Chapter 48 The Familiar Bride-to-be: What Does the Bride Look Like? Could She Win Over...?
She took a deep breath, as if to dispel the tightness in her chest, and quickly lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes concealing all emotion. Her fingertips gripped the intricate layers of her skirt, forcing herself to immediately extinguish this absurd and inappropriate thought.
When she looked up again, she saw her slightly pale face in the mirror and tried her best to slowly curve a perfect smile that she had practiced countless times. Just then, the curtain was gently pulled open to both sides by the wedding dress designer.
Zhou Xubai was sitting on the velvet sofa next to him. The moment he looked up at the sound, he was completely captivated by the exquisite beauty before him. He subconsciously stood up, and his breath caught in his throat for a moment.
Before him stood Lin Yuwei, dressed in a pristine wedding gown, bathed in a halo of light. All the amazement, deep admiration, and an almost devout sense of "wish fulfillment" rippled in Zhou Xubai's eyes, surging and direct.
He almost forgot there were other people around him, and quickly stepped forward. He couldn't help but reach out his hand, his fingertips pausing slightly just before touching the fabric of her arm, as if afraid of disturbing this beautiful dream. Then he carefully pulled her into his arms. It was an extremely gentle yet precious embrace, embracing his most precious dream. A warm and soft kiss then gently landed on Lin Yuwei's forehead, filled with boundless love and tenderness.
“So beautiful, Vivi.” He whispered, his voice trembling with emotion, but it reached her ears clearly: “It’s countless times more beautiful than I’ve imagined it a thousand times in my mind.”
The wedding dress designer standing nearby was also full of admiration. She stepped forward with a smile and said sincerely, "Mr. Zhou's taste and Ms. Lin's temperament complement each other perfectly. This wedding dress seems to have been made for Ms. Lin. They are such a perfect match. Congratulations to the two of you."
Lin Yuwei leaned against Zhou Xubai's warm embrace, the warmth of his kiss still lingering on her forehead. She listened to his sincere praise and the designer's blessings, but her gaze involuntarily swept over the black mannequin in the corner again, then quickly recoiled as if burned. She gently buried her face in Zhou Xubai's shoulder and neck, closed her eyes, and tried to absorb the reassuring aura emanating from him, attempting to use the happiness of this moment to cover up the fleeting, cold, and profound phantom in her heart.
After the fitting, Zhou Xubai chose a quiet restaurant with soft lighting and low jazz music. Fresh white roses were placed on the table. He considerately served Lin Yuwei food and poured her water. He then took out his tablet with great interest and opened several design drafts.
"Weiwei, look, these are the three final invitation designs. Which one do you like best with its gold foil effect?"
"And there's the menu. The chef recommended these dishes. I remember you like fish. How about this silver cod?"
"I've gone through the process again. Look here, after dessert, we..."
He confirmed everything with her, his eyes bright and full of anticipation for the future. Lin Yuwei looked at the exquisite design on the screen and listened to his gentle questions, trying to concentrate, but the voices seemed to be through a film of water, blurry and indistinct. Her mind was in turmoil, and Gu Qingyan's image would occasionally flash through her mind, making it impossible for her to truly immerse herself in the joy that should belong to her.
“I think…it’s all good.” She scooped the soup from her bowl and replied softly, “Xu Bai, it’s up to you to decide. I trust your judgment.”
"I have no objection, as long as you think it's suitable."
"Okay, I'll do as you say."
Lin Yuwei subconsciously pushed almost all the decisions back to him. Zhou Xubai watched her absentmindedly stirring the soup with a spoon, and finally slowly stopped talking and put the tablet aside.
After dinner, as they walked out of the restaurant, the evening breeze carried a slight chill. Zhou Xubai opened the car door for Lin Yuwei. As she leaned in, he didn't close the door immediately. Instead, he rested one hand on the roof of the car, leaned down slightly, and gazed at her profile, which appeared somewhat tired and distant under the lamplight.
“Weiwei,” he said softly, with a cautious inquiry, “tell me, is there anything else you’re worried about? Or… is there something that’s making you unhappy?”
Lin Yuwei's heart skipped a beat, as if his inner turmoil had been seen through. She looked up and met his concerned gaze. Her guilt and panic were almost overflowing. She quickly took the opportunity to cover it up, and then attributed her confused feelings to a more specific and "reasonable" worry.
Her long eyelashes trembled, and her voice was as soft as a whisper: "But... when would be a convenient time to meet your parents before the ceremony? I... I'm always a little unsure, afraid that I'm not good enough and will disappoint them."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Xubai seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, or perhaps a deeper worry was quietly suppressed. He leaned in and carefully helped her fasten her seatbelt, his movements gentle and focused. He returned to the driver's seat and started the car.
