The white rose I picked up cried and said she liked me.

After the opening remarks, the banquet hall fell silent, broken only by occasional faint sobs.

Even though the guests present were already familiar with Xu Nian and Xu Xi's background, they still couldn't help but be moved to tears when they heard the siblings' past and love story from Zhang Feng again.

The most beautiful snow lotus flowers often bloom on the snow-capped peaks where the cold wind blows.

The most touching emotions often arise from mutual support during tumultuous life journeys.

"Now, let's give a warm round of applause to the protagonist of today's story, the groom, Xu Nian, as he enters the stage."

As soon as he finished speaking, the guests began to applaud.

Amid applause, Xu Nian, holding flowers, walked across the red carpet, waved to everyone, and strode to the center of the stage, arriving at Zhang Feng's side.

"Xiao Nian, standing here now, is there anything you'd like to say to everyone?"

Zhang Feng smiled and handed the microphone to Xu Nian.

Xu Nian took the microphone and scanned the crowd in the banquet hall.

Offstage, besides his friends who had accompanied him all the way, there were Xu Hu and his former laborer brothers, the two kind old men, Grandpa Deng and Grandpa Liu, Teacher Jiang, Dr. Huang, Dr. Leng, and so on, as well as the benefactors who had helped or cared for him.

Facing countless gazes, Xu Nian took a deep breath and slowly spoke.

"A few years ago, a media outlet interviewed me about my background. They asked me if I felt that fate was unfair, having a father who lost his life due to gambling and an irresponsible mother who forced me to beg at a young age."

"That's what I answered at the time."

"If this had happened ten years ago, I would have felt incredibly lucky because I met an angel who seemed to have fallen from the sky. She entered my life, rescued me from a chaotic world, and gave me hope and meaning to live."

Even now, I still feel incredibly lucky.

"At home, you rely on your parents; when you're out in the world, you rely on your friends. I have no parents, and I have no home, but I met you all."

"Everyone here is a benefactor in my life!"

"It is thanks to your help to me and Xiaoxi every time that we have come this far and are able to invite everyone to witness our happiness."

"Here, on behalf of Xiaoxi and myself, I would like to sincerely say thank you all! Without you, we wouldn't be where we are today!"

After speaking, Xu Nian bent down and bowed deeply to everyone present.

These words were not mere politeness or flattery, but rather Xu Nian's heartfelt sentiments.

Having struggled their way up from the bottom of society, he and Xu Xi have not relied solely on their own abilities; in addition to their hard work, they have also received help from countless people.

Even if he were to travel back to when he was 17 and meet Xu Xi again with his current memories, he and Xu Xi would never have reached their wedding hall without meeting these friends and benefactors.

As soon as he finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted in the room.

Zhang Feng patted Xu Nian on the shoulder and took the microphone back from him: "Next, let's welcome the other protagonist of today's wedding, the bride Xu Xi."

As soothing piano music began to play, the doors to the banquet hall slowly opened.

All the lights in the room focused on one spot, and in the center of the light, Xu Xi, dressed in an angelic gown, appeared in the banquet hall, accompanied by Wen Yao and Zhao Lin.

As soon as she appeared, she immediately became the focus of the entire audience.

The girl's eyes sparkled like a thousand stars as she stepped across the red carpet strewn with petals, walking slowly toward the man whose eyes were filled with nothing but her, to the melody of "Wedding in a Dream."

At this moment, Zhang Feng stepped off the stage, came to Xu Xi's side, took her arm as her father, and stood with her in front of Xu Nian.

"Xiao Nian, before I entrust Xiao Xi to you, as Xiao Xi's father, I should give you some instructions."

Zhang Feng raised the microphone and looked intently at Xu Nian.

"But at the same time, as your father, I know what kind of person you are, so I don't think I need to repeat to you the things you follow every day."

"But from a father's perspective, there's something I've always wanted to say to you."

"You are not a perfect person. You have done many wrong things and have been punished for them."

"But I've never thought of you as a bad kid."

Life is like a banquet; abstaining from alcohol is unrealistic, while being drunk is a waste of life. If you can remain sober while drunk, you've already surpassed most of the guests at the table.

"So, confidently take Xiaoxi with you and embark on the journey of life together. Take big strides and don't look back. I'm proud of you."

"Thank you, thank you, Dad."

Xu Nian bent down and bowed to Zhang Feng again.

Zhang Feng smiled and nodded, released Xu Xi's arm, and handed Xu Xi's small hand to Xu Nian.

This is the recognition and blessing from elders.

