Slow to mature after marriage

The wedding was ultimately scheduled for Haicheng.

The Zhou family chartered the entire pier and used the group's largest cruise ship. The white hull rested on the deep blue sea, like a white palace floating on water. The deck was covered with gardenias and hydrangeas; a sea breeze would blow, and the petals would gently float up, landing on the guests' shoulders, the rims of champagne glasses, and the black and white keys of the piano.

This wedding of the century caused a sensation throughout Haicheng. The daughter of the chairman of Hang'an Group was getting married, and the dowry she received astonished everyone—in addition to real estate, shares, and trust funds, Zhou Yu'an also received a shareholding agreement for Hang'an Group. She did not refuse.

She wasn't materialistic; her salary as a forensic pathologist at the identification center was enough for her to live comfortably.

But whether it's Bo Yan or Zhou Xubai now, they both seem to like to use a lot of money to express how much love they have for each other.

It seems that only by presenting her with the most precious things can we fill the void left by those years of absence.

Zhou Yu'an thought that if this would make them feel at ease, she wouldn't refuse.

---

On the wedding day.

The makeup team was brought in from Paris, and the lead makeup artist had done makeup for Hollywood stars and was holding a foundation brush.

Zhou Yu'an sat quietly in front of the dressing table, letting the hands work on her face and hair. She didn't say much, only nodding slightly when the makeup artist asked for her opinion.

The final step was not done by the makeup artist.

Shen Ruoqing took the crown out of the jewelry box. The light blue diamond, set in a platinum setting, reflected a cold light in the morning light of Haicheng.

Zhou Shuyan bought this gem at an auction many years ago and has kept it locked in a safe, waiting for the day it could be worn on his daughter's head.

Shen Ruoqing held the crown and walked behind Zhou Yu'an. She slowly and solemnly placed the crown on the top of Zhou Yu'an's head, adjusted the angle, and took a step back.

The person in the mirror had dark hair and red lips, with exquisitely beautiful features. A light blue crown rested on her jet-black hair, making her features even more stunning.

Shen Ruoqing bent down, embraced Zhou Yu'an from behind, leaned down, and gently pressed her lips to the crown on Zhou Yu'an's head for a very light kiss.

Happy wedding, An'an. Mom will always love you.

---

Zhou Xubai had been waiting at the door for a long time.

He was wearing a dark suit, his back straight, his shoulders broad and his waist narrow, kneeling in front of his sister.

Zhou Yu'an climbed onto his back. The train of the wedding dress was lifted up and spread out behind Zhou Xubai like a white waterfall.

Zhou Xubai stood up. Steadily, he walked forward step by step.

The path from the dressing room to the deck was quite long. The deck was covered with a long white carpet, and guests stood on both sides. Petals drifted down from above, landing on their shoulders and in their hair.

The sea breeze rushed in from the bow of the ship, blowing Zhou Yu'an's veil high up like a white sail.

As Zhou Yu'an lay on his brother's broad back, he suddenly remembered a long, long time ago.

Back then, Zhou Xubai was just a boy, his shoulders not as broad or his back as it is now. He squatted down and said, "An'an, come on up, brother will take you running." She rode on his shoulders, clutching his ears with both hands, and walked across the long pier. The sea breeze blew, salty and sticky, blowing her hair onto her face and making her mouth feel sticky. She giggled, bent down, buried her face in his hair, and shouted, "Brother, run faster, run faster!"

That seems like it was not long ago.

How did we walk such a long way in the blink of an eye? How did my brother's shoulders become so broad? How did she grow up so much?

If it was a dream, Zhou Yu'an realized for the first time that it really was too hard.

Zhou Yu'an buried her face in Zhou Xubai's shoulder. Hot tears welled up without warning, sliding down her nose and dripping onto Zhou Xubai's dark suit, leaving a small dark stain.

The dampness seeped through the fabric and burned Zhou Xubai's back, all the way to his heart, making his eyes sting with pain.

"Brother." Zhou Yu'an's voice was muffled, with a slight nasal tone, just like the little girl who used to tug at his ear many years ago.

"Run faster. Run even faster, okay?"

Zhou Xubai didn't speak. He quickened his pace, faster and faster, until he was running. Carrying his sister on his back, he ran across the long, white carpet covered with flower petals, past the guests who were laughing, crying, and clapping, past the twenty-one years she had been absent from, and ran towards the end.

Bo Yan stood at the end.

---

Bo Yan stood at the very front of the deck, with the boundless sea behind him.

His hair had been dyed silver again. The sea breeze lifted his hair slightly, with a few strands hanging above his brow bone, making his eyes look exceptionally bright.

He was wearing a black three-piece suit with his tie perfectly tied.

He tilted his head slightly, a smile playing on his lips, but his eyes were red. He stood patiently between the blue sea and the white ship.

Zhou Yu'an walked over slowly, step by step.

Mu Sigui stepped out from the crowd. He was wearing a well-tailored black suit, his hair was neatly combed, and he was handing over a dark blue velvet box.

Bo Yan took it, opened it, and took out the ring.

Bo Yan took Zhou Yu'an's left hand and slowly and steadily slipped the ring onto her ring finger.

The sea breeze blew in from the bow of the ship, causing Zhou Yu'an's veil to flutter high.

Bo Yan reached out and gently lifted the thin veil, revealing her face—her eyes were slightly red, her lips were curved, and her eyes reflected the entire sea and him.

He leaned down and kissed her lips.

Applause erupted from the guests. Petals drifted down from above, landing on their shoulders and in their hair.

Bo Yan released her lips and pressed his forehead against hers.

"Zhou Yu'an." His voice was very soft, so soft that only she could hear it.

"Um."

My body belongs to you, and my heart belongs to you.

Zhou Yu'an smiled and looked up at him.

"I know."

"I love you too, Bo Yan."

May 21, 2026

Bingwu year, Gui Si month, Ji Wei day

Bride Zhou Yu'an

Groom Bo Yan

A small but perfect ending, love at the right time.

—End of text—