Tan Linyuan never expected that Nan Yu would gift him a wedding for his birthday. It was so sudden and truly a pleasant surprise.
Tan Linyuan asked, "Why did you choose today?"
"Because it's your birthday," Nan Yu replied seriously. "I know you don't like this day." She smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "But it's very important to me."
"Because you were born on this day, I got the chance to meet you, and then we had our story."
Before this, Tan Linyuan's life had been dull. But Nan Yu's appearance had brought new colors to his world. She wanted him to stop being dispirited, to love the world, to love his own existence, and to love everything she loved.
Nan Yu told Tan Linyuan that there was a chapel in the manor and the wedding ceremony had been booked in advance. Tan Linyuan was stunned for a second, then said with a helpless smile, "You've arranged everything. I seem so useless." It should have been him to prepare for this, but Nan Yu had taken the lead.
Nan Yu laughed, "How could you be useless? You're half of this wedding."
"What about you?"
"Of course, I'm the other half."
Under Tan Linyuan's gaze, Nan Yu took his hand, and they walked together towards the chapel. Along the way, there was a sea of jasmine. The white petals undulated with the wind, revealing the light - green leaves. Tan Linyuan was glad that he had changed into a more formal suit before going out. He tightened his grip on her hand. For a moment, he felt like he was in a dream. She was his jasmine bride.
The priest was old and looked kind. "Mr. Tan, do you take Miss Nan Yu to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
Tan Linyuan had repeated these three words in his heart countless times. Finally, he could say them without hesitation, "I do."
The priest then turned to Nan Yu and said with a smile, "Miss Nan Yu, do you, like him, promise to stand by him through poverty and illness, and no external force can separate you from each other?"
Nan Yu tightened her palm. Her hand in the white lace glove was slightly warm. It was such a happy and exciting moment, but why did she feel like crying? She forced a smile, but her eyes were sore. Through the mist, she squinted and said, "I do."
In her blurry vision, she could see the man's face so close. His deep eyes were now filled with a sincere smile.
"Now, please exchange your wedding rings. Put on the rings that you can only own one in your life. This is a shackle and also a brand, symbolizing that you will always belong to each other."
Qu Jiaran was in charge of the ring - exchange part. Nan Yu turned her head and saw Qu Jiaran sitting in the front row, winking at her. She suddenly got nervous. Didn't she forget to prepare the rings?
Qu Jiaran had a look of "just wait and see" on her face and clapped her hands twice in the air. The chapel door opened, and a man in a suit outside bent down and let go of a cat. It was the big orange cat, Yu Yu, from Changuang Temple. It was wearing a special "suit" for cats with a small black tie on its chest. It looked extremely imposing.
Nan Yu was amazed and covered her mouth in surprise. Yu Yu was not at all shy. It walked proudly across the stage until it came in front of the priest. It was so agile that it jumped directly onto the altar and scratched itself with its hind legs. Then it swaggered towards Nan Yu, holding its head higher than anyone else.
Nan Yu's eyes were bright. She reached out her hand towards Yu Yu. Yu Yu immediately rubbed its head against her palm. After rubbing for a while, it obediently turned its back to her. There was a small cross - body bag on its soft back. Nan Yu opened it, and inside was a small and delicate white velvet jewelry box.
The priest laughed, "What a spiritual cat. Are you here to attend the wedding too?" Yu Yu stretched lazily without giving any face and then jumped off the altar. Everyone present couldn't help laughing.
"Did you hire an actor?" Tan Linyuan said with a laugh. Nan Yu glanced at Qu Jiaran in the front row. "It seems I have to reward the young lady well after the wedding." This was not a part she had known in advance, and she couldn't help but praise Qu Jiaran in her heart.
When the lid was opened, there were two wedding rings inside. They were inlaid with a circle of diamonds, and their names were engraved on the inner side.
"Now, Mr. Tan, you may kiss your bride." The priest took a step back, leaving the stage to the two of them. Tan Linyuan stared at Nan Yu. His gaze became deeper and hotter, making Nan Yu's breathing quicken and her body go soft. She was very familiar with this look. It was the possessive desire that could completely engulf her. She reminded him in a low voice that only they could hear, "We're still in public."
Tan Linyuan curled his lips, put his hand around her, and said, "Okay, I'll make it up to you when we get back." He leaned over. The kiss was gentle at first but soon became deeper and more passionate.
This wedding didn't invite any outsiders. It wasn't a traditional lively wedding, but it was solemn and sacred enough. In fact, for their wedding, as long as they had each other, it was more than enough. And indeed, in their eyes, there was only each other.
After the ceremony, Tan Linyuan thought it was over, but unexpectedly, Nan Yu grabbed his hand. "I'll take you somewhere."
Tan Linyuan looked at her shining eyes. Helpless but doting on her, he followed her all the way out of the chapel. The manor was so big that they walked for a long time without reaching Nan Yu's destination.
Tan Linyuan couldn't help it first. He looked down at her shoes. "You've walked so far in high heels. Do you want me to carry you?" Nan Yu turned her head, her eyes bright. "Really?" Actually, she wasn't very tired. But at this moment, she really wanted to be carried in his arms like a princess.
Tan Linyuan answered with his action. He stepped forward and picked her up horizontally. Her fluffy tulle skirt fluttered. "Tell me where to go," Tan Linyuan said, still breathing steadily while holding her. Nan Yu nestled in his arms and laughed. "Keep going straight." Nan Yu put her arms around his neck. She could hear his steady heartbeat in his chest.
Tan Linyuan never expected that there would be a big white piano here. Nan Yu got out of his arms, sat in front of the piano, and tilted her head with a smile. "I'll play a song for you to celebrate our wedding."
Tan Linyuan's eyes were filled with smiles. "What other surprises do you have that I don't know?"
"This is the last one," Nan Yu said excitedly. "Guess what song I'm going to play?" Nan Yu guessed that he might say something like the wedding march. But unexpectedly, he just thought for two seconds and then revealed the answer, "Jasmine Flower."
Nan Yu was surprised. "How did you know?"
Tan Linyuan replied, "What don't I know?" Nan Yu raised her eyebrows and didn't pursue why he could guess accurately.
As the melody drifted over the sea of jasmine, Tan Linyuan leaned against the piano and looked down at her deeply. He wanted to engrave this moment in his memory forever.
He had never told Nan Yu a secret. When he was young, Tan Linyuan had made a decision that was the most rebellious for him at that time. He was supposed to go into seclusion with Master Wenjing, but he took a bold step and sneaked out. There was no reason. He was just curious why the little girl who had cried and wanted to marry him never came to find him again.
He searched all the way but didn't dare to knock on the door. He just stayed in front of Nan Yu's house for a while. At that time, the window of her room was open. The melody behind the light - green curtain was Jasmine Flower.
It turned out that the story of jasmine and the Buddhist beads had been written long ago.
What a beautiful jasmine flower,
Fragrant and lovely on every twig,
Sweet and white, admired by all.