Chapter 98 Chapter 45 The Fantasy Building
The sudden addition of another person to her life brought a series of new changes that consumed a lot of Wen Ting's energy.
Renting a house, shopping, decorating the new home, planning for the future... all sorts of things came one after another. Fortunately, the beginning of the year wasn't too busy. Wen Ting didn't work overtime for a month and rushed home at seven o'clock.
In fact, Gong Baidie did most of the work and took good care of things, but since he had just arrived in a strange world, Wen Ting was always a little worried about him.
"The team leader left so early again today?" Her unusual behavior surprised even her team members. "Is this special? You never left work this early when you were dating."
Wen Ting put the notebook into her bag and took it with her. "Yes, this time it's destiny."
"I can see that. You're even giving up overtime pay," Dany advised her. "Don't get too carried away. Money is more important than a man."
"I know." Wen Ting smiled, picked up her bag and left. "You guys should also get off work early. See you tomorrow."
She walked to the subway station, where the streets on both sides were all too familiar.
Wen Ting walked by, then suddenly stopped.
Next to me is a newly opened European-style bread shop, or rather, it's been open for a year.
The shop is beautifully decorated; Wen Ting has wanted to try it for a long time.
At first, the new store was opening and there were too many customers, so she thought she would come back after a while when there were fewer people.
As I pondered this, more than a year passed without her coming in.
She also had no plans to buy European-style bread tonight.
After Gong Baidie arrived, he took over Wen Ting's three meals a day.
Dinner is already served, and breakfast for the next day is probably ready as well.
But she remembered that Gong Baidie had never eaten European-style bread before.
She turned and went into the store.
When she scanned the QR code to pay, she subconsciously looked at the bottom right corner of her phone screen.
It was completely empty.
The game "Desktop Lovers" has officially announced its permanent shutdown, and the Q-version character that had accompanied her for more than seven years has completely disappeared.
She feels a little uncomfortable every time she opens her phone.
When I got home and opened the door, a gentle, bright light greeted me.
Wen Ting paused outside the door, also feeling a bit unaccustomed to it.
She gets off work late, and even in the height of summer, it's already dark when she gets home; there's never a situation where the lights are on when she opens the door.
"You're back?"
The young man on the sofa stood up. On the coffee table in front of him were 48-color thread boards, a sewing kit, patterns, and scraps of fabric. He had only just settled into his new home and was already getting to work.
"Yes, I'm back."
He walked towards her and naturally took the things from her hands. At that moment, Wen Ting felt an indescribable sense of unease.
She wasn't exactly happy, nor was she unhappy. She had never experienced such feelings before and couldn't describe them in a moment.
Gong Baidie put the things on the shoe cabinet and helped her take off her coat. "You're back early today too. Don't worry about me, just come at your usual time."
He knew that Wen Ting was not the type to leave work on time; she practically lived at the company.
The young man's slender fingers landed on her neck as he unbuttoned her clothes. His long, thick eyelashes drooped slightly, casting a small shadow.
Wen Ting took a step back, avoiding Gong Baidie's slightly cool gaze, and said, "I just came back from outside, my clothes are dirty, I can do it myself."
The coldness in Gong Baidie's eyes melted instantly, and he said, "Why be so particular?"
“I saw a nice shop on the way.” Wen Ting took off her coat and pointed to the paper bag. “Do you like it?”
Gong Baidie opened the bag: "For me?"
She went into the restroom to wash her hands, and replied amidst the sound of running water, "Yes, you should try it."
Looking at the shop name on the packaging, Gong Baidie understood.
This was a shop that Wen Ting had noticed last year, but she was always too busy, and the shop was closed after she got off work.
"You finally got it."
A response came from the bathroom: "I want you to try it."
A very simple answer, yet it made Gong Baidie's heart tremble.
He accepted the bag, suppressing his cheerful mood, and said, "Let's eat first."
"Okay, sure."
She changed her clothes, and when she came out, a warm meal was already laid out on the table. There were three dishes and a soup, all in small portions. She saved one portion and put it in a lunchbox for Wen Ting's lunch break.
The aroma was enticing. Bowls and chopsticks were laid out on her seat, and even a chair had been pulled out, just waiting for her to sit down.
Wen Ting didn't sit down. She went around to behind Gong Baidie's seat, leaned down and gently kissed his cheek. "You've worked so hard."
