Chapter 63:

Shen Qingzhou’s discerning eye was unquestionable, clearly reflected in his sense of style. From his clothing and shoes to even his accessories, not once had he ever made Lin Qiao feel anything less than impressed. The only thing that slightly puzzled her was how he insisted on wearing formal suits even in the middle of summer—wasn’t he hot?

All this was just to say that Shen Qingzhou had excellent taste, so naturally, the wedding dress he selected left nothing to be desired.

The wedding attire was delivered to the bridal shop where they had booked their photo session. When Lin Qiao arrived, the store manager and photographers were already waiting outside, and a “Closed Today” sign hung on the side entrance.

Puzzled, Lin Qiao asked Shen Qingzhou, “Are they closed today?”

Shen Qingzhou, who was backing up the car, didn’t even glance at her as he focused on the rearview mirror and replied, “They’re only serving us today.”

Understanding dawned on her face, and she couldn’t help but mutter, “Rich much.”

Shen Qingzhou glanced at her briefly, his tone calm. “Let me correct you again—it’s ‘wealthy,’ not ‘rich.’ ‘Rich’ refers to nouveau riche.”

Lin Qiao gave him a sidelong glance. “Alright, show-off, the whole world already knows you’re loaded. You’re elite, and I’m already your friend—I won’t be fawning over you anymore.”

Shen Qingzhou frowned disapprovingly and, before stepping out of the car, said with mild displeasure, “Don’t talk nonsense. A lady should speak gracefully.”

Lin Qiao covered her mouth and made a zipping motion, after which Shen Qingzhou finally let it go.

They both got out of the car, and Shen Qingzhou waited for her on the other side. Lin Qiao hurried over, but as she approached, she noticed him frowning again.

She immediately checked herself for anything amiss, but found nothing wrong, so she asked humbly, “What did I do this time?”

Shen Qingzhou gave a slight scoff. “Can’t you see something so obvious?”

Lin Qiao looked troubled. “Is it really that obvious? Please, Master Shen, enlighten me—I really don’t see it.”

He reprimanded gently, “You’re pregnant. You should walk carefully. Why are you rushing?”

Lin Qiao suddenly understood and scratched her head. “I just didn’t want to keep you waiting.”

Shen Qingzhou replied softly, “Even if you walked slower, would I ever leave you behind?”

This simple question stirred something deep inside Lin Qiao, who had always felt a distance between them. Indeed, he was so perfect, while she was full of flaws. She had always worried she wouldn’t be able to keep up with him, but he was right—no matter how slowly she walked, would he ever abandon her? Never. Even when they were old and perhaps no longer recognized each other, Shen Qingzhou would never leave her. Not because she was confident, but because she understood him.

Lin Qiao couldn’t help but smile. In the warm sunlight, her red lips curved upward, her black hair flowing gently over her shoulders. The baby-blue ruffled top paired with white trousers accentuated her tall, graceful figure. As the October breeze brushed against her beautiful face, her flowing hair reminded Shen Qingzhou of the first time they met—in a hospital, when she was still a stubborn, determined young girl who couldn’t smile at him the way she did now. Now, she was about to become his wife and the mother of his child. In just a blink of an eye, their relationship had transformed completely. The first time he saw her, behind the school gate in Xiaoning, he had no idea that this girl would become the woman who would spend the rest of his life with him.

Fate truly was a miraculous thing.

While Shen Qingzhou and Lin Qiao walked at a leisurely pace, the bridal shop staff had already grown anxious waiting for them. They had seen the couple get out of the car long ago, but the two were chatting as they walked. Though Shen Qingzhou’s expression remained mostly neutral and aloof, his subtle, unconscious gestures betrayed his deep care and affection for Lin Qiao. The two were truly a picture of newlyweds in love.

“Mr. Shen.”

The store manager, clearly excited, stepped forward and reached out to shake Shen’s hand.

Shen Qingzhou politely nodded and briefly shook the man’s hand before saying coolly, “The clothes have arrived, I assume.”

The manager quickly cleared the path and ushered them inside. “Yes, everything has arrived and is already hung up. Please, Mr. and Mrs. Shen, come this way.”

Shen Qingzhou gave a slight nod and took Lin Qiao’s hand, following the manager inside. Behind them, the assistants, makeup artists, and photographers exchanged various expressions as they watched the couple walk ahead.

“I feel like I’ve seen that guy somewhere before,” the makeup artist couldn’t help but murmur.

One of the photographers glanced at her. “I thought so too. He looks familiar. Do any of you know who they are? The manager just said they were a big client. These suits were custom-made in Italy—what a huge investment.”

As they were closing the shop doors, the staff whispered among themselves about the couple’s identity. As they hurried to catch up, the makeup artist who had been puzzled suddenly exclaimed, “I remember now—he’s that feng shui master! I even bought one of his books once, though I never got around to reading it.”

Another commented, “A feng shui master? That explains it. These days, people in that line of work earn astronomical amounts—more than stock brokers.”

