Wedding preparation
Xu Ying stood in the fitting room, her fingertips gently tracing the waistline of the vintage lace mermaid wedding dress. The woman in the mirror had gentle features, yet the dress accentuated her allure. She took a deep breath and zipped up the back of the dress, but it got stuck two-thirds of the way down.
"Do you need any help?" the shop assistant asked softly from outside the door.
"Wait a minute, let me try again..." Xu Ying bit her lip, awkwardly stretching her arm back, but her fingertips couldn't reach that stubborn zipper no matter what she did.
Suddenly, the curtain of the fitting room was flung open.
"You—" Xu Ying exclaimed, instinctively turning around, only to bump into a solid chest. Zong Heng rested one hand on the mirror beside her ear, looking down at the zipper stuck halfway down her zipper, a roguish smile playing on his lips: "Designer Xu, can't even handle a piece of clothing?"
Her ears burned, and she pushed him away, saying, "Get out! This is the women's fitting room!"
He didn't move an inch, instead leaning closer to her ear, his breath hot: "What part of your body haven't I seen?"
The shop assistant coughed lightly outside the door: "Gentlemen...do you need my help?"
Zong Heng didn't even turn his head: "No need."
His fingers gripped the zipper, slowly and deliberately pulling it upwards, his knuckles brushing lightly against the skin of her back. Xu Ying froze, her face flushed and Zong Heng's triumphant smile reflected in the mirror.
"Alright." He took a half step back, but his gaze suddenly darkened.
The wedding dress fit her figure perfectly, with a lace-covered waist that seemed to fit in one hand, and a cutout design on the back that made her shoulder blades appear and disappear, while the skirt flowed down like water.
Zong Heng's Adam's apple bobbed, and he suddenly pulled the curtain of the fitting room shut, pinning her against the mirror: "This one won't do."
Xu Ying was forcibly pressed onto the sofa in the VIP room by Zong Heng. The waiter nervously handed over tea, but was so intimidated by Zong Heng's aura that he didn't dare to say a word, and slipped away after putting down the cup.
“Zong Heng, be reasonable.” Xu Ying picked up her teacup, trying to hide her blush with the steam. “I fell in love with this wedding dress at first sight.”
He crossed his long legs and sneered, "You're interested in the wedding dress, but I'm interested in you—who are you showing so much of your back?"
"Everyone at the wedding is someone I know, who would care..."
“I do care.” He suddenly leaned in and pinched her chin. “Xu Ying, if you wear this, I might not be able to calmly go through the procedures that day.”
Her heart skipped a beat, but she deliberately raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Mr. Zong has so little self-control?"
He narrowed his eyes and stroked her lips with his thumb: "You can certainly give it a try."
The sales clerk came in carrying a stack of catalogs and interrupted, forcing a smile, "How about... we take a look at other styles? We also have some more conservative designs..."
Zong Heng casually flipped to a page and pointed to a satin wedding dress with a high collar and long sleeves: "This one."
Xu Ying glanced at it, incredulous: "Isn't this the style of the 1980s?"
"Dignified." He remained expressionless.
She kicked his shin in anger: "Why didn't you just make me wear a burlap sack?"
He chuckled softly, then suddenly lowered his voice: "Or... you could wear this one too." He tapped his fingertip on a model's picture that was almost entirely made of sheer fabric. "Anyway, it can only be worn by me."
Xu Ying snapped the catalog shut and smiled at the shop assistant: "I'll keep the original fishtail style, no changes."
At the front desk, the clerk carefully handed the POS machine to Zong Heng: "Sir, the deposit is..."
He pulled out a black card and said, "Full payment."
Xu Ying tugged at his sleeve: "The final details of the revisions haven't been finalized yet!"
Zong Heng put one arm around her waist and said to the shop assistant, "Add a layer of tulle of the same color to the openwork part of the back."
Xu Ying glared at him: "You—"
He lowered his head and bit her ear: "Either add some gauze, or I'll carry you home right now and show you what a real 'backless' look is."
