Li Wuxin gently woke up in the arms of Xu Moyao. His eyes, still half-closed, slowly adjusted to the light filtering through the curtains. A sense of peace, warmth, and safety enveloped him. He turned his head and saw Xu Moyao beside him, his face peacefully at rest. Just looking at him made his heart beat a little faster. It was like a waking dream. The perfect moment, the one where everything seemed calm and serene.

Xu Moyao felt his movement and slowly opened his eyes, a soft smile forming on his lips. Their gazes met, and in a shared silence, they stayed that way, lying next to each other, simply looking at one another. The sun was rising, and outside, the light breeze made the leaves of the trees dance, creating a perfect harmony. Li Wuxin propped himself up slightly, observing the morning light, the clear sky, and the soft air filling the room.

"It's you I see... I love you," he murmured, his voice still heavy with sleep.

Xu Moyao shrugged with a smile, gently caressing his husband's cheek. "You're the best thing that ever happened to me..."

Li Wuxin blushed slightly, turning his gaze towards the sky. The coolness of the air contrasted pleasantly with the warmth still lingering in the room. Every element around them seemed suspended in time, as though the world had decided to offer them a perfect moment of peace, a moment stolen from the bustle of life. These moments shared with Xu Moyao were precious, almost unreal, like a waking dream.

The memory of the previous night was still vivid in his mind. Their honeymoon had been everything he had hoped for and more. Xu Moyao's tenderness, his gentle gestures, the words whispered in his ear, the touch of his lips— all of it still enveloped him in a soft and intimate warmth. He couldn't help but recall the caresses and kisses exchanged, the laughter and whispers, the moments of consuming passion yet so full of love. His body, still marked by the traces of shared passion, bore the memories of those past days, and a smile touched his lips as he felt the pleasant ache of the hickeys adorning his neck. It was the tangible proof of their connection, of their deepening love, and a sweet reminder of the intense moments they had shared together.

The past five days, after their honeymoon, had been a gentle continuation of this happiness, a happiness almost palpable, spreading into every corner of their life. Each morning, the sun's rays touched their room with a special tenderness, as if nature itself wanted to participate in their joy. Each day seemed more beautiful than the last, as if time, in their company, was growing softer and more luminous. The hours spent together were filled with shared laughter, fleeting but meaningful glances, moments of calm and complicity. Their days were marked by small gestures of affection and grand acts of love, these little things that, though discreet, contributed to the beauty of their life together.

Their conversations, sometimes deep, sometimes light, brought them even closer. They understood each other with a glance, laughed at the same jokes, and supported each other in their silences. These moments spent together allowed them to build a bond they had never thought could be so strong. And every night, as they cuddled up to each other, the world seemed to fade away, and only their love existed.

Yet, as in every fairy tale, where paradise seems within reach but the balance is always fragile, it was to be expected that tranquility would not last forever. Perfect happiness, as wonderful as it may be, could not endure without another chapter coming, sometimes with a surprise from life. Something that would shake their well-being, disrupt their certainties, and perhaps even question what they thought they knew about love and happiness. Life, in its infinite wisdom, did not like to let its creatures sleep too long in comfort. Every happiness was followed by a trial or an unexpected discovery, but that was also the salt of existence: the unpredictable, the change, and those moments that jolt, surprise, and renew love.

It was then that a light, almost crystalline laugh broke the silence of the room. Li Wuxin turned his head, intrigued, and saw Lu Xiaoquian entering the room. Her eyes sparkled with mischief, as if hiding a playful intent, and a smile formed on her face. She was holding a small basket filled with fresh fruit, the vibrant colors of the berries and apples contrasting with the soft light filling the room.

She approached the bed and placed the basket near Li Wuxin, her graceful movements betraying a familiar ease in the art of surprising. She smiled kindly at Li Wuxin, her eyes meeting his with a gleam of amusement.

"I see you seem to have enjoyed your honeymoon," she said in a mischievous tone, the sparkle of her voice breaking the room's tranquility. "But even after five days, I'm sure there are still plenty of surprises waiting for you." She raised an eyebrow, as if hiding a secret she alone held the key to.

Li Wuxin looked at her, a playful smile on his lips, wondering what Lu Xiaoquian had in mind. But before he could respond, the door opened again, this time letting in Lan Boxiao, who was carrying a bag and a mysterious smile. The surprise seemed to be taking shape before their eyes.

"Did you think the surprise was already here?" she said with a wink. "Wait and see what comes next..." she said softly, her voice full of warmth.

Before he could respond, Lu Xiaoquian handed him a cloth, a black blindfold. "Trust me, Shinzun, everything will be fine. Close your eyes."

Li Wuxin, a little confused but curious, let her do it.

Lu Xiaoquian gently tied the blindfold around his eyes. "What are you up to now, Xiaoquian?" he asked, laughing softly.

Lu Xiaoquian merely smiled, her voice filled with mystery. "You'll see." She then helped him stand, guiding him by the hand. The next moment, he felt slightly disoriented, but the firm hand of Lu Xiaoquian gave him confidence. He let himself be led without asking more questions.

