The wedding ceremony proceeded as usual. When the priest asked, "Groom, are you willing to take this woman as your wife and enter into a marriage covenant with her? Will you love her, care for her, respect her, accept her, and remain faithful to her forever until the end of life, through sickness and health, or for any other reason?"
Meng Huaijin looked solemnly at Fu Wenying and said, "I do!"
When the priest turned to Fu Wenying, she distinctly felt a trace of tension in Meng Huaijin.
He was afraid of hearing the word "No" from her lips. Everyone present was also waiting for the bride's reply.
Yet how could Fu Wenying ever let him down? "I do."
Meng Huaijin's rigid body finally relaxed.
When exchanging the matching rings, Fu Wenying looked at her own ring. A diamond was set in a high-end platinum carved heart-shaped frame, shimmering with the timeless, captivating charm of light and shadow. Even she, who had an interest in jewelry design, was deeply amazed.
"Do you like it? I sketched the design myself," Meng Huaijin said with a smile.
Fu Wenying smiled and nodded as she slipped his ring onto his finger.
The priest announced, "Now, the groom may kiss your bride."
Xiao Zhengting and the others immediately started jeering, "Kiss her! Kiss her..."
Fu Wenying blushed and lowered her head. Meng Huaijin gently pressed a fleeting kiss to her lips.
A wave of cheers erupted from the audience.
With most of the wedding rituals completed, Meng Huaijin took Fu Wenying's hand and led her back to the lounge.
Meng Huaijin had changed into a navy blue double-breasted Chinese-style suit. It was impeccably tailored, carrying a touch of scholarly elegance amidst its cool formality.
Fu Wenying had changed into a vibrant red toast dress. The gown hugged the lines of her body, gathered into cloud-like, clustered folds at the waist, and then suddenly flared out into a wide skirt. Starlight-like diamonds were scattered throughout, glittering brilliantly.
She never imagined that getting married could be so exhausting!
Meng Huaijin sat on the sofa, his fingertips tapping against his crossed legs. The moment Fu Wenying emerged, his eyes filled with sheer amazement. He knew his wife was beautiful—unparalled in her loveliness.
"Wenying, let's go. It's time to make our rounds and toast the guests." He offered his arm to Fu Wenying, and she naturally slipped her hand into the crook of his arm, walking with him toward the banquet hall.
With his arm around Fu Wenying's waist, Meng Huaijin took her to meet the weighty elders of the Meng Family and important business partners, introducing his social circle to her one by one. "Everyone, this is my wife, Fu Wenying." Fu Wenying responded with graceful poise, perfectly embodying the demeanor of Mrs. Meng.
After making the rounds of the tables, they came over to Xiao Zhengting and his friends.
The group stood up and greeted Fu Wenying, "Hello, Sister-in-law!"
Meng Huaijin introduced his childhood friends to Fu Wenying one by one.
She graciously invited them to visit and gather at their home often.
"There's a small evening reception tonight, inviting only close friends and business partners. Be sure to attend."
Meng Huaijin raised his glass to them.
With the cumbersome rituals finally over, Meng Huaijin and Fu Wenying bid farewell to Mr. and Mrs. Meng before returning to their bridal chamber.
"Huaijin, I really love the design of this house," Fu Wenying said with a smile, holding onto Meng Huaijin's arm.
Meng Huaijin took Fu Wenying's hand and said, "What do you think? I personally supervised and designed the whole thing." He led her on a tour of their new home, finally stopping at a large room.
Pushing the door open, one could take in the outdoor scenery at a glance. One side served as a space for Meng Huaijin to read, practice calligraphy, and taste tea.
The other side was currently empty. He pointed to the vacant space and said, "This part is left for you. You can imagine what you'd like to do with it now. I had two rooms knocked together and redesigned them."
Fu Wenying was pleasantly surprised. This time around, she was actually beginning to enjoy a slice of post-wedding life. In her past life, during the early days of their marriage, she had been thoroughly cold toward Meng Huaijin and deeply resistant to everything he did for her.
As he continued to introduce the space to her, she took the initiative to reach out and wrap her arms around Meng Huaijin's waist, distinctly feeling his body stiffen.
"Huaijin, thank you."
The evening reception proceeded smoothly. Fu Wenying and Meng Huaijin spent some time chatting with Xiao Zhengting and the others, and Fu Wenying even introduced her two best friends to Meng Huaijin's childhood companions.