Chapter 81 (Main Text...)

The ceremony is about to begin, and the guests are all in their seats. The relatives of the bride and groom are seated at two long tables, facing the central stage.

Jing Chengming arrived last. The old man came out from the back of the second floor. He didn't need a cane or anyone to help him. His steps were slow but steady. Only Jing Yao's father, Jing Yuanchuan, accompanied him.

As soon as Jing Chengming appeared, two of the bride's older relatives quickly got up to greet him. After exchanging a few pleasantries, they accompanied Jing Chengming to his home before returning to their own.

As Jing Chengming approached, the people who had already taken their seats at the Jing family's side stood up one after another, all waiting for the old man to sit down first.

Passing the younger generation, Jing Yuanchuan paused briefly, glanced at Jiang Nuanyu, then turned his gaze to Liang Qi beside her, and exclaimed in realization, "Oh, this is—"

Liang Qichao and Jing Yuanchuan nodded slightly in response, without saying anything more.

Jing Yuanchuan looked at Jiang Nuanyu again. As the host today, he said to Jiang Nuanyu in a very friendly manner, "Welcome."

Jiang Nuanyu bowed slightly and said with a smile, "Hello."

Her attitude was neither humble nor arrogant, displaying composure and grace. Jing Yuanchuan smiled and nodded, his gaze subtly sweeping over this "Liang Qi person" once more.

After Jiang Nuanyu spoke, Jing Chengming turned his head. However, he wasn't looking at Jiang Nuanyu, who was greeting Jing Yuanchuan, but at Liang Qi, who was standing next to her.

A few months ago, after Liang Qi directly rejected the blind date arranged for him, Jing Chengming realized that he could not use resources and the group's influence to coerce Liang Qi as he had with Jing Yao.

Liang Qi's decision to bring the person over today was a silent declaration. His grandson does indeed have his own way of doing things, and he is neither easily manipulated nor persuaded.

Liang Qi calmly met Jing Chengming's gaze. Neither of them showed any particular expression, but their silent exchange of glances seemed to freeze the surrounding air.

Jiang Nuanyu felt a chill run down her spine when she saw the way Jing Chengming was staring at Liang Qi.

Jing Yuanchuan fell silent, a helpless smile playing on his lips. He glanced at his father, then turned his gaze to his nephew across from him.

The situation was somewhat tense, but neither the grandfather nor the grandson seemed to want to end the standoff, each waiting for the other to back down first.

A moment later, Jing Chengming's gaze shifted slightly to Jiang Nuanyu.

Upon suddenly meeting Jing Chengming's gaze, Jiang Nuanyu tensed up instantly, unsure how to react.

Jing Chengming's identity needs no introduction, but faced with such an aura, she didn't dare to greet him rashly, and only lowered her eyes and nodded in acknowledgment.

Jing Chengming did not respond to her. His gaze lingered on her face for a few seconds, then fell gently and unexpectedly before naturally shifting away as he took a step.

Jing Chengming sat down in the middle seat, and the others followed suit.

Jiang Nuanyu mechanically sat back down in her chair with the others. After a long while, she seemed to finally remember how to breathe and exhaled deeply.

Her palms were sweating profusely, and she rubbed them back and forth with the back of her hands, but it didn't help.

Liang Qi reached out and gently squeezed her hand.

Jiang Nuanyu turned her head away, and Liang Qi looked up into her eyes. He didn't say anything, but gave her a very faint smile.

His palms were dry and warm, possessing a soothing energy. She felt comfortable absorbing his warmth, and turned her hand to grasp his in return.

The lights in the venue suddenly dimmed, and the scattered sounds instantly converged.

A spotlight shone from the dome onto the central stage, and the ceremony officially began.

The first half of the wedding ceremony was not much different from a typical wedding banquet. Music played, the newlyweds entered one by one, and the emcee set the pace and atmosphere. The only difference was probably the marriage ceremony.

The officiant at the wedding ceremony was a highly respected figure in the domestic medical field. The elderly gentleman, over seventy years old, with a head of silver-white hair, spoke at a measured pace, each word ringing with conviction.

As the officiant, he first congratulated the newlyweds on their union, and then briefly reviewed the development history of the two companies in the medical industry, mentioning their collaborative layout and shared philosophy in equipment, clinical practice, and scientific research.

