Standing at the altar this time, Jun thoroughly understood Jian's trepidation of fixing his tie as he waited for his bride to come. With his shoulders straight, he stood upright and patient, but the pounding heartbeats in his chest told a different story altogether. With every moment passing by, he could feel the tickling butterflies fluttering in his stomach grow stronger as he felt Ai approaching.
His breath slightly trembled as silence completely reigned the church. It was then that he felt it. He turned to look at the most beautiful woman who looked ethereal in her wedding gown, holding onto her father's arm.
She walked down the aisle, her gown flowing like a cascade of shimmering moonlight. Her dress was a masterpiece of ivory lace and satin, hugging her slender figure in all the right places and all the credit went to Jing who took responsibility of designing the wedding gowns for Leina and Ai.
The gown featured a fitted bodice that cinched at her waist, accentuating her graceful curves. The lace extended down the length of the gown, forming a delicate pattern that seemed to dance in the soft church light. Her gown had off-the-shoulder sleeves, adding a touch of romance to her look, and her slender arms were adorned with delicate pearl bracelets.
She held a bouquet of white roses which complemented her gown and added a fragrant charm to her attire. As she walked towards the altar, her steps were graceful and confident. Slightly lifting her head to meet Jun's gaze, her eyes shone with the promise of a lifetime of love and happiness.
I really want to faint…
His racing heartbeats drew the breathless air away from him as if he forgot to breathe. The sight of Ai crossing the aisle all the way to the altar was an image he firmly imprinted in his mind. His transfixed gaze on her was proof of how he wouldn't mind staring at his beautiful bride forever.
At the same time, Ai's heart gushed with a frenzied trail of excitement seeing Jun so handsome and perfect in his groom attire. She was hopping around the entire place as she took time to get ready but now that her footsteps slowly and steadily approached Jun, she felt her body trembling with a nerve racking breathlessness.
"You are doing great, Ai-chan," Zhou Yichen chuckled.
Xie Nuying, who saw her precious daughter taking her steps towards a blissful married life, made her eyes well with tears. A bright smile encased her lips as she wiped the corner of her eyelids.
Aish my Ai is so pretty…
Guiying and Xing Bi clapped hard upon her arrival, and Yating joined them heartily, genuinely wishing the best for her.
They reached the altar and Zhou Yichen gently placed Ai's hand in Jun's.
"Ai is my only daughter. My only child. I have showered her with endless love. I have doted on my precious little girl ever since I held her tiny body in my arms. Your responsibility as her husband is to love and dote on Ai even more than what Nuying and I did. Give her the future that we as her parents have envisioned."
A soft and tender smile stretched Jun's lips as he firmly squeezed her hand. "That's a promise, Dad. I will always keep Ai so, so, so happy that her little heart would find difficulty in containing it."
"You both are making me cry…" Ai sniffled, her eyes slightly reddening.
Zhou Yichen gasped. "How dare I make my daughter cry on her wedding day? Don't worry, Ai-chan! I will punish myself by forcing myself to eat all the delicacies prepared today!" He nodded.
"Hey!" Liu Hai and Jing immediately jumped on their feet. "Don't you target my food!"
"Hai! Jing!" Liu Chunhua was beyond flabbergasted. "Sit down! Have some decency!"
Jing's husband, Yukito, pulled him down too, glaring at him. "Yeah, no talking about food!"
His twin, Yukira chuckled.
"But he is plotting to snatch our food!" They cried and whined.
"Shut up!"
Jinhai's black gaze looked distant as if he had nothing to do with them.
That invited a burst of hearty laughter across the church, enjoying the trio's antics.
Jun and Ai faced each other, their breaths remaining stuck in their throats. They held each other's gazes, anticipating what was to come..
The priest smiled and recited his sermons for the second time of the day. As he finished speaking, he looked at Jun and said, "I request the groom, Mr. Liu Jun, to say his wedding vows."
Jun held in his breath for a second and slowly expressed his promises his heart had forged a long time ago. "Zhou Ai. I cannot begin to explain just how fortunate I feel ever since I met you. It might sound cheesy and cliche but if not for you, then I would have never been able to stand up on my feet. I would have never been able to shed my past self. You are eccentric but cute and every one of your weird tactics have only managed to make the space for you in my heart wider and wider."
Ai sheepishly grinned with the compliment, bringing a cherry tint on her cheeks.
"You gave me the courage to fall in love once again for which I had lost all hopes. You truly painted my dark and dull life with colors that cannot make me happier. I never even realized when those grey shades faded away from my side. With every color you brought in my life, I promise to fill your life with those same brighter colors too by a hundred, no - by a thousand folds, Ai. I will stand like an impenetrable mountain in front of you whom nobody would be able to cross and hurt you. I vow to cherish you and protect your smile forever, in this life and in all our next lives."
The sweet vows that escaped his lips rang in her ears akin to a beautiful melody, bringing tears to her eyes. She knew he couldn't openly mention the past life, but his words held the weight of the lost lives and happiness that reinforced the promises of this life.
The priest nodded in appreciation and then looked at Ai. "I request the bride, Miss. Zhou Ai, to say her wedding vows."
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