Chapter 118 (2/2)
Lin ShuYi looked around. “Where’s XiaoYu?”
”XiaoYu is the ringbearer today, so he’s off to change with the other flowerchild.” Mama Shen replied before reaching out to take TaoTao back and then saying, “You two should hurry up and get ready, too. we’re about to start.”
After she finished speaking, a stylist came over from the back and had the two sit in front of the dressing tables, starting to work on their hair.
At half past ten, the guests officially entered the main venue and Mama and Papa Shen headed out. They had gotten ready, just waiting for them to make their entrance.
Now that the wedding was actually about to begin, Lin ShuYi’s nerves disappeared. Gazing at Shen Fu’s profile, he couldn’t help but smile.
As time passed, guests filled the small church, discussing amongst themselves in hushed tones all the way until the string quartet began to play a light and happy classical piece, signalling the beginning of the wedding.
Once the piece ended, a priest dressed head to toe in white walked onto the stage. He smiled amidst the background of flowers and spoke in fluent English, “Welcome, everyone, to Los Angeles and thank you for coming to celebrate this important event in the lives of this couple.”
The priest was a westerner with blonde hair and green eyes, and after welcoming everyone in English, he then repeated himself in fluent Chinese, causing the gathered guests to break out into light applause.
At the same time, Shen Yan knocked on the waiting room door and entered, looking to Shen Fu. “Time for your entrance.”
Shen Fu turned his head and pecked Lin ShuYi on the lips before getting up and following Shen Yan out.
Lin ShuYi’s heart began to thud loudly in his chest.
Old Man Yang then came in. Perhaps it was because this was a special, joyous day, but Old Man Yang looked much more energetic than usual. He had even dyed his hair dark, though his suit made him feel awkward. He had never worn a suit before in his entire life. Today, he had put one on for Lin ShuYi and it made him seem much younger.
Lin ShuYi stood and greeted him, “Grandpa Yang.”
Old Man Yang smiled comfortingly at him, “Are you nervous? Don’t worry, I’m here for you.”
Lin ShuYi nodded and said, “Can grandpa go inside with me later?”
Old Man Yang was stunned for a moment before he smiled nodded. “Of course, I can.”
On the other side, Shen Fu was already preparing to make his entrance when Chen Fang came over with a champagne pink rose. The two exchanged a look and smiled and Chen Fang helped pin the rose onto Shen Fu’s suit, sighing, “I can’t believe you’re getting married so soon. I really never expected it.”
Shen Fu: …
”Stop pretending. I told you ages ago.”
Chen Fang choked. “I’m just saying. Plus, I might’ve known ages ago, but those people only just found out. Though you might’ve set the feast to lunch, but do you really think you can escape the fate of getting smashed?”
Shen Fu glanced at him coldly. ”Why do you think I made you my best man?”
Chen Fang screeched, “I refuse to be your human shield!!! They clearly want to make you suffer; there’s no way you can make me get into that mess.”
Shen Fu decided to show mercy since he was in a good mood and said, “Fine if you don’t want to then.”
Chen Fang was surprised before he suddenly remembered that Lin ShuYi was like a blackhole when it came to alcohol, there was no way to get him drunk… He didn’t know how many people they had roped into this, but he’d light them a candle in advance.
The priest inside finally said, “Now, let’s welcome the groom,” and the two exchanged a look before Shen Fu straightened his suit and entered the room. Chen Fang followed half a step behind as his best man, donned in a steel silver suit.
Shen Fu walked over to stand next to his parents and gave them each a hug before standing on the left side of the priest.
This wedding was a little special because there was only one best man and no bridesmaids, so that meant the time for the bridesmaids entering was cut out, instead Shen Yan walked up to Shen Fu’s side amidst the gentle music, sharing a smile with Shen Fu before heading to the priest’s right side and leaving a space between them. Afterwards, it was the entrance of the flower girl and ringbearer.