Then, he changed the subject and talked about the special characteristics of medical enterprises and the social responsibilities they bear. He pointed out that the new generation of entrepreneurs should not only inherit the scientific spirit of their predecessors, but also take a global perspective to promote the domestic medical industry to a higher and broader platform.

Out of respect for the occasion, Jiang Nuanyu listened attentively. But apart from the very beginning, the latter half of the speech kept making her momentarily disoriented: was she attending a wedding, a summit forum, or a public event of an alliance?

She glanced at the newlyweds on the other side of the stage. Jingyao was impeccably dressed in a suit, exuding confidence and charm; the bride stood beside him, her smile gentle. The two occasionally turned their heads to whisper to each other, exchanging glances, and indeed appeared to be a flawless and perfect newlywed couple.

As Jiang Nuanyu listened to the wedding vows and faced this scene, she felt an indescribable sense of unease.

After the officiant finished speaking, the newlyweds exchanged vows and rings.

Backstage, the orchestra played the Wedding March. Flower girls, dressed in suits and gowns, carrying small baskets, surrounded the newlyweds, scattering red and pink rose petals in all directions.

Petals fluttered down, and the lights above the stage flowed like rain and mist, creating a truly dreamlike scene.

The entire hall fell silent. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Jingyao turned to the side, put his hand on the bride's shoulder, and lowered his head to kiss her lips.

Instantly, applause erupted, almost engulfing the entire venue. Cameras flashed, capturing the moment.

In the midst of a peaceful and serene moment, Jiang Nuanyu suddenly and inappropriately thought of Ye Ji.

In the same relationship, one person is dragged down by their ex and finds it hard to move forward, while the other easily embraces marriage. Isn't that ironic?

With Ye Ji's words about Jing Yao echoing in her mind, Jiang Nuanyu felt a tightness in her chest. She could no longer bear to watch the beautiful scene on stage and turned to look at Liang Qi beside her.

Liang Qi clapped slowly along with the crowd, a faint smile on his lips, but no emotion flickered in his eyes.

Compared to the genuine emotions he displayed on stage, he appeared equally immersed in the moment. But Jiang Nuanyu understood that he was emotionally detached. Liang Qi hadn't invested a single bit of genuine feeling in this situation.

He has always been this kind of person, never keeping people at arm's length, giving people the illusion that he is approachable. But beneath his gentle exterior, he doesn't let people easily enter his world.

His personality is strong and complete, as if he doesn't need to establish emotional connections with anyone.

From a rational perspective, she loved someone who didn't need her love. Her unsolicited affection for him was destined to be futile.

Yet, Liang Qi, who was so detached and aloof in the world of emotions, made her feel his profound love and countless moments when he used love to lift up her true heart.

He never explicitly told her he loved her, leaving her to rely solely on her feelings. But her heart told her—he loved her deeply.

His love wasn't about need, possession, or constraint, but about support, respect, and the granting of freedom. This allowed her to love not only him but also the version of herself she had once despised.

She gazed at him intently, a warmth rising in her heart, and unconsciously curved her lips into a smile.

Noticing her gaze, Liang Qi turned his head and looked at her, raising an eyebrow slightly. She turned to the side, holding onto the edge of the table as she moved closer to him. Liang Qi leaned slightly to the side, lowered his head, and listened to what she had to say.

Amidst applause and the wedding march, she whispered in his ear, "Liang Qi, thank you," her lips close to his.

Thank you for valuing my feelings and valuing me from beginning to end.

Liang Qi listened with his eyes down, understanding the other meaning behind her words of thanks. He half-raised his eyelids and paused for a moment.

He turned to look at her, a gentle smile playing on his lips, and said, "Anything else?"

"Huh?" As he spoke, another round of applause broke out. Jiang Nuanyu didn't quite hear him, so she leaned her head closer to him. "What did you say?"

Liang Qi whispered in her ear, "I remember there was another sentence after that?"

Jiang Nuanyu paused for a second or two before realizing that he was referring to the A4 paper on which she had written.

Two days ago, she sat at his desk, overwhelmed by the joy and happiness of being accepted, and wrote down her overflowing love, then stuffed it into his drawer.

She thought he wouldn't see it so quickly, but to her surprise, he not only saw it, but also remembered it so clearly, yet he didn't tell her anything.

She was truly embarrassed when he asked the question out loud. Especially since it was someone's wedding, with so many people around, she was even more hesitant to say it.

