Chapter 015 Wedding Ceremony 07

Chapter 015 The Wedding Ceremony 07

Huang Mo, a vendor perpetually sporting round black sunglasses, ran his shop in the Imperial People’s Century Square. He primarily sold beverages, snacks, and children's toys.

Though his shop was mobile, its location was fixed within the Earth Sim Zone.

The Earth Sim Zone was a unique area, featuring only the Empire's Hero Monument and a hyper-realistic projection of Earth's environment.

Today's projection showcased one of China's greatest architectural marvels—the Great Wall, with dazzling auroras flickering ethereally over its majestic peaks.

It was beautiful and steeped in history.

However, it didn't quite align with the aesthetic preferences of interstellar citizens.

Modern tastes favored vibrant, kaleidoscopic displays. While the auroras fit this perfectly, structures like the Great Wall or the Statue of Liberty were considered too plain and generally unpopular.

Consequently, this area had become one of the most desolate spots in the entire Imperial People’s Century Square.

The Imperial People’s Century Square, the largest plaza on Kanbella, comprised numerous sections.

The Technology Zone, frequently hosting cutting-edge tech exhibitions, was the square's most upscale and bustling hub.

The Leisure and Entertainment Zone featured a floating stage and anti-gravity fountains, predominantly attracting younger crowds.

Additionally, there were the Utility Zone, Shopping Center, and more, each boasting significantly higher foot traffic than the Earth Sim Zone.

Gazing up at the distant Empire's Hero Monument, Huang Mo began to amuse himself with a little rhyming game.

"Monument… tragedy… misery… so miserable… so miserable… income's miserable."

He sighed deeply.

Huang Mo yearned to set up shop in more vibrant, crowded areas, but the more popular the location, the higher the stall fees. Given his current income, he was resigned to remaining in the Earth Sim Zone for the foreseeable future.

Bored, Huang Mo opened a streaming app, hoping to catch some excitement and perhaps boost his stall's popularity. The hottest stream was "Marshal Wei Qing and Young Master Zhou's Wedding," boasting an astonishing 700 million viewers.

"Huh?" Huang Mo had seen this stream earlier that morning, when it only had 500,000 viewers.

"Whoa, this stream blew up!" Enviously, Huang Mo clicked in.

What he envied was how a mere wedding could go viral these days! If only this desolate Earth Sim Zone could experience such a boom, he might actually earn more.

The livestream displayed a crimson mech, emblazoned with a teardrop insignia on its chest, hovering mid-air. It cradled an enormous, exquisitely ornate yet somewhat fractured hall in its hands.

"Holy crap!" Huang Mo exclaimed. "Isn't this a wedding stream? Why's there a mech involved?"

He double-checked the stream title: "Marshal Wei Qing and Young Master Zhou's Wedding."

He hadn't clicked the wrong one.

The comments were buzzing with similar questions:

"Didn't the Nabel family host a ball? Where is everyone?"

"This is absolutely insane!!!"

"Someone upstairs said they saw people fleeing earlier."

"Using a mech to carry the entire hall for a wedding—who else could possibly pull this off?!"

"The Rivess Royal Hotel is doomed."

...

"Holy freaking crap!!" Huang Mo's reaction was even more fervent this time. Marshal Wei Qing's wedding stream was truly on another level—even involving a mech! Talk about over-the-top, cool, and flashy!

In the livestream, the mech began its descent, clearly preparing to land.

Where was it planning to place such a massive structure? Was there even an empty space in Torikis large enough to accommodate it?

Huang Mo, eager for the spectacle, awaited the outcome.

Suddenly, a colossal shadow fell overhead, engulfing him, his shop, and everything within a fifty-meter radius.

Confused, Huang Mo looked up.

The afternoon sun had already begun to wane, casting a golden hue, but he could still clearly see the enormous hall and mech from the livestream descending from the sky.

"WHAT THE ACTUAL—" Huang Mo's third exclamation morphed into a full-blown shriek.

***

Crimson Flame descended with the hall, flanked by police cruisers following closely.

