On a rainy night, the school beauty knocked on my door and asked for shelter

The following days were both busy and fulfilling. Wedding preparations were put on the agenda one by one: what brand of wedding candy to choose, what style of invitations to design, how to match the wedding banquet menu, and even what flowers to put on the tables. Chen Xi enjoyed it immensely and would energetically pull Su Yuqing aside every day to discuss various details.

Sometimes when Chen Mo came home from get off work, he would see the two of them huddled together on the sofa, flipping through wedding magazines. He would then lean over and wrap his arms around Su Yuqing's waist from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder and lazily offering a few opinions. Then Chen Xi would slap him away, saying that what did a man like him know?

One afternoon after the Spring Equinox, Chen Mo took Su Yuqing to Yunqi Mountain Villa to inspect the site.

It's about a forty-minute drive from the city center, winding up the mountain road, where plum blossoms and magnolias are in full bloom. The villa is nestled deep in a bamboo forest. Pushing open the heavy wooden door, the scenery inside is even more beautiful than in the photos. The white-walled, gray-tiled Chinese courtyard sits quietly at the foot of the mountain, and the ginkgo tree has just sprouted new buds, its tender green leaves rustling in the afternoon breeze.

The lawn stretched all the way to the lake, whose surface was as calm as a mirror, reflecting the shadows of the mountains and clouds. Occasionally, a water bird would fly by, creating ripples in circles.

Su Yuqing stood in the middle of the lawn, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The air was filled with the scent of grass, soil and faint flowers.

Chen Mo stood under the ginkgo tree with his hands in his pockets, looking at her and smiling, "What do you think?"

Su Yuqing walked up to him, reached out to straighten his collar which had been ruffled by the wind, and looked up with a smile, saying, "The environment here is very comfortable."

Chen Mo lowered his head and kissed the tip of her nose. "As long as you like it."

The butler watched the perfect couple with a smile, silently thinking to himself that he would definitely decorate the villa beautifully on the eighth day of the eighth lunar month. These two people deserved the best wedding.

With Qingming Festival over, time seemed to speed up. The wedding favors were finally chosen from a local, long-established handmade chocolate brand, and the invitations were printed on a special paper with embossed patterns, featuring the couple's names and wedding date in silver foil lettering. Su Yuqing personally wrote several invitations, her wrist aching from writing, but she couldn't bear to let anyone else write them for her. She said these invitations had to be delivered to the people she truly cared about, and each one had to be handwritten to be truly meaningful.

The Chen family has many relatives, and Li Fengzhi's side also has many people to invite; the guest lists from both sides combined exceed two hundred people. Chen Xi prepared a special notebook, densely filled with records of various matters—who is responsible for greeting guests, who is responsible for collecting gifts, who is responsible for arranging seating, and each item is checked off or marked as pending. She opens this notebook as soon as she opens her eyes every morning and reviews it again before going to bed at night, putting in a hundred times more care than when she got married herself, as if she wanted to pour all the maternal love she had accumulated over the past twenty years into this wedding.

Once, Chen Mo accidentally caught a glimpse of his mother's tired profile as she checked the guest list under the lamp in the early hours of the morning. Suddenly, he felt a lump in his throat and quietly left. He went to the kitchen, heated up two cups of milk, and gave one to his mother and the other to Su Yuqing, who was folding candy boxes in the living room.

The days passed by in a flurry of preparations, and before we knew it, the wedding date was fast approaching...

One weekend at the end of July, the wedding planner invited the couple to Yunqi Mountain Villa for final venue confirmation. Chen Xi came along too. Wearing flat shoes, she walked from one end of the lawn to the other, personally measuring the number of steps. She then went to the kitchen to check out the space, confirming the recipes for several dishes with the head chef, and even personally oversaw the placement of the wedding favors. Only after she nodded in satisfaction did she confidently hand over the remaining details to the planner.

It was already evening when they left the villa, and the setting sun had dyed the lake surface a golden red. Chen Xi stood at the entrance of the villa and looked back, suddenly sighing, "This place is really nice, so quiet and beautiful. When you have children in the future, our family can come here again for the weekend."

Su Yuqing, who was holding Chen Mo's arm, couldn't help but smile when she heard this.

Chen Mo nodded seriously: "Okay, we'll have a few more to keep them entertained."

“It’s not like you’re the next life. You make it sound so easy. Do you know how hard it is for a mother to carry a child? You little rascal, you caused quite a bit of trouble in my belly back then.” Chen Xi rolled her eyes at Chen Mo.

Chen Mo grinned and said, "Just kidding. How could I bear to see Yuqing suffer? She can choose not to have children as long as she wants."

"That won't do. At least you have to have a little one for me to play with," Chen Xi objected again.

Su Yuqing listened with a smile and said, "I think it's best if there's a girl and a boy. I don't know how hard it is for a mother to be pregnant, but I hope that the future family members will be the ones I've been looking forward to."

Su Yuqing knew that pregnancy was tough, but the happiness of being able to conceive the fruit of their love with the person she loved completely outweighed any fear she felt.

