Chapter 146: Proud of You

“No, no, that’s not right.”

Xu Yinsheng pushed Zhao Yicheng’s body away and shook her head.

“I’m a man. There’s no way I’m marrying you.”

Zhao Yicheng’s perfect smile stiffened, showing a few cracks, but he quickly recovered.

He raised his hand to rub his small head, eyes full of affection.

“Xiao Yin, you’re joking again.”

“If you’re a man, then what is that you’re wearing?”

He pointed at the white wedding dress on Xu Yinsheng.

Xu Yinsheng looked down.

Her high, prominent chest pressed against the pure white wedding gown, making it bulge slightly.

The sight was so tempting it almost felt like a crime!

A fleeting awkwardness flashed across her face.

“I’m a woman?”

“Exactly.”

Zhao Yicheng raised his hand and scratched her delicate jade nose, speaking with doting affection.

“We’re childhood sweethearts, remember? When we were little, you kept following me around, nagging about wanting to marry me.”

“Now that your wish has come true, why are you denying it?”

Xu Yinsheng wanted to say something else, but Zhao Yicheng took her hand and strode toward the door.

“Let’s go meet our parents.”

Xu Yinsheng followed him into a room.

It was a room with a balcony, bathed in sunlight filtering through green vines.

The warm room was alive with evergreen ivy sprouting fresh buds, brimming with vitality.

Inside, a couple sat on the sofa watching TV.

The man wore a white suit, and the woman a white floral cheongsam.

Her hair was styled meticulously.

Both wore smiles.

Seeing them, Xu Yinsheng froze for a moment, hesitating.

She bit her lip and whispered softly, “Dad, Mom.”

“Yinsheng.”

Chen Ruomo stood and took her daughter’s hand.

Zhao Yicheng stepped back respectfully, giving the parents space to talk.

He casually sat on the edge of the sofa.

Chen Ruomo looked at her daughter’s face, full of pride and relief.

“We’re proud of you.”

“Proud of me?”

“Proud of you.”

Chen Ruomo repeated, then pulled her into a hug, gently patting her back to soothe her.

“Your dad and I are both so proud of you.”

“You don’t know how long I’ve waited to hear that.”

Xu Yinsheng’s eyes reddened uncontrollably.

She collapsed into her mother’s arms, hugging her tightly.

A flood of grievances and emotions rose in her throat.

She wanted to cry but couldn’t.

“Since I was little, you never cared about me. You only loved each other. No one ever came to parent-teacher meetings for me, no one made me breakfast, and no one told me what was allowed and what wasn’t…”

“I smoked, I drank, I became a little delinquent. No matter how badly I behaved, you never cared. In your eyes, there was only each other.”

“Sometimes I thought, if you don’t care, why did you even bring me into this world? It’d be better if I were dead! Wuwuwu…”

Xu Yinsheng buried her face in her mother’s chest, sobbing uncontrollably.

(A youth is forever trapped by what they lacked in childhood.)

“Foolish child, don’t say that.”

Chen Ruomo stroked her daughter’s head, her gaze tender and warm.

She gently rubbed her back and comforted her softly, “Of course we want you to live well. You are our pride.”

Xu Jishi patted her shoulder as well.

“Yinsheng, your parents love you very much. You’re not only smart, but beautiful. You’re our most precious treasure, our greatest pride.”

“Dad, thank you.”

Xu Yinsheng sniffled and looked up at her parents.

Tears glimmered in her eyes.

“I never thought you’d say that to me. I always thought you only had eyes for each other. I was just the leftovers of your love.”

“Alright, Yinsheng, today is your wedding. Crying doesn’t look good on you.”

Chen Ruomo reached out to wipe the tears at the corner of her eyes, soothing her gently.

“Come on, smile. That’s the way a woman should be.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Xu Yinsheng nodded and forced a happy smile.

Chen Ruomo took Xu Yinsheng’s small hand and placed it in Zhao Yicheng’s.

“Daughter, Yicheng is a good boy. You have to get along well with him and be a good wife, understand?”

“Your father and I are still waiting to hold our grandchild.”

She poked Xu Yinsheng’s flat belly with her fair little hand, smiling, but there was a hint of urgency in her tone.

Xu Yinsheng blushed deeply but nodded obediently.

“Mom…”

“Mom, don’t worry. Xiao Yin and I will work hard.”

Zhao Yicheng squeezed Xu Yinsheng’s hand from the other side, his eyes full of determination.

Feeling the warmth from the man, a strange feeling rose in Xu Yinsheng’s heart.

Am I… a woman?

Why… am I marrying Zhao Yicheng?

Do I… love Zhao Yicheng?

“The wedding’s about to start, Yinsheng. Go get ready.”

Xu Jishi’s voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts.

“Okay.”

Xu Yinsheng came back to her senses, the strange feeling growing stronger.

Suddenly, she looked at her parents, her eyes full of hope.

“Dad, Mom, are you proud of me for that?”

Chen Ruomo and Xu Jishi exchanged a glance, smiling happily, answering in unison:

“We’re proud that you’re about to become a qualified wife.”

The ceremony officially began.

The Priest took his place, and entrance music played throughout the hall.

With the wedding march playing, Xu Yinsheng linked arms with Xu Jishi as they entered.

She stepped on the bright red carpet, walking step by step toward the man waiting for her.

Zhao Yicheng smiled, his eyes filled with joyful affection.

When they reached the Host, Xu Jishi handed his daughter’s hand to the long-awaiting Zhao Yicheng.

Through the thin veil, the burning, unrestrained love transmitted through their intertwined fingers, reaching Xu Yinsheng’s heart.

But suddenly, a haze rose inside her mind.

Did she really love Zhao Yicheng?

“Groom and Bride, you are here to express your wishes and promise that no legal, moral, or religious issues stand in the way of your union. Please hold each other’s right hands and listen carefully to the following words—”

The Host held the microphone.

The hall fell into silence.

“Groom, I ask you: Will you, from this day forward, adhere to the vows of marriage—whether in poverty or wealth, sickness or health, beauty or fading, success or failure—love her, comfort her, respect her, and protect her? Will you be forever faithful to her for the rest of your life?”

Zhao Yicheng’s warm and resolute voice echoed through every corner of the hall.

“I will.”

“I have waited for this moment for so long. When I was five, you were like a light shining into my dark, lifeless world. Since then, I’ve known, Xu Yinsheng, you are mine.”

A burst of enthusiastic applause.

“Bride, I ask you: Will you, in good times and bad, in riches and poverty, in health and sickness, be by his side forever, never abandoning him, loving and cherishing him until the end of time?”

Xu Yinsheng was about to speak, but the confusion inside her only deepened.

Did she really love Zhao Yicheng?

For a moment, she froze.

Everything around her blurred—the joyous faces in the wedding hall turned stiff, like wind-up puppets.

“Xiao Yin.” Zhao Yicheng whispered to remind her.

Xu Yinsheng snapped back to reality, and everything around her returned to normal—the flowers, the wine, the guests, and her parents’ anxious faces watching from below.

Would they really be proud of me for becoming a qualified wife?

Her heart clenched, and her lips moved slightly.

“I do.”

Thunderous applause erupted.

The music played again.

After the usual rounds of toasting and heartfelt blessings, the bride was successfully carried by the groom into the bridal chamber—the rabbit entering the tiger’s den!