An Xun had underestimated the situation.

The actual makeup and hairstyling process took much longer than he had imagined, concerning both his facial makeup and hairstyle.

Bo Xiangzhou’s makeup was similar to his usual look, mature and composed. His own makeup was more complex; mature styles didn’t suit him well, so he opted for a slightly parted hairstyle to maintain a dignified appearance while still reflecting his flamboyant personality with voluminous bangs, exuding a harmless charm.

He wore a white suit that fit snugly around the waist, perfectly pressed without a wrinkle. He held a bouquet made of cappuccino roses and bronze tulips, simply tied with a coffee-colored ribbon, unadorned.

Atop his head sat a silver crown, embedded with teardrop-shaped pearls.

Standing there, he looked like a prince straight out of a comic book.

Several attendants stood by, ready to follow the emcee’s instructions for the next steps.

Bored, he stood thinking about what the hotel’s meal was like, wondering if his dear Tao Nian would be satisfied.

The wedding had no best man, reducing the entertainment aspect but adding a degree of solemnity and seriousness.

With previous experiences in mind, the hotel had beefed up security, barring unrelated personnel from the wedding. The Bo family, in a display of lavishness, had booked the entire hotel. Any suspicious individuals were closely monitored for quick removal.

The moment he entered, An Xun caught Tao Nian’s stunned gaze; his mouth agape.

He was just as surprised because he hadn’t been to the venue before. The event was managed by professionals, so he didn’t need to be involved. Moreover, he expressed indifference toward the wedding, and Bo Xiangzhou wouldn’t update him on the progress.

The venue was draped in lush greenery, with dark green vines and red roses hanging down, resembling a European-style vintage garden castle, solemn and dreamlike. Thousands of blooming roses were used just for the scene setup. Crystal and rose chandeliers made from imported materials dimly lit the area, each spot filled with the texture of an oil painting, as if one was in a mysterious castle.

Damn, truly lavish.

An Xun straightened up even more; he couldn’t afford to embarrass himself in such a splendid place.

They had discussed the wedding procedure beforehand. Bo Xiangzhou had made sure to print out a sheet with the steps for An Xun to remember, ensuring he knew what to do next even if he wasn’t paying attention.

The guest seats were fully occupied. The An family, through the Bo family’s connections, barely entered the upper economic circle but didn’t receive much attention, making their situation increasingly awkward as the wedding proceeded.

An Xun knew the wedding vows by heart, so well rehearsed they sounded fake, but no one cared since everyone knew there was no real affection between them.

Despite knowing the truth, this still infuriated Liutang and An Xin, their faces contorting with anger—one upset that Bo Xiangzhou wasn’t marrying him, and the other vexed not to be the one marrying into the Bo family.

An Xun enjoyed their expressions before calmly withdrawing his gaze. As previously agreed, the emcee asked questions, and he responded with “Hmm,” similar to Bo Xiangzhou’s replies. After a few questions, the one who spoke the most was actually the emcee.

The two grooms managed to perform an advanced version of a mime act, evolving from silence to monosyllabic responses.

The ring bearer was the little Qiao Qiao.

This was An Xun’s first time seeing him, his chubby face and wobbly steps instantly evoking a strong paternal affection in An Xun.

The emcee cleared his throat.

An Xun thought to himself, this emcee isn’t very professional, hoarse and still not taking care of his voice even knowing he had a wedding to host.

An Xun didn’t notice the expressions of the guests below; he was fixated on Qiao Qiao’s adorable, bully-able eyes.

Would he cry miserably if upset?

Qiao Qiao stood still, holding the ring box, straining to look back up.

The emcee was just a worker; given Bo Xiangzhou’s high status, he couldn’t offend him and had to seek approval before speaking.

With a definite nod from Bo Xiangzhou, the emcee said, “This groom, no need to stare at the child for so long; we must continue our ceremony.”

He dared not add, “If you really like them, have a few more later,” since it was a marriage alliance and the two grooms seemed unfamiliar with each other. Some things were better left unsaid.

An Xun covered his embarrassment with a light smile, while Tao Nian, having the best view below, covered his mouth, already laughing crazily.

Their gazes met, and the forcefully smiling Tao Nian gave him a thumbs up, as if to say, “You’re acting quite convincingly.”

The other smiled, and An Xun wanted to laugh too but hurriedly averted his gaze, recalling any sad memories he might have.

Clearly, he had no sad memories. The An family was like trash to him; he didn’t care about them, and the troubles at his company only made him suppress his laughter further into frustration.

The wedding skipped some unnecessary steps. After exchanging rings, An Xun’s legs started to numb, fearing a sudden cramp might embarrass him on stage, he wiggled a bit, ready to make his exit.

