After lunch, they stayed to chat with everyone a while longer. Seeing that the hour was getting late, they distributed the invitations and took their leave.
Once they were out of the Ma residence, Xiao Cheng took Lin Aiyun’s hand. Remembering how she had arranged to meet Wang Youfang again sometime, he furrowed his brow in confusion. “How did you get so chummy with that Wang girl?”
“Huh? What’s wrong? Can’t I?” Lin Aiyun nodded in greeting toward Zhou Jin, who was waiting by the car not far away, her expression relaxed and at ease.
Hearing this, Xiao Cheng was momentarily stumped. He didn’t believe she hadn’t noticed that girl had some feelings for him—so she wasn’t jealous at all? For some reason, his mood dipped.
Lin Aiyun noticed the change in him and found it amusing. She lightly scratched his palm with her fingertip and teased, “What’s the matter? Do women have to claw each other’s eyes out over a man?”
“That’s not what I meant,” Xiao Cheng instinctively refuted, but after a moment’s pause, he realized that was exactly what he’d been thinking. His denial came out weak and guilty.
After a long pause, he added, “If you like and care about someone, wouldn’t you naturally be jealous in that situation?”
“Who said I wasn’t jealous? But there are many ways to handle things. You have so many admirers—if I threw a fit every time I ran into one, wouldn’t that be exhausting?”
Even in this situation, Lin Aiyun didn’t forget to tease him. “Harmony brings wealth, get it, Mr. Xiao?”
Xiao Cheng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. When they reached the car, Zhou Jin opened the door for them. He helped Lin Aiyun in first, then got in himself. Once settled, he heard her continue.
“I want to be friends with Fangfang because I feel she’s someone I click with. And when she looks at you, it’s not with much romantic interest—more like admiration and respect.”
More importantly, in her previous life, Wang Youfang and Xiao Juan had always been close friends. Xiao Juan had even introduced her to Lin Aiyun, and the three of them had been friends and card-playing buddies for years. Wang Youfang had later married her childhood sweetheart who had always secretly loved her, and the couple stayed devoted to each other for decades.
Lin Aiyun knew well that Wang Youfang’s feelings for Xiao Cheng weren’t that complicated—which was why she had been so warm and friendly toward her today.
“Of course, if I ever ran into someone who was hostile toward me and determined to break up our marriage, I definitely wouldn’t go easy on her.” Lin Aiyun cast a light glance at Xiao Cheng, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. “And if you dare to flirt around outside or leave a trail of hearts, heh heh…”
Those last two syllables somehow made Xiao Cheng shiver. He quickly professed his loyalty: “Wife, having you in this life is more than enough for me. I would never cheat.”
“You’d better not.” Seeing that she’d achieved her goal of scaring him a little, Lin Aiyun didn’t linger on the topic. Time would tell.
The car drove smoothly along. They made stops to deliver invitations to friends and relatives living nearby, and made it back home before dark.
That evening, after washing up, Lin Aiyun sat on the edge of the bed drying her hair. She glanced at Xiao Cheng, who had just finished cleaning the bath, and hesitated for a moment before tentatively speaking up.
“What did you and Grandpa talk about today? I got the feeling you had something on your mind during lunch.”
Xiao Cheng paused mid-sip of water, then shook his head. “Nothing.”
Seeing he didn’t want to talk, Lin Aiyun nodded and didn’t press further, continuing to dry her hair. Before long, Xiao Cheng finished his water, walked over, and naturally took the towel from her hands. They sat in comfortable silence.
Only after her hair was completely dry did Xiao Cheng speak, asking a seemingly unrelated question: “Wife, would you want to live abroad? All of us together.”
Lin Aiyun’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t expected him to ask her that. Her heart pounded wildly, thudding against her chest. She knew that during this period, many Chinese entrepreneurs and capitalists, after catching wind of certain rumors, chose to go abroad, only returning when the country reopened its doors to welcome them back—or some never came back at all.
But in her previous life, Xiao Cheng had always stayed in the country. He’d never even entertained the thought of going abroad. So why now…
Xiao Cheng’s next words answered her question.
“Mother grew up abroad and saw many sights. She used to tell me about the culture, architecture, and food over there—so different from ours, and fascinating. And their development in every aspect was far ahead.”
“We could go just to broaden our horizons. As long as we’re together…”
It sounded like he was trying to convince Lin Aiyun, but more like he was trying to convince himself. His rambling words trailed off, unable to continue.
“As long as we’re together, it doesn’t matter where we go.” Lin Aiyun turned around and took Xiao Cheng’s hands, keeping her expression as natural as possible, smiling gently. “Why are you asking me so suddenly? But no matter what, I’ll be by your side.”