She pursed her lips, turned her head, and looked away, but two soft pink blushes appeared on her cheeks.

Liang Qi smiled gently, took one of her hands and placed it on his lap, opening her palm and intertwining their fingers.

This was his response to her.

*

After the grand wedding and the afternoon after-party, the sofa by the French windows at home became the most comfortable spot in the evening.

I don't know if it's because of the strong winds these past few days, but the smog in Beijing has been blown away. The sky is exceptionally clean and bright, and it seems that even the city lights can't outshine the clear night sky outside the window.

There was a bottle of wine on the small table next to the sofa. Jiang Nuanyu was nestled against Liang Qi, chatting with him casually.

The last bit of liquid in the cup was swirled up by the straw with a "glug-glug" sound. Jiang Nuanyu shook the empty cup in her hand, and the glass straw made a few crisp "clink-clink" sounds as it hit the cup wall.

"It's all gone again." She muttered as she got up, leaning forward and reaching for the small table.

One of her little feet was still hooked between his legs. Liang Qi leaned back on the sofa, holding her ankle to help her maintain her balance.

Seeing that she seemed to want to continue drinking, Liang Qi slowly asked, "Are you sure you want more?"

Jiang Nuanyu paused in her hand as she picked up the wine bottle, then turned around. She was already slightly tipsy, her lips were bright red, and her watery eyes were blinking rapidly.

Liang Qi remained silent, watching her quietly, but Jiang Nuanyu understood the subtle hint in his expression.

She had a little to drink at the party in the afternoon, and she had already had two drinks. She is flying back to Paris tomorrow, and she would feel unwell if she drank any more.

Jiang Nuanyu put the wine bottle and glass back, obediently lay back down on him, and said, "No, thank you."

Liang Qi took the opportunity to put his arm around her leg, supporting her waist and moving her up to make her more comfortable.

Jiang Nuanyu cooperated with his movements, resting her head on his chest, and asked him, "Have I gotten heavier?"

She has been eating well and sleeping soundly for the past six months, and has also been "exercising" from time to time. She can clearly feel that she has become much stronger.

Liang Qi did not deny it, only saying, "It's just right."

Jiang Nuanyu felt a warmth spread through her heart and couldn't help but ask again, "Then... what if it's even heavier?"

“That’s fine too,” Liang Qi replied casually.

She persisted, "What if it's even heavier?"

Liang Qi glanced down at her and said, "With your meager appetite?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Nuanyu raised her head and retorted defiantly, "I have a very good appetite, okay?"

Recalling her earnestness during meals, Liang Qi smiled and nodded, saying, "She has a good appetite, but it's small."

Jiang Nuanyu said, "I don't think so. I always eat more than usual when I eat with you." As she spoke, she stretched out her index finger and gently tapped his chin, talking nonsense in a serious manner, "It must be because you are too beautiful. Just looking at you makes me feel hungry."

Liang Qi didn't respond immediately. Jiang Nuanyu was too sensitive to this topic. After thinking for a moment, she quickly added, "I was just talking about normal appetite."

Her words were clearly an attempt to cover up her true intentions. Liang Qi paused, his gaze deepening, and said, "Unusual ones are also acceptable."

He slipped his hand inside her shorts waistband and gently stroked her lower back, sending a tingling electric sensation through her tailbone.

"Mmm..." Jiang Nuanyu instinctively let out a soft moan, pressed down on his arm, and said, "Wait a little while..."

Liang Qi pinched one of her buttocks with his large hand and looked at her, asking, "The truth?"

“…Really,” Jiang Nuanyu said. “By the time you’re better, I’ll definitely be too weak. I’m leaving tomorrow, and I wanted to talk to you a little longer.”

Liang Qi took it out, rubbed the back of her head, and said, "Okay."

She nuzzled her head against his neck comfortably and said, "It feels like time flew by this trip back to China."

Liang Qi twitched the corner of his mouth slightly and asked, "Don't want to leave?"

"Hmm...it's alright." She looked up at him and said, "Anyway, you're in Paris too."

Liang Qi looked at her for a few seconds, then tilted his head and kissed her hairline. He pulled her closer and said, "I'll go over next week, and I'll go with you to look at houses then."

