Chapter 156: Beach Wedding
Huo Zhenfei was the first to step out of the Huo Corporation headquarters building, only to be instantly swarmed by a horde of journalists. Their massive array of cameras and lenses were pointed directly forward, maintaining an aggressive stance as though ready to swallow them alive.
Huo Niansheng followed closely behind, keeping his hands tucked inside his pockets with an unhurried pace. “Ever since I registered my marriage and settled down, how long has it been since I last encountered a spectacle of this scale?”
Huo Zhenfei shot a sidelong glance at him. Maintaining a professional smile on his face, he squeezed his words through the gaps of his teeth: “The fact that you are stepping out of this specific corporate exit today means you represent the public image of the Huo family.”
Huo Niansheng offered an “OK” gesture beneath his jacket sleeve. “Understood, understood. I won’t utter any nonsense.”
While they exchanged these words, the two were completely surrounded, and the security detail fought hard to keep the pressing crowd and microphones at bay.
“Mr. Huo Niansheng, external rumors claim you are preparing to hold a wedding ceremony. Is that factual?”
“It is indeed true. My congratulations to everyone as well.”
“However, alternative rumors suggest that you two have already registered your marriage abroad?”
“Don’t you already possess an exceptionally clear understanding of that?”
“Is this union of yours predominantly driven by emotional attachment or based on mutual interest?”
“It follows our true inclinations.”
“Does your partner refrain from harboring reservations regarding your extensive romantic history from the past?”
“Please refrain from deliberately inciting domestic discord within my household.”
A light chuckle rippled through a small section of the crowd, and the microphones were simultaneously pivoted toward the opposite side.
“Mr. Huo Zhenfei, could you share the Huo family’s formal stance regarding this development?”
“This remains a private family matter; I have no comment to offer.”
“By framing your response in that manner, are you conveying an expression of dissatisfaction?”
“He is an adult, and his choices do not require parental or familial intervention. I respect my cousin’s personal autonomy.”
The two continued to advance forward, with the barrage of questions trailing relentlessly behind them. A junior journalist, capitalising on his lean frame, attempted to slip beneath the security cordon, only to be knocked over by the shifting crowd. He tumbled heavily forward with a sharp thud, losing his grip on his microphone.
Huo Niansheng’s steps paused briefly as the microphone happened to strike right against his heel.
Turning around, he bent down to retrieve the device and retraced his steps. Keeping one hand tucked firmly inside his pocket, he extended his other hand forward. Under the watchful eyes of the entire gathering, the journalist scrambled back onto his feet, rubbing his scraped, muddy palms before accepting the microphone back. “My thanks to Young Master Huo for your kind heart.”
Huo Niansheng offered a faint smile. “In that case, your appreciation belongs to the personal influence and instruction of my partner. As the proverb goes, one takes the color of one’s company; he possesses exceptionally virtuous and kind qualities. Having shared a life with him for this long, it was inevitable that I would absorb a trace of it myself—remember to include that specific quote.”
The inner circle of individuals closest to them erupted into chuckles once more.
The junior journalist proved indefatigable, thrusting the microphone back before his eyes. “Could you share a few more details regarding your marriage partner?”
Huo Niansheng tilted his head slightly, casting a glance behind the reporter. “Is this the cameraman traveling alongside you?”
Addressing the lens directly, Huo Niansheng flashed a playful, teasing smile. His body language remained thoroughly relaxed, yet the depth within his eyes grew profoundly intense:
“I appreciate everyone’s generous attention. I am well aware that you all have consistently harbored a profound fascination regarding my personal life, and have even fabricated an assortment of colorful narratives. Should I ever commission an autobiography in the future, it would undoubtedly make for an incredibly spectacular read. Personally, I am not someone who obsesses over minor details, so I am perfectly content to let everyone indulge in free expression.
“However, my partner possesses an elevated character and stands as one out of a hundred. It took a tremendous amount of effort on my part to successfully win his heart, and the hardships involved in that process are not fitting to be aired before outsiders. Consequently, the singular development I absolutely refuse to tolerate is any individual attempting to drive a wedge through our relationship. If you truly wish to come and pester me, we can share a drink and form a friendship. But my advice to you is to refrain from disrupting his life, refrain from attempting to slander his character, and refrain from utilizing any sensationalized tone to write about him. Should anyone cause him harm, I can only offer my apologies in advance—and wish you the best of luck.”
