Ch 19: Protecting Her For The Rest Of Our Lives

Xiao Jianshan, upon hearing this, immediately greeted them with a beaming smile. Xiao Wenxing, along with Xiao Yao’s cousins from her aunt and uncle’s side, firmly blocked the door, waiting for the groom to call for entry.

When Xiao Yao heard Xiao Wenxing say “They’re here,” her heart skipped a beat, then pounded uncontrollably. She nervously pressed her chest, taking several deep breaths.

Jiang Lufang, noticing her daughter’s nervousness, walked to the bedside with a radiant, joyful expression, taking Xiao Yao’s hand to comfort her.

Looking at her mother’s happy face, Xiao Yao also relaxed. Only when she was truly married well and lived happily could her parents truly feel at ease.

Zhuang Lingyun bribed Xiao Wenxing as an inside man, easily entering with a few red envelopes.

Xiao Yao had a red veil over her head. Through the red veil, she saw him in a well-tailored black suit, making him look even more handsome.

His smile was gentle and warm as he approached. After going through some customary procedures, and with the blessings of their relatives and friends, he gently carried Xiao Yao downstairs, into the wedding car, heading to the hotel for the wedding ceremony.

The wedding ended successfully and smoothly, with the guests departing.

Xiao Yao’s parents hosted a separate banquet for relatives and friends. Xiao Yao was already exhausted, legs and waist aching, while Zhuang Lingyun, plied with drinks by her relatives, was quite drunk.

The elders were understanding and didn’t ask them to accompany them.

Fu Jinglun drove Xiao Yao and Zhuang Lingyun home. After dropping them off, Fu Jinglun cleverly left immediately, not lingering for a moment.

Xiao Yao looked at Zhuang Lingyun, sprawled on the bed, sleeping soundly, and sighed. She was still wearing her toast-giving dress, feeling somewhat uncomfortable; he was also in his suit, equally uncomfortable.

Xiao Yao lifted his head, helped him sit up, leaning against her chest. She struggled to remove his suit jacket, untied his necktie, and unbuttoned his shirt, taking it off.

His upper body was bare. Xiao Yao looked at his trousers, not daring to touch them, and directly pulled the blanket to tuck him into bed.

After all this, Xiao Yao was exhausted and sweating. Her clothes were still at her apartment; there was nothing to change into here. She opened the wardrobe, intending to find one of his T-shirts to change into for comfort.

But opening the walk-in closet, she saw that the neatly organized closet was divided in half, the south side for women’s clothing and accessories, the north for men’s clothing.

Xiao Yao excitedly looked through the women’s clothes and shoes; all the tags were neatly hung, the colors and sizes were hers. The last time she visited, it was still his private space. When did he add so many things?

He was truly thoughtful and thorough in his preparations.

Xiao Yao’s fingers brushed across the new clothes, picking out favorites to try on in front of the mirror, her smile never fading.

After trying on a few sets, she chose a casual home outfit, removed the tag, draped it over her arm, and went to the bathroom.

After a quick shower, Xiao Yao, wearing her home clothes, came out of the bathroom; the sky outside was completely dark.

Xiao Yao called her mother. The other side was noisy, with the sounds of clinking glasses.

“Mom, don’t drink too late. Grandma is getting older. Send her home to rest early,” Xiao Yao urged. Before she finished, she heard Jiang Lufang slurring, telling her not to worry, that they were having fun, then hung up.

Jiang Lufang casually put her phone in her backpack, then heard Yu Ling say with a smile, “Has the second daughter-in-law not met her in-laws yet? This flash marriage is unreliable. You don’t even know the man’s background. Don’t let him hurt our Xiao Yao.”

With Yu Ling around, no secrets could be kept. Everyone knew about Xiao Yao’s breakup with Shen Mingzhe and her subsequent marriage to Zhuang Lingyun. Unable to hide it any longer, Xiao Jianshan and his wife confessed to the old lady at the dinner table.

Old Madam Xiao scolded Xiao Jianshan and his wife for being too hasty with the wedding, but upon mentioning Zhuang Lingyun, she praised him endlessly, “My judgment of people has always been accurate. Young Zhuang is truly a good person, and he’s truly good to Xiao Yao, willing to spend money.”

Xiao Jianshan said, “The two aren’t just meeting for the first time. Young Zhuang has long had deep feelings for Yao Yao. Mom, don’t worry.”

Jiang Lufang continued, her tone full of pride that her daughter had married well and had an excellent son-in-law: “He’s more than just willing to spend money. Young Zhuang gave all his assets to our Yao Yao—the car, house, company; together, it’s worth tens of millions. Who else has that kind of courage?”

She paused, then turned to Yu Ling, smiling, “As for the in-laws, Young Zhuang returned from abroad; his relatives are all overseas. It’s understandable that they couldn’t come. As long as the two children are happy, meeting the in-laws doesn’t matter.”

Yu Ling sneered, “Xiao Yao is lucky.”

The bitterness in her words was clear, and everyone at the table looked at Yu Ling with various expressions.

Xiao Qiang frowned and poked Yu Ling under the table. Yu Ling looked at Xiao Qiang. Her daughter, in terms of appearance, temperament, and knowledge, was in no way inferior to Xiao Yao, so why couldn’t she find such a good man?

Yu Ling felt a knot in her chest. To say she wasn’t jealous was a lie. She saw Zhuang Lingyun’s caring attitude towards Xiao Yao at the wedding. He practically drank all the alcohol himself, preferring to get drunk than let her drink much; anyone could see how much he cared.

But secretly, Yu Ling hoped it was all fake. Such an outstanding, young, and wealthy man—why did he end up with Xiao Yao? And Xiao Yao can’t have children. What parents would let their son marry someone who can’t bear children?

Not only were the groom’s parents absent, but none of his relatives came. Only a few friends and a group of employees came—all strangers. What was going on?

Yu Ling guessed that the groom’s parents didn’t know Xiao Yao couldn’t have children, or they simply didn’t approve of the marriage. Otherwise, why wouldn’t they have come to the wedding?

However, no matter how much she thought about it, it was none of her business. He wasn’t her son-in-law after all.

Xiao Yao slept in the guest room on her wedding night.

Actually, it was good that Zhuang Lingyun was drunk and asleep; it avoided the awkwardness of the night.

Although they had been intimate once before, that was when they were both drunk. Now, she was sober, and the thought of being intimate with him in this state made Xiao Yao very resistant; she probably couldn’t do it.

However, she also knew that as a wife, she had certain responsibilities, so she felt conflicted. Thankfully, he was asleep.

Having not slept well the previous night, Xiao Yao fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow and slept soundly, so much so that she didn’t notice when the locked door was opened.

Zhuang Lingyun quietly approached the bedside. By the moonlight from outside the window, he looked at the sleeping beauty lying on the bed.

Her black hair was loose on the pillow, one hand on her face, the other on her waist. Her sleeping position hadn’t changed for years.

Zhuang Lingyun sat on the floor with his legs bent, his arm resting on the bed edge, half-leaning over to look at her sleeping face.

This face, longed for day and night, had haunted his dreams for so many years. He thought he had missed her forever, but heaven wasn’t unkind; it gave him another chance.

He didn’t know how happy he was when he saw her again. But when he learned she had a fiancé, how devastated he was. Fortunately, after many twists and turns, she was finally safely back by his side.

He had secretly vowed to protect her peace and happiness for the rest of his life; nothing or no one could separate them again.

✦ ✦ ✦