Gong Baidie's Adam's apple bobbed slightly as she caught a whiff of the faint fragrance emanating from her.
The kiss was frivolous and polite; he knew there wasn't much sincerity in it.
She did this for a whole month, so insincere that he couldn't be bothered to say anything to her.
After Wen Ting sat down, she continued to praise his cooking skills, asked him what he had done that day, and finally advised him not to rush, to take his time, to go out more, and to tell her if he needed money.
She seemed to have stepped right out of the template for the perfect lover, but Gong Baidie just found it funny.
Listen to what she said: "You don't need to feel burdened, Bai Die. If housework is too tiring, just hire a part-time worker. You finally get away from your phone, you shouldn't waste your time on this kind of thing."
Her smile was gentle and charming, completely oblivious to the frenzy she displayed while riding on him, grabbing his hair, and slamming him to the ground.
That gentle voice had once hysterically called him a slut, a male prostitute ridden by thousands, and begged him to die.
"Pfft."
Wen Ting looked at Gong Baidie, who had suddenly started laughing, with a puzzled expression: "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing." Gong Baidie propped her head up and lazily urged her, "Eat quickly, and then come and fuck me."
Wen Ting's smile froze instantly.
"Hahaha, hahahaha..." Gong Baidie turned her head away, unable to suppress her laughter.
"Are you... are you serious...?" She looked a little flustered and panicked. "Isn't it... too fast? Bai Die, I don't want to rush things with you."
The woman's eyes darted away, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she awkwardly tucked her hair behind her ear.
But when Gong Baidie looked into her eyes, there was no trace of shyness. She didn't care whether she did it sooner or later; after all, he was her creation, her asset, a part of her, like her hand.
"You're just making it sound so nice, it's just that you're no good." Gong Baidie raised her lips and smiled wickedly, "Your back is really rotten."
Wen Ting choked.
If the person in front of her didn't look exactly like Gong Baidie, even her own mother wouldn't have recognized him.
What exactly happened to turn this refined and elegant young nobleman into this?
Did the server shutdown upset him?
Although she didn't care how twisted his personality had become, as long as he was her Gong Baidie, Wen Ting had a vague feeling that since they met, he seemed to have been trying to provoke her.
She initially held back, patiently and gently speaking, but he only looked disappointed; conversely, when she lost control of her emotions and her tone hardened slightly, he looked expectant—
What is he expecting? What kind of reaction does he want from her?
There's no point in arguing with Gong Baidie, and she doesn't need to pretend to be so capable.
Wen Ting glanced around and gave a helpless, bitter smile. "Yes, sitting all day long has really taken a toll on my back."
She said to him apologetically and shyly, "Bai Die, you are still young, while I am almost thirty. Strictly speaking, our relationship is more like that of a mother and son than a wife, so you don't have any responsibility towards me. If you wish, I fully support you dating younger girls."
After Wen Ting finished speaking, she watched as his casual teasing gradually faded away.
A chill settled in those phoenix eyes, which were curved inwards and outwards outwards. "You want me to talk to other women?"
"I hope you can enjoy your life," Wen Ting smiled. "Dating girls your own age is a wonderful experience."
"...I knew you were telling the truth back then." His tone suddenly turned icy.
Wen Ting asked, puzzled, "What truth?"
"I'm just a worthless slut who's been ridden by thousands, aren't I?" He stared at her, laughing angrily. "Ha, you're the one who sold me to the brothel, and now you think I'm dirty and don't want me anymore?"
Wen Ting hadn't expected his reaction to be so intense, and quickly reassured him, "How could I think that way? I just want you to be happy. Like you said, my body may not be able to satisfy you, and you have the right to pursue better experiences."
"Are you deliberately trying to insult me indirectly?" Gong Baidie walked around the table towards her. "In your heart, am I really that promiscuous, unable to live without women?"
He moved closer to her side, bracing himself against the back of her chair, his fingers turning white from the force, the veins on his forearm bulging, his grip on the solid wood chair back slightly dented.
"You think I'm helpless in your world?" The ends of her hair, fragrant with snow orchids, brushed against Wen Ting's face like a cool snake tail.
He leaned down and stared intently at her. "Don't upset me, Wen Ting. You know my capabilities best."
An aura of predation instantly enveloped Wen Ting, and her body stiffened. "Don't get agitated, Bai Die... Let's sit down and talk about this little thing."
"A trivial matter?" His eyes snapped open, his emotions exploding like sharp needles. "You call this a trivial matter?"
