Joyfully and happily, Huayan and Huli welcomed the first snowfall at the recuperation base. "A timely snow promises a bountiful year," and along with it came the good news that Huayan and Huli were going to get married.

Huayan and Huli decided to have an ancient-style wedding. Several of the elders with special abilities came from prominent families and had frequently recommended and discussed this traditional ceremony with Huayan and Huli. Since neither of them were ordinary people, they found it intriguing and agreed immediately.

In truth, it was Huayan's enthusiasm that prompted Huli's agreement.

As soon as Lao Yang left the hospital, he rushed to the recuperation base. Upon learning that Huayan and Huli were getting married, he immediately took charge of procuring all the wedding necessities: red silk, bridal veils, new bed sheets and quilts, wedding candies, cakes, and more.

The vegetable base already had people growing crops, and they didn't need to buy chickens, ducks, or rabbits as the base had those too. However, beef, lamb, and various fish needed to be procured by Lao Yang.

During this time, Fatty and Blackie helped with the procurement before taking up their other responsibilities. Nine-Tenths and Wulin also secured the task of personally escorting the final batch of jade to the recuperation base through special methods.

When they arrived at the recuperation base, they carefully examined Huayan's health and were relieved to see her in such good spirits.

They cared deeply for Huayan but weren't as kind to Huli. As members of the bride's family, they had to scrutinize him before the marriage.

Anyone with a discerning eye could see that Wulin and Nine-Tenths were teaming up against Huli. Huayan thought Huli would ignore them, but instead, he raised his eyebrows and remained confident.

That evening, Huayan personally cooked several dishes for them, then retreated to her room to read.

When Huayan was in the living room, Huli restrained his evil thoughts. Once she left, he reverted to his true self. Going along with the flow, taking a step back to advance, using psychological tactics—before long, three or four bottles of white wine were empty, and the beer bottles were nearly piled into a small mountain.

Two hours passed, and Wulin and Nine-Tenths had not managed to outdrink Huli. Instead, they ended up slumped over like a pile of mud. One moment, Huli's eyes were unfocused, and he swayed unsteadily. The next moment, his gaze was clear.

Huli had long harbored resentment towards Wulin and Nine-Tenths, especially Nine-Tenths. This kid had dared to make a move on his woman. Although he had wisely stopped himself, letting him experience the torment of a hangover was still necessary.

Huayan, coming back from her reading, perked up her ears and noticed the absence of the usual drinking noise in the living room. She walked out and saw Huli looking like a lion declaring his territory, glaring fiercely at the two men slumped over the table.

Huayan chuckled and said, "Huli, why do you look like you want to eat them alive?"

Huli looked at Huayan with doting eyes filled with such tenderness that it could almost drip. He pulled her onto the sofa and rested his head on her, unwilling to move. His hot breath on Huayan's neck made her ears turn red with heat. The faint scent of wine on Huli, mixed with his lazy demeanor, was quite alluring.

Lost in her thoughts, Huayan realized she was staring at Huli, who had a teasing look in his eyes.

Embarrassed, Huayan pinched Huli, but he was too distracted by his desire to notice the pain. He held her face and kissed her passionately.

The next day at noon, Wulin and Nine-Tenths woke up in the guest room, clutching their throbbing heads. Seeing Huayan and Huli chatting and laughing sweetly outside, they instantly realized they had been tricked by Huli.

However, they were happy. With someone as smart and willing to sacrifice his career and reputation for Huayan, they couldn't think of anyone better suited to stay by her side.

She appeared strong on the outside but was fragile inside. Over time, they realized her coldness was a form of self-protection, a cautious effort to avoid getting hurt. Huli's unconditional love, always considering Huayan in every decision, made them a perfect match.

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Half a month later, the recuperation base was decorated in auspicious red. Huayan's red bridal veil was embroidered with dragons and phoenixes by a Suzhou embroidery master. After three days apart, Huayan and Huli were brought together by a red silk ribbon.

Holding apples, passing over a fire basin, they slowly entered the wedding hall. Lao Yang, representing Huli's elders, sat in the honored seat, along with Huli's father, who wept with joy.

"First bow to heaven and earth... second bow to the parents... husband and wife bow to each other... send them to the bridal chamber!" Lao Qiao's voice was loud and joyful.

Huli then escorted Huayan into her newly redecorated bedroom.

"I've prepared some pastries and freshly brewed hot milk tea for you on the table. Have a little snack," Huli said, looking at Huayan through her red bridal veil.

Since everything had to follow the ancient wedding customs, Huayan had been up before dawn without eating anything. It wasn’t that people wouldn’t let her eat, but Huayan couldn’t sleep from the middle of the night until she finally dozed off around four or five in the morning. She had only slept for less than an hour before being woken up.

