Chapter 402: You Won't Run Away from the Wedding, Will You?

The day before the wedding, the bridesmaids were in place, gathering in Xia Xi's room to chat.

They were Xia Xi's two roommates, Wu Qinglu and Wang Qiuyu, plus her childhood friend Liang Yuan, and her assistant Huang Shiyu.

Although Zhao Lei wasn't a bridesmaid, she also came to join the fun.

Huang Shiyu quickly became acquainted with the others, found an opportunity, covered her face and moved close to Xia Xi, saying in delighted surprise: "I didn't expect you, Sister Xi, to invite me to be a bridesmaid."

Xia Xi pressed her lips, putting on a stern boss-like expression: "You don't want to?"

But as soon as she spoke, she couldn't keep up the act, her eyes crinkling with laughter, losing all dignity.

"No, no." Huang Shiyu waved her hands, "I'm very willing."

Not just willing, I feel honored.

She had no family, and over the past year following Xia Xi, whether at work or in life, she had received considerable care from Xia Xi. Xia Xi even let her handle a project on her own, while she, from behind, gave her support, relieving her of many worries.

In this city, she had come to feel like she had a home.

When she received Xia Xi's invitation to be a bridesmaid, Huang Shiyu still thought she was dreaming.

Zhao Lei pointed at Wu Qinglu and Wang Qiuyu: "You two hold on tight, we're the only ones left in the dorm."

Wu Qinglu and Wang Qiuyu exchanged a look, then together pressed Zhao Lei onto the bed, posing as if they intended to "silence her forever." Outnumbered two to one, Zhao Lei was at a disadvantage, opening her mouth to shout wildly, trying to call for help.

Xia Xi: "You made the trouble, you deal with it."

Zhao Lei's hair was tousled, her face squeezed out of shape: "Xia Xi, don't be so ungrateful—back when you were pursuing General Manager Xu, I put in a lot of effort; I may not have merit, but I certainly put in the work."

Xia Xi: "……"

The room full of girls was noisy until past ten; Su Jinru hadn't rested yet, she knocked and entered, asking if they wanted some late-night snacks, with everything ready at home.

The girls preferred obedience over formality.

At first they politely said "Thank you, Auntie," until Zhao Lei playfully said: "Thank you, Mom, you're so good, you're practically my real mother."

Su Jinru was stunned, clearly unused to this. The others followed suit, calling Su Jinru "mom" one after another, cheerfully and without any psychological burden.

After the initial shock, Su Jinru gradually accepted it, unable to keep her mouth from smiling, acknowledging these girls: "Alright, you're all my daughters."

She chuckled and went to the kitchen to cook something for them to eat.

Xia Xi was rather speechless; in a short while, her own mother had gained several more daughters.

Su Jinru cooked sweet rice balls, wontons, dumplings, and heated oil for some fried snacks, letting them pick what they liked.

The atmosphere was extremely lively; after everyone had filled their stomachs, they noticed Xia Xi hadn't eaten anything. Liang Yuan finished the last sip of the wonton soup so fresh it made her eyebrows drop, and said to Xia Xi: "Won't you have a bite?"

Xia Xi shook her head, cupping her face: "I'm afraid I'll wake up too early and get puffy."

Liang Yuan puffed out a laugh, patted her head, pretending to be regretful: "The bride has to sacrifice a little something for beauty."

There weren't enough rooms at home, so Xia Xi booked a room at a nearby hotel; after chatting until past eleven, they went together to the hotel to rest, planning to return in the morning.

Xia Xi also prepared to sleep; she needed to wake up very early the next day, and she feared that sleeping too late would make it hard to get up and leave her in poor spirits.

Before bed, she habitually glanced at her phone; if she hadn't looked, it would have been fine, but upon looking she saw that Xu Yanfeng had called her half an hour ago and ten minutes ago. Half an hour earlier, probably because everyone was noisy while eating late-night snacks, she hadn't heard. Ten minutes earlier, she had been in the shower and also hadn't heard.

Xu Yanfeng might have felt puzzled, so he sent a few messages.

