His expression softened slightly, and he said in a gentler tone, “Keep pasting. I’ll stay here to support you.”
“Okay.” Cheng Fangqiu proceeded more carefully this time.
Together, they finished pasting the double-happiness characters in all the high places. Afterward, Zhou Yinghuai went to the kitchen to serve the soup, while Cheng Fangqiu helped Ding Ximei wrap wedding candies. Once he finished the soup, she urged him to try on his wedding attire.
Zhou Yinghuai obediently went into the bedroom. When he reappeared, everyone’s attention was immediately drawn to him.
The men’s wedding attire Cheng Fangqiu had designed was a sharp Zhongshan suit. The dark gray fabric, under the glow of the setting sun, exuded a sense of stability and solemnity. The cuffs were embroidered with intricate patterns in dark red thread, and a row of silver buttons added a touch of order.
The suit’s sleek lines accentuated his strong, well-built figure, making him look noble, handsome, and dignified.
Cheng Fangqiu felt her heartbeat quicken uncontrollably. She couldn’t take her eyes off the man before her. It wasn’t until he walked up to her that she regained her composure and murmured, “You look good.”
“Mm, it fits well too.” Zhou Yinghuai’s lips curled into a faint smile as he adjusted the hem of his jacket. Then he asked, “Have you tried yours on yet?”
“My sister tried hers on as soon as she got back. I’ve never seen such a beautiful bride,” Cheng Xuejun chimed in from the side, eliciting laughter from everyone present.
Cheng Fangqiu’s ears burned, and she shot Cheng Xuejun a glare. “Oh, so you’ve learned to tease your sister now, huh?”
“I’m not lying,” Cheng Xuejun stuck out his tongue, his face showing a hint of nonchalance.
Zhou Yinghuai, who had already been looking forward to it, was now even more curious after hearing Cheng Xuejun’s words. “Can you show me?”
Cheng Fangqiu hesitated, shaking her head shyly. “It’s only a few days away. You’ll see then. Let’s keep some mystery for now. Go change out of the clothes before they get dirty.”
She wasn’t wearing makeup or styled yet, and she was sweaty. While she probably wouldn’t look bad in the wedding dress with her face alone, she wanted to leave Zhou Yinghuai in awe and create an unforgettable memory for him at the wedding banquet.
So, she decided to save the surprise for the big day.
Seeing her change the subject, Zhou Yinghuai opened his mouth, wanting to say more. But catching a glimpse of her already crimson ears, he swallowed his words. As Qiuqiu said, it was only a few days away. He could wait.
Time seemed to fly by, and in the blink of an eye, the wedding day arrived.
Early in the morning, the residential building was buzzing with activity. Many neighbors crowded the stairwell, hoping to catch a glimpse of the bride. However, the entrance was guarded, and they couldn’t get in.
Cheng Fangqiu had woken up before dawn. After washing up, she put on her wedding dress and began doing her makeup and hair. Xu Qiqi was by her side, handing her things. In the room were also two younger sisters from the Cheng family who had grown up with the original host. Their relationship wasn’t particularly close, but they had been pulled in at the last minute to serve as bridesmaids.
Cheng Fangqiu gave each of them a large red envelope, and they immediately started calling her “sister” and eagerly helping out, proving to be quite capable.
“Qiuqiu, Auntie said you should still wear this, otherwise people won’t know who the bride is.” Cheng Xiaohua walked in, holding a large red flower with Cheng Fangqiu’s name written in black characters on red paper. It was a popular decoration in this era, typically pinned to the chest of the bride and groom.
Hearing this, Cheng Fangqiu, who had just finished styling her hair in front of the mirror, turned her head helplessly toward Cheng Xiaohua. “This looks so tacky and ugly. I’m not wearing it. I’ve already dressed up so elaborately. If people still can’t tell who the bride is, then there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Everyone in the room turned to look at Cheng Fangqiu. In her red dress, with her black hair and lotus-like face, she was stunningly beautiful, impossible to look away from.
“If they still can’t tell, then they must be blind,” Xu Qiqi couldn’t help but move closer to Cheng Fangqiu, lifting her chin and exaggerating her tone. “Little beauty, I’m here to crash the wedding today. Will you run away with me?”
Cheng Fangqiu burst into laughter, deliberately leaning closer to Xu Qiqi in a coquettish manner. “I’d love to.”
Staring into Cheng Fangqiu’s captivating peach-blossom eyes, Xu Qiqi felt her heart skip a beat, as if her soul was about to be stolen. She couldn’t resist touching Cheng Fangqiu’s smooth skin. “Tsk tsk, even I, a woman, can’t hold back. Zhou Yinghuai is probably going to lose his mind over you tonight.”
This crude remark nearly made Cheng Fangqiu choke on her own saliva. Her face flushed red, and for a long moment, she couldn’t find the words to retort. Cheng Xiaohua was also so shocked by Xu Qiqi’s bold words that she almost dropped the big red flower in her hand.
Even the two married women were taken aback, let alone the two unmarried girls, who were so embarrassed they didn’t dare to lift their heads.
“Oops, my mouth has no filter,” Xu Qiqi giggled, slapping her own mouth playfully. Then, as if remembering something, she mischievously winked at Cheng Fangqiu. “Even though you don’t have work tomorrow, you two should still take it easy. By the way, have you run out of that ointment? After you recommended it to me last time, I had Chang Yan’an buy several boxes from the hospital. If you’re running low, I can give you one.”
“Qiqi!” Cheng Fangqiu blushed furiously, turning her face away and picking up an eyebrow pencil to pretend to touch up her makeup, avoiding the topic.
Cheng Xiaohua, however, asked curiously and with concern, “What ointment? Sister Qiuqiu, Sister Qiqi, are you two injured?”
