In the silence, Shen Yuanwei rose on her toes and leaned closer to Xiao Lingzhao.
She had said she would kiss Xiao Lingzhao to show Song Suihuan, and she meant every word.
She refused to let Song Suihuan keep pining after her man. If this narcissistic woman went around claiming that Xiao Lingzhao’s marriage to her was just an act, how utterly disgusting would that be?
Seeing Shen Yuanwei actually move to kiss Xiao Lingzhao, the Old General and Old Madam were embarrassed by their daughter-in-law’s boldness, silently turning their heads away, not daring to watch.
But Xie Junlin and Song Suihuan didn’t blink, staring intently.
Song Suihuan clenched her jaw.
A mere touch of fingers was different from a kiss.
If Xiao Lingzhao showed no aversion even after being kissed, then… he might truly love this woman…
Under their burning gazes, Shen Yuanwei, holding her fan, gradually closed the distance to Xiao Lingzhao. The fan always covered half her face. Hidden behind it, she fluttered her lashes at him with a soft smile, and the next moment, her rosy lips met his.
Xiao Lingzhao had been holding his breath.
The instant those warm lips pressed against his, his pupils constricted abruptly, his gaze scalding.
So soft.
So warm.
Carrying Yuan Wei’s unique soothing power, it struck straight to his heart, so pleasurable it made his scalp tingle.
Though it was only his lips being touched, his heart felt like it was on fire, his mind about to explode!
His fingers clenched his sleeves tightly. He nearly lost control—he wanted to wrap his arms around his wife, turn the tables, and transform that gentle touch into a more fervent, ravishing kiss!
But with so many people watching, he couldn’t.
Suppressing the blood rushing through his veins, he lowered his gaze and stood there, looking at his beautiful wife. The more he desired Shen Yuanwei in that moment, the more he loathed Song Suihuan—
If Song Suihuan hadn’t come to disrupt things, he would have finished the wedding ceremony with Yuan Wei and been in the bridal chamber by now. There, he could have done whatever he wanted to Yuan Wei without this torment of restraint.
“…”
Beside them, Xie Junlin and Song Suihuan fell silent.
Though the fan obscured the view, they could tell the two had kissed.
From the sudden constriction of Xiao Lingzhao’s pupils and the shift in his expression, it was clear this wasn’t an act—they had genuinely kissed in public.
Xie Junlin watched the daring bride with complex emotions.
Just how deeply did this girl love Ling Zhao, to vie for his affection like this and be so boldly passionate before everyone’s eyes?
If her groom were another man, would she still be this enthusiastic and daring? Would she still take the initiative to kiss and tease so freely?
Loving Ling Zhao this much… probably no one could ever tear her away from his side, right?
Song Suihuan watched Xiao Lingzhao, whose ears were flushed crimson, and her heart gradually sank.
Could it be that Xiao Lingzhao truly loved this woman?
If he didn’t, why would he show such delight?
She had seen firsthand how coldly Xiao Lingzhao treated women who meant nothing to him…
Realizing Xiao Lingzhao’s feelings for this woman were genuine, a dull ache spread through Song Suihuan’s heart.
She stared fixedly at Xiao Lingzhao, her eyes slightly reddened.
All these years, she had loved this man. She had been willing to set aside her deep-seated hatred to save him, yet he had secretly fallen for someone else!
Did their childhood bond only live on in her memory?During those years of carefree play, when their parents nearly arranged a marriage between them, what did that bond truly mean to Xiao Lingzhao?
Suppressing the immense sorrow in her heart, Song Suihuan maintained her pride and told Xiao Lingzhao—
“Xiao Lingzhao, since you’ve already forgotten the affection we shared in our childhood, from now on, I will never concern myself with you again.”
Xiao Lingzhao, unable to tear himself away from Shen Yuanwei’s tenderness, greedily immersed himself in it and had no intention of paying any attention to Song Suihuan.
It was Shen Yuanwei who withdrew first.
She pulled away from Xiao Lingzhao’s lips, turned to look at Song Suihuan, and chuckled lightly.
“Miss Song, what do you mean by saying you’ll never concern yourself with him again? Did you ever truly care for him before? When he was imprisoned in the courtyard and tormented, where were you? You were busy forcing his father to take his own life—how could you have cared about his well-being? Since you never cared for him in the past, there’s no need for you to worry about him in the future. He has already found someone who can save him.”