Wen Ting realized she had said the wrong thing.
For Gong Baidie, chastity was a paramount matter, something she was willing to die for.
The veins on the young man's neck and temples bulged as he stared at her, almost with hatred.
Being so oppressed by an adult male she had only recently met, she should be afraid and cut ties with him immediately.
But a surge of courage from who knows where made Wen Ting calmly look into Gong Baidie's eyes.
So red, so hazy, it's making me want to cry.
"But, you said it yourself... my back really is bad." Wen Ting looked away, lowered her voice, half aggrieved and half embarrassed, "You're so disdainful of me, how am I supposed to answer?"
"Slap me twice."
"……What?"
Her hand was pulled up and placed on Gong Baidie's face.
He frowned and said somewhat awkwardly, "I was wrong, so you can hit me. I didn't stop you."
"What?" Wen Ting was taken aback, then cupped his face in her hands. "How could I hit you? I would never hit you, Bai Die. You should never be with someone who uses violence against you, not even me."
Gong Baidie glanced at her.
I couldn't be bothered to mock her.
“I don’t care.” He covered Wen Ting’s hand with his own, his phoenix eyes like silk, his tongue slowly teasing her palm. “I just… am happy to be touched by you. Do whatever you want.”
Wen Ting held her breath.
Those beautiful eyes were captivating, and the sticky, warm touch felt like it was penetrating from my palm into my heart.
She's never dated a boyfriend of that caliber before.
Okay, she's already expressed her open-mindedness and gentleness. If he insists on wanting it, then she'll give it to him.
“Me too,” she said with a smile. “Bai Die, I love you too. As long as it’s you, I’ll accept whatever personality you have.”
Gong Baidie paused, his eyes, which had been red with anger, turned even redder, and he glared at Wen Ting.
It would have been so much better if you had done this earlier. Why did you have to say all that nonsense to annoy him?
"Don't kiss me with your hands," Wen Ting murmured, "Kiss me here, White Butterfly, kiss me instead."
His heartbeat quickened, and his breathing immediately became erratic.
Gong Baidie kept her eyes open, and the only person in her field of vision was Wen Ting.
He tilted his head, and the sound of splashing water spread out. Wen Ting hooked her arm around Gong Baidie's neck, figuring out a certain pattern.
She murmured softly as he pulled away slightly, "So comfortable...Bai Die, you kissed me so well."
The dying embers of his love were instantly reignited. He held the back of her head and kissed her back urgently, his eyes reddening even with them closed.
After a while, just as he was about to finish, Wen Ting gently licked the corner of his lips again, acting like a spoiled cat, "So good, more."
His breathing suddenly became like crying.
After a long while, once he had calmed down, Wen Ting sat on his lap and kissed the butterfly pattern under his eyes with remorse. "I'm sorry, I misspoke just now."
His phoenix eyes, above his lips, were misty and shrouded in a rosy hue. He looked like a well-fed cat, languid and content.
At this time, Gong Baidie was very easy to talk to. Besides, he had calmed down from the first kiss, and she had said some very harsh things to him.
With his arm around Wen Ting's waist, he lazily hummed in agreement, turning the page on the matter.
But Wen Ting wouldn't.
The brothel plot was probably the biggest thorn between her and Gong Baidie, something he hated even more than the massacre of the Gong family that she had orchestrated.
Although it was an incomprehensible and bizarre thing that he could fall in love with the woman who caused his family to be destroyed and who led him to a brothel, Wen Ting still wanted to try her best to resolve the conflict between them.
“I’m so sorry,” she leaned against Gong Baidie’s chest, holding his hand. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you would have self-awareness… Baidie, all these years, how much pain you must have suffered alone.”
Gong Baidie said calmly, "I've already forgotten."
The most painful thing was not the plot she created, but the darkness of that year when she left him and the world was silent.
Even now, as he holds her in his arms, Gong Baidie feels a chill run down her spine and is filled with fear.
“But I can’t forget.” Wen Ting raised her eyes, her five fingers interlacing between his fingers. “Bai Die, I will spend the rest of my life atoning for my sins.”
Gong Baidie grasped her hand in return.
Even though he knew it was all sweet talk from her, meant to keep him tied down to a lifetime of hard labor, he still felt comfortable listening to it.