Jiang Nuanyu had always complained about the strong smell of cooking in her current apartment, but otherwise, there was nothing wrong with it, so she kept putting off making a decision to move. Besides, if she really wanted to move to a better apartment in the same location, the rent alone would take up half of her salary.

Liang Qi's apartment is in western Paris, not very close to her company, and her daily commute isn't very convenient. Before she returned to China, Liang Qi had suggested renting a larger place in the area where she currently lives, with the two of them splitting the rent.

Jiang Nuanyu had only said "we'll see" back then, but now she had a different idea. She looked up at me and asked, "Are you really going to share an apartment with me?"

Liang Qi: "Mm."

She traced circles on his Adam's apple with her fingertips and said, "But you won't even be staying for half the time. Don't you feel like you're missing out?"

Liang Qi stared intently at her and asked, "What do you think?"

Jiang Nuanyu's lips slowly curved into a smile, and she chuckled as she leaned back against him without saying a word.

The two remained quiet for a while, enjoying the tranquility of their time together.

Jiang Nuanyu suddenly remembered something, tilted her head back and asked, "Liang Qi, Lan Xin used to like you?"

Liang Qi frowned slightly and asked, "Who said that?"

Jiang Nuanyu raised her eyebrows: "She said it herself, at the party this afternoon."

Liang Qi couldn't help but look down at her. She looked relaxed and didn't seem jealous, which meant that it wasn't entirely what she had said.

He squinted, shook his head, and didn't give a serious response.

Jiang Nuanyu got excited, rolled over and lay on top of him, saying with great interest, "Lan Xin said that she liked all three of you."

Liang Qi gave a meaningless laugh.

Jiang Nuanyu counted on her fingers as she told him, "Lan Xin said that when she was little, she initially liked Jing Mai, but after Jing Mai went abroad and she could hardly see him, she realized that Jing Yao had also grown up and was no longer a little boy. He had become charming, so she fell in love with Jing Yao. Then you retired and returned to China, and you often stayed in the country, so she fell in love with you."

Liang Qi chuckled softly; this seemed like something Song Lanxin would do.

“But she stopped liking them later.” Jiang Nuanyu paused, looked at him, and asked tentatively, “Guess why?”

Liang Qi readily agreed, "Why?"

Jiang Nuanyu said, "Because after Jingmai got married, she knew that Grandpa... that is, your maternal grandfather, would not allow any of you to marry her."

Liang Qi fell silent this time, glanced at her, and then looked out the window.

The smile was still on his lips, but his expression had inexplicably become more subdued.

Jiang Nuanyu's heart raced as she looked at his expression. She hadn't been particularly concerned before, but his reaction made her think more deeply about the wedding.

She asked slowly, "Liang Qi, what if... your family wants you to go on blind dates and even makes you marry someone else?"

Liang Qi was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed and said, "So, I brought you to this wedding just so you could experience all this?" He gently wiped her nose. "Hmm?"

Jiang Nuanyu winced and covered her nose, frowning at him: "It hurts—"

Liang Qi removed her hand, glanced at the tip of her nose, and then took her small fist in his hand, saying, "Don't listen to Song Lanxin's nonsense."

Jiang Nuanyu had no rebuttal.

She knew very well that the acceptance and recognition she received from Song Lanxin, Zhou Manling, Liang Qi's parents, Liang Qi's two uncles, Jing Mai, and even the other guests present today, was based not only on her carefully maintained appearance, but also on a very important premise: Liang Qi's attitude towards her.

Because of respect and recognition for Liang Qi, I dared not neglect her, who stood beside Liang Qi.

She had already grasped the significance of Liang Qi bringing her to the wedding, as he had described. But beyond their relationship, in the more complex web of power and interests, she still harbored unease.

After a moment of silence, she finally asked, "Liang Qi, I have a question."

Liang Qi looked at her, nodded, and said, "Okay, go ahead."

Jiang Nuanyu said, "You don't let me listen to Song Lanxin, but why did you have that expression when I relayed what she said to you? ...You care."

Liang Qi pursed his lips slightly and did not answer her.

"And before the wedding started, your grandfather..." Jing Chengming's attitude at the time was hard to define. Jiang Nuanyu thought for a moment and then summarized, "He seemed to have a problem with you."

Liang Qi remained silent; he didn't know how to talk to her.

When it comes to marriage, Jing Chengming does have expectations for him. The fact that he brought Jiang Nuanyu to the wedding was the first time he had proactively made his stance clear, aside from refusing blind dates.