“Don’t worry about that.” His voice rang out in the carriage, gentle and accommodating, carrying a calming power: “My parents now live abroad year-round and are very used to the pace of life there. They’ve always adopted a ‘hands-off’ approach to me, letting me make all the decisions, big and small, in my life. So you see, most of my childhood friends are destined to go back home and inherit the family business, while I, as the only child, am left with a carefree life, able to wholeheartedly pursue what I love.”
He turned his head and smiled reassuringly at her, his eyes warm: "I introduced you to my parents, and they were overjoyed. They've already booked their plane tickets and will definitely be back on time to witness the engagement party. Really, they are very open-minded people. They've said before that I'll be responsible for my own life after I become an adult, and they will never interfere. So, Weiwei," he freed one hand and gently covered her hand resting on her knee, which was a little cool, "you really don't need to feel any pressure at all. They will definitely like you, just like I like you, naturally and inevitably."
Despite his relaxed and confident tone, and the smooth description of the future, a trace of unease still lingered between Lin Yuwei's slightly furrowed brows. Zhou Xubai saw and remembered all these subtle emotions.
Two days later, he carefully arranged an overseas video call. On the other end of the screen was a sunny and elegantly furnished study. Mr. and Mrs. Zhou smiled warmly and spoke sincerely and tolerantly. They did not ask any embarrassing or stressful questions. They simply asked about Lin Yuwei's studio and hobbies in a casual manner, with their words full of appreciation and respect.
Mr. Zhou smiled and nodded, his tone gentle: "Yes, it's the two of you who will live your lives. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable and it suits you. As your parents, we just want to offer you our blessings."
This brief yet incredibly heartwarming online meeting was like a gentle breeze caressing Lin Yuwei's heart. The open-minded and sincere attitude of Zhou's parents, and their undisguised respect and trust, greatly soothed her anxiety and vague unease of the past few days. Looking at the two kind elders on the screen, and then glancing at Zhou Xubai beside her who was always watching her tenderly, a sense of reassurance slowly rose within her.
Yes, this was the most ideal and logical path. Zhou Xubai was mature and considerate, came from a good family, and his parents were reasonable and didn't interfere—perfectly meeting all her expectations for a stable and blessed marriage. This was undoubtedly the best solution for her later life and for her mother's deepest hopes, and also the most rational and safest choice. The vague, inexplicable turmoil in her heart seemed so insignificant at this moment, even somewhat inappropriate. She took a deep breath, suppressing that inexplicable feeling of unease, and the smile on her face became increasingly natural and firm.
Subsequently, both the Zhou and Lin families followed etiquette and formally notified several close family friends who had known each other for decades. They maintained a unified and low-key approach, simply stating that it was a small, intimate gathering to witness the joyous moment of their children.
Everything was progressing smoothly and brilliantly, as if fate had already paved this broad road for us.
****
Only a few windows in the Mingchuan Daily building were still lit. Editor-in-Chief Qi Xueqing rubbed her aching neck as she stepped out of the elevator; a long day's work left a lingering weariness on her brow. She sat in the driver's seat and let out a long sigh. Her phone rang; it was her mother calling.
After the routine greetings, Qi's mother changed the subject: "Qingqing, I have something to tell you. Your Uncle Zhou's son, Xu Bai, is getting engaged at the end of the month. The hotel is in your area, and the invitations have been sent. You have to be there on time."
Then, predictably, she probed indirectly: "Speaking of which... have you met anyone suitable recently? It's not a good idea to stay with just one person all the time."
Qi Xueqing interrupted helplessly: "Mom—no! I'm so busy every day, I don't have time to think about these things."
"Sigh, I used to think that maybe I could bring you and Xu Bai together, since our families know each other so well..." Mother Qi said with regret, "I never expected that this child would make a decision so quietly."
Qi Xueqing chuckled, "Alright, Mom, with a daughter as outstanding as you, are you worried about not getting married? Don't worry, I'll definitely be at Xu Bai's engagement party." Her tone was light and cheerful, with a hint of coquetry, but her heart remained calm. To her, Zhou Xu Bai was more like a gentle yet distant older brother from her memories. Moreover, compared to the gentle and refined type, she was always drawn to a different kind of sharp and dazzling charisma, such as…
She casually asked, "What does the bride look like? She must be quite something to win over Xu Bai."
“Yes, yes, my daughter is the best. I just can’t do anything with you. I forwarded the invitation to you. Take a look for yourself. The girl is very pretty. She’s a designer, she owns her own studio, and she’s very capable,” the mother said.
After hanging up the phone, Qi Xueqing casually opened the e-invitation while waiting at a red light. Soft music played, and a photo of the newlyweds popped up—
Zhou Xubai smiled gently, just as he remembered, while beside him stood his bride-to-be, draped in a white veil, her smile radiant…
Qi Xueqing's gaze froze instantly! A strong sense of familiarity washed over her.
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Author's note: Happy National Day everyone! ~[dog head with rose in hand]
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