Chapter 125 The Wedding (Part 1)
Yun Zhan finally stopped teasing her and took the tray to the table. The steam from the breakfast was still rising from the white porcelain plate.
Yun Zhan put down his toast, his fingertips gently tracing the warm milk cup. His gaze fell on Wen Sixue's loose hair, and he suddenly asked, "We'll be graduating in a few months. I've roughly figured out what to do after graduation. By the way..."
Yun Zhan swallowed the toast in his mouth and then asked, "What are your thoughts on the wedding? What kind of wedding would you like?"
Chinese style or Western style, in Chengdu or overseas?
Wen Sixue was scooping fruit salad from her plate with a small spoon when she heard the word "wedding." Her movements froze for a moment, and a hint of surprise appeared in her eyes.
She put down her spoon, rested her elbow on the table, and gently cupped her chin in her hand. After a few seconds of silence, Wen Sixue slowly spoke, "If... I don't want a big wedding, would you agree?"
"Of course I agree. The wedding is between the two of us, as long as you're happy. Why don't you want a big one?"
Wen Sixue's gaze drifted gently to the window, the morning light falling on her profile, softening the complex emotions in her eyes.
"I don't actually like crowds."
Wen Sixue said softly, her fingertips gently tracing the texture of the tablecloth: "It'll be chaotic with too many people, and I'm afraid I won't be able to handle it. I'd rather stay at home, simply hang some ribbons and balloons, set out some snacks we all love, and then..."
Her voice paused, and the tips of her ears turned slightly red: "Then we'll drink a cup of nuptial wine together, and after that, we'll just stay quietly in the bridal chamber and spend the night together."
She spoke casually, as if she were talking about a very ordinary little thing. Wen Sixue was like that, used to quietly hiding the happiness she liked in her heart, without being ostentatious or expecting anything grand.
She didn't have the same powerful background as Pei Yanxi and Shi Mingyue, nor the same family constraints. She also didn't have any lofty ambitions, so she didn't want to pursue any grand ceremonies. She just wanted to live a peaceful life with Yun Zhan.
Moreover, given his special status, if people with ill intentions were to find out about his marriage, it could affect Yun Zhan.
When Yun Zhan was living with Wen Sixue before, whenever they talked about opera and performance, a clear hint of unease would always flash in Wen Sixue's eyes.
Yun Zhan sighed, reached across the dining table, and gently took Wen Sixue's hand. Wen Sixue's fingertips were a little cold and trembling with nervousness.
Are you still worried about your identity?
Yun Zhan's voice was very gentle: "Afraid people will gossip, right?"
It was obvious that Yun Zhan was right. Wen Sixue's fingertips twitched slightly, and her expression became somewhat unnatural. She knew she couldn't fool Yun Zhan, so she nodded gently again: "I sing in the opera, and many people know me... I'm afraid that if I have a big wedding, people will talk about you behind your back, saying that you married someone like me..."
“There’s nothing shameful about it. If someone hurts you, I’ll fight back for you.”
Yun Zhan interrupted her and squeezed her hand: "Living by your own efforts is more dignified than anything else. Besides, we don't need to care what others say about our wedding. As long as we feel happy, that's enough."
Yun Zhan smiled gently: "If you want to hold it at home, we'll decorate the house beautifully. If you want to drink the nuptial wine, we'll choose whatever you like to drink; it doesn't have to be real baijiu. If you want it to be quiet, just the two of us, then we don't need to invite any friends. Besides, I don't have any friends in this world anyway."
The trip to the North was like a gentle dream, and it ended quickly. A few days later, Yun Zhan and Wen Sixue boarded a flight back home.
That heavy past about his ears was like a deeply buried seed, which Yun Zhan carefully hid in the deepest part of his heart.
She couldn't bring this up again. Once she returned to China, she would definitely go to Bai Jichen in person to get to the bottom of things.
Yun Zhan would subconsciously walk to the side of Wen Sixue with good hearing and talk to her. He would take the initiative to lead Wen Sixue away in noisy environments and remember to put the earphone in Wen Sixue's right ear.
Wen Sixue noticed these subtle changes, but she tacitly refrained from pointing them out.
A silent understanding developed between them, and their love grew richer and deeper through their silent care.
After their short holiday, they returned to Minton School. Now, with only a few months left until graduation, even the pampered young ladies are starting to feel lost about the future.
"Ah, I don't want to go home and inherit the family business." Jiang Yanmo and a few other girls gathered together, complaining about their family's arrangements.
“I don’t want to follow in the footsteps of my elders; their professions are all too outdated.”
"If possible, I would also like to travel around the world."
...
The classroom was noisy, but Yun Zhan's mind was clearer than ever before.
