Chapter 106 – The Conclusion

The film “Paradise” grossed over 4 billion yuan in its first month, rightfully claiming the title of box office champion for the season. Xavier and Ethan also became wildly popular in China, proving that beauty knows no boundaries. Shen Fubai’s appearance, which was less than three minutes long, left an indelible impression on all of North America, with many people eager to learn the name of this oriental beauty.

This fervor persisted for several months. Following Jiang Heng and Shen Fubai’s sudden announcement, netizens traced their relationship back, speculating that they had already begun dating when they were both in the United States. This meant that during the filming of “Paradise,” Shen Fubai and Jiang Heng were likely in the throes of passionate love…

Some even believed that they fell in love while filming “Pear Blossoms,” with their months of close interaction providing ample time for their relationship to develop into something romantic.

Online, theories abounded, while Jiang Heng and Shen Fubai were busy preparing for their wedding.

They planned to hold their ceremony in Beijing and then honeymoon in Ireland.

The wedding date was set for May 21, 2020, a date whose pronunciation sounded like “I love you, I love you, I love you.”

…Truly, a simple yet direct sentiment.

Upon learning the date, Shen Fubai said, “Doesn’t that mean we’ll have one less anniversary to celebrate each year?”

May 21st and their wedding anniversary would now share the same day, effectively reducing the number of anniversaries they could celebrate.

“So what?” Jiang Heng replied. “As long as you don’t mind, we can make every day Valentine’s Day.”

Shen Fubai considered this. “That would be too much trouble; let’s forget it.”

Jiang Heng tapped his nose. “I don’t find it troublesome.”

Shen Fubai smiled and dodged away. “You’re so annoying.”

Jiang Heng feigned melancholy. “You’re already annoyed with me before we’re even married. What will happen when we hit the seven-year itch?”

“I should be the one worried about that. You’ve been my fan for six years, and this is our seventh year together. Are you feeling itchy? Thinking of unfollowing me?” Shen Fubai gave him a sidelong glance.

“Fine, I’ll unfollow you.” Jiang Heng spoke slowly. “And join your family registry instead.”

Shen Fubai made a tsking sound. “The ultimate joy of chasing stars.”

What is the pinnacle of mutual fandom?

It’s falling in love.

I once lived in eternal night.

During the years when Jiang, the Great Movie Star, and I followed each other, neither of us knew the other was secretly paying attention. Yet, we both unknowingly treated each other as our faith, chasing after a light like stars chasing the sun.

Until the year we fell in love, the stars that had moved like stars and merchants finally met under the same sky, converging into a single point of light.

It pierced through the deep night, causing the eastern horizon to turn white, gathering sunlight before my eyes.

It told me,

Daybreak has come.

On the eve of the wedding, Shen Fubai appeared calm, his face as steady as an old dog, but inside, he was a mess.

“I think I have pre-wedding jitters. How do I calm down?” Shen Fubai was extremely nervous, hiding a hint of anxiety. “Heng Heng, do you have any advice to share?”

Jiang Heng seemed composed. “…Where would I get experience from? This is my first marriage too.” He might have been even more nervous than Shen Fubai.

Heng Heng was panicking internally, but Heng Heng didn’t say anything.

“What should I do? What should I do? Tonight is my last night as a bachelor. Tomorrow, I’ll be a married man. I’m going to go from new to used. I’ll become worthless.” Shen Fubai grew increasingly gloomy. “If we divorce, can I take half of your assets? Otherwise, I feel like I’d be betraying all these years of my youth.”

Jiang Heng: “…Yes, Fubai definitely has pre-wedding jitters.”

And it wasn’t mild.

Jiang Heng comforted him. “Don’t think too much.”

“You’re right; you love me so much.” Shen Fubai nodded. “You wouldn’t let me leave empty-handed.”

Jiang Heng: “…We definitely won’t get divorced!”

On May 21st, the day of the wedding.

The elegant church was filled with guests, all dressed in suits and ties, or evening gowns, either prominent figures in the business world or well-known celebrities from the entertainment industry.

A row of foreign faces stood out prominently at the front. There was an Asian woman of Chinese descent, a middle-aged man with blond hair and blue eyes, and three exceptionally handsome young men, one with brown hair and blue eyes, another with blond hair and blue eyes, and the third with silver hair and gray eyes. They were generally taller than Asians, drawing everyone’s attention.

