Chapter 46

Yan Wei sat in the aisle, feeling the crowd around him and the air on the bus. He smiled and gently touched Zhou Qiaoqiao’s head, thinking, why is he living the way he is now? Perhaps it’s all for this smile of hers!

Zhou Qiaoqiao brought color to his life and extended his existence.

So, he hoped she could keep smiling like this forever.

Alright, here comes the question. Today, we’re going to get our marriage certificate. If I tell her about my financial situation today, can I gather the marriage certificate and divorce certificate in one day?

Indeed, it’s better to let her discover it on her own!

Today is Monday, just after the three-day weekend, and the Civil Affairs Bureau is quite crowded. Yan Wei took a number from the machine and then took Zhou Qiaoqiao to take a photo.

Nowadays, there is a free photo service provided by the government at the entrance of the registration office. There was already a young couple posing together. There were two more couples in line, as getting married is a joyful occasion, and everyone had smiles on their faces.

Seeing others so happy, Yan Wei couldn’t help but smile as well. He said to Zhou Qiaoqiao, “After we get the certificate, we’ll be legally married.”

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Mbl zyeu zywtble yzsdt, yde vblu vssj vblka plyvp kd qasdv sq vos pxyzz aswde nbykap nshlale kd ale nzsvb. Mblu jdlo qasx vbl cltkddkdt vbyv vblu dllele y rbsvs okvb y ale cynjtaswde, ps Hbsw Ckysikys yde Zyd Elk csvb osal obkvl pbkavp vseyu.

After sitting down, the staff member held up the camera and beckoned, “Get closer, closer.”

Seeing that they still weren’t intimate enough, the person smiled and said, “Did your parents arrange this marriage? Get closer, come on!”

Zhou Qiaoqiao blushed in embarrassment, and Yan Wei chuckled and said, “Quite the opposite.” They were going against their parents’ wishes to get the certificate.

After saying that, he leaned slightly towards Zhou Qiaoqiao and helped her adjust her posture. Then he let go, and Zhou Qiaoqiao leaned slightly in Yan Wei’s direction, with a perfect smile on her face. They received the photo and went back to wait for their number to be called.

Zhou Qiaoqiao was bored and took out her phone to play a game, while Yan Wei wasn’t interested in games. He leaned against Zhou Qiaoqiao and watched her play. Zhou Qiaoqiao was playing a game where dinosaurs blew up balloons and had to eliminate balloons of the same color.

This game tested reflexes and hand speed. At first, Zhou Qiaoqiao could handle it, but gradually, the balloons started coming down faster, and she couldn’t keep up with the speed. The probability of making mistakes also increased.

In the end, the dinosaur was crushed by the balloons, and Zhou Qiaoqiao exclaimed, “Aren’t balloons supposed to fly up into the sky?”

Yan Wei furrowed his brows and said, “What kind of question is that? In reality, three balloons of the same color won’t disappear just by colliding!”

Zhou Qiaoqiao pouted, but then she heard an argument in front of them and looked up. There was a woman crying and shouting into her phone, “Why aren’t you coming? Are we going to get divorced or not?… I’m telling you, I’ve had enough.”

Zhou Qiaoqiao felt sad seeing the woman cry, and she said to Yan Wei, “Will we be like that in the future?”

Yan Wei shook his head and said, “We can’t predict what will happen in the future, no matter how good things may seem now, they can still change later. But if I have to express my thoughts on the future right now, I can say with 100% certainty that we won’t be like that.”

When they got the marriage certificate, they did it with the intention of spending their whole lives together.

Zhou Qiaoqiao saw the woman leave while crying, and she said, “Okay.”

Soon, it was their turn. The staff member handed them two forms expressionlessly, and Zhou Qiaoqiao took a look. It was mainly about filling out personal information, from names, ages, occupations to addresses, everything was covered.

Zhou Qiaoqiao opened her household registration book and looked at her father’s address, slowly starting to fill in the information.

She was incredibly serious with every stroke and stroke. Once this was filled out, she and Yan Wei would truly be family.

From now on, they would rely on each other and support each other. Perhaps they would cuddle on the sofa, perhaps they would argue over the TV remote for a show, and maybe they would even fight over small things.

But… that’s life!

After filling out the forms and submitting the prepared documents, they answered a couple of questions, and soon, they each received a red booklet.

Zhou Qiaoqiao held the booklet and felt a bit surreal. She opened it and saw that it stated the holder’s name, with the newly taken wedding photo attached to the top right corner. Inside, there was information about the holder and the marriage.