“Although I created you, there are many details and habits that I might not immediately recognize, like today,” Wen Ting said softly. “Bai Die, if I do anything wrong again, you must tell me, and I will try my best to correct it, okay?”
Her voice was gentle and soft at that moment, and whatever she said was fine.
“Okay.” Gong Baidie lowered her eyes. “Me too, Wen Ting… as long as you don’t abandon me, it’s fine with me no matter what.”
"Oh, don't say that," Wen Ting frowned, "You sound so pitiful, it makes me want to kiss you again."
His slightly protruding Adam's apple bobbed silently in front of her eyes, and he replied in a low voice, "I didn't say I couldn't."
Wen Ting smiled, her eyes crinkling.
Through repeated experiments, she found the switch for the white butterfly.
He is easier to control than ordinary humans. Like a machine, he can keep doing things after being fed a few words of coaxing. When Wen Ting comes home, she doesn't even have to bend down to get her slippers.
He does all the housework, and he doesn't eat for free. Right after moving, he immediately took orders to make clothes and dolls.
Gong Baidie was truly impeccable, and Wen Ting was happy to shower him with compliments—sometimes which weren't even really compliments.
One weekend, she got up at five in the morning to go to the bathroom and found the kitchen light on when she came back.
When Wen Ting went in, she saw Gong Baidie with her sleeves rolled up and her head down kneading dough.
"It's the weekend, why are you up so early?" She hugged him from behind. His waist was so thin and tight, it was a proportion that no human could maintain, and it felt incredibly comfortable to hold him.
Gong Baidie turned around and spotted her early in the morning: "I have an order to catch up on, so I'll get your breakfast ready first."
Wen Ting was still sleepy, her forehead resting against his back, letting out a sleepy groan, "How can you be so virtuous, Butterfly."
Gong Baidie did not answer, her expression softening slightly.
"I can't live without you." Wen Ting rubbed against him. "Don't leave me, Bai Die... I want to lock you up and be with you forever."
She was half asleep and made a joke on the spur of the moment, but when she looked up, his ears were red.
"Heh," he hummed.
Wen Ting was taken aback and turned her head to look at his face.
The morning light shone through the window, making his skin appear warm and white, his face filled with tenderness and a hint of shyness.
For Gong Baidie, this could be considered a compliment.
Wen Ting thought this man was hopeless. He was deeply ingrained with feudal male virtues, yet he could fall in love with the woman who killed his entire family and threw him into a brothel without any reservations.
Thinking this, Wen Ting suddenly realized that it was her who was beyond saving.
She just wanted to appease him, get him to marry her, and share the burden of life with him. But after only a little over a month together, she found that... Gong Baidie was somewhat cute and pitiful.
Since it didn't cause her any loss, Wen Ting let things take their course and continued living that way.
The two settled into their new rented apartment, and not long after, Wen Ting's due date arrived.
Wen's parents took the high-speed train two days in advance. At one o'clock in the morning, Wen's water broke, and the two immediately called Wen Ting.
Wen Ting was fast asleep when Gong Baidie answered the phone for her.
As soon as I pressed the answer button, a middle-aged woman's anxious voice came from the other end of the phone: "Ting, your sister's water broke, you have to come quickly!"
Gong Baidie frowned and glanced at the digital clock on the bedside table.
Today isn't the weekend; Wen Ting has to get up at 7:30 tomorrow.
But it was his mother who called, who was both his grandmother and his mother-in-law.
Gong Baidie replied politely, "Don't worry, I'll be right there."
There was a sudden, dead silence on the other end of the phone.
After a moment, a cautious inquiry came through: "...Who are you?"
"I haven't had a chance to visit yet. I am Wen Ting's fiancé, Gong Baidie."
Wen Ting was finally woken up. She turned over and asked sleepily, "What's wrong, darling? Who are you talking to?"
“It’s Mother.” Gong Baidie held the phone further away and told her, “Mother said that my sister’s water broke.”
Wen Ting was immediately awakened.
She quickly snatched the phone and explained to the frightened mother on the other end of the line.
"Okay, okay."
"There's a doctor here. You and Dad can rest at the hotel. I'll come over now."
"Alright, then you guys find a place to sit down."
After hanging up the phone, she immediately got out of bed and got dressed.
"It's so late, are you really going over there?" Gong Baidie frowned.
“My sister’s baby’s head was said to be quite large during the prenatal checkup, making delivery difficult. But she and her husband insisted on a natural birth.” Wen Ting buttoned her clothes, her face also looking unwell. “My brother isn’t in the capital, so only my parents are with me. It’s not right.”