"Then I'll have to go around asking around for you, hoping you'll get twins on your first pregnancy, so you won't have to suffer so much," Chen Xi replied with a smile.

"Isn't carrying twins harder than carrying one?" Chen Mo glanced at his mother speechlessly.

Su Yuqing raised her hand and gently patted him, her eyes filled with longing and smiles.

On the way home, Chen Mo drove while Su Yuqing sat in the passenger seat, scrolling through messages from her girlfriends on her phone. Zhou Yue announced in the group chat that she was throwing a "get-out-of-single" party for Su Yuqing on the evening of August 3rd, the location a secret, just make sure she was available. Lin Xiaoxiao and Zhao Ya were excitedly discussing the day's arrangements in the group chat, sending a barrage of emojis that practically flooded the screen.

Looking at their chat history, Su Yuqing suddenly felt a deep sense of emotion. Over the years, people had come and gone from her life, but those who genuinely cared for her remained constant.

Before going to sleep, Su Yuqing suddenly sat up and looked intently at Chen Mo, who was looking at his phone.

"What's wrong?" Chen Mo put down his phone and looked at her.

“I was thinking, on the third day of the eighth lunar month, Yueyue and the others are throwing me a bachelor party, and your buddies will definitely throw you one too. We agreed—” She pointed a finger at his chest, “No getting drunk, no being forced to drink, and most importantly—”

Chen Mo grasped her fingers, looking at her with amusement: "What else are you forbidden from doing?"

Su Yuqing pursed her lips, a little embarrassed, but still said, "And you're not allowed to be assigned any strange activities."

Chen Mo chuckled, pulled her into his arms, rested his chin on the top of her head, and the vibration of his chest reached her ear through her thin nightgown: "Don't worry, Wang Lan and the others wouldn't dare. Besides, my heart is full of you, I have no time for all that nonsense."

Su Yuqing snuggled against him and softly hummed in agreement.

The moon outside the window was round and bright; their wedding was less than a month away.

Chen Mo looked at the moon outside the window, his thoughts racing.

This wedding was not just a simple ceremony.

This was the moment Chen Xi's mother had longed for—her son getting married; the moment Chen Miao, the usually taciturn father, hid his joy in the corner of his eye; and the moment Li Fengzhi wanted to make up for the years she had neglected her daughter—a solemn farewell.

It was also the final journey for Su Yuqing from a life of wandering to a peaceful home.

She had grown up cautiously between two families, used to hiding her grievances, and never even dared to hope for being "chosen firmly by someone."

So Chen Mo wanted to make this day good enough.

Not for extravagance, nor for showing off.

Instead, she should clearly demonstrate to all those who truly love her that from this day forward, she is no longer a little girl living under someone else's roof; she has her own home, her own lover, and a whole group of people who naturally stand behind her.

On the third day of August, Zhou Yue, Lin Xiaoxiao, and Zhao Ya took Su Yuqing to what they called a "single's party".

It was supposed to be a party, but there weren't any fancy plans. The four girls booked a small private room overlooking the river, had a lively hot pot meal, and then went to the nearby riverbank for some fresh air.

Holding up her milk tea cup, Zhou Yue solemnly said, "Yuqing, starting today, you are the first person in our dormitory to officially step into the 'walled city' of marriage."

Lin Xiaoxiao immediately corrected, "What do you mean by 'besieged city'? This is a fairytale castle."

Zhao Ya added with a laugh, "It was the kind that Chen Mo repaired himself."

Su Yuqing blushed as they spoke, but her face was full of happiness.

She simply looked down at the milk tea swaying in her cup and said softly, "Actually, I still feel like I'm dreaming."

Zhou Yue was the first to stop joking and reached out to hug her: "You should treat those hard days in the past as a dream. Everything you have now is real, and it's what you deserve."

Lin Xiaoxiao and Zhao Ya also came over, and the four girls huddled together by the river.

The evening breeze ruffled their hair, and the lights on the river swayed. Su Yuqing was embraced by her friends, her eyes slightly red, but she smiled sweetly.

Later, Zhao Yueyue also arrived. Although it was a college reunion, Su Yuqing also hoped that all her friends could get to know each other.

Zhao Yueyue is an outgoing person, and girls get to know each other very quickly, so they quickly became good friends.

On the other side, Chen Mo was also pulled out by Wang Lan, Li Zhe, Shen Xinghe, Huang Mao, and Lin Yu'an.

Despite it being a gathering of friends, no one actually egged Chen Mo on to do anything promiscuous before marriage.

They are all good friends and are all thinking about Chen Mo's wedding.

Shen Xinghe glanced at Chen Mo, who was intently studying the flowchart, and asked with a smile, "Nervous?"

There was a moment of silence in the private room.

Chen Mo gently stroked the rim of the cup with his fingertips, and after a few seconds smiled: "A little, I feel like I've never been this nervous in my life."

It was unusual for Wang Lan not to tease him.

Chen Mo leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the distant lights outside the window, and said in a lower voice, "I'm not afraid of things going wrong in the process, nor am I afraid of too many people. I'm just afraid that something I did wrong might not be good enough for this once-in-a-lifetime event. I want this day to be the most beautiful memory of her life."

