Chapter 76

The night before the wedding, Jiang Yueru visited the wedding home once again, checking to make sure no detail had been overlooked.

The house had become lively that evening. A few of her nephews had started a card game, their intensity nearly rivaling a fight, with loud laughter and playful insults filling the air.

The group was so rowdy they could probably tear the roof off. It’s a miracle that her three brothers’ hearts had held up until now.

“Aunt, come join us for a few rounds!”

Jiang Xiao Wu, her eldest brother’s son, called out enthusiastically.

“I still want to live a few more years,” she teased, shaking her head.

Xiao Wu laughed heartily and promised, “I swear I won’t make you mad!”

She’d heard that promise too many times—her ears were about to grow calluses from it.

Jiang Yueru smiled, grabbing a bowl of fruit to wash before heading to find her son.

Jiang Sixun was in his bedroom, on the phone. The noise in the living room was unbearable, but closing the door made the space a little quieter.

He spoke softly into the phone, “I’ll pick you up early tomorrow.”

“How early?”

“At dawn, is that okay?”

“It gets light by 5 AM in summer,” Xu Zhiyi replied.

Jiang Sixun chuckled, “I can’t pick you up at five, though—Xu Keheng wouldn’t even open the door for me.”

Xu Zhiyi didn’t feel the usual sense of loss at not getting married. She’d still be living at home, and things would stay the same—her parents’ company and the occasional playful scuffle with her brother, Xu Keheng.

It had been two days since she last saw Jiang Sixun. Now, she could hardly wait to see him again.

Jiang Sixun glanced at his watch. In ten minutes, he would be leaving for the hotel wedding venue, so he wrapped up the call, “Get some rest. I’ll be there when you wake up.”

“I won’t be able to sleep tonight,” Xu Zhiyi murmured.

The two bridesmaids had no intention of sleeping, chatting until dawn.

Jiang Yueru knocked on the door, just as her son had finished his call.

When things got busy, the important details were sometimes the first to be forgotten. She reminded him, “Have you packed the suit, the shirt, and the tie for tomorrow?”

“Oh, and the cufflinks?”

“Already packed.”

Since she had never experienced a big wedding herself, she couldn’t offer him much advice.

“As for the guests, your father and I will take care of them. You don’t need to worry about it.” That was the only help she could offer, and the only thing Lu Jianbo could do as well.

Having worked in business for over thirty years, both she and Lu Jianbo knew the clients and partners her son would be dealing with well.

Jiang Sixun gently hugged his mother, “Mom, you’ve worked hard these past few days.”

Jiang Yueru smiled softly, “I haven’t really done much.”

Jiang Sixun then asked her, “Have you tried on the dress? How does it look?”

She smiled warmly, “Very satisfied. Your mother-in-law said it looks great too.”

Jiang Sixun’s thoughts turned to Xu Zhiyi, feeling a wave of anticipation.

Tomorrow morning, she would wear traditional Chinese wedding attire. She hadn’t forgotten to have custom-made Qipao dresses for herself and He Yi’an, embroidered with golden and silver threads. The elaborate gowns had been meticulously crafted from August of last year until the end of May this year, taking a full nine months to complete.

Xu Zhiyi’s wedding dress was Su embroidery, while He Yi’an’s was Chao embroidery.

She had never worn a traditional Qipao before, but somehow, the special occasion of her son’s wedding had made her part of it.

Jiang Sixun was preparing to head to the hotel when he asked his mother if she wanted to stay a little longer or go back to her own place.

“I’m fine either way. I’ll stay here and keep an eye on Xiao Wu and the others,” Jiang Yueru replied.

She was used to being alone in peace, but these two days were special. With her son’s wedding, she wanted to be part of the excitement and chaos.

“Where are you going?” she asked. “You’re not secretly meeting Zhiyi, are you?”

Jiang Sixun chuckled, “No. I’m going to the hotel to check the banquet hall arrangements.” There were twice as many flowers as there were on the day of the proposal, and he wanted to see it with his own eyes before he could relax.

The hotel for tomorrow’s wedding was located along the riverbank. Lu Jianbo, one of the hotel’s global shareholders, was a close family friend. With the bride being the daughter of the richest man, and the entire event being filled with prominent figures, the hotel was pulling out all the stops to ensure everything went perfectly.

Upstairs, the banquet hall was buzzing with activity as florists arranged the freshly airlifted flowers. The setup was more challenging than expected, and Jiang Sixun was particular about the final look he wanted.