Zhou Qiaoqiao touched the marriage certificate and it seemed unreal.

She… was married now? From now on, she was also someone with a family?

Zhou Qiaoqiao turned to Yan Wei and said, “That was fast!” Becoming someone with a legally recognized family, it only took about ten minutes.

Yan Wei patted her head and said, “Let’s go home!”

Zhou Qiaoqiao replied with an “Mmm,” she really liked hearing Yan Wei say this.

Let’s go home!

Every time she heard it, her heart would feel warm.

---

Yan Wei got married, but not many people knew about it.

Yan Wei had moved his household registration a long time ago. He had his own career, and he didn’t want to have too much involvement with the Yan family. So, when he was kicked out from Yuyao, he bought an apartment in the center of Yiwu City and transferred his household registration directly there.

Because of this, the Yan family was still unaware that he got married.

On the first day of receiving their marriage certificate, Yan Wei was excited. He said to Zhou Qiaoqiao, “Let’s celebrate by going to eat something!”

Zhou Qiaoqiao snapped out of her daze and nodded, saying, “Hmm, what should we eat?”

Yan Wei thought for a moment and said, “Let’s go have some French cuisine tonight!”

Zhou Qiaoqiao immediately shook her head and said, “No, I heard French cuisine is particularly expensive.”

Yan Wei replied, “It’s okay! I received a bonus again, so I’ll treat you tonight.”

Zhou Qiaoqiao frowned, “But we can’t spend recklessly! We’re a family now…”

“It’s fine, just this once,” Yan Wei said as he hailed a taxi at the door. The Yiwu City Civil Affairs Bureau was not located on the roadside and was a 15-minute walk from the bus stop. The rent would be cheaper because it was far from the bus stop. Many people didn’t want to walk this distance after getting off the bus, so there were many motorcycle taxis available near the bus stop and the entrance of the Civil Affairs Bureau.

Yan Wei insisted on going for French cuisine tonight, for some reason. Because of this, he and Zhou Qiaoqiao had a simple vegetarian lunch.

In the evening, Yan Wei found a tempting evening dress for Zhou Qiaoqiao. It was a bright red silk fabric that accentuated her figure, making her look stunning. Yan Wei himself wore a custom-made suit that fit him perfectly.

Before leaving, Yan Wei had originally intended to call Mao Liang, but then he remembered that he was currently quite “poor,” so he found a taxi instead.

Zhou Qiaoqiao had never had French cuisine before and was quite curious. She asked Yan Wei, “Is French cuisine delicious?”

Yan Wei thought for a moment but couldn’t recall what French cuisine tasted like.

Seeing Yan Wei’s indescribable expression, Zhou Qiaoqiao couldn’t believe it and asked, “Is it really bad? I heard it’s very expensive.”

The driver in the front seat, in a cheerful manner, said to Zhou Qiaoqiao, “I think our Chinese cuisine is the best.”

Yan Wei could only reply, “French cuisine has Michelin ratings, and the higher the rating, the better.”

The driver clearly disagreed and scoffed, “Can those white pigs’ dishes compare to our Chinese cuisine? Our eight major culinary cuisines, which one of them isn’t amazing? Even if we casually come up with a dish, it would still be very rich.”

Yan Wei smiled and said, “Well, some people evaluate French cuisine that way. The French focus a lot on presentation.”

In the end, Zhou Qiaoqiao still didn’t understand whether it was delicious or not, but she understood that French cuisine had a much higher international status than Chinese cuisine.

The restaurant Yan Wei took Zhou Qiaoqiao to was located by the roadside, so they could get off the taxi and go straight in. The restaurant required advance reservations, and Yan Wei had asked Zhen Guoan to take care of it in the afternoon.

When Yan Wei arrived, a server was waiting at the entrance. Upon seeing Yan Wei, the server greeted him and led the two of them to a corner table by the window.

There were large plants near the table, which made it less noticeable to people outside.

Zhou Qiaoqiao opened the menu and burst into laughter.

Yan Wei looked at her and asked, “What’s so funny?”

Zhou Qiaoqiao said, “I remembered the first time we went to have Western food together. Actually, my English isn’t that bad. But when I looked at the menu, I just couldn’t understand it. So this time, I prepared in advance.”

During the lunch break, Zhou Qiaoqiao searched the internet. She learned quite a few things. She discovered that steaks are cooked to odd levels of doneness, which means there is no “8 out of 10” doneness level.

Zhou Qiaoqiao laughed and said, “When I used to go to that steak chain restaurant with Jia Min, I would always ask the waiter for it to be cooked to ‘8 out of 10.'”