“What’s so unreasonable about it? There are doctors and nurses in the delivery room, and her husband is outside. Why should you go?” He had lived in her phone for so many years, so he knew the relationship between Wen Ting and her two younger siblings.
The three of them had a so-so relationship; there were no major conflicts, but they didn't keep in touch much either.
“You have a morning meeting tomorrow,” Gong Baidie said, pulling her back. “I’ll go with you.”
"What are you going to do?"
“I’ve seen far more than you have. Many of the men in this place are pregnant in secret.”
“That’s not what I meant. It’s the first time someone in the family has given birth, so I still have to go.” Wen Ting stood up, took two steps forward, then looked back at him thoughtfully. “But if you’d like, you can come with me.”
Gong Baidie raised an eyebrow.
She explained, "My parents are both here, so this is a good opportunity to introduce you to them. We'll say we're preparing for the wedding, so they won't feel comfortable asking me to go to my sister's house to help her during her postpartum period."
After she finished speaking, she saw Gong Baidie suddenly smile.
He recalled his first appearance in the ghost story as "Gong Baidie".
As soon as Wen Ting confirmed his identity, she immediately launched into a long list of reasoning and analysis, asking for his opinion and thoughts.
The same is true now.
Having known each other for just over a month, she bluntly told him, "If this way, they won't feel comfortable letting me go to my sister's house to help her with her postpartum confinement."
Given Wen Ting's personality, she would never say such things to outsiders, revealing her coldness and selfishness, and there was no need to tell him these things at all.
"Yes, I just said hello on the phone, so it's time to greet you in person," Gong Baidie replied cheerfully.
Wen Ting didn't know what he was laughing about; he was probably just happy because he was going to meet her parents.
She quickly washed up and took a taxi downstairs.
As they were about to leave, they saw Gong Baidie carrying a bag.
"What are you carrying?" she asked.
"The leftover red bean paste rolls, sliced steamed buns, and two cans of eight-treasure porridge from yesterday."
Wen Ting: "I'm not hungry."
She was glanced at by Gong Baidie, whose eyes were filled with disdain and helplessness. "It's for Father and Mother."
“The two elderly people stayed up all night, and when it gets light they still have to take care of their daughter and child, and look after them.” He then took a scarf and wrapped it around her neck. “I’ll make your breakfast if I have time, otherwise you can just go to the office building to buy it yourself. It’s cold at night, so don’t let the wind blow on your head.”
Wen Ting: "Ah..."
As a male protagonist in a period romance otome game, he is far too frugal, failing to provide her with any of the dreamy romantic feelings that female protagonists in otome games experience.
When the two arrived, the younger sister's fingers were already fully dilated.
They were too far away to hear what was happening inside, but as soon as the nurse said those words, Wen's mother sat down and burst into tears.
"Dad, Mom." Wen Ting quickened her pace, then looked at the man standing in front of the operating room door. "Brother-in-law, are you all alright?"
"Thankfully, the doctors and nurses are inside." Mr. Wen's gaze pointed behind Wen Ting. "And who is this?"
Gong Baidie lowered her head. "Nice greetings. I am Wen Ting's fiancé."
The three were stunned.
"Ah, hello, hello." Mr. Wen extended his hand in surprise. "You were on the phone just now, right, Xiao Gong?"
Gong Baidie smiled: "Yes, Father."
"Father..." the old man choked, "Let's take it easy for now, it's our first time meeting."
Wen's mother pulled Wen Ting over, "Come with me for a bit."
Wen Ting gestured to Gong Baidie, and he nodded.
The mother and daughter went to the stairwell, and Wen's mother immediately asked, "What's going on with you? Last month you said you didn't want to get married, how come you have a fiancé!" or even a boyfriend.
“We’ve known each other for a long time,” Wen Ting said. “It’s been eight years. We felt it was right and got married.”
"Why haven't I heard you mention this before?"
“He was too young before, only in his teens or twenties, I was too embarrassed to say it.”
Mother Wen could indeed tell that Gong Baidie was young, and asked suspiciously, "How old is he?"
"Twenty-three."
"Twenty-three?" she exclaimed in shock. "Are you crazy, Wen Ting? At this age, you're dating a twenty-three-year-old man? One is unpredictable, and the other..." she lowered her voice, "What will people think of you!"