The flower girl was a cute little girl, who had dimples when she smiled. She wore a puffy, ruffled dress and a flower crown, holding a small basket of petals and scattering the petals as she walked. Shen Fu didn’t have much of an impression of the flower girl. She was probably the daughter of one of their guests. Meanwhile, the ringbearer was XiaoYu, wearing a formal tailcoat suit, his black hair gently brushing over his forehead as he carried a cushion with two intricate rings. XiaoYu kept his gaze on Shen Fu, feeling a little nervous, but mostly excited.
Shen Fu gazed back at him encouragingly as the two cute children crossed the red carpet and came to stand on the stage, one beside Shen Yan and the other beside Chen Fang.
Then, with the priest calling to “welcome the groom’s lover”, the Wedding March started playing and the flower patterned doored were pushed open, revealing Lin ShuYi, handsome and smart, on the other end of the carpet, gazing at Shen Fu from afar.
Old Man Yang nervously straightened his suit, standing half a step behind Lin ShuYi. The two headed to the altar step by step as the cheerful music was played. Shen Fu gazed at Lin ShuYi, who gazed back, like the only ones that existed were each other. Lin ShuYi could hear his heart thudding like a drum in his chest over the loud music. It wasn’t until they reached the altar that Lin ShuYi snapped back to the present and turned to take Old Man Yang’s arm, guiding him to his seat in the front row. He gave the other a hug before heading up.
Shen Yan and Chen Fang took the two children’s hands and stepped back with them, letting Shen Fu and Lin ShuYi stand right in front of the priest together.
The two gazed into each other’s eyes and then the priest spoke solemnly.
”I’m going to ask the two of you the same question, a long question, so please reply after I’ve finished. First, place your hands on the bible to swear your vows before God and show that you will speak only the truth .”
Shen Fu and Lin ShuYi placed their hands on the bible together and then the priest looked to Shen Fu.
“Shen Fu, do you take Lin ShuYi to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you apart?”
Shen Fu didn’t turn his head, dark eyes staring into Lin ShuYi’s as he replied, “I do.”
Lin ShuYi also kept his eyes on Shen Fu, waiting for the priest to finish before replying without hesitation, “I do.”
The priest then continued, “Now please take your rings, as a sign of your faithfulness to one another.”
XiaoYu stepped up with the wedding ring cushion and handed Shen Fu and Lin ShuYi each other’s rings.
”Rings are the most valuable of gifts. Now you will give each other your rings, as a symbol of your most precious faithfulness and love. The rings will never rust or fade, making your love last for eternity. The round shape of the ring symbolizes that your love will never crack or end. Now please exchange rings.”
Lin ShuYi offered his hand, allowing Shen Fu to place the ring symbolizing eternity onto his finger, then he placed the ring in his own hand on Shen Fu’s finger. Though this wasn’t the first time, this time was even more impactful than the first time.
After exchanging the rings, the priest looked at Shen Fu again. “Shen Fu, please repeat after me.”
”From now until forever, we are united in holy matrimony. I will love you, protect you, and stay forever faithful to you, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. I will always be your most loyal lover, until death do us apart.”
Shen Fu gazed at Lin ShuYi, his voice low. “From now until forever, we are united in holy matrimony. I will love you, protect you, and stay forever faithful to you, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. I will always be your most loyal lover, until death do us apart.”
The priest then looked to Lin ShuYi. “Lin ShuYi, please repeat after me.”
Lin ShuYi repeated the vows sentence by sentence, and with every sentence, his heart would beat a little faster.
With the rings and vows exchanged, the wedding reached its climax.
The priest slowly closed the bible, saying, “With the power vested within me, I pronounce you husbands under the eyes of God, never to part!”
Before the altar, applause broke out.
Shen Fu watched as Lin ShuYi leaned closer and closer before closing his eyes and the two kissed solemnly under the eyes of God and their friends and family.
”Now, you’re finally indisputably mine.”
Addis note: Now don’t think this is the end everyone! We still have 6 extra chapters of Shen Fu’s story as well as the final, epilogue chapter 125. You’re still stuck with CME for 7 more days.