The Moon Will Always Come to You - CH 18

Chapter 18: Wedding

Ruan Zhizhi set three alarm clocks. In the end, she managed to crawl out of bed drowsily at 4:30 in the morning.

Today was Gu Nian and Cheng Fengjin’s wedding. As Gu Nian’s official maid of honour, Ruan Zhizhi also had to go to the photography studio with Gu Nian to get their makeup done and change into their dresses.

She took a swift, hot shower and changed into a pair of eight-centimetre heels. Ruan Zhizhi used her microwave oven to heat up two steamed buns, hurriedly finished eating them, and left home at once.

When she reached the photo studio in the shopping mall, there was only the first glimmer of light in the sky, and the people on the streets were sparse. The scenery was completely empty.

Ruan Zhizhi parked her car in the parking lot. She rejoiced that the current weather was gradually warming up again. If Gu Nian and Cheng Fengjin had gotten married in the cold twelfth lunar month amongst the snowflakes, she feared Gu Nian would have frozen to death in her wedding dress.

Walking into the specialized wedding photo studio under the private package of Cheng Fengjin, it was already busy with people coming and going.

Gu Nian was sitting in front of the vanity mirror, waiting to have her makeup applied. As she sat, her disposition seemed very dignified. Ruan Zhizhi couldn’t help laughing. She walked over and sat beside her. “This bride is so different. Today you don’t seem to correspond with your personality at all, rather you’re the inverted image of an unmarried daughter of a noble house.”

Gu Nian turned her head and saw her coming. Her eyes immediately lit up: “Zhizhi, you came so early. Originally I wanted to let you sleep a little bit longer, I even specifically told Cheng Fengjin not to give you a call.”

“Aiya, it wasn’t easy for my little ancestor to marry off. How dare I sleep in, ah.”

The two of them giggled and exchanged a few words while the makeup artist came over with large and small bags.

The process of applying makeup was utterly boring. Moreover, Gu Nian was doing bridal makeup today, so it couldn’t be sloppy in the slightest. Even the eyeliner was the most long-lasting and waterproof, and the makeup artist’s hands were cautious and solemn from beginning to end.

Gu Nian closed her eyes and let the makeup artist apply eyeshadow. It was unknown what she was thinking about, but she abruptly opened her mouth: “Right, Zhizhi, this whole time I’ve forgotten to say thank you. The other evening I got way too drunk. Thank you for taking me home, otherwise the consequences would have been too horrible to think about.”

Ruan Zhizhi sighed: “I don’t need you to thank me, I just hope that you will have a better memory next time. When no one is with you, you absolutely can’t drink. Even if you drink, you must not get drunk. You’re a woman that’s as delicate as a flower and as refined as precious jade, it’s really too dangerous.”

“I know, don’t worry Zhizhi. If you or Cheng Fengjin aren’t there, even if I got beaten to death I wouldn’t dare drink.”

Even though Ruan Zhizhi’s ears were listening to Gu Nian talk to her, for some reason, her train of thought drifted away uncontrollably.

The other night, Shi Yan and her first took Gu Nian home, then he also sent her back.

Moreover, Shi Yan stubbornly took her all the way to the elevator door of the residential building on the grounds that it was unsafe for her to go home alone after drinking.

At that time, Ruan Zhizhi was indeed a little bit drunk. The sight before her eyes was somewhat blurry. Shi Yan stood at her side and helped her press the elevator button while holding her fuzzy cartoon bag.

The two stood side by side, remaining silent.

With a “ding dong” sound, the elevator reached the first floor.

Ruan Zhizhi shook her head, trying hard to keep her state of mind clear-headed. She turned to look at Shi Yan and said a few civilities: “The elevator is here, so I’ll go up first. It’s too late today. On another day I’ll invite you to visit my house.”