Even with his two lifetimes of experience, Chen Mo couldn't help but feel uncertain when he reached this crucial step.

After these words were spoken, everyone fell silent for a moment.

They watched Chen Mo and Su Yuqing walk towards them, and they were actually quite envious and full of blessings.

They could be described as a very successful couple.

Even so, she was still so nervous and anxious when it came to the crucial moment of getting married.

They couldn't help but imagine and feel nervous about this moment in their future.

Wang Lan patted his shoulder and smiled, "Judging from your schedule, you've done a great job. Don't put too much pressure on yourself."

Chen Mo glanced at him and smiled faintly: "Not enough."

Because no matter how well he does, Su Yuqing deserves even better.

The night before the wedding, according to the elders' wishes, Su Yuqing was to go back to her parents' home, Li Fengzhi's, place to stay.

This was originally just a tradition of the older generation that "the bride must return to her parents' home the night before the wedding," but when it came time to part, Chen Mo stood by the car and refused to let go.

Since returning to that stormy night, he has done everything in his power to protect Su Yuqing. Even when he was sick and unable to be with her, he would send Daofeng to secretly protect her.

He was terrified.

I'm afraid that if I let go, if I can't see her anymore, I'll lose her again.

The pain of this loss tormented him for more than a decade.

So much so that the fear of losing Su Yuqing was ingrained in his very bones.

Even though it was only a one-night separation, he was afraid that if he let go and let Su Yuqing out of his sight for too long, he would suddenly receive news that she had been murdered and would never see her again.

No one could understand what Chen Mo was feeling at that moment. Everyone else was just teasing him for being too clingy to his wife, saying that he couldn't bear to let go even after a whole night.

Only Su Yuqing knew what was going on. She saw the worry and fear in Chen Mo's eyes and understood everything.

Su Yuqing held his hand, looking at his fear of losing her, and smiled gently as she leaned close to Chen Mo's ear and said, "It's just one night, don't worry. This kind of happiness is hard to come by in this life. I will take good care of myself and I will never let anything happen to me."

“A night is a long time,” Chen Mo said seriously, though he couldn’t help feeling worried.

Chen Xi, who was standing nearby, couldn't stand it anymore: "Alright, stop being so lovey-dovey. You'll go pick them up first thing tomorrow morning. It's not like we're preventing you from seeing them."

Li Fengzhi was also smiling beside her, but her eyes were already red.

Su Yuqing gently shook Chen Mo's hand to reassure him, "See you tomorrow."

Chen Mo looked at her and said softly, "I'll come pick you up and take you home tomorrow."

Upon hearing these two words about returning home, Su Yuqing's nose suddenly stung with tears.

"Okay." Su Yuqing nodded, her voice softening. "I'll wait for you."

That evening, Su Yuqing stayed in her original room, which Li Fengzhi had specially cleaned again.

The room wasn't big, but it was very clean. The sheets were freshly changed, a bunch of pale purple flowers sat on the windowsill, and a childhood photo of her was on the desk.

The little girl in the photo has two braids, stands in her grandmother's yard, holding a rag doll in her arms, and laughing carefree.

Su Yuqing sat on the edge of the bed and looked at the photo for a long time, her fingertips gently tracing the edge of the photo.

Li Fengzhi brought in a bowl of red date and lotus seed soup. Seeing her daughter in a daze, she also slowed her pace.

"Still not asleep?"

"Hmm, I have a little trouble sleeping." Su Yuqing looked up and smiled.

Li Fengzhi sat down next to her and handed her the bowl: "You have to get up early tomorrow, so eat something, don't go hungry."

Su Yuqing obediently took it and took a sip.

The lotus seeds were stewed until very soft, and the sweetness of the red dates gently spread out.

Li Fengzhi looked at her for a long time before whispering, "Qingqing, Mom was... sorry for you before."

Su Yuqing paused, her hand holding the spoon still.

Li Fengzhi's eyes reddened quickly, but she tried to keep her voice steady: "When you were little, someone should have combed your hair, cooked for you, and hugged you when you were wronged. But your mother was sick and confused at that time, and pushed you away for so many years."

Su Yuqing felt a lump in her throat, put down her bowl, and reached out to hold her hand: "Mom, it's all in the past."

“I knew you would say that.” Li Fengzhi held her hand tightly, tears finally falling. “But Mom can’t bear it. Tomorrow I will personally hand you over to Chen Mo. I am truly happy. Chen Mo is a good boy. Mom knows he is genuinely good to you. You will be happy. But Mom is also truly reluctant to let you go. I couldn’t protect you properly before. In the future… Mom hopes you will be loved well.”

Su Yuqing could no longer hold back her tears, and she leaned over and hugged her.

The mother and daughter embraced quietly in the small room.

There was no heart-wrenching tragedy, nor any earth-shattering event.

Only the mother and daughter embraced each other silently, shedding tears as they poured out all the long-overdue debts and forgiveness they had owed each other. On the eve of their wedding, the last rift between them finally dissipated gently.