The clerk's hand trembled, and he almost dropped the card.
While entering the password, Zong Heng suddenly asked, "Does your store have CCTV footage?"
Shop assistant: "Oh? We have some..."
He put his arm around Xu Ying's waist and kissed her deeply in front of the camera, then raised an eyebrow at the stunned shop assistant: "Keep this as evidence, so she won't go back on her word."
Xu Ying stepped on his foot, but he dodged it with a smile.
As she walked out of the store, Xu Ying suddenly remembered something: "Wait, you haven't chosen your suit yet."
Zong Heng lazily put his hands in his pockets: "I'm fine with anything I wear."
Her eyes lit up, and she pulled him back, saying, "Then I'll pick out a pink one for you."
He froze on the spot: "Xu Ying!"
She turned around, a sly smile on her face: "What? Mr. Zong doesn't dare to wear it?"
Sunlight streamed through the shop window, illuminating her face, and the glass of the bridal shop reflected their intertwined figures. Suddenly, Zong Heng pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
“I dare,” he mumbled between her lips, “but you have to help me undress.”
An elderly woman passing by shook her head and sighed, "These young people nowadays..."
Xu Ying blushed and punched him, but he held her fingers tightly.
On the glass door of the bridal shop, a pair of entangled shadows are reflected, along with a mermaid wedding dress that is destined to drive the groom out of control.
Back home, Xu Ying sat cross-legged on the carpet, a dozen wedding invitation samples spread out in front of her, each one so exquisite that it was hard to choose. She frowned slightly, her fingertips gently tracing the edges of the papers, as if pondering some serious philosophical question.
Zong Heng emerged from the kitchen, carrying two cups of hot coffee, one with double the sugar—he always remembered her preferences. He glanced at the table full of invitations, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Haven't chosen yet?"
Xu Ying took the coffee, took a sip, and squinted her eyes in satisfaction: "Wedding invitations are very important, they're all about the first impression!"
He chuckled, sat down beside her, stretched out his long arm, and pulled her into his embrace, resting his chin on the top of her head: "Why don't you just pick one? In the end, everyone will only remember how well-matched we are."
She nudged him lightly with her elbow: "Narcissistic."
Xu Ying picked up a light pink invitation card with delicate lace trim and the words "Love Story" printed in gold lettering inside. Her eyes lit up, and she handed it to Zong Heng: "How about this? It's romantic and gentle."
Zong Heng glanced at it, his expression instantly freezing. He pinched the corner of the invitation with two fingers, as if carrying something suspicious, his brows furrowed so deeply they could trap a fly: "Are you serious?"
"Isn't it pretty?" she tilted her head.
“Xu Ying.” He took a deep breath. “We’re getting married, not acting in a Disney princess movie.”
She chuckled and deliberately waved the invitation: "But I think it's really cute, and everyone says this style is super popular right now—"
Before he could finish speaking, he snatched the invitation away and shoved it under the coffee table. His face was serious: "Rejected."
Xu Ying raised an eyebrow, deliberately pulling out an even more extravagant one—a pale purple starry sky theme, which even sparkled when flipped open. She blinked: "What about this one?"
Zong Heng stared at the sequins, remained silent for two seconds, then suddenly reached out and pinched her face, gritting his teeth: "Xu Ying, are you deliberately trying to anger me?"
She laughed so hard her shoulders shook, and slapped his hand away: "Who told you to act like you know everything!"
Zong Heng snorted coldly, precisely pulled out a pure black invitation card with gold foil embossing from the pile of samples, and handed it to her: "This."
Xu Ying took it, opened it, and saw that the inner pages were in dark red font, with a cold and sharp style, resembling a membership invitation to some high-end club. Her lips twitched: "Are we having a wedding, or a [missing word] handover ceremony?"
He stated confidently, "It's understated luxury, and it has style."
