The Wedding
The decision to marry Zhou Shou happened one morning — plain, ordinary, and without any grand proposal.
Thank goodness, seriously. Otherwise, my toes would’ve started curling again.
At that time, I was in the kitchen experimenting with an egg mold. Zhou Shou came up from behind, wrapped his arms around me, rubbed his chin against the crook of my neck, and suddenly said, “Xiao Guai, let’s get married.”
My mind was completely on the mold, so his words didn’t register right away. I froze for two seconds, then went, “Oh.”
“What do you mean, ‘oh’?” Zhou Shou tightened his arms around my waist. Before long, a string of teeth marks bloomed on my neck.
I pushed his head away, turned around, and saw that aggrieved frown of his. I couldn’t help laughing. “It means, ‘sure!’”
Leaning in, I quickly pecked the corner of his mouth and added my request, “But the wedding can’t be too much trouble, and I don’t want it to be too grand. Oh, and I want to go on a honeymoon.”
“Alright, whatever you want,” Zhou Shou said as he leaned close again, getting in the way of my fried egg operation once more.
I thought a simple wedding wouldn’t take much preparation — but just choosing the outfits almost killed me.
Zhou Shou directly booked out a whole high-end tailor shop, saying no one was allowed to disturb us during such an important matter.
“Aren’t these all about the same?” I tugged at the collar of the first suit I tried on. It was a bit tight, pressing on my throat and making it hard to breathe.
Zhou Shou sat nearby, his eyes fixed on me. Then I saw him shake his head.
“This one’s too old-fashioned. Doesn’t suit him,” Zhou Shou said to the designer beside him. “Try that light gray one — the cut’s more casual.”
The designer nodded repeatedly and went to fetch it right away.
I took the new outfit and went into the fitting room. Just as I took off the one I was wearing, the door swung open.
Zhou Shou stepped in and locked it behind him.
“What are you doing in here?” I grabbed the clothes I’d just taken off to cover my chest. I really couldn’t trust Zhou Shou’s antics — it always felt like something was about to happen next.
The small space suddenly felt even more cramped with him in it, and the air was filled with his citrus scent.
“Just helping you with some feedback,” he said seriously, though his eyes clearly lingered on me.
His gaze made my whole body feel weirdly tense. I shoved him lightly. “Then wait outside. I’ll show you after I change.”
Instead of leaving, he leaned in closer, trapping me between him and the mirror. Lowering his head, he murmured, “Change right now. I want to see.”
“Zhou Shou!”
He only chuckled softly. Then he bent down, pressing his warm lips against mine, cutting off the protest that was about to leave my mouth.
Our lips tangled and pressed together. My back hit the cold mirror, and in front of me was the heat of his chest. The mix of cold and warmth made me grab onto his clothes with a muffled sound.
His kiss deepened, his breathing grew rough.
The only sounds left in the fitting room were faint water-like noises and the rise and fall of our breaths. Zhou Shou’s hands didn’t behave — they slid slowly upward from my waist.
After a long while with no movement, the designer knocked on the door. “Mr. Zhou, Mr. Ji, do you need any help?”
I jumped in shock, immediately pushing Zhou Shou away and scrambling to put on the new outfit, my ears burning hot.
“No, thank you,” he said through the door.
I glared at him, my voice low and full of anger.
He reached out to smooth my messy hair, straightened my suit, then pinched my earlobe. “Don’t be mad, Xiao Guai. My fault.”
In the end, we settled on two suits that looked like couple outfits.
The wedding was set on a small island — great choice. The sea was a deep, brilliant blue, and only a few invitations were sent out.
The night before we left, I couldn’t sleep. I kept tossing around on the bed until I woke Zhou Shou up. He pulled me into his arms in one motion. “Can’t sleep?”
“No, just… a bit anxious,” I mumbled.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
His hand gently patted my back, one stroke at a time. “Sleep. We’ve got a long flight tomorrow.”
Under his steady rhythm, I slowly drifted off.
The ceremony was held at sunset, with only a few of Zhou Shou’s closest friends and long-time business partners. The rest were my so-called friends who claimed they were there to “witness history.”
The setup was simple — flowers twined with white gauze, and the endless blue sea stretched out in the distance.
I held a bouquet of roses in my sweaty palms.
Then I saw Zhou Shou walking toward me step by step. His posture was straight and proud, his eyes focused and gentle, overflowing with love and anticipation.
When he stopped in front of me and reached out to hold my trembling hand, all my nervousness melted away in an instant.
We stood together before the priest. After the priest finished reciting the vows, I heard Zhou Shou say “I do” without the slightest hesitation.
When it was my turn, I took a deep breath and said the same words.
During the ring exchange, my hands shook so badly I almost dropped the simple band that was replacing the original ring.
Zhou Shou held my hand steady and slid the ring onto my finger.
Our hands clasped tightly together, fingers interlaced, as we kissed in front of everyone.
That kiss wasn’t like our usual ones — it was solemn, devout, burning.
After the simple ceremony, friends came up one by one to toast and give their blessings. Zhou Shou held my hand the whole time, occasionally leaning down to whisper in my ear as he introduced me to his friends.
He blocked most of the drinks for me, but his own eyes started to turn red from the alcohol, and the way he looked at me became softer, stickier.
When the big villa finally emptied out, only the two of us remained. We lay side by side on the lounge chairs on the terrace, gazing up at the stars.
Our fingers stayed intertwined, the rings brushing together and making soft, happy sounds.
“Zhou Shou,” I called softly.
“Mm?” He turned his head toward me, and I saw starlight reflected in his eyes.
“I’m so happy,” I said.
He smiled, leaned over, and kissed the corner of my mouth. “Me too, Xiao Guai. Happiest moment of my life.”
That happiness lasted for a long, long time.
Zhou Shou and I went on a “round-the-world” trip.
We played around in all kinds of places, like two kids who never grew up.
And in many different places, we tangled up in each other’s arms. He would kiss me again and again, whispering in his low, husky voice beside my ear, “I love you,” “My Xiao Guai,” and other sweet nothings.
“Feels like a dream,” Zhou Shou murmured while holding me. “Being able to hold you like this forever.”
“It’s not a dream, Zhou Shou.” I lifted my head, leaving a trail of kisses along his chin. Then I raised my hand, showing the ring on my finger. “We’re already married.”
“The days ahead are still long, Zhou Shou,” I said.
END