This afternoon, Zhou Mingqian had arrived in Shanghai and was now sitting in the hotel lobby, chatting casually with Shang Yun and Qi Zhengchen. Only Zhou Mingqian was sipping a cocktail, while the other two had ordered warm water.

“Shang Yun, you’re the best man. You can’t drink too much, or you’ll ruin things. Why aren’t you drinking either?” Zhou Mingqian glanced at Qi Zhengchen.

“If I drink, people will just say I’m drowning my sorrows,” Qi Zhengchen replied, sighing.

Most of the guests who had checked into the hotel over the past few days were attending the wedding tomorrow, and at least half of them were part of the same social circle. The rumors of his past with Xu Zhiyi had spread, and he wanted to avoid any unnecessary talk.

Shang Yun teased, “You could drink plain water and still get drunk.” With a playful grin, he raised his glass of water, “Tell the truth—how do you really feel right now?”

Qi Zhengchen flashed a half-smile, “Whatever you feel, I feel.”

“He’s feeling great,” Zhou Mingqian chimed in with a chuckle.

Shang Yun nearly choked on his water and coughed.

Just as they were chatting, the man of the hour arrived.

At the bar, there were empty glasses, and Qi Zhengchen grabbed a teapot and poured a cup of water. As Jiang Sixun approached, he handed the cup over to him without a word.

Jiang Sixun took the glass, and they clinked cups silently.

The sound of the transparent glass ringing out was clear and crisp. He drank the water as if it were wine, downing it in one gulp.

All the things he had let go of, the things he hadn’t completely put behind him, the ones he could now face with calm acceptance, and those that almost slipped his mind but still lingered—everything was in that glass.

In that glass of water.

After setting the cup down, Qi Zhengchen pulled out his wallet.

“Wait a moment. Let me give you the red envelope in advance.”

Jiang Sixun shook his head. “No rush, I’ll give it to you tomorrow.”

“Mine’s a little different from everyone else’s.” Qi Zhengchen said, pulling out a card from his wallet. Seven years ago, in early June, when he had seen Xu Zhiyi off at the airport, this was the card he had given her.

“It’s a card for family ties in the cycle of life. Zhiyi knows the password.”

He remembered that day vividly, when she had bought him a cup of coffee, the taste still lingering in his mind.

Jiang Sixun took the card. “Thank you.”

He then turned to Shang Yun, who was nearby. “Tomorrow, try to talk less. If you don’t have to say anything, don’t.”

Shang Yun chuckled. “Don’t worry. I won’t say a word. My older brother will do the talking for me.”

“…”

Zhou Mingqian nudged a chair toward him with his foot, gesturing for Jiang Sixun to sit.

“You go ahead. I’ll head upstairs to check on the arrangements,” Jiang Sixun said.

“There’s a professional team handling everything. What can you really help with?” Zhou Mingqian shrugged.

He couldn’t really help, but he still wanted to see it for himself.

In the hotel’s grandest banquet hall, everything was running smoothly and according to plan.

Jiang Sixun didn’t go inside to interrupt; instead, he stood at the entrance, staring at the ceiling. Just like the theme of the proposal, the flowers gave an air of ultimate romance.

Tomorrow’s wedding was something he had created especially for her, a day that belonged to just the two of them. The grand and luxurious wedding on Hong Kong Island was one his grandfather had planned for the Lu family’s reputation, meant for a thousand guests.

No one ever expected…

Grandfather, at the age of ninety-one, was personally overseeing every detail of the grand Hong Kong wedding—from the guest list to the wedding menu, nothing was left to chance.

Uncle Zhuang said that Grandfather had been working late every night, full of energy. He even personally called old friends, making sure the wedding procession for his grandson was flawless. The cars they had assembled weren’t just luxury vehicles—they were from the most influential families in town.

Xu Zhiyi had been most interested in the cars, a small surprise for her at the wedding.

Grandfather was so involved in his grandson’s wedding because, more than thirty years ago, his own wedding had ended in tragedy, leaving a lifetime of unfinished business.

By the time Jiang Sixun returned to the wedding suite, it was nearly midnight, and traffic was still backed up in the busy district.

He rested his chin on the window, staring out at the crowd. Suddenly, he thought of something she had said—“In summer, the sun rises at five.”

He couldn’t help but smile to himself.

[Are you asleep yet?] He texted her.

Xu Zhiyi: [I’m asleep. Goodnight.]

How could she be asleep now?

