Chapter 404: Today I really can't keep a low profile

The orchestra played a romantic movement, flower petals fell from the sky, a few landing on Xia Xi's head; Xu Yanfeng smiled, pinched a petal with his fingers, and lightly touched it to the tip of her nose. Xia Xi smelled the rich fragrance, her nose tingled, and she tilted her head to dodge.

She tossed the bouquet from her hand, not knowing who caught it, and cheers rang out continuously.

Everyone laughed and jostled, knocking over champagne glasses, yet no one panicked, continuing to laugh loudly amidst the freely flowing wine aroma.

Xia Xi had thought the wedding would be somewhat solemn, after all many businesspeople had come—figures she had only seen in newspapers and news before were now seated here. In reality, the scene could be described as chaotic.

Even Xu Yanfeng expressed disdain, putting his arm around Xia Xi's waist and whispering in her ear: "What's going on with this?"

Xia Xi happened to be a bit tired from her high heels, so she leaned against him, turning her head to murmur in his ear: "It seems it started because of the bouquet scramble—a guy caught it, another objected and tried to take it back, more and more people joined the bouquet‑snatching melee, and then… it turned out like this."

They turned the bouquet scramble into a chasing game.

Xu Yanfeng slightly furrowed his brow: "I don't see the point in fighting over it; first find a girlfriend, then talk."

Xia Xi tapped him: "Having a wife is pretty impressive, huh."

How childish to put others down.

Xu Yanfeng nodded, speaking quite seriously: "Indeed, it's quite impressive." He paused, then slowly added, "Not only do I have a gorgeous wife, I also have a son who can run soy‑sauce errands."

Seeing the smirk on his lips that wouldn't fade, Xia Xi feigned advice: "Keep it low‑key, keep it low‑key."

"Sorry, I really can't keep a low profile today." Xu Yanfeng lifted his eyelids, a rebellious spark in his eyes—he looked no older than eighteen, not a thirty‑year‑old.

How could he stay low‑key? He practically wanted to announce it to the whole world.

In the later elders' speech segment, Su Jinru and Zhong Yinghong participated; both elders were mild‑minded, and after just a few words their eyes reddened—not from sorrow, but from relief and emotion.

The two elders stepped down from the stage and took their respective seats.

Zhong Yinghong was about to reach for a tissue when a hand extended from beside her, pinching a tissue and brushing her elbow. Out of the corner of her eye she caught a familiar face; Zhong Yinghong glanced sideways and saw Xu Guanshan, who had arrived late.

That wedding invitation from Xu Guanshan was sent by her initiative; no matter how strained their marriage had become, Xu Guanshan remained Xu Yanfeng's father, a blood tie that cannot be severed.

Xu Junmo is a lifelong bachelor, so Xu Yanfeng's wedding is the only one of his sons he can attend.

Whether he comes or not is entirely up to him.

Zhong Yinghong's eyes were still a little moist; after a pause of two seconds, she did not refuse Xu Guanshan's kindness, took the tissue, gently pressed it to her eyelids, and looked toward the stage, where Xu Yanfeng was holding Xia Xi, turning his face to whisper in her ear—he had been smiling all day.

"Have you ever seen your son this happy?" Zhong Yinghong asked.

Xu Guanshan paused, then followed her gaze.

He had never seen Xu Yanfeng like this before; previously, when facing him, this son always wore a cold face, his eyes dark and unfathomable, like a piece of ice that never melts.

Not to mention showing a smile, even just hoping to see his attitude ease a little was difficult.

At this moment, he laughed so freely, with no trace of a superior's authority, innocent as a child, his fingers brushing the veil beside his wife's ear.

In a daze, Xu Guanshan felt as if he had lost something, or that something inside him had collapsed.

The banquet began, and Xu Yanfeng, with an arm around Xia Xi, went to change clothes.

The guests ate, drank, and chatted, the atmosphere pleasant, yet the hallway remained quiet.

Without caring about others' gazes, Xia Xi went limp, throwing her whole weight onto Xu Yanfeng: "Do you know how many centimeters my high heels are?" She answered herself, "Twelve centimeters!"