The next morning, before dawn, a very light rain began to fall in Jiangcheng.

The rain pattered softly on the windowsill, like someone knocking on the door in bygone days.

When Su Yuqing opened her eyes, she heard the lingering rain outside the window, and a thought suddenly struck her.

Many years ago, it was a stormy night.

Soaked to the bone, she stood outside Chen Mo's door, mustering all her courage to knock. At that moment, she didn't know what lay behind the door; she only knew she had nowhere to go, and that if she didn't knock, she would truly be swallowed up by the raging storm.

And today, it's raining again.

But the gentle rain brings good fortune.

This time, she was no longer a pitiful little girl begging for shelter.

She is the bride who is to be solemnly welcomed home.

The makeup artist arrived quickly, and Zhou Yue, Lin Xiaoxiao, Zhao Ya, and Zhao Yueyue rushed in with breakfast and a large bag of props.

"Is the bride awake?" Zhou Yue called out in a low voice as soon as she entered the room, as if afraid of waking up some precious baby.

Su Yuqing had already changed her clothes and was sitting in front of the dressing mirror. She was amused by their exaggerated commotion: "You're awake."

Lin Xiaoxiao rushed over to look at her, her eyes lighting up instantly: "My God, you're already this beautiful even without makeup! Chen Mo must be completely dumbfounded today!"

Zhao Ya laid out the breakfast: "Eat a couple of bites first, so you don't faint from hunger at the wedding."

Surrounded by them, Su Yuqing felt incredibly warm inside.

The makeup artist styled her hair, applied makeup, and put on a phoenix crown.

Zhao Yueyue was laughing and joking when she suddenly teared up the moment she saw Su Yuqing turn around.

"Yuqing," she said softly, "you look so beautiful today."

Su Yuqing looked at herself in the mirror.

The woman in the mirror has gentle eyes and brows, and the golden tassels on her phoenix crown hang down softly. The phoenix tail pattern on her wedding dress shimmers with a subtle light under the lamp.

She took a soft breath and thought to herself: I'm a bride today. Grandpa, Grandma, you have to come and see!

At 6:16 a.m., a lively commotion suddenly came from downstairs.

The wedding procession has arrived.

Li Mingyu was the first to rush to the window. When he saw the row of cars decorated with flowers and ribbons downstairs, he was so excited that he almost jumped up: "Brother-in-law is here! Brother-in-law is here!"

Zhou Yue immediately got into action: "Sisters, block the door!"

Lin Xiaoxiao took out the question cards she had prepared in advance, and Zhao Ya closed the door. The three of them instantly became serious, as if they were about to conduct an interrogation.

Soon, there was a knock on the door.

Wang Lan's voice came first: "Open the door! Open the door! It's an auspicious time, don't delay the groom from picking up the bride!"

Zhou Yue called out through the door, "Red envelopes first, sincerity follows!"

A thick stack of red envelopes was immediately slipped under the door.

Lin Xiaoxiao picked them up, counted them, and nodded in satisfaction: "Barely passed the first test. Second test, answer the questions!"

Chen Mo, speaking from outside the door, said with a smile, "Ask."

Zhao Ya cleared her throat: "You've come to pick her up today. What do you want to say to her? You can only come in after the bride is satisfied with the answer."

There was silence outside the door for a few seconds.

Su Yuqing sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers nervously clenching the hem of her skirt.

She also wanted to hear what Chen Mo would say to her.

Just as Zhou Yue and the others were getting impatient and were about to ask the question again.

Chen Mo's voice came in through the door, word by word.

"I wanted to say, Yuqing, I've come to take you home."

"From today onwards, whether it's sunny or rainy, whether it's bustling or quiet, no matter where we go in the future, I will hold your hand."

"That night, you placed your hopes on me. Today, I want to ask you to entrust the rest of your life to me as well."

The room became completely quiet.

Su Yuqing lowered her head, tears almost falling, but quickly tilted her head back, not wanting to ruin her makeup.

Zhou Yue sniffed and muttered, "You pass this question."

The door finally opened.

Chen Mo stood outside the door wearing a Chinese-style long gown from the same collection as her, her figure elegant and her eyes gentle, while the groomsmen behind her smiled brightly.

Meanwhile, Su Yuqing's bridesmaids were all beautiful and elegant.

But Chen Mo could no longer see anyone else.

His gaze swept over all the noise and landed on Su Yuqing, as if he were frozen in place.

Chen Mo had seen Su Yuqing wear this wedding dress before, but Su Yuqing wasn't wearing makeup at the time.

Now, after being specially made up and dressed in her wedding attire, Su Yuqing, who was already exceptionally beautiful, is even more ethereal.

Su Yuqing's cheeks flushed under his gaze. She stretched out her little foot and muttered softly, "What are you standing there for?"

Chen Mo's Adam's apple bobbed. He walked up to her, knelt down on one knee, and helped her put on the Chinese embroidered shoes adorned with pearls.

He held her ankle, his movements as gentle as if he were cradling a rare treasure.

After putting on his shoes, he looked up at her, his eyes filled with deep amazement and overwhelming emotion.

