Red paper cuttings, red candles, and red bedding adorned the room with festive joy. On the large red bed sat a woman dressed in red wedding attire, her head covered by a red bridal veil, shyly waiting for her husband to enter their bridal chamber.
By this time, Chu Lian was somewhat tipsy. After drinking with the guests, he couldn’t wait to return to the bridal room.
Upon opening the door and seeing her under the red bridal veil, he felt a surge of excitement. After twenty-one years, he had finally married the woman of his dreams.
He picked up the lucky Chinese wedding tweezer, lifted the veil, and saw her beauty, so ravishing that he couldn’t help but say, "My lady, you are truly beautiful."
The woman also shyly called out, "My lord."
That address of "my lord" made Chu Lian’s heart leap with joy.
The two of them completed the nuptial rituals such as sharing the bridal cup in the room.
Suddenly, Chu Lian opened his eyes in his sleep, his ears burning hot. He had just had a dream about getting married.
In all his twenty-one years, this had never happened before, not even when he thought he liked Xiaoxiao.
The dream felt so real that he could still remember it vividly at this moment. In his dream, he got married to Wang Xiangxiang, a woman as exquisite as a delicate flower.
The woman he kissed, the woman he spent his wedding night with, it was all Wang Xiangxiang.
His hand felt the beating of his heart against his chest.
He thought that he didn’t just seem to like her, he truly liked her. He had finally confirmed his feelings.
But then his elated heart sank. Would Wang Xiangxiang like him back?
All their encounters had ended in discord, and her cold demeanor towards him probably meant she detested him.
But this time, he couldn’t stand still anymore. If things went on , she would be taken away by someone else.
He had to work hard to change the image Wang Xiangxiang had of him. Then, just as Xiaoxiao had done with Yang Ming, he needed to tell her himself how he felt, that he liked her, that he wanted to marry her.
Thinking this, he seemed filled with confidence. Wang Xiangxiang should still be in Yang Family Village right now; he wanted to go, even though she still wasn’t very friendly towards him. He wanted to find her and start by changing the impression she had of him.
He had to make her see his good qualities. He had to make her fall for him.
Chu Lian’s mind was filled with too many blueprints of their future together.
Once he had made up his mind, Chu Lian got up, tidied everything, and after having breakfast at home, didn’t call for the coachman but drove the horse carriage himself to Yang Family Village in search of Wang Xiangxiang.
Seeing Chu Lian hurry off in such a rush, Chu Xiangxiang couldn’t help but ask, "Father, Mother, where do you think brother is off to again?"
"What else? He must be off to see that Miss Wang," said Lady Chu.
Chu Huanhuan’s bright eyes twirled, "Mother, do you think brother and Miss Wang will make it?"
"Of course, they will. When have you ever seen your brother ? He’s just being stubborn and won’t admit it, but just you watch," Lady Chu said confidently, seeming to have great faith in Chu Lian.
"If that really happens, then I’ll have a sister-in-law, and maybe a little nephew soon," Chu Huan said excitedly, happy that her brother had finally come to his senses.
"There will be very soon, don’t worry. I’ve already had his fortune told, and your brother is destined to have a son."
Her mother actually believed in that stuff?
"Mother, did you calculate one for me, too?"
"Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten you. When the time comes, I’ll have yours calculated as well."