"Style?" She pointed to the embossed skull design on the invitation. "Are you sure the guests won't think we're having a wedding in a cemetery?"
Zong Heng narrowed his eyes, suddenly leaned closer, and lowered his voice: "Xu Ying, have you forgotten who said on the high school rooftop back then, 'Even if you're a bastard, I'll accept it'?"
Her ears burned, and she pushed his face away: "Old scores don't count!"
As the two were bickering, Xu Ying suddenly noticed an overlooked invitation lying in the corner—a plain white card with no patterns, except for a small cherry blossom pressed in the lower right corner, as if it had fallen by accident.
She was taken aback, then picked it up and examined it closely.
Zong Heng's gaze also fell on the invitation, and he suddenly fell silent.
“This one…” Xu Ying said softly, her fingertips gently tracing the cherry blossom.
Zong Heng didn't speak, but simply reached out and took the invitation, flipping through it to look at the inner pages—a pure white background, without any superfluous decorations, not even gold lettering, only a line of handwritten printed text:
Xu Ying and Zong Heng cordially invite you to witness their union.
It's so simple it's almost capricious, yet it inexplicably sends a shiver down your spine.
Xu Ying looked up at him: "When did you choose this one?"
He lowered his eyes, his fingers unconsciously tracing the edge of the invitation, and said in a light tone, "I didn't choose it, I just thought... you would like it."
She suddenly remembered that many years ago, on the day she graduated from high school, she had casually drawn a cherry blossom on a piece of scrap paper and tucked it into his textbook. Back then, he would awkwardly hide the textbook in his drawer, pretending not to see it, but then secretly slip the paper into his wallet after school.
The air suddenly became quiet, with only the faint chirping of cicadas outside the window.
Xu Ying's nose tingled, and she quickly lowered her head to pretend to sort out the invitations, muttering, "It's alright, barely passing."
Zong Heng stared at her reddened earlobes and suddenly laughed. He reached out and pinched her chin, forcing her to look up: "Xu Ying, do you know that your ears turn red when you lie?"
She glared at him: "Who's lying!"
He chuckled softly, then suddenly kissed her, mumbling, "...Stubborn."
In the end, they chose the plain white invitation.
As Zong Heng was signing the order, he suddenly looked up and asked the shop assistant, "Could you add a line of text?"
The clerk smiled and said, "Of course, what would you like to add?"
He picked up a pen, scribbled a line on a piece of paper, and handed it to the shop assistant: "Make a copy like this."
Xu Ying curiously leaned closer to take a look, and saw that it read:
Five years late, but fortunately not too late.
She froze, and her eyes suddenly welled up with tears.
Zong Heng closed the pen cap, turned to look at her, and raised an eyebrow: "What's wrong, too moved to speak?"
She took a deep breath, suddenly grabbed his collar, and said fiercely, "Zong Heng, if you dare to disappear again—"
He lowered his head and sealed her lips with his, swallowing all the rest of his words into that kiss.
The shop assistant quietly withdrew, concealing his merit and fame.
On the third day, the two went to sample the ingredients.
In a private room at a Michelin-starred restaurant, a crystal chandelier cast a soft glow, and a snow-white tablecloth covered the long table, with silver cutlery set out meticulously. Xu Ying looked down at the menu sample handed to her by the wedding planner, her fingertips gliding over the exquisitely named dishes.
"For appetizers, you can choose between French-style baked snails or shrimp tartare. For main courses, there are pan-fried foie gras, Australian Wagyu beef, and truffle pasta..." Planner Lisa introduced with a smile, but her eyes kept glancing at Zong Heng sitting next to Xu Ying.
Zong Heng leaned back in his chair, his suit jacket casually draped over his shoulders, his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing a section of his muscular forearm. His expression was indifferent, his long, slender fingers tapping the table absently, clearly showing little interest in the menu—until Lisa suddenly leaned over, pointed to the foie gras page, and said to Xu Ying, "This is our chef's signature dish; many brides who have tried it have raved about it."
