The toast dress was the same full-skirted silhouette. Once she had changed, the makeup artist removed Yan Yunning’s veil and set to work restyling her hair and refreshing her makeup.

Xuan Yanyu took the opportunity to sit beside her, feeding her small bites of cake and fruit.

“Are you tired?” The man’s voice was warm with a smile, and the look he turned on Yan Yunning was full of doting.

The young woman’s beautiful eyes were closed as she cooperated with the makeup artist re-drawing her eyeliner. She chewed the piece of strawberry in her mouth and answered lazily, “Not particularly.”

After toasting both sides of the room, the formalities would be done.

Xuan Yanyu fed Yan Yunning another small piece of cake. “Do you want to rest your eyes for a bit?”

“No need. I’m not tired, and the guests have probably nearly finished eating by now — they’re waiting for the toasts to wrap up so they can head home, aren’t they.”

“Alright.” Seeing the makeup artist begin to pack up her kit, Xuan Yanyu set down the small tray in his hands, accepted the paper napkin Ye Jian handed him and wiped his fingers clean, then took Yan Yunning’s hand and walked with her back to the main hall.

“Xiao Xuan, Madam, someone has sent flowers — the recipient is the Madam.” Ye Chen came forward carrying a lush, vividly beautiful bouquet of red roses and presented it to Xuan Yanyu and Yan Yunning.

Xuan Yanyu looked at the bouquet and narrowed his eyes slightly. The flowers were glaringly vivid — and so was the pure gold crown resting among them.

Yan Yunning took the card from the bouquet and opened it: [Miss Yan, congratulations on your marriage!]

[The crown is my wedding gift to you. If you don’t like it, feel free to toss it.]

Two simple sentences. Yan Yunning was almost certain this was from Wen Zhilu.

“Yan Yunning, when you get married, I’ll definitely have a crown made just for you.”

“Why?”

“Tsk — don’t all princesses wear crowns? In my eyes, you barely qualify as a princess.”

“Oh, please.”

“Yan Yunning, if the day ever comes that you marry someone else, I’m going to be very unhappy.”

“So then what?”

“So then what? From that day on, we’d be strangers — Miss Yan!”

“But why?”

No matter how she had pressed him back then, Wen Zhilu had never answered. But now she knew what that answer was.

“Wife.” Xuan Yanyu said, a slight edge of sourness in his voice. “That crown isn’t even as pretty as the one I gave you. If you keep staring at it any longer, it’ll take me at least half an hour to get over it.”

Yan Yunning let out a laugh. She set down the card, gestured for Ye Chen to take the bouquet away, and gave the arm of the quietly sulking certain someone a shake. “Alright, alright — I’m not looking anymore.”

Xuan Yanyu pulled Yan Yunning into his arms and let out a low huff. “That bouquet isn’t even nice to look at either, is it.”

“You’re right, you’re right — I think the ones you buy are the prettiest.”

“Wife.” The man flicked his tongue lightly over his lips, his handsome face lifting into a slight smile. “I somehow have the feeling you’re trying to placate me. A touch perfunctory.”

“Haha~” Yan Yunning let out a giggle. “I think you might be right.”

Xuan Yanyu gave a soft laugh, curled his arm around her waist and drew her to him, one corner of his mouth tilting up. “Wife, you think I’m right?”

“Baby, business first — a lot of people are watching us.” Yan Yunning said quietly.

They were standing in the main hall, and had naturally become the center of attention.

“Be good.” Seeing that Xuan Yanyu showed no sign of relenting, Yan Yunning said helplessly, “The ones you buy are the prettiest — sincerely.”

The man’s lips curved. “I think so too.”

Yan Yunning: “……”

Three hours later, the toasts were done, and there was nothing of particular importance left to handle.

Not wanting to exhaust Yan Yunning, Xuan Yanyu had Ye Jian escort her back to the bridal chamber. Seeing the guests off, coordinating the final wrap-up — he could handle all of that on his own.

——

That evening, Xuan Yanyu refused to let Mu Heng and the others disturb Yan Yunning’s rest in the bridal chamber.