His brain was buzzing with excitement. Every time he closed his eyes, he couldn’t help but imagine the chaos of tomorrow’s wedding— the bustling sounds, the laughter, and the cheers that would fill the air.

The two bridesmaids, meeting for the first time, clicked instantly. They didn’t want to go back to their own rooms to sleep, so they spread out blankets on the floor in Xu Zhiyi’s room. They lay there, heads propped on pillows, whispering secrets, and giggling so hard at times they had to bury their faces in the pillows to stifle the laughter.

Xu Zhiyi got up from the bed, wrapping herself in a jacket.

Shang Qin, hearing her, turned around, “Where are you going? If you’re looking for something, I can help you.”

Though Xu Zhiyi had only spent a little over a day with Shang Qin, the younger girl’s friendly and outgoing nature made them as if they had known each other for years. They were already chatting as if they’d been friends forever.

“You two talk. I’m just going to check in with my parents for a bit.”

Tomorrow was her wedding day. Xu XiangYi’and He Yi’an naturally couldn’t sleep. Xu Keheng, too, wasn’t feeling tired. The three of them were downstairs in the living room, casually chatting.

The house was decorated with xi characters, a red carpet stretched from the front door all the way to the third floor. There were also beautiful red flower arrangements celebrating love and unity, crafted by the florist who had worked through the night.

Inside and outside the villa, every corner was alive with joyous energy.

“Mom.”

He Yi’an turned to her with a gentle look. “You can’t sleep, right?”

“Mm. It’s okay, I took a nap this afternoon.”

Xu Zhiyi squeezed between her parents, resting her head on He Yi’an’s shoulder as she looked at Xu Keheng, who was casually munching on sunflower seeds. “And you, how come you’re not asleep?”

“I woke up already.” Xu Keheng said nonchalantly.

Xu Zhiyi smirked. “I know you can’t bear to leave me.”

Xu Keheng, unfazed, teased back, “Are you upset because I didn’t hit you, or because I didn’t tattletale on you?”

Xu Zhiyi grinned without a hint of embarrassment. “I can’t bear to leave you either. Without me, your life would be dull and colorless.”

Xu Keheng chuckled, “I’m afraid of light. You’re blinding me with your brilliance.”

Xu Zhiyi burst out laughing, resting her face sideways against He Yi’an’s shoulder.

“Dad, he’s bullying me.”

Xu Xiangyi handed his daughter a handful of sunflower seeds. “I’ll deal with him the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow, we still need him to help with the work.”

Xu Keheng, with a resigned sigh, muttered under his breath.

Xu Xiangyi asked, “When’s Sixun coming tomorrow?”

Xu Keheng, who had just finished shelling the seeds, replied, “He wants to come at 6, but I didn’t allow it. It should be 8 at the earliest. If he comes too early, Zhiyi won’t even have time to do her makeup.”

Xu Xiangyi nodded. “Tomorrow, you’ll mostly help entertain our guests. If you can’t manage, then call Sheng He and Baichuan to help out.”

“I’ve already talked to them.”

Nearby, mother and daughter were also whispering.

“Mom, were you nervous when you got married?”

He Yi’an smiled softly. “I was nervous. I hardly slept for two hours, then I ended up chatting with Aunt Jiang the whole time.”

As dawn broke, the house was still wrapped in a quiet, soft glow.

Xu Zhiyi’s bridesmaid was Jiang Yueru, and the best man was Lu Jianbo.

Thirty-four or thirty-five years had passed, yet the tides of time had swept by, leaving nothing but memories.

Suddenly, He Yi’an’s arm was poked gently. She turned to see her husband handing her the sunflower seeds he had carefully shelled.

She smiled and held out her palm to accept them.

Xu Keheng had also shelled a small dish, setting it on the coffee table in front of his mother and sister.

Xu Xiangyi suddenly remembered something and decided to take it up with his son. “Did you mess with the red wine in my cabinet? I had been saving it for your sister’s homecoming.”

Xu Keheng responded calmly, “I guessed you were saving it for the homecoming, so Sixun and I had it a bit early.”

“… Xu Xiangyi shook his head in mock frustration, unable to argue.

He Yi’an laughed, adding, “It’s hard to guard against thieves in your own home.”

For once, Xu Zhiyi didn’t take the opportunity to poke fun at her father.

Xu Xiangyi glanced over and saw his daughter, who had unknowingly fallen asleep, resting against her mother.

He Yi’an gently shifted Xu Zhiyi’s head to make her more comfortable.

