Baiheng blinked and tried her best to hold back her tears.
In the end, she couldn't hold back. She lowered her head and brought the bouquet to her nose.
The pink peonies had large blooms, easily covering most of Baiheng's face, leaving only her fluffy ears exposed.
The Foxian lowered her head and stayed silent for a while before putting down the bouquet and stammering, "Y-you two have to be happy..."
Jingliu smiled and nodded.
"Alright, your makeup's about to get ruined."
Hearing that, Baiheng immediately jumped up from her chair.
As someone from Jingliu's side of the family, she couldn't afford any mistakes.
Baiheng hurried to the mirror.
"What? Where?"
Jingliu smiled helplessly.
"...Baiheng, you're practically pressing yourself against the mirror."
"There's no problem. Your makeup is perfect."
Baiheng ignored her and carefully examined herself in the mirror with sharp eyes. Sure enough, she found a problem.
She used a powder puff to cover it up before returning to her seat.
Holding the bouquet of pink peonies with both hands, Baiheng looked at it for a while and suddenly said, "No, I need someone to keep this for me..."
She rushed toward the door, then turned back halfway.
The bride and groom, the best man, and the bridesmaid all needed corsages and wrist flowers.
How could she forget that?
Baiheng quickly put on her wrist flower and hurriedly said goodbye to Jingliu.
One minute later, someone knocked on the dressing room door.
Jingliu had already guessed who it was and got up to open the door.
As expected, it was Zero.
Zero closed the door and locked it.
Click!
Jingliu was puzzled.
'What is he doing?'
'Why lock the door?'
'Could it be... he's going to propose?'
Jingliu carefully looked at her lover.
He was wearing the white military dress uniform from when they first met. A golden aiguillette hung across his chest, along with a light blue corsage.
Her gaze moved downward to the black belt outlining his waist.
This kind of uniform was finely made and carefully tailored. If there was anything inside the pockets, outsiders could tell at a glance.
Jingliu quickly swept her eyes over Zero's pockets. They were completely flat, with nothing that looked like a ring or ring box.
She couldn't tell whether what she felt was disappointment or something else. She took her lover to the changing room.
Jingliu moved quickly and put on the military dress uniform first.
Zero's hand stopped in midair and withdrew. Instead, he helped straighten the aiguillette on her chest.
The two stood very close, close enough to clearly feel each other's breathing.
Jingliu softly said, "If we had met earlier..."
"Would the Marshal have awarded me a medal?"
Zero smiled back.
"Of course."
He had awarded medals to his subordinates many times.
The Sword Champion was naturally no exception.
But he would never have other thoughts toward his subordinates, much less fall in love with or marry one.
The Marshal and the Sword Champion would only ever remain superior and subordinate.
Jingliu raised an eyebrow and opened the drawers on both sides. Inside were neatly arranged medals of all kinds.
Even Zero, who had personally awarded countless medals, couldn't help but be stunned.
Seeing this, Jingliu spoke with a trace of pride.
"Then you've had it hard."
Zero laughed.
"Just how many medals do you have?"
Jingliu replied, "I've never counted."
Hearing that, Zero looked at the drawers.
He stared for a long time before saying, "So far, you've received at least 114 honors."
Jingliu widened her eyes and wrapped an arm around her lover's neck with a smile.
"Why are you counting them one by one?"
Zero lowered his head slightly and rested his forehead against hers.
He blocked the light above, making his eyes look dark and unreadable.
Jingliu's gaze shifted downward to his lips.
Just before he kissed her, reason returned, and she stopped him with her hand.
The kiss landed in her palm.
His lips were soft, and his breath was warm, making her palm itch.
Zero raised his eyes and silently asked why.
Jingliu's fingertips trembled slightly as she quickly withdrew her hand.
She cleared her throat.
"My lipstick will get messed up."
Zero blinked and obediently stepped back.
Jingliu, "..."
Zero was always like this.
Always respecting her wishes.
Feeling helpless, she looked at the medals in the drawer together with him.
Zero slowly picked up one medal and carefully examined Jingliu, trying to find the best place for it.
He held it against the left side for a moment, then moved it to the right.
Jingliu patiently waited, but seeing him still hesitate, she grabbed his wrist and made the decision for him.
"Right here."
Zero withdrew his hand and continued comparing.
Jingliu hadn't chosen an elaborate wedding dress, but a military dress uniform instead.
Part of the reason was because of Zero.
Jingliu wanted to prove herself to those who knew the truth.
Zero shook his head.
"I don't want you to have any regrets."
Jingliu spoke seriously,
"I don't feel any regrets."
"The military uniform, the phoenix crown and ceremonial robes..."
"To me, there's no difference."
