Chapter 403: It's as if I'm forcing you into marriage

Just moments ago, the few bridesmaids who had been giggling and laughing all assumed a solemn, ready stance, cheering each other on, absolutely refusing to yield to Xu Yanfeng's aura.

Such a rare opportunity—today, on this special day, we must give General Manager Xu a taste of his own medicine!

However, the difficult obstacles they had prepared in advance were not put to use—

They indeed did not yield to Xu Yanfeng's aura, but they could not resist his "wealth power."

At the moment they entered the main gate, they were first struck by the handsome Xu Yanfeng and his groomsmen behind him; then, like heavenly maidens scattering flowers, red envelopes came in stacks, the bridesmaids flustered and overwhelmed, having no chance to react before Xu Yanfeng seized the opportunity and burst into the bridal chamber.

Xia Xi was intently listening to the commotion outside when the door suddenly opened; she lifted her gaze, and through a thin veil, their eyes met.

Her breath caught, her eyes widened, and Xia Xi asked in disbelief: "How... did you get in so quickly?"

Xu Yanfeng chuckled: "I don't know, I just walked in."

Xia Xi: "..."

"Ahhh! Who let General Manager Xu in?! My carefully prepared quiz obstacle hasn't even started—how did this happen?" a bridesmaid screamed from outside.

It's too late to say anything now—Xu Yanfeng is already before Xia Xi; we can't just drag him away.

Xia Xi heard that outburst and could only laugh and cry at once.

The bridesmaids crowded in, vowing to defend the final procedure at all costs: "Let the earlier parts slide, but we must find the wedding shoes properly!"

Even if he's the group's boss, to marry the woman he loves he must follow the rules! Liang Yuan nodded, affirming her thought: "The groomsmen may not help; General Manager Xu must find them himself."

Dressed in a black custom suit, Xu Yanfeng smiled, holding roses, more handsome than ever; he stared at Xia Xi, not really expecting her to tell him, but still asked: "Where are the wedding shoes?"

Liang Yuan shouted: "General Manager Xu, don't try to use a handsome-man scheme on our Xi Xi!"

From the fact that Xia Xi once wildly pursued Xu Yanfeng, it's clear she has little resistance to him. To prevent Xia Xi from leaking the answer, Liang Yuan stepped in front of her, cutting off their eye contact.

"Can you trust me a little?" Xia Xi looked at his back, smiled, and said, "I won't betray you."

Liang Yuan turned back: "I don't believe you. From now on, you must not speak—not a single word."

Xia Xi: "..."

Xu Yanfeng really began searching for the shoes in the room; the groomsmen stood with arms crossed, watching the show, with no intention to help. Xu Er is used to being in the spotlight—it's time to give him a test.

Tang Yizhou, who claims to be Xu Er's best brother, though he didn't lift a finger to help, gave him a hint: "Xu Er, you know the saying 'dark under the lamp'? Usually the less likely a place, the more likely it hides something. I've seen them hidden under the bride's skirt—do you want to look there?"

Xu Yanfeng stood beside the bed, looking at Xia Xi, his questioning intent obvious.

Xia Xi's lips twitched; recalling Liang Yuan's warning not to speak, she closed her mouth.

Since she gave no hint, Xu Yanfeng stepped forward himself; with many onlookers, he certainly couldn't lift her skirt, so he slipped his hand in to feel around.

Murmurs of laughter rippled through the crowd, wave after wave, as if carrying deep meaning.

Xia Xi blushed, her gaze drifting elsewhere, and finally she couldn't hold back: "... Stop looking, they're not here."

Xu Yanfeng grasped her slender ankle, confident no one would see, and boldly traced characters on her skin with his finger, stroke by stroke: "Where."

Xia Xi's mind wandered; she couldn't decipher what he had written, except she could just make out the character meaning "at"; after a moment's thought, she realized he was asking where the wedding shoes were.

Xia Xi: "Find it yourself."

Xu Yanfeng stopped teasing her, stood up straight, and seriously searched, meanwhile mocking Tang Yizhou's brain: "Tang Yizhou, can you be reliable just once? Relying on you, I wouldn't get a wife for ten years."

Everyone in the room laughed.

It's rare to see Xu Yanfeng joke around, and he's so down-to-earth. Before, he seemed cold and unapproachable, even face-to-face feeling worlds apart; today it's clear he's genuinely happy, unguarded, his whole face lit with smiles.

