Chapter 32: Grand Wedding
The storm subsided, the dark clouds dispersed, and the sky over the port city seemed to have been washed by water, clear and bright. The sun was so bright that it seemed like a golden carpet had been laid out for this world-renowned wedding.
On the wedding day, the eyes of Hong Kong Island were fixed on the exclusive private estate in Shek O, owned by the Fok family. Set against the backdrop of mountains and facing the ocean, lush green grass and vibrant flowers had been meticulously decorated to create a dreamlike wedding venue. A vast white domed podium stood in the center of the lawn, facing the azure South China Sea, symbolizing the couple's promising future. Countless air-shipped white Phalaenopsis orchids and champagne roses intertwined to create a fragrant sea, while crystal chandeliers shone brilliantly in the sunlight. Every detail showcased the prestige of the Fok and Su families and the extraordinary attention they paid to this wedding.
Security was tight inside and outside the manor. The invited guests were among the rich and powerful, including top celebrities from Hong Kong and the global Chinese community, as well as business tycoons, political figures, and leaders in fashion and art. Media reporters were stationed in a designated area, cameras at full readiness, ready to capture every moment of this wedding of the century.
In the bridal lounge, Su Lingwan was already dressed.
The wedding dress, a one-of-a-kind piece crafted by a French master, is priceless. Rather than a traditional tutu, it features a close-fitting ivory silk satin, cut with a sleek, elegant silhouette. From top to bottom, it's devoid of unnecessary embellishment, save for the deep V-neck at the back, where a pattern of interwoven vines and pearls, hand-embroidered with countless tiny pearls and diamonds, winds from shoulder blades to waist. This echoes her "Pearl" collection, embodying understated luxury and craftsmanship. The veil is several meters of antique lace, also embellished with tiny pearls along the edge, shimmering like morning dew.
She sat at her dressing table, allowing her top makeup artist and hairstylist to apply the finishing touches. The woman in the mirror had picturesque features, skin whiter than snow, and her usually lively eyes now filled with a quiet joy and a hint of solemnity as she entered a new stage in her life. The "South Sea Pearl" diamond ring on her ring finger and the top-quality imperial jadeite necklace around her neck, a gift from her parents and treasured by the Su family, complemented each other, accentuating her elegance and grace.
Selina and several of her close friends surrounded her, their eyes filled with amazement and emotion.
"Lingwan, you are so beautiful today!"
"When Mr. Huo sees this later, he will definitely be unable to take his eyes off it."
Su Lingwan smiled faintly, her heart filled with calm anticipation. She didn't have the usual bride's nervousness, only a sense of certainty and happiness that things were going smoothly. She knew that on the other side of the door, the man she loved deeply, who loved her deeply, was waiting for her.
At the same time, in front of the main stage.
Huo Linshen wore a black morning suit, handcrafted by a master craftsman from London's Savile Row, with a standard Ascot scarf tied around his neck. He stood tall and straight, like a pine tree, his demeanor radiating. He rarely betrayed his usual aloofness, a subtle, gentle curve at the corner of his lips. His gaze, constantly gazing towards the end of the room where his bride was about to emerge, was filled with unconcealed anticipation and tenderness.
His father, Huo Zhenting, sat in the main seat, dressed in a formal Chinese-style formal attire, looking energetic and beaming with satisfaction. Su Hongyuan sat nearby, looking at his future son-in-law with a look of admiration and reassurance. Having gone through so much, the two elders were filled with confidence in the couple's future.
The guests were all seated, chatting in low voices, and the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers, champagne and the scent of joy.
At ten o'clock in the morning, the solemn and soothing wedding march sounded leisurely.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the long path covered with white petals.
At the end of the tunnel, Su Lingwan slowly appeared, holding her father Su Hongyuan's arm.
In an instant, it seemed as if time had stopped.
The sun shone down on her, and her ivory wedding gown shimmered softly. The pearl and diamond embroidery on the back shone delicately in the light. Her long veil trailed behind her, fluttering gently with her steps. She looked like a goddess stepped out of a classical painting, or a dazzling pearl fallen into the mortal world. Each step she took was calm, firm, and graceful.
Huo Linshen stood at the center of the stage, watching his bride approach him. His gaze locked on her, the world seeming to vanish in an instant, leaving only that radiant figure in his sight. He saw her smile at him, a clear, warm smile that instantly touched the softest part of his heart. He felt his heart overflow with a huge, almost overflowing feeling of happiness.
Su Hongyuan solemnly handed his daughter's hand to Huo Linshen.
"Linshen, I leave Wanwan to you." Su Hongyuan's voice was choked with a barely perceptible sob, but it was more of entrustment and trust.
