrowed deeper and deeper, until he finally flipped her under him, catching her by the waist, his minty breath hot against her neck.
Moral of the story: mock Lin Jinshen at your peril. He never lets a grudge go, and always gets immediate revenge.
Lu Yi had paid for it, big time.
Lu Yi propped her chin in her hand, quietly laughing to herself in the dark.
Her phone buzzed, screen lighting up with a call. She hesitated, then slid to answer.
“Still up?” A deep, rich male voice rumbled through the line.
Lu Yi hummed, deliberately stretching her words to sound sleepy. “What’s up?”
Lin Jinshen saw right through it: “Cut the act.”
He knew her real sleepy voice better than anyone.
“…”
Boring!
Lu Yi switched back to normal: “Okay, so what can I do for you, Mr. Lin?”
“Do you have to get up crazy early for makeup tomorrow? What do you want for breakfast, should I get you an Americano or a latte?” Lin Jinshen sounded deadly serious, as if the fate of the wedding depended on the coffee choice.
“I’m not picky about breakfast, bread’s fine,” Lu Yi played along. “Make it an Americano; cuts down on puffiness. Anything else?”
Lin Jinshen kept up with a string of totally irrelevant questions.
Lu Yi knew what he was doing, and she met every question with a perfectly matched answer.
They chatted on and on, until she was finally yawning and stumbled back to bed, phone still connected as she drifted off. His voice, deep and gentle, sounded as though he was right beside her pillow.
Lu Yi hugged her blanket, consciousness fading, she fell asleep before she could even say goodnight.
When Lin Jinshen got no response, he paused a moment, confirmed she was sleeping.
He didn’t say anything else, just put his phone on speaker and turned up the volume, listening to the steady, peaceful rhythm of her breathing.
A smile tugging at his lips, Lin Jinshen stared at the ceiling, wide awake, lying straight as an arrow with his phone by his pillow, almost as if Lu Yi was right there with him.
…
Three alarms later, Yu Yin finally managed to haul herself out of bed, waking up the group chat as she went. After freshening up, she grabbed her camera and marched straight for Lu Yi’s room.
Lu Yi was up even earlier than usual. The makeup artist team was already in place, giving her the finishing touches as she sat before the dressing mirror.
Breakfast from the hotel had arrived, an iced Americano just as she liked, with trays of food set aside for the bridesmaids, just as Lu Yi requested.
Yu Yin lifted her camera and pointed it at Lu Yi. “It's still not even dawn, but our bride is already up for makeup duty. The things we go through for beauty.”
“Come on, bride, say something to the camera!”
Lu Yi looked up and met the camera's gaze through the mirror, giving a gentle smile. “Why are you up so early too? Go catch a few more winks if you can.”
“No way, they'll all be coming soon. Wouldn’t want you getting bored all by yourself.” Yu Yin zoomed in, the camera lingering on Lu Yi’s eyes, a shimmer in their depths, as if a galaxy was bottled inside.
After two hours, makeup was done. Lu Yi changed into her traditional red wedding dress, her hair styled in a classic updo with pearl tassels swaying on either side. She held a pearl fan, her cheekbones dusted pink, elegance radiating from her with every movement.
She was so beautiful, it felt almost unreal.
“Hey, can we still make the groom’s challenges harder? Feels like we went way too easy on Lin Jinshen,” Yu Yin joked, camera still in hand after admiring the scene for a solid minute.
Of course, it was all in good fun, the original lineup of games would go on as planned.
Yu Yin led the bridesmaids and friends to the staircase, taking the front. First up, toast art. Ji Changming, who had clearly seen this elsewhere, broke into a goofy grin. “You just chew ‘LOVE’ out of four slices of toast, right? Easy. I’ll take on the hardest one, the ‘E.’”
“Wrong! ‘LOVE’ is too basic. Chew out ‘Lu Yi’ and ‘Lin Jinshen,’ and don’t forget a heart!”
Gu Yu laughed, “Oh, and that’s not cheesy at all? You heard yourself, right?”
Yu Yin teased, “What, having second thoughts? We can skip it if you're embarrassed.”
