Page 169 of He Is My Bride

Li Ying began walking down the aisle, cameras flashing to his left, to his right, eyes of all of Shanghai on him, but he saw only Hanjun’s. Their eyes locked.

The song reached the bridge, and now the vocalist really let loose. Next followed a short electric guitar solo, and it was unlike anything the audience had expected of a Wu wedding. It was perfect, everything Li Ying could have hoped for.

As Li Ying took his place before the altar by Hanjun’s side and they turned to look at each other, the notes of the guitar whittled down to calmer notes, and the vocalist sang a soft outro. When the last lingering notes of the guitar faded, Li Ying and Hanjun stood there like they were the only two people in the world.

Huang Xiang stepped back to the front to do his part, opening with the poem:

“‘Explore and discover that which is within.

When we find ourselves, we are more easily found by others.

Without words, without even understanding,

lovers find each other.

The moment of finding is always a surprise,

like meeting an old friend never before known.

Life and marriage are a wondrous journey,

ever unfolding an opportunity

to rediscover ourselves and our beloved

again and again for even on a shared journey

the only thing constant is change.

Embrace it and let it lead you

to many a glorious tomorrow.’”

Li Ying looked at the audience… and saw Wang Guosheng stand up.

No!

Hanjun saw Li Ying’s eyes change and swiftly turned his head to look, seeing what he saw.

“Such lovely verse.‘The moment of finding is always a surprise?’I wonder how well my cousin has ‘found’ his wife, as I believe there is something ‘surprising’ indeed about Li Ying that you all don’t know.” Wang Guosheng spoke calmly, but his low voice was booming and carried across the entire terrace.

Hanjun noticed something else: Doctor Wang Yan was there, seated among the Wangs, and her face had grown pale and she stared at her family head in disbelief.

You didn’t mean for this to happen?Hanjun understood.

The guests were understandably confused, some murmuring with each other, wondering whether this was part of the program, an impromptu speech, or something else.

“Please…” Huang Xiang tried to get a hold of the situation, but he just didn’t perform well in front of an audience in such an unexpected situation. “Hold your speeches until the banquet…”

“It’s not I, but the doctor who performed Li Ying’s premarital health screening, who wants to have a word with you all.” Wang Guosheng held up a voice recorder, and with a press of a button everyone could hear it pairing with the venue speakers through bluetooth.

But you don’t have any proof?!Li Ying thought.

“Enough!” Wu Yiheng sat still, but his voice carried over the crowd, “Stop disturbing the ceremony or get out!”

“Oh, but you will want to hear the truth about your‘daughter-in-law,’as confessed to me by the doctor.” Wang Guosheng clicked a button on the recorder, and suddenly Doctor Wang Yan’s voice could be heard all around them:

“Li Ying is a man!”