"Because she's so beautiful," he said. "Who wouldn't be stunned when they see such a beautiful bride? I'm considered quick to snap out of it."

As soon as he said that, the room burst into laughter.

Su Yuqing smiled too, but her eyes shone as if they were filled with water.

After the wedding procession, it is time for the tea ceremony.

Li Fengzhi sat in the main seat, with Li Gang beside her. Li Mingyu, who had been excitedly pacing around, suddenly fell silent when he saw his sister kneeling on the cushion and picking up a teacup.

Su Yuqing held the teacup, her voice gentle yet solemn: "Mom, have some tea."

Li Fengzhi took the tea, her hands trembling violently. She took a sip, and tears streamed down her face.

She took out a red envelope and a small gold bracelet that she had prepared beforehand and put them in Su Yuqing's hand: "Qingqing, you must be good from now on. Live happily. If you are wronged, come home, Mom is here."

Su Yuqing nodded vigorously: "Mm."

Chen Mo also picked up his teacup: "Mom, have some tea."

The word "Mom" made Li Fengzhi pause for a moment, and then she couldn't stop crying.

Chen Mo looked at her and said earnestly, "Don't worry, I will take good care of Yuqing. She will have her own family and her husband's family in the future, but no matter where she is, she will never suffer any more grievances."

Li Fengzhi nodded, choking back tears, and reached out to touch his hair, as if she were finally entrusting him with something most precious.

The convoy then proceeded to the Chen family's residence.

Chen Xi was waiting at the door early, and her eyes immediately reddened when she saw Su Yuqing get out of the car in her wedding dress.

She quickly came forward, took Su Yuqing's hand, and said repeatedly, "Beautiful, so beautiful. Our Qingqing looks so good today."

Chen Miao stood behind her, unusually refraining from urging her to be mindful of her image, and simply looked at his son and daughter-in-law with gentle eyes.

During the tea ceremony at the Chen family home, Su Yuqing held up the tea and softly called out, "Mom."

Before Chen Xi even took the tea, tears started falling.

"Yes." Her voice trembled as she answered, took the tea, took a sip, and then placed the prepared family heirloom jade bracelet on Su Yuqing's wrist. "From today onwards, you are the rightful mistress of this house. No matter how much your mother has doted on you before, she will only dote on you more from now on. If Chen Mo bullies you, don't argue with him, just tell me and I'll deal with him."

Chen Mo said helplessly, "Mom, today is my wedding day. Say something auspicious, not something like 'noisy'."

Chen Xi glared at him: "You have a problem with that?"

Chen Mo immediately changed his tune: "No, you're right."

Seeing the mother and son bantering, everyone in the room burst into laughter.

Su Yuqing smiled, but tears quietly rolled down her cheeks.

Chen Miao took the tea she offered, without saying much, but took out a thick red envelope from his pocket and handed it to her, his voice steady: "From now on, this is your home. Do whatever you want, the family will always have your back."

This sentence is very short.

But Su Yuqing knew that this was Chen Miao's most important promise. She smiled and replied earnestly, "Thank you, Dad."

Chen Miao, who had been holding back, finally had tears welling up in his eyes when he heard the word "Dad".

The family banquet at noon was lively and bustling. In the evening, everyone changed clothes and headed to Yunqi Mountain Villa.

The light rain that fell that morning had long since stopped.

The sky was washed clean after the rain, and the air was filled with the scents of grass, earth, and flowers. The car wound its way up the mountain road, the bamboo forest rustling in the wind. The heavy wooden doors of Yunqi Mountain Villa slowly opened, as if embracing a belated but perfect dream.

On the eighth day of the eighth lunar month, the hydrangeas at Yunqi Mountain Villa were in full bloom.

Blue, purple, pink and white, clusters of ginkgo leaves spread along the path, as if leaving the gentlest colors of summer here. The ginkgo trees in the courtyard are lush with leaves, the lake reflects the sunset and the shadows of the mountains, and the ceremonial area in the center of the lawn is arranged in an elegant and solemn manner.

There are no overly elaborate decorations.

There were only patches of flowers, clean white gauze, light purple ribbons, and warm-colored lights that were not yet fully lit.

Guests entered the venue one after another.

Relatives of the Chen family, friends and relatives of the Li family, and classmates and friends from university filled both sides of the lawn. Zhou Yue, Lin Xiaoxiao, Zhao Ya, and Zhao Yueyue changed into new bridesmaid dresses and stood at the entrance, constantly helping Su Yuqing adjust the hem of her Western-style wedding dress. Wang Lan, Li Zhe, Shen Xinghe, and others accompanied Chen Mo at the other end, seemingly joking around, but their eyes were actually softer than usual.

Li Mingyu, dressed in a little suit with a small flower pinned to his chest, solemnly served as a flower boy.

He practiced how to scatter flower petals all afternoon, but he was still very nervous in the end.

Chen Mo stood in front of the ceremony platform, wearing that navy blue suit.

The setting sun cast a gentle golden glow on his shoulders, gilding his silhouette. He was usually carefree, seemingly able to handle anything with ease, but at this moment, he stood exceptionally upright, even his breathing was much lighter than usual.