Yan Wei smiled and said, “It’s alright. Maybe that waiter didn’t know either.”

Zhou Qiaoqiao nodded in agreement and continued to share her afternoon findings. “I looked it up, and I heard that French meals consist of three courses: appetizer, main course, and dessert. Before the appetizer, they don’t pour hot water for us, and we can’t use a fork to stab the salad, and so on. Just before we sat down, I was quite confident, but then I realized I couldn’t understand the menu. Hahaha…”

Who would be so happy when they can’t understand the menu?

But Yan Wei didn’t think anything was wrong. Yes, his Qiaoqiao was unique.

Yan Wei held the menu and said, “Let me teach you. As you said, the French meal consists of the three courses: appetizer, main course, and dessert. However, the French really enjoy their meals, so in an authentic French restaurant, they usually start with an aperitif before the appetizer. It’s typically a c*cktail or champagne, similar to how we have hot water before a Chinese meal.”

Zhou Qiaoqiao quickly found the section for aperitifs on the menu. She saw Yan Wei’s slender index finger pointing to a spot on her menu. In his melodious voice, he said, “With the aperitif, there will be some appetizers, usually enjoyed as a prelude to the main course. Salads and hot soups are more common in this section. This part is for the main course…”

Zhou Qiaoqiao watched as Yan Wei circled a section with his finger, and then he pointed to a spot next to the main course and said, “This section is for dessert. After finishing it, you can choose to have a cup of coffee. Of course, just as there is an aperitif, there is also a digestif. The digestif in French cuisine is said to aid in digestion, but in reality, it’s just an excuse to linger a bit longer in the restaurant.”

Zhou Qiaoqiao looked up at Yan Wei. He was describing the details with such seriousness, exuding extraordinary charm.

Yan Wei handed the menu to the server next to him and said, “We’ll go with today’s recommendations: champagne as the aperitif and rum as the digestif.”

Seeing the server politely take the menu without showing any contempt for Zhou Qiaoqiao’s previous self-mockery, but rather admiring her, Zhou Qiaoqiao was initially puzzled. However, she quickly became captivated by Yan Wei’s explanation. When she realized that he had ordered alcohol, Zhou Qiaoqiao came back to her senses and said, “I can’t drink alcohol.”

Yan Wei comforted her, saying, “It’s alright. Champagne tastes good.” In reality, everything he had eaten or drunk in the days without Zhou Qiaoqiao tasted like crap. What’s good? He didn’t know. All he knew was that alcohol… it’s intoxicating.

Zhou Qiaoqiao tilted her head and looked at him, but she didn’t refute.

The champagne and appetizers arrived quickly. The beautiful champagne bubbles rose delicately in the glasses, like works of art. No wonder it became a famous drink among the French aristocracy. Zhou Qiaoqiao picked up the glass, toasted with Yan Wei, and drank it in one gulp.

Yan Wei said, “Qiaoqiao, happy newlywed.”

Zhou Qiaoqiao burst into laughter and said, “Yan Wei, happy newlywed.”

Afterwards, Zhou Qiaoqiao took a shallow sip and tasted the rich and elegant fruity aroma. The flavor was refreshing and delightful. It was a completely different experience from the champagne Liang Jiamin occasionally brought to her rental apartment from the supermarket. So, this was the taste!

“Eat some appetizers,” Yan Wei instructed.

Zhou Qiaoqiao nodded. French cuisine was always exquisite, and it was no wonder they called it the art of presentation.

It looked beautiful, and each portion was small. Finishing one left just enough room for lingering flavors.

Although the portions were small, there were many of them!

Yan Wei had ordered the recommended set menu, which consisted of 11 dishes. They took over two hours to savor their meal.

They celebrated their first day after getting married, a day that belonged to them.

It wasn’t until the dessert arrived that Zhou Qiaoqiao realized the day was coming to an end.

Yan Wei’s ordered digestif arrived soon after. They continued eating until 11 p.m. When Zhou Qiaoqiao got up to leave, Yan Wei supported her.

This time, Zhou Qiaoqiao didn’t cry or make a fuss. She just earnestly let Yan Wei hold her hand as they made their way back together.

---

“Yan Wei, am I drunk?”

Sitting on the couch, Zhou Qiaoqiao stared blankly at the TV and called out to Yan Wei upstairs, asking for her pajamas.

Yan Wei came down with Zhou Qiaoqiao’s pajamas, and he said, “I think you might be drunk.”

Zhou Qiaoqiao refused to believe it and said, “I don’t think I’m drunk.”

