Chapter 42.1

Two days before the wedding.

The Lin and Lu families flew to the island where the wedding would take place.

Years ago, the Lin family had built a resort on this island, featuring 30 luxury villas spread across scenic locations, complete with a golf course, spa, and all kinds of water activities.

For two weeks, from the start to the end of the wedding festivities, the resort was opened free of charge to the guests.

The news of the Lin-Lu family union was officially announced, sparking widespread discussion.

One family stood as a giant in the luxury hotel industry, while the other dominated the home furnishings market. The powerful alliance generated significant buzz.

Guests who had arrived early began posting photos online. Although they avoided revealing the wedding setup, observant netizens were quick to deduce key details from glimpses in the backgrounds.

Masses of vibrant Ecuadorian roses, grown at altitudes over 3,000 meters, adorned the island. The lush blooms were striking and extravagant, their cost no object here.

A castle in the background exuded a serene grandeur, reminiscent of 18th- or 19th-century aristocratic manors.

The resort’s arrangements were meticulous and thoughtful. Guests received lavish welcome gifts upon arrival, including handwritten notes. Each villa was equipped with a personal butler who remained at their service until departure.

Meals, activities, and entertainment were all curated, ensuring there wasn’t a dull moment. From balls to cocktail parties, the event was a spectacle of opulence.

Some estimated that the wedding cost tens of millions—a conservative figure.

The exclusive guest list consisted of the wealthy and influential, who were no strangers to extravagance. Yet even they marveled at the effort and sincerity behind this wedding, sharing their experiences enthusiastically on social media.

Online comments were sharp and humorous:
[Confirmed, I’m just an NPC in this world. Hey, universe, how are you planning to pay me back for this injustice?]
[Fighting you rich folks—why couldn’t I get invited? Would adding one more guest have killed you?]
[Someone on my feed posted pictures. It’s like a princess-level experience. My envy is through the roof!]
[This wedding isn’t just about throwing money around; you can feel the genuine care. I’m dying to see what the bride and groom look like!]
[Both families are pretty low-key. Let’s see if the couple shows up at this wedding.]
[How could you forget me, dear young master and miss?]

Yu Yin showed Lu Yi these amusing comments.

Lu Yi had been busy these past few days, trying on makeup looks, coordinating schedules, and meeting countless relatives and friends. She was so overwhelmed that she had to rely on Yu Yin and other friends to help ensure no detail was missed.

Lin Jinshen was equally preoccupied. Wedding preparations were tedious, leaving the couple with only brief moments together during meals before they were pulled away by other matters. Their shared looks of mutual understanding said it all.

The night before the wedding, the bride and groom were required to sleep in separate rooms.

Mrs. Xu and Mrs. Qin visited Lu Yi’s room—partly to check if anything was missing and partly because they were too excited to resist chatting on the eve of the big day.

Lu Yi had just finished a spa treatment. Her skin, radiant and soft as mutton-fat jade, glowed. Draped in a bathrobe and seated languidly, she appeared calm on the surface, though her tightly clasped hands betrayed her nerves.

This time felt different from the day they registered their marriage. Tomorrow, in front of friends and family, they would formally declare their union to the world.

Mrs. Qin brought out a small jewelry box containing three glass-quality jade bangles. Taking out one, she slipped it onto Lu Yi’s slender wrist.

“These were given to me by Jinshen’s grandmother on my wedding day,” she said.

“After being passed down for so long, I finally get to hand them to you.”

The jade bangle rested on Lu Yi’s wrist, complementing her fair skin beautifully.

“Thank you, Mom,” Lu Yi said softly.

Each of the three bangles was more exquisite than the last, their translucent sheen carrying the weight of time.

Mrs. Xu reminded Lu Yi to get some rest, as tomorrow would be hectic from the moment she opened her eyes. Holding her mother’s hand, Lu Yi said, “Mom, can you stay with me tonight?”

“How old are you? Do you still need your mother to sleep with you? People will laugh if they hear this.” Mrs. Xu clasped her daughter’s hand tightly, reluctant to let go.

Lu Yi smiled. “Were you this nervous when you married Dad?”

“Your dad should’ve been the nervous one, marrying me.” Mrs. Xu stroked her hair gently. “It feels like just yesterday that your dad and I got married, and now you’re all grown up and getting married too.”

Lu Yi smiled warmly.

“Alright, enough sentimentality—it gets annoying,” Mrs. Xu said with a sniffle before leaving the room.

Outside, Mr. Lu was waiting. He silently extended his hand, and Mrs. Xu took it as they walked down the villa steps. Overhead, a full moon hung brightly in the sky.

Perhaps this was the best arrangement.

Lu Yi curled up on the balcony sofa, having eaten little to avoid bloating the next day. She sipped a glass of red wine, hoping it would help her sleep. The gentle night breeze played with her long hair as she gazed at the moon in quiet reflection.

But the wine seemed to have no effect. Accustomed to sleeping beside Lin Jinshen, she found it hard to rest alone.

Her thoughts drifted to the night he got drunk, insisting on teaching her billiards and golf, then coming home to cuddle the cat, Puff. That night, he clung to her, calling her “wife” in his sleep, almost like a needy puppy. The next morning, his usually stern face cracked with embarrassment, and she could tell he wanted to disappear.

After showering, he still hadn’t recovered from the previous night’s humiliation.

Feigning seriousness, she teased, “Do you need me to find a hole for you to crawl into?”

Lin Jinshen, looking composed, squeezed out two words through gritted teeth: “No need.”