“No way, challenge accepted!” Ji Changming grabbed the slices, scribbled guidelines, then started chewing along the lines, chuckling at himself, honestly, he felt like a squirrel gnawing an acorn.
Gu Yu handed over his slice, too. “You’re the MVP here, squirrel boy, you got this.”
Yu Zeheng did likewise, passing his over.
“...Seriously?”
Ji Changming grumbled, “Come on, you’re all tossing them at me? Are we even friends? If Jinshen’s gonna get his bride, it’s all riding on us!”
“You got this! Push through, just a little more, and the ‘Lu’ will be done!”
Ji Changming finally managed to gnaw out ‘Lu’, the characters were a bit wonky, but close enough. When it came to chewing out ‘Shen,’ all those strokes nearly did him in. He looked at Lin Jinshen, eyes filled with mock betrayal.
Suddenly, he thought, “Why couldn’t your name just be ‘Lin Yi Yi’ instead?”
Somehow, through sheer effort, they produced a set of wobbly, crooked letters spelling out the couple’s names.
Yu Yin nodded. “Alright, I’ll give it to you. You passed!”
The groomsmen raced through the rest of the challenges and finally burst into the bridal suite. The moment the door flew open, every eye stopped on Lu Yi, and everyone made way for Lin Jinshen to enter first.
Lu Yi held her pearl fan half-raised, her lashes gently lifted to meet Lin Jinshen’s gaze. He wore a red, tailored Chinese wedding suit, matte gold embroidery trailing across his broad shoulders and neck. His tall, gentle frame gave him an air of quiet, scholarly grace.
The next step was even simpler: slip the wedding shoes onto the bride's feet.
Lin Jinshen made it look effortless.
He knelt in front of everyone, cradling Lu Yi’s foot, and gently slid the shoe on for her. Instead of letting her step on top of his shoe, he offered his palm for her heel to perch on and helped her stand with steady care.
He was careful, meticulous, as though he’d done this for her a thousand times before.
All the laughter and shouting evaporated in an instant, the whole room stilled, breathless for a moment.
Lin Jinshen reached for her hand. “Ready?”
Lu Yi looked at him, time stretching out like a slow-motion scene. She nodded, and the instant she held her breath, he scooped her up from the edge of the bed. Her arms wound instinctively around his neck, and her ears flushed pink.
“Aaaaah!”
“Jinshen, you’re so cool!”
Ji Changming chased after them, grinning, “Hey, Jinshen, can you carry me like that someday?”
Clinging to his neck, Lu Yi was sure her face was flaming red.
Shouts and cheers rang behind them all the way to the car, and as the door shut, cutting off the commotion, all she could hear was the thunder in her chest.
The wedding was held in a seaside castle, Romanesque arches, over two centuries old, perched on the island cliff.
The ceremony details were sorted weeks ago.
Simple as possible, only keeping the moments that mattered.
Lu Yi had the schedule memorized, but the moment her father, Lu Kangcheng, took her hand and led her down the aisle, her mind flashed back to just a few months before, when they were still strangers.
Yet just months later, here they were, stepping into marriage together.
If anything had shifted, if she’d gone along with her parents’ plans, if he hadn’t wanted her, they’d still be strangers. The bride standing in this castle would’ve been someone else altogether.
But destiny, as always, had its own ideas.
Lu Kangcheng led his daughter toward the altar, hand in hand. Handing her over to another man, he could hardly keep from feeling emotional. Last night he and his wife lay awake, scrolling through old photos of Lu Yi and marveling at how fast she’d grown up.
Their precious girl, their princess, was becoming someone else’s wife.
“Xiao Yi, you’ve always been so mature. Even when I was working nonstop and never had time for you, you never once blamed me. You’d just smile and say, ‘It’s okay, Daddy. If you can't play with me, I can keep you company instead.’”
Lu Kangcheng’s voice softened, eyes wet at the corners. “I always felt like I owed you. That’s why, more than anything, I don’t want you to end up like me, doing things you never wanted. I have only ever had one wish for you.”
“I hope you never force yourself to be too good, just be you. Be Lu Yi. Your mom and I will always be behind you, every step of the way.”
Lu Yi’s eyes turned glassy as she fought back tears.
