Rebirth from the Ashes

Time flew by and it was soon February.

Shen Xi pretty much adopted a hands-off approach to the wedding and venue planning. All she did was cast her vote during decision-making time. She had no issues with anything.

The venue and wedding dress were designed by Jiang Yin and Yun Jinping's team. Of course, it was only the best for the couples.

Even so, having a mass wedding ceremony was a battle against time. Fortunately, Jiang Yin had a lot of friends in the fashion world. She got in touch with a few internationally renowned designers to help design wedding dresses.

Jin Yun would be making the wedding dresses while the rest were to be tailormade by established brands.

In charge of wedding photography, Ruan Sisi looked for her contact, a world-renowned photographer, to take the job.

The photographer was handsome and top-notch at taking pictures. Each picture was stunning without requiring any editing. It was beauty captured in its rawest form.

Ruan Sisi had been using their pre-wedding photos as her mobile screensaver, switching between different photos every minute. Feeling envious, she wondered if she should look for a boyfriend herself and have a wedding with them.

The day before the wedding was the rehearsal.

Shen Xi was nervous to even fall asleep. Although there was no need to be anxious about the rehearsal, she simply could not sleep. She also pestered Li Yuan and that too disallowed him from sleeping.

Li Yuan had been working round the clock for two weeks and had just gotten home that night. He had dreamed about holding his fair lady for a good rest, but the latter could not sleep. He pecked on her lips. "Want some wine?"

Shaking her head, Shen Xi nuzzled against his chin and softly chuckled. "You should sleep if you're tired."

"Want to get physical?" Li Yuan's eyes deepened as the girl set off sparks all over his body. He came onto her.

He swallowed her resistance and chained her arms down on top of her head before Shen Xi could say anything.

With tension rising quickly, the tumbling between sheets and creaking of the bed sang a beautiful tune.

Shen Xi finally lost her strength amid the rocking. She was taken to the bathroom in a daze. The indecency in the bathtub would remain as a moment that would flush her cheeks crimson.

It was a night of passion and ardor.

Shen Xi did not have the energy to get up the next morning. Feeling limp all over, she nestled in his embrace without the desire to move at all.

Li Yuan gently knocked on the girl's head. His voice was husky, having just woken up both his person and inner beast. "Sleepyhead, it's time to get up for the rehearsal. Otherwise, Aunt Junqiu will come looking for you."

Shen Xi rolled around in his arms like a cat, mumbling inarticulately.

Li Yuan dotingly laughed before drawing close to whisper in her ear. "Let's try to get out of bed. I can carry you there if you're tired."

It was eight o'clock now and the rehearsal was at ten. Aunt Junqiu would send out a search team if they were to be late.

"Tell Aunt Junqiu that I'm not going to the rehearsal." Her speech turned nasal as she pretended to wail.

"How about I attend the rehearsal myself?" Li Yuan stroked the girl's hair as he met her nose-to-nose. "Okay?"

"Tell her I'm having morning sickness! I don't feel well!" Shen Xi grew impatient and could not be bothered to lift a finger. Looking at the closeup of the man's handsome face, she nibbled on his lips. "It's your fault! Your fault!"

"My bad." Li Yuan tenderly let her have her way. "I shouldn't have come up with that stupid idea when you couldn't sleep."

He had not seen her for nearly ten days. Since the wedding rehearsal was today, he intended to have a good night's sleep the day before.

Alas, she could not keep her hands to herself and led him on. How was he supposed to resist the temptation? Of course, he surrendered to his innermost desire.

"Hmph!" Shen Xi scoffed while burying her face against his chest. She was not going to get out of bed.

Then came a knock on the door, followed by Fu Junqiu's voice. "Shen Xi, Li Yuan? Come on, you two. The sun is up, for Pete's sake. Get up or don't bother coming to the wedding tomorrow."

Getting the shivers, Shen Xi was up and running. "Aunt Junqiu, we're getting dressed. We'll be right there."

Li Yuan felt bad to see his fair lady in such a state, so much so he did not have the heart to mock her. He whispered, "Why don't you tell Aunt Junqiu that you have morning sickness?"

"Hurry and get up." Shen Xi glared at him before jolting up, shaking off the languidness she displayed earlier.

Li Yuan rose and went to retrieve her clothes.

"Pajamas. I want to wear my pajamas. It's a nuisance to change my clothes again later." Shen Xi commanded while hugging the sheets.

"Aye, aye, wifey." Li Yuan grabbed her onesie pajamas and put them on her. He carried her to sit down by the bed before getting down on one knee to help her into her shoes. "Are you going to wash up?"

Shen Xi shook her head. "For what? I don't have to put on makeup before rehearsals."

Li Yuan nodded with a smile. Her wish was his command. "Sure."

He then carried her on his back to the meeting point. By then, everyone else had arrived.

Looking at Shen Xi, Fu Junqiu pointed at her nose. "Look at you. Li Yuan, are you keeping her in line? Today's the wedding rehearsal. Can we stay focused here?"

With a grin, Li Yuan turned his head to fixate on the girl. Love was written all over his eyes. It was out of his hands. He was never going to tell her what to do as all he ever wanted to do was spoil her rotten.

Shen Xi jumped off Li Yuan's back while chomping on her breakfast. She had food in her mouth when she mumbled, "I'll just follow your lead."

Pointing at her, Fu Junqiu expressed her disdain. "God knows how your wedding would end up if we didn't step in."

Song Wenye pulled Shen Tang to one corner to laugh up their sleeves. Xixi had turned into a lazy bug and a glutton lately. Her plump face was proof.

Shen Xi stuck her tongue out at Song Wenye.

Fu Junqiu put her finger up Shen Xi's nose a few times before giving Li Yuan the evil look. "You're going next door. What are you standing there for? Move."

Li Yuan gave a wet wipe to his fair lady. Smiling to everyone, he set off next door to the grooms' changing room.

Song Wenye went over to rub Shen Xi's belly. "Are you pregnant? Why do I feel like your tummy is bigger than mine?"

She then mimicked Shen Xi by holding her wrist to check her pulse.

Shen Xi rolled her eyes. "I ate too much."

"Why did you have so much to eat this morning?" Stepping forth, Fu Junqiu snatched the pancake in her hand. "Keep on eating and you won't be able to fit in your wedding gown. I told you to eat less. When can we ever stop worrying about you?"

Shen Xi was rendered speechless. Snuffling in grievance, she drew a deep breath and sucked in her belly. At last, she got her slim figure back.

Shen Tang chuckled at the bustling scene. "Alright alright. Cut it out already."

"Xixi."

With Ruan Sisi's voice coming through the door, she soon entered the room.

Shen Xi looked at Fu Junqiu with her fangs bared. Was she that late to deserve an earful? The head makeup artist had only just arrived.