Back Then, I Adored You

……

At 11:00 a.m., Gu Yusheng and Qin Zhi’ai departed from the Gu Mansion for the Peking Hotel, where the guests began arriving at 11:30 a.m.

The wedding venue was extraordinarily stunning and dreamlike, with bright crystal lamps, a long red carpet, and blooming rose lilies. The beverages were served in pairs, and the cake was as tall as a human. In the background, wedding marches were playing nonstop.

At noon, Xiaowang stepped onto a stage that looked like it had come right out of a fairytale. He recited a congratulatory message into the microphone and then invited Gu Yusheng onto the stage.

At 12:08 p.m., Qin Zhi’ai appeared at the entrance with her hand around Qin Jiayan’s elbow. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, she stepped onto the red carpet and walked slowly toward Gu Yusheng.

……

It had been a very long time since Wu Hao and Xu Wennuan had last seen each other.

Wu Hao knew that Xu Wennuan would be attending Qin Zhi’ai’s wedding; just a few days ago, he had heard that Xu Wennuan was one of her bridesmaids. Due to their breakup, however, Qin Zhi’ai had not sent him an invitation, more to not stir in them any feelings of regret than to be punitive. Despite that, Wu Hao found himself ultimately unable to resist showing up uninvited at the wedding of Gu Yusheng and Qin Zhi’ai.

When Wu Hao walked into the venue, he felt as though he had walked into a dream. Among the exquisite decorations, he immediately saw many of his high school classmates. In fact, the moment he stepped inside, an acquaintance approached him and pulled him over to where he was sitting.

Qin Zhi’ai’s entrance was accompanied by petals constantly falling through the air from the high ceiling, and the guests marveled at the fantastical scene. Even the male classmate sitting beside Wu Hao could not help but sigh. “The wedding atmosphere is really great. This is probably the most luxurious wedding I’ve attended in the last few years.”

After he said that, he raised his wine glass, took a sip, and then continued. “I initially thought that your wedding would be the first one I would attend among our gang. I did not expect Brother Sheng, who seemed the least likely to get married, to be the first one to tie the knot instead.” He was obviously overcome with emotion.

Wu Hao curled his lips and didn’t respond. Everyone’s attention was on the pair of newlyweds who were presently on the stage. Wu Hao lowered his gaze slowly, staring at the wine glass in his hand.

My wedding… If my wedding had materialized, what would it have been like?

……

Up on the stage, Gu Yusheng and Qin Zhi’ai were gazing at each other. They exchanged their wedding vows with everyone around them serving as witnesses.

“I, Gu Yusheng, take Qin Zhi’ai to be my wedded wife. From today on, I promise to love her for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health. I will love and cherish her forever, till death do us part.”

“I, Qin Zhi’ai, take Gu Yusheng to be my wedded husband. From today on, I promise to love him for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health. I will love and cherish him forever, till death do us part.”

……

Wu Hao could not resist raising his head and gazing at the couple on stage. They were exchanging their rings.

They look really blissful. If Xu Wennuan and I had gotten married, would she be just like Qin Zhi’ai right now, with eyes filled with happiness? Qin Zhi’ai looks like she’s glowing—so eye-catching and dazzling. Would Xu Wennuan look just like that, too?

While everyone around him was engrossed in the wedding of the century, Wu Hao felt like his heart was being crushed by a large stone. It was so heavy that he could not breathe. After he joined the crowd in shouting for Gu Yusheng and Qin Zhi’ai to kiss, he rose to his full frame and made a trip to the restroom.