She whispered, “You’ve never shortchanged me, not once. And if there’s a next life, I’d choose to be your daughter all over again.”
Lu Kangcheng nodded warmly. “Of course you would.”
The aisle, no matter how hard to part, still had to end. At the other end, Lu Kangcheng placed Lu Yi’s hand in someone else’s.
The two men exchanged a silent look. Then Lu Kangcheng clapped Lin Jinshen firmly on the shoulder. “She’s yours now. Take good care of her.”
“Dad, don’t worry.” Lin Jinshen tightened his grip on Lu Yi’s hand, his words steady as a promise. “From now on, you have me.”
Four words, solid, unwavering.
The ceremony kept moving. Everything else blurred for Lu Yi as she fought to keep her emotions in check. All she really remembered was the priest reading their vows, both of them saying “I do,” and then exchanging rings.
The weight of that wedding ring, heavy and reassuring on her finger, made her smile when their eyes met.
When it was time for the kiss, Lin Jinshen lifted her veil, his arm curling around her waist. He bent down, brushing his lips to hers. They’d practiced this moment so many times it felt effortlessly, naturally, intimate.
Amid the applause, Lin Jinshen leaned his forehead against hers, their noses almost touching.
Lu Yi teased him, “Nice work out there, Mr. Lin.”
He, shameless as ever, pecked her lips again and replied, “That’s because Teacher Lu trained me well.”
His voice was soft, just for the two of them.
“…”
The ceremony ended, and the wedding banquet picked up.
The Lu and Lin families had been rooted in Jing City for generations. With both families now tied together, the event was crowded and boisterous.
Lin Jinshen getting married was such big news that Lin Yumo even took leave from school to attend. She hit it off with Lu Yi instantly and had been running around helping with every last detail. Now, seeing her new sister-in-law in person, even prettier than her photos, Lin Yumo was dying of envy.
Seriously, what kind of luck was this? Her stick-in-the-mud brother somehow managed to marry someone this stunning?
As the Lin family rep, Lin Yumo did most of the mingling, and she was born for it. Outgoing since she was a kid, she charmed uncles, aunts, and grannies alike with sweet words and easy warmth.
She flitted from group to group, glass in hand, a social butterfly in full color.
Of course, a few guys her age sidled up to chat. Most were familiar faces, and as soon as someone brought up campus life, the conversation took off and never ended.
“Back at school, let's hang out, okay?”
“For sure. That's what friends are for.”
She waved goodbye, spun around, and nearly walked face-first into a wall. Only, that “wall” bent down, plucked her half-full glass from her hand, and rumbled, deadly serious, “That’s enough for you.”
“Fu Yanli!”
Yumo hissed his name, trying to muster up some authority as she glared at him. “I’m an adult now, you know!”
“Oh, really?” His tone was mild, unimpressed. With a flick, he passed her glass to a passing waiter clearing plates.
“You can’t boss me around like you used to anymore!”
Fu Yanli knew all her tricks. “When the day comes that you stop making a scene over one measly drink, I’ll treat you like an adult.”
Lin Yumo: “…”
Once the banquet officially ended, the party just moved locations. A live headliner band set the stage alight, loud enough to shake the whole island.
With the formal stuff over, the best men were free. Ji Changming and Gu Yu went wild, along with a dozen others, everyone determined to get the groom wasted. After barely three drinks, Lin Jinshen was already pinching the bridge of his nose, looking dazed.
“Whoa, Boss Lin, seriously? That’s all it takes to get you tipsy?”
Lin Jinshen scowled. “I'm fine. I can drink more.”
But the icy frown on his face made it obvious, one more drink and he’d lose it.
Someone finally relented, embarrassed. “Come on, it's his wedding, maybe let the groom off easy tonight. There’ll be more parties later.”
“Yeah, yeah, that’s enough.”
The trio who’d watched it all unfold: “…”
The act continues. Ever since the wedding, some folks’ acting skills had skyrocketed. If they hadn’t just been out drinking with Lin Jinshen days ago, they might have actually bought the performance.
Yu Zeheng snorted. “Some people really have no shame lately.”
Ji Changming and Gu Yu shot him a look, voices full of hidden meaning: “Some people have no shame, and others, well, they’ve lost their last shred of face.”