Her fingertips almost touched the back of Xu Ying's hand.
Zong Heng's fingers suddenly stopped.
Xu Ying didn't notice anything amiss, looked up and smiled, "Then let's try the foie gras, I've never had it here before."
Lisa's eyes lit up, and she immediately turned to make the arrangements. Zong Heng stared at her retreating figure, narrowing his eyes.
"What's wrong?" Xu Ying noticed his gaze.
"It's nothing." He said calmly, reaching out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his fingertips lightly brushing against her earlobe. "I just think... this planner is quite enthusiastic."
Just as Xu Ying was about to answer, the door to the private room was pushed open, and a tall man walked in. He was wearing a pristine white chef's uniform, gold-rimmed glasses perched on his high nose, and carrying a beautifully decorated appetizer.
"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, Miss Xu." His voice was gentle, and his gaze fell directly on Xu Ying's face. "I heard you're interested in foie gras? I've specially adjusted the sauce recipe for you, making it more suitable for Asian tastes."
Xu Ying was somewhat surprised: "You're the head chef?"
The man smiled and nodded: "Alex, the manager of this restaurant." As he spoke, he personally placed the plate in front of her and gracefully lifted the silver lid. "Please enjoy your meal."
The foie gras was pan-fried until golden brown and slightly charred, then paired with berry sauce and edible gold leaf, instantly filling the air with its aroma. Just as Xu Ying was about to pick up her fork, Zong Heng suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist.
"Wait a minute." He looked up at Alex, a cold smile playing on his lips. "It's an honor to have the head chef serve the dishes himself."
Alex seemed to only then notice him, and nodded politely: "Mr. Zong, it's an honor to meet you."
Zong Heng raised an eyebrow: "You know me?"
“As Miss Xu’s fiancé, I naturally have to do my homework.” Alex smiled, but his gaze remained fixed on Xu Ying. “A little brandy has been added to the sauce. If Miss Xu likes it, I can personally come and mix it on the wedding day.”
Just as Xu Ying was about to thank him, Zong Heng interrupted her coldly, "No need."
The air in the private room froze instantly.
After Alex left, Xu Ying nudged Zong Heng's arm: "Why were you so fierce? He was just being polite."
Zong Heng snorted coldly, picked up the menu, flipped to the steak page, and crossed out the foie gras: "Change to this."
"Why?" Xu Ying's eyes widened. "I want to eat foie gras!"
He remained expressionless: "You had an allergic reaction to foie gras last time, have you forgotten?"
"When did I—" Before she could finish speaking, he suddenly stepped heavily on her foot under the table.
Xu Ying winced in pain and almost cried out, but then she saw Zong Heng lean forward slightly and lower his voice: "I don't like the way that chef looks at you."
She was stunned, then laughed and cried at the same time: "What nonsense are you talking about? They're professionals!"
"So professional that he personally prepared the sauce for you? So professional that he suggested you attend the wedding?" Zong Heng sneered. "He spent more time looking at you than at the dishes just now."
Xu Ying opened her mouth, then suddenly realized something and narrowed her eyes: "Zong Heng, you're not jealous, are you?"
He forked a piece of steak and shoved it into her mouth: "Eat."
The steak was tender and juicy, but Xu Ying chewed absentmindedly. She stole a glance at Zong Heng's tense profile and suddenly felt mischievous. When Lisa returned to ask for her opinion on the menu adjustments, Xu Ying deliberately said, "Let's keep the foie gras. Chef Alex's skills are really good."
Zong Heng's knife scraped against the porcelain plate with a harsh sound.
Lisa glanced at the two of them and asked cautiously, "So... do you still want the steak?"
"Yes." Zong Heng stared at Xu Ying, enunciating each word clearly, "I'll have two portions."
Halfway through the meal, Xu Ying got up to go to the restroom. At the corner of the corridor, Alex was leaning against the wall, as if he had been waiting for a long time.
