Wedding / Meteor Blessings extra 1
Compared to Yao Lixin’s loose-lipped Weibo, Liu Xichao was much more low-key, just posting photos of himself and Tang Mian.
After the four members of UL landed, their DMs also exploded, with Yao Lixin teasing that it felt like dreaming back to the heat of their debut year.
Unsurprisingly, they almost got into a fight.
The weather on the wedding day was beautiful. Guests arrived one after another, signing their blessings at the entrance.
Jiang He arrived rather late. He didn’t expect to have to handwrite a blessing and stood there for a long time, looking like he was being punished.
Liu Xichao was taking photos of Yao Lixin’s family in the distance. He was clearly distracted, his eyes constantly darting toward Jiang He.
Yao Lixin: “Go away. A random passerby I find would be more professional than you.”
Liu Xichao: “Give it a rest, you aren’t any better.”
Yao Lixin: “Go find your partner. You ‘family’ folks are really annoying.”
This wasn’t said for nothing. Even now, people on Weibo would tease every now and then that Yao Lixin was the only “outsider” in Away, causing him to throw shade at himself for being an outsider every now and then.
Liu Xichao: “I told you, it’s not too late for you and sister-in-law to have a baby now.”
Yao Lixin: “I retweet ‘accepting genetic defects’ on my alt account every day, hoping it works.”
As soon as he finished speaking, his wife pinched his waist. Without any burden of a former idol, he howled like a dog.
The child, Yao Xuanyu, was also wearing a suit. Originally, his smiling face had a bit of on-camera handsomeness, but he cracked up at Yao Lixin’s antics.
The corner of Liu Xichao’s mouth twitched, thinking no wonder Yao Lixin has so much to talk about with Jiang Xiujun; they are both the type who would wish they could give birth themselves just to please their wives.
Liu Xichao wanted to say something else, but Jiang He spotted him.
The CEO of Chengkong Media was stuck outside the wedding threshold because he couldn’t squeeze out a formal written blessing worthy of the stage.
The ticket inspector was one of the grooms himself.
One of the grooms, wearing a white suit, had a playful smile on his face, clearly picking on his Shugong (Uncle).
Jiang He’s eyes signaled for help, and he waved his phone.
Liu Xichao looked down and picked up the call.
Jiang He: “Help me out.”
Tang Yue’s voice came from the other side: “Shugong can’t be like this, right? Do you really have nothing to say to me and Shulu-ge?”
The youngest member had truly mastered the art of roasting people from his partner. Yet, he laced it with a bit of innocence, leaving people unable to respond even though they knew they were being roasted.
So Jiang He chose to call for backup.
Yao Lixin laughed and pushed Liu Xichao. “Boss’s wife, go quickly.”
Liu Xichao glared at him.
The wedding that fans online were curious about wasn’t actually that grand; it was more like a gathering of acquaintances.
Relatives from Jiang Shulu’s biological mother’s side didn’t attend either. After all, they hadn’t seen each other for so many years and hadn’t watched him grow up; at most, they exchanged greetings during festivals.
Jiang Kaicheng was formally imprisoned, and Zhu Qiong went from a wealthy wife to a commoner.
Zhu Qiong had graduated from a prestigious university before marrying Jiang Kaicheng. With the Jiang family era ending, she had nowhere to go, and her maiden family wasn’t willing to take her back.
Zhu Qiong really wanted to erect a tombstone for her dead biological son, Jiang Shuli—not for a pet, but for her only kin.
But her assets were frozen, and they didn’t all belong to her anyway.
The money from selling her luxury bags wasn’t enough to buy a plot in the best cemetery for Jiang Shuli.
It was Jiang Shulu who arranged it for her.
That day, Tang Yue happened to go to Jiang Shulu’s company to wait for him to get off work.
He saw Zhu Qiong walking out. The once cold and arrogant wealthy lady looked much more haggard, but she still had pride in her bones.
Tang Yue found it hard to describe the feeling Zhu Qiong gave him.
Especially after knowing that the other party’s child was buried as a deceased pet.
Zhu Qiong didn’t speak to Tang Yue either. There were tears in her eyes; she nodded at Tang Yue and left.
When Tang Yue went inside, he found Jiang Shulu staring blankly at his desk.
Tang Yue asked, “What will she do in the future?”
Jiang Shulu and Zhu Qiong had been mother and son for over twenty years. They knew their relationship perfectly well—pretending to be a kind mother and filial son on the outside, but in reality, it was always a taut string.
The biggest villain was the master of that house, Jiang Kaicheng.
Moreover, Zhu Qiong truly didn’t know the cause of Zhou Maiyin’s death.
Jiang Shulu: “She used to be a very excellent woman, she has the ability to work independently.”
Tang Yue gave an “Oh” and caught a glimpse of a piece of paper on Jiang Shulu’s desk. It was an IOU.