Xu Xiangyi knew that if he carried her upstairs, she would wake up, so he simply placed a pillow across the top of the sofa. “Let her sleep here for now.”

He Yi’an carefully laid Xu Zhiyi down and covered her with a blanket.

Xu Xiangyi had no intention of sleeping. “I’ll stay up and watch over her.”

Xu Keheng spoke softly to his parents, “Go back to bed. I’m not tired, and I’ll be checking my phone either way.”

Truthfully, there was no need to stay awake in the living room. He just wanted his daughter to wake up and see that her family was still around.

At five a.m., the housekeeper and maids were already up and moving.

There was no alarm clock, but the kitchen was already humming with activity, and Xu Zhiyi suddenly blinked her eyes open, staring at the French crystal chandelier above her for a while before reality came rushing back.

She had actually fallen asleep in her mother’s arms last night. When she turned her head, she found her brother asleep on the opposite couch.

Her parents were already up—or rather, they had never slept. They had been busy in the kitchen, preparing breakfast for her since the night before.

Weddings were exhausting, leaving barely any time for the bride to eat. Xu Xiangyi had worried about his daughter going hungry and had already prepared a full breakfast schedule and taken it upon himself to cook.

By 5:30 a.m., Xu Zhiyi had finished washing up and started her makeup.

Her mother’s personal stylist was a regular, and she had long since perfected the most flattering style for Xu Zhiyi.

Shang Shaojie had brought her own makeup team, and they also handled the makeup for Yu Zijia. Both were supporting roles, so they kept their looks simple and elegant.

“Zhiyi, during the door-blocking part later, do you have any plans to test the groom?”

Xu Zhiyi shook her head, “No.”

She burst into laughter after finishing her sentence.

Jiang Sixun knew her too well—there was no need for any tests or challenges.

“When I go on business trips, it’s always Jiang Sixun who packs my bags. He remembers my measurements better than I do. The songs I love, the food I crave, he’s always paying attention. And in the areas of investment I’m passionate about, he’s been nothing but supportive. I honestly can’t think of anything left to test him on.”

Shang Qian raised an eyebrow mischievously, “Well, I guess I’ll have to make things difficult for my second brother then.”

Xu Zhiyi sighed in exasperation, “…Really, a true little sister.”

Meanwhile, two kilometers away at the wedding house, Jiang Sixun had already changed into his attire. His mother had quickly styled his hair, giving him a noble and refined look.

No need for any extra embellishments—his natural good looks shone through, and in this moment, his physical advantages were undeniable.

Jiang Yueru adjusted the Windsor knot on her son’s tie with a gentle touch. She smiled proudly as she said, “The only thing I don’t regret about your father is his looks—he had a unique charm, and luckily, it all got passed down to you.”

Her son’s aura and inherent elegance were unmistakably his father’s.

She pulled him into a tight embrace. “May you and Zhiyi be happy together.”

Jiang Sixun chuckled, “Mom, you’re making it seem like you’re marrying me off.”

For once, Jiang Yueru smiled warmly before quickly switching to her usual stern expression. “You little rascal!”

The atmosphere in the living room was livelier than New Year’s Eve. The Jiang family had gathered, with Lu Jianbo bringing his family along as well. The brothers-in-law from the Jiang family were especially polite to Lu Sanbo, the eldest of the Lu family.

Thanks to Lu Sanbo’s family, Lu Jianbo was spared from sitting on a cold bench this time. He hadn’t slept all night, reflecting on the past and thinking about the small home he would soon have with his rebellious son.

He had gotten up at 4:30 a.m. to change into an old suit.

This suit had been bought by Jiang Yueru, and she probably didn’t even remember it anymore.

As the time approached, Jiang Baichuan asked, “Where’s the best man?”

Jiang Sixun replied, “He’s downstairs in the car.”

“I’m in charge of keeping an eye on Shang Wen, right?”

“And me.” Jiang Xiaowu chimed in.

They were a pair, and no matter how capable Shang Wen was, he wouldn’t be able to escape the watchful eyes of the Jiang family.

Jiang Chengyu and Jiang Shenghe were responsible for properly entertaining Shang Yun.

Lu Sanbo, puzzled, asked, “Why are you all so focused on the best man?”

Jiang Baichuan grinned and said, “Because of love.”

“Hahaha!”

The atmosphere in the house was always lively, with Jiang Xiaomi never missing a chance to add to the fun.

Lu Sanbo was so flustered he was nearly puffing out his cheeks, pointing a finger at Jiang Baichuan, “I’ll deal with you when we get home!”