"Ms. Xu." He handed her a gold-embossed business card. "If you need any private banquet services, please feel free to contact me."
Just as Xu Ying was about to take it, a hand with distinct knuckles suddenly darted in and snatched the business card away.
"Thank you for your kindness." Zong Heng appeared behind her at some point, casually stuffing the business card into his pocket. "However, I will take care of my wife's meals."
Alex pushed up his glasses and suddenly laughed: "Mr. Zong seems very nervous? Don't worry, I always keep my distance from women who are already in relationships." He paused, then added meaningfully, "But Miss Xu is indeed very charming, no wonder you are so wary."
Zong Heng's eyes suddenly turned cold.
Xu Ying quickly grabbed his arm, nodded her thanks to Alex, and hurriedly pulled him away. As soon as they entered the restroom stall, she couldn't help but punch Zong Heng's chest: "Are you crazy? That look in your eyes just now was like you wanted to kill me!"
He grabbed her wrist and slammed it against the wall, his breathing heavy: "What he just said was a provocation."
Which sentence?
“He said, ‘No wonder you’re so wary’—” Zong Heng leaned down and got closer, his nose almost touching hers, “meaning, he knows how much I care about you.”
Xu Ying's heart skipped a beat.
Back in the private room, Lisa was tidying up her documents. Seeing the two return, she hesitated, then said, "Mr. Zong, Chef Alex asked me to tell you..."
"What?" Zong Heng asked in a dangerous tone.
“He said…” Lisa suppressed a laugh, “He’s gay and he thinks you’re very handsome, which is why he looked at you a few more times.”
Xu Ying burst out laughing.
Zong Heng stood frozen in place, his ears turning red at a visible speed.
Lisa took the opportunity to slip away, and Xu Ying poked his cheek: "Now who's the idiot who's being jealous for no reason?"
Enraged, he pulled her into his arms and whispered in her ear, "The foie gras can be kept, but he can't be at the wedding."
Xu Ying looked up at him and suddenly asked softly, "Zong Heng, are you that insecure?"
He remained silent for a long time before finally saying in a low voice, "You have no idea how attractive you are when you're wearing a white dress and looking down at the menu..."
The setting sun cast its last rays through the window, dappling his eyelashes with golden light. Xu Ying's heart softened, and she leaned in to kiss his chin: "Silly boy, you're the only one in my eyes."
Zong Heng's eyes darkened, and just as he was about to lower his head to kiss her, the waiter suddenly pushed open the door and came in to serve dessert.
"Sir, your lava cake... uh." The waiter looked at the two people who were almost touching, and was in a dilemma.
Zong Heng took a deep breath and released Xu Ying: "Put it on the table."
After the waiter left, Xu Ying scooped a spoonful of cake and held it to his lips, smiling brightly: "Here, have something sweet to ease your jealousy."
He bit the spoon, then suddenly smiled and said, "When we get home tonight, you'll be in charge of disinfecting."
The fourth day was for discussing the groomsmen's games during the wedding procession.
In Zong Heng's apartment, the air was thick with smoke, and beer cans were piled high on the table. Five grown men were sprawled haphazardly on the sofa, looking like a group of thugs who had just finished a brawl—in fact, some of them had indeed been Zong Heng's gang back in the day.
"Holy crap, is Heng really getting married?" Zhang Yi, the man with the buzz cut, took a swig of beer, looking incredulous. "Didn't they say back then that 'women affect the speed at which you draw your sword'?"
"You don't know anything!" Zhou Xu, with a tuft of dyed yellow hair, grinned mischievously. "That's because you haven't met Sister-in-law Xu Ying yet—hey, do you guys remember back in our second year of high school, when Heng-ge climbed over the wall to buy her milk tea and got caught by the head teacher?"
Everyone burst into laughter, and Zong Heng kicked Zhou Xu in the shin: "Shut up."