Hearing this, Cheng Fangqiu, fearing that Xu Qiqi might say something even more shocking, was about to answer first, but she was too late. Xu Qiqi had already walked over to Cheng Xiaohua and whispered a few words in her ear. In no time, Cheng Xiaohua’s face turned as red as a big apple.
Cheng Fangqiu facepalmed. “Qiqi, you…”
“We’re all women here. There’s nothing we can’t talk about,” Xu Qiqi said nonchalantly. Just then, a commotion erupted outside. The sound of firecrackers signaled that the groom had arrived with his entourage to fetch the bride.
Xu Qiqi rubbed her hands excitedly. After helping Cheng Fangqiu sit properly on the wedding bed, she led Cheng Xiaohua and the others out to block the door.
The bedroom door was left open, so Cheng Fangqiu could clearly hear the noise of the door-blocking outside. She nervously clenched her palms.
“Who’s knocking? What are you here for today?”
A chorus of male voices outside shouted, “We’re here to fetch the bride!”
“The groom’s sincerity depends on how thick the red envelopes are!” This line of banter made everyone, both inside and outside the door, burst into laughter. Soon, several red envelopes were slipped through the door crack.
Picking them up and feeling their thickness, Cheng Fangqiu couldn’t help but think, “Wow, they’re really generous!”
“The sincerity is definitely there. If you want us to open the door, answer three questions.”
“Alright, no problem. Go ahead and ask.”
“What’s the bride’s birthday?”
“May 23rd.”
Without hesitation, Zhou Yinghuai answered immediately.
“Name ten of the bride’s good qualities?”
“Smart, kind, generous, beautiful, optimistic, lively, gentle, independent, responsible, ambitious…”
With every word Zhou Yinghuai uttered, Cheng Fangqiu’s heart beat faster.
“Who will have the final say in the household after marriage?”
“My wife.”
Zhou Yinghuai answered without hesitation, showing no intention of trying to save face in front of the crowd. Everyone was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter.
Xu Qiqi nodded in satisfaction and finally opened the door. Zhou Yinghuai led the way inside, radiating confidence and charm, his eyes brimming with unconcealed joy.
Behind him followed Zhou Yingchen, Zhao Zhigao, and a group of others, including staff from the Hongmeng Photo Studio, who were there to take wedding photos for the couple. Cheng Fangqiu had only learned about this service after starting her job.
Given the high cost, almost no one was willing to spend money on it. Cheng Fangqiu also thought it was expensive, but considering this was a once-in-a-lifetime event, she gritted her teeth and paid for the service.
“Where’s Qiuqiu?”
“She’s inside, waiting for you.”
As Zhou Yinghuai approached, he lost some of his usual composure, a hint of nervousness appearing on his face. But his steps didn’t falter as he headed straight for the bedroom. As soon as he entered, his gaze met a pair of enchanting peach-blossom eyes.
The woman sat gracefully on the wedding bed, dressed in a red gown. Her face was like flawless jade, radiant and stunning. Today, she had applied makeup, enhancing her already breathtaking beauty. Just one glance was enough to captivate anyone, making it impossible to look away.
Her jet-black hair was elegantly tied up, adorned with a golden hairpin that tinkled softly with every movement.
The dress hugged her curvaceous figure, the embroidered patterns at the collar matching those on his sleeves, complementing each other perfectly. The butterfly buttons trailed down to her waist, and the slightly flared skirt resembled a blooming rose, vibrant and alluring.
Her beauty was bold, dazzling, and utterly captivating.
And she was his wife, Zhou Yinghuai’s wife.
“Zhou Yinghuai,” the woman parted her red lips, her voice carrying a teasing lilt that sent a shiver down his spine, stirring an indescribable itch.
“Qiuqiu,” he managed to regain his composure, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he took two steps forward and knelt before her. With almost reverent care, he lifted her foot and slipped on her wedding shoe.
Only then did the crowd, who had been struck speechless by the bride’s beauty, snap out of their daze. A wave of cheers and laughter erupted, and amidst the joyous noise and fluttering confetti, he took her hand and led her through the crowd, heading outside.
After serving tea to her parents in the living room, the group made their way to the state-run restaurant.
According to local customs, the newlyweds had to visit each table to distribute eggs to the guests. The word for “chicken” (鸡) sounds like “luck” (吉) in Chinese, and eggs symbolize happiness, fulfillment, and good fortune in weddings.
This was undoubtedly a physically demanding task. It wasn’t until nearly noon that they finally had a moment to catch their breath.
The state-run restaurant had a designated restroom. As soon as Cheng Fangqiu entered, she collapsed onto a chair without a care for her appearance, bending over to massage her sore calves. Compared to her exhaustion, Zhou Yinghuai seemed much more energetic. He quickly knelt down and began massaging her legs for her.
The strength of a man’s hands far exceeded that of a woman’s, and Cheng Fangqiu, feeling the relief, withdrew her own hands and let out a slow breath. “I’m exhausted.”
As soon as she spoke, voices outside called for the bride and groom. The two exchanged a glance, a bit helpless, but Cheng Fangqiu prepared to stand up, leaning on Zhou Yinghuai’s hand for support.
Instead, he pressed her shoulders, gently pushing her back into the chair. “Rest for a while longer before coming out.”
“How can I do that?” Cheng Fangqiu blinked, though her bottom remained firmly planted in the seat.
A flicker of amusement passed through Zhou Yinghuai’s eyes. He leaned in close to her ear and whispered something, then, before she could react, he opened the door and walked out.
Cheng Fangqiu, belatedly realizing what he had said, covered her burning cheeks, her long lashes fluttering.
He… he actually said…