#55: The Bride

Zhou Yu thought Qing Hang was quite reliable. “He’s incredibly kind to Wanyue.”

“They must have just gotten together recently, still in the honeymoon phase,” Yang Huimin remarked. She had only caught a snippet earlier and wasn’t used to Wanyue acting so affectionate. “With Wanyue’s temperament, who knows how long this will last? She’s really bringing her boyfriend home for dinner?”

Cheng Yuzhou replied, “He’ll attend the wedding and meet the family then.”

“This child, why didn’t she tell us earlier? We haven’t prepared anything.”

“She wants to surprise you. No preparation is needed.”

“Whether it’s a surprise or not doesn’t matter as long as it’s not a shock. Her father has been nagging lately. Yan Ci hasn’t dated anyone either—they’d make such a perfect couple. Isn’t childhood romance popular these days?”

Yan Ci had grown up under Cheng Guo’an’s watchful eye, so they knew him well.

“Wanyue and Yan Ci are just friends,” Zhou Yu said, chuckling. “Auntie, don’t worry. The person Wanyue likes isn’t inferior to Yan Ci.”

Yang Huimin sighed helplessly. “Forget it. Worrying won’t help. Things will work out naturally.”

She had initially knocked on the door to speak with Cheng Yuzhou but forgot after being distracted by Cheng Wanyue.

With the door closed, Cheng Wanyue, knowing the house was well soundproofed, turned on the speakerphone, placed her phone aside, and lay on the couch flipping through a magazine.

Qing Hang had just stepped out of the director’s office. Standing in the spacious, brightly lit corridor, he called Cheng Wanyue. Outside the glass windows, the sunset painted the sky a soft pink, and the glow stretched his shadow long across the floor.

He had hardly rested all day, working tirelessly from morning till night.

But now he had a girlfriend.

Hearing Cheng Wanyue yawn repeatedly, he asked, “Didn’t sleep well?”

Cheng Wanyue had woken up early that day and only managed to nap for half an hour at noon. “I figured I should help out a bit. The wedding won’t have too many guests—just relatives, friends, classmates, and colleagues

“Who are the groomsmen?”

“You don’t know them.”

If he didn’t know them, it meant it wasn’t Yan Ci.

The main focus of the wedding was the bride and groom. The bridesmaids and groomsmen simply stood together, sometimes arm in arm.

Qing Hang suddenly realized he had been too petty and awkwardly changed the subject. “What about Meiqiu? Is it adjusting well?”

“It’s with me,” Cheng Wanyue alternated between petting Nuomi and rubbing Meiqiu. “It was a bit uneasy the first night, but it’s much better today. If it’s convenient, I can open a video call to show you.”

Qing Hang heard her calling Meiqiu “darling” on the other end of the phone.

“I want to see you.”

“...Alright, I’ll let you take a quick look.”

Cheng Wanyue ended the call and switched to a WeChat video. Qing Hang held his phone low, capturing an unflattering angle.

She could see him wearing his white coat, with two pens tucked into his chest pocket. From this angle, his Adam’s apple was prominent, but before they could say anything, he was called away by a colleague. He hastily hung up, only managing to say he’d call her again after work.

Chi Yue was still waiting for her to send the location. After some thought, she figured it would be better to discuss things in person since she was asking for a favor, so she arranged to meet him.

Chi Yue had a performance the previous day and decided to stay in Nanjing for a few days.

He was well-known in his circle, having one foot in the entertainment industry, though his world was simpler than the complex entertainment scene.

Cheng Wanyue arrived ten minutes late. Chi Yue had already ordered her a cup of coffee and a dessert.

He placed a small jewelry box on the table, containing the earring she had lost.

“Thanks,” Cheng Wanyue had come with a mission. Though Chi Yue seemed difficult to approach, she had to try. “Do you have any plans for the 5th?”

Chi Yue originally planned to return to Beijing on the 5th. “If you’re inviting me, I’m free all day.”

“I need your help. My brother’s wedding band has run into a small issue. You won’t need to sing for long—just five or six songs will do.”

“I can help, but how will you repay me?”

Cheng Wanyue was generous. “Name your price; I can afford it.”

Chi Yue raised an eyebrow and chuckled. “Funny, I’m not exactly short on money either.”

“Then I’ll treat you to dinner?” Cheng Wanyue had seen videos of Chi Yue’s performances. His arrogance was justified. “If you make unreasonable demands, I’ll find someone else.”

Her sincerity wasn’t overwhelming, but Chi Yue fell for it anyway.

“I’m easy to work with. Once you’ve chosen me, there’s no chance to pick anyone else—they’re not as good as me. There will probably be a lot of flowers at the wedding venue. I’m allergic to pollen, so I’ll need to wear a mask.”

This meant he had agreed.

Cheng Wanyue hadn’t expected it to be so easy. A perfect wedding was most important; favors could be repaid later.

“No problem. Wearing a mask won’t affect your looks.”

“I’ll arrive a bit early to rehearse with the musicians. Will you handle the drums?”

“I’m a bridesmaid, and wearing a dress makes it inconvenient. But don’t worry—they’re professionals. They won’t drag your level down.”

“Alright, I’ll wait for you to treat me to that meal.”

With the matter settled, Cheng Wanyue left without finishing her coffee. Chi Yue stayed behind to wait for a friend who was nearby.

He found Cheng Wanyue’s Weibo account and spent some time browsing it.

One day, while a group of friends were drinking at his bar, someone noticed him looking at Cheng Wanyue’s Weibo and jokingly asked if he had a crush on her.

That day, he learned by chance that they had almost met at last year’s music festival. He had actually gone to the venue but ended up in the hospital after getting injured during rehearsals, missing her entirely.

They could have met much earlier.

The wedding was held at Xuanwu Lake. Chi Yue arrived very early on the morning of the 5th. Xuanwu Lake had several entrances, and after wandering around for a while, he couldn’t find the venue. Perhaps worried, Cheng Wanyue shared her location via WeChat and came to pick him up.

Xuanwu Lake was a park where locals took walks, but its large area made it a scenic spot, especially crowded with tourists during holidays.

After finding Chi Yue, Cheng Wanyue finally relaxed. As they walked and chatted, nearing the wedding venue, she reminded him to put on his mask.

It was windy that day, and there were many floral arrangements.

Chi Yue had single eyelids, and wearing a mask versus not made a big difference in his appearance. From afar, Yang Huimin thought the boy looked stern and unreliable—exactly the type Cheng Wanyue might like.

When they got closer, Cheng Wanyue introduced Yang Huimin: “This is my mom.”

Chi Yue removed his hat and greeted her politely. “Hello, Auntie. I’m Chi Yue.”

Yang Huimin smiled. “Hello. Thank you for coming today.”

“No need to be so formal—it’s my pleasure,” Chi Yue helped Cheng Wanyue carry some things. “Auntie, you go ahead and take care of things. Wanyue and I will head over to meet the musicians.”

Yang Huimin nodded. After they walked away, she sighed deeply, feeling uneasy.

Qing Hang rushed directly from the airport to the wedding. Since Cheng Wanyue couldn’t leave, Yan Ci went to pick him up. On the electronic screen, a video of Cheng Wanyue and Zhou Yu performing as gourds during their elementary school Children’s Day celebration played, making Cheng Yanqing nearly burst out laughing.

Despite the crowd, Qing Hang spotted Cheng Wanyue immediately. He had seen her in her bridesmaid dress before, though the fitting that night hadn’t been as formal as today’s attire.

When she turned around and saw him, she lifted her skirt and ran toward him.

For a fleeting moment, Qing Hang mistook this for their own wedding, with Cheng Wanyue as his bride.