Xu Nian reached out and confidently took his hand.

Applause erupted, and everyone offered their sincerest blessings.

Zhang Feng patted Xu Nian on the shoulder with satisfaction, turned around and left, retreating to the side of the stage.

At this moment, only the two people who love each other remain in the center of the stage.

They stood facing each other, holding hands and gazing into each other's eyes, their eyes reflecting the most important guiding light in each other's lives.

Zhang Feng's steady voice echoed in the banquet hall.

"Today you stand here, reminiscing about the past and looking towards the future. From this day forward, you will become husband and wife, and together you will enjoy the mountains, the sea, the wind, and the snow, walking side by side, braving the rain and the wind, year after year."

"Ms. Xu Xi, are you willing to marry the man before you, and to stay by his side through thick and thin, no matter what difficulties you may encounter in the future, to stay with him forever, and never leave him?"

Xu Xi nodded vigorously and shouted impatiently, "I! Will! Do!"

"Mr. Xu Nian, do you take this woman to be your wife, to promise to cherish her, to face life's journey together, and to spend the rest of your life with her, no matter what it may hold?"

As she finished speaking, Xu Nian's vision gradually blurred.

Time seemed to rewind before his eyes, rewinding scene by scene until he finally returned to the ward more than a decade ago.

At that time, he and Xu Xi held each other's hands tightly in the same posture.

At that time, he was also asked this most important question in his life.

The pungent smell of disinfectant gradually seeped into his nasal cavity.

At that moment, at this moment.

As time intertwines, memories and reality merge, blurring the man's vision.

Just then, Zhang Feng's words came back to his mind.

"Take Xiaoxi with you and embark on the journey of life together. Take big strides and never look back."

Xu Nian's vision gradually cleared, and that pure white figure returned to his eyes.

All the hardships are now in the past; their journey has already passed through countless mountains. Their future is a journey full of hope and sunshine.

If you show any hesitation or reservation at this point, you'll just look like a completely drunk customer.

He smiled slightly, looked into the girl's expectant eyes, and solemnly uttered the words he hadn't spoken in half a lifetime: "I! Will!"

Brilliant lights shot straight into the sky, and thunderous applause lasted for a long time.

Overwhelmed with emotion, tears welled up in Xu Xi's eyes. She stood on tiptoe and hugged the man tightly.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, honey."

"Me too, honey."

Amidst applause and blessings from countless people, the two closed their eyes and kissed.

The wedding concludes with speeches from the best man, maid of honor, and elders.

Qi Yu and Wen Yao, as representatives of the best man and maid of honor, offered their sincerest blessings to Xu Nian and Xu Xi.

The final remarks from the elders were naturally delivered by Zhang Feng.

"To be honest, seeing you two children finally get together makes me happy, but also complicated."

Zhang Feng watched the two embracing, gently shook his head, and sighed silently.

"I'm happy because you deserve the happiness you have now."

"As for the complicated one, it is something you should not have met in this way."

"If there were no parents in this world who would abandon their children, there would be no homeless or wild children."

"I'm glad to have witnessed your love. But I hope that from now on, there will never be another pair of 'wild children' in the world."

"I hope that all of you here today will take responsibility for children in the future, and not let them drift away in the cold wind, and not let them become new 'wild children'."

……

After the ceremony, Xu Nian and Xu Xi stepped off the stage and toasted the guests who had come to attend their wedding.

"Brother Xu, congratulations on your marriage! May you have a long and happy life together!"

"Xiao Xu, may you grow old together in happiness and have a son soon!"

Xu Nian held her wine glass, her gaze unconsciously drifting towards Xu Xi, who was wearing a wedding dress, beside her.

Xu Xi smiled slightly, leaned down and whispered in the man's ear, "Dad is right. Life is like a banquet. It's unrealistic to abstain from alcohol completely, but you can't get completely drunk either."

"Hehe, as you command!" Xu Nian scratched his head, smiled sheepishly, picked up his wine glass, and drank it all down with everyone.

Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a dim purple light flashing briefly at the side door of the banquet hall.

"Little Stream...I..."

"Go ahead." Xu Xi gently patted his arm and handed a gift box to the man. "Remember to give her my regards."

Xu Nian nodded gently, took the gift box, and ran towards the exit.

He chased after the figure down three floors and finally saw that familiar back.

"Zhou Xiaoman, wait a minute!"

The woman stopped in her tracks and slowly turned around.

"Mr. Xu, you have a keen eye! You were able to spot Xiaoman's whereabouts."

Her smile remained as elegant and charming as ever.

