"But that's my wedding!" Lin Tingwan suddenly raised her voice, tears finally welling up and rolling down her cheeks. "It's the wedding I've been looking forward to for so long... for so long."

Shen Huaixu's heart tightened.

Looking at her red, tear-filled eyes, he felt even more conflicted, his hands clenching into fists.

"It's not that I don't want to marry you." He finally softened his voice, his fingertips lightly touching the back of her hand before quickly withdrawing. "It's just that some things can't be rushed."

Lin Tingwan looked up at him with teary eyes, tiny teardrops still clinging to her eyelashes.

She sniffled, her voice muffled: "I'm just afraid... afraid that things might get complicated..."

A crabapple petal drifted down in the wind and landed right on her shoulder.

After hesitating for a moment, Shen Huaixu finally raised his hand and gently brushed it away.

His fingertips brushed against the delicate embroidery on her fabric, and he could clearly feel her slight trembling.

"Don't worry." His voice was soft, but it carried an undeniable firmness. "Once the marriage is arranged, it will not be changed."

Lin Tingwan stared at him blankly, then suddenly reached out and grabbed his sleeve: "Then promise me you'll urge the wedding to be completed as soon as possible."

Her fingers gripped his clothes tightly, as if she were grasping at some important promise.

Shen Huaixu looked down at that fair little hand, his heart filled with complex emotions, but he showed no emotion on his face.

He gently grasped her wrist, his thumb stroking her pulse reassuringly: "Okay."

This simple word made Lin Tingwan burst into laughter through her tears.

Tears still clung to the corners of her eyes, but the corners of her mouth had already turned up, like the sky after the rain.

Looking at her like this, Shen Huaixu felt a surge of complex emotions. In the end, he gently patted Lin Tingwan's slightly trembling shoulder.