"What are you busy with?"

"You're already asleep this early?"

"I thought you'd be too nervous to sleep."

Xia Xi tapped the input box, preparing to type, but after typing a few characters the screen changed—Xu Yanfeng placed a voice call, and she didn't have time to keep editing, so she pressed answer.

On the other end, sounding as if he'd let out a breath, he teased: "Xia Xi, you're not going to run away from the wedding, are you?"

Xia Xi: "……"

His imagination is strangely rich.

"Would running away help?" she went along with his joke, saying, "Anyway, we've already gotten the marriage license, and you've hidden the certificate—I can't even find where it is."

She really couldn't find it; there wasn't even one in the home safe.

What's his deal—is he afraid she'll divorce him?

Xu Yanfeng: "That's also true."

Xia Xi turned the desk lamp to its lowest setting, just a dim yellow light illuminating a small area by the bed. Looking at the call interface on the screen, she said: "Why didn't you video call? I can't even see you."

"I pressed the wrong button," Xu Yanfeng said. "Should I switch?"

"Never mind, we'll see each other tomorrow." Xia Xi tugged the blanket up to her shoulders, placed the phone on her pillow, her voice a bit muffled: "I'll chat with you a bit more and then go to sleep."

Xu Yanfeng: "Are you nervous?"

Xia Xi chuckled, showing no weakness: "It's just a wedding, a small affair—how could I be nervous?"

Xu Yanfeng believed her: "As long as you're not nervous."

"Wait, how many guests are expected tomorrow?"

All of that was arranged by Xu Yanfeng's side; Xia Xi hadn't paid much attention before, and he didn't want her to worry about it.

Xu Yanfeng seemed to chuckle, "I shouldn't have believed you just now": "There should be about a hundred tables; Madam Zhong said to reserve an extra ten or so, since it's the weekend and many people are bringing their families."

Xia Xi's expression stalled, her sleepiness gone: "This… that many?"

"It's fine," Xu Yanfeng explained, "some are business partners."

Xia Xi forced herself to stay calm—indeed, the Xu Clan is big and influential; even without counting relatives, the guests from social obligations alone are numerous. Glad she asked ahead, she now had a grasp: "Then I'll sleep, good night."

Xu Yanfeng made a request: "Give me a kiss before you sleep."

"……" Xia Xi's heartbeat skipped a beat, she licked her lower lip, "How do I kiss? Mua~"

From the earpiece came Xu Yanfeng's exhale; after a few seconds he said: "I really wish it were tomorrow already."

The next day, just past five o'clock, Xia Xi was awakened from her sleep, practically dragged out of her warm blankets; opening her eyes, she saw Su Jinru.

"The person doing your makeup has already arrived; don't keep them waiting." Su Jinru lightly tapped her face to help her wake up quickly, "Today we can't delay."

Hearing that, Xia Xi indeed became energetic, got out of bed and went to the bathroom to wash up.

Soon, she sat before the vanity, while the entire styling team gathered around her, opening several suitcases filled with an array of cosmetics and tools, and began to do her hair and makeup.

Taking the opportunity, Su Jinru made breakfast and urged Xia Xi to eat a few bites to fill her stomach: "Xu Xiao specifically told me to watch you eat breakfast; he said you might be starving yourself for beauty."

Xia Xi thought that since the waist of the wedding dress had been let out a bit, eating a few more bites wouldn't matter, so she took the red bean pastry Su Jinru offered and ate it in small bites. Su Jinru then tried to give her a few xiaolongbao, but she refused. Su Jinru then handed her a cup of soy milk; after a moment's hesitation, she accepted.

The styling team continued to arrange her hair and makeup in an orderly manner.

Not long after, several bridesmaids arrived, and part of the team split off to help them with their styling.

The bridesmaids' dresses had been prepared early; they were custom-made to fit each woman's figure, sharing the same color and fabric but differing in style.

After a busy morning, just as the auspicious time arrived, a lively commotion came from outside.

Xia Xuan leaned against the door, peering in with half her body, and passed along the word: "Get ready, everyone—my brother-in-law is here."