“A husband and wife are one, after all.”
Their gazes met in midair. The tension inside Xiao Cheng grew stronger, a weight pressing down on his heart—for the first time, it made it hard for him to breathe. Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, only to dissolve into blankness, leaving him without a clue.
If it were before, he could have just followed his heart. But not now. Now he had a family, a beloved wife, and children to come. He had to be responsible for them.
He still remembered the promises he made when he asked for Aiyun’s hand—that he would never let her suffer through hard times.
But human plans could never match heaven’s will. The blow had come too suddenly.
The immense wealth the Xiao family had accumulated over generations, his years of careful planning, the financial security he could provide her—all of it had now turned into a blade aimed at them.
The mark of their identity was etched into their very bones. Even he, with his military merits, couldn’t guarantee a clean escape. One misstep, and it would be the ruin of his entire household.
Aiyun’s family could be caught in the crossfire too.
Seeing the unease creeping onto his wife’s face, Xiao Cheng forcibly suppressed the tangled thoughts surging in his mind. His head gradually cleared. He ruffled her hair and put on a nonchalant smile. “I was just asking. Alright, let’s sleep—we still have invitations to deliver tomorrow.”
With that, he half-lifted her and placed her on the inner side of the bed. Lin Aiyun instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. “You can talk to me about anything. Don’t keep it all bottled up inside.”
Xiao Cheng leaned over, bracing himself on either side of her. A flicker of something unspoken passed through his eyes before quickly fading, replaced by warmth in his dark pupils. “Wife, you’re so thoughtful.”
As his words faded, he eased himself halfway onto her, his cheek resting against her chest, nuzzling gently. In a low murmur, he said, “I can’t bear to let go.”
“Then don’t. It’s not like I’m unwilling.” Lin Aiyun’s clear apricot eyes seemed to hold countless shimmering halos, gentle and mesmerizing, impossible to look away from. Her voice was low and soft, like a feather brushing across the heart, leaving a tingling trace.
Hearing that, a low laugh rumbled from Xiao Cheng’s throat. “You said that. I’m taking it seriously.”
It started as a joke, but Lin Aiyun cupped his face in her hands, her expression utterly serious. Word by word, she spoke solemnly: “Xiao Cheng, I won’t let go. And you’re not allowed to either. Promise me.”
Xiao Cheng lifted his eyelids and met her gaze. In that quiet, prolonged exchange, she unconsciously held her breath, her fingertips curling slightly—but she did not flinch.
Don’t think she couldn’t guess what was on his mind.
Whether they went abroad or stayed in the country, she wouldn’t go alone—and certainly wouldn’t be separated from Xiao Cheng.
What a fool!
Her eyes gradually filled with tears. When she spoke again, her voice carried a trace of a sob: “I’ll support you in whatever you do—good outcome or bad, we’ll bear it together. I won’t blame you. But if you dare to leave me behind, I will resent you forever.”
“When did I ever say I’d leave you? Please don’t cry, wife.” Flustered, Xiao Cheng used his thumb to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes. There was concern on his face, but also a flicker of panic at being found out. At the same time, he was surprised at how perceptive she was about this.
Finally, he could only let out a helpless sigh. He hadn’t wanted to burden her with these worries—it would only add pressure. If the sky fell, the tall ones would hold it up.
But now, if he didn’t tell her, she’d probably imagine even worse scenarios. Better to lay it all out, analyze the pros and cons, and let her voice her own opinion on whether to stay or go.
After all this, there was no way he was letting go. But just the thought of separation made her cry like this—if they really parted, she’d probably sob until her eyes were swollen.
Instead of worrying about this and that, he’d be better off figuring out how to weather the coming changes. In his heart, he believed in the country.
So unless absolutely necessary, he didn’t want to choose the path of leaving the country…
“Something did happen.” Xiao Cheng pulled her into his arms and slowly began to share the news he’d been hearing recently.
“Today, I told Grandpa and Grandma about it too. They’re planning to go to Hong Kong—it’s still part of our country, but the policies there will be more lenient.”
Hearing that, Lin Aiyun’s eyes widened slightly. “But what about Uncle and Auntie…”
“They’ll probably disagree. But I don’t know for sure. Everyone’s minds are in a mess right now—they need some time to sort things out.” Xiao Cheng patted Lin Aiyun’s back and tried to sound lighthearted. “This will take time to unfold—maybe by the end of the year, or next year. Who knows?”
A flash of insight struck Lin Aiyun. “So when you said earlier that you were sorting out the family assets, that was for—”
“I had an idea before, but I hadn’t discussed it with you yet. I was planning to bring it up after the wedding.” Xiao Cheng glanced at her cautiously.
