Page 168 of He Is My Bride
“Darling,you look stunning!” Li Ying went over and hugged Huang Xiang, who returned the hug.
“Chérie,how are you doing? Nervous?”
Since Li Ying had asked him to be the emcee for her wedding and they had spent more time together, Huang Xiang had relaxed and dared to be more himself. Li Ying was pretty sure Huang Xiang was fabulously gay himself, and he hoped they could have an open conversation about that someday. Li Ying hadn’t thought he might himself playing someone’s straight best friend, but he would do so happily for Huang Xiang.
“Yeah-yeah-yeah, of course I am, stop asking me. How is everything out there?”
“Guests have begun taking their seats. Everything is looking good. Anne, a small change to plans…”
Anne stepped closer to pay attention.
“Once Li Ying has come down the stairs, she will need to have her trail put straight, otherwise it may be left frumpled because the stairs are curved. You will have to follow behind her.”
“Does that affect the timing?” Anne asked.
“It shouldn’t, I think.”
The two of them went over the last-minute details while Li Ying stood there, trusting they would let him know if he needed to adjust something on his part.
“Which staircase will I take again?” Li Ying asked, staring ahead and visualizing the split staircase that curved down to the lawned terrace where the guests would be.
“Left,” Huang Xiang confirmed. “The same side as you will be standing on before the altar. Wu Hanjun will be on the right side, where Wu Yiheng will sit.”
“Got it.” Li Ying nodded.
“I have to go back now. Good luck!” Huang Xiang went back out.
It was a beautiful, sunny day, but not too hot, just the perfect wedding weather. Yes, everything was shaping up to be so perfect, Li Ying thought, trusting even as his hands shook whenever he kept the still for too long.
Huang Xiang opened the ceremony by welcoming everyone and explaining the schedule. Many of the guests wondered greatly at the band of long-haired, Western men and their electric guitar. Neatly suited as the band may have been, many thought whether they had come to the right venue.
Once Huang Xiang stepped aside, he gave the band a nod, they opened with the gentle first notes of ‘Nothing Else Matters’ by Metallica. Huang Xiang messaged Anne to start the count, and Anne put on the timer to know when to get Li Ying ready.
The vocalist began singing with a soft rock voice as Hanjun entered the terrace from another door. He took his place at the beginning of the aisle, and stood there for a short while as planned,giving enough time for cameras to flash off and the people to get a good look at the lucky groom.
Hanjun saw the family altar and the double happiness symbol above it before him, so close now, and there sat his uncle. Hanjun began walking towards the altar as the people looked on, and finally took his place at the right side of the altar while Hanrong and Yiyi entered the aisle next. They followed after him and took their places, Yiyi carrying the two golden wedding bands on a red silk pillow.
“There comes the second verse,” Anne said to Li Ying, both of them still inside the entryway. “This is where I would have prepared to go before you, but now I will come right behind you, taking care of the trail.”
Li Ying had been listening to the lyrics, which he could hear from the open door, and he was trying to hold back tears. He could only nod in response.
“Li Ying? Are you okay? One minute and…” Anne checked the timer. “No, fifty seconds to your mark.”
Li Ying nodded, “Yeah…”
“Oh, Li Ying!” Anne hugged him and carefully patted away his tears, making sure his makeup stayed on.
The band played a soft bridge.
“Okay, Li Ying, it’s time,” Anne said. “Get ready.”
At their mark, Anne saw Li Ying through the door and to the top of the staircase that would take him to the terrace, following close behind him. The third verse began playing as Li Ying came to stand at the top of the stairs, the vocalist adding more grit and rasp for a hard rock sound.
Everyone at the back row turned to look at the beautiful bride, and the ones in the front who could not yet see him turned as well, waiting, holding their breath until Li Ying had descended the stairs. Li Ying took his position at the beginning of the aisle as the music swelled, and Anne swiftly rearranged the trail.
“You’re good,” Anne whispered.
Thank you, Anne,Li Ying thought.For everything.
