Li Jiao was practically dragged out of bed and hauled upright.
Three consecutive nights of staying up late had left dark circles prominently under her eyes and her body utterly exhausted.
While the makeup artist applied powder to her face, she kept her eyes closed.
As the stylist fussed with her hair, she yawned repeatedly.
It wasn’t until they tried to make her put on the wedding dress that Li Jiao finally woke up properly.
“Wait? Isn’t the wedding today?”
She blinked incredulously at the pristine white puff-ball gown before her.
“Yes, is there something unsatisfactory about it?” The designer, noticing her hesitation, quickly inquired.
Having long known how difficult young masters and mistresses of wealthy families could be, she didn’t want any trouble at this critical moment.
“Why is the wedding dress white?” Li Jiao asked disdainfully, flipping through the dress. Aside from some golden embroidery at the back, it was entirely white without a trace of red.
This was terribly unlucky—she didn’t want to wear it.
It was supposed to be a joyous occasion, yet she had to dress as if attending a funeral.
“Are you unhappy with the color? Well… Miss Li, this wedding dress was commissioned by Chairman Li for you. We do have a red dress for you to change into during the toast later…” The designer explained nervously, seeing her dissatisfaction.
Li Jiao noted the designer’s anxiety and understood—there was no rumored Plan B for the wedding attire.
Whatever, it’s Li Jiao getting married, not me, so why fuss over whether it’s auspicious or not?
Thinking this, she couldn’t be bothered to ask why they couldn’t wear red from the start and simply shoved the dress back into the designer’s hands. “Forget it, this is fine.”
She’d be going back tonight anyway; there was no need to dwell on the color.
The extended Lincoln glided along the asphalt road of the Italian-style estate and came to a gradual stop in front of the banquet hall.
Song Li Sheng sat in the car, using his tongue to ease the soreness in his cheeks from maintaining a warm, polite smile while dealing with the Song family.
He adjusted his expression in the mirror, his slender fingers straightening the tie at his neck, before stepping out with his long legs clad in tight white suit pants. Under the gaze of the guests, he walked across the lawn into the banquet hall.
Both the Li and Song families had noticed Li Jiao’s reluctance after the engagement, so they tacitly agreed not to invite any media to the wedding, only summoning all the elite families of City A.
But that was enough to irritate Song Li Sheng.
He detested such occasions intensely.
In his eyes, everyone harbored ulterior motives yet wore earnest, congratulatory smiles.
Hypocritical and disgusting.
Unfortunately, Song Li Sheng had to suppress his annoyance and stand on the elevated platform, waiting for his bride.
To the strains of classical music at the wedding venue, Li Jiao descended slowly from the car under everyone’s watchful eyes, wearing a ruffled wedding dress adorned with feathers and tassels.
Unaccustomed to such a form-fitting gown, and having stubbornly changed out of the prepared high heels, she walked extremely slowly.
Beneath the dazzling lights, Song Li Sheng watched Li Jiao intently and tenderly from the moment she appeared.
He had actually been waiting for quite some time, yet his face showed no trace of impatience, as if he were truly filled with joy, awaiting the arrival of his beloved.
Then he devoutly extended his hand, bending forward to invite Li Jiao who walked up to him under the gaze of the entire crowd.
Li Jiao looked at the jade-white hand suddenly appearing before her and instinctively raised her head.
The stage lights were dazzling, and only now did she clearly see Song Li Sheng’s appearance today.
He had combed his bangs completely back, revealing a smooth and full forehead.
His deep eyes shimmered with a faint smile, the corners of his lips slightly upturned like crescent moons.
Behind Song Li Sheng hung a crystal chandelier emitting warm light, softening his originally sharp and somewhat stern jawline.
From Li Jiao’s perspective, he appeared radiant and glorious.
Tranquil, gentle, yet tinged with a wild beauty.
She had never seen a man like Song Li Sheng in the entire capital.
Thus Li Jiao stood slightly dazed, hesitating to extend her hand.
The guests below the stage began speculating silently in their hearts, while Li’s Father nervously clenched his fists.
But Song Li Sheng, maintaining his posture on stage, clearly saw the admiration in Li Jiao’s eyes.
It seemed the rumors about the Li family’s young lady strongly resisting marriage to the Song family’s illegitimate son were not unfounded.
Even at the wedding ceremony she had to put on airs.
Just as everyone was secretly thinking this, Li Jiao placed her hand in Song Li Sheng’s palm.
Being far from the couple, they naturally didn’t hear the extremely soft call that even Song Li Sheng himself couldn’t tell was pretended or involuntary: “Jiaojiao?”
Nor did they hear Li Jiao’s returning-to-her-senses response: “My apologies.”
“It’s quite alright.” The curve of Song Li Sheng’s thin lips deepened as he tightened his grip around the soft, small hand, leading her step by step to the center stage.
As the lengthy vows reached her ears, Li Jiao couldn’t help but marvel at how peculiar modern weddings were – from the clothing to the ceremonies.
No bowing to heaven and earth, no bowing to parents – just saying “I do” sufficed.
Quite incomprehensible.
But under Song Li Sheng’s expectant gaze, she still followed with her own “I do.”
Immediately after, Song Li Sheng took her hand again and slipped a cool, pigeon-egg-sized diamond ring onto her ring finger.
Curious, Li Jiao slightly raised her hand.
The diamond sparkled brilliantly under the lights.
Another unfamiliar imported item +1.
She sighed inwardly.
This time she didn’t linger too long, quickly withdrawing her gaze and following suit by placing the other diamond ring on Song Li Sheng’s ring finger.
Since this was a business marriage that everyone understood, there was no ceremonial kiss.
After exchanging rings, amidst the guests’ applause, Li Jiao began rubbing her hands in anticipation.
Finally came the toast exchange she had been looking forward to.