“...Get lost.”
Gu Yu: “Now you’re embarrassed? Where was that when you were begging her to pick up your call? Lucky for you she blocked your number; if she’d answered, I’d be too embarrassed to call you a friend.”
Ji Changming nodded along. “Heng-ge, if you really can’t hold out, just win her back already.”
Yu Zeheng’s eyes darkened, moody as a storm cloud. “You two really think I won’t ruin your day just ‘cause it’s a wedding?”
“Okay, okay, we’ll shut up. Hey, where’s Jinshen? He was here a second ago.” Ji Changming craned his neck, scanning the crowd.
Yu Zeheng jerked his chin, pointing. “Where do you think? Show’s over, he’s off to find his wife.”
After the spectacle of a wedding, if Lu Yi had to sum up the experience: exhausting.
She'd been up since five a.m. without a single real break. Only after she'd made the rounds with her parents did they finally tell her to escape to her room and rest, leaving Lin Jinshen and the family to handle the remaining guests.
Inside, she couldn't get out of her heels and dress fast enough. The minute her dress came off, she could finally breathe.
She headed to the bathroom to take off her makeup, then let herself soak under a hot shower. Changing into the matching red pajamas her parents had set out, same style as Lin Jinshen’s, she noticed even the bedding was bright red for the occasion.
Hair still damp and bundled in a towel wrap, Lu Yi stepped out of the bathroom.
Right then, Lin Jinshen pushed open the door. He was still in his wedding suit, creased from hours of toasts and greetings. His bowtie was hanging loose, top button popped open.
Lu Yi, for some reason, was laser-focused on that undone button. Clearly, he was getting way too comfortable these days.
But the sight that greeted Lin Jinshen was far more potent: Lu Yi in a silky red slip, no robe, hair bundled up, a few damp wisps clinging to her cheek, skin impossibly pale and delicate, her curves rising and falling softly with each breath.
She'd just showered, the scent of fresh, clean skin lingering around her.
In the heat of summer, Lu Yi’s skin was always cool and soft, a perfect, soothing contrast.
Lu Yi couldn’t guess what he was thinking. “Is it all done?” she asked.
“No, not yet.”
She faltered. “Do I need to go back out?”
“No,” Lin Jinshen approached, gently tugging off her hair wrap and toweling her damp hair. “Let me dry it for you.”
“You know how?” Lu Yi asked, skeptical.
“If I don’t, I’ll just learn,” he replied, already reaching for the hairdryer.
Lu Yi had a thick mane, so blow-drying was always a chore. Now someone else wanted to take over? She was more than happy to hand it off. Lin Jinshen walked out of the bathroom, hairdryer in hand, then scooped her up by the waist and deposited her onto the vanity.
This height made things much easier for him.
Lu Yi’s slender legs dangled, the two of them so close their eyes nearly level, she could only see his chest. If she looked up, she caught the sharp line of his jaw, his long, dark lashes.
Lin Jinshen’s fingers moved gently through her hair, steady and attentive.
“Blow from the top down, keeps hair from frizzing. Dry the scalp first, then finish the ends with cool air,” she instructed, teaching him the essentials as he sifted through her hair.
“Like this?” Lin Jinshen asked.
Lu Yi nodded. “Exactly. Smart move.”
Lin Jinshen paused, but didn’t correct her for complimenting him like she did Puff the cat, and kept right on blow-drying.
Lu Yi could tell that tonight, Lin Jinshen was especially gentle, soft as the night breeze. Maybe it was the wedding, maybe she was just feeling sentimental. Palms braced at her sides, she asked curiously, “So, have you really never had a crush on anyone before?”
If he had, would it have felt like this?
Lin Jinshen lowered his gaze. “You really want to ask me that tonight?”
Lu Yi laughed. “...Am I not allowed?”
The blow dryer’s whir filled the silence. Time stretched so long, she thought he might not answer at all.
“I haven’t before.”
Lin Jinshen finally spoke, voice steady, eyes drifting past her, beyond her shoulder, as he slowly continued,
“But I do now. And you know her.”
Lu Yi’s body went still. She followed his gaze only to meet their reflections in the half-length mirror, her own profile, clear as day.