The Heiress's Game

The engagement party had few guests, but each one of them was someone who could easily fill a full-page headline in the financial section.

The marriage between the Bai family of Yunjing and the Gu family of Haicheng, a union of two top-tier wealthy families, was not a grand affair, but its significance was so great that everyone present sat up straight.

Shen Shaoan and Lu Yan sat at the back of the groom's family and friends section, each holding a glass of champagne. Their gazes passed over the backs of the rows of heads in front of them and landed on the newlyweds standing side by side on the stage.

Gu Yunjin's features were so exquisite that she looked like a lady who had stepped out of a traditional Chinese painting. Shen Shaoan nudged Lu Yan with his elbow and lowered his voice.

"No wonder Bai Junze hid it so well, refusing to let us see it no matter what. If I were him, I would have hidden it too."

"A living celestial being." Lu Yan nodded succinctly, his gaze lingering on Gu Yunjin for a moment, then on Bai Junze for a moment.

"But look at his expression—he looks serious on the surface, but his eyes never leave the other person's face."

I've known him for over a decade, and this is the first time I've realized he can look at things without his eyes glued to data reports.

The ceremony on stage proceeded smoothly. Bai Junze took out the velvet ring box from the inside pocket of his suit. As he opened it, the sunset glow fell on the diamond, and the reflected light made several women in the front row gasp in surprise.

It was an exquisitely cut pigeon egg, as dazzling as a shattered star ignited by the setting sun.

Shen Shaoan's eyes lit up, and he nudged Lu Yan with his elbow, his smugness even greater than when he himself got engaged.

"See? I recommended the designer of that ring."

When Bai Junze came to me before to ask about jewelry design, I thought he was buying gifts for someone, but I didn't expect him to go straight to engagement rings.

These pigeon eggs can be broken down into three different styles.

Lu Yan looked up and saw that it was no ordinary diamond ring; the white diamond center stone was surrounded by a ring of pink diamonds, like stars around the moon.

Shen Shaoan then explained, "It can be disassembled into three different rings after the outer ring is removed: one is a complete pigeon egg ring, one is a simple and classic everyday wedding ring, and the other is a delicate finger ring."

Wear it for everyday wear, evening banquets, and important occasions.

"This is just the engagement ring. You haven't seen the wedding ring yet, have you? I've already seen it."

After exchanging rings, Shen Shaoan was the first to stand up from his chair, put his champagne glass aside, cupped his hands to his lips, and shouted in a booming voice, "Give me a kiss!"

Lu Yan followed closely behind and also stood up to join in the commotion.

The guests in the front row were led by their rhythm, and their scattered laughter and applause turned into a series of rhythmic urgings.

Bai Tianyi was sitting in the Bai family relatives' area when he jumped up from his chair.

He was dressed in a formal suit today, and his hair was even styled with hair wax, which was unusual for him. But his serious demeanor lasted only three seconds before he revealed his true nature, clapping his hands and joining the commotion, coordinating with Shen Shaoan from a distance.

"Big brother! Give me a kiss! Don't be shy! We've come this far, why are you still acting all coy!"

Bai Junze stood on the stage and glanced at the few people who were making the most noise without changing his expression—his look probably meant, "You guys can talk about this later."

Then he picked up the bouquet of white roses and baby's breath from the flower stand next to him, and slowly raised it up, which conveniently blocked his and Gu Yunjin's faces.

The bouquet blocked all view; nothing could be seen.

But that posture—the angle at which his shoulders tilted slightly, the curve of Gu Yunjin's body leaning back and then being pulled back by him, the quiet few seconds behