Summer, 1976.
Separated by more than two thousand kilometers, Shanghai and the southwestern borderlands lay worlds apart. Twenty-year-old Wen Yu traveled alone for five days on a slow green train just to arrive at the military compound for a wedding.
The auditorium was packed with people. A portrait of the great leader hung on the wall. Whenever someone from the compound got married, they would hold the ceremony here, taking their vows before everyone to announce the formation of their revolutionary partnership while receiving the blessings of friends and family.
Wen Yu heard the officiant announce, “Please welcome the groom and bride to the stage to take their vows.”
Warm applause erupted at once.
At the same time, everyone’s gaze gathered on Wen Yu and Shao Wenye.
Wen Yu secretly glanced at the man beside her—the groom of today, her soon-to-be husband.
Dressed in a solemn military uniform, he had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and a tall figure. His sharply sculpted features carried the ruggedness of a hardened man, yet he possessed a pair of captivating peach blossom eyes that could steal one’s soul.
He merely swept his gaze over her lightly, but Wen Yu’s heartbeat instantly went out of rhythm, a blush spreading across her cheeks.
But when her eyes caught the faint crease between his brows, the excitement in her heart dimmed a little.
Theirs was an arranged marriage. Although this situation had long been within her expectations, Wen Yu still could not stop the disappointment from welling up inside her.
Her fingers curled unconsciously.
Surely he wouldn’t run away from the wedding like the stories serialized in the newspapers?
Wen Yu did not think so without reason.
Nowadays, everyone advocated freedom in marriage. Before this, Shao Wenye had clearly stated that he held no romantic feelings for her. Otherwise, with the childhood engagement their families had arranged long ago, this marriage would not have been delayed until now.
As for why he later agreed to marry her, it was because Shao family’s eldest son had died in the line of duty. Shao Wenye needed to start a family and shoulder the burden of the household. On top of that, he was no longer young, and his family had been pressuring him relentlessly.
Wen Yu understood all of this clearly.
She also knew that being together would undoubtedly be much harder for them than for ordinary couples. But as long as the person was Shao Wenye, no matter how difficult it might be, she was willing to give it everything she had.
“It seems our bride and groom are very nervous. Let’s give them an even louder round of applause and invite them onto the stage to take their vows.”
Thunderous applause rang through the hall.
Shao Wenye lowered his eyes to look at Wen Yu. In the end, he still reached out and took her hand.
“Let’s go.”
Only after the vows were taken would the wedding truly be complete.
Wen Yu desperately suppressed the joy surging in her heart and allowed Shao Wenye to lead her toward the stage.
“Today is the day Comrade Shao Wenye and Comrade Wen Yu become revolutionary partners. We won’t say much more and will leave the moment to the bride and groom.”
Knowing Shao Wenye’s personality—that he was not someone good at livening up the atmosphere—the officiant thoughtfully added, “These days, ladies go first, so let’s invite the bride to speak first.”
Wen Yu’s heart pounded wildly.
Thump, thump, thump.
It sounded like drums beating in her chest, each beat faster than the last.
Because she was too nervous, the vows she had carefully prepared vanished completely from her mind. Her head went blank. For the first time in her life, Wen Yu truly understood what it felt like to be an ant on a hot pan.
“I…”
Just as she gathered her courage and prepared to improvise, a sudden commotion erupted among the crowd below the stage.
“Xu Wan fainted!” someone cried out. The voice came from where the Shao family was seated.
Ever since her husband’s death, Xu Wan’s health had been poor. This was not the first time she had collapsed, but it still immediately drew everyone’s attention.
“I’ll go check on her.”
Wen Yu felt her hand slip free as Shao Wenye said, “Saving a life comes first.”
Her lips parted, but before she could say anything, all she saw was the man’s broad back.
He had already carried the unconscious Xu Wan away.
Left alone on the stage, Wen Yu stood there helplessly.
She had only arrived at the military compound less than five days ago. Everything and everyone here was unfamiliar to her. She did not know whether she should stay where she was or chase after Shao Wenye.
Author’s Note:
Ladies, please read the tags and warnings in the synopsis first to avoid disappointment.
If you don’t like reunion romances, you can check out my other novel, Obsessed With Her, a childhood sweetheart crematorium-chasing-wife story… where the chase fails.