The other party extended his hand and passed her the bag. “Don’t invite me another day.” Saying so, his fingers naturally stroked her head. He touched her hair with motions that were extremely gentle and cherishing. “Ruan Zhizhi, don’t you know? Inviting a normal man home alone is an awfully dangerous thing.”

Ruan Zhizhi was stunned for a moment before realizing the meaning of his words. The temperature of her cheeks instantly burned; it was impossible to ignore. Comforting herself that the burning sensation must have been the alcohol at play, she raised her head and pretended not to understand. Facing Shi Yan, she revealed a harmless smiling expression. “Stop joking around, go back quickly. Take care on the road.” Pausing, she added one more line: “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

The other party lowered his eyes to gaze at her and responded in this way.

……

Her memories pertaining to that night ended there.

It had already been a whole week since the night she met Shi Yan by chance at the bar. But for some reason, every word and action of his that night seemed to have taken root in her heart. She was incapable of forgetting them no matter what.

When had she begun to actually rely on Shi Yan?

It was when he warmed her up on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain; when he reached out to hold her wrist in the pitch-black corridor; when he gave her his umbrella with an unyielding attitude on that rainy day…and when he reached out to very carefully caress her hair.

It turned out that before she knew it, she already had so many memories with the person she once considered a stranger.

“Zhizhi?”

Her thoughts came to an abrupt end.

With Gu Nian’s increasingly higher pitch and volume, Ruan Zhizhi forcibly returned to her senses.

Gu Nian, who had already completed her eye makeup, was sizing her up somewhat strangely. “What were you thinking about just now? I called you so many times and you ignored me.”

“Uh…I wasn’t thinking of anything.” Ruan Zhizhi reached out and touched her hair nervously. She didn’t know what state of mind she was in to subconsciously lie to Gu Nian.

She was thinking about Shi Yan, but…she didn’t want to tell anyone.

She didn’t want to repeat the process of wishful thinking again. Even more, she didn’t want to return to the Ruan Zhizhi that belittled herself.

“Alright, just now I was saying to you that Cheng Fengjin told me that the other night, you sent me home with a strange man.” When Gu Nian mentioned this, she couldn’t hold back from gossipping. “Zhizhi, did you have an affair at the bar that night? Hurry up and share with me!”

Ruan Zhizhi couldn’t help having black lines: “What kind of messy things are you thinking about in your head every day, can you be a little bit more pure? That wasn’t an affair, I just happened to run into Shi Yan when I was at a loss. He kindly sent us home, nothing more.”

“What? It was actually Shi Yan?”

When Gu Nian heard Shi Yan’s name, she was suddenly even more exhilarated. “I tell you Zhizhi, how come every time you’re in trouble you always come across Shi Yan? And also, what’s even more strange is that every time he helps you for no reason at all.” She stroked her chin and made a show of being very serious, “Based on my understanding of Shi Yan, this is quite uncommon, ah. He’s a person who loathes trouble the most. Always keeping to himself. Normally when we find him and say one too many words, we can tell that he’s especially impatient. It makes no sense for him to be so patient in front of you.”

Afraid that the hole in Gu Nian’s brain would become even bigger, Ruan Zhizhi opened her mouth and refuted courageously: “You really think too much.” After saying so, she coughed and said seriously, “Hey, I’m going to ask you a question right now. Tell me, a man like Shi Yan with such outstanding qualities—why would he have any reason to like me?”

Every time she felt that Shi Yan treated her differently, she only needed to ask herself this question and all of the unrealistic delusions would dispel at once.

She admitted that her own conditions were not bad, but she was far from becoming the one Shi Yan loved. Perhaps the distance between them was like the distance between her and Fan Bingbing.1

Who knew that Gu Nian was not at all moved. “I definitely don’t think I’m thinking too much. According to my many years of experience in society, he’s certainly interested in you.” She paused after saying this, then added a sentence: “Moreover, how can a man like Shi Yan pick a woman superficially by her face, figure, and cup size? He definitely pays more attention to the harmony of feelings and spirit. Maybe he finds you pleasing to the eye, and sees other women as aunties selling vegetables.”

