Swaggering Strut

Chen Qin took a couple of steps in her wedding dress, an irrepressible smile gracing her pretty face. She wasn't wearing any makeup, and the style of the wedding dress was fairly ordinary. Even so, her figure made the dress look exceptionally radiant and charming.

"Looks beautiful. Once the custom-made gown arrives, you'll be even more stunning." Ye Shuang smiled as he spoke, and Chen Qin, who was being praised, placed her hands on her hips with a smug expression.

"Of course! One of the reasons I've been training to keep in shape is so that I'd look good in clothes."

"What about the other reasons?"

"Don't you know?" Chen Qin said with a playful grin, adding a hint of slyness. "Ye knows very well, doesn't he?"

It took Ye Shuang a moment to catch on to what Chen Qin was hinting at. A real bombshell, indeed.

Ye Shuang spent the next while accompanying Chen Qin as she tried on bridal gowns. While a girl might take several hours choosing a dress, Ye Shuang, as a man, wrapped up his part in about ten minutes—just a black suit. As long as the fit was right, it was a done deal.

Once they finished the basic discussions, all that remained was choosing the location and time for the photo shoot. But those were just minor details—a professional photographer would handle the rest.

An ordinary family banquet was held at a hotel in a private room, with only four tables arranged. The guests were mostly Chen's relatives and close friends.

When they arrived at the room, dozens of people were already seated. Spotting Chen's father, they all stood up and called out,

"Hey!"

"Uncle!"

"Aunt's husband."

"Brother."

All kinds of greetings were thrown their way, and Chen's father quickly waved and said with a smile, "Sit, sit, why are you getting up?"

Then everyone's attention turned to Ye Shuang and Chen Qin. A few people greeted Ye Shuang, having seen him before during the Chinese New Year, while others studied him with curious gazes. Fortunately, Ye Shuang's good looks—a handsome older-man charm—made him seem a perfect match with Chen Qin, both in height and appearance.

"Thank you all for coming to feast today," said Chen's father as he sat down, introducing Ye Shuang with a smile, "Shuangzai, Ye Shuang, the future husband of my Ah Qin."

"Hello, everyone," Ye Shuang introduced himself politely. This was met with all sorts of compliments. There were no bitter or sarcastic relatives. Almost everyone who looked at them did so with curiosity and goodwill.

Meanwhile, Chen Qin was being bombarded with questions from several kids, making her shyly hide her face against Ye Shuang's arm.

Seeing such a warm, harmonious family atmosphere, Ye Shuang felt a touch of emotion but said nothing.

"Bring out the food," Chen's father ordered. They hadn't delayed serving the meal on his arrival; most guests had simply arrived early enough that waiting would've been pointless.

Over at the table in the corner, someone mentioned,

"Sister Qin's boyfriend is pretty handsome. Looks like a celebrity," said one kid.

"I heard they've known each other since they were kids and always had a great relationship."

"Oh wow."

As they chatted, a child asked the adult beside them, "Dad, what does Sister Qin's boyfriend do?"

"Same company as your Sister Qin—a deputy manager."

"Whoa! An office romance?"

"Nonsense," the kid's nose got tweaked.

By the time the dishes were laid out, a pair of chopsticks had already reached out from the corner to snatch away the biggest piece of lobster meat.

"The flavor's not bad, but not worth the price," commented a short-haired girl chewing on the lobster.

"You didn't waste a second," remarked her long-haired companion.

"Why wait?" the short-haired girl shrugged. "I'm not gonna hold back when I eat."

"Save some for me."

"Just order more. It's not like we're paying."

The two young ladies were naturally An Shiyu and Anshi Yi. They had arrived early, sat down, and even entertained some of the incoming guests as if they were hosts. A few of the older relatives took them for somebody's cousins. Nobody questioned that they were outsiders—familial ties were too tangled to keep track of.

Every weekend, I'll take you out for some fresh air," Ye Shuang offered, having realized that Chen Qin's mental health mattered.

"Yeah," Chen Qin agreed, but quickly reconsidered.

"Would we accidentally lose the baby somehow?"

"What makes you say that?"

"Well, in TV dramas and novels, whenever a girl finally gets pregnant, she'll take a fall or something happens, and there goes the baby," Chen Qin said. "Forget it, I'll stay in for ten months—just bear with it until I hit my late game."

"Is it really that dramatic?" Ye Shuang couldn't help but chuckle.

"Absolutely! I need to power-level to level 18 step by step, then head out strong," Chen Qin nodded seriously.

"Fine."

Driving Chen Qin back to her family home, they arrived just at 6 p.m. After spending a few minutes talking with her dad about how the company was running, they set out for dinner when the time came.

That evening, little kids pestered Chen Qin with questions, which got her so flustered she all but burrowed against Ye Shuang's arm. Their banter aside, even they were laughing at the good-natured awkwardness.

"Eat now!" their father announced, which nobody disputed. Others exclaimed gleeful approval: "That one over there is tasteless," and head nods all around.

And two young ladies naturally didn't get a second glance. At an ordinary gathering, whom to suspect? A guest even pointed at them and commented offhand to the waitress: "Those two girls are children of Ms. Zhou. Lovely." Respect sent to mist, entirely justified.

None of the party, or even the locket-checked serving crew, imagined that a stray pair of intruders could sashay in here. Like fishes, they swam currents. Eventually, they chanced to gander toward first dining double portraits seen hand–clapped for an uncle making chops for buffet feeding. Bolder they moved: new to house anyone guessed not. The head table wanted reassurance could admit? Sure! Sliding well!

After six, people kept coming and enjoying.

Those twins were little active girl and a curly-haired companion—"the perfect duo shapes," a voice put forward—until asked,

They sat calm.

Distantly another table set identical curiosity—inquires.

A question thus—strolling to another—to break apart stone'd: just meet their love of tricks quickly? At moment for tea relaxation settled abruptly change mood color? After last reply making...

Only at time up. Wait the same? Call 'em Mum?

"She took birth when hard well must have early development!" old aunt speaking general disarray talk noise!

Small slouching family flock tight doing thanks for fill yawning strong way—husband, smiling, praising all success time shared there bond back-up well guess final act. When finally across hall couple link their ring, the male head tip seeing straight anomaly double spectrale running cheeking there correct?

Firstly exactly here miss placement cause blank action drawn turned then huge reaction flash:

How'd she off into such area himself? The crowd reply in memory those neat—found dodge weird unstopped fish. Shrug waves and quick shift.

He smiled: at same heart added question marker for in line gaze below comment soon.

Make twist? Tough prediction settled for soon later meal respond other friendly laughter.