Tang Hong’en and Liu Yong’s awkwardness couldn’t be expressed to outsiders.

Liu Zitao, who initially stood in their camp, had already switched sides. Although the wedding wasn’t extravagant, it was warm and lively. Liu Zitao, the elementary school student, was immersed in the festivities, unconcerned about how his father and uncle-in-law felt, grinning like a fool:

“Sister Xiaolan looks so beautiful today!”

This was indeed true.

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t wearing a wedding dress, just a red coat, and her makeup wasn’t heavy.

But beauty is beauty, and the happiness in her smile was genuine.

Whatever way others had their weddings, Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng went through all the traditional procedures. Kowtowing, serving tea, receiving red envelopes, toasting at each table – they didn’t skip anything. Zhou Cheng would definitely host another reception at his work unit, but today only Pan Bohua and Jiang Yan were present from there.

Jiang Yan didn’t cause any trouble at Zhou Cheng and Xia Xiaolan’s wedding, normally toasting the newlyweds like everyone else.

After toasting guests at each table, Zhou Cheng was quite tipsy.

He had two good brothers helping him with the drinks – Shao Guangrong and Kang Wei. They insisted on taking most of the pressure off Zhou Cheng, saying it would be terrible if Brother Cheng couldn’t even consummate the marriage tonight!

Even so, Zhou Cheng still drank quite a bit.

Everyone at the wedding banquet was quite drunk.

Liu Fen had been happy throughout, but she still cried at the end.

Tang Hong’en held her hand and consoled her: “Let it go, married is married, and I’m here watching over them, aren’t I? If Zhou Cheng ever dares to mistreat Xiaolan, I’ll break his legs!”

They couldn’t stop the marriage anyway – they’d already gotten their marriage certificate, so what was there left to say?

Marriage is just like that – a man and a woman come together, and gradually, both families become intertwined.

The relationship between husband and wife should be the closest.

Parents will age, children will grow up, and only your partner will always be there… well if nothing unexpected happens along the way!

…

The festivities dispersed, but the afterglow remained.

At 10 PM, Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng finally saw off the last guest.

Shao Guangrong still wanted to play wedding night pranks, but Third Brother Pan grabbed him by the collar and dragged him away like a chicken.

Who cared if the courtyard was clean or not? As long as Zhou Cheng and Xia Xiaolan themselves were clean after their showers.

The courtyard had been renovated by Liu Yong, naturally including a modern bathroom, making winter showers very convenient. For newlyweds who had never been intimate, taking a shower together was out of the question. Xia Xiaolan showered first, then Zhou Cheng came out after.

Water droplets still clung to his short hair, dripping onto his arms, strong arms, sliding down further… ahem, blocked by his pajama pants. Xia Xiaolan averted her eyes.

Looking too long made her mouth dry.

Was she really this eager?

It must be because she drank a bit too much at the wedding.

Xia Xiaolan could smell the faint scent of alcohol on herself, even after the shower.

Zhou Cheng had it too, of course.

“Wife.”

Zhou Cheng sat beside her, bringing another wave of alcohol scent.

“Wife, why aren’t you looking at me?”

Zhou Cheng turned Xia Xiaolan’s face toward him, his eyes particularly bright. And particularly hot.

Four years ago, when she was being chased by thugs, running toward an alley, she crashed right into Zhou Cheng. When she looked up, she thought Zhou Cheng was too handsome and didn’t look much like a good person.

Why was that?

Because when their gazes met, Zhou Cheng’s look was so predatory.

Just like now.

Xia Xiaolan felt like Zhou Cheng wanted to devour her in one bite.

He was like a beast that had been hungry for a long time.

Wanting to tear her apart, not wasting a single drop of blood or piece of flesh, swallowing it all.

How had Zhou Cheng endured it?

Several times, she couldn’t hold back, but Zhou Cheng insisted on waiting until marriage before being intimate.

“Wife.”

“Yes!”

One called foolishly, and the other answered just as foolishly.

Here there was no Captain Zhou, no shrewd Miss Xia, just a pair of newlyweds who had dated for four years and finally obtained their marriage certificate.

Marriage was something Xia Xiaolan hadn’t experienced in either of her two lives, so she wasn’t any more experienced than Zhou Cheng, right?

Newlywed couple taking their first steps.

From gazing at each other, to carefully, reverently, and excitedly sharing their first kiss.

Lips and teeth meeting.

Setting fires down.

When undoing her underwear, Zhou Cheng was already sweating profusely.

His hands could handle guns, could hit moving targets a hundred meters away, but now they were constantly trembling, to the point where he couldn’t handle a thin piece of underwear.

Finally, things proceeded smoothly, with Xia Xiaolan’s cooperation.

At first, it was Zhou Cheng undressing his wife, but later it became both of them undressing each other.

At the most sacred moment, Zhou Cheng paused to kiss Xia Xiaolan’s eyes.

He was excited but also concerned.

He’d heard a woman’s first time always hurts.

“Wife…”

Zhou Cheng’s voice was hoarse.

His forehead was covered in large beads of sweat, he was enduring with great difficulty, afraid of hurting Xia Xiaolan.

Xia Xiaolan could feel him.

All of him.

Then she actively embraced Zhou Cheng, and receiving her response, how could Zhou Cheng still hold back? The two became entangled together, neither wanting to separate or let go.

Their first time together – while sacred, it couldn’t be called particularly pleasurable.

Marriage needs adjustment, and this kind of thing… one gradually learns to appreciate its wonder, newlyweds are still in the exploration phase.

Anyway, for the first time, as a virgin who had held back for several years, it was a bit short.

Xia Xiaolan didn’t dare laugh at him, afraid of hurting his pride.

Zhou Cheng quickly regrouped, coming back for a second time, even a third time.

By the third time, Xia Xiaolan was completely defeated.

Her long hair spread across the pillow, and her whole body flushed red, in the intervals between movements she couldn’t help but sigh: those years of training weren’t wasted, Zhou Cheng’s stamina was too good!

To the point that later, she felt like her whole body had melted into water.

She couldn’t move a single finger.

In a daze, she felt Zhou Cheng carry her to shower, kiss her forehead, say something about collecting some interest tonight, letting her off easy, and such.

Hmph!

Who’s letting who off?

Once she recovers her energy, then…

Then what?

She fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.

Zhou Cheng held his wife, greedily watching her, and watching and watching until he too entered dreamland.

The next day, Xia Xiaolan’s biological clock was disrupted.

For all these years, she had maintained the habit of waking up after six in the morning, but on the second day of marriage, she slept until after ten. How did this night feel? Besides being tired, it was hot. Zhou Cheng had firmly held her with his arm the whole time, was he afraid she’d run away in the middle of the night?

She couldn’t run away.

Her and Zhou Cheng’s marriage certificate was right there in the bedside table drawer.

The first thing she saw upon opening her eyes was Zhou Cheng’s surprise kiss.

Xia Xiaolan returned his kiss:

“Good morning, Mr. Zhou.”

“Good morning, Mrs. Zhou.”

— Well then, please guide me through the rest of our lives, my Mr. Zhou.