It didn’t take long for someone to recognize them as the recently popular American star Xavier, supermodel Ethan, and renowned Hollywood director Chapman.

And there were also the Lina couple, whom no one knew.

In the backstage dressing room, Shen Fubai was frantically searching for something. “Where’s my tie? Xiao Lin, Xiao Lin, help me look for it.”

Xiao Lin was rummaging through boxes. “I’m looking for it, Brother Shen. Do you remember where you put it?”

“How could I remember where I put it if I could find it?” Shen Fubai felt a headache coming on.

Xiao Lin sighed. Working as brother Shen’s assistant meant he now had to act as his wedding assistant as well.

Shen Fubai was getting married, and Xiao Lin was reluctant to let him go.

He had started working for Shen Fubai right after graduating from university, serving as his assistant for three years. Initially, he had witnessed Shen Fubai’s private moments of depression. Seeing Shen Fubai improve day by day, he felt genuinely happy.

“Brother Shen, you’re always so scatterbrained. How are you going to take care of yourself in the future?” Xiao Lin chided him, disappointed that he couldn’t be more responsible.

“I’ll take care of him.”

Both men in the room paused in their actions.

Shen Fubai looked up and saw Jiang Heng standing in the doorway, dressed in a black suit with a rose in his chest pocket, stunningly handsome.

“What are you doing here? Have you finished getting ready?” Shen Fubai asked.

“Of course, I’ve finished everything. Unlike you.” Jiang Heng smiled as he pulled out a tie from beneath a pile of tried-on suits, walking over to tie it around Shen Fubai’s neck.

He was slightly taller than Shen Fubai and bent his head slightly to help him with the tie, his dexterous fingers deftly forming a knot.

Shen Fubai: “…Why can you find the tie so precisely?”

Jiang Heng chuckled softly. “During the time we lived together, you either lost your socks or shoes every morning. It trained me to become a master at finding things. Why can’t you ever find your clothes?”

Shen Fubai didn’t think too much about it and replied, “Isn’t it because you tear all my pants and shirts to shreds every night?”

Xiao Lin: “…”

What had he done to deserve hearing this?

Jiang Heng cleared his throat and gave Xiao Lin a meaningful look, indicating that he should leave.

Xiao Lin immediately scurried away.

Only then did Shen Fubai realize that Xiao Lin had been present, stammering for a moment before saying, blushing, “Alright, let’s not waste any more time. Let’s go out there.”

Jiang Heng leaned down and caressed his bright red lips. “What color lipstick did you apply today?”

“…What lipstick?! I’m a man!”

“Is that so?” Jiang Heng lowered his gaze, his finger wiping across Shen Fubai’s lips, leaving behind a streak of red, showing it to him.

Shen Fubai: “…Givenchy Rouge Interdit Wine Red.”

He usually didn’t wear lipstick. His naturally rosy lips and dark eyebrows needed no adornment. But for today’s wedding, the makeup artist chose this shade to enhance his complexion.

“You smudged my lipstick. I’ll have to ask the makeup artist to reapply it,” Shen Fubai complained quietly. He couldn’t apply lipstick properly himself.

“It’s easy.” Jiang Heng walked to the vanity mirror and picked up the lipstick on the table, applying some to his own lips.

Shen Fubai was shocked.

“Can you be any more shameless?” Shen Fubai couldn’t believe his eyes.

“Sure.” Jiang Heng turned around and walked towards him, lifting his chin and kissing him.

Their lips touched, and that touch of wine red was gently applied to Shen Fubai’s lips by Jiang Heng.

When they parted, Shen Fubai subconsciously wanted to touch his own lips, but Jiang Heng grabbed his wrist.

“Do you want to apply it again?” Jiang Heng’s eyes sparkled with mischief.

Shen Fubai: “Get out of my magic castle!”

Jiang Heng quickly caught on. “Little fairy, the magic castle has already been conquered by me. Obey under the staff of my dark god Gu Nala.”

Shen Fubai: “Get out of my green grassland!”