Next to it was a red envelope.
Jiang Shulu: “She asked to borrow money from me, said she would pay it back. This is the wedding gift money she gave to me and you.”
His mood was very complex, but he smiled at Tang Yue.
Tang Yue didn’t say anything, simply opening his arms. “Do you want a hug?”
Jiang Shulu: “Yes.”
Precisely because there were too many interest-related weddings in the circle before, Jiang Shulu and Tang Yue’s wedding seemed particularly relaxed.
Jiang He’s congratulatory speech was written by Liu Xichao.
In front of Tang Yue, Liu Xichao grabbed Jiang He’s hand and wrote “Early Birth of a Noble Son” on it.
Ignoring Jiang Shulu’s gaze, he added another line: “A Hundred Years of Harmony.”
The young man, who was aiming for Best Actor at the end of the year, hooked his arm around Jiang He’s shoulder, rarely putting on the airs of an elder. “Can Nephew and Nephew-in-law be a bit nicer to us?”
He even pinched Jiang He’s chin. “My partner is naturally very bad at being artistic.”
Tang Yue was a bit stunned by the term “Nephew-in-law,” finally understanding why Liu Xichao looked so pained every time he heard the words “Little Aunt.”
Jiang Shulu: “What ‘early birth of a noble son’? Our noble son is right over there.”
He pointed to the round stage in the distance. The UL guys had just been singing, and now it had changed to a nursery rhyme.
The voice was childish and surprisingly not out of tune. The people below were very supportive, cheering loudly.
Liu Xichao smiled. “Aren’t you two ‘Early Birth of a Noble Son’? So early!”
[TN: “Early Birth of a Noble Son” (Zao Sheng Gui Zi) is a traditional wedding blessing. Liu Xichao is using it teasingly since they already have Tang Mian.]
After speaking, he refused to cross it out and dragged Jiang He inside.
Jiang Shulu stood in place, watching Tang Yue laugh until his shoulders trembled, feeling a bit helpless. “Is it that funny?”
Tang Yue: “San-ge is so right. I really did have a noble son early with you.”
Jiang Shulu couldn’t refute that, and they ended up laughing together.
The wedding officiant was Yao Lixin. He didn’t look like the variety show host he subbed for earlier this year; he looked more like an old man gossiping at the village entrance.
Yao Lixin: “Everyone’s purpose for coming here today is to bless a pair of not-so-new newlyweds.”
Offstage, Tang Mian sat next to Liang Yi and asked her, “What does that mean?”
Yao Xuanyu next to him said, “Both your Papas already have the red booklets (marriage certificates), how are they new?”
Another child, although the same age as Tang Mian, looked significantly smaller. He grabbed Tang Mian’s clothes and said, “It probably means Tang Mian’s Papas aren’t newly debuted artists anymore.”
Tang Mian: “Is that so?”
He watched the people walking from the end of the red carpet to the Wedding March, clapping his hands as he said, “Anyway, I like weddings. It feels so fun.”
Liang Yi was too lazy to correct the children. She watched Tang Yue in his white suit and Jiang Shulu in a similar suit walking together, her gaze falling on what Tang Yue was holding…
Liang Yi asked, “What is he holding?”
Jiang Xiujun: “A bouquet, right?”
Across the aisle, Liu Xichao also let out a “Holy crap.” “Is it black?”
Jiang He hesitated to speak.
As the two passed by, Liu Xichao took another look and asked Jiang He, “I’m not seeing things, right? Is that chocolate?”
Jiang He nodded.
Liu Xichao: “What’s wrong with these two? I’ve never seen a wedding bouquet made of chocolate. Aren’t they afraid of smashing someone to death?”
Jiang He: “It might be hollow.”
Ordinary people might rehearse the day before the wedding, and the bride and groom might play a VCR or give some heartfelt speech.
But Tang Yue had done all of this at the concert. Even now, many fans felt that the comeback concert was no different from a wedding.
They even predicted that no one could break the Captain x Youngest Member CP dynamic within ten years.
So Tang Yue hadn’t planned to prepare anything. But now, walking onto the stage with the microphone in his hand, he slightly regretted not making a draft.
Below the stage were all acquaintances. The managers were part of the team.
Jiang He and Liang Yi’s group counted as relatives. Yao Lixin was mixed in there too. Members were family.
The wedding was originally scheduled for noon, but the weather was too hot, so it was moved to the evening.
This evening should have been unremarkable, but right now, his other hand was held by Jiang Shulu. In the distance was the coastal sunset, the sun seemingly about to fall below the horizon.
Flocks of birds flew past, and the skylight brewed into a shade of pink.
Yao Lixin: “Do you really have nothing you want to say in front of us?”
A burst of laughter erupted from below.
Jiang Xiujun heckled, “If you have nothing to say, just kiss and exchange rings! Don’t delay our meal!”