They crossed several corridors, and Li Wuxin focused solely on the sounds around him: the footsteps echoing on the floor, distant conversations, the light breath of the breeze.

They crossed several quiet corridors, and Li Wuxin let himself be carried by the rhythm of their steps, absorbed in the sounds surrounding him: the echoes of their steps on the stone floor, the distant murmurs of voices, and the light breath of the breeze seeming to brush against the walls. Every detail, however small, anchored him more in the present moment.

Li Xiaoquian placed him gently in front of a large gilded mirror, and Lan Boxiao, staying true to her role, began pulling out numerous accessories and makeup products. Silence settled, broken only by the sound of brushes gliding over his skin and fabrics brushing against surfaces. Li Wuxin stayed still, letting his thoughts wander while they worked around him. Time seemed to stretch endlessly as each gesture, each movement of their hands became a quiet, precise ritual.

Minutes passed as they attended to him: Li Xiaoquian adjusting the fabric of the robe carefully, making sure every fold fell perfectly, while Lan Boxiao added subtle touches to the makeup, her gaze focused and attentive. The sweet scent of oils and powders floated in the air, a blend of flower and light incense smells, and he felt carried away by the calm, almost unreal atmosphere of the room.

After a long period of meticulous preparation, Li Xiaoquian and Lan Boxiao guided him through the corridors, each step echoing in the silence.

They stopped, and after a moment, Lu Xiaoquian removed the blindfold.

Before him stretched a magnificent scene. Flowers were arranged along the aisle, and guests were gathered, forming a guard of honor. Li Wuxin found himself in front of a scene that seemed unreal. He blinked, dazzled, before realizing that a red veil covered his vision.

"What...?" he murmured, shocked.

At that moment, his eyes caught a familiar figure in the crowd. There, in the distance, Xu Moyao stood, wearing a bright red robe, a deep shade that captured the light. The elegant cut of the outfit, steeped in ancient traditions, left no doubt: it was the wedding robe, a color and shape symbolic, like a gleam in the mist of the moment. He looked almost timeless, like a vision forming in the air, and Li Wuxin couldn't tear his gaze away from him.

A wedding outfit. He was magnificent. Li Wuxin's heart raced in his chest, each beat echoing in his mind. His eyes stayed glued to Xu Moyao's figure, standing there in the distance. The vibrant color of the fabric, a deep and rich red, captured every ray of light, making him a figure both imposing and fascinating. He wore the traditional attire, symbolizing the sacred union, and the refined cut of the robe added to his imposing allure.

Caught in the intensity of the moment, Li Wuxin took a few hesitant steps toward Xu Moyao, his body moving almost involuntarily. The fabric, rich and heavy, seemed to weigh on him with each step, like a second skin, making every advance more difficult and more conscious.

The world around him seemed to shrink to this precise moment, the scene expanding as his thoughts got lost in the sight of the man in front of him. But as he advanced, a detail suddenly caught his attention. He felt a slight pressure on his shoulder, a gentle contact, almost imperceptible.

Beneath the delicate veil Lu Xiaoquian had placed on him, Li Wuxin glimpsed a blurry figure, then, through the mist of his concentration, a hand reached out in front of him. He lifted his gaze, trying to discern the figure clearly. That's when he recognized Jiang Liangxian, his face marked by a subtle softness. A faint smile, almost imperceptible, lingered on his lips as he offered a silent help, a hand extended as a natural support in this situation.

Li Wuxin gently grasped the hand that was offered to him. The contact, both firm and soothing, helped him regain his footing.

He began to move forward, his steps hesitant at first, awkward because of the heaviness of the outfit he was wearing.

Each step brought him closer to Xu Moyao, and as he advanced, his gaze became more and more fixed on the figure before him. The sound of his footsteps, usually soft, seemed to echo louder, while the other sounds faded as if erased by an invisible pressure.

The world then seemed to slow down, as if time itself had chosen to stop and watch this crossing of paths. Their eyes met in a heavy silence, a moment when nothing else existed except the tension building between them. The sounds around them grew distant, almost inaudible.

As he continued walking toward Xu Moyao, a slight imbalance, caused by the nervousness mixed with the weight and discomfort of his outfit, made Li Wuxin stumble. It was almost nothing, a simple wobble, but enough to make him lose his balance. He barely had time to open his mouth when a warm, assured hand slid into the small of his back, catching him before he could fall completely. Xu Moyao had caught him in the nick of time, without hesitation, as though he had known this would happen.

Their bodies were now close, almost pressed together.

Li Wuxin didn't immediately straighten up. He remained there, breath suspended, his forehead almost brushing Xu Moyao's shoulder. An odd silence enveloped them, like a bubble outside of time. Then, slowly, he smiled. Not a nervous or embarrassed smile, no, but a soft, confident, and peaceful smile. A smile that spoke without a word of all the faith he had in the man before him, all the security he felt in his arms.

At that moment, time seemed to slow. Xu Moyao reached out and gently lifted his veil. And then he leaned in, brushing his lips against his in a kiss that was both tender and deep.