“That won’t do, little lamb. Today, I’m going to carry you back to my wolf den.” Jiang Heng’s tone was light. “I’ll cook you and eat you.”

Shen Fubai: “…”

For the first time, Shen Fubai hated that Jiang Heng was an actor, with such strong improvisational skills that he was left speechless.

The holy and solemn wedding march played slowly, and along the long red carpet, Ye Ziran and Xiao Ye, the two flower “girls”, dutifully held the baskets and scattered petals—since neither the Jiang nor the Shen families had children of the appropriate age, the two flower “girls” were borrowed from the Ye and Xiao families for the day.

This wasn’t the first time Shen Fubai and Jiang Heng walked down the red carpet. During an event for “Pear Blossoms,” they had walked the red carpet together as the lead actors. During the filming of the wedding ring commercial, they had even rehearsed it.

But this time, it was the real thing, the red carpet of their wedding.

A path they would only walk once in their lives.

A path they would walk with one person.

Under the witness of the priest and all the guests, they vowed to spend their lives together, exchanged rings, embraced, and kissed.

Then, applause from the entire audience.

At the moment of the kiss, Jiang Heng whispered to him, “Wine.”

Shen Fubai lifted his eyes. “Hmm?”

Jiang Heng said, “I’ll be good to you for the rest of your life.”

Shen Fubai was taken aback, then smiled. “Okay.”

That evening, they returned to their newly decorated home, somewhat dizzy. Jiang Heng had helped him drink quite a bit at the banquet, so Shen Fubai hadn’t consumed much alcohol.

The new home was pitch black, and Shen Fubai was puzzled. “Why isn’t the light on?”

As he was fumbling for the switch, suddenly, there was a “snap,” and the entire room lit up like daylight, with a group of people shouting, “Congratulations on your marriage!!”

In the room were Yang Yingying, Muran Jinhuan, Lu Yunqian, Mu Yao, Ye Lin, Ye Ziran, Xiao Ye, Fu Hengcheng, Xavier, Chapman, and Ethan.

One by one, familiar faces.

Shen Fubai twitched the corner of his mouth. “Thanks.” They scared him.

“Look at how the groom got drunk like this today. We told you not to force him to drink. If he gets drunk, how can we have a proper wedding celebration?” Yang Yingying said, pulling the semi-drunk Jiang Heng out of the door. “Sister will make you some sobering soup. You guys play.”

“Eh—” Shen Fubai was completely baffled. Why was she taking his husband away on their wedding night?

He wanted to turn and chase after them but was stopped by Ye Lin. “Don’t be so clingy. Can’t you be apart for a little while?”

Shen Fubai cautiously looked at the group with ill intentions. “What do you guys want to do?”

Celebrate the wedding night?

He had a bad feeling about this.

Sure enough, Muran Jinhuan picked up a white wedding dress. “Put this on.”

Shen Fubai was horrified. “Don’t even think about making me cross-dress!”

Seeing an opportunity, Shen Fubai tried to make a run for it, but a broom suddenly flew over, shutting the door. Martial arts expert Mu Yao withdrew her foot, saying mysteriously, “Do you want to wear it yourself or have us help you? Choose one.”

Shen Fubai: “…I’ll wear it.”

Ethan chimed in, speaking in English, “Brother, don’t forget the wig.”

Shen Fubai: “How dare you take their side!”

Chapman watched the show and said, “Maderira, I’m looking forward to seeing you in women’s clothing.”

Xavier agreed.

Shen Fubai: “…”

These two groups, who didn’t even speak the same language, seemed to have reached a consensus on teasing him.

Shen Fubai, emerging from the dressing room, truly stunned everyone.

Xiao Ye: “What a beautiful big sister.”

Xavier: “This must be an angel sent by God.”

Fu Hengcheng: “Bro, you’re kind of beautiful.”

Lu Yunqian: “Sister Shen, you’re my goddess.”

Shen Fubai: “…”

Lu Yunqian, this kid, was probably courting death.

“Well, the groom is back sober.” Yang Yingying suddenly opened the door and, upon seeing Shen Fubai on the bed, raised her eyebrows. “Such a beautiful bride.”

Shen Fubai stared at the two people behind Yang Yingying. “…Why did you take one out but bring back two?”