"Wait!" Chen Ke, a bespectacled, refined-looking man, pushed up his glasses and pulled out his phone. "I have something even more explosive—"
The screen lit up, revealing a photo from the high school graduation party: Zong Heng was egged on to perform, and Xu Ying was pushed onto the stage. He played the guitar for her, his ears burning red, but the tune was completely off-key.
"Damn it!" Zong Heng lunged to grab the phone, but Chen Ke rolled away to avoid it, grinning mischievously, "What's the rush? There's more!"
The next photo pops up—Zong Heng, wearing a borrowed girls' school uniform skirt, stands in the back row of the classroom with a dark expression.
"Hahahaha!" The whole room burst into laughter. Zhang Yi slammed his fist on the table. "Didn't we lose that bet back then? Heng-ge looks even better than a girl in a skirt!"
Zong Heng's temple throbbed with veins as he grabbed Chen Ke by the back of the neck: "Give me your phone, or tomorrow I'll let your dad know you failed your junior year because you stayed up all night playing games."
Chen Ke immediately wilted: "Brother, I was wrong."
After they'd had enough of fooling around, Zhou Xu suddenly became serious: "Seriously, how are the wedding games going?"
"Then we have to be ruthless!" Zhang Yi slammed his hand on the table and stood up. "Make Heng do a hundred push-ups, and have a groomsman sit on his back!"
"That's too tacky." Chen Ke pushed up his glasses. "Why not just blindfold the best man and apply lipstick to his lips, then give him a red envelope if he applies it crookedly!"
"Or squeeze the plastic wrap with your face! I just saw that on TikTok..."
Amidst the cacophony of voices, Zong Heng sneered, "Have you all forgotten how I 'took care' of your high school romances?"
The air suddenly became quiet.
Zhou Xin swallowed hard—back then, when he wrote a love letter to his girlfriend, Zong Heng intercepted it, and he was forced to copy the "Middle School Student Code of Conduct" fifty times.
"Ahem..." Chen Ke coughed tactically, "Well, games should be civilized and elegant!"
Zhang Yi fawned over him, offering him a cigarette: "Brother, how do you plan to play?"
Zong Heng flicked off his cigarette ash and said casually, "Let's have a Q&A session. For every wrong answer, I'll give out a 10,000 yuan red envelope."
"Holy crap, that's brutal!"
"Too harsh?" Zong Heng narrowed his eyes. "How about breaking an apple with your bare hands instead?"
Everyone instantly recalled that year in their senior year of high school, when he single-handedly crushed the noses of three thugs.
"Q&A is great! Just Q&A!"
Xu Ying was cutting fruit in the kitchen, listening to the commotion in the living room, and a smile never left her lips.
The glass door was suddenly pulled open, and Zong Heng, reeking of smoke, sidled up behind her, resting his chin on her shoulder: "What are you laughing at?"
"So even CEO Zong has his moments of being manipulated." She deliberately poked a piece of cantaloupe into his mouth. "The cross-dressing photo is quite nice."
He held the melon in his mouth and then bit her fingertip: "If you laugh again, I'll make you wear that backless wedding dress tonight."
Her ears burned, and she pulled her hand back: "You rascal... they've already decided on the game?"
"Hmm." Zong Heng wrapped his arms around her from behind and said in a muffled voice, "Those bastards wanted me to kneel on the keyboard and read a guarantee."
Xu Ying chuckled: "I can pretend I didn't hear that."
"You heartless bastard." He pinched her waist punishingly. "Who helped you chase away those thugs back then?"
She turned around, pointing her fingertip at his chest: "So, Zong-kun—"
Suddenly, with a loud "bang," the kitchen door was kicked open. Zhang Yi's booming voice rang out: "Sister-in-law! Do you still have the love letter Heng wrote to you in high school—ouch!"
Zong Heng threw an orange at him with his other hand: "Get lost."