A hush fell over the crowd before a wave of applause erupted around them. Friends, family, alike clapped and cheered, some wiping away tears, others smiling through the magic of the moment.

"I've been waiting for you to fall into my arms for so long..."

The words, simple yet sincere, slid into Li Wuxin's mind like a warm embrace. He felt his heart open a little more, as if this simple whisper was enough to dissolve the last traces of anxiety. He closed his eyes for a moment, savoring this suspended moment between fall and surge.

The wedding unfolded smoothly, filled with laughter and happiness. The day bathed in a golden light, as if even the sun had decided to bless the union of Li Wuxin and Xu Moyao. Lu Xiaoquian, with the invaluable help of Lan Boxiao, had managed to organize a surprise ceremony, meticulously orchestrated in every detail. Every moment seemed to come straight out of a waking dream: the floral decorations exhaled subtle perfumes, the twinkling garlands mingled with the dawning twilight, and sincere smiles illuminated the faces.

Everything was perfect, from the exchanged vows to the laughter around the tables. Time seemed to have frozen in a bubble of harmony.

But the highlight of the day was undoubtedly the dance. When the first notes of the guqin echoed, a slow and graceful waltz began between the newlyweds. Li Wuxin and Xu Moyao looked at each other as if the whole world had disappeared around them. Their steps were light, almost unreal, carried by music that seemed to suspend time itself. The guests, silent, observed the scene with emotion, some with shining eyes, others hand in hand, also swept up in this fragile and luminous magic.

Then came the much-anticipated moment of the bouquet toss. A murmur of excitement rippled through the crowd, each person ready to leap and try their luck. And, as if by a twist of fate, it was Lan Boxiao who caught the bouquet mid-air. An action seemingly innocent, almost trivial, but carrying silent promises. Still holding the bouquet against her, she looked up and locked eyes with Lu Xiaoquian. A suspended moment, a spark of complicity passed between them. She gave a smile, sweet and mischievous, a smile that said everything without needing words.

As the cheers still echoed through the air, Li Wuxin and Xu Moyao made their way through the crowd, smiling warmly. They stopped just in front of Lan Boxiao, who was still holding the bouquet in surprise, its white and blush petals trembling slightly in her hands.

“Well, well,” Li Wuxin teased, eyes twinkling. “Looks like someone’s next.”

Lan Boxiao’s cheeks turned a delicate shade of pink. She opened her mouth to reply, but Xu Moyao stepped in with a grin.

“You didn’t just catch it,” he said playfully. “You claimed it. That bouquet didn’t stand a chance.”

Lu Xiaoqian laughed beside her, giving Lan Boxiao’s arm a gentle squeeze. “Looks like we’ll be needing another wedding sooner than we thought.”

Lan Boxiao rolled her eyes with a smile, clutching the bouquet tighter as the others shared a laugh ,  light, joyful, and full of promise.

Later, at the end of the day, as the last rays of the sun gently caressed the tops of the trees, Li Wuxin and Xu Moyao decided to slip away for a moment. They needed a moment alone, away from the gazes, to savor the sweetness of this day that belonged to them. Hand in hand, they took a small shaded path that wound along the edge of the estate, bordered by rustling foliage and wildflowers swaying in the wind.

The golden light of the twilight bathed the landscape in an almost unreal hue, turning every twig, every stone, into a shimmering treasure. The surrounding calm was only disturbed by the song of the birds and the murmur of a stream, discreet but joyful, following their walk like a quiet echo to their happiness.

They walked leisurely, exchanging sweet words, sometimes interrupted by silences full of tenderness. But as they laughed together over a shared memory, Li Wuxin, distracted by Xu Moyao's gaze and the slight incline of the path, tripped over a root hidden beneath the fallen leaves.

And before he could utter a word, he fell backward, tumbling into the shallow river with a big splash.

The cool water splashed all around in a silver burst, sending a few ducks flying away. Li Wuxin found himself lying on his back, partially submerged, his hair wet, and his gaze lost among the leaves above him. A brief silence followed, suddenly interrupted by his own laughter, clear, warm, uncontrollable. He raised a hand to shield himself from the setting sun and, laughing, said:

Xu Moyao, initially concerned, burst into a crystalline laugh as he approached the edge. He looked at him with sparkling eyes, half-amused, half-loving. Without a word, he kneeled near Li Wuxin.

Li Wuxin, his clothes drenched but his heart lighter than ever, felt that this unexpected, slightly ridiculous moment sealed their happiness in the simplest and most wonderful way.

"I remember now," he said, laughing while still lying in the water. "When I was a child, I saved a child who was drowning in this river... it was you, wasn't it?"

Xu Moyao, kneeling beside him, smiled tenderly. "You remember now, I understood immediately when I saw you."

It was a magical moment, a perfect touch to an already perfect day. Their love, their past, and their future were now intertwined inextricably. Li Wuxin slowly straightened up and, with a radiant smile, turned to Xu Moyao, whose eyes shone with infinite tenderness.

"I couldn't be happier," he murmured, his eyes never leaving his husband's face.

Xu Moyao gently pulled him toward him, placing a kiss on his forehead. "And I couldn't love you more than this."

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