Chapter 416 A Superficial Union
On the other side.
The couple arrived at the gift-receiving area.
Gu Xiao took out the prepared red envelope from his inner pocket and handed it to the person in charge of registration.
Nan Zhiyi glanced at the gift list, which was densely filled with names and amounts.
It is evident that the Luo family, as a long-established military family, has indeed deep roots and extensive connections.
After the ceremony, Gu Xiao whispered to Nan Zhiyi about the guests who needed to be greeted, including people from both the military and political circles.
When Nan Zhiyi saw Zhou Anping and her sister-in-law Lin Yaru, she assumed they were there on behalf of the Meng family. The two sisters-in-law were chatting and laughing with several well-dressed women, and Zhou Anping was laughing heartily.
Nan Zhiyi looked around the hall; Xiaoxuan and Qin's eldest sister-in-law hadn't arrived yet.
"Wife, let's go and talk to those people."
"Okay!" Nan Zhiyi came back to her senses.
Gu Xiao led Nan Zhiyi around the crowd, exchanging pleasantries with several leaders and some acquaintances.
Nan Zhiyi held Gu Xiao's arm the whole time, maintaining a polite and generous smile, and handling the situation with ease.
She was thinking to herself: This doesn't look like a wedding at all; it's clearly a large networking event.
A moment later, Nan Zhiyi caught a glimpse of Li Xiaoxuan and Qin Fen entering together.
Li Xiaoxuan spotted Nan Zhiyi at a glance, waved slightly at her, pointed to Qin Fen beside her who was nodding to an acquaintance, and then gestured to the bustling crowd around them.
Nan Zhiyi nodded knowingly, her gaze following Li Xiaoxuan and her husband as they merged into the crowd, watching them exchange greetings with people from all sides.
Just before the wedding banquet was about to officially begin, a well-dressed woman who appeared to be a close relative of the Luo family led Gu Xiao, Nan Zhiyi, Qin Fen, and Li Xiaoxuan to a seat near the main table with a good view.
She chuckled and said, "It's convenient that you all know each other, so it's cheaper for you to sit together."
As soon as they sat down, Li Xiaoxuan leaned closer to Nan Zhiyi and said, "Originally, it was my sister-in-law and I who came, but when my husband Qin heard that Minister Gu was also coming, he immediately changed his mind and said he wanted to come with me. Well, my sister-in-law is happy to be free and not come."
Nan Zhiyi chuckled: "Is he willing to abandon his precious daughter?"
Li Xiaoxuan pouted, "I can't bear to part with her! Before leaving, she was still talking about whether to bring Yaoyao to broaden her horizons, but I gave her a few playful punches. This kind of place is stuffy and hot, I'm not going to let my daughter suffer like this."
The lobby has air conditioning, but it's not very effective. The air isn't unbearably hot, but with so many people and mixed smells, it's not exactly cool.
She looked at Gu Xiao beside her. He was talking quietly with Qin Fen and Meng Qingshan, who was sitting at the same table. Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
She took out a handkerchief from her bag, stuffed it into Gu Xiao's hand, and gestured for him to wipe his sweat.
Gu Xiao smiled and wiped his forehead a couple of times.
Zhou Anping and his sister-in-law Lin Yaru also sat at this table, a few seats away from Nan Zhiyi.
Lin Yaru called out, "Zhiyi, it's been more than two years since we last met! You haven't changed at all, you're still so beautiful and radiant!"
"Sister-in-law, you're too kind with your compliments. I think it's you who's getting younger and younger, and you look radiant." Her words weren't just polite; Lin Yaru really did take good care of herself.
Lin Yaru was unaware that a rift had quietly developed between Nan Zhiyi and Zhou Anping. She still considered them close sisters and warmly invited them, "Come visit us often when you have time! Anping and Qingshan have moved back to the compound now, so it's close to you and convenient for you to visit each other."
Zhou Anping has moved back to the General's Building... This is news that Nan Zhiyi is unaware of.
They had become estranged.
Nan Zhiyi had invited him before, but Anping only verbally agreed and never took any action. After that, she never contacted him again.
Hearing Lin Yaru's words, Nan Zhiyi felt a slight pang of sadness, but she didn't show it on her face. She just smiled at Zhou Anping across the seat and said, "Really? That's great. It will definitely be more convenient to visit each other in the future."
Zhou Anping forced a smile, "Well, since we live closer together, we can get together more often."
Nan Zhiyi replied with another "Okay".
Zhou Anping lowered his head and drank his tea, trying to hide the mixed feelings in his heart.
She longed to restore her close relationship with Nan Zhiyi, but she couldn't bring herself to do it, always feeling that Nan Zhiyi now had her own career circle and new friends, and probably didn't need her anymore.
This awkward feeling lingered around her, making her feel somewhat uncomfortable every time she saw Nan Zhiyi.
Nan Zhiyi assumed that she was in a bad mood because she saw Lu Linlang and didn't think much of it.
As she was pondering, Gu Xiao's warm hand quietly covered hers under the table, his fingertips gently scratching her palm.
Nan Zhiyi turned her head slightly and saw him sitting upright, talking about the news with Qin Fen next to him with a normal expression. However, his hands were restlessly playing with her fingers, his calloused fingertips caressing her skin, bringing a tingling sensation.
Nan Zhiyi understood that Gu Xiao was trying to comfort her, and her heart softened, but because she was in a hotel, she was afraid of being seen, so she tried to break free of his wrists.
Gu Xiao did not let go; instead, he slid into her fingers and intertwined his fingers with hers, their palms touching.
The Luo family's wedding banquet proceeded as usual.
A highly respected retired leader served as the officiant and delivered a brief but solemn speech.
Then, guided by the emcee, Luo Jianming and Lu Linlang bowed to the guests.
Then the banquet began, with toasts and lively conversation taking place.
After several rounds of drinks, the parents of both the Luo and Lu families led the newlyweds to toast each table, and finally distributed beautifully packaged wedding favors, bringing the exceptionally dignified wedding banquet to a perfect end.
Nan Zhiyi found it so boring that she was starting to feel sleepy... She glanced at Li Xiaoxuan, who also seemed lost in thought...
When it finally ended and they stepped out of the hotel, Li Xiaoxuan leaned close to Nan Zhiyi's ear and asked, "Tell me, did that bride actually...?"
Nan Zhiyi said softly, "I didn't see it either, but it's none of our business. Whether it's true or not, we'll know in a few months. Let's go, where do you want to go next to relax?"
Li Xiaoxuan agreed with her and stopped talking about it, becoming conflicted, "I don't know where to go for fun..."
Qin Fen chimed in, "A new resort called Cuiwei Villa has opened in the western suburbs. The environment is nice, nestled against the mountains and facing the water. You can fish there, the food is fresh, and there's even a place for women to get facials using some kind of herbal mask. What do you think?"
He then looked at Gu Xiao, "Old Gu, how about taking your wife out to relax?"
Gu Xiao didn't answer immediately, but first turned to look at Nan Zhiyi, "Do you want to go?"
Before Nan Zhiyi could even speak, Li Xiaoxuan grabbed her arm and shook it forcefully: "Come on, Zhiyi! We're already out here, it's so boring staying in the city, let's go out and relax, just to keep me company!"
Nan Zhiyi was dragged away by Li Xiaoxuan, and helplessly glanced back at Gu Xiao.
Gu Xiao received the signal from his wife's eyes and nodded to Qin Fen: "Then let's go take a look."
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