Huzi stood there, filled with regret, when his brother’s icy voice rang out again.
“What are you still standing around for? Get moving and set off the firecrackers with the others!”

Feeling as though he’d been granted a pardon, Huzi turned and ran toward his comrades, muttering as he went, “Oh, right, right! I’m on it!”

As the firecrackers exploded, the celebration erupted into full swing. Guests and hosts alike reveled in the festivities. With little to no age gap among the attendees, An Xin mingled easily, enjoying herself with everyone.

Even Bai Yichen, the groom, was having a great time. Yet, in the back of his mind, he was puzzled. Both he and An Xin had drunk an entire enamel mug of high-proof liquor earlier, yet neither of them felt any aftereffects. If anything, they seemed even more energized.

Was Zhang Fan, the guy who provided the liquor, just all talk and no substance? Was the “strong liquor” actually fake?

Just as Bai Yichen was lost in thought, An Xin’s soft voice called out from a distance.
“Husband, it’s time for the wedding ceremony!”

Huzi and the others cheered loudly from the side.
“Yeah, big bro! What are you dazing off for? It’s time to bow to the heavens with your bride!”

Startled, Bai Yichen snapped out of his thoughts and looked at his beautiful bride. Feeling as though he were walking on clouds, he made his way toward her.

As night fell, the festivities wound down. The rowdy crowd eventually dispersed, leaving the newlyweds alone. Huzi, drunk beyond reason but grinning from ear to ear, demanded more drinks before being dragged away by his companions.

When the house finally quieted down, only An Xin and Bai Yichen remained. A hint of awkwardness lingered in the air.

An Xin sat at the vanity, slowly removing her hair accessories, her mind racing. How was she going to get through the wedding night? Should she pretend to faint? Or fake an emergency like the sudden arrival of her period?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the deep, soothing voice of the man behind her.
“I’ve heated some water and put it in the washroom for you. You can freshen up first. I’ll head to the bathhouse at the brigade headquarters.”

The small washroom in the room was partitioned off with a curtain, just large enough for one person to wash up.

Grabbing his toiletries, Bai Yichen opened the door and left. The room immediately felt larger, emptier, and more freeing. An Xin let out a heavy sigh of relief.
“Whew…”
Good call!

If he had insisted on staying in the room, An Xin truly wouldn’t have known how to handle the situation. She berated herself for not living life to the fullest in the 21st century—no boyfriends, no fun experiences. Now, faced with a man in close quarters, she was an anxious mess.

After her bath, An Xin felt a little more relaxed, only for her nerves to spike again. Bai Yichen’s bachelor dorm room had only one bed and one blanket. The bedding, decorated with festive red embroidery of mandarin ducks, had clearly been prepared for the wedding.

An Xin rummaged through the wardrobe, finding only Bai Yichen’s personal clothes and no spare sheets or blankets. Great. Not even the option to sleep on the floor.

She sat on the edge of the bed, shoulders slumped, anxiously twisting the hem of her clothes. She resented the original owner of this body. Of all the things to do, why mess with such a decent young man?

Now, as the unfortunate “stand-in,” she was left to deal with this awkward situation. Walking away wasn’t an option either.

When Bai Yichen returned, he found his bride sitting on the wedding bed, her face contorted in frustration, glaring at some random spot on the wall.

He sighed internally, placed his toiletries on the washstand, and walked over. Just as he was about to speak, An Xin jumped up, her wide eyes fixed nervously on him like he might pounce at any moment.

Suppressing another sigh, Bai Yichen thought, She’s still just a young girl after all. No matter how bold or resilient she seemed before, now she’s clearly scared.

An Xin, fumbling for words, stammered, “Um… maybe… should we…”

She wanted to express that, despite it being their wedding night, she wasn’t ready to consummate the marriage. But no matter how hard she tried, the words wouldn’t come out.

Bai Yichen’s dark eyes observed her flustered state. Gently, he interrupted her struggle.
“You’ve had a long day. Get some rest. Don’t worry. I won’t touch you unless you’re willing.”

Despite their earlier skin-to-skin encounter under extraordinary circumstances, he wasn’t the type to force himself on a woman.

“Ah!”

An Xin hadn’t expected him to say exactly what she wanted, so casually at that. She felt a mix of surprise and embarrassment at being so easily read.

Bai Yichen walked to the other side of the bed, lifted the blanket, and sat down.
“There’s only one bed. You’ll have to make do with sharing it for now,” he said, lying down.

Exhausted from the day’s events, he turned to face the wall, giving her space. Weddings are so draining. Hopefully, there won’t be a next time, he mused.

An Xin watched his calm and composed demeanor. After a brief pause, she walked to the bed, turning off the light before lying down herself.

The room plunged into darkness. Given Bai Yichen’s easygoing attitude, An Xin decided she shouldn’t be too hesitant. After all, they were married. If feelings developed over time, she wouldn’t mind growing closer to him.

Still, tonight was awkward, and tomorrow could bring anything. For now, she’d take things one step at a time.

Contrary to her fears, sleep came quickly. As her breathing steadied, Bai Yichen opened his eyes, turning to look at the small figure curled up beside him. She was sleeping in a tight, defensive position—one that screamed insecurity.

Sighing softly, he shifted his pillow slightly away from her, trying to maintain some distance. He wasn’t a saint; being too close to her scent might test his resolve.

But he underestimated how unpredictable some people could be in their sleep.

Just as Bai Yichen was drifting off, An Xin suddenly turned over, sprawling across him. Her hand and leg draped over his body, and her head nestled naturally into the crook of his neck. She slept soundly, her face serene and innocent.