If there was one regret, it was not meeting Zero sooner.
To Jingliu, what she wore wasn't important.
What mattered was the person standing beside her.
Jingliu grabbed Zero's wrist again.
If she let him choose the position himself... who knew how long it would take?
She urged him to put the medal on her.
After a while, Jingliu seemed to realize something, and her expression turned serious.
"Wait, is this why you wanted several weddings?"
"I don't think I have any regrets."
"One is enough."
Zero shook his head.
Jingliu felt very helpless.
Zero had always respected her wishes.
But whenever they had different opinions...
It was hard for her to persuade him.
Zero softly said, "Jingliu, I feel like I owe you far too much."
Jingliu gently coaxed him.
"No, you've been very good to me."
After thinking for a moment, she wrapped her arms around his waist.
Through the suit jacket, Jingliu could vaguely feel the shirt underneath.
There wasn't a single wrinkle.
She immediately thought of the shirt stays Zero had worn before.
They were black straps two fingers wide wrapped around the thighs, with clips above to hold the shirt in place.
It was the first time she had seen them, and she found them rather interesting.
Like a cat seeing a cup sitting at the edge of a table and always wanting to touch it.
Back then, Jingliu had said to Zero, "So you still use shirt stays."
And he had replied, "They waste too much time."
It sounded perfunctory, but actually... he had probably been shy.
As she thought about it, Zero said again, "No, I haven't treated you well."
Jingliu immediately came up with a plan.
Last time, she had asked Zero to call her big sister and successfully changed the subject, pulling him out of his emotions.
This time, she'd use the shirt stays.
Even if it failed... she would still get to see a different expression on Zero's face.
Zero held Jingliu tightly.
He took out the engagement ring from the system space.
It was a blue diamond ring, chosen to match Jingliu's hair color.
A week ago, Zero had prepared a draft and memorized his proposal speech so thoroughly that he knew it by heart.
But the moment he saw Jingliu, he couldn't remember a single line.
Holding the ring, Zero took a deep breath.
"Jingliu..."
The person in his arms spoke at the same time.
"You wore shirt stays?"
Zero, "..."
His thoughts were forcibly interrupted, and the proposal speech he had just recalled vanished completely.
This time, he really couldn't remember it.
Jingliu stared at him without blinking, taking in the surprise and confusion flashing across his face.
Suppressing her laughter, she was about to tease him when the corner of her eye caught sight of the ring.
Jingliu, "..."
Wasn't this just like those clueless and flirtatious male leads in storybooks?
The heroine pours out the pain in her heart, and the hero responds by asking about her underwear...
So she hadn't guessed wrong.
Zero had locked the door because he really wanted to propose.
The two looked at each other and remained silent for a while. Then Zero held out the ring.
He stiffly said, "...Will you marry me?"
Jingliu knew she had ruined the proposal, and her expression couldn't help but turn awkward.
She took the initiative and extended her left hand.
"...I will."
Zero held her fingertips and carefully put the ring on her finger.
They looked at each other for a moment, then burst out laughing together.
Zero rubbed her wrist and sighed.
"This isn't how I imagined it."
Jingliu tried to save the situation.
"If everything always went according to plan, wouldn't that be too boring?"
She rested her forehead against his.
There was laughter in her lover's eyes as he reminded her, "Your lipstick will get messed up."
Jingliu thought, he did that on purpose.
Ignoring him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him accurately.
During a pause for breath, she rubbed the lipstick she had left behind back and forth with her fingertips until there was a bright color on the edge of Zero's lips. Only then did she answer him.
"I'll fix it later."
———
Guanliang had nothing to do, so he squatted in the hallway and played with a cat.
The Foxian bridesmaid helping the newlyweds, just like him, was showing off the bouquet in her hands to the people beside her. Afterward, she sighed.
"It's such a shame I can't take pictures of Jingliu... I brought all my equipment with me. You guys have to take a lot of pictures for me!"
Guanliang scratched the cat's chin.
Fortunately, his best man's suit was white too. Even if it got covered in white cat fur, no one would notice.
The cat was exposing its belly to him, but before he had even petted it for ten minutes, it rolled over and stood up again.
Turning his head, Guanliang saw the Foxian named Baiheng heading toward the women's changing room with two makeup artists.
Holding the cat, he followed.
At the door, Guanliang knocked and entered only after getting permission.
The moment he saw Zero in the mirror, he laughed.
"Oh my, learning really never ends. At your age, you're still staying up late studying?"
Zero glanced at Guanliang.
Since Jingliu was present, he didn't argue back and only said, "If you spent your days with geniuses whose average IQ is above two hundred, you'd have dark circles too."
Guanliang clicked his tongue in amazement and casually tossed the cat onto the floor.