Late at night, the brothers were sprawled drunk on the carpet. Zong Heng picked up his coat, ready to shoo them away, when he suddenly heard Zhou Xu mutter, "Does Sister-in-law Xu Ying know that Brother Heng secretly kept the amulet she gave him in his drawer and prayed to it for half a month back then?"
Zong Heng froze.
Xu Ying peeked out of the bedroom, her eyes sparkling: "What kind of amulet?"
"That red sachet you gave me in the second year of high school!" Zhou Xu gestured drunkenly, "He was afraid of getting it dirty, so he wiped it with tissues every day—"
Zong Heng covered Zhou Xu's mouth and said to Xu Ying with a dark face, "He's drunk."
Xu Ying blinked, then suddenly smiled: "Zong Heng, you've had a crush on me for even longer than I thought."
His ears turned bright red, and he grabbed the drunkards and threw them out the door: "Get the hell out of here!"
Moonlight streamed through the half-drawn curtains, casting dappled shadows on the wooden floor. Xu Ying lay on the bed, her long black hair cascading over the snow-white sheets, a fountain pen in her hand, intently marking up the guest list.
"Professor Zhou...confirmed attendance." She read softly, her fingertip lightly tapping the paper. "Aunt Lin and her family of three, their seating arrangement is..."
Zong Heng leaned against the headboard, holding a tablet computer in his hand, the screen displaying the company's latest project reports. But his gaze wasn't on the data at all; instead, it lingered on Xu Ying's profile—her slightly furrowed brows, her gently pursed lips, and that stray strand of hair that kept slipping down.
He reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear.
"Hmm?" Xu Ying subconsciously tilted her head, the nib of her pen spreading a small blot of ink on the paper. She exclaimed in annoyance, "See, it's all your fault."
Zong Heng chuckled, took the pen and list from her hand, and casually tossed them onto the bedside table.
"Zong Heng! I haven't finished checking yet—"
"We'll see tomorrow." Without waiting for a reply, he pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head. "Are you tired?"
Xu Ying struggled for a moment but couldn't break free, so she simply relaxed and leaned against his chest. His heartbeat was steady and strong, coming through the thin nightgown, which gave her a strange sense of security.
"It's alright," she said softly, "but I feel like... there are still a lot of details to handle."
Zong Heng's fingers ran through her long hair, idly combing it. "If you don't like it, just leave it to the wedding planning company. Why bother doing it yourself?"
Xu Ying shook her head, her fingertips unconsciously tracing circles on the buttons of his pajamas. "It's different."
"What's different?"
She was silent for a moment before saying, "This is our wedding."
Zong Heng's hand paused.
The room fell silent for a moment, with only the sound of their breathing remaining. Xu Ying could feel Zong Heng's arms tighten slightly, holding her even closer.
"Xu Ying." He suddenly called her name, his voice a little hoarse.
"Um?"
Have you imagined our wedding?
The question came suddenly, and Xu Ying was taken aback, looking up at him. In the moonlight, Zong Heng's features were exceptionally deep, and his usually sharp eyes were incredibly soft at this moment.
She nodded honestly: "I've thought about it."
"when?"
“Back in college,” she said softly, “I was passing by a church once and saw a couple throwing their bouquets, and then…”
She suddenly thought of him. She remembered the boy who grabbed her wrist on the high school rooftop and said, "Wait for me."
Zong Heng's Adam's apple bobbed. He lowered his head and kissed the top of her head.
“I’ve thought about it too,” he said. “I’ve thought about it every year since my senior year of high school.”
Xu Ying's heart skipped a beat. She propped herself up and looked at him carefully in the dim light: "Really?"
"Hmm." Zong Heng raised his hand, his fingertips tracing her brow bone. "In the first year, I thought that if we could get into the same university, we would get married after graduation."
"And the second year?"
“The second year I was abroad, and what I was thinking was…” He paused, “If you were willing to wait for me, I would kidnap you and take you to the Civil Affairs Bureau when I came back.”
Xu Ying chuckled: "Domineering."