Wang Lan leaned closer and whispered, "Don't be nervous, bro. You look really handsome today."

Chen Mo, without even glancing at him, shamelessly smiled and said, "I know."

Wang Lan was taken aback and was about to retort when she heard Chen Mo add in a low voice, "But I'm still nervous."

When the music started, everyone's eyes turned to the path surrounded by hydrangeas.

Su Yuqing appeared.

She changed into the satin off-the-shoulder wedding dress, the veil gently draped over her shoulders, and she held a bouquet of light purple and white flowers in her hands. The evening breeze after the rain stirred, causing the veil to flutter slightly, like a soft cloud.

Li Fengzhi held her hand and walked with her step by step.

Because of Su Yaxi's situation, Su Yuqing has completely broken ties with her father.

On Su Yuqing's joyous day, her father did not lead her down the aisle.

But at this moment, she felt no regret.

Because beside her was her mother, who had finally returned to her side; behind her were her relatives and friends, whose eyes were red with tears of happiness for her; and in front of her was her beloved, who had waited for her for many years.

At the end of the path, near the ginkgo tree, Chen Mo had a small wooden table specially placed there.

There were no extravagant decorations on the table, only two old photos, a bunch of white daisies, and a wooden plaque that read, "Qingqing is getting married today. May her grandparents rest in peace."

This was something Chen Mo and Chen Xi secretly prepared together after discussing it.

The moment Su Yuqing saw the wooden table, her eyes immediately welled up with tears.

She knew that was where her maternal grandparents were.

They were not absent.

In a different way, they sat in the most tender spot of the wedding, watching their beloved little girl in her wedding dress walk towards her own happiness.

Li Fengzhi also saw it, and her grip on Su Yuqing's hand tightened slightly.

Neither mother nor daughter spoke; they simply continued walking forward, their eyes red.

Li Fengzhi stopped in front of the ceremony platform.

She looked at Chen Mo, then at her daughter beside her, her eyes filled with reluctance, guilt, and a sense of relief at finally letting go.

She placed Su Yuqing's hand in Chen Mo's palm, her voice choked but clear: "Mo Mo, I'm entrusting Qingqing to you."

Chen Mo grasped Su Yuqing's hand and bowed solemnly: "Mom, don't worry."

The four words are light, yet like a sweet candy, they melt steadily in everyone's hearts, bringing comfort.

Su Yuqing stood next to Chen Mo and looked at him through her veil.

Chen Mo was also looking at her.

Even though the two of them had been together for so long, registered their marriage, lived in the same house, and gone through the proposal, marriage registration, and tea ceremony, they still felt an almost solemn thrill when they stood side by side in front of all their relatives and friends.

The emcee's voice rang out on the lawn, gentle and restrained.

He said their story began with a rain shower.

He said that some encounters may seem messy, but they may be the best foreshadowing for a lifetime.

He said today is not the end of a story, but the beginning of another long and wonderful period.

As Su Yuqing listened, tears welled up in her eyes.

She remembered that stormy night.

She recalled the cold she felt standing outside the door, the warm light that shone through when the door opened, and Chen Mo's meticulous care.

Back then, she could never have imagined that years later, she would be standing beside him in a wedding dress, hearing everyone wish them a long and happy life together.

That day was supposed to be her most unlucky and desperate day, but everything changed when she entered a special home.

When it was time to read the oath, Chen Mo took the microphone.

He doesn't usually like to say anything too sentimental in front of others, but today, looking at Su Yuqing, he suddenly felt that all the words he had kept in his heart should be heard by her, and by everyone.

"Yuqing".

He called her name.

Su Yuqing looked up at him.

"You once knocked on my door on a stormy night." Chen Mo's voice wasn't loud, but it carried steadily to every corner. "You might have thought that I took you in because you were homeless."

"But actually, it was you who brought light into my life."

Su Yuqing's eyelashes trembled.

Chen Mo continued, "You taught me what it means to care, what it means to feel sorry for someone, and what it means for someone to be strong yet still deserving of protection. You made me realize that home is not just a house or a door, but someone who is willing to wait for you to come back, someone who is willing to hold an umbrella for you in the wind and rain, and someone who is willing to walk slowly with you on a sunny day."

"So today, I want to tell you in front of all my family and friends—"

His voice paused slightly, but his eyes were incredibly gentle.

"I'll walk with you through every step of the way from now on."

"I cherish every family member with you."

"I will remember everyone you miss, just like you."

"You no longer need to be afraid of having nowhere to go. Because from today onwards, as long as I am here, you will always have a home."

"Will you marry me?"

Su Yuqing's tears finally fell.

At this moment, she could no longer hold back.

She just looked at Chen Mo, letting the tears slide down her cheeks, but the corners of her mouth slowly turned up.

When Chen Mo handed her the microphone, she took it, her fingertips still trembling slightly.

She took a deep breath.

The audience was quiet; even the wind seemed to have slowed down.

"silent."

She also called him by his name.