But to please both sides with Jing Chengming, a good attitude alone isn't enough; he needs to negotiate with the old man. The operation of Yunjing is both what he wants and his bargaining chip. This requires his continued efforts.

He fell silent for a moment, then Jiang Nuanyu asked again, "Is it because of me, right?"

Liang Qi shook his head and said, "It has nothing to do with you, it's my business."

“But…” Jiang Nuanyu’s lips twitched, his words inexplicably making her feel wronged.

She sat up facing him, a little hurt, and said, "You don't want to have anything to do with me in this matter? Was I meddling?"

Liang Qi realized she had misunderstood, so he grabbed the back of her neck and tried to pull her back into his arms, but she stubbornly refused.

He sat up, looked into her eyes, and said, "Jiang Zhenzhu, what I mean is, you don't need to think about this."

Jiang Nuanyu was taken aback: "What Jiang Zhenzhu..."

Her focus had wandered off course, and Liang Qi paused for a moment, then looked at her with a smile and said, "Isn't that wrong?"

Jiang Nuanyu truthfully replied, "No one has ever called me that before."

Liang Qi hummed in agreement and called out again, "Jiang Zhenzhu."

Jiang Nuanyu lowered her eyelids, and her pursed lips gradually softened into a smile.

Liang Qi's eyes softened, and he deliberately teased her, "You're not angry anymore?"

Jiang Nuanyu quickly shook her head and said, "What did you mean when you said I didn't need to consider it?"

Liang Qi said, "The literal meaning."

Jiang Nuanyu was taken aback by his words, frowned, and whine and pleaded with him, "Tell me..."

Liang Qi continued to feign ignorance: "Tell you what?"

He was now unmoved by either soft or hard tactics. Jiang Nuanyu was both angry and anxious, so she lunged forward and grabbed wildly in his arms.

Liang Qi shielded her struggling body and leaned back against the sofa, but she still wouldn't stop, burying her head in front of him and making "mmm" noises.

Under the influence of alcohol, her body was soft and hot, and he couldn't resist rubbing against her. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, pulled her into his embrace, and said, "If you keep rubbing against me, our talking time for today will be over."

Jiang Nuanyu understood immediately and stopped moving. Liang Qi loosened his grip a little, letting her lie down comfortably, and suddenly said with a smile, "Looks like you really don't want to do it."

Jiang Nuanyu protested, "No—"

Liang Qi smiled and leaned down to kiss her on the forehead.

She blinked at him for a moment, then softly called his name: "Liang Qi".

Liang Qi: "Mm."

“I know you don’t like to be too explicit,” she said slowly. “There are many things you don’t tell me, but maybe I’ll understand them after a while. But what if I’m foolish enough not to understand what you mean?”

Liang Qi raised his hand and touched her face, saying, "What do you want to do?"

Jiang Nuanyu stopped throwing a tantrum and stopped clinging to him for an answer. She calmly and frankly said to him, "Liang Qi, I want you to answer my question directly, okay?"

Liang Qi looked down at her, the smile on his lips fading slightly. After a few seconds, he said, "As for my maternal grandfather, I told you not to worry about it because I didn't want you to be affected by these things. This is a problem I should solve."

He put his hand around her waist and said, "If you really want to think about something in this regard, there's only one thing."

She looked at him intently and nodded: "Hmm, go ahead."

He gazed at her intently and said, "Jiang Zhenzhu, trust me."

Jiang Nuanyu's heart skipped a beat.

He said only one sentence, but to her, that sentence was worth a thousand words.

The surroundings fell silent, and her body rose and fell gently with his breathing. She was immersed in the moment, and without realizing it, her breath gradually became in sync with his.

Because he's there, even the passage of time feels so reassuring.

All the uncertainties about the future suddenly ceased to matter at this moment.

Her heart calmed down instantly, held firmly in his embrace.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, buried her face in the crook of his neck, and whispered in response, "I believe you."

She felt his hand around her waist tighten as she answered.

She pressed her face against the skin of his neck, leaned close to his ear, closed her eyes, and repeated, "Liang Qi, I believe you."

I believe in you, I believe in myself, and I believe in us even more.

(End of text)

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A note from the author:

That concludes the main story. There are five sets of bonus chapters, all of which will be released within the next week. Thank you for your continued support!