"Slap!"
The clear slap rang out along with the hand that landed on Sheng Mumu's shoulder.
She was pulled into a firm embrace, dodging the juice-covered hands of the naughty child.
Colliding into the man's sturdy chest, Sheng Mumu lifted her eyes.
She saw Qi Mo's gaze tighten, his brows knitted together impatiently, his lips pressed in a flat line, emanating a bone-chilling coldness.
Slap, slap.
Two more slaps sounded out.
Only then did Sheng Mumu look over.
The naughty child's face was red, though it was unclear if it was from anger or being hit. His cheeks were puffed out, tears welling up in his eyes, and he wailed loudly.
"Wahhhhh!"
The sound was shrill and grating, with great penetrating power.
The obese man beside showed not an ounce of pity. His hand still suspended in the air, he slapped the child's bottom again.
He sternly rebuked:
"What are you crying for? Stop crying! Apologize to Auntie!"
The obese man pressed the child's head down and twisted it to face Sheng Mumu.
His expression changed in a second, now wearing an obsequious smile, the fat on his cheeks deforming.
"Mrs. Qi, the child was wrong to disturb you."
As he spoke, he roughly grabbed the child's arm and urged:
"Quick, apologize to Auntie!"
After all, children are afraid of their parents.
Having been spoiled since young, rarely seeing his father so angry, the child shrank back at once, not daring to cry out again. His cheeks still puffed out, he lifted his head.
Suddenly he froze.
Before him, Sheng Mumu and Qi Mo had lowered their gazes.
Backlit.
Their faces devoid of any extra expression.
Not that they meant to scare the child.
Simply that Qi Mo's tall and upright stature, together with his overbearing aura, unintentionally made the child feel afraid.
The child timidly took a step back, his lips moving as he tried hard to squeeze out a few words.
"Au...Auntie—"
Sheng Mumu suddenly strode forward.
The child hung his head down, watching his own shadow on the ground be gradually overlapped by another slender one.
He felt even more afraid in his heart.
In the crowd.
The obese man's expression was worried.
Unsure what Sheng Mumu planned to do to his precious son, he hastily spoke up:
"Mrs. Qi, children are young and ignorant—"
"Indeed," Sheng Mumu cut him off. She squatted down, meeting the child eye to eye.
Her cold eyes slowly swept over the child's parents' faces. Her tone was neither aggressive nor deferential as she said:
"Children don't understand propriety and only learn by example. Ill-mannered and rude, it's all learned from adults."
Her words fell.
The obese man's body stiffened.
Most of the men here were his relatives and he was usually well-respected.
But now, in front of them, he was being implicitly scolded by a woman much younger than himself.
He felt awful but didn't have the courage to retort.
He didn't dare to, and moreover couldn't.
Out of consideration for the silent yet deadly man by her side.
Even if he was being insulted to his face today, he could only obediently listen.
Seeing her husband had no response, the obese man's wife also dared not speak.
She wished she could find a hole in the ground to hide in.
There were whispers around them.
Most were from people who had been bothered by the child's rambunctious behavior.
Hearing Sheng Mumu's words, they felt vindicated.
They cheered her on in their hearts.
—"The brat deserved to be taught a lesson."
—"Mrs. Qi is right. The child may be small but are the adults also small?"
—"That's right. If the child makes a racket, I'll make a bigger racket and see who goes crazy first."
—"Yes, his mom said he's too young. Please, there are so many well-behaved children at a young age. Don't lump all children together."
Some wise parents took the chance to pull their own children close and educate them:
"Baby, don't learn from that fat uncle when you grow up." "This is a public setting, not home. You have to behave."
Feeling that he had lost face, the obese man took out his anger on his son. He roughly shoved the child's shoulder.
"You little brat, apologize quickly!"
Sheng Mumu slowly stood up. "No need to apologize to me since you didn't bump into me."
She glanced at the silent bride, Fang Ting.
Then she turned back to the child.
Perhaps feeling some pity for the child in this family, her tone softened a little.
But she still calmly said:
"Little one, you got cake all over the new bride's dress just now. Don't you think you should say sorry?"
The child timidly lifted his head, tears brimming in his eyes as he stared blankly at Sheng Mumu.
All the arrogance from before had vanished from the little overlord.
His hands curled into fists and he took small steps towards Fang Ting. Bowing his head sincerely, he said:
"I'm sorry, Auntie. I was wrong."
The farce finally ended with the obese couple taking their son away.
The onlooking crowd gradually dispersed.
The bride and groom returned to the wedding stage to prepare for the banquet.
Sheng Mumu and Qi Mo declined the offer from the groom's side to sit at the main table, returning to their previous seats.
The lights in the banquet hall suddenly dimmed.
Several spotlights shot towards the entrance.
Sweet and solemn music sounded.
Following the spotlights, the bride slowly emerged from behind the doors.
Her wedding gown was pure white, two patches of shy yet anxious crimson on her face, delicate and moving.
The hem of her skirt swayed as she walked, one step after another, towards the man she had chosen to spend the rest of her life with.
Without a doubt, she was the most beautiful woman here today.
Sheng Mumu was infected by the atmosphere and smiled sincerely, applauding enthusiastically.
There were cheers from the guests' tables.
"The bride is so beautiful!"
"Oooo~"
"Newlywed happiness!"
"A match made in heaven!"
"Woooo~"
Amidst the warm atmosphere, Qi Mo turned his head. His gaze as dark as ink slowly fell upon Sheng Mumu's face.
The pink and yellow lights swirled around the banquet hall.
Setting off her fair complexion even more strikingly.
Her bright eyes and white teeth, long fluttering lashes.
Her eyes filled with sincerity and joy for others.
Sometimes propping up her cheek, smiling with upturned brows.
Sometimes cupping her chin in both hands, utterly moved as she watched the ceremony.
A gentle smile, sparkling eyes.
The bride was perhaps the most beautiful woman today.
But she was the most dazzling woman in his eyes.
At the moment when the bride and groom read their vows and embraced each other.
Cheers and congratulations erupted in the banquet hall.
All the lights focused on the stage.
Everyone's eyes followed the new couple.
It was at this time that Sheng Mumu felt her left wrist encircled by a gentle force.
Qi Mo's warm and broad palm slid down her slender wrist.
Prying open her fingers and holding her hand.
His grip gradually grew tighter.
As if afraid she might slip away.
The slightly rough pads of his fingers squeezed her soft fingertips.
The motion was light, like caressing, yet also cherishing and carefully confirming.
He turned his head, the usual coldness in his eyes melted away, flickering with warmth...
The crowd was noisy, the lights dazzling.
The music switched to Canon in D, piano version.
Amidst the cheers, his eyes were only on her.
Thump thump.
Sheng Mumu turned her head and their eyes met.
She could clearly hear the pounding of her heart, heavily and rhythmically leaping.
