Today, only close relatives from both families came, making up a total of five tables.
The table where Xu Yanxia sat was full of unmarried young people.
Fulfilling her duties as a host, she introduced the relatives at the table to Lu Jingming.
"This is my aunt's daughter, my cousin;"
"These two are the younger sister and brother from my father's cousin's family."
"These two are my sister-in-law's paternal younger cousin and brother, and also her maternal older cousin and younger brother."
...
Young people are naturally enthusiastic. After Xu Yanxia finished the introductions, they all took the initiative to chat with Lu Jingming.
"I've only seen CEO Lu online before, and today I actually get to see him in person! You are even more handsome in real life!"
"CEO Lu, you don't look very much like your sister, but both of you are very good-looking!!!"
"I am a fan of your sister, a very loyal one!!!"
"President Lu, to be honest, my favorite company right now is your Lu Corporation! You must work hard to beat those foreign enterprises!!!"
...
"Thank you for the compliment!"
"I will tell her, she will definitely be very happy."
"We will definitely work hard!!!"
CEO Lu also very amiably thanked everyone one by one.
Then Xu Yanxia's little cousin asked her, "Sister Xiaxia, can we take a group photo?"
"Sure,"
Xu Yanxia smiled and looked at Lu Jingming.
She saw him also gladly nod, "Of course."
"That's great!"
Everyone clapped happily.
Yuan Xiaoyue simply took out a selfie stick from her bag and said, "Let's take a big group photo."
"Okay, okay!"
Everyone immediately gathered around, making peace signs at the camera.
After the group photo was taken, the engagement ceremony on the stage began.
The host first went on stage to express gratitude to the arriving guests. Then, today's couple-to-be entered the venue.
Xu Zhanpeng wore a crisp black suit with a tie, looking mature and handsome.
Luo Jiajia wore a long-sleeved red cheongsam with a slanted collar, making her look elegant and gentle.
After the two stood still, they bowed together, and a round of applause immediately erupted from the audience.
Yuan Xiaoyue cheered together with a group of younger brothers and sisters, "Handsome man and beautiful woman!"
"Off the charts good looks!!!"
"A match made in heaven!"
...
They said it so much that Luo Jiajia and Xu Zhanpeng became embarrassed, continuously nodding and bowing to them to express their gratitude.
When the applause died down, the two briefly shared their dating experience, and then it was time to sign the betrothal document.
As the host read their betrothal document on stage, Lu Jingming whispered to Xu Yanxia, "This is the first time I've seen this ceremony."
Xu Yanxia also whispered to introduce it to him, "It's actually a ceremony left over from ancient times. Our place is more traditional. Nowadays, most areas don't pay much attention to it."
Just like how many places nowadays even skip the engagement ceremony.
But she heard Lu Jingming tell her again, "I still prefer something more traditional, it has a sense of ceremony."
Mhm.
Xu Yanxia was about to nod when she heard him ask, "What about you?"
She said, "I'm fine with anything."
Lu Jingming frowned, "So undemanding? Marriage is a very important matter."
"How is it undemanding?"
Xu Yanxia told him, "The most important things in marriage are love, understanding, tolerance, and loyalty. How the ceremony goes is just a superficial decoration. The most important thing is for the two people to work together and live a good life."
Just like her grandparents, just like his parents.
She saw Lu Jingming nod and say, "Makes sense. I've noted it all down."
Xu Yanxia, "..."
So he was trying to get information out of her.
But then she saw him smile again and say, "A ceremony is an explanation to our relatives, and also to each other. What should be there must still be there. Besides, people only have it once in their lifetime. Wouldn't it be better to make it unforgettable?"
That also made sense.
Xu Yanxia nodded.
Once in a lifetime, unforgettable, it was indeed very good.
Turning her gaze back to the stage, she saw the host finish reading the betrothal document. After her brother and sister-in-law pressed their fingerprints, it was time for the tea ceremony to formally address the parents.
Papa Luo, Mama Luo, and her grandparents went on stage one after another.
Her brother and sister-in-law led each other to call out grandparents and parents once.
The elders of both sides also gave red envelopes and sent their blessings.
Next, it was time for the big group photo session of the engagement ceremony.
Following the host's invitation, everyone happily began to go on stage.
Xu Yanxia also stood up from her seat, took two steps, looked back at Lu Jingming who was still sitting, and asked him, "Do you want to come?"
Lu Jingming looked flattered and said, "Can I?"
Xu Yanxia smiled and said, "Come if you want to, why wouldn't you be able to."
"Yeah!"
Yuan Xiaoyue, who was walking in front of them, also turned back to greet him, "Come on up, Brother Lu!"
—After the lively conversation just now, the younger brothers and sisters at the table had already changed the way they addressed him to Brother Lu.
Seeing Luo Jiajia and Xu Zhanpeng also sincerely inviting him from the stage, "Come on, President Lu, let's take a group photo together."
"Alright."
Lu Jingming gladly stood up and said, "Then I won't be polite."
After saying that, he followed Xu Yanxia onto the stage and stood beside her to take the photo.
...
After the lively photo session, everyone returned to their seats, and the engagement banquet officially began.
Xu Yanxia suddenly saw Lu Jingming step aside to answer a phone call.
When he returned, his expression seemed a bit serious.
She thought he had business to attend to and would have to leave later, so she asked, "Is there something at work? Do you need to go back?"
"No,"
He smiled again and said, "Just a private matter, nothing important."
Xu Yanxia nodded and didn't think much more about it.
During the ceremony just now, candies, pastries, melon seeds, and other snacks were placed on the table. At this time, the waiters came forward one after another to remove them and began to serve cold dishes.
As everyone knows, the National Day holiday is always a peak period for weddings and engagements.
Just in this hotel today, there were three families holding ceremonies. Probably because there weren't enough waiters, the hotel hired some college students part-time, and they all looked quite young.
While the dishes were being served, Xu Yanxia subconsciously glanced around and suddenly saw a familiar figure walking towards their table.
Although that person was also wearing the hotel's white uniform and a mask on his face, that walking posture and figure...
It shouldn't be anyone else.
Her nerves immediately tensed up—
She had been careless. She thought this person would probably appear on her way here or on her way home. She didn't expect him to actually enter the hotel directly?
She quickly thought of a countermeasure in her mind, but that person had already lifted the thermos in his hand to pour water for them.
At the moment the thermos was opened, a pungent and strong sour smell rushed to her nose.