“I used to think I was a very troublesome person.” She smiled gently, her smile tinged with tears. “I have a lot of past I’m afraid to talk about, and a lot of wounds I don’t even want to touch myself. I’m used to not bothering others, used to saying it’s okay even when I’m wronged, and used to always taking a step back first in any situation.”

"But you told me time and time again that I didn't have to return it."

She looked at Chen Mo, her eyes bright as if they held the light of an entire lake.

“You gave me a ray of light when I was at my most desperate. You cooked for me, spent the New Year with me, watched the lanterns with me, and did everything I wanted to do but couldn’t do in my heart. You remember my favorite color, the grievances I dared not speak out, and my relatives who have left but are still very important to me.”

At this point, her voice choked slightly.

"Thank you, Mo."

"Thank you for opening the door on that stormy night."

"Thank you for opening the closed doors in my heart for me every day after that."

Chen Mo's eyes also reddened.

Su Yuqing smiled even more gently: "Today, in front of everyone, I want to tell you—I do."

"I am willing to live with you, to be filial to our parents with you, and to make every ordinary day memorable with you."

"I am willing to share an umbrella with you when it rains, and to watch the clouds with you on a sunny day."

"I want to be your wife, your family, and the one who will always stand by your side."

She paused, tears welling in her eyes, but her voice remained incredibly firm.

"Mo, for the rest of my life, I will not leave."

Many people in the audience had tears in their eyes.

Zhao Yueyue covered her mouth and cried the loudest. Lin Xiaoxiao handed her tissues while crying herself. Zhao Ya and Zhou Yue tried their best to tilt their heads back to stop their tears from falling, but they still failed.

Chen Xi leaned on Chen Miao's shoulder and cried without any regard for her image.

Chen Miao didn't say anything, but simply reached out and put his arm around her, while secretly wiping the corner of his eye with his other hand.

Li Fengzhi was already sobbing uncontrollably, and Li Gang gently patted her back. Li Mingyu looked at this one, then at that one, and finally, with red eyes, he muttered softly, "Sister is getting married, it's not like she's abandoning us..."

This remark made the people around him both laugh and cry.

When exchanging wedding rings, Chen Mo took Su Yuqing's hand.

Gently removing the original engagement ring, he slowly slipped the wedding ring he had prepared onto her ring finger, which shimmered with a gentle light in the sunset.

Su Yuqing also put the ring on his finger.

Chen Mo's fingers were much wider than hers, but his palms were slightly warm from nervousness.

After she put the ring on his finger, she suddenly gently hooked his palm with her fingertip.

Chen Mo looked down at her, a smile instantly spreading across his eyes.

The emcee announced with a smile, "Now, the groom may kiss his bride."

The wind blows through the sea of ​​hydrangeas, and the white veils flutter gently.

Chen Mo lifted Su Yuqing's veil and lowered his head to kiss her.

The audience erupted in enthusiastic applause, cheers, and good-natured jeers.

Petals fell from the sky, landing in her hair, on her shoulders, and on Chen Mo's suit.

The kiss was light, yet deep.

It's like bidding farewell to all the suffering of the past, and also looking forward to a long and happy future.

After the ceremony, the banquet officially began.

One by one, the lights in Yunqi Villa were lit up, and the lake reflected the lights and the moonlight, as if someone had gently laid the Milky Way on the water.

The banquet wasn't overly noisy, but laughter filled the air.

Zhao Yueyue gave a speech, the first half of which was quite proper, but the second half she choked up: "Yuqing, you must be happy. Not the kind of happiness that looks good on social media, but the kind of happiness that makes you feel at peace every time you wake up. Chen Mo, if you dare to make her cry, our entire sisterhood will not let you off the hook."

Chen Mo raised his glass: "Don't worry, I wouldn't dare to mess with you."

The audience erupted in laughter.

Wang Lan, representing the brothers, went on stage. He had prepared a long speech to tease Chen Mo, but when he stood on the stage and looked at the two of them, he only had one heartfelt sentence left: "Brother, congratulations. Sister-in-law, congratulations."

Li Mingyu was also encouraged by the crowd to go on stage.

The little guy held the microphone, his ears turning red with nervousness. After holding it in for a long time, he finally shouted out the blessing he had practiced for so long: "Wishing my sister and brother-in-law a happy marriage, a long and happy life together, and many children!"

The entire audience burst into laughter instantly.

Chen Xi couldn't stop smiling and immediately stuffed a large red envelope into Li Mingyu's hand, saying, "This kid has such a sweet tongue."

Li Fengzhi was both amused and embarrassed: "He just randomly imitates what he sees on TV."

The festivities continued until nightfall.

The guests gradually left, while friends continued taking photos and playing around in the courtyard, and the elders sat on the veranda drinking tea and chatting. Su Yuqing changed out of her high heels and into a pair of flats, and Chen Mo led her slowly to the lakeside.

In the distance, the lights shone softly, while behind me, the sounds of people were lively.

They seemed to have stolen a small patch of peace from the hustle and bustle.

The wind by the lake carried moisture, ruffling the stray hairs around Su Yuqing's ears.