“Go on.” She had some guesses, but didn’t voice them directly.
Xiao Cheng pressed his lips together, hesitating for a long moment before continuing, “The front lines need a massive amount of funding. There’s also post-war reconstruction—money is needed everywhere…”
He trailed off, but Lin Aiyun finished for him.
“You want to donate?”
“Yes.”
“Almost everything?”
“Yes.”
“Then donate it.”
“Yeah—wait, yeah?”
Xiao Cheng stared at her blankly, his eyes fixed unblinkingly, the muscles in his cheeks faintly trembling. The knuckles gripping her shoulders had turned slightly white, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “All of it?”
“Mm. I told you, I support your decisions. But at least leave a little something for raising the kids, right?” Lin Aiyun laughed and rubbed his cheek.
“Of course—can’t let my wife and children go hungry.” Xiao Cheng sat up halfway and pulled her tightly into his embrace.
They talked for a while longer before finally falling asleep in each other’s arms.
(Note: This novel is a work of fiction. Any discrepancies with reality are purely the author’s creative choices. Please do not overanalyze.)
—
Ever since they’d cleared the air and he had his wife’s full support, Xiao Cheng stopped deliberately keeping things from Lin Aiyun. One would sit in the south end of the study sorting through business matters, while the other sat in the north end embroidering—each undisturbed, living in peaceful harmony.
Before long, the wedding day arrived. They started bustling about early in the morning. Though they’d gone through a ceremony in Nangou Village before, the customs in the capital were different in some respects, and they couldn’t manage with the same ease.
Fortunately, with the help of experienced relatives like their aunt and aunt-in-law, they wouldn’t have been able to handle it otherwise.
The wedding was held at a famous banquet hall in the capital. Most guests were prominent figures in the city—and if you looked closely, you could even spot a few familiar faces from the newspapers near the main table.
Dressed in new clothes and styled hair, Zhang Wenhua and Lin Jianzhi stood at the entrance greeting guests. They were a bit reserved at first, but soon got used to it—just smile, say “Welcome, welcome,” and usher people inside.
And with Grandma and Grandpa Ma helping out, they didn’t have to do much entertaining anyway.
The two elders were in high spirits, standing all morning without a word of complaint. They probably would have stood longer if they hadn’t needed to go inside and attend to the honored guests.
Unlike the simple affair in Nangou Village, this wedding procession was nothing short of grand. A fleet of over a dozen sedans set off from the hotel, driving along the streets all the way to the Xiao family home.
Led by Xiao Juan and Wang Youfang, the bridesmaids showed Xiao Cheng no mercy, throwing all sorts of tricky challenges his way. But the groomsmen were no pushovers either—they met every obstacle head-on. Before long, they broke through the defenses and arrived at the bridal chamber to escort the bride.
Lin Aiyun sat upright on the bed in her new-style wedding gown. Her face bloomed like a peach blossom, her eyes shimmering with warmth. Two strands of hair by her temples swayed gently in the breeze, adding to her charm. Her dark hair and red lips paired with the pure white gown made her so stunning that others could hardly look away.
But the bride belonged to the groom, and no one dared to stare too long.
Amid the lively commotion, the couple slowly placed their hands in each other’s palms—a single clasp that promised a lifetime together.
The Xiao residence was some distance from the hotel. In the car, Lin Aiyun was a bit nervous, but with Xiao Cheng sitting beside her, constantly chatting and easing the mood, she soon relaxed.
What followed was the usual procession of formalities. The novel Western-style wedding also opened many people’s eyes.
Finally, the couple went from table to table toasting the elders. It was less about the drinking and more about networking—getting to know people who could be valuable for future endeavors.
But the most stunning moment of the wedding came during the speeches, when Xiao Cheng and Lin Aiyun announced that they would donate all their assets to the cause of liberation and reconstruction. It was a bombshell that sent shockwaves through the room. Whispers buzzed throughout the crowd.
The Xiao family had always been a leading figure in the capital’s social circles. It was hard not to speculate—was the wind about to shift?
“Like father, like son! Mr. Xiao’s father was a hero who took up arms against the Japanese, and now Mr. Xiao is using his family fortune to aid the nation’s development—he’s a hero for the people too.”
“Exactly! Ordinary people could never do something like this. Truly admirable.”
Some of the more well-informed and astute guests caught a whiff of something in the air. Their minds churned, and they quickly offered flattery and praise. But many others muttered that the Xiaos were fools for throwing their money away on charity.
Xiao Cheng and Lin Aiyun paid no mind to any of it. They went about their business as usual, only taking a break once the wedding was over.
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