Extra 1

Rows of bouquets lined the church entrance, a red carpet was laid out, and colorful balloons swayed gently in the breeze. The melody of a piano and violin duet flowed through the open, carved wooden doors, swirling around the large photograph of the newlyweds at the entrance. Alice and Zhang Jiguang's wedding had been postponed for a long time. The perfectionist bride insisted on waiting until her husband was fully recovered before letting him walk down the aisle in his suit. Larine, even more perfectionist, and Alice hit it off immediately, deciding to use the wedding as a chance to promote their business. Therefore, they went all out in planning the wedding, making it far more extravagant than their initial proposal. As a result, Zhang Jiguang, who had become a full-time gym owner, had to wait from the beginning of the year until the middle of the year before he finally qualified to marry.

Guests chatted in small groups on the lawn, the clinking of champagne glasses mingling with laughter, perfectly setting the mood for the pre-wedding celebration. Many of the attendees were acquaintances from the police force, usually working in different departments and rarely seeing each other, let alone gathering together. Today, with the joyous occasion, their spirits were even higher. However, as the conversation progressed, one person's figure became increasingly elusive, inevitably raising questions among the crowd: "Where's Zhuang Zhuoyuan? Has our Inspector Zhuang stopped paying attention to his brothers after his promotion?"

Even as a joke, this statement was absurd. Immediately, someone chimed in, like Conan, to further expose Zhuang Zhuoyuan's folly: "There's only one possibility that could make Zhuang Zhuoyuan abandon his brothers!"

And everyone knows the truth: "He must have gone to pick up his sister-in-law!"

Inside the downtown exhibition hall, on a stage under the spotlight, Iris had just finished the media Q&A session for her new film. She wore a sleek silver fishtail dress, the hem of which swept across the stage floor with her turn, leaving a trail of elegant arcs. Flashbulbs went off one after another from the audience, and the sound of camera shutters filled the air.

In the backstage corridor, Zhuang Zhuoyuan leaned against the wall, toying with his car keys, his gaze occasionally glancing towards the exit. He wore a well-fitting dark gray suit, with a small pearl brooch pinned to his lapel—a brooch Iris had specially chosen for him the night before, saying it should match her own jewelry. The pearl's warm luster was beautiful, complementing their attire without overshadowing the newlyweds, perfect for their hurried schedule.

Finally, a familiar figure appeared around the corner. Iris dropped the official smile she had maintained for so long on stage, and a hint of fatigue appeared on her face, but her radiance was still undeniable.

Zhuang Zhuoyuan immediately went to meet her, naturally taking the handbag from her hand, but his gaze first fell on her feet. They were a pair of 12-centimeter stiletto sandals, the silver heels so delicate they seemed about to snap at any moment, the rhinestones embedded in the uppers sparkling under the light. “BB,” he frowned, his tone full of helplessness, “when you showed me the picture before, it didn’t show heels this high.”

Iris's eyes darted around as she took the other person's arm and led them to the dressing room, feigning reluctance while adding a touch of coquettishness: "I brought the wrong shoes. The stylist could only find a similar pair at the last minute, and they look perfect with the dress now."

Zhuang Zhuoyuan remained silent, giving her a deep look. Iris felt guilty and paused, then, knowing his concern, quickly raised her hand to add, "Don't worry, everyone helped me when I went up and down the stage, they took good care of me. And I spent most of my time sitting in my seat, so it didn't tire me out. It's fine."

The door to the dressing room opened, and the assistant was already waiting inside. Ignoring the others, Zhuang Zhuoyuan led Iris to a chair and, still concerned, knelt down to take off her shoes. Iris quickly gave the assistant a look, who immediately pretended to rummage through the shoebox and reported to Zhuang Zhuoyuan, "Brother Yuan, I had someone expedite the delivery of the original pair; you can put them on now."

"You don't need to use your tricks on me, do you?" Zhuang Zhuoyuan didn't even glance at the shoebox, reached for another pair of slippers, grabbed Iris's ankle, and said, "Wear these for now."

Sir Zhuang's acting skills have improved remarkably recently. Iris couldn't tell if he was bluffing or genuinely angry. After thinking for a moment, she decided it was best to play the victim and bent down to help him up, explaining softly, "I just want to look pretty in the photos today. Besides, honey, I have experience."

