After the charity gala, Li Yixing and Feng Zhao did not meet again. By the time they saw each other once more, it was the day of their wedding.
The wedding was held at the St. Sophia Grand Auditorium. Li Yixing woke up extremely early; at four-thirty in the morning, he was already out of bed.
According to the wedding proceedings, Feng Zhao would pilot his aircraft here before eight o’clock, pick him up to register at the marriage office, and then proceed to the St. Sophia Grand Auditorium. Li Yixing got up, washed, and changed into the formal wear that had been delivered just the day before.
It was a wine-red tailcoat paired with a classic white shirt with wavy ruffled edges, while the bottom consisted of a pair of black double-breasted trousers and a pair of red-soled, pointed-toe leather boots.
This outfit made Li Yixing look noble and elegant. Paired with his indifferent, icy expression, he resembled a supernatural spirit from Ancient Earth legends that survived by consuming human blood.
587, an artificial intelligence with basic aesthetic capabilities, gave a high evaluation of Li Yixing’s attire: “Sir, your ensemble is perfect. It fits the atmosphere of the wedding very well.”
Li Yixing was adjusting his sleeves in front of the mirror and did not respond. He took out the black cufflinks he had prepared earlier, put them on nonchalantly, and then grabbed his hair a few times, completing his entire look.
Breakfast was still a nutrient injection administered through the arm. After the injection, Li Yixing sat on the sofa with an expressionless face, waiting for Feng Zhao to come pick him up.
587 turned on the projection, and the sounds of people talking echoed in the empty apartment.
He did not know how long he had been waiting before the door was finally knocked. Li Yixing stood up and opened the door, and as expected, he saw Feng Zhao.
Feng Zhao was wearing the deep green military ceremonial uniform that had previously appeared in news reports, adorned with gold chains and medals on his chest. He did not seem to have tidied himself up specifically; his chestnut hair looked as if it had been grabbed at the last minute, revealing a kind of exquisite dishevelment.
Their gazes clashed in mid-air. There was not a shred of marital joy or appreciation for one another; there was only speechlessness and endurance for the long, performative day ahead.
The two stared at each other motionlessly for a while.
Li Yixing: “…”
Feng Zhao: “…”
After a long silence, Feng Zhao finally realized he was blocking the way, so he stepped aside to give Li Yixing space. The latter left the apartment, and under the watchful eye of the home-assistant robot 587, walked toward what was destined to be a marriage of convenience.
Arriving at the square downstairs, Li Yixing was nearly blinded.
Approaching them was a fleet of gaudy, multicolored aircraft, which were even more vibrant than the flower beds in the center of the square.
Li Yixing: “…”
He found Feng Zhao’s aesthetic beyond criticism. He looked at this fleet of aircraft, which could be compared to a form of color pollution, and hesitated to speak. Ultimately, he closed his eyes, used every bit of his lifetime’s worth of negotiation skills, and convinced his hands to open the cabin door of that bright red aircraft covered in pink flowers.
Feng Zhao clearly sensed Li Yixing’s low pressure. His smug voice rang out behind Li Yixing, carrying a fake, affectionate intimacy: “Darling, this is a fleet of aircraft I specially selected for you. I hope you like it.”
Li Yixing: “…”
He truly wished he could crack open Feng Zhao’s brain and sell this redundant garbage to a nearby dog food processing factory for two Alliance credits.
That morning, the citizens of the Yas district saw a row of vibrant, multicolored aircraft streaking across the sky toward the Yas District Marriage Registration Office.
At the registration office, they exited the aircraft together, shifting instantly from mutual loathing to a display of inseparable newlyweds. They affectionately linked arms and, gritting their teeth, stepped into the entrance of the marriage registry.
The AI reviewing their documents scanned their personal information carefully and took their marriage certificate photo.
In the photo, the two looked straight ahead with professional fake smiles, as standard as two mannequins. The entire photo radiated the scent of a plastic partnership.
“I wish you a happy marriage!” the AI’s pleasant voice rang out in the hall. Feng Zhao and Li Yixing exchanged a glance; they both looked like they wanted to vomit what they had eaten that morning onto the other person’s formal attire.
Meanwhile, the St. Sophia Grand Auditorium was packed to capacity. Stan Davis and Feng Tingsong had already appeared in the seating area, warmly greeting the socialites who had come to attend the wedding.
Major media outlets scrambled to take photos, recording this beautiful and peaceful scene. At the main table, Li Yixing’s adoptive mother, Luo Taylor, was chatting with Feng Zhao’s biological father, Fang Shengwan.
They were not very focused on this wedding, and what they were discussing was not related to Li Yixing or Feng Zhao, but rather what new flower species had recently been cultivated in the Yas district.
Halfway through the conversation, a young man wearing a navy blue tuxedo sat down beside Fang Shengwan; it was Feng Zhiyu. Only then did the husband of this Alliance Chief Official notice that someone was missing from the side of the in-laws.
“Has Major General Ross, Yixing’s brother, not arrived yet?”
Luo Taylor’s expression changed slightly at the mention of the reports in major newspapers about Ross. It became somewhat unpleasant. However, she quickly recovered her smile and explained unhurriedly: “Ross has been feeling very unwell since the day before yesterday. Stan let him rest at home.”