However, the emcee did not signal the end of the ceremony. With a polite smile, standing a bit further back and enunciating clearly, he said, “For our newlyweds, today marks an important, memorable, and unforgettable day. A change in status signifies maturity and responsibility. They will now join hands and embark on a new journey of life. Next, please give each other a deep hug and a deep kiss, and savor the sweetness of love.”

Cue the wedding music playing a lyrical tune.

An Xun, as if an outsider, thought, “What? A kiss? Just like that?!”

Under their murderous gaze, the emcee said, “Let’s give this couple a warm round of applause.”

Someone below initiated the applause, which thundered instantly. Tao Nian, enjoying the spectacle, clapped enthusiastically.

The one smiling even more joyously than Cheng Song was Old Madam, her face radiant. Next to her, Shen Qing looked slightly apologetic, nodding at the couple on stage.

The two grooms quickly understood why this canceled part of the ceremony was suddenly back.

The ongoing applause had a coercive feel, and An Xun bit his lip, unable to smile.

How could he kiss? Kissing cats, dogs, or children was one thing, but this was a grown alpha.

The stage fell into an awkward silence, the atmosphere cooling slightly, yet many in the crowd enjoyed the spectacle, with Cheng Song even switching places for a better view.

For the first time, An Xun felt utterly embarrassed; had he known kissing was involved, he wouldn’t have agreed to this wedding.

The audience looked on eagerly, the air almost solidifying around them. An Xun shot Bo Xiangzhou a look: May I take your place?

Bo Xiangzhou remained silent.

An Xun took his silence as agreement.

The emcee’s words were already out; changing them now would only make things more awkward.

If they didn’t kiss soon, it would be nightfall, and standing stiffly on stage wasn’t a good look.

An Xun took a deep breath, resigned to the fact that he had to handle this big scene himself; Bo Xiangzhou owed him a nice gift for this.

He moved forward a few centimeters, reigniting the audience’s enthusiasm, applause thundering as An Xun’s ears turned red. Kissing someone for the first time, he was incredibly nervous, his thick-skinned face growing thinner under the deafening applause, blush spreading to his neck, trembling as he raised his chin and tiptoed to kiss, but the immovable Bo Xiangzhou finally moved.

He slightly turned, one arm wrapping around An Xun’s shoulder, leaning down to kiss.

The atmosphere peaked, Sang Qi covering Qiao Qiao’s eyes, “Kids shouldn’t watch.”

Liutang’s face turned sour.

So did Tao Nian’s, darkly furious, damn, they really kissed.

Bo Xiangzhou maintained his effortless demeanor, while An Xun, his exposed skin visibly reddening, his head steaming, breathing uneven.

Bo Xiangzhou had calculated perfectly. Old Madam couldn’t see the exact angle of their kiss but could clearly see them kissing without any obstructions, truly skin-to-skin.

Knowing Bo Xiangzhou wouldn’t follow her expectations, but this was enough for her, no matter where he kissed, a kiss was a kiss, and love wasn’t far behind.

With the residual warmth of the other’s lips still on his, An Xun lowered his eyes and timidly hid behind Bo Xiangzhou, preferring that to facing everyone with a flushed face.

He had previously mocked Meng Xiao for blushing like a monkey’s butt, and now karma had caught up with him.

He had asked Bo Xiangzhou to take his place, not to actually kiss him! And they were so close to kissing on the lips!

An Xun used Bo Xiangzhou as a shield and fled the stage, heading straight to the dressing room, his face growing hotter.

As soon as Bo Xiangzhou entered the room, he said, “Sorry, things escalated quickly, I didn’t mean to offend.”

An Xun thought Bo Xiangzhou might have misunderstood his gesture; it was he who initiated it, so if anyone should apologize, it was him. Bo Xiangzhou’s concession left him without a rebuttal.

An Xun fiddled with the bouquet, “It’s okay.”

No sooner had he spoken than a flower snapped in half, petals falling to the floor.

Bo Xiangzhou said, “Calm down for now, if you have any reasonable wishes after today, I’ll do my best to fulfill them.”

An Xun wanted to ask if ruining the An family counted as a reasonable wish.

Bo Xiangzhou, seeing his silence, continued, “Unreasonable requests are fine too, as long as they don’t breach legal or moral limits, within my capabilities.”

Too many requests, this wish definitely wouldn’t be granted.

An Xun deflated, “No need, thank you for your kindness, President Bo. It was just a kiss on the cheek, not on the lips. I’ll pretend it never happened.”

“Sorry for today, I’ll find an opportunity to make it up to you,” Bo Xiangzhou said, squatting to pick up the fallen petals and tossing them into the trash.