Gu Nian spoke until there. The makeup artist just so happened to start preparing her lip makeup. Gu Nian had a bitter face, so she was forced to put her gossip on pause and obediently keep her mouth shut.

Ruan Zhizhi, who no longer knew how she should respond to the conversation, promptly breathed a sigh of relief.

To tell the truth, if Gu Nian continued saying such things, Ruan Zhizhi would shamelessly believe it.

After the bride and maid of honour’s makeup were done one after the other, all that remained was to change into their gowns.

Ruan Zhizhi accompanied Gu Nian to change into her dress and watched Gu Nian come out in her wedding gown. For some reason, she was actually a little moved.

Obviously she wasn’t the one getting married. But seeing Gu Nian’s happy appearance, she somehow felt as if it was happening to herself.

Gu Nian sat on the pure white couch. Running around, Ruan Zhizhi helped her put on her jewelry and wedding veil, then examined and arranged the details of her skirt.

As she was occupied, Cheng Fengjin walked in.

Cheng Fengjin was wearing a black, well-ironed luxury suit today. Every detail of the tailoring was incredibly smooth. With one glance, one would know it was of high value. He walked in step by step, his eyes only watching Gu Nian from beginning to end. His facial expressions, which were rarely turbulent, became vivid.

Holding a box in hand, he walked to Gu Nian’s side then knelt down: “How are you this careless, you forgot to take your wedding shoes when you went out.”

Gu Nian stuck out her tongue with a look that said “What can you do about me?”

While speaking, Cheng Fengjin extended his hand and carefully held Gu Nian’s foot. Then, he put on the pair of crystal shoes he had custom-ordered for her with the utmost care.

The scene before her eyes was too warm and touching. Ruan Zhizhi actually felt the rims of her eyes getting a little wet.

Her best friend was about to marry the person she loved the most. It was really good.

By the time everything was put in order and ready, it was already past ten o’clock in the morning.

Ruan Zhizhi accompanied Gu Nian in the wedding car to the hotel where the ceremony would take place. Cheng Fengjin sat in the front passenger seat. Although he remained stern and unsmiling, today his facial features had clearly softened quite a lot.

Ruan Zhizhi watched him and couldn’t help making fun: “Ai, I painstakingly watched Gu Nian for such a long time, and in the end I must hand her over to you. I’m telling you Cheng Fengjin, you must never bully her, and even more so you must never play with the idea of changing lovers into relatives. You have to continuously spoil her and love her. Never let the marriage become dull.”

An average and dull marriage was truly a scam. If you really loved someone, even the corners of your eyes and brows would show love. How could she be willing to let Gu Nian believe that the true meaning of marriage was nothing special?

Cheng Fengjin looked back and said with a slight smile: “Don’t worry. Even if I can’t guarantee all the other things—just this one, I can certainly accomplish.”

Gu Nian listened to his words, pursed her lips, and bowed her head to smile quietly.

After a moment, Cheng Fengjin suddenly turned around to glance at Ruan Zhizhi again. While looking pensive, he said: “Ruan Zhizhi, today Gu Nian and I are getting married. At the same time, I also have a nice surprise I’m gifting you.”

“Gifting me?” Ruan Zhizhi raised her eyebrows. “You husband and wife can have such good intentions? Thank the Heavens I’m not terrified.”

Gu Nian didn’t seem to know about it. At this moment, she was extremely curious and asked: “What nice surprise, ah? How come I don’t know?”

Cheng Fengjin just smiled mysteriously, making up his mind to keep them in suspense. “Don’t worry, you’ll know in a while.”

Translator’s Note: Can you guess the surprise? The next two chapters are very exciting~ I’m going to try an upload schedule of Wednesday, Friday, and a weekend day. Hopefully it works out.