She couldn’t hold back her laughter as his brow furrowed deeper. Eventually, he flipped over, pressing her beneath him and wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her closer. His breath, fresh from brushing, lingered near her ear.

The consequence of mocking him without restraint was facing a vengeful Lin Jinshen, who was quick to settle scores on the spot with no hesitation.

Lu Yi paid a hefty price for it.

…

Lu Yi rested her chin in her hand, chuckling softly into the night.

Her phone vibrated, signaling an incoming call. After a moment of hesitation, she swiped to answer.

“Are you asleep?” came the deep male voice on the other end.

Lu Yi hummed, deliberately stretching out her tone to feign drowsiness. “Do you need something?”

Lin Jinshen saw through her act immediately. “Stop pretending.”

He knew her sleepy voice better than anyone else.

“…”

Boring!

Lu Yi reverted to her usual tone. “Oh, then what does Mr. Lin want to discuss?”

“Do you have to wake up early tomorrow for makeup? What do you want for breakfast—American coffee or latte?” His voice was serious, as if the choice of coffee would determine the success of their wedding day.

“I’m not picky about breakfast; bread will do,” Lu Yi replied cooperatively. “As for coffee, American. It helps reduce puffiness. Anything else?”

Lin Jinshen continued with a few similarly trivial questions.

Lu Yi knew they were just indulging each other, going back and forth with meaningless exchanges.

As the conversation dragged on, she started yawning from exhaustion. Heading back to her room, she didn’t hang up. Closing her eyes, she listened to his voice—low, magnetic, as though he were speaking directly into her ear.

Hugging her blanket, her consciousness blurred, and she fell asleep before she could say she was tired.

When Lin Jinshen didn’t hear a response, he paused for two seconds to confirm she was asleep.

He stayed silent, switched to speaker mode, and turned up the volume. Her soft, rhythmic breathing came through the line.

A faint smile tugged at his lips. Sleep was the furthest thing from his mind. Placing his phone on the pillow beside him, he lay down straight, closed his eyes, and imagined that Lu Yi was right next to him.

—

Yu Yin, after her alarm blared three times, finally got out of bed. She sent messages in the group chat to wake everyone else before freshening up and heading to Lu Yi’s room with her handheld camera.

Lu Yi had woken even earlier. A team of makeup artists was already at work, applying her makeup in front of a vanity mirror.

Breakfast had been delivered, including the iced Americano Lu Yi had requested, along with some items prepared for the bridesmaids.

Yu Yin, holding up her camera, narrated to the lens, “It’s still before dawn, but our bride is already up getting her makeup done. What a trooper.”

“Let’s have a greeting from the bride!”

Lu Yi glanced up at the camera through the mirror and smiled faintly. “Why are you up so early? You could’ve slept in a bit longer.”

“It’s not early anymore. Everyone will be coming over soon. You’d be bored alone,” Yu Yin replied, zooming in on her eyes. The lens captured the brilliance in them, as if they held a galaxy—dazzling and beautiful.

Two hours later, the makeup was complete. Lu Yi changed into her traditional wedding attire, her hair styled in an elegant bun adorned with pearl tassels swaying gently. Holding a pearl fan, her complexion was radiant, her demeanor poised and refined.

She looked stunning beyond words.

“Is it too late to add difficulty to the groom’s challenges?” Yu Yin joked while admiring her through the camera. “The tasks we designed seem way too easy for Lin Jinshen.”

Of course, she was kidding. The planned games went ahead as scheduled when Lin Jinshen arrived for the bride-fetching ceremony.

Yu Yin led the bridesmaids and friends to the staircase. The first challenge involved nibbling designs into slices of toast. Ji Changming, who had seen similar games before, grinned awkwardly and explained, “Basically, we have to carve out ‘LOVE’ using four slices. Easy. I’ll take the hardest one—the ‘E.’”

“Wrong. Forget ‘LOVE’; that’s too basic. Carve out ‘Lu Yi and Lin Jinshen,’ with a heart,” Yu Yin teased.

Gu Yu snickered. “And that’s not basic? Listen to yourself—could it get any cheesier?”

Yu Yin smirked. “Don’t feel like doing it? Fine, we can skip it.”

“Who said I wouldn’t?” Ji Changming accepted the toast with mock bravado. After some thought, he traced the letters first before biting along the marks. He couldn’t help laughing at himself. “Why do I feel like a squirrel?”

Gu Yu handed over his slice. “If you’re so good at it, you can handle mine too.”

Yu Zeheng did the same.

“…?”

Ji Changming protested, “Are we even friends? Whether the groom gets to the bride or not depends on us!”

“Keep going. You’re almost done with the ‘Lu’ character,” someone encouraged.

Ji Changming managed to carve out “Lu,” though it looked rough. When it came to “Shen,” he visibly deflated. Too many strokes. His gaze at Lin Jinshen carried a hint of grievance.

For a moment, he thought “Lin Yi” would’ve been a simpler name.

…

Finally, the group cobbled together the couple’s names in crooked, uneven characters.

Yu Yin nodded. “Alright, you’ve passed.”

The groomsmen navigated the remaining challenges and finally opened the bride’s door. At that moment, everyone stepped aside, letting Lin Jinshen enter first.

Lu Yi, with her pearl fan covering half her face, raised her lashes to meet his gaze. He was dressed in a traditional red suit embroidered with subtle gold patterns along the shoulders and collar. His tall, elegant figure exuded a scholarly charm.