Yan Wei sat beside her, comforting her, “You’re definitely better than last time. This time, you managed to call me by my name.”

Zhou Qiaoqiao smiled foolishly and pounced on Yan Wei, hugging him. She said, “We’re married, and you’re my husband. Of course, I know you! I’m so happy, Yan Wei. I want us to buy a house so we can have our own home.”

Yan Wei embraced her, and Zhou Qiaoqiao sat on his lap. She leaned against his shoulder and mumbled, “Yan Wei, did you purposely get me drunk?”

Yan Wei was momentarily taken aback. Zhou Qiaoqiao always had a way of becoming particularly shrewd at certain times. But… he decided to respond, “Yes.”

“Yan Wei, why did you get me drunk?” Zhou Qiaoqiao was already starting to close her eyes, overcome with drowsiness.

Yan Wei caressed her back and whispered, “I wanted us to be closer.”

“How much closer?” Zhou Qiaoqiao asked.

Yan Wei chuckled softly, cupping her face with both hands, and looked into her eyes seriously. “Below zero, Qiaoqiao. Are you willing?”

Although Zhou Qiaoqiao was feeling hazy from drinking, she remembered to nod. In Yan Wei’s big palms, she nodded, and Yan Wei felt an unusually ticklish sensation on his hands. He held her gently and drew closer. His Qiaoqiao was like a ripe grape, exuding an enticing fragrance and luster.

And today, he could finally pluck this fruit proudly…

---

If Zhou Qiaoqiao were to describe the situation, she would simply say, “Black-bellied and ruthless.”

The first time wasn’t as wonderful as expected, and the predominant feeling was pain, although afterward…

“Are you awake?” Yan Wei stood at the staircase and, seeing her awake, approached and sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing her head and asking, “Are you hungry?”

Zhou Qiaoqiao stared at the ceiling and murmured, “Beast!”

Yan Wei chuckled at her comment and lay down beside her, saying, “We’re a legitimate couple, doing legitimate things. How am I a beast?”

Zhou Qiaoqiao: “…”

Yan Wei continued, “I’ve taken another day off for you today, so you can rest at home.”

Since they had to go and register their marriage yesterday, they both took a day off. If it weren’t for Yan Wei’s leave, Zhou Qiaoqiao wouldn’t have had the courage to ask for a day off herself.

Therefore, on the second day of their marriage, they didn’t go anywhere else. They stayed in their small apartment, laughing and enjoying each other’s company.

Yan Wei made congee for breakfast, and he bought the buns Zhou Qiaoqiao liked from the nearby community. Since they both expended a lot of energy last night, it wasn’t just the man who was tired; Zhou Qiaoqiao also felt exhausted. Therefore, Zhou Qiaoqiao enjoyed her breakfast even more.

When Yan Wei saw her relishing her meal, he also savored his.

Of course, even though they were supposed to sleep properly, Yan Wei still took advantage. He completely took charge of cooking and washing the dishes. Zhou Qiaoqiao went to get some fruit and then lay down on the couch. When Yan Wei finished washing the dishes and came out, Zhou Qiaoqiao had already finished eating the fruit and was lying on the couch, feeling drowsy.

Yan Wei laid a thick, plush carpet on the floor near the balcony and closed the translucent gauze curtains. He went upstairs to get pillows and a blanket.

Then, he picked up the half-asleep Zhou Qiaoqiao and placed her on the carpet. They rested their heads on pillows and covered themselves with a thin blanket, enjoying the air conditioning and the faint sunlight seeping through the windows. A peaceful atmosphere enveloped them, and Zhou Qiaoqiao nestled into Yan Wei’s embrace, slowly closing her eyes to sleep.

Yan Wei also lay down, holding her. He casually picked up his phone and started handling the accumulated work from the past few days.

He heard the gentle sound of a woman’s steady breathing in his embrace. Her soft body and the faint scent unique to Zhou Qiaoqiao floated from her head, which was resting against his shoulder. Yan Wei involuntarily held her tighter. When he finished most of his work, Yan Wei yawned and prepared to close his eyes and sleep.

But then he suddenly paused, smiled, leaned down, and kissed Zhou Qiaoqiao’s forehead before closing his eyes and falling asleep.

You see, Qiaoqiao, being together with you has made life so ordinary. After finishing work, I feel tired, sleepy, and ready for bed.

Once upon a time, things I didn’t dare to imagine are now happening as a matter of course. This is heaven’s reward to me.

The two of them cuddled and slept until evening. When Zhou Qiaoqiao opened her eyes, the sun had already set, and the sunlight outside was not as bright as at noon. It had a reddish-yellow hue.