Zhou Younan looked puzzled. "Why are there police escorts?"

Henry chuckled softly. "They're definitely not escorts. Someone probably called the police, which is why they're here."

Zhou Younan imagined a mech demolishing a hotel. If he had witnessed that, he would have called the police too.

"The police can't do much against our Marshal, but they can't do nothing either. So they just surround him, making it look like an escort, but really, they're just helpless."

Henry's tone was matter-of-fact. Zhou Younan nervously dug his nails into the aircraft's wall.

Marshal Wei Qing was a military marshal, no ordinary figure. Of course, the police were powerless against him. Zhou Younan couldn't help but recall the rumors: that Marshal Wei Qing had killed two wives, yet the Emperor had never punished him.

It seemed those rumors weren't groundless after all.

The aircraft landed, and Zhou Younan stepped out.

In the distance stood the Empire's Hero Monument. Nearby, rolling mountains stretched, their ancient walls silently resting upon them.

The exquisitely ornate yet somewhat dilapidated Celestial Hall stood abruptly within the projection. Shimmering, ever-shifting auroras draped it in a wild, beautiful ruin.

Decadent decay—this was Wei Qing's doing, crafted for him.

The sight left Zhou Younan frozen for several seconds.

Henry also exited the aircraft. "This is the Earth Sim Zone. Schools in Torikis bring students here annually for educational trips. It seems today's simulation features the Great Wall, a landmark of China on Earth."

China. The Zhou family was also said to be from China.

Before Zhou Younan could ponder further, Crimson Flame emerged from behind the hall, standing at attention, its golden eyes dimming.

"The Marshal is here," Henry announced.

Though they had already met, and even kissed.

Despite having set the timer on the bomb, Zhou Younan couldn't quell the nervousness in his heart.

The realistic 3D projection obscured anything beyond the immediate vicinity. The first thing Zhou Younan heard was the distinct click of military boots on the ground.

"Thud, thud, thud," the sound was powerful and heavy, growing closer.

The projection blurred like swirled paint, and a pair of gleaming black military boots stepped out.

In a crisp black military uniform adorned with silver accessories, his long golden hair flowing, two teardrop tattoos beneath his eyes, and a faint smirk at the corner of his lips—it was Wei Qing.

He strode purposefully toward Zhou Younan, his rich, magnetic voice calling out, "Zhou Younan, my fiancé!"

Zhou Younan shivered, unaccustomed to Wei Qing's intense enthusiasm and familiarity.

Before the wedding, Zhou Younan had wondered what he would do if he succeeded in making Wei Qing take the capsule.

His plan was to feign affection for Wei Qing, use his status as the Marshal's consort to rescue Luo Luo from the Zhou family, and then find an opportunity to escape with Luo Luo, fleeing far away.

"D-darling," Zhou Younan forced a smile at Wei Qing.

The term "darling" didn't come naturally at first, but after the initial utterance, it felt easier.

Zhou Younan steeled himself, determined to make it sound perfectly natural in the future, leaving no room for Wei Qing or his entourage to detect any hesitation.

Unexpectedly, Wei Qing's expression turned peculiar.

Just as Zhou Younan worried he had made a mistake, he found himself enveloped in a warm embrace.

Wei Qing kissed his hair. "Call me by my name. I don't like being called 'darling.'"

Being called by his name suited Zhou Younan perfectly.

He immediately complied. "Alright, Wei Qing."

"Mm." Wei Qing stroked his hair. "I brought the hall. Do you like it?"

Zhou Younan hesitated.

"Don't like it? Then I'll bring some others for you to choose from." Wei Qing began to turn.

Zhou Younan hastily grabbed his arm. "Wait, wait!"

He briefly imagined Wei Qing dismantling other halls from the Rivess Hotel and presenting them for his selection.

The scene was too much to bear; Zhou Younan found it overwhelming.

He flashed a brilliant smile at Wei Qing. "I like it. I really do."

The word "really" was emphasized, almost through gritted teeth.

