Golden Rain

However, after the two fish appeared, Ye Shuang's expression didn't change at all, as if he had already known this would happen—after all, Anshi Yi had mentioned beforehand that they were just there to join in the fun, and since the entrance ceremony happened to have such accompanying spots, he let the two fish go and play like that.

At this moment, above the venue, a helicopter began scattering petals as if prearranged.

The golden petals drifted down gracefully, landing on the tables and the ground. Though they were not ordinary petals, they perfumed the wind and also the clothes of the people.

When everyone picked them up for a closer look, they realized the petals were all made of pure gold. Though very thin, the sheer quantity carried an indescribable sense of luxury.

Under the gaze of the entire audience, Chen Qin, holding a round fan, approached Ye Shuang gracefully. Her golden step shake gently swayed, step by step with elegant poise, and the gold-thread embroidery on her attire refracted golden light in the sun along with the petals, adding a touch of noble classical beauty to the girl.

Ye Shuang watched this scene, and in a daze, he seemed to see the girl from his youth who used to run toward him laughing under the ginkgo tree after school. But back then, it was falling leaves,

also so golden, refracting light in the sun.

Perhaps he really had felt something for her back then?

Ye Shuang thought carefully, and indeed it was true. But the arrow shot back then had crossed time to land on his brow at this moment.

His feelings for Chen Qin were complicated.

Perhaps every pair of childhood sweethearts ends up with such sentiments.

"Ye, what are you thinking about?" A voice came, and Chen Qin had already reached Ye Shuang. Though dressed in dignified elegance, the smile on her face couldn't hide her naturally playful personality.

Hearing this, Ye Shuang pulled his thoughts together and simply smiled, "You're too beautiful."

"Hehe." A blush appeared on Chen Qin's face, made even more captivating by her outfit, but she whispered, "Next time I'll wear this and—"

Ye Shuang's smile froze for a few seconds, then he cleared his throat to remind Chen Qin to be aware of the occasion. She was really always thinking about such things.

Chen Qin blinked, then obediently returned to her dignified demeanor.

"Guan guan ju jiu, on the river isle; a gentle and graceful lady, a gentleman's good match—" The host nearby began speaking in his raspy voice.

It had to be said, for a Chinese-style wedding, a male host was more fitting. That raspy voice gave a sense of being just right.

After some introductions—

"Water has its source, trees have their roots; when starting a family, one never forgets the grace of being raised." The host said,

"Today, the parents of the bride and groom will also come to the wedding hall, to share in the joy of their children starting a family."

"Please invite the parents to the wedding hall."

At this moment, Chen's father and Chen's mother walked in dressed in Chinese-style clothes. Chen's father was holding a group photo, and after sitting down, he placed the photo on the chair set for the other parents.

Ye Shuang glanced at it and realized it was a photo of his own parents with Chen's father and mother. Everyone was smiling happily, and Chen's father and mother had also reserved seats for Ye Shuang's parents.

Ye Shuang's heart stirred.

The host, as if tacitly acknowledging that both sets of parents were present, directly said, "Under the witness of both parents, the couple will now perform the three bows."

What followed was the ceremony of bowing to heaven and earth and to the parents. Chen Qin's outfit made movement difficult, so An Shiyu and Anshi Yi helped support Chen Qin as she knelt on the cushion to perform the bows.

"Thank you."

"It's nothing." The two fishes were unusually serious today, replied briefly, then retreated to the corner, truly seeming to want to help.

First bow to heaven and earth, second bow to parents, then husband and wife bow to each other.

"The ceremony—is—complete—" The host drawled.

The entire venue erupted in applause.

"Mom." Ye Shuang offered tea to Chen's mother and formally addressed her.

"Ah, you must live well with my daughter from now on." Chen's mother's face was full of smiles. Perhaps because her daughter was getting married, and to the person she had always wished for, Chen's mother covered her mouth and laughed without stopping.

"Dad." Ye Shuang also addressed Chen's father.

"Good, good." Chen's father laughed happily, then said to the empty seat beside him, "Old Ye, look at your son, he's my son-in-law now, hahaha!"

Ye Shuang then placed tea on the seat meant for his parents. Though no one was sitting there, Ye Shuang quietly said, "Thank you, Mom and Dad."

Just then, a pair of tiny butterflies appeared from somewhere. Amid the astonished looks of those around them, they first landed on the chair, then flew onto Ye Shuang's chest and fluttered their wings.

Ye Shuang stared blankly at the butterflies on his chest, and finally, as if unable to hold back any longer, his eyes reddened.

"Thank you..."

"Thank you..."

...

The entire process lasted about forty minutes. After the ceremony ended, dishes began being served one after another at the tables, all quite expensive, with ingredients brought in from other regions by cold chain or air freight that very day. With such a large quantity, relying solely on local town supplies was completely insufficient.

Ye Shuang and Chen Qin went backstage to change into more convenient toast attire, since it was impossible to go around toasting in their formal wear—movement wasn't easy.

"Keke, what are you doing?"

"Picking up petals. These are all real gold, you know." Tang Keke was bending over, collecting the golden petals from the ground, her eyes gleaming.

"Hehe, each petal weighs a gram."

If she weren't too embarrassed to jump off the stage and pick them up everywhere, Tang Keke would probably have wanted to bring an industrial vacuum cleaner and just suck them all up.

Keke picked up more than a dozen, and Zhixia also picked up petals from the table.

"That's enough for two or three months of my allowance," Zhixia said, looking at the petal in her hand with emotion. Others around also started picking them up, mostly those at the front rows, who were mostly friends and family of the bride and groom.

"Mom, there's one on your head," Yezi noticed something shining on Bai Yuyou's head.

Bai Yuyou reached up, touched it, and took off a golden petal.

"Here," she handed it to Tang Keke.

"Don't you want it?"

"I..." Bai Yuyou looked at the petal in her hand, seemed to think for a few seconds, then finally put it away.

"I'll keep it as a memento."

Just then, the two fishes returned and sat directly next to Tang Keke. "It's true, if you have money, a Chinese-style wedding is the way to go."

"How did you two end up being bridesmaids?" Tang Keke asked, noticing Anshi Yi's gaze and hiding her golden petals.

"Lots of benefits." Anshi Yi glanced at Keke, seeing her defensive posture as if afraid of being robbed, and sneered disdainfully, then pulled a gold bar out of her pocket.

"See this? That's our reward. A measly few petals? Weak, so weak."