Zhou Qiaoqiao stirred, and Yan Wei woke up. With a hoarse voice, he asked, “Are you awake?”

Zhou Qiaoqiao replied with a muffled “Hmm.” Yan Wei sat up, and Zhou Qiaoqiao remained lying weakly.

Dinner was simple: a bowl of noodles and a sunny-side-up egg for each of them. They had been simmering chicken soup all afternoon, which was delicious and paired perfectly with the noodles.

Zhou Qiaoqiao sat on the living room floor, placing the noodles on the low table. They ate together and laughed together. Then, Zhou Qiaoqiao accompanied Yan Wei to the kitchen to wash the dishes. Yan Wei washed, and Zhou Qiaoqiao put the dishes back in place.

After washing, the kitchen was cleaned and organized. Yan Wei wiped his hands and looked at Zhou Qiaoqiao daydreaming there.

“What are you looking at?” Yan Wei asked her.

Zhou Qiaoqiao said, “Don’t move!” Then she walked barefoot over and stood on Yan Wei’s feet, suddenly bursting into laughter, “Isn’t this scene often seen on TV? I’ve always wanted to try it, hahaha…”

Seeing her happy, Yan Wei’s face also lit up. He let her step on his feet and then carried her out with difficulty.

The two of them continued to play around until 11 PM. Yan Wei took a shower and changed into his pajamas before casually asking Zhou Qiaoqiao, “By the way, after your dad called you yesterday morning, did he not get any response?”

Zhou Qiaoqiao exclaimed, “Oh! I blocked all their numbers!”

Yan Wei: “…”

Zhou Qiaoqiao quickly turned on her phone, and indeed, not long after, a call from Zhou Yingjie came in.

Just as Zhou Qiaoqiao picked up the call, she heard Zhou Yingjie angrily shouting, “You brat, how dare you not answer my calls?”

Zhou Qiaoqiao blinked and said, “I forgot.”

Zhou Yingjie spat out a mouthful of blood and continued to question her, “Did you really register with that kid?”

Zhou Qiaoqiao said, “Yes! Oh! I forgot to return your household registration booklet. I’ll send it to you in the next two days.”

“Where exactly are you living?” Zhou Yingjie asked her.

Zhou Qiaoqiao giggled and said, “Dad, did you go to my previous rental place to wait for me?”

Zhou Yingjie spat out another mouthful of blood. He didn’t just wait, he had waited there the whole night, hoping to catch them. But by 1 AM, they still hadn’t returned, and he didn’t have a car to go back.

At that time, he had no choice but to find a hotel to stay, and it broke an old father’s heart!

Zhou Qiaoqiao continued, “I won’t tell you where I live. Hehe, you won’t find me…”

Zhou Yingjie: “Am I really indebted to you from my past life? I’m telling you, you’ll regret getting married. You’ll regret it. I asked around, and Yan Wei made a big mistake and was kicked out of the Yan family.”

“I know! So he was taken in by me, right? Otherwise, how could someone as good as him end up with your daughter?” Zhou Qiaoqiao felt proud.

Zhou Yingjie: “…” That actually makes sense.

Yan Wei: “…”

---

After spending these two days after the wedding, the two of them returned to their ordinary lives.

Yan Wei wanted to take Zhou Qiaoqiao to have wedding photos taken. They didn’t have plans for a wedding ceremony yet, but seeing their empty home, Yan Wei felt that they should at least have some photos. Zhou Qiaoqiao, on the other hand, didn’t care about these things. She believed that people were more important. However, since Yan Wei wanted to take photos, they decided on an ordinary package.

They scheduled to go choose their outfits on Saturday and take the photos on Sunday.

Zhou Qiaoqiao went to the chosen studio after work, which was a regular chain store on Central Street. It wasn’t well-known, so the prices were relatively lower. However, Yan Wei felt that wedding photos were a once-in-a-lifetime thing and should still be beautiful. As a result, Zhou Qiaoqiao quit the studio she had booked, but the deposit she had paid went down the drain, leaving her extremely frustrated.

Zhou Qiaoqiao felt heartbroken, but Yan Wei was firm. He had booked a studio on Central Street as well. Central Street was a street filled with studios, so seeing new couples there was a common occurrence.

The studio Yan Wei booked was endorsed by celebrities. There was a long-tailed wedding gown displayed at the entrance, stunningly beautiful.