“It’s only a six-year age difference,” Wen Ting chuckled. “You’ve even introduced me to people who are eight years younger. What’s wrong with that?”
“He’s eight years older than you, you…” Mother Wen pointed at her, “Look at him, he doesn’t look like a man at all, with long hair, and he’s whiter than a woman, just like a fairy. How can you trust a man like that?”
"Alright, Mom," Wen Ting interrupted her. "I don't want anyone but him. Whether you agree or not, we're already living together, and we'll get our marriage certificate by the end of the year if nothing unexpected happens."
"You're going to drive us crazy, Wen Ting!"
Wen Ting knew why her parents disliked Gong Baidie; they were worried about her and also afraid of being gossiped about by the villagers.
She didn't care about the gossip behind her back; she was only worried that Gong Baidie would be unhappy if she heard it and leave her in a fit of anger.
“What’s there to worry about?” Gong Baidie dismissed Wen Ting’s concerns. “I’m used to those kinds of words.”
In this world, Wen Ting is not from a prestigious family like the female protagonist in the game, nor has he ever been to a brothel.
That would truly be considered a betrayal.
“You don’t need to worry about me being disrespectful to my mother-in-law,” Gong Baidie said. “I know what I should and shouldn’t do in front of my elders. But you… I’ve been with you for so many years, and you have far too little patience for your parents.”
Wen Ting shifted her gaze slightly, feeling a little guilty for having been caught out.
Gong Baidie didn't even need to ask to know what she was thinking. "I know they haven't been able to help you with your career, and they're not always nice to you, but they are still your biological parents. In the future, I'll take care of things at home for you. Just keep quiet and stick to the fake smile you wear at the company."
"..." Wen Ting buried herself in his arms, "Don't say anymore, the more you say, the more guilty I feel."
"What is there to feel guilty about?"
"I just feel so sorry for you." Wen Ting hugged him. "You're such a good person, yet you have to be the subject of gossip for no reason."
"Stop worrying about these things." Gong Baidie pointed with her eyes at the work she brought home. "If you really feel bad for me, then finish it quickly and get back to me sooner."
Wen Ting had already gotten used to him speaking like that.
"No, I have other things to do today." She sent Gong Baidie a few links, "Take a look."
Gong Baidie clicked on it.
The screen is filled with joyful red.
He looked at Wen Ting, who smiled and said, "How about after National Day? Avoiding the peak season, the weather will be perfect."
The embroidered clothes on the screen were dazzling.
Gong Baidie wore the wedding dress countless times, but for him, the wedding dress was not the end of happiness, but the beginning of a nightmare.
In games, he can always start over, but now he has no chance.
Has he really made up his mind? He looked at Wen Ting, whose smile was gentle, but whose eyes were full of calculation that he couldn't hide.
They've known each other for a long time, but she's only now bringing up marriage because he's had a good income in the last three months.
"I won't wear this." Gong Baidie closed the webpage.
"Hmm? There are a few more sets left, would you like to take a look?"
"I want a Western-style wedding."
Wen Ting was surprised: "I thought you would like a Chinese wedding."
“I’m tired of those.” His gaze fell on her face, recalling the first dream from the ghost story.
He had already seen her in her wedding dress.
The so-called hatred is truly laughable. On the very first night that the strange tale began, the first thing he did was to make her wear a wedding dress that he had pieced together and consummate their marriage.
"I want something different."
He had seen her in a phoenix robe, but had never seen her in a wedding dress.
“No problem.” Wen Ting smiled and kissed his chin. “As long as my lovely butterfly is willing to be with me, everything will be as you wish.”
Gong Baidie turned her head and let the kiss land on his lips.
He stroked Wen Ting's cheek and then moved his fingers to her lips.
Breaths mingled, the night was still, and the room was bathed in a gentle, warm light.
The delicate fragrance of snow orchids spread out, clinging to the two of them.
"Wen Ting."
"Um?"
In the tender moments of mutual affection, he whispered against her lips, "I will never betray you."
Wen Ting was about to smile when she suddenly froze.
In a daze, she saw a fiery twilight that burned the sky to a bright yellow and purple-red.
She seemed to see two strands of long hair tangled in mid-air, whipped about by the winds from above, dancing and splashing like ink.
The scene was both strange and familiar.
"As long as you love me—Wen Ting, I will never let you down."
The sound of the wind carried someone's voice, and the sudden flutter of her heart made it impossible for her to brush it off lightly.