As soon as her words finished, Xu Yanfeng bent over and lifted her; her long skirt trailed on the ground, he took a step and almost tripped, but his stance was steady enough that he only staggered slightly before regaining balance.

Xia Xi clung to his neck, still shaken from the scare, a little amused, her eyes sparkling.

Xu Yanfeng glanced at her: "Still laughing, aren't you afraid of falling?"

Xia Xi: "Will you let me fall?"

Xu Yanfeng didn't even think; almost the instant she asked, he replied: "No."

Those two words were spoken with absolute certainty.

Xia Xi chuckled, lowered her head, leaning on his shoulder: "Well, that settles it."

Upon reaching the suite that served as a temporary lounge, Xu Yanfeng set Xia Xi down, produced the room key card, and swiped the door open.

The evening gowns hung in the bedroom inside; to be prepared for any mishap, several extra copies had been made.

Xia Xi had already kicked off her high heels upon entering, barefoot on the floor, standing before the rack; decision‑paralysis struck, she turned to the man behind her and crooked her finger: "Come over, help me pick one."

Xu Yanfeng brought over a pair of slippers, tipped his chin to indicate she should put them on, then raised his gaze to scan the few gowns before her and instantly gave his opinion: "The red one."

Xi Xi crossed her arms, a faint smile playing on her lips: "You really do like this one the most."

Last time, when he looked through the catalog to choose a gown, Xu Yanfeng had been especially fond of this one, saying the others were optional but this one had to be bought.

No one else here could help; only Xu Yanfeng could act as her assistant, taking off this elaborate wedding dress and putting on the evening gown—but in the process, it was inevitable that this "assistant" would take some liberties.

Changing clothes left her blood surging and breath short, as if she had just run a hundred‑meter sprint.

Xu Yanfeng picked up the matching accessory for the gown—a same‑colored cord to tie around the neck, adorned with three silk flowers whose petons were lifelike, as if freshly plucked from the branch.

Xu Yanfeng wrapped it around Xia Xi's long, fair neck; standing behind her, he was a bit taller, his line of sight easily over her head to the full‑length mirror ahead, continually adjusting the silk flowers' placement—finding they looked best above the collarbone, he turned his fingers and tied a knot.

Just as Xia Xi tried to turn around, he seized her arms; their gazes met in the mirror, he looked at her reflection, slowly lowered his head, and pressed his lips to the back of her neck, then trailed down to the love‑bite mark.

Before, when Xia Xi wore the wedding dress, the long veil hung down and covered that spot; now, in the strapless dress, her shoulders, neck, and lovely clavicle were fully exposed, naturally including the love‑bite on her back shoulder.

Xia Xi turned her head back and whispered a reminder: "We need to go toast the elders; we can't dawdle too long—I still have to redo my hair and makeup."

Xu Yanfeng slightly lifted his gaze, his eyes deep with affection; he ignored her words, pinched her chin and kissed her. In this pose Xia Xi felt awkward—her body upright, her neck turned to the side as they kissed.

She wanted to turn around, but his arms locked tightly around her body, restricting her movement; she could only stay in that awkward pose, and after a while her neck would grow sore.

Xu Yanfeng swallowed the lipstick on her lips, leaving a glossy sheen; her eyes were half‑open, her breathing still uneven, yet she hadn't forgotten the matter: "If we keep delaying, someone will come calling."

Xu Yanfeng kissed her again.

Xia Xi pushed him while urgently saying, "Xu Yanfeng, did you hear what I said?"

"Call me husband."

"Husband."

Xu Yanfeng responded vaguely, turning her body to face him, and planted several heavy kisses on her lips—never enough, he still wanted more.

Xia Xi: "……"

Normally he never drops the ball on important matters, yet today he has no sense of time at all and is even playing hard to get.

After a long while, Xu Yanfeng finally panted and stepped back, closed his eyes to calm down, took out his phone, and called the person in charge of the styling team, asking them to come redo Xia Xi's makeup and hair.