Mid-July was the peak of summer in China, but on a small island in the Southern Hemisphere, the weather was pleasantly mild. It was here that the wedding of Nian Suian and Gu Junxing was about to take place. Since Nian Suian had accepted Gu Junxing's proposal in May, the couple had been planning their wedding meticulously.
The location was chosen by Nian Suian—a secluded island with crystal-clear waters, a blue sky, and sandy beaches, offering a serene beauty far from the crowds. The wedding was not extravagant; only close friends were invited, making it feel more like a grand party than a formal ceremony.
On the day of the wedding, inside a villa on the island:
"Zhijing, can you talk to our parents about letting us be groomsmen? If there are no spots left for groomsmen, maybe we can be bridesmaids? Being flower boys feels a bit over the top for our age, don’t you think?"
Qu Zizhou, dressed in a white suit and holding a basket full of petals, was speaking to Gu Zhijing. Qu Zizhou, along with Qi Anlu and Chu Mingyan, had been invited by Gu Zhijing, who held a notable position in the Gu family, to attend the wedding. However, they hadn’t expected to be assigned roles—flower boys, to be precise.
All four of them were dressed in matching white suits, looking dashing. Qu Zizhou had initially been thrilled until he saw the petal basket and realized their true role. Who in the world has four towering, six-foot-tall flower boys at their wedding?
Gu Zhijing looked puzzled at Qu Zizhou's words. "Being flower boys was my idea. Why would I need to ask my parents about it?"
"!!!"
Gu Zhijing turned to the other three, confused. "What’s wrong? Isn’t being a flower boy fun?"
Qi Anlu and Chu Mingyan shook their heads in unison. They didn’t see any issue with it, so all three turned their gaze back to Qu Zizhou.
"Alright, how about I give you the most important task—delivering the rings? How’s that? I’m being generous, aren’t I?"
Originally, they had planned to have Tang Yuan, their cat, deliver the rings. They had even practiced with it a few times at home, but the results were less than ideal. As Tang Yuan grew older, its mischievous cow cat genes began to show, making it increasingly unruly.
Moreover, being on an island, they couldn’t risk the increasingly rebellious Tang Yuan dashing into the sea to catch fish when no one was looking. So, they decided to leave it at home.
Qu Zizhou, unaware of this backstory, was somewhat satisfied with his new, more prestigious role.
In another villa on the island, Nian Suian had just finished her makeup. In an hour, her wedding with Gu Junxing would officially begin.
Following the tradition of the bride and groom not seeing each other before the wedding, the two had been separated since arriving on the island, communicating only through WeChat.
It wasn’t until this morning, when she put on her wedding dress, that Nian Suian truly felt the reality of getting married. She hadn’t been involved in most of the preparations, and since arriving on the island, she had even tried snorkeling and surfing. She had no idea what Gu Junxing had been up to lately, but she had been thoroughly enjoying herself.
Yu Chun gently touched the fluffy hem of the wedding dress. For a young girl like her, the pure, dreamy gown seemed to symbolize the sacred and beautiful love she yearned for.
"Suian, are you nervous?" Yu Chun asked, having heard that brides often feel anxious before the ceremony.
Zhao Yue, standing nearby, put an arm around Yu Chun’s shoulders and answered for Nian Suian as she observed her expression in the mirror.
"Does she look nervous to you? She ate a basket and a half of steamed buns this morning."
She had eaten so much that she almost couldn’t fit into her wedding dress.
Indeed, Nian Suian had brought along Zhang Ma, their family cook, who could whip up delicious meals no matter where they were.
Zhao Yue’s comment made the other two in the room—Sheng Xia and Jiang Yun—burst into laughter. Jiaojiao, cradled in her mother’s arms, giggled along as well.
Nian Suian joined in the laughter, as if they weren’t talking about her.
"I’m not like most brides. We’re already married, so having a wedding now doesn’t make me nervous."
As they chatted, there was a knock at the door.
"Probably Zhijing and the others." Gu Zhijing wasn’t just a flower boy today; he also had the important task of walking Nian Suian down the aisle and handing her over to his father.
This couple certainly had a creative streak. Traditionally, this role would fall to an elder, but Nian Suian no longer had any living elders. Since their wedding wasn’t overly formal, she decided to let Gu Zhijing take on the role.
"Mom, let’s go!" As soon as the door opened, Gu Zhijing ran up to Nian Suian, standing tall and offering his arm for her to take.
The other three flower boys waited by the door. Jiang Yun, upon seeing her son, immediately whipped out her phone and snapped a few photos.
"Your outfit looks great. When Ziyao gets married, you can be her flower boy too. I’ll even get you a flower crown."
Qu Zizhou couldn’t help but roll his eyes. "You might as well save your breath. Who knows if Qu Ziyao will ever get married?"
His remark immediately irritated Jiang Yun. "It’s such a happy day today; I don’t want to hit you."
Sheng Xia and Yu Chun were the bridesmaids. Jiaojiao, seeing how beautiful their dresses were, wanted to wear one too, so they had a mini version made for her, turning her into the wedding’s little bridesmaid.
Jiang Yun had told Nian Suian that she would act as the family member seeing her off.
Meanwhile, Gu Junxing stood at the altar, waiting for his bride.
Not only had they not seen each other for days, but he had also never seen Nian Suian’s wedding dress. She had insisted on keeping it a surprise so that the moment would be unforgettable.
As the wedding music played, Nian Suian walked arm-in-arm with Gu Zhijing, step by step, toward her groom.
Behind her, the oversized flower boys diligently scattered petals, fulfilling their "important duty."
Before they could even get close, Gu Junxing couldn’t help but step down from the altar, reaching out for Nian Suian. But Gu Zhijing firmly stopped him.
"Hold on, it’s not your turn yet!"
Liu Jian, the best man and wedding host, teased, "Our bride is so stunning that the groom can’t wait any longer."
Gu Zhijing cleared his throat and, imitating the wedding scenes he’d seen on TV, said to Gu Junxing, "You better treat her well from now on."
His antics sent the entire room into laughter, filling the air with joy.
Gu Junxing took Nian Suian’s hand and led her to the altar, leaning in to whisper, "You’re beautiful. Far more beautiful than I ever imagined."
Though she knew he was exaggerating, who wouldn’t love to hear such words? Nian Suian smiled back at him. "You look incredibly handsome today too."
Then, Qin Wei, the wedding officiant, began the classic vows.
"Nian Suian, do you take Gu Junxing to be your husband, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer…"
Nian Suian looked up at the man before her, his eyes filled with nothing but her reflection.
She didn’t live solely for love, but she was willing to believe in its beauty.
"I do."
"Gu Junxing, do you take Nian Suian to be your wife, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer…"
Before Qin Wei could even finish, Gu Junxing eagerly replied, "I do."
At the perfect moment, Qu Zizhou, the flower boy, stepped forward to present the rings.
After the couple exchanged rings, Qin Wei finally declared, "Now, the groom may kiss the bride!"
Under the blue sky and amidst the sea breeze, they kissed, silently expressing their love for each other.
