Chapter 58: The Wedding

June 11th, the long-awaited day of Bi Qiao’an and Shen Yanming’s wedding, had finally arrived. Rather than a grand, traditional ceremony, the couple opted for a more intimate celebration, inviting their closest friends and family to share a meal together.

That morning, the two woke up early, their hearts filled with anticipation and joy. Shen Yanming looked dashing in his tailored suit, while Bi Qiao’an was a vision of beauty in her enchanting red dress. Hand in hand, they made their way to the marriage registration office, arriving just as it opened its doors.

With few people ahead of them, the couple quickly completed the necessary procedures, their excitement growing with each passing moment. As they received their red marriage certificates, Bi Qiao’an couldn’t help but gaze at their joint photo, a foolish grin spreading across her face. This was the tangible proof of their love and commitment, a symbol of their new life together.

Shen Yanming, overcome with emotion, found himself blinking back tears as he watched his beloved’s joyful expression. He stepped closer, enveloping her in a tender embrace. “My darling Qiao’an,” he whispered, his voice thick with feeling, “I promise to spend every day making you the happiest Mrs. Shen.”

Bi Qiao’an, sensing the depth of his emotions, tightened her arms around his waist and nestled her face against his chest. She listened to the steady beating of his heart, a heart that now belonged to her, just as hers belonged to him. “Together, we will build a lifetime of happiness,” she murmured, her words a vow and a promise. 

After a long time, the two finally composed themselves and drove to the hotel, arriving just before noon. Shen Yanming and Bi Qiao’an quickly freshened up and made their way to the entrance of the Furong Hall on the second floor, where they warmly greeted their guests as they arrived.

After everyone was seated, to the surprise of the crowd, Shen Yanming led Bi Qiao’an onto the stage. He took a moment to gaze at her affectionately before addressing their guests.

“Thank you all for being here to celebrate our special day. As you can see, we’ve kept things simple. There’s no emcee or elaborate program— just me and my beautiful wife. That’s because Qiao’an is my entire world.

We’ve been childhood sweethearts, facing life’s challenges hand in hand. A grand wedding might be nice, but what matters most is declaring my love for this incredible woman to the world.”

Shen Yanming paused, his eyes shining with emotion as he raised their marriage certificate for all to see.

“Today, we invited you to witness not just our wedding, but the beginning of a new chapter in our lives. From this day forward, I am proud to be Bi Qiao’an’s husband. 

“Qiao’an, I vow to love and cherish you for the rest of my days. My heart is forever yours, and I will never betray your trust.”

Bi Qiao’an, deeply moved by his words, gently wiped away the tears that had formed in the corners of her eyes. With a soft but steady voice, she spoke her own vow. “And I love you, Yanming, with all that I am. I promise to stand by your side, through every joy and every sorrow, until we’ve grown old together.”

With their vows exchanged, Bi Qiao’an stepped forward and embraced Shen Yanming tightly, no longer caring about the watchful eyes of the crowd below the stage.

Shen Yanming immediately returned his wife’s embrace, holding her close. He could feel the depth of her emotions as tears fell freely from her eyes, dampening his shirt. “We have a lifetime to be together, my love. Let’s save the tears for another day, okay?” he whispered gently, stroking her hair.

Bi Qiao’an, feeling a touch of embarrassment at his words, nodded against his chest, taking comfort in his strong, steady presence.

The guests below watched the tender exchange with warm, knowing smiles. While this might have been the most modest wedding they had ever attended, there was no denying the genuine love and affection that radiated from the couple on stage. It was a testament to the strength of their bond, a love that needed no grand gestures or extravagant displays.

As Shen Yanming and Bi Qiao’an made their way around the room, stopping at each table to raise a toast, Zhu Shiliang voiced the question that had been on everyone’s mind.

“Yanming, I have to ask— why such a simple wedding? It seems a bit out of step with your usual style, not to mention your financial means.”

Shen Yanming smiled, not hesitating to share his thoughts. “Director Zhu, to be honest, Qiao’an and I have been quite concerned about the abnormal weather this year. It’s been raining for months on end, causing inconvenience for everyone in various aspects of life.

