Page 166 of He Is My Bride
It’s going to be alright.They both thought, and now they could believe it, because they were ready to do whatever it takes.
Neither knew what to say, but Anne helped them get moving:
“Shall we, then? Let’s get to the car.”
They were helped into a black limousine, and Anne took care of Li Ying’s trail and veil, holding them up outside and smoothing them down once they were in the car.
“Wow!” exclaimed Yiyi, who was very handsome in a black suit. “Big Sister Li is so beautiful!”
“Thank you, A-Yi!”
Li Ying wished A-Yu could have been a groomsman as well, but Hanjun had been right when he said that being a Wang, A-Yu wouldn’t have been allowed by his family to take up the role. He, and the rest of the Wangs, would be at the wedding inevitably. They would have over two hundred guests though, so Li Ying was hopeful he would manage to avoid them—except for A-Yu—for the evening.
Li Ying wouldn’t know half of the people attending, but he knew that among them were chief editors of major daily and business newspapers in Shanghai, members of the board, and other important figures from the company, and of course the cream of the crop of Shanghai. All who surely still remembered Li Ying’s latest scandal from the New Year’s party.
Whatever came after the cake and the first dance, Li Ying would be happy to miss it and just go straight to the wedding night, skipping all the socializing with those people. Could Huang Xiang really be the only person among them whom he could relate to?
I should try and make more friends, I guess. This will be my life from here on, and it’ll be lonely otherwise.
“Are you nervous, Li Ying?” Hanrong asked.
Li Ying smiled at him, nodding. “Yes, though I trust everything will go well. I just worry about Hanjun!” Li Ying stroked Hanjun’s arm. “You two must take good care of my husband, I fear he might faint!”
Hanrong and Yiyi laughed, and Hanjun smiled. He was happy to see Li Ying in good spirits—he had worried since their talk yesterday that Li Ying might still change his mind.
They arrived at the hotel, and as soon as they exited the limo, the official wedding photographer was there, with the paparazzi being kept well away by the security. Li Ying didn’t stop to pose but knew it would be at their discretion which photos would be kept and published, so he didn’t worry about the flashing and clicking going off.
He and Hanjun proceeded to one of the hotel’s suites, where Wu Yiheng and Grandmother Linming were staying, for the tea ceremony. They sat there ready and waiting when Hanrong had given them a heads-up.
The wedding tea set that Li Ying had bought before had been brought into the hospitality suite’s kitchen.
“Hello, Uncle Yiheng, Grandmother Linming!” Li Ying and Hanjun greeted them and bowed from the waist.
“What a beautiful bride! The dress is very stylish, even if it’s not so traditional. What do you think, Yiheng?” Grandmother Linming looked at her son.
Wu Yiheng eyed Li Ying up and down.
Li Ying smiled at him through the veil, and he thought there was an odd look in the old Wu’s eyes. Wu Yiheng hesitated before saying:
“Mm. Beautiful.”
Li Ying blushed and looked down. Was the old geezer…moved?
Anne had joined them, and after giving her greetings to the groom’s family, she went to the kitchen to help prepare the tea, putting the kettle on.
Hanjun sat down to talk with his uncle and grandmother while Li Ying joined his bridesmaid. Into the teacups were put dates and lotus seeds, the latter of which symbolized the wish for many children.
“Let’s put a few more, I want the message to be clear,” Li Ying whispered and put in more seeds.
“Li Ying, the cup is almost half full of seeds.”
“Yep.” Li Ying tossed a handful of lotus seeds into his mouth too, before he began preparing the tea leaves—oolong and orange blossom.
“So, Hanjun,” Grandmother Linming said while they waited, “are you nervous? You Wus are so good at hiding it, I cannot tell.”
Hanjun shook his head. “No, grandmother, I know everything will go well. I am… happy.”
Grandmother Linming smiled, then looked at her son. Wu Yiheng was looking at his hands, having crossed them in his lap and fiddling with his thumbs.