Chen Mo took off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders: "Are you cold?"

"I'm not cold." Su Yuqing pulled her coat tighter, but didn't refuse.

She gazed at the lake and suddenly whispered, "Today was truly perfect."

Chen Mo breathed a sigh of relief and turned to look at her: "It's better than you imagined?"

"Yes." Su Yuqing nodded, "Much better."

She paused, then looked up at the ginkgo tree not far away.

The small wooden table under the tree is still there, the daisies in front of the photo sway gently in the evening breeze, and the words on the wooden sign are clear and gentle under the lamp.

Su Yuqing walked over, squatted down, and gently touched the wooden plaque.

Chen Mo didn't disturb her, but quietly stayed by her side half a step behind her.

After a long while, Su Yuqing finally spoke softly, as if she were speaking to the person in the photo, or perhaps to someone in heaven.

"Grandpa, Grandma, I'm getting married."

"He is my husband, Chen Mo."

"He's very good to me, really very good."

"The little girl you used to worry about now has someone to love her, someone to protect her, a home to return to, and many, many people who love her."

As she said this, tears welled up in her eyes again, but her voice was still filled with laughter.

"You can rest assured."

Chen Mo stepped forward, squatted down beside her, and reached out to hold her hand.

"Grandpa, Grandma." He looked at the photo, his voice low and solemn, "Thank you for raising Qingqing and allowing me to meet her. Thank you for loving her so much. From now on, it's my turn to love her, take care of her, and be with her."

"I dare not say that I will never make mistakes, but I promise that as long as I am here, I will not let her face the storms alone."

Su Yuqing turned to look at him.

Chen Mo looked at her and smiled, "Does saying that put the old lady at ease?"

Su Yuqing nodded with tears in her eyes, then suddenly threw herself into his arms and hugged him very tightly.

"silent."

"Ok?"

"Thank you."

"I've thanked you so many times today."

"Then I'd like to say it again." Su Yuqing buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled but sweet and soft, "Thank you for opening the door."

"Thank you for coming in." Chen Mo lowered his head and kissed the top of her head.

A night breeze blew by, and the distant laughter of friends could be faintly heard. The lights by the lake flickered, much like the warm light that shone through the crack in the door on that stormy night many years ago.

When they returned to the banquet hall, the final group photo had not yet been taken.

Zhou Yue, with her sharp eyes, spotted the two returning and immediately waved, "Bride and groom, come quick! The group photo is just missing you two!"

Chen Mo led Su Yuqing over.

Friends automatically made way for the middle seat, and the elders also stepped over. Chen Xi pulled Li Fengzhi to stand next to Su Yuqing, Chen Miao stood behind Chen Mo, Li Gang held Li Mingyu who was still waving, and Zhou Yue, Lin Xiaoxiao, Zhao Ya, and Wang Lan squeezed to the sides.

The photographer raised his camera and shouted, "Look here, everyone! Three, two, one—"

The moment the shutter clicked, Su Yuqing instinctively looked at Chen Mo.

Chen Mo happened to be looking down at her.

So when the photo was taken, everyone was looking at the camera, but they were looking at each other.

Later, Chen Xi developed the photo and placed it in the most prominent frame in the Chen family's living room.

Everyone who comes to visit your home will see it.

The photo shows lights, flowers, family, friends, and two people who have finally reached the end of their happiness.

As night deepened, the wedding finally came to a true close.

Most of the lights in the resort gradually went out, and the lake became quiet, with only a few small lights still on under the ginkgo trees.

Su Yuqing sat in the car on her way home, leaning on Chen Mo's shoulder, so tired she could barely keep her eyes open.

Chen Mo reached out and gently plucked a petal from her hair that had fallen there sometime earlier, his movements so as not to wake her.

"Are you very tired?" he asked.

"Tired." Su Yuqing closed her eyes, snuggled closer to Chen Mo, and said softly, "But I'm very happy."

Chen Mo smiled and said, "Then sleep for a while. I'll carry you upstairs when we get home."

Su Yuqing gave a mumbled "hmm," and after a few seconds, she suddenly opened her eyes to look at him.

"silent."

"what happened?"

"We really got married."

Chen Mo took her hand and gently touched his wedding ring to hers.

The metals touched and made a very faint sound.

"Hmm," he said softly, "Mrs. Chen, please guide me in the future."

Su Yuqing smiled, her eyes still glistening with a few tears, yet as bright as the sky after a rain.

"Mr. Chen, please give me your guidance as well."

The car drove down the mountain road and through the gently lit city of Jiangcheng.

The night sky cleared completely, the clouds dispersed, and the moon peeked out from between the branches and leaves, shining brightly on the way home.

From then on, we'll weather the storms together and enjoy the sunshine together.

There are people to watch the lantern festival with, and people to keep watch over the New Year's Eve dinner with.

The little girl her grandparents had been longing for has finally found her own happiness.

Their story came to a tender end in this wedding, surrounded by flowers, lights, family affection, and love.

For the rest of my life, I wish for a house, two people, three meals a day, four seasons, and every year, sunny days. (End of Chapter)