Having experience doesn't necessarily mean you can act recklessly. But he still had to be gentle and coax his wife. Zhuang Zhuoyuan sighed inwardly. Seeing that Iris was indeed not uncomfortable, he got up as she wished and said gently, "Let's change when we get to the wedding venue. You've been standing for so long today, don't push yourself. If you get tired, just tell me, and I'll help you rest." His voice was soft, and his nagging was filled with unwavering concern. Iris smiled and nodded, letting him lead her towards the parking lot.

The car sped along, passing through the bustling streets of the city center, heading straight for the church on the outskirts. Upon arrival, guests on the lawn were already gradually moving into the church. Zhuang Zhuoyuan got out first, walked around to the passenger side, and carefully helped Iris out, reminding her, "Slow down, don't slip on the grass."

As soon as the two reached the entrance, someone came over to greet them. Azu patted Zhuang Zhuoyuan on the shoulder, his gaze sweeping over their tightly clasped hands before settling on Iris's high heels. He chuckled and teased, "Zhuang Zhuoyuan, are you treating Iris like a fragile object?"

Xu Jiaming, standing nearby, chimed in with a joke: "That's right! Iris is usually incredibly independent, but when she's with Ayuan, she becomes a little darling who needs to be constantly thought about. I mean, you two have been married for years, and you're still so lovey-dovey!"

Iris blushed slightly and shook her hand, which was clasped with Zhuang Zhuoyuan's. Zhuang Zhuoyuan smiled and pulled her closer to him, his tone tinged with pride: "If I don't protect my wife, who will? None of you unmarried people understand!" His attack on the singles instantly drew a chorus of boos, but after the boos subsided, the married couples rallied together and began showing off their own displays of affection, leaving the single men speechless. Thus, the church doors welcomed a multitude of happiness and victories.

He had entrusted his son to his mother to make the call, and he was already waiting in the front row. The little guy was quite mischievous; he had been having a great time playing with Joe earlier, and now he couldn't sit still. Zhuang Zhuoyuan helped Iris sit down first, then went back to catch him. Tangyuan was much more obedient when he saw his mother, but he still kept trying to snuggle into Iris's arms. Zhuang Zhuoyuan quickly hugged his son tighter and pulled out a toy car, coaxing, "You'll sit between Daddy and Mommy later, be careful not to kick Mommy, okay?"

Tangyuanzi is very clever and quick-witted; he was almost ready to raise his hand and declare, "I know! I won't kick Mommy and my sister."

The surrounding chairs fell silent. Before the newcomers appeared, they were still the center of attention. Iris felt embarrassed and quickly thanked everyone for their congratulations. She was secretly pleased, never imagining that it would be a little kid who had tricked her parents.

Zhuang Zhuoyuan's overprotectiveness suddenly became clear. At the banquet, this overprotectiveness spread from Zhuang Sir to everyone at the table. If there was something delicious, it was served to his wife first; if it wasn't suitable for her, it was immediately replaced with something better. Iris suddenly felt a headache coming on and quickly stopped everyone's actions: "No need, really no need. Zhuoyuan is just nervous. You don't need to give me special treatment."

It took a while for the table to quiet down. Zhuang Zhuoyuan led the group to change the subject, but halfway through the meal, the focus suddenly returned to them. Tiger, after checking the time, was the first to offer his concern: "Iris, if you've already been pregnant for three months, then you were pregnant around graduation? Zhuoyuan, don't you care about your wife?!"

Zhuang Zhuoyuan was truly wronged. He and Iris had indeed started taking supplements to try for a baby several months in advance, but Iris's periods became extremely irregular in the later months, so they decided to try earlier and see if they could conceive a second child after graduation. And again, they got pregnant on the first two tries. After finishing her thesis, Iris slept for three days straight, feeling groggy day and night, which was reasonable but also unusual. Zhuang Zhuoyuan's heart skipped a beat; he bought a pregnancy test, and sure enough, she was pregnant.

But these words couldn't be said in public. Zhuang Zhuoyuan slowly raised his glass, taking full responsibility. Practice makes perfect, and he considered himself experienced now. Iris silently patted her thigh under the table, and Zhuang Zhuoyuan grasped it in return. The two communicated silently, but the others at the table wouldn't let them off the hook: "Sister-in-law, you manage your time so well. You started your pregnancy right after graduation, and you don't have to worry about having nothing to do."