Someone else said enviously, “Do you think I still have a chance to become his apprentice and switch careers to feng shui?”

The others scoffed. “Do you really think he’s looking for students like you? That’s just wishful thinking.”

After all, someone so wealthy wouldn’t possibly have the time or interest to teach someone irrelevant. That was simply wishful thinking.

While the staff gossiped, Lin Qiao and Shen Qingzhou had already seen the delivered wedding attire. There was no need to check Shen’s—it was all coordinated with the bridal set. The main focus was on Lin Qiao’s dress.

Shen Qingzhou hadn’t gone overboard and ordered dozens of dresses for her to choose from—this wasn’t a romantic drama. He had selected fewer than ten, just enough for the photo shoot.

“Do you like it?” Shen Qingzhou asked, watching Lin Qiao’s wide-eyed expression as she examined the dresses.

Lin Qiao turned to him and asked, “With this kind of craftsmanship and fabric, it must be expensive, right?”

Shen Qingzhou nodded matter-of-factly. “It’s costly—more expensive than all the clothes in your wardrobe combined.”

Lin Qiao gave him a look as if he were insane, then glanced at the manager beside him, her mouth full of reprimands about his extravagance, but she couldn’t bring herself to say a word.

Seeing her expression, Shen Qingzhou knew exactly what she was thinking. He stood up, straightened his suit jacket, and said calmly, “Let’s begin.”

It was just past nine in the morning. According to their previously selected photo styles, a single day wouldn’t be enough to finish the shoot. They also needed to take outdoor shots, including sunrise scenes, which meant early mornings. So, for the next few days, not only would the bridal shop staff be working hard, but the couple would be even more exhausted.

By the time the shoot ended that day, Lin Qiao was so tired she felt like a dead dog, barely able to speak. Shen Qingzhou helped her into the passenger seat, drove her to a dessert shop, told her he’d be right back, and got out to buy some sweets. Lin Qiao, drowsy in the car, barely reacted and let him go.

She leaned back and dozed off slightly, nearly falling asleep before Shen Qingzhou returned.

She opened her eyes lazily and looked at him and the sweet, pretty box in his hand, murmuring, “What did you get?”

He handed her the box. “You probably won’t feel like cooking tonight. I bought something for you to eat.”

Lin Qiao opened the box and the scent of cake instantly revived her. She beamed. “How did you know I wanted something sweet? Could you have calculated this too? You’re amazing, Qingzhou!”

Shen Qingzhou glanced at her, sounding slightly exasperated. “I didn’t calculate anything. I bought cake because you mentioned wanting some this morning when we left home. There was a shop on the way. That’s all.”

Lin Qiao gave him a sidelong glance. “You’re no fun. You could’ve pretended you predicted it.”

Shen Qingzhou replied, “I never deceive the people I care about.”

Lin Qiao seized on his words. “So you do deceive people you don’t care about?”

Shen Qingzhou drove calmly, unbothered by his double standard, and simply said, “Yes.”

Lin Qiao smiled, picked up a fork, took a bite of cake, and asked, “I’m having this—what about you?”

Shen Qingzhou frowned slightly, a hint of fatigue in his expression. “I’m not eating.”

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“No.”

“How come?” Lin Qiao put down her fork. “Want me to share half with you? I know you hate photo shoots, but not even hungry enough to eat?”

Shen Qingzhou frowned deeply. “We spent all day taking photos today, and we still have tomorrow.”

He was actually complaining. He had spent the entire day doing something he disliked, and there was more to come tomorrow. No wonder he had no appetite.

“Still, you can’t skip meals. Look how thin you are. You need to eat, or you’ll faint tomorrow when you have to get up early.”

Shen Qingzhou looked at her, his words carrying another meaning. “Right now, I can’t show you how strong I am, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be able to soon.”

Indeed, pregnancy didn’t necessarily mean abstaining from intimacy—only during the first and last few months. In the middle months, with care, it was still possible. After all, both husband and wife had their needs.

Lin Qiao understood Shen Qingzhou’s implication and immediately had no words left. She obediently lowered her head and continued eating her cake.

Shen Qingzhou looked at her, her mouth full of cake, and without realizing it, the corners of his previously serious mouth curled upward slightly.

Days passed quietly, and everything for the wedding was progressing smoothly. After finishing the wedding photo shoot, Lin Qiao and Shen Qingzhou went to register their marriage. While taking the official photos, the photographer kept asking them to move closer and closer until their heads touched before finally snapping the picture, preserving that moment.

When she held the marriage certificate in her hands, Lin Qiao truly realized—she had gotten married, to a man who was, for any woman, absolutely perfect. She felt as if she had accumulated all the blessings from countless past lives to have the honor of marrying such a man.

And wasn’t Shen Qingzhou thinking the same? Looking at the red booklet in her hands, he thought to himself—how could he ask for anything more when he had a wife like her?