Everyone present was equally astonished.
Yan Xingzhi has always been perceived as a fierce character in their eyes. Except for those who had been with him for a long time, most others didn’t know that he had such a gentle side, let alone that he would display it to a young girl.
When Yan Xingzhi took Cen Ning’s hand, she instinctively tried to pull her hand away, but he held onto it firmly. “What’s wrong?”
Cen Ning felt a bit embarrassed. “Could you, uh, let go of my hand? People are watching.”
The wedding venue was brightly lit, and a faint blue light shimmered in Yan Xingzhi’s eyes as a thin smile graced his lips. “We’re not on a military base now. Can’t I hold your hand?”
Cen Ning glanced up at him. “Aren’t you afraid of damaging your image?”
“What damage?” Yan Xingzhi continued walking with her toward their seats. “Even if my image gets damaged, would they dare to step onto my nose and face?” (TLN: dare to step onto my nose and face phrase is used to convey the idea of someone being audacious or overstepping their boundaries)
Cen Ning huffed, “Yeah, who would dare to step onto your nose and face?”
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Zyd Dkdtgbk pyv esod, yde wdela vbl vyczl, bl piwllgle bla byde tldvzu. “Jwv usw eyal.”
Uld Lkdt: “…”
Gqvla y obkzl, vbl oleekdt sqqknkyzzu cltyd. Mbl tassx ldvlale, qszzsole cu vbl qyvbla zlyekdt vbl cakel yp vblu oyzjle kd pzsozu.
Uld Lkdt pyv sd vbl pkel, oyvnbkdt okvb talyv kdvlalpv.
“Rq usw’al bwdtau, byhl psxl pdynjp,” Zyd Dkdtgbk sqqlale bla y rypvau.
Uld Lkdt nypwyzzu ytalle, bla tygl pvkzz qkmle sd vbl dlozuolep sd vbl pvytl. Zyd Dkdtgbk nbwnjzle, “Rp kv vbyv kdvlalpvkdt?”
Ekvbswv vwadkdt bla blye, Uld Lkdt alrzkle, “Psd’v usw qkde kv vswnbkdt?”
Wszzsokdt bla zkdl sq pktbv, Zyd Dkdtgbk tzydnle yv vbl pvytl yde pyke, “Nys Nkw qkdyzzu tsv xyaakle, blyavoyaxkdt.”
Cen Ning: “Why are you talking like an old father?”
Yan Xingzhi calmly took a sip of water. “Watching him come all the way here, hearing him talk about getting married and finding a wife every day, my ears have callouses now.”
“Hahaha, that’s true,” Tang Zheng chimed in, leaning over. “You don’t know, this guy longs to get married.”
After that, Tang Zheng leaned in closer to Cen Ning and whispered, “Brother Yan longs to get married.”
Cen Ning picked at a grape in her hand. “Hmm…”
Tang Zheng: “What? You didn’t notice?”
Cen Ning: “Well… I guess I did.”
Tang Zheng: “Tsk, let me tell you, he’s probably feeling anxious inside right now. It’s just that his pride is getting in the way, so he can’t bring himself to say it. I swear, at this moment, he’s probably feeling like there are eight tentacles scratching his heart watching Lao Six’s wedding.” (TLN: eight tentacles scratching the heart describes feeling extremely distressed or tormented)
“Um, Tang Zheng.”
“Hm?”
Cen Ning: “He’s not in a hurry.”
Tang Zheng: “Why?”
Cen Ning cleared her throat. “We, we’ve already obtained the marriage certificate.”
Tang Zheng: “???”
After the wedding procedures were completed, the bride and groom went down to toast the guests.
Lao Liu had great respect for Yan Xingzhi, so when it was time to toast Yan Xingzhi, he poured a full glass of wine and said, “Brother Yan, I’ll finish this glass, you can just take it easy.”
Yan Xingzhi smiled. “Take it easy.”
Lao Six: “It’s okay for me to take it easy for other people, but for you, it must be serious! Brother Yan, I’m not good with sweet words, but I just hope everything goes smoothly for you, that you’ll be happy and live harmoniously, and that you and Cen Ning will successfully achieve the desired result!”