“By declaring that, does it imply your meaning is…”
“That will suffice. Today’s interview concludes here; I must ask our friends from the media to temporarily restrain their enthusiasm,” Huo Zhenfei stepped in to bring the session to a close. “Regarding any developments concerning the Huo Corporation, please direct your attention to our official media press conferences when opportunities arise. We have subsequent engagements to attend to; farewell.”
The two climbed into the vehicle one after the other, and Huo Zhenfei rubbed the space between his brows.
Swiping through his mobile phone, Huo Niansheng stole a glance at his expression and laughed, “I didn’t utter anything out of line, did I?”
“I was reflecting on the fact that during past times, I occasionally suspected you possessed a somewhat eccentric streak, but I never once imagined you would turn out to be a hopeless romantic.”
“Is that intended as a compliment?”
“At the very least, my thanks to you, the hopeless romantic, for refraining from selecting an inappropriate life partner. Where are you heading?”
“Home. Drop me off right at the intersection of Taiping Street; I will travel the remaining distance on foot.”
“Are you genuinely this enthusiastic about immersing yourself in the lifestyle of ordinary citizens?”
“I need to purchase some seafood; our household stash has run empty.”
Chen Wengang utilized his key to unlock the front door of their home. Stepping into the study, he immediately found his vision obscured by two massive hands cupping over his eyes.
Lifting his head to look at Huo Niansheng, he found the other man smiling down at him. “Take a guess as to what is contained inside?”
The corners of Chen Wengang’s eyes crinkled with amusement. “You aren’t attempting to deceive me once again, are you?”
Huo Niansheng raised an eyebrow. “This time, I am genuinely presenting you with an excellent item.”
Releasing his grip, a blue butterfly crafted out of a paperclip spun its wings and took flight, brushing right past Chen Wengang’s hair as it drifted through the air.
It was a simple mechanical device propelled by a twisted rubber band, tracing a parabolic arc before tumbling down right by Harley’s paws.
Harley, who had bounded inside with immense excitement, appeared momentarily startled before approaching with a mix of curiosity and caution, lowering his nose to sniff at the object.
Chen Wengang retrieved the device and wound the mechanism up once more. The moment he released his grip, the butterfly took flight again.
Harley let out a sharp bark of pure delight, tilting his head upward as he dashed off in pursuit.
Chen Wengang immediately called out a warning: “Be gentle; don’t bite and ruin it.”
The journalists refrained from trailing them to the Jiangchao Street sector, yet that very evening, Huo Niansheng’s public declaration ascended to the absolute front page headlines across various websites.
Numerous webpages complemented the story with photographs. The earliest release originated from a major web portal, and the frame that secured the highest frequency of republication turned out to be this specific shot—Huo Niansheng facing the camera with his head lowered as he shared a laugh with the person before him, while Chen Wengang let out a spectacular, radiant laugh, offering a rare glimpse of his half-profile.
Returning from their routine stroll, Chen Wengang and Huo Niansheng lifted the curtain of the sweet soup shop and stepped inside to take their seats.
Grandma Zhou happened to be present within the shop, delivering two bowls of black sesame paste to their table. “When exactly are you two holding the formal event?”
“We’ve selected a date at the beginning of next month.”
“That is approaching exceptionally fast.”
“Indeed. After all, unlike families looking to execute a massive, grand celebration, we are merely organizing a formal ceremony to complement our past registration. We didn’t wish to drag the process out for too long.”
To claim it wasn’t a grand celebration wasn’t entirely precise; at the very least, regarding the layout and decoration of the wedding, the planning team had successfully delivered absolute perfection. The selected venue spanned an entire beach, though the guest list remained exceptionally low-profile, devoid of practically any prominent celebrities or high-profile figures, consisting exclusively of close relatives and dear friends.
On the eve of the wedding preparations, the couple checked into the presidential suite of a nearby five-star hotel.
Despite the luxurious appointments of the room, Chen Wengang’s sleep remained exceptionally light. Perhaps his central nervous system was caught in an elevated state of excitement, causing him to awaken almost every two hours.