Song Suihuan stared coldly at the sharp-tongued Shen Yuanwei.
Damn it!
How could this wretched mouth be so hateful, tearing her dignity apart and trampling it on the ground?
Amid her fury, Song Suihuan couldn’t help but sneer.
She simply didn’t believe that anyone could cure Xiao Lingzhao’s illness.
She mocked Shen Yuanwei, “You say I never cared about his life, but what about you? You know perfectly well that only I can save him, yet you deliberately provoke me. Aren’t you afraid you’ll be the one to cause your husband’s death with your own hands?”
Xiao Lingzhao gently tightened his grip on Shen Yuanwei’s fingers and told Song Suihuan, “No, it’s not only you who can save me. Yuan Wei can save me too.”
Song Suihuan looked Shen Yuanwei up and down as if she had heard some great joke. “She can save you? How can she save you? There’s not a trace of medicinal scent on her—she’s not a physician at all. Do you think you can fool me?”
Shen Yuanwei gazed at Song Suihuan with clear, smiling eyes. “Miss Song, you’re being narrow-minded. In this world, it’s not just medical skills that can save people.”
Song Suihuan grew even more sarcastic. “Then what else is there?”
Shen Yuanwei replied leisurely, “There’s love.”
Song Suihuan was taken aback by this.
Thinking she had misheard or misunderstood, she frowned and asked Shen Yuanwei, “What did you say there is?”
Shen Yuanwei smiled. “Love. Love can overcome all obstacles. Love can make one fearless. Haven’t you heard of that, Miss Song?”
Song Suihuan stared at Shen Yuanwei in disbelief for three breaths, then scoffed, “So you’re saying your love for Xiao Lingzhao can save him? You dare to deceive the Xiao family with such absurd nonsense—don’t you feel any guilt?”
Xiao Lingzhao spoke before Shen Yuanwei could respond. “It’s not Yuan Wei’s love for me, but my love for her.”
Song Suihuan stared at Xiao Lingzhao in astonishment.
Xiao Lingzhao gazed tenderly at Shen Yuanwei. “I deeply love Yuan Wei. As long as she can stay by my side, inseparable from me, I can suppress the violent power within me. I can conquer the berserk state and remain clear-headed.”
Song Suihuan found this utterly absurd.
She sneered, “You deeply love her? Ha, you, Xiao Lingzhao—such a cold and indifferent man who keeps women at a distance—you’re capable of deeply loving someone?”Xiao Lingzhao glanced calmly at Song Suihuan. “Why wouldn’t it be? The reason I keep my distance from women is because my heart has always belonged to Yuan Wei. My coldness toward others stems from having poured all my passion into Yuan Wei alone. For years, unbeknownst to any of you, I’ve secretly admired Yuan Wei, but since she never returned my feelings, I couldn’t voice the affection in my heart.”
Song Suihuan’s expression grew increasingly astonished.
Xiao Lingzhao turned to Shen Yuanwei, his gaze tender. “Fortunately, heaven still favors me. When Yuan Wei learned of my illness, she rushed to see me immediately. Upon discovering that only she could suppress the power within me, that only she could save me, she not only agreed to marry me but was also willing to endure this hasty, humble ceremony—to become my Luck bringer tonight…”
His eyes brimmed with deep emotion. “Yuan Wei, I’m deeply grateful. Only you would abandon everything to rescue me.”
Watching him perform with such genuine, immersive conviction, Shen Yuanwei couldn’t help but curl the corners of her lips upward.
She said, “There’s no need for thanks. After one final bow, we’ll be husband and wife. From then on, we’ll share the same quilt in life, and share the same burial hole in death—no one will ever be able to part us.”
Xiao Lingzhao hummed in agreement, gently drawing Shen Yuanwei into his embrace.
Nearby, Xie Junlin watched the pair in silence, Shen Yuanwei’s words echoing in his mind.
Share the same quilt in life, and share the same burial hole in death—no one will ever be able to part them…
Xie Junlin lowered his gaze.
No one would have parted them anyway, right?
He had never entertained such thoughts.
Even after witnessing that inexplicable vision earlier, he hadn’t considered snatching this girl from Ling Zhao’s grasp. He wouldn’t seize another man’s wife based on a fleeting, illusory phantom.
Unless…
Unless these strange dreams persisted—tonight, tomorrow night, and beyond—only then would he believe it was an ancestral sign guiding him. Only then would he trust that this girl alone could bear his child.