Tang Zheng, who was shocked by Cen Ning’s news, said indignantly, “This is your wedding. What kind of blessing are you saying, Lao Liu? Also, this guy and Cen Ning have already successfully achieved the desired result. They’ve even obtained the certificate! They just didn’t announce it!”
Lao Six was stunned, “What? Didn’t Cen Ning just come back?”
Tang Zheng replied, “He is in a hurry. As soon as she came back, he rushed with her to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get the certificate.”
“Why didn’t anyone from the political department and the approval department mention it?”
Tang Zheng: “The commanding officer doesn’t publicize such things, who dares to gossip behind his back.”
People nearby were all looking at Yan Xingzhi in shock, but he remained calm, saying, “It did happen suddenly, without a chance to inform everyone. We will invite you all to the wedding party later.”
Lao Liu chuckled, “Impressive speed, Brother Yan!”
The news of Yan Xingzhi and Cen Ning obtaining their marriage certificate quickly spread throughout the wedding banquet.
At Table 05, Bai Hua listened absently as the people around her discussed.
“They got the certificate! It seems like it’s only been a few days! Can you believe how quickly it is! Is our commanding officer that easy to take over?”
“No, no, I just heard Lao Liu saying they’ve known each other for a long time, like childhood sweethearts.”
“Is that true?”
“Yes, it’s true. They’ve known each other since they were teenagers. The girl went abroad for studies and just came back this year.”
“I never would have thought…”
“But they’re a good match. Aside from Cen Ning being beautiful, she’s also a well-known international award-winning photographer at such a young age. It’s only natural that he likes her.”
As the wedding neared its end, guests started to leave, and Cen Ning and Yan Xingzhi also got up and left.
Cen Ning was wearing high heels today for the wedding, but she wasn’t accustomed to wearing them. Additionally, these shoes were new, and after walking for a while, her heels started to hurt.
“What’s wrong?” Yan Xingzhi noticed her discomfort and turned to look at her.
Cen Ning moved to the edge of a flower bed, sat down, and examined her shoes. “These shoes are giving me blisters…”
Yan Xingzhi knelt, bent his knees, and reached for her calf to take a look. “It’s red, and you’ve even got a minor abrasion.”
Cen Ning frowned. “I’ll change them when we get home.”
“By the time we get home, your heels will probably be even worse.” Yan Xingzhi reached for her shoe buckle. “Take them off.”
Cen Ning pulled her foot back slightly. “No, I don’t want to walk out barefoot.”
“In that case, I’ll carry you.”
Cen Ning glanced around. “… No.”
Cen Ning’s subtle expression was enough for Yan Xingzhi to read her thoughts. Knowing that she was shy and didn’t want to be the centre of attention while the guests were still around, he suggested, “How about I carry you and we take the small path to the parking lot?”
Cen Ning asked, “Is there a small path?”
“Yes,” Yan Xingzhi turned around. “Hop on.”
Just as Bai Hua and her friends came out, they happened to witness the scene where Yan Xingzhi squatted down to carry Cen Ning. He lifted her effortlessly and skillfully, devoid of the cold and stern demeanour he had in the military.
Bai Hua pursed her lips, suddenly feeling like she didn’t know the person she thought she understood so well.
“So sweet…” someone nearby exclaimed enviously. “It makes me want to fall in love.”
“Tsk, keep your comments to yourself,” another person gestured for them to look at Bai Hua’s expression.
“Ah… well, Bai Hua, are you okay?”
Bai Hua came back to her senses. “Huh? Of course, I’m fine.”
“Aren’t you feeling a bit down now that your ‘Mr Perfect’ is gone?”
“He wasn’t mine to begin with…” Bai Hua gave a bitter smile. “I just saw him as a goal, nothing more. Why should I feel bad?”
“That’s not entirely true. Without Cen Ning, you might have had a chance.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. How can I compare myself to Cen Ning? She’s a delicate girl and so accomplished… me, so rough.” Bai Hua knocked on that person’s head. “Come on, let’s go. Stop thinking wrong about our superiors so much and be mindful of the situation.”