Immediately, another person chimed in: "Sister-in-law, are you worried about having nothing to do? New book, new movie, new job, it's Yuan-ge who's worried. No wonder Yuan-ge has been keeping a close eye on us lately, telling us to be quick about our work. He's really in a hurry to go home and take care of his wife."

"Supervising your training and being a good husband aren't mutually exclusive." As the newlyweds came over to toast, Xie Jiaxing, the best man, overheard everyone teasing Zhuang Zhuoyuan and was the first to speak up in defense. Zhuang Zhuoyuan was practically family to his fiancée now; if he hadn't helped today, Iris might have asked Larine to settle scores on her behalf someday. But since he was one of their own, he couldn't let this opportunity slip by without giving his brother a taste of his own medicine, so he immediately changed the subject: "If you treat Zhuang Sir like that today, be careful he doesn't arrange special training for you tomorrow."

"Then we'll have to beg for mercy."

Amidst laughter and chatter, offering blessings to the newlyweds, and after a round of drinks, the men from the next table also came over to join in the fun. Su Wenqiang, arriving with Yu Xueli, immediately drew the attention of everyone at the table.

"Our Flying Tiger Flower has finally appeared!" Madam Su hadn't officially appeared before everyone for nearly a year and a half, due to her transfer to an office job and maternity leave. Only when Inspector Yu arrived with his team did everyone remember that there was a second wife among them. Compared to right after giving birth, Su Wenqiang's figure had already returned to its pre-pregnancy state, which made Iris extremely envious.

Su Wenqiang wasn't bothered by the teasing at all. She made her stance clear, stating that she would use force to resolve all the difficulties of the day. Iris's eyes lit up, and she asked excitedly, "Qiang, are you going back to the attack team?"

“Yes, she’s under your husband’s command. Didn’t A-Yuan tell you?” Yu Xueli answered on behalf of his wife.

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Zhuoyuan put down his chopsticks and quickly surrendered: "I just received the news. If you want to find someone, you have to go to A Tao. He kept it a secret for too long."

What a good reason! He knew perfectly well that Zhuang Zhuohua and Zhan Hantao had gone on a honeymoon trip, and she wouldn't bother them for a week. Iris's anger dissipated on the spot.

More than a year ago, Zhan Hantao was in a coma for three months before he woke up. During that time, the court's verdict against Pan Zilong and the police's punishment of Zhong Wei'en were issued. Pan Zilong was to serve his sentence in prison, while Zhong Wei'en was removed from his police post.

Iris hired a legal team to help Pan Zilong; she had no reason to stand by and watch Zhong Wei'en suffer. Using the excuse that Alice was busy taking care of Ah Guang and couldn't attend to the shop, she asked Zhong Wei'en to temporarily look after it. Losing her job as a police officer wasn't a huge blow to Zhong Wei'en. After being nearly drowned, she lost her passion for the job, and her desire to return to the police force was primarily driven by a desire to use resources to uncover the truth. Now that everything was clear and the culprits had been brought to justice, her wish was fulfilled, and she no longer cared about losing anything.

Iris, however, didn't believe she was as carefree as she claimed. According to Zhuang Zhuoyuan and Zhang Jiguang, Arnecha was exceptionally dedicated to every case, and her keen insight was extraordinary. In several cases, if it weren't for her persistence, they might not have even caught a glimpse of the suspect. Such talent couldn't be wasted.

When animals are injured, they always want to find a place to hide and heal. Iris was really afraid that Zhong Wei'en would hide somewhere they couldn't find her, covered in wounds. To exaggerate a bit, she couldn't very well send someone to hijack the High Court again to lure her out, so she could only rely on her existing resources to keep her here. The small shop was one reason, and A-Yuan's professional insights could also be a reason: "Stay a few more months and try a new life. After Tiger's incident, A-Yuan has been thinking about whether his career choice was right or wrong. So later he put down his scope and went to CIB to look at his work from a completely new perspective and reflect on his life. Wei'en, consider it helping me, and also for yourself. Give yourself a gap year, stay here and think carefully about your future path, okay?"

Zhong Weien was always so clear-headed. She was silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "You just said you wanted me to help you for three months, and now it's become a year. You're quite the shrewd boss."