Zong Heng smiled, stroking her cheek with his thumb. "The third year was the worst; I heard you were in a relationship."
Xu Ying's eyes widened: "Who spread this rumor? I didn't even attend university—"
“I know.” He interrupted her, his eyes darkening. “Later we found out that the man was your best friend’s cousin, and they had only eaten together once.”
Xu Ying was both annoyed and amused: "Zong Heng, you actually investigated me?"
"Otherwise what?" he said matter-of-factly. "I'm going crazy abroad, and you're still eating with other people."
She was so angry that she punched him, but he grabbed her wrist.
“In the fourth year,” he continued, his voice lowering, “I thought, if I still can’t find you, I’ll buy up all the design companies in Nangang.”
Xu Ying fell silent.
Zong Heng's fingers slipped between hers, their fingers intertwined. "In the fifth year, I finally caught you at the party."
The moonlight flowed quietly over their clasped hands.
Xu Ying suddenly felt her eyes welling up with tears. She lowered her head and buried her face in Zong Heng's shoulder.
“Fool…” she said in a muffled voice.
Zong Heng patted her back and suddenly said, "Xu Ying, let's get our marriage certificate tomorrow."
She looked up abruptly: "Huh?"
"Wasn't it scheduled for next week?" She blinked. "I've already made an appointment with the photographer, and I also need to bring—"
"I can't wait any longer." Zong Heng stared at her, his eyes burning. "I want to legally..."
His palm touched her waist and slowly slid down.
"I'm bullying you."
Xu Ying's face flushed red. She frantically pushed him away, saying, "Zong Heng! I'm talking about serious matters!"
"Am I not serious?" He flipped her over, pinning her beneath him, a roguish smile playing on his lips. "The wedding can wait, but the marriage certificate..."
He lowered his head, his nose brushing against hers.
"I don't want to wait even a minute longer."
Xu Ying held her breath. Zong Heng's eyelashes cast fine shadows in the moonlight, and his eyes were so bright, as if they contained the entire Milky Way.
She suddenly remembered the day she graduated high school, when he cornered her in the KTV corridor, giving her the same look in his eyes. Back then, he said, "Wait for me," but now—
"Okay," she heard herself say.
Zong Heng's pupils dilated slightly.
"But there's one condition." Xu Ying reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, smiling mischievously, "Tomorrow I want to eat that famous ice cream from the east side of the city."
Zong Heng frowned: "What kind of ice cream do you eat in winter?"
"I want to eat."
"Fine, don't agree then." She made a move to push him away.
Zong Heng gritted his teeth and gripped her wrist: "Fine, eat. But you can only have three bites."
Five mouths.
"Xu Ying!"
She smiled, tilted her head back, and kissed him, shutting down all his attempts to negotiate.
In the latter half of the night, as Xu Ying was drifting off to sleep, she felt Zong Heng gently get out of bed.
She squinted and saw him standing by the window making a phone call.
"Yes, tomorrow morning." He lowered his voice, "Civil Affairs Bureau, nine o'clock."
The person on the other end of the phone seemed shocked, their voice so loud that even Xu Ying could hear them: "Boss?! Didn't you say next week—"
"It's ahead of schedule." Zong Heng turned to look at the person pretending to be asleep on the bed, a smile spreading across his eyes. "Someone couldn't wait."
Xu Ying grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.
Zong Heng smiled and took the call, then hung up after a few words. He went back to bed and pulled her, blanket and all, into his arms.
"Eavesdropping?" He bit her ear.
Xu Ying snorted: "Some people are disturbing the peace in the middle of the night."
Zong Heng chuckled and kissed her forehead. "Go to sleep, we need to get up early tomorrow."
The gentle moonlight enveloped the two embracing figures, and the invitation on the bedside table was slightly ajar by the night breeze, revealing a small cherry blossom.
Just like many years ago, there was that girl who blushed on the rooftop, and that boy who fought for her without hesitation.
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