“Hahaha, what are you talking about? I’m not thinking wrong about our superiors. Don’t drag me into this.”
…
Being outsiders, they would never truly know the experiences and challenges that the two lovers had been through. Others could only see the outcome, not the process. So, in the eyes of those who weren’t familiar with Cen Ning, she appeared exceptionally talented and beautiful, a perfect match for Yan Xingzhi.
However, most people were unaware that she used to be timid and sensitive, often seeing herself and Yan Xingzhi as inhabitants of different worlds. Her current perfection was the result of her relentless efforts to become strong.
He loved her, without expecting any change from her.
Yet, she loved him too, and thus, she hoped to be worthy of standing by his side, free from any gossip.
After leaving the wedding venue, the two of them drove back to their new home.
The car parked in the garage, and Yan Xingzhi retrieved a medical kit from the trunk, taking out antiseptic cotton and adhesive bandages.
“Take off your shoes first. Let’s attend to it a bit.”
“Okay.”
Cen Ning sat in the passenger seat, with the car door open, watching as Yan Xingzhi disinfected and applied the bandages. She was quite leisurely. When he tended to her left foot, she casually propped up her right foot on the seat, lowering her head to observe Yan Xingzhi’s focused demeanour.
At this moment, Yan Xingzhi had taken off his suit jacket. Cen Ning, feeling a bit bored, started to scrutinize his attire. It’s often said that soldiers might be more casual in their daily lives, not as refined as those who haven’t experienced real combat. However, Cen Ning didn’t think Yan Xingzhi was that type of person. After changing out of his military uniform into a suit, he exuded the aura of a sophisticated gentleman.
For instance, the outfit he was wearing seemed to be of high quality and likely custom-made. Upon closer inspection, she noticed the delicate collar stays in his shirt. Looking further down, the cufflinks on his sleeves were subtle yet dignified, clearly not ordinary…
“Done,” Yan Xingzhi raised his gaze.
Cen Ning was momentarily taken aback. “Oh? Right.”
“Lost in thought? What were you thinking?”
Cen Ning took a shallow breath and honestly said, “It’s nothing, I was just thinking that you look handsome in this outfit.”
Yan Xingzhi paused and stood up, “Is that so?”
“Mhm!”
“Are other outfits not good-looking?”
“They are, too. Military uniform, sportswear, casual attire… all look great.”
“What about not wearing anything?”
“That’s… uh—” Cen Ning stuttered. The words she almost blurted out were barely suppressed. Her cheeks turned crimson, and she playfully glared at him.
Yan Xingzhi was tickled by her reaction, chuckling, “Why did you stop?”
Cen Ning glanced away, murmuring under her breath, “What…”
Yan Xingzhi leaned down, propping himself against the car door, so his eyes were level with hers. “Can’t you say something like it’s even more good-looking?”
Cen Ning blushed slightly, reached out, and accurately covered his mouth, “I’m thirsty. I want to go upstairs and get some water!”
Yan Xingzhi raised an eyebrow and stepped back, “Alright, go ahead.”
As he spoke, he turned around to leave.
“Hey!”
Yan Xingzhi turned back. “What?”
“You.. carry me?”
“Didn’t you say no to being carried before?”
“Before, there were people around… now there’s no one.”
Yan Xingzhi chuckled and playfully tapped her forehead. “You only act bold when no one’s around.”
Cen Ning retorted, not backing down, “You’re not exactly the picture of propriety when others are around either.”
“You know how to talk back now, huh?”
Cen Ning suppressed a smile, “So, are you going to carry me or not?”
“Tsk, come on.”
In the end, he had to carry her. Cen Ning watched him squatting in front of her, eagerly pouncing onto his back. But as soon as she got onto his back, her bottom received a light pat, not as crisp due to the clothes cushioning the sound, but still audible.
Cen Ning gasped, “Yan Xingzhi!”
“Don’t be so disrespectful, call me Gege.”
“I won’t!”
“Really?”
“Nope.”
“Alright, you’ll pay for this later.”
“Hey—!”
Thanks for the chap!!!
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