Aunt Chang had prepared millet porridge and pastries for her, but it was Huayan’s first time in two lifetimes as a bride, and she was feeling both excited and anxious.

Seeing her pale face and dazed expression, those helping her get dressed asked her what was wrong, but she didn’t know how to explain.

Even though Aunt Chang and the others tried to comfort her when they guessed the reason, Huayan still couldn’t calm down. By evening, she was both tired and hungry. When Huli mentioned food, Huayan felt tempted.

"But, aren’t we not supposed to eat anything? It’s considered unlucky," Huayan said, though she had never believed in such things. On her wedding day, she felt a bit superstitious.

Huli, hearing her slightly hoarse voice, held her close and said tenderly, "Don’t worry about anything. If the sky falls, I’ll hold it up for you. Just eat something, so you don’t feel too hungry."

"Okay, I got it. You should go now," Huayan replied, hearing the footsteps of people outside the door asking Aunt Chang when Huli would leave.

After Huli left, Huayan drank the milk tea and ate the pastries, smiling as she did so. Aunt Chang, just entering the room, noticed her joy and asked curiously, "Miss, what’s making you so happy?"

"Who prepared these?" Huayan asked, pointing to the still-steaming milk tea and the soft, fragrant pastries on the table.

Hearing her question, Aunt Chang smiled even more and said, "These were all prepared by the groom himself."

"Oh, did he really have time for this?" Huayan asked, surprised. Huli had been busy all day overseeing everything himself. People had even teased him for acting like a little man. She didn’t expect him to find time to make these for her.

"The groom found some time to make the pastries in the big kitchen and then made the milk tea in our small kitchen, keeping it warm for you. Miss, you’ve found a rare gem of a husband. Everyone’s been praising him," Aunt Chang said.

Huayan smiled proudly and asked, "Aunt Chang, can I take a nap?" She hadn’t been sleeping well for days and felt very sleepy.

Aunt Chang, feeling sorry for her, finally said, "You can sleep, but you mustn’t take off your red veil. It’s considered unlucky."

Huayan agreed quickly and soon fell asleep, leaning against the headboard.

Meanwhile, Wulin and Nine-Tenths were bent on getting revenge for being drunk the previous night. They pestered Huli during the toasts, and even Huli’s feigned drunkenness didn’t work, as they had learned from the previous night and were now on guard.

Lao Yang, still holding a grudge over Huli’s previous engagement to Li Jiaojiao, pretended not to see Huli being pestered. Huayan’s father, worried about his son-in-law, tried to help, but Lao Qiao pulled him away, ensuring he didn’t assist Huli.

Poor Huli was stuck until sunset, his stomach full of alcohol and his head spinning. Finally, Nine-Tenths and the others, feeling a pang of conscience, helped him to the bridal chamber.

Just a moment ago, Huli had been leaning heavily on Nine-Tenths, appearing very drunk. Suddenly, he stood up, quickly shut the door behind him, and efficiently barred Nine-Tenths and Wulin outside. His agility left them speechless.

Realizing they’d been tricked again, Nine-Tenths cursed Huli inwardly, frustrated that they hadn’t been ruthless enough to keep him from his enjoyment.

Huli took a deep breath, rubbed his eyes, and carefully looked at his beloved, who was now holding her bridal veil, even in her sleep, to prevent it from falling off. She looked adorable.

Huli smiled gently, knowing that the veil couldn’t be removed until the groom did it. He hadn’t expected his usually carefree bride to be so nervous about their future that it made her so cautious.

He gently lifted her to lean against him and whispered, "Xiaoyan, rest assured, I’ll be your steadfast and caring support in the days to come. You won’t need to be so cautious anymore."

Reluctantly, Huli woke Huayan to continue the next steps: lifting the bridal veil and drinking the nuptial wine. By the time her red wedding dress was entirely off, a cool breeze made her fully awake.

"Xiaoyan, you’re finally awake. I thought I’d have to make love to a sleepyhead," Huli teased.

Huayan blushed for a moment but then playfully, with a glint in her eye, pulled the quilt over herself and said in a soft, teasing voice, "Your clothes are still intact. Are you waiting for me to help you undress?"

With sleepy eyes and bright red lips, Huayan's face was flushed from just waking up. Her playful teasing sent a shiver from Huli's toes straight to his heart, causing his whole body to tremble.

Almost losing control and pouncing on Huayan, Huli found himself momentarily stunned as Huayan wrapped her soft arms around his neck. With a strong pull, she flipped Huli over, taking the lead, and began kissing his cool, chiseled lips.

The flames of desire burned even hotter under the bed canopy. Soon, Huli was also completely naked. In no time, he had Huayan beneath him, his voice filled with passion as he said, "Xiaoyan, don't be afraid. I'll be gentle..."

After that, the room was filled with the sounds of love: soft moans, gasps, and sighs echoing continuously.