“With a boss as shrewd as me, I can guarantee I’ll make money and get paid.” Hearing her agree, Iris knew there was no problem. She relaxed and joked, “Anyway, you need to earn money to live. Working for someone else is not as good as working for me. My place is known for its high wages and good benefits.”

Zhong Wei'en smiled slightly: "Thanks."

"What's there to thank? It's not time to say that yet." Iris was focused on paving the way for Chung Wai-yan's future. She couldn't be a police officer anymore, so finding a similar profession would suffice. G-Force knew many quirky and resourceful people; with just one instruction, he found a huge stack of information on private detective agencies. After comparing, filtering, and testing, Iris chose to invest in one of the three remaining long-established agencies that was on the verge of bankruptcy. This agency was originally founded by a British man from Hong Kong, later passed to his daughter, but her limited abilities and poor management led to a continuous financial deficit for the agency in recent years. This situation was perfect for Iris to arrange for Chung Wai-yan to join the agency. The manager was a bit talkative but a good person, and the private detectives were a bit lazy, but the overall work atmosphere was good. Such an environment was ideal for healing the mind and body. So, after finding a suitable employee for the small shop, Iris recommended Chung Wai-yan to the detective agency.

Her reasoning was also quite sound: "Ah Yuan has already gathered a group of brothers in CIB. If we end up cheating on each other in the future, and he has someone investigating me, I also need to be prepared to have someone trustworthy to investigate him."

Zhong Wei'en thought Iris was talking nonsense, but she was indeed interested in trying out the new job Iris had recommended. As long as it wasn't too low-level work, she was happy to handle some cases. Besides, as Iris said, it was just a job; if she wasn't satisfied, she could just change jobs.

Now that Chung Wai-yan has weathered the painful adjustment period with his eccentric colleagues, he's gradually adapting to his new life. While the detective agency's income remains modest, it's at least recovered from its losses. Iris is increasingly satisfied with this investment and has gained considerable inspiration from it, preparing to create another ensemble piece centered around the detective agency.

Everything was moving in a positive direction, so any minor unpleasantness along the way could be disregarded. Iris generously let Zhuang Zhuoyuan off the hook: "Consider it a surprise you wanted to give me. But you absolutely have to tell me when my sister and Tao are coming back. If you prevent me from picking them up at the airport, I'll definitely sleep in a separate room from you!"

This was indeed a huge threat. Zhuang Zhuoyuan nodded repeatedly, quickly making assurances to him. Everyone was used to the two whispering to each other. Su Wenqiang had originally wanted to ask Iris about Larine Studio's wedding planning services. She and Yu Xueli had been married for a while but hadn't had a wedding yet. Seeing Alice's stylish wedding today, she was considering collaborating with Larine. Right now, the couple was ignoring their son and just showing off their love; she thought she'd better ask the big boss herself. After the banquet, she'd have Yu Xueli call Larine; she was already looking forward to her big day.

Laughter and cheers filled the banquet hall. As night fell, a sudden, dazzling explosion erupted outside the window. Tangyuan jumped in fright but didn't cry. He simply grabbed his mother's collar and stared intently in the direction of the sound. His gaze followed the adults' directions to the glass window, where fireworks, like shimmering gold and shattered jade, filled the night sky. This sudden surprise drew everyone's attention. In an instant, the clinking of glasses and the sounds of laughter ceased as everyone was immersed in the magnificent spectacle.

Larine hadn't arranged this fireworks show, so who was it? Iris had a sudden inspiration and turned to survey the venue, but sure enough, Elaine was nowhere to be seen. Who else but our Shen family's little princess could be so extravagant and romantic? She smiled sweetly and focused on enjoying the fireworks. Tangyuan was in her arms, and her unnamed baby was with her. Most importantly, Zhuang Zhuoyuan was right beside her, safe and sound, equally happy. She saw Alice and Zhang Jiguang being egged on to kiss under the fireworks display. Taking advantage of a moment when no one was looking, she quickly pecked Zhuang Zhuoyuan on the cheek, then nestled against his shoulder and whispered, "Honey, I feel so happy. Not just today, but every day is a good day with you by my side."

As the words fell, Zhuang Zhuoyuan's kiss landed on Iris's lips once more. Their eyes met, filled with unwavering resolve and tenderness—the end of their wedding was merely the prelude to countless happy days to come. Their wedding had been over for a long time, but their happy days were a new beginning every single day. Year after year, they would be accompanied by warmth and romance as always.