Xie Yan felt this was a rare opportunity that, once missed, would never come again. A dozen or so of them murmured among themselves at the banquet table for a while, then decided to go and give Xuan Yanyu himself a hard time instead.

Xuan Yanyu had just come down from upstairs when he was surrounded in the main hall by Xie Yan and the others, who had been lying in wait.

“Can’t bother the sister-in-law, but Brother Yu — you’re fair game, aren’t you?” Mu Heng grinned with obvious mischief.

Xuan Yanyu lifted an eyelid, his lazy voice carrying a hint of amusement. “You’re not married yet. Leave yourself some room.”

Mu Heng raised a brow — he understood. The implication was: if he made too much trouble tonight, when his own wedding came, don’t expect Brother Yu to return the favour.

Xie Yan piped up with a grin, “I’m married.”

“My brother and I are both married, in fact.” Jiang Zhibai added helpfully.

Xuan Yanyu: “……”

Upstairs, Yan Yunning had finished her bath, removed her makeup, applied a custom hydrating sheet mask, and fifteen minutes later was seated at her vanity patting in her serum and moisturizer.

Hearing her phone ring, she pressed the hands-free button and answered.

“Ningning!!!”

“I’m here.” Yan Yunning took her eye cream and tapped it in circles around her eye area.

“Your husband put ten thousand in every single red envelope!!!”

“Nobody in our circle has ever been this generous to the bridesmaids. I received six envelopes — and on top of that, the bridesmaid gift set, the complete jewellery and accessories, the luxury gifts. Do you have any idea how many people are envious of me right now.”

He Qingxia’s stunned voice reached Yan Yunning’s ears.

“Oh? How do you mean?” Yan Yunning opened her face cream and smoothed it over her delicate features.

“I posted it on my video channel.”

Yan Yunning smiled lightly, pressed her freshly applied lip balm together, and said, “You all worked hard today — you deserved it.”

“Ningning, the skincare set and the jewellery are from your and your husband’s brand — a new launch under the Xuan Group.”

The hand holding Yan Yunning’s eye massager paused slightly. “You mean ‘Yan Yu’?”

“Yes, ‘Yan Yu’ — not ‘Yan Yu’ written differently. I just think it’s wonderful that your name comes before Xuan Yanyu’s in it.”

Yan Yunning laughed softly. She squeezed the stretch mark cream and body oil and began applying them to her softly rounded, smooth, flawless belly and long legs. “What’s so special about that.”

Every time it was Xuan Yanyu who applied it for her. Tonight he was probably still busy, so she might as well do it herself.

“I just think it’s different.” Something seemed to come to He Qingxia’s mind, and she continued, “What’s going on with Wen Zhilu? Gu Xiaoye said he saw him leave right after the ceremony was over — didn’t even stay for the meal.”

“Gu Xiaoye said Wen Zhilu didn’t eat at your wedding banquet. I can’t figure it out — you two are so close, and he wouldn’t even have a single bite. Gu Xiaoye said he had a flight to catch. I don’t know why he had to go abroad today of all days.”

“If he were a girl, he’d definitely have been one of your bridesmaids!”

Yan Yunning gave a quiet smile. “It’s fine — Zhilu has things he needs to take care of.”

He Qingxia couldn’t understand. “What could possibly be more important than your wedding?”

Yan Yunning looked at herself in the mirror and tucked her long hair behind her shoulders. “Xiaoxia, my wedding is enormously important to me — but it’s not important to Zhilu.”

“Fair enough.” He Qingxia suddenly raised her voice. “I’m not interrupting your wedding night, am I?”

Yan Yunning laughed, her eyes curving happily. “You’re not — don’t worry~”

“Bye bye bye bye bye, I absolutely cannot interrupt the wedding night.” Without waiting for Yan Yunning to reply, He Qingxia hastily hung up.

Chime.

Chime.

Chime.

“……”

Seeing several consecutive voice messages from Xuan Yanyu, Yan Yunning’s eyebrows lifted slightly. She tapped to play:

[Meow~]

Yan Yunning: “!!!”