The wedding banquet was held at Luyuan Villa, nestled halfway up the mountain and sprawling over a thousand acres. Though it was midsummer and sweltering at the foot of the mountain, the air grew pleasantly cool as one ascended.
The serene and picturesque garden was bisected by an asphalt road bustling with an endless stream of luxury cars. The red-and-white main building was partially obscured by towering trees, and the lively chatter of guests shattered the villa’s usual tranquility, filling it with rare exuberance.
"Congratulations, Young Master He."
He Siyu stood in the banquet hall, greeting guests in a crisp black suit paired with a white dress shirt—a formal and restrained outfit that he wore with disciplined precision, every detail immaculate.
He curved his lips. "Thank you."
"Wow, Young Master He, you clean up pretty well!" Gu Xingchen’s boisterous voice rang out behind him.
He Siyu turned. The Gu family had just arrived. Mrs. Gu and Mr. Gu shot their son a glare before politely exchanging greetings with He Siyu and then heading off to pay respects to Old Madam He.
Ji Yan glanced around. "I’m going to find Sang Ning."
With that, she hurried toward the dressing room.
Gu Xingchen watched her leave before sidling up to He Siyu again, grinning. "Your wedding’s gone way too smoothly—I’m still trying to process it."
He Siyu shot him a cold look. "Don’t jinx it."
Meng Lai and Zhong Shu arrived just then, laughing. "Gu Xingchen, are you asking for a beating? Watch out, he might drag you to the boxing gym tomorrow."
Gu Xingchen smirked, unfazed. "He’s newly married—he won’t have time for me."
The group burst into laughter.
He Siyu’s expression softened with amusement. He instinctively reached to loosen the suffocating tie around his neck but stopped himself mid-motion, lowering his hand.
His tone was lazy. "I am newly married, so I won’t have time—unlike you."
Married in name only.
Gu Xingchen’s smile froze.
Meng Lai glanced around and suddenly asked, "Where’s Second Pei? Did he really not come back?"
"No, I already saw the Pei family—his parents and his sister’s family are all here. He must’ve been too busy to make it," Zhong Shu said.
"Seriously? What could be more important than He Siyu’s wedding? What’s his deal?" Meng Lai muttered.
Gu Xingchen glanced at He Siyu, who calmly sipped his wine, unbothered.
Gu Xingchen shrugged. "Probably avoiding the arranged marriage pressure. His family’s been on his case since he tried to call off his engagement. He’s probably just dodging the drama."
"Still, he should’ve come. We’ve been friends for years."
Gu Xingchen smirked at He Siyu. "I doubt Young Master He minds."
He Siyu slid a hand into his pocket, tone indifferent. "Why would I?"
Unless it were Pei Songhan and Nan Sangning’s wedding, Gu Xingchen thought.
He laughed. "Young Master He, ever the magnanimous one!"
He Siyu’s gaze drifted toward the dressing room, his lips curving slightly.
---
Inside the dressing room, Sang Ning sat before the vanity, already clad in her wedding gown—an elegant, understated satin dress with a sweetheart neckline. The bodice featured subtle draping, hugging her slender waist before flaring into a full skirt. Devoid of excessive embellishments, the soft ivory satin made her look like a delicate cream cake.
The stylist was arranging her hair as she sat quietly, her reflection serene.
"Holy—Ning, you’re stunning!" Ji Yan’s voice exploded into the room.
Sang Ning met her friend’s awestruck gaze in the mirror and smiled. "You’re here."
"Oh my god, how do you make such a simple dress look this good?!"
Sang Ning tugged her down to sit beside her. "Mu Chuan put a lot of thought into it. It fits perfectly."
The stylist chuckled. "Miss Nan, don’t be modest. Mu Chuan said this dress would only work on someone like you."
Ji Yan nodded emphatically. "Exactly! No one else could pull this off. He Siyu must’ve saved the galaxy in a past life."
Sang Ning laughed softly. "It’s not that dramatic."
Ji Yan’s adoration always required a grain of salt.
"I’m serious! I just saw He Siyu outside—he hasn’t stopped grinning."
Sang Ning studied her reflection, a fleeting sense of unreality washing over her. A year ago, she’d been at home, her parents preparing her dowry and wedding.
Now, she was here—married, stepping into a future entirely of her own choosing.
Her lips lifted. "I’m happy too."
---
Soon, guests took their seats as the ceremony began.
The dressing room door swung open. Sang Ning looked up, meeting He Siyu’s gaze in the mirror.
Clad in her wedding dress, she sat radiant and composed, a gentle smile playing on her lips.
His breath hitched. His grip on the door handle tightened.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
He swallowed before stepping forward, eyes locked on her reflection. "It’s time."
He extended his hand. She placed hers in his palm, and he closed his fingers around hers, holding tight.
---
The Nan and He families occupied the front tables. Old Master Nan sat rigid with tension, determined not to embarrass the family.
Today’s guest list included every elite in Jing City—this was no occasion for missteps.
Nan Zhenming and Wen Meiling barely dared to breathe. Though they should’ve been basking in pride, the knowledge that Nan Sangning now held the family’s reins left them stifled, their glory bittersweet.
Chen Zheng slipped into his seat beside Nan Siya.
She glared. "Where were you?"
"Taking a call."
"Whose call?! Zhan Yijun’s?!"
Chen Zheng’s jaw tightened. "It was work. Can you not bring her up? The Zhans are here—you know that, right?"
Today was the He family’s event, so of course the Zhans had come. While the Nan and He families occupied the front, the Zhans were seated far behind. For once, Nan Siya felt a flicker of triumph.
She sneered. "So you did sneak off to see her."
Chen Zheng’s patience frayed. "Nan Siya, enough. We’re done."
"Show me your phone!"
He forced down his anger and handed it over.
She scoured his call logs, then his messages.
"That’s it for Zhan Yijun? No recent texts? You deleted them, didn’t you?!" Her voice was venomous.
"Nan Siya!" Chen Zheng hissed, barely containing himself. "Are you finished?"
Her eyes turned icy, her smile twisting. "What, am I being unreasonable now? Thinking of divorcing me?"
Chen Zheng's face paled further, his expression flickering with panic. "That's not what I meant..."
Nan Siya's smile grew eerier. "Then what did you mean?"
Stiffly, he reached out and grasped her hand. "Siya, you know I never considered divorce. You’re in my heart."
Nan Siya raised her hand, gently caressing his face. "I know, Zheng-gege. You love me. You can’t bear to lose me."
A chill ran down Chen Zheng’s spine, his skin prickling with goosebumps. He couldn’t bring himself to meet her gaze.
This lunatic!
Forcing a strained smile, he muttered, "Of course."
Nan Siya’s sweet eyes gleamed with something unsettling. "In this lifetime, we’ll always be together."
—
"Now, let us welcome the newlyweds!"
The soft notes of a piano melody filled the air as the grand doors swung open on either side.