Fang Shengwan nodded thoughtfully, expressing his understanding: “If one is ill, one must indeed rest well.”
On the other side, the fleet of brightly colored aircraft finally descended from the sky and arrived outside the St. Sophia Grand Auditorium.
Li Yixing and Feng Zhao held hands, revealing perfect smiles under everyone’s gaze, and stepped onto the red carpet together to enter the auditorium.
Because they had to exchange rings today, Li Yixing had to take off his black leather gloves, his bare fingers making contact with Feng Zhao’s palms, tightly pressed together under the sound of the symphony. Li Yixing felt as if he were holding a scorching hot coal, while Feng Zhao felt as if he were holding a slippery piece of iron. Both of them wished to end it immediately so they could let go of the other’s hand.
The officiant’s speech was infinitely long. With its endless repetitions and formal phrases, it was like a mantra that gave Li Yixing a headache. He did not hear a single word until Feng Zhao smiled and said, “I do.” Only then did Li Yixing wake up, and with an expressionless face, he added, “I do as well.”
Applause thundered from the audience, and the moment for the ring exchange finally arrived!
Both Li Yixing and Feng Zhao saw the dawn of the end, and their gazes became urgent.
Let this damn wedding end already.
A robot flower girl, half a person’s height, piously offered the tray. Feng Zhao and Li Yixing could not wait to pick up the ring boxes, opening them with lightning speed.
The guests in the audience, unaware of the truth, could not help but sigh: “Major General Feng and Minister Li are truly in love. Look, they are even impatient to exchange rings!”
Li Yixing lifted the velvet lid, but the ring inside was not the one with a circle of colored diamonds that Feng Zhao had chosen; it was the plain ring he had picked himself!
In other words, according to the custom of exchanging rings, he had to wear Feng Zhao’s gaudy, colored diamond ring!
Li Yixing: “…”
“Ha…” Feng Zhao clearly realized the problem. His long eyebrows arched, the exhaustion from acting all morning vanished, and he smiled with satisfaction. He took out the ring and, with great interest, prepared to place it on Li Yixing’s ring finger!
In the full view of everyone, Li Yixing could only act until the end, watching helplessly as his finger was grabbed by Feng Zhao. Under the intense glare of the spotlights, the colorful diamonds emitted a dazzling light, ostentatious and sharp, just like the annoying person that was Feng Zhao.
Feng Zhao tilted his head, his sharp, eagle-like gray eyes slightly curved, carrying a hint of malice. His hand did not stop, sliding the colored diamond ring onto Li Yixing’s long, fair finger bone.
His voice was very low, audible only to Li Yixing: “The gaudy, colorful diamonds and the aloof, monotonous Minister Li.”
“Tsk, what is with that expression?” he said. “Do you not think it is a perfect match?”
Li Yixing: “…”
Psychopath.
“You did this on purpose,” Li Yixing said. “Major General Feng is truly as vile and shameless as always.”
“Thanks for the compliment,” Feng Zhao said, taking pride in his infamy with a smile. “Minister Li should put the ring on me now.”
The plain ring was placed perfunctorily and swiftly onto Feng Zhao’s finger by Li Yixing. Once it was done, Feng Zhao lifted his hand to admire it, waving it provocatively in front of Li Yixing.
The officiant looked with satisfaction at the couple who had exchanged rings and announced with great passion: “Alright! Now the two grooms may kiss each other!”
Feng Zhao: “…”
Li Yixing: “…”
How could they forget this part!
“Woohoo!” Someone in the audience started to catcall, “Kiss! Kiss!!!”
The joy Feng Zhao had felt from teasing Li Yixing disappeared in that instant. He looked stiffly at Li Yixing. The latter’s face was expressionless, but his black eyes grew deeper, clearly in a very bad mood.
The crowd’s cheering echoed in the auditorium. The situation was clearly one where they were trapped on the back of a tiger. Weighing the pros and cons, Feng Zhao suddenly stepped forward and gripped the back of Li Yixing’s neck!
Lips collided. For the first time, their gazes were so close that they could clearly see all the emotions on the other person’s face. Li Yixing’s eyes were so cold it was as if he wanted to skin Feng Zhao alive!
Feng Zhao did not care about this at all, even raising an eyebrow in provocation. But before he could finish his provocation, a sharp pain exploded from his lips!
Li Yixing, choosing to damage the enemy by a thousand while harming himself by eight hundred, bit down on Feng Zhao’s lips with such force that he drew blood! The moment he tasted the metallic tang of blood, his eyes, which were as cold as frost, curved slightly, finally revealing a hint of a smile that could be described as “you deserve it.”
Feng Zhao: “…”
The moment they separated, Feng Zhao lifted his hand and wiped away a palmful of blood. There was a stir among the guests, and many probing gazes turned toward them, wanting to know what had happened.
Li Yixing calmly used his index finger to smear the blood from his lips, as if he were applying a vibrant shade of lipstick. He smiled, for once, and explained politely to everyone: “I am so sorry, we were just too excited.”
“We truly love,” Li Yixing lied without changing his expression, “we simply love each other so much.”
Feng Zhao: “…”
Hearing this, Feng Zhao almost vomited blood and wanted nothing more than to smear all the blood on his hand onto Li Yixing!