The short red carpet seemed to take all of Yu Wanru’s strength to walk down.

Master Yu placed her hand into Xiao Anlan’s.

Xiao Anlan held her hand tightly, cherishing it.

They looked into each other’s eyes briefly, and Yu Wanru, unable to withstand his intense gaze, blushed and looked down.

Unlike traditional weddings, this modern ceremony didn’t require bowing to heaven and earth; the officiant would simply read the wedding vows.

The officiant, Xiao Anlan’s uncle, Huo Junting, was brief. Instead of a lengthy speech, he simply said, “Your marriage is legally valid. Happy wedding.”

Xiao Anlan couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.

Madam Xiao, half-laughing and half-crying, glared at her brother.

After a brief pause, the guests applauded and congratulated the couple.

Xiao Anlan and Yu Wanru exchanged tokens of their love and then returned to their rooms to change outfits.

The bride’s second dress was a red qipao for the toast. When Yu Wanru saw herself in the mirror, she blushed immediately.

The qipao fit tightly, accentuating her curves and making her feel very self-conscious.

She looked at Su Xiaoman for reassurance. “Xiaoman, can I really wear this in front of everyone?”

Su Xiaoman replied, “Why not? You look stunning in it, just as graceful as any modern woman.”

Yu Wanru shyly tried to cover her chest. “It feels like I’m not wearing anything.”

Su Xiaoman asked, “Do you think that way when you see other women wearing qipaos on the street?”

Yu Wanru shook her head. “No.”

“Then you’re just not used to it yet. Others will only see how beautiful you look. Put your hands down; covering yourself like that will only draw attention.”

As soon as Yu Wanru heard that, she immediately lowered her hand.

The two were talking when there was a knock on the door.

“Are you ready, darling?” Xiao Anlan called from outside.

Su Xiaoman looked at Yu Wanru teasingly. “So eager to start calling you that?”

Yu Wanru shyly refrained from mentioning that Xiao Anlan had started calling her that ten days ago, or she’d definitely get teased by Xiaoman more.

Su Xiaoman opened the door.

Xiao Anlan glanced into the room and, not seeing Yu Wanru, asked Su Xiaoman, “Miss Su, where is Wanru?”

Su Xiaoman stepped aside and pulled Yu Wanru out from behind her. “She’s right here.”

Xiao Anlan couldn’t take his eyes off Yu Wanru, who was wearing the tight-fitting red qipao.

Covering her mouth, Su Xiaoman laughed, “You two go ahead and talk. I’ll leave so I’m not in the way.”

She left, closing the door behind her.

Xiao Anlan stared at Yu Wanru without saying a word.

Feeling hot and embarrassed under his gaze, Yu Wanru said awkwardly, “Shouldn’t we go downstairs now?”

Xiao Anlan stepped closer, standing right in front of her. They were almost touching.

Yu Wanru instinctively tried to step back, but he held her waist, leaving her no room to move.

“Not yet,” Xiao Anlan said. “Wanru, you look stunning like this. What am I supposed to do? I don’t want anyone else to see you now.”

Yu Wanru looked up at him. “But… don’t we have to go offer a toast?”

“Yes, but I need to kiss you first.” As he spoke, he slowly leaned down.

When they exchanged their wedding tokens, he’d wanted to do this, but with everyone watching, he had held back, afraid she’d feel shy.

Before she could understand the connection between toasting and him kissing her, Xiao Anlan sealed her lips with his.

One arm wrapped around her waist, the other held the back of her head as he deepened the kiss.

Initially, Yu Wanru had her eyes open, but she gradually closed them. At some point, her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck. By the time the kiss ended, she was practically hanging onto him.

Xiao Anlan’s breathing was heavy, his warm breath brushing her ear.

With one arm around her, he sat on the sofa, effectively making her sit on his lap.

She quickly tried to get up, feeling awkward, but he held her tight, his voice low and hoarse, “Stay still, darling.”

Obediently, Yu Wanru stopped moving, her face red as she softly asked, “What’s wrong?”

Xiao Anlan smiled ambiguously. “Nothing… I’ll tell you tonight.”

Yu Wanru said, “Shouldn’t we be going downstairs?”

Xiao Anlan replied, “Let’s wait a little. I can’t get up right now.”

“Aren’t I too heavy? Let me down.”

Xiao Anlan chuckled, “Just let me hold you for a bit, okay? Don’t move.”

Hearing this, Yu Wanru blushed deeply, resting quietly in his arms.

After about ten minutes, Xiao Anlan finally put her down, stood up, and smoothed his suit. “Let’s go.”

Yu Wanru nodded, linking her arm with his as he gestured.

The banquet in the ballroom had already started. When Madam Xiao saw them arriving late, she beckoned them over. “What took you so long? Go give your uncle a toast.”

The Xiao family was wealthy and well-connected. Nearly everyone of status in Liucheng was in that ballroom. Additionally, many of Xiao Anlan’s maternal relatives, led by his uncle Huo Junting, were present.