“Had circumstances been different, we would have certainly prepared a grand wedding celebration. However, given the current situation, many things have become difficult to arrange. We felt it was more appropriate to keep a low profile.

“Initially, Qiao’an and I considered simply obtaining our marriage certificate without a ceremony. But then I realized that I wanted to share our happiness with all of you, our dear friends and family. So, we decided to announce our union in this simple, yet meaningful way.”

Zhu Shiliang listened attentively to Shen Yanming’s explanation. He glanced at Mi Xue’er, who was seated diagonally across from him, and nodded in understanding. “You make a valid point. Getting married without a proper announcement could easily lead to misunderstandings. Yanming, your sincere dedication to Qiao’an is truly commendable. Qiao’an, you can rest assured that you have a husband who cherishes you deeply.”

Bi Qiao’an smiled softly, her eyes shining with love and appreciation. “I know, he’s wonderful.”

Little Zhu Ranran, unable to contain her excitement any longer, chimed in as soon as his father finished speaking. “Sister Qiao’an, I knew it! I told you that you were Uncle Shen’s wife. See, I was right all along!”

Bi Qiao’an affectionately patted Zhu Ranran’s head. “Our Ranran is so observant and clever! But from now on, you should call me ‘auntie.'”

“Why?” Zhu Ranran smiled, beaming with pride at the praise, but then tilted her head in curiosity upon hearing the suggestion of “auntie.”

“Well, ‘auntie’ and ‘uncle’ are titles for people of the same generation. Ranran, you might not understand it now, but you will when you’re older.”

Shen Yanming chimed in with a smile, “Ranran, in the future, you can call her ‘Aunt,’ which means ‘uncle’s wife.’ Your uncle and aunt are family now.”

Zhu Ranran nodded enthusiastically. “Right, right, right! I’ll call my uncle’s wife ‘aunt.’ Aunt Qiao’an!”

“That’s perfect, sweetheart!”

The wedding guest list was intimate, composed only of those with whom Shen Yanming and Bi Qiao’an foresaw maintaining close ties— colleagues, old classmates, his childhood friends, and the two young security guards whose paths had crossed theirs.

Chen Shunwei and Wang Lai never expected to be invited to witness the couple’s wedding. By chance, the two often took shifts together and happened to run into Shen Yanming when he went to deliver invitations at the community entrance.

Shen Yanming, having found their previous interactions quite pleasant, decided to send them invitations and wedding candies. The gesture surprised and delighted the two guards so much that they thought they were dreaming.

On the wedding day, Chen Shunwei and Wang Lai were even seated at the same table as Zhang Heping and the others. Although the table had few people, they were all very close to Shen Yanming and Bi Qiao’an, making the two feel even more honored.

In truth, Shen Yanming had his own considerations. While Chen Shunwei and Wang Lai might seem like minor characters, one never knew when they might prove useful. Every person, no matter their role, had their own strengths.

Chen Shunwei and Wang Lai took their seats at the VIP table, their nerves on edge. Acutely aware that they were the only guests in work attire, their initial unease was palpable. However, Shen Yanming’s friends welcomed them warmly, not showing a hint of judgment, which put their minds at ease.

Interacting with Shen Yanming’s friends challenged Chen Shunwei and Wang Lai’s preconceived notions. Having always associated wealth with arrogance, they were pleasantly surprised to find this group so humble and down-to-earth.

After making their rounds, Shen Yanming and Bi Qiao’an finally arrived at Zhang Heping’s table to offer a toast. This was the last table, with few people, all of whom were dear to the couple. The table even had seats reserved for the newlyweds.

Shen Yanming’s gaze swept across the room, taking in the sight of his three cherished friends, Bi Qiao’an’s two beloved friends, Lin Yongke, with whom he had reconnected at the previous engagement party, and the two young security guards from the community. Draining his glass in one swift motion, he drew Bi Qiao’an close and quipped to his friends, “Brothers, today I bid farewell to bachelorhood. It’s your turn to step up!

“Hey, I’m just waiting for Qiao’an to introduce someone to me!” Li Zhaozhao retorted with a grin.