After a pause, lost in a strange sense of melancholy, she quickly changed the subject: "Then I'll look for some information on Western-style weddings. Do you want something simple like a hotel, or something more formal like a church?"
Gong Baidie glanced at her: "Whatever."
She won't take time off to prepare for the wedding, so it's all his job anyway.
He knew Wen Ting very well; she hardly participated in the subsequent wedding preparations.
She doesn't care about anything, yet she manages to create the impression that she cares a lot.
When asked what kind of bouquet she wanted, she said, "I'll like anything you choose."
She wasn't just giving a perfunctory answer. If Gong Baidie sent her several options to choose from, she would respond with apparent seriousness: "This blue one looks simple and refreshing, the silver one has a nice texture, and the pink one seems a little weak. But if you like it, we can make some modifications to the other accessories. It's all up to you."
Gong Baidie asked her, "Do you know what we're choosing?"
Wen Ting:......
Gong Baidie: "Still haven't found the records? The screen must be burning hot from all that touching it."
Wen Ting:......
Wen Ting: ":P"
She's already sent a ":P", what else can he do but be understanding?
It's actually easier without anyone else interfering, especially since Wen Ting did a great job setting the mood and provided Gong Baidie with plenty of emotional support.
Every day when she came home, she would bring a small gift, and as soon as she entered the door, she would hug Gong Baidie and offer her words of comfort and praise with a sense of guilt.
Even knowing that Wen Ting was faking it, Gong Baidie was still extremely pleased.
He was busy preparing for the wedding, getting to know Wen Ting's family, and managing his own orders. Before he knew it, the day had arrived.
The Wen family elders still had reservations. On the wedding day, when Wen's father stood outside the hotel hall with Wen Ting on his arm, he couldn't help but persuade her, "Ting..."
Wen Ting turned her head.
The old man, who had specially dyed his temples black for today, frowned and said, "Don't you want to think about it anymore?"
“Dad…” “I know, I know you have your own opinions, and Xiao Gong is indeed a good boy, well-mannered and caring so much for us old folks, but he, but he…” Father Wen couldn’t get over the hurdle in his heart, “He’s so much younger than you, and a man with long hair, earning money by embroidery—how can this be…”
"Dad, I know what I'm doing."
This topic has been repeated countless times ever since Wen Ting said she wanted to get married.
Even today, Mr. Wen still can't help but bring it up again: "Sigh, you usually know what you're doing. I'm just afraid that you'll be captivated by his face and lose your mind."
Wen Ting chuckled: "He is good-looking, but among so many male celebrities, have you ever seen me like any of them? I don't care about a man's face."
"Then why exactly did you..." Before Mr. Wen could finish his question, the doors to the hall suddenly opened, and the emcee's excited and high-pitched voice rang out:
"Please welcome the bride's father and bride to the stage!"
Fireworks exploded with a bang, and shimmering ribbons and gold flakes fluttered down.
All eyes in the hall were focused on the doorway, and Mr. Wen had no choice but to put his words aside, stiffly straightening his chest.
Wen Ting took his hand and walked beside her father.
Across the red carpet was Gong Baidie, dressed in a brand new outfit.
He was dressed in a snow-white suit, and his long, jet-black hair was neatly tied up, hanging down to his waist.
Those phoenix eyes pierced through the hall, staring straight at Wen Ting, as if the world were silent except for her.
He had only walked halfway down the red carpet when he came down from the stage to greet us.
Mr. Wen turned to the side and watched as his daughter eagerly placed her hand into the man's palm.
The Wen family elders tried to persuade him countless times, but received the same answer every time.
She always said that she chose him simply because he was suitable for marriage.
Is it just suitable?
Mr. Wen let go of her hand with a sense of loss, watching his daughter walk away with the groom.
The groom's ears were flushed slightly, while she smiled radiantly, her steps light and graceful, as bright as a star.
When their eyes met, the smile in her eyes grew even stronger.
Mr. Wen had never seen his naturally aloof eldest daughter love anything so much.
——
(End of Unit Two)
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Author's Note: There will be another extra chapter tomorrow. Although it's called an extra chapter, it's more like an epilogue, where some foreshadowing is resolved. I highly recommend reading it.
The day after tomorrow is a new episode, and it's quite different in style from the previous two. I personally really like the female lead in the third episode, and I hope everyone will come and watch it!
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