"Dad, don't worry." Huo Linshen held Su Lingwan's hand tightly, looked at his father-in-law with a firm gaze, and made the most solemn promise between men.
Su Hongyuan's eyes were red, he nodded with satisfaction, and sat aside.
Huo Linshen and Su Lingwan held hands and stood side by side in front of the priest.
A gentle sea breeze blew, bringing a salty, fresh scent, and the white veil fluttered in the wind. Witnessed by the blue sky, white clouds, azure sea, and all their closest friends and family, they listened to the priest's solemn inquiries.
"Mr. Huo Linshen, are you willing to marry Miss Su Lingwan as your wife? No matter good times or bad, rich or poor, healthy or sick, happy or sad, you will always love her, cherish her, and be faithful to her forever?"
Huo Linshen turned his head and gazed deeply at Su Lingwan. His eyes were as deep as the sea, surging with endless love, commitment, and determination. His voice was clear and steady, and it spread throughout the manor through the microphone, carrying a heart-shaking power:
"I do."
These three simple words carry a weight of a thousand pounds.
"Miss Su Lingwan, are you willing to marry Mr. Huo Linshen as your husband? No matter good times or bad, rich or poor, healthy or sick, happy or sad, you will always love him, cherish him, and be faithful to him forever?"
Su Lingwan raised her head and met Huo Linshen's gaze. She saw the undisguised, almost devout love and expectation in his eyes. Her heart was enveloped by a huge current of warmth, her eyes slightly warmed, but the corners of her lips blossomed into the brightest and most brilliant smile. Her voice was crisp and firm, like pearls falling on a jade plate:
"I do."
During the ring exchange session, Huo Linshen took out the original version of the "South Sea Pearl" yellow diamond ring (as an engagement ring) that symbolized the starting point of their love, while Su Lingwan put on him a platinum plain ring for men that echoed the design elements of her engagement diamond ring, with the initials of their names and the wedding date engraved on the inner wall.
The moment the rings are put on each other's fingers, it seems that the most important bond in life has been completed.
"Now, I declare you officially husband and wife." The priest's kind voice sounded, "Groom, you may kiss your bride."
Amidst the waves of applause and cheers, Huo Linshen reached out and gently lifted Su Lingwan's veil. Her shy and beautiful face was completely revealed before him, her eyes filled with happiness.
He lowered his head and kissed her lips tenderly and cherishingly.
This kiss was free of lust, only filled with endless love, commitment, and holiness. With everyone's blessings, they made a lifelong vow to each other.
The ceremony is over!
Colorful ribbons and flower petals fell from the sky, the melodious music turned into a cheerful one, and the guests stood up, giving the warmest and most prolonged applause and blessings.
Huo Linshen and Su Lingwan smiled at each other, held hands, and turned to face the crowd. The sunlight cast a golden halo around them. The man was talented, the woman was beautiful, a match made in heaven, as beautiful as a frozen oil painting.
The wedding banquet that followed was a lavish affair, brimming with creativity and extravagance. A team of Michelin-starred chefs crafted a feast, accompanied by live performances by a world-class orchestra. An aerobatic team even displayed colorful smoke screens in the air, spelling out the couple's initials, drawing gasps of admiration.
Huo Linshen and Su Lingwan moved among the guests, toasting and accepting everyone's blessings. They saw the fathers who were truly happy for them, saw Shen Qinglan raising his glass with a relieved smile, and saw the excited and gratified eyes of friends like Selina and Assistant Chen...
When it came to the bride's bouquet-tossing part, Su Lingwan turned her back to the single guests and threw the bouquet of lilies of the valley, a symbol of the transmission of happiness, backwards. The bouquet drew a graceful arc in the air and unexpectedly landed in the arms of Shen Qinglan, who was standing a little further away.
Shen Qinglan was slightly startled, then she clenched the bouquet tightly and gave Su Lingwan, who turned back to look at her, a sincere and relieved smile. Perhaps, her happiness was not far away.
As night fell, a grand fireworks display brought the wedding atmosphere to a climax. The dazzling fireworks bloomed in the night sky, like countless falling stars, illuminating the sea and the happy faces of the newlyweds.
Huo Linshen held Su Lingwan in his arms, standing on the terrace that belonged to them alone, gazing up at the magnificent display that was set off for them.
"Mrs. Huo," he whispered in her ear. His voice was drowned out by the roar of fireworks and the cheers of the guests, but it reached her heart clearly. "I thought I was living in eternal night until you appeared."
Su Lingwan snuggled in his arms, feeling his strong heartbeat, looking at the brilliant sky, and responded softly, like a vow:
"My world has dawned because of you."
From then on, there was another pearl in the night sky of Hong Kong City, shining brightly for him and forever.
The grand wedding was a complete success.
And their story has just begun a new chapter.
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