Although the situation had already spiraled, it couldn't afford to get any worse.

Wei Qing's brow relaxed, and his eyes brightened. "As long as you like it."

He produced the earring he had removed earlier. "Let me put this on you."

His pale green eyes were filled with tenderness. Zhou Younan nodded obediently.

Zhou Younan's ears weren't particularly sensitive, but Wei Qing's fingers occasionally brushed his earlobe, deliberately kneading the soft flesh.

A faint, almost inaudible "Mm" escaped Zhou Younan.

He was about to turn his head away.

Wei Qing had already moved away.

Zhou Younan breathed a sigh of relief.

*This man truly is a bit infuriating.*

No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than his chin was lifted again, forcing him to look up into Wei Qing's eyes.

He quickly adopted a bewildered expression.

*What now?*

Wei Qing's brow was clear and his eyes bright. Under Zhou Younan's gaze, he leaned down and gently rubbed his cheek against Zhou Younan's.

Wei Qing's cheek was cool, a stark contrast to his body temperature.

Aside from Luo Luo, this was the first time Zhou Younan had been so intimately close to another person.

At first, he felt very uncomfortable.

But as their cheeks brushed and their hair intertwined, words began to surface in his mind: *affection, trust, tenderness…*

His heart stirred faintly.

"I just noticed you're using clip-on earrings. Want to try getting your ears pierced?"

Wei Qing gently hooked Zhou Younan's earring with his finger.

"Your ears are beautiful. I love how you look with earrings."

Zhou Younan's gaze swept to Wei Qing's left ear, where a red, yellow, and blue ear stud gleamed.

Zhou Younan was afraid of pain and didn't want to pierce his own skin.

But he had committed to playing the role of someone who loved Wei Qing.

So Zhou Younan decided to use the "stall" tactic, subtly saying, "Maybe another time."

"Alright." Wei Qing took his hand. "On the way here, I saw a shop selling lightsabers. Let's go buy one together for the wedding ceremony."

Zhou Younan assented.

Only when Wei Qing turned did Zhou Younan notice the group of police officers following him.

A dozen individuals, dressed in identical dark blue uniforms, stood rigidly, their faces serious. Each had a pistol holstered at their waist.

Wei Qing squeezed Zhou Younan's hand and whispered softly in his ear, "Don't be afraid. I'm here."

Zhou Younan looked at Wei Qing.

Wei Qing flashed a wide, brilliant smile, revealing a pair of small, white canine teeth.

Zhou Younan thought: *His canines are cute. Wei Qing is not.*

As Wei Qing led him away, the police followed.

Media drones, equipped with cameras, hovered in the air, continuously filming. The entire procession, a grand spectacle, arrived before a cramped shop, no larger than five square meters.

The shop owner, a man wearing round black sunglasses, enthusiastically showed Wei Qing various tools for drawing on the ground.

"What are you planning to draw on the ground?" Zhou Younan asked Wei Qing.

Wei Qing picked up the lightsaber recommended by the shop owner and drew a line on the ground, leaving a glowing green mark.

The shop owner added, "The patterns drawn by this lightsaber last for a week."

"A six-pointed star," Wei Qing answered Zhou Younan's question.

In the vast universe, the six-pointed star shines eternally.

The six-pointed star is the emblem on the flag of the Tyrell Empire, symbolizing steadfastness and loyalty.

Under the radiance of the six-pointed star, couples who exchange vows will have a love as constant as the stars, shining forever through time.

In the Tyrell Empire, if a six-pointed star is used in a wedding ceremony, divorce due to a failed marriage is considered a criminal offense.

It could lead to imprisonment.

"What color do you like?" Wei Qing asked Zhou Younan.

Zhou Younan snapped back to attention and replied, "White."

"Did you hear that?" Wei Qing retorted to the shop owner.

Zhou Younan stared at the other colored lightsabers, his expression grave.

He had no intention of upholding this marriage, nor did he wish to betray his belief in the six-pointed star—and he certainly didn't want to go to prison.