Following Xiao Anlan’s lead, Yu Wanru, guided by Madam Xiao, went around to offer toasts to the elders.

The red envelopes piled up on a tray, and correspondingly, her glass kept getting emptier, her cheeks redder.

Initially, Xiao Anlan, worried about her low alcohol tolerance, had given her a light drink and instructed her to only take small sips. But despite this, after making the rounds, she’d drunk quite a bit.

Before long, soft, graceful music began playing in the ballroom.

Xiao Anlan led Yu Wanru onto the dance floor first, and once they’d finished the opening dance, the other guests paired up and joined in.

With her low tolerance, Yu Wanru grew even dizzier as Xiao Anlan spun her around the floor.

After the song, noticing her state, Xiao Anlan went to his mother, asking to take Yu Wanru back to the Xiao family home.

The wedding had nearly concluded, and the remaining guests could be entertained by the rest of the Xiao family. Madam Xiao called a driver and two servants to accompany the newlyweds back home.

Xiao Anlan then took Yu Wanru to bid farewell to her family.

Master and Madam Yu watched their daughter and son-in-law leave, feeling complicated. After that day, their daughter would belong to someone else’s family.

….

Back at the Xiao home, Xiao Anlan carried Yu Wanru out of the car and up to the third floor.

She only furrowed her brows slightly, obediently leaning against his chest.

Xiao Anlan asked her, “Does your head hurt?”

Yu Wanru shook her head. “No, just a bit dizzy and sleepy.”

Xiao Anlan kissed her flushed cheek. “My love, you can’t sleep just yet.”

Blushing, Yu Wanru murmured, “Can’t you call me by my name? Why do you always use these strange terms of endearment?”

He carried her into the room and set her on the sofa. “What’s strange? Aren’t you my wife and my love?”

Shyly, Yu Wanru looked down, unsure how to respond.

Xiao Anlan added, “How about I help you bathe?”

Yu Wanru quickly replied, “I can do it myself.”

He didn’t insist, knowing he’d get to see what he wanted soon enough.

He led her to the bathroom, showing her how to use everything and pointing out where the robe and soap were.

Yu Wanru gently pushed him out. “I know; please leave now.”

Xiao Anlan gave her a quick kiss. “I’ll wait outside.”

Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt nervous.

She knew what was expected on a wedding night—her mother had even given her a book to explain it.

Just thinking about being fully unclothed with Xiao Anlan made her feel too shy to even lift her head.

She finished her bath without exploring the bathroom’s unfamiliar amenities, wrapping herself tightly in the robe before slowly stepping out.

The room was softly lit, making her feel slightly more at ease.

Xiao Anlan was sitting on the sofa, having showered and changed into a robe himself.

Hearing her, he turned and patted the spot next to him. “Come, sit here.”

With red lips pressed together, Yu Wanru walked over hesitantly.

Halfway there, Xiao Anlan suddenly stood, strode over, and lifted her in his arms.

Startled, Yu Wanru quickly wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

He carried her a few steps and laid her down on the bed.

“But… weren’t we supposed to sit on the sofa?”

Xiao Anlan chuckled. Usually, his hair was neatly combed back, but now, fresh from his bath, his hair was loose, making him look almost like a different person.

“Well, that was the plan. But now, I can’t wait anymore.”

Yu Wanru’s heart pounded as she lowered her gaze, too shy to meet his eyes.

He stroked her cheek and softly asked, “Do you know what’s going to happen next?”

Yu Wanru nodded honestly. “I know, I read a book about it.”

Xiao Anlan almost laughed at her serious response. Playing along, he asked, “What kind of book? Did you learn anything?”

Wanru spoke quietly, “It’s one my mother gave me. There were… a lot of pictures in it.”

“Oh?” Xiao Anlan leaned down, placing soft kisses on her cheeks and lips, asking, “What kind of pictures? Tell me.”

Trying to endure her embarrassment under his kisses, her face flushed as she whispered, “It showed… two people holding each other…”

“Did you look carefully? How were they holding each other?” Xiao Anlan’s hand slowly moved downward, loosening the tie of Wanru’s bathrobe.

“J-Just holding like that.” Wanru’s voice was almost inaudible. Truthfully, she hadn’t looked closely; her eyes had averted the moment she saw the unclothed figures. It was her first time avoiding a book on purpose.

“Were they wearing clothes?”

“…No…”

“Isn’t it similar to how we are now?” Xiao Anlan untied her robe, revealing her fair skin.

Wanru instinctively tried to shield herself.

Xiao Anlan gently but firmly removed her hands. “Darling, you still haven’t answered me. Weren’t they just like us, with nothing on, holding each other?”

Wanru’s eyes filled with embarrassment, tearing up slightly. “You already know, so why ask?”

Xiao Anlan chuckled, throwing off his own robe, and slowly leaned over her, saying, “You’re adorable.”