Behind Yang Yingying stood two identical young men, dressed identically and nearly the same height—none other than Jiang Yuan and Jiang Heng.

No wonder he hadn’t seen Jiang Yuan earlier; he had been waiting for him here.

“The bride must find her groom,” Yang Yingying said with a smile.

The two “grooms” were equally surprised upon seeing Shen Fubai on the bed.

There was a beauty in a white wedding dress, the backless gown perfectly showcasing the young man’s snow-white back and butterfly bones. Long hair cascaded down, spreading across the bed. A delicate and gorgeous face, alive and vivid like a spirit.

He appeared to be a charming and alluring beauty.

Jiang Heng and Jiang Yuan had both been sternly ordered by Yang Yingying not to speak or move, waiting for Shen Fubai to identify them.

Shen Fubai stepped out in high heels, holding up the hem of his dress, circling the two men, looking at them from left to right, wanting to reach out and touch their faces, but Yang Yingying stopped him. “No touching!”

…How was this supposed to work?!

These two really looked exactly the same, without even a mole to differentiate them. Without touching or talking, he could only guess.

Shen Fubai tried calling out, “Heng Heng?”

The one on the left lowered his eyes.

Shen Fubai looked over.

The one on the right furrowed his brows.

Shen Fubai looked back.

No result.

Shen Fubai probed further. “What did we do in the dressing room this morning?”

The one on the left pursed his lips.

Shen Fubai’s eyes lit up, remembering the lipstick kiss.

Yes, it was this one!

Just as he was about to choose, the other one subtly moved his fingers.

Shen Fubai was confused.

…Tie his tie with his hands? That could also be interpreted.

He decided to give up.

Jiang Yuan was listening to Yang Yingying, who had instructed him to act. Jiang Yuan, trying to please his wife, would certainly put in effort, confusing Shen Fubai’s judgment.

Shen Fubai was going crazy.

He dragged his long dress, circling between the two men, when he suddenly came up with a plan. As he walked between them, he pretended to accidentally step on his dress with his high heel, letting out a cry as he fell.

In a flash, the one on the right immediately wrapped his arm around his waist, catching him just before he hit the ground. Shen Fubai smiled triumphantly and immediately hooked his arm around his neck. “Found you.”

“Woah.” The crowd watching burst into cheers.

Mu Yao laughed uncontrollably. “You cheated.”

Shen Fubai proudly said, “Who cares how I did it, as long as I win.”

“Is that so?” The man holding him suddenly threw him back onto the bed and said, “My surname is Jiang, and my given name is Yuan.”

Shen Fubai: “…”

Shen Fubai never wanted to hear those words again.

After people dispersed that evening, leaving space for the newlyweds, Shen Fubai, still wearing the wedding dress with his hair loose, sat on the bed resentfully. “Why didn’t you catch me?”

It was too embarrassing.

It was truly too embarrassing.

Jiang Heng: “…I didn’t expect Jiang Yuan to move so fast. And he was closer to you.” He was also upset. “I’m hurt that you couldn’t recognize me.”

Shen Fubai took off the wig, defeated. “I don’t want to hear it.”

He fell back onto the bed, lying on his back. “I’m exhausted.”

Jiang Heng knew he was worn out from following the wedding procedures all day. “Take off the dress first.”

Shen Fubai lazily said, “I don’t want to move.”

Jiang Heng was surprised. “Are you suggesting a cross-dressing role-play?”

Shen Fubai: “…I just don’t want to move.”

Jiang Heng took off his suit and tie. “It’s fine; lie still, I’ll do the moving.”

Shen Fubai: AAAAAHHHHHH!!!

The white chiffon dress spread across the entire bedsheet, the layered skirt as soft as clouds, accentuating the slender legs beneath. The youth was fair-skinned and beautiful, his face flushed with redness, resembling an innocent lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

Before Jiang Heng could devour this little lamb, Shen Fubai suddenly said, “Wait!”

Jiang Heng felt his heart stop. “…Are you going to blindfold Xiong Heng Heng again?” He now knew the real name of the big white bear.

“No, it’s almost midnight. I need to record something.” Shen Fubai reached for the phone on the bedside table and opened the notes app—

May 21st

We got married.