Zhou Qiaoqiao stood with her mouth agape, looking at the wedding gown at the entrance. The model had a perfect hourglass figure, showcasing the beauty of the gown to the fullest. The long train of the dress flowed behind, and the crystals on the gown sparkled brightly.

Yan Wei took Zhou Qiaoqiao inside, where there were many customers. Unlike the ordinary studio Zhou Qiaoqiao had booked before, the atmosphere here was lively. As soon as she entered, all the staff warmly greeted her.

While there were many customers here, each of them had a dedicated consultant. When Yan Wei and Zhou Qiaoqiao entered, the other staff members didn’t swarm around them. Instead, a woman in a small suit stood up from the reception desk and walked over with a courteous and comfortable demeanor.

The woman had exquisite makeup, with all her hair elegantly styled up. In her hand, she held a portfolio and a pen as she asked, “Hello, is this a prearranged appointment?”

Yan Wei had an assistant with him named Tong Geng. He had entrusted this matter entirely to Tong Geng, and Yan Wei had confidence in his abilities.

He nodded and said, “It was prearranged. My surname is Yan.”

The woman glanced at her notebook and her smile became even more sincere. She said, “Mr. Yan, is it? You had an appointment to come and select outfits at 1 PM. Let me take you and your wife to have a look.”

Yan Wei nodded, and Zhou Qiaoqiao, holding his hand, asked, “Aren’t we taking the photos today?”

The woman smiled and said, “We have a wide variety of wedding gowns, so the customers need to select them first. Since Mr. Yan was a bit anxious, we can finish selecting the new outfits today, and tomorrow you can come for the photoshoot.”

Zhou Qiaoqiao nodded, and the woman continued, “My surname is Fang, Fang Jing. You can call me Miss Fang directly. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me anytime!”

Zhou Qiaoqiao continued nodding. She didn’t understand much, so she just listened. The wedding gowns were in a room behind the storefront, with several racks of clothing. Different styles were placed in different areas. The package Yan Wei chose wasn’t too expensive, just an affordable one from this store. They could choose seven outfits and take photos at three scenic spots in Yiwu City.

With Fang Jing leading and explaining, Zhou Qiaoqiao quickly made her selections. There was a set of couple outfits, a playful mini floral dress. There was a European-style outfit, a medieval umbrella-shaped noble gown. There was a traditional Chinese outfit, a typical Chinese elegant qipao. There was a formal gown, a purple-blue queen-style long-tailed skirt. There were two wedding gowns, one was a floor-length white wedding dress, and the other was the main gown, but Zhou Qiaoqiao was a bit hesitant about the main gown.

Zhou Qiaoqiao really liked the one displayed at the store’s entrance, so she didn’t find any of the long-tailed gowns chosen by Fang Jing appealing.

Zhou Qiaoqiao asked Fang Jing, “Can I choose the one displayed at the entrance?”

Fang Jing smiled apologetically and said, “That gown is not available for trying on.”

Yan Wei lazily glanced at Fang Jing from the side as Zhou Qiaoqiao finished selecting her outfits and left. The studio received a phone call from Tong Geng, and a girl sitting at the reception desk called out to Fang Jing, “Jingjie, there was a phone call from that customer just now. He said he wants to speak with you.”

Fang Jing was in the middle of organizing the clothes Zhou Qiaoqiao had chosen and putting them in bags. If the selected clothes were not promptly bagged and another customer chose them, it would be difficult to resolve the timing issue, potentially leading to disputes. Therefore, after helping customers select clothes, as long as the photoshoot was not too far off, they would be bagged in advance to avoid conflicts.

Hearing the girl calling her, Fang Jing put down her work and said to an intern next to her, “Bag the remaining items first and arrange the makeup artist for tomorrow.”

The girl nodded and started packing Zhou Qiaoqiao’s clothes one by one while also checking the makeup artist’s schedule.

Fang Jing returned to the reception desk to answer the phone. She immediately smiled and nodded as she heard Tong Geng’s refined voice saying, “Hello, I am Mr. Yan’s assistant.”

Fang Jing replied, “Hello, I am Fang Jing. Mr. Yan and his wife just left. Is there something I can help you with?”

Tong Geng glanced at the message sent by his boss and asked, “Is there a wedding gown displayed at the entrance of your store?”

Fang Jing’s heart sank; she knew it was about this matter.

She smiled and said, “Yes, but that gown is meant for sale and not for use in wedding photoshoots.” Due to its high cost, if it were only used for photoshoots, they wouldn’t recover the investment. The gown was displayed at the reception desk to attract customers, so it wasn’t intended for photography.