Tang Yizhou threatened: "I advise you not to offend me today; there's still a toast session later—if you anger me, who will shield you from the drinks?"

Xu Yanfeng swept his gaze, pointing at the vase in the corner with a bouquet inside: "Could it be in the vase?"

Liang Yuan couldn't believe it, her eyes snapping to Xia Xi: "He didn't even look, yet he's so sure—did you leak the secret?"

Xia Xi wore an innocent expression, almost shouting "wronged!"

"She really didn't leak it," Xu Yanfeng said. "The last time I came, the vase wasn't placed there."

Since moving in with him, Xia Xi rarely returns here; the room's other furnishings haven't changed, only that vase has been moved—obviously something's up.

Everyone: "..."

Liang Yuan shook her head and said leisurely: "It seems General Manager Xu knows our Xi Xi's boudoir like the back of his hand."

Amid everyone's laughter, Xu Yanfeng walked to the cabinet holding the vase, pulled out the few stems inside, and poured out the wedding shoes—a pair of pretty strap heels.

The uppers were studded with tiny diamonds, glittering dazzlingly under the light.

Xu Yanfeng handed the bouquet he'd been holding to Xia Xi, knelt on one knee, grasped one of her feet, and slipped on the heel; the lustrous silk straps crossed and wrapped around her ankle, and he tied them into a bow with practiced ease.

Seeing this, Tang Yizhou teased: "Xu Er, you're no stranger to this, are you?"

Xu Yanfeng glanced at him sideways, picked up the other heel and put it on Xia Xi, then lifted her in a horizontal embrace, couldn't resist kissing her through the veil, left the room, and headed for Jingyu Yuan.

The hall that can hold thousands was warm like spring, flowers in full bloom, the overall palette white and green. The guests were indeed as numerous as Xu Yanfeng had said, but though Xia Xi was no longer nervous, her heartbeat hadn't slowed.

Xia Xi had no father; as she walked the red carpet, she took Su Jinru's hand, adjusting to her height, step by step toward Xu Yanfeng at the other end—her other half in life.

The flower attendants were ready: Zi Heng wore a handsome suit, Youyou a pretty gauze dress; the two kids carried small baskets behind them, scattering petals, proper yet adorable.

Su Jinru placed Xia Xi's hand into Xu Yanfeng's, wanting to say something, but her lips moved a few times with no sound; what she wanted to say, Xu Yanfeng would surely understand, needing no further explanation.

Xu Yanfeng indeed understood; he solemnly promised Su Jinru: "I will love Xia Xi for a lifetime."

Su Jinru's nose tingled, her eyes moistened; she noticed her lapse, struggled to hold back, and merely nodded at him. She believed he could keep his word.

Returning to the lower seats, Su Jinru still shed tears; Xia Yue and Xia Xuan stayed by her side, the sisters embracing her and patting her back.

Onstage, Xu Yanfeng gazed at Xia Xi; the scene he had rehearsed countless times in his mind became reality now, his heart brimming with emotion, like a shaken soda bottle.

The MC was speaking, but he seemed not to hear, his ears automatically blocking out external sounds, only catching Xia Xi's voice.

She said: "Say 'I do' quickly, or else it'll seem like I'm forcing you into marriage."

Only then did Xu Yanfeng realize what the MC had said; he straightened his expression and replied: "I do."

Everyone downstairs could see clearly that Xu Yanfeng's eyes held only the person before him; he paid no mind to anyone else.

Likewise, the MC asked Xia Xi the same question; she looked at Xu Yanfeng and earnestly replied: "I do."

Xu Yanfeng took a deep breath, strove to hear the MC's words, exchanged rings with Xia Xi, and finally came to the 'groom kisses the bride' segment; he gently lifted the veil, carefully arranging it behind her head, hoping she would look beautiful and flawless at any moment of this day.

He stared at her bright, moving eyes, gave a light smile, lowered his head, and pressed his thin lips to hers; still not satisfied, his warm, broad palm rested on the back of her neck as they deepened the kiss.

For a moment, whistles, applause, and cheers rose from below, a noisy uproar.

Xu Yanfeng selectively lost his hearing again; he couldn't hear any of those sounds, immersed only in a world of two.