From the night she learned the truth, a powerful belief, strong enough to shake everything, took root in her heart.
She couldn't afford to make any more mistakes. She needed to become stronger, strong enough to be Wen Sixue's eternal support, strong enough that she would never need Wen Sixue to make any more sacrifices for her.
"I want to ensure she has enough to eat and wear for the rest of her life and never has to face any risks again."
Yun Zhan's belief transformed into her inexhaustible motivation.
In the last few months, Yun Zhan devoted himself to his studies with an almost desperate attitude.
She was no longer content with simply completing her coursework; instead, she frantically absorbed all the knowledge she could access.
The exams at Mington School are different from the college entrance exams in the original world. The school places more emphasis on the comprehensive development of students' qualities, not just theoretical exams. In the last few months, Yun Zhan finished studying all the subjects in language, science and engineering, and music.
On graduation day, Yun Zhan saw her report card; she ranked ninth in the entire school.
The summer sun shone brightly and intensely, and the graduation ceremony venue was bustling with activity.
Yun Zhan, dressed in her graduation gown, stood in the crowd and immediately spotted the person walking slowly toward her.
Pei Yanxi wore a well-tailored beige suit skirt today, her long hair elegantly tied up, exuding a calm and capable temperament. Compared with the students around her who were wearing graduation gowns, she appeared particularly mature and eye-catching.
She held a beautifully packaged bouquet of sunflowers in her hands, the golden flower heads shining brightly in the sunlight.
Congratulations.
Pei Yanxi handed the bouquet to Yun Zhan with a faint smile on her face. The smile contained congratulations, but also a hint of other complex emotions.
Once Yun Zhan graduated, she completely lost the chance to see him again.
From now on, we'll be scattered across the country, and it will be difficult to see each other again.
Pei Yanxi handed over another document envelope wrapped in brown paper: "This is your graduation certificate."
"Thanks."
Pei Yanxi paused, her gaze falling on Yun Zhan's graduation gown: "If you wish, Mington University can directly recommend you to any prestigious university, domestically or internationally. However..."
Pei Yanxi's gaze drifted almost imperceptibly towards Wen Sixue, who was not far away.
"You probably...wouldn't choose to study abroad. So, do you want me to help you apply to the best universities in China?"
Yun Zhan accepted the flowers and the envelope, and nodded slightly to her: "I really need them, thank you... no, thank you, school board member."
Yun Zhan knew that Pei Yanxi was no longer his senior. She had graduated, and their status had regressed once again. Pei Yanxi was the true head of the school's board of directors, while Yun Zhan was just one of the many graduates of the school.
Their relationship had long since changed with the shift in their identities.
The title "school board member" felt like an invisible thorn, causing Pei Yanxi's smile to freeze for a moment.
She quickly regained her composure and asked in a casual tone, as if it were a casual conversation, "How is it being with Wen Sixue...?"
Yun Zhan's gaze passed over her, his tone indifferent: "Very good, very happy."
These five words were like a gust of wind, blowing away all the composure Pei Yanxi had feigned.
She closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, and when she opened them again, her eyes were filled with a clear and calm gaze.
She took a deep breath, as if using all her strength, before squeezing out a sentence: "Happiness... is good. Live well with her. With your talent, you two will have a good life."
Yun Zhan, holding the bouquet of bright sunflowers and his graduation certificate (symbolizing the end of the semester), nodded politely to Pei Yanxi again.
"Thank you for taking care of me all this time."
This time, Yun Zhan used the formal "you" (您).
"Then I'll be going now."
“Okay, let’s go back.” Pei Yanxi nodded.
Yun Zhan left, and Pei Yanxi stood there, watching quietly.
She watched Yun Zhan walk to Wen Sixue's side, watched them smile at each other, then walk hand in hand into the bustling crowd and gradually disappear into the distance.
That receding figure never looked back.
Pei Yanxi's gaze followed them until they were no longer in sight, then she slowly looked away.
The smile on her face had long since faded, leaving only a deep, indescribable sense of desolation.
The weather was nice today, and the sun was shining on her, but she didn't feel any warmth at all.
Pei Yanxi raised her hand and gently pressed her slightly aching temple.
She was surrounded by the cheerful laughter of girls, and the clicking of camera shutters in the distance—a bustling scene full of hope and a bright future. But all of this excitement had nothing to do with her.
She stood on that noisy, isolated island for a long time before finally letting out a very soft soliloquy, a sound only she could hear, her voice filled with undisguised weariness and self-mockery.
"Shi Mingyue has already chosen to go abroad, what else... can't you let go of..."
As soon as she finished speaking, she forced a bitter smile that looked worse than crying.
The smile held the helplessness of a settled situation, and the relief of a complete defeat.
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