With various customers coming in, they had seen all kinds of behavior. People’s manners could sometimes be unimaginably low. Many of the low-cost wedding gowns in the store were damaged by customers, some even had stains left from wedding disputes that couldn’t be completely removed by dry cleaning. Since these were inexpensive gowns, the 1,000 yuan deposit left by customers was usually sufficient for compensation. The main issue was that some customers didn’t want to pay for the damages and would cause trouble, which was quite troublesome.

Of course, they also had some high-priced rental gowns backstage, but the deposit for those was naturally higher.

As a result, Tong Geng was straightforward, saying, “Hmm, I understand. I want to buy that gown.”

Fang Jing was taken aback. Mr. Yan had chosen an ordinary package, and he had even canceled the wedding gown and makeup services on the day of the wedding. Typically, wedding photoshoot packages included makeup services on the wedding day and free use of wedding gowns.

If Mr. Yan had canceled those services, it was highly likely that they didn’t have any plans for a wedding in the near future. In today’s society, the only reason for postponing a wedding was usually financial constraints. So why would Mr. Yan be willing to spend a large amount of money to purchase an expensive wedding gown?

“Is there any issue?” Tong Geng asked, puzzled by the lack of response.

Fang Jing shook her head and said, “No problem. That gown is priced at 98,888 yuan. If it’s just for a wedding photoshoot, it’s actually not necessary.” Of course, if they were willing to purchase it, she would be very happy. However, certain matters needed to be clarified, as they could lead to worse situations later on.

Tong Geng frowned slightly and said, “It’s okay. If it makes him happy.”

Fang Jing earned a generous commission and naturally felt happy. She also kept in mind the instructions given by Tong Geng.

The next day, when Zhou Qiaoqiao and Yan Wei arrived, Fang Jing approached Zhou Qiaoqiao with a smile and said, “Congratulations, madam! Yesterday, my boss held a customer appreciation event and you were chosen. As a result, the wedding gown displayed at the entrance is being given to you as a gift.”

Zhou Qiaoqiao: “…”

Zhou Qiaoqiao looked dumbfounded, while Fang Jing smiled and asked, “Madam? Is there a problem?”

Zhou Qiaoqiao struggled to find the right words and looked at her, saying, “This explanation feels overused, like it’s straight out of a TV drama. So, I’m wondering, did I really win? Or did this idiot next to me buy it with his money?”

Yan Wei: “…”

Fang Jing maintained her smile but couldn’t find the right words to respond. Even if it was true, couldn’t the miss pretend not to know and accept it happily? How would she make the situation easier for the man next to her?

Yan Wei sighed and patted Zhou Qiaoqiao’s head, rubbing it forcefully, and said, “I bought it with my bonus.”

Zhou Qiaoqiao felt her heart ache for his small bonus. Her voice trembled as she asked Fang Jing, “How much did it cost?”

Yan Wei’s gaze lazily drifted towards Fang Jing, his eyes saying, “Your chance to make it right has come.”

Fang Jing felt blessed in her heart and firmly said, “8,888 yuan.”

Zhou Qiaoqiao breathed a sigh of relief and said, “That’s good, that’s good. If it were 88,888 yuan, it would have been terrible!”

Fang Jing: “…”

Yan Wei continued to smile and gently stroked her head, saying, “That’s nonsense. How could there be a wedding gown that expensive?”

Fang Jing: “…”

Zhou Qiaoqiao also realized that their wedding photoshoot package was only 4,288 yuan, so this store was quite affordable.

After consoling herself, Zhou Qiaoqiao looked at Yan Wei and suddenly felt that he also understood romance. He had given her such a big surprise. She had thought about this gown all night yesterday, and it truly was a pleasant surprise. Zhou Qiaoqiao couldn’t help but smile happily.

Fang Jing first took Zhou Qiaoqiao inside to try on the gown. Although Zhou Qiaoqiao wasn’t described as stunningly beautiful, she still looked good. With her hair neatly pinned up and wearing the white wedding gown, Yan Wei’s eyes narrowed, and a touch of astonishment appeared on his face.

Zhou Qiaoqiao playfully scratched her cheek and asked Yan Wei, “Do I look good?”

Yan Wei stepped forward, embracing her waist. This gown made Zhou Qiaoqiao look even more beautiful. Under Yan Wei’s caress, Zhou Qiaoqiao’s waist tingled, causing her to glare at him.

Yan Wei chuckled softly and whispered in her ear, “Do you feel it?”

Zhou Qiaoqiao’s glare intensified, and Yan Wei turned to Fang Jing and said, “Take her for makeup! I’ll wait outside.”