If he hadn't fired Zero, if he weren't worried that Zero would settle old and new scores together...
He would have taken out his jade abacus and snapped a photo already.
With Jingliu present, no matter how angry Zero got, he wouldn't fight back.
The makeup artists were skilled and quickly covered the dark circles.
Guanliang checked the time again. Five minutes later, it would be time to head to the banquet hall.
The timing was perfect.
He reminded everyone to keep an eye on the time.
The group arrived outside the banquet hall.
Just as the newlyweds were about to enter, Guanliang casually asked, "Where's your jade abacus? Don't tell me you lost it."
Zero casually replied, "It's in Jingliu's bag. It won't get lost."
Guanliang relaxed.
The next second, the doors to the banquet hall opened.
The two entered.
Guanliang walked over to Baiheng.
"Aren't you going to take pictures?"
Baiheng was delighted at first, but then looked troubled and glanced at the handbag in her hand.
Following her gaze, Guanliang thoughtfully said, "I'll keep it for you."
"Don't worry. We only need to hand out red envelopes to the younger generation when the newlyweds make rounds with drinks. The ceremony's just started. There's still plenty of time."
Baiheng no longer hesitated and handed him the bag.
Guanliang took out Zero's jade abacus and held down the power button. After making sure it was off, he put it back in the bag.
Baiheng knew nothing about this. Taking two steps in one, she snatched the camera from Yingxing.
Pointing it toward her friends on the stage, she was filled with emotion.
Suddenly, she faintly heard sobbing.
Following the sound, Baiheng was about to ask if help was needed.
But after taking a closer look, she saw an extremely beautiful woman with black hair and purple eyes.
The Foxian immediately became alert.
Who was this? One of Zero's admirers?
The next moment, the beauty picked up a camera and pointed it at the couple on stage.
Though Baiheng didn't know her relationship with Zero, she simply couldn't stand seeing others cry, so she quietly stepped toward the beauty.
Jing Yuan tried to stop her.
"Sister Baiheng..."
Baiheng whispered, "But she's crying!"
The beauty was very sharp and immediately looked over.
Baiheng smiled at her, and the two quickly grew closer.
The Foxian noticed a small mole on the bridge of the woman's nose.
People with that kind of mole had extremely strong romantic luck.
Like performing a magic trick, Baiheng produced a tissue and handed it over.
The beauty accepted it and softly thanked her before introducing herself.
"My name is Daiyang."
Hearing that, Baiheng immediately relaxed.
When someone introduced themselves by saying "I'm so-and-so," it meant they had pride of their own.
Looks like Daiyang had been one of Zero's subordinates.
With a sincere expression, Baiheng quoted all kinds of things and praised the beauty's name at length.
At the same time, she never put down the camera, and her finger never stopped pressing the shutter.
"I'm Baiheng."
Daiyang also kept holding her camera.
She had known Baiheng's identity from the start.
This was the Empress's family.
According to the star network, this was basically the young mother-in-law.
As a daughter, she naturally had to do her part for her father.
There was no relationship in the world that Daiyang couldn't improve.
She intentionally wanted to befriend Baiheng, and just so happened that the Foxian's personality was extremely likable.
After only a few exchanges, the two were already in tears.
Baiheng's voice choked up.
"Sigh... I don't know why I'm crying... It's clearly a happy occasion..."
Daiyang gently dabbed at the corners of the Foxian's eyes with a tissue, wiping away her tears without ruining her makeup.
She earnestly said, "Yes, it's a happy occasion."
"But... if he's happy, I'll cry before he does."
Tears kept falling from Daiyang's eyes, but she still instinctively comforted Baiheng, smoothly reassuring her.
"With eyes this beautiful, tears don't suit them."
Baiheng widened her eyes.
She felt a little embarrassed, but still wanted to get closer to Daiyang, so she took the initiative to change the topic.
"What brand of mascara are you using? How come none of it has smudged?"
Daiyang cooperatively replied, "This one? One of my Nameless friends recommended it to me..."
Baiheng's eyes lit up.
"You know the Nameless?"
Daiyang nodded.
"Mhm, I'm one of the Nameless too."
Baiheng looked full of longing.
Taking advantage of the moment, Daiyang began talking about her Trailblazing journey.
By the time the ceremony ended, the two held hands and looked at each other through tears, both regretting that they hadn't met sooner.
Jing Yuan, "..."
Yingxing, "..."
The two watched helplessly as Baiheng approached a strange woman. First came polite greetings, then cheerful conversation.
How long had it been? The two were so close that they seemed like one person.
Jing Yuan and Yingxing exchanged a look, both wearing shocked expressions.
The Xianzhou King of the Sea was truly terrifying.