Then he got stepped on by Liang Yi, nearly crying out from being jabbed by her stiletto heel.
Tang Yue had heard the Wedding March many, many times, yet at this moment, it still made his heartbeat accelerate.
Even though the person in front of him was someone he saw every day, he still felt a bit shy.
Tang Yue: “Let’s save it for tonight.”
Jiang Shulu laughed.
Yao Lixin took a deep breath, just about to speak, when he heard Jiang Shulu say, “I feel very happy.”
The four members of UL offstage had all brought family members except for Captain Miu Shuhuai, making him look lonely and solitary. He even received a milk candy from Yao Xuanyu out of pity.
Liu Xichao muttered, “Well, obviously. Our Tang Yue is so good, if he’s not happy, who is?”
Jiang He smiled and held Liu Xichao’s hand. They wore matching rings; holding hands under the dim yellow light felt completely natural.
Tang Yue: “Are you especially happy today?”
Jiang Shulu: “A happiness where every day is happier than the day before.”
Tang Yue: “Me too… I thought of so many things to say while walking up just now, but suddenly I don’t know how to say them.”
The beautiful young man wore a white suit, much more intricate than the one he wore when he stormed the door to snatch the groom back then.
The brooch on the collar was changed to a rose. With his movements, the petals of the rose brooch seemed to fall.
Tang Yue was just about to sigh, but Jiang Shulu had already leaned in for a kiss.
Cheering and applause erupted from below.
Jiang Shulu’s kiss was light. He laughed, “No sighing today.”
His hair wasn’t straight like in the fans’ memories; the Captain who stubbornly straightened his hair regularly back then had thoroughly cast off his shackles.
Although Tang Yue thought Jiang Shulu looked good in any style, these natural curls made his heart soften more easily. It was easy to look up and crash into the deep affection in those eyes.
Then came a gaze as if no one else was present, as if one kiss could last until the end of time.
Yao Lixin: “Alright, exchange rings. I feel like it makes no difference whether I officiate or not.”
He walked off decisively.
The rings were from a niche foreign brand. Tang Yue bought them because this series symbolized “Constant Temperature.”
He had never been keen on wealth or status, so Jiang Shulu would receive a soulmate who only loved him for himself.
In this moment, the sunset sank to the west, the waves crashed, and the music was melodious.
The ring circled the ring finger. Jiang Shulu bowed his head and kissed it.
Tang Yue thought: There’s nothing to cry about, but, I just really want to cry.
Holding back tears, he put the ring on Jiang Shulu as well. But instead of kissing, he hugged him, then reached out his hand.
Tang Mian handed him the bouquet that had been placed to the side.
Tang Yue: “I will always love you, even if a planet crashes into Earth.”
Offstage, Liu Xichao let out a sound. “Xiao Yue really likes this metaphor.”
Yao Lixin: “Interstellar fan, probably.”
Jiang Xiujun: “He says he’s an alien, so I guess to an alien, this is a very solemn vow?”
No one except Jiang Shulu knew the meaning of this sentence.
It felt more like a blessing than the wish to grow old together.
Jiang Shulu: “I will always love you. Not ‘will’, but just always, love you.”
Tang Yue: “If we keep talking, everyone will get annoyed. Let’s hurry up and throw the bouquet!”
He shouted loudly, “This is a Meteorite Bouquet, but it’s made of chocolate. Whoever catches it must eat it on the spot!”
The plastic wrapping on the outside even had hearts drawn by the newlyweds.
Offstage, Jiang Xiujun was the first to jump out. “Accepting genetic defects!!”
Before Liu Xichao could laugh, he was pushed out by Yao Lixin. “Atmosphere group, get in position!”
Even the UL guys rushed up, amusing the remaining people to no end.
Tang Yue threw it backward. The moment he turned around, a meteor happened to streak across the darkening sky.
It was fine and fragmented. At that same moment, astronomy enthusiasts everywhere marveled at this meteor shower that resembled a waterfall. Frozen in photos, it seemed like a unique language code.
Tang Yue laughed, and then cried.
He watched the Meteorite Bouquet fall into Liu Xichao’s arms. The person who said he didn’t want it refused to let go, shouting Jiang He’s name loudly.
Tang Yue’s fingers interlaced with Jiang Shulu’s. He said, “Da Yue is blessing me too.”
Jiang Shulu: “Hm?”
Tang Yue: “He wishes for me and you to last a long, long time.”
Jiang Shulu: “It seems he is truly living quite well.”
Tang Yue: “Feels like he became a really incredible figure. Otherwise, how could he, across…”
It wasn’t just thousands of mountains and rivers, nor even a wormhole traverse. It was almost a superpower that Tang Yue could hardly imagine.
He paused, then smiled again. “We have both come to possess our own miracles.”
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