The bride’s makeup was heavy, and for the sake of the photoshoot, it would take about three hours to complete. They would also need touch-ups before the photoshoot. Zhou Qiaoqiao had arranged for Liang Jiamin to join them, but she hadn’t arrived yet due to some morning matters.

When Zhou Qiaoqiao went inside for makeup, Liang Jiamin arrived. She hurriedly came with a large backpack and naturally greeted Yan Wei, saying, “Yan Wei, where’s Qiaoqiao?”

Yan Wei pointed to the dressing room and said, “She’s getting her makeup done inside.”

Liang Jiamin nodded and went to take a look. Since Zhou Qiaoqiao’s makeup wasn’t finished yet, they couldn’t chat. Therefore, Liang Jiamin quickly came out and sat next to Yan Wei.

“Thank you for your hard work today,” Yan Wei said to Liang Jiamin, who shook her head.

As a friend accompanying the bride for the wedding photoshoot, Liang Jiamin’s main role was to assist with serving tea, carrying luggage, and it was only natural for her to help out.

But both Liang Jiamin and Zhou Qiaoqiao had a four-year friendship in university, and their bond was strong. Liang Jiamin wiped away tears from her mother’s eyes and said sadly, “Qiaoqiao is getting married just like that. I thought you guys were just taking wedding photos, but she told me you two have already registered for marriage…”

Yan Wei handed her a tissue, thinking that she was more like Zhou Qiaoqiao’s parent than her actual parents. After all, Zhou Qiaoqiao’s father didn’t show any reluctance when giving her away.

As a result, Liang Jiamin concluded, “I’m really envious. When will Liang Liang marry me?”

Yan Wei: “…”

Seeing Yan Wei coldly turning his head away and seriously looking at a magazine, Liang Jiamin frowned and asked, “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Yan Wei: “…I don’t know what to say.”

Liang Jiamin sighed and said, “My Liang Liang also doesn’t like to talk.”

Yan Wei: “…”

“Hey, Yan Wei! You have to treat Qiaoqiao well in the future, you know?”

Yan Wei nodded, and Liang Jiamin continued, “Qiaoqiao has gone through a lot. During university, she couldn’t even afford to eat properly, but she has a strong sense of pride and never accepted our help.”

Yan Wei furrowed his brow, and Liang Jiamin laughed, saying, “Look at me, on such a good day today, I shouldn’t be saying these things. But we watched her come this far, so when we see her being able to marry you, we’re also happy for her.”

Yan Wei looked at Zhou Qiaoqiao sitting in front of the dressing table in the room. She had her eyes slightly closed, and the makeup artist, a beautiful woman with long hair, was carefully applying makeup to Zhou Qiaoqiao.

Yan Wei nodded and said, “Don’t worry! I will definitely treat her well. From now on, I will be good to her.”

Liang Jiamin nodded in satisfaction. Yan Wei got up and asked her, “Would you like something to drink?”

Liang Jiamin shook her head and said, “Anything is fine.”

Yan Wei went into the dressing room and asked Zhou Qiaoqiao, “What do you want to drink?”

Zhou Qiaoqiao also replied, “Anything is fine.” Yan Wei’s lips curled up with a hint of amusement, thinking that these two really resembled friends.

Yan Wei brought a bottle of drink for each person, including the makeup artist. He sat back down, and when it was 11 o’clock, Zhou Qiaoqiao’s makeup was finally done. The makeup artist wanted to do Yan Wei’s makeup, but he declined and went to change his clothes. The makeup artist knew that Yan Wei naturally had exceptional features and an imposing presence, so he didn’t need makeup at all.

Zhou Qiaoqiao sat on the sofa wearing the wedding gown she liked, with heavy bridal makeup on her face. Her eyelashes were so long that they cast fan-like shadows.

She heard Yan Wei’s footsteps approaching and turned her head, looking at him with a hint of confusion. The tiara on her head was adorned with fake diamonds. She softly called out, “Yan Wei, are you ready?”

Yan Wei was taken aback, his heart pounding, but he suppressed it. This woman would accompany him for the rest of his life, and he would love and protect her throughout their lives.

“Let’s go!” Yan Wei walked forward and held her hand. Zhou Qiaoqiao looked up at him and smiled.

Yan Wei couldn’t help but think that Zhou Qiaoqiao’s smile was incredibly beautiful. Wearing the wedding gown he had bought for her, with the crystal sparkling on the gown, her smile was even more dazzling.

He felt incredibly fortunate to have met and fallen in love with her… to spend a lifetime together!

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