Xu Nian quickly approached her: "What are you doing here?"

Zhou Xiaoman smiled gently and took out an invitation card embossed with gold and silver brocade from her bosom: "Since Xiaoman received the invitation, she will naturally attend as scheduled."

"That's not what I meant." Xu Nian waved her hand. "I didn't see your name on the sign-in list the waiter gave me."

"You mean those bodyguards on the first floor who check invitations?" Zhou Xiaoman smiled. "I didn't come through the main entrance, so of course they didn't know I was here."

"Then how did you get in?" Xu Nian was completely confused.

You should know that the bodyguards Wen Yao brought surrounded the entire hotel three layers deep, making it comparable to a commander's headquarters during a war, so that not even a fly could get in.

How did Zhou Xiaoman, a grown woman, manage to bypass the bodyguards' tight security and sneak into their wedding venue without anyone noticing?

Zhou Xiaoman brushed a strand of her long purple hair behind her ear: "I've been to places even harder to infiltrate than this. Do you think those people who take money to do things can stop me?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Nian silently lowered her head.

The woman in front of him had once infiltrated Ye Long's bunker, which was surrounded by outlaws, and brought out evidence to clear his name.

What reason did he have to doubt that Zhou Xiaoman could sneak into the hotel?

He gave a wry smile: "Why did you have to sneak in? Didn't we send you an invitation?"

Zhou Xiaoman narrowed her eyes, a slight smile curving at the corners: "Because, I really like... really like... really love..."

She tiptoed and leaned close to Xu Nian's ear.

A gust of violet fragrance blew by, and two passionate words floated out from her slightly parted lips: "Lurking".

After saying that, she looked at Xu Nian, who was standing there dumbfounded by her joke, covered her mouth and laughed, like a little fox who had succeeded.

Two and a half seconds later, realizing she had been tricked, Xu Nian awkwardly rubbed her nose and solemnly said to Zhou Xiaoman.

"Regardless, I have to thank you. If it weren't for you, I..."

Before he could finish speaking, a slender finger gently touched his lips, silencing him.

"Xiaoman already heard everything upstairs, so Mr. Xu, there's no need to repeat it to her separately."

Zhou Xiaoman smiled gently, took out a bottle of red wine and two wine glasses from her bag, and waved them lightly in front of Xu Nian. "Interested in having a drink with Xiaoman?"

Xu Nian nodded and took an empty wine glass.

"Life is like a banquet; it's unrealistic to abstain from alcohol completely, and to live a life of drunkenness is a waste," Zhou Xiaoman said with a light laugh, pouring half a glass of red wine into Xu Nian's glass.

The two sat down by the window and gently clinked their glasses.

Xu Nian picked up her wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.

"What are your plans next?"

"Me?" Zhou Xiaoman rested her chin on her hand, gently swirling the red wine in her glass. "Of course, I'll just do what I'm supposed to do: raise fish, write books, travel around, and pursue poetry and distant places."

"Uh, I meant... your plans regarding relationships." Xu Nian coughed lightly, blushing slightly, and said, "I know a few nice guys, with great personalities and good looks. Would you... like to consider them?"

Hearing this, Zhou Xiaoman's smile widened: "Mr. Xu, do you know what the meaning of violets is?"

Xu Nian thought for a moment: "Eternal beauty and love."

Zhou Xiaoman smiled and nodded.

Xu Nian was about to say something, but the words were stuck in her throat.

He chuckled self-deprecatingly, understanding what Zhou Xiaoman meant.

"By the way, Xiaoxi asked me to... give you her regards."

As Xu Nian spoke, she handed the gift box to Zhou Xiaoman: "This is a wedding favor she prepared for you."

Zhou Xiaoman raised an eyebrow, reached out and took the gift box, and opened it in front of Xu Nian.

But the moment she opened it, her expression suddenly changed. She immediately reached out and covered the box, while giving Xu Nian a wary look.

"What's wrong?" Xu Nian asked curiously, noticing her reaction. "What's inside?"

Zhou Xiaoman's beautiful eyes darted around slightly, revealing a mischievous grin: "It's a secret."

She put the gift box into her bag, stood up, and glanced at the night view outside the window: "Mr. Xu, do you still remember... the promise you made?"

"I remember." Xu Nian nodded vigorously.

A gentle evening breeze brushed past the woman's ears, softly ruffling her long purple hair.

Strands of hair fluttered and danced lightly in the wind.

"Mr. Xu, see you in the next life."

Along with the sound, Zhou Xiaoman's elegant figure also disappeared.

(End of text)