His dreams materialized one after another in a continuous sequence. In a state of haze, he felt as though he were a primary school student returning home after dismissal. His parents, consumed by their professional obligations, had not yet returned, yet he harbored no sorrow. Bounding and skipping out the front door, he remained fully aware that an older brother resided in the neighboring house, whose family reared a massive, gentle wolfdog. Following his usual routine, he bounded through the open gates next door, and the wolfdog approached with delight to lick at his skin. The neighboring brother excelled in his studies and possessed an immensely kind nature; setting aside the volume in his hands, he instructed Chen Wengang to bring his schoolbag over, clearing a small table and watching over him as he sat upon a small wooden stool to complete his homework assignments.
Chen Wengang fluttered his eyes open to find Huo Niansheng planting a kiss against his forehead. “Time to wake up.”
Outside the window, the first light of dawn was subtly breaking. Chen Wengang wrapped his arms around the other man’s neck, leaning in to rub against him affectionately. “I love you.”
The makeup artist laid out an entire table of bottles and jars, her small brushes sweeping across his features. Chen Wengang was the first to complete his styling, before watching her begin to work on Huo Niansheng. Once she finished applying the base layer, he suddenly requested the eyebrow pencil, taking it upon himself to personally define Huo Niansheng’s brows.
Huo Niansheng offered no objections, merely maintaining a subtle smile as he observed his movements through the reflection of the mirror.
Due to the absence of external invitees, the gathered guests appeared somewhat few in number, yet every face was radiant with smiles. Absolute confidentiality was maintained regarding the wedding venue, with not a single media outlet receiving an invitation. The security detail subjected the invitations to rigorous verification, ensuring that not even a stray bee could slip inside the perimeter. The ceremonial ground was established at the center of a white marble plaza, featuring a brilliant blue glass walkway, with arches adorned in seashells and flower petals, and sea stars suspended from the snow-white chairs via delicate hemp cords.
The photographer, Chris, reestablished contact with them, managing the full documentation of the wedding alongside a veteran cameraman.
Clad in his tailored formal suit, Chen Wengang wore the sapphire brooch pinned to his chest, its hues echoing the maritime scenery stretching behind him.
The massive display screen ran a continuous loop of their wedding portraits. Passing beneath it with one hand tucked inside his pocket, he tilted his head upward to observe the frames. Stepping over to his side, Zheng Baoqiu burst into laughter at the sight: “From a distance, this posture of yours genuinely mirrors Cousin perfectly.”
“Is that so?” Chen Wengang smiled, reaching out to adjust her sun hat.
“That is perfectly reasonable. They say that the longer two individuals share a life together, the more they develop a striking resemblance to one another.”
“In your estimation, are there any aspects of him that have transformed to mirror me?”
Zheng Baoqiu let out a hearty laugh. “Perhaps exactly as the newspapers reported—learning from your example to be a kind and virtuous individual!”
Chen Xiangling made a dedicated flight back from Singapore, enveloping Chen Wengang in a massive, warm embrace. Patting her shoulder affectionately, Chen Wengang directed her to lead Jiang Cai toward the rear seating area to observe the ceremony. Lu Chenlong arrived accompanied by his younger brother, Xiaobao, who immediately set to work playing with the sand in an open clearing. Yu Sanding was kept busy managing both ends of the operation; on one hand, the catering and beverage service was managed by his personal team, while on the other, the guests arriving from Huo Niansheng’s side consisted of familiar acquaintances, making his assistance in hospitality indispensable.
Li Hongqiong arrived in the company of a friend, bearing an additional gift in her hands: “Sent by Qi Tongzhou.”
Chen Wengang inquired, “Is he doing well?”
She laughed, “What could possibly be amiss? Doted upon by his parents at home, and pampered by his older siblings, he managed to graduate smoothly and doesn’t have to worry over his employment. It was merely a minor emotional setback; it was high time he learned to mature. Focus entirely on celebrating your wedding; there is no need to concern yourself with him.”
As the ceremony officially commenced, a minor complication materialised midway through.
The master of ceremonies requested the couple to narrate the story of how they came together, first handing the microphone over to Chen Wengang, only for the loudspeaker system to experience a sudden malfunction, unleashing a piercing wave of static noise. It required the staff a full two minutes to coordinate and deliver a functional replacement. This fell under the category of an operational oversight, leaving the chief planner’s expression looking somewhat sheepish.
Chen Wengang offered a forgiving smile, reaching out to accept the microphone. “It is of no consequence,” he remarked in a teasing tone to defuse the awkwardness. “It’s impossible for every single element to unfold with absolute perfection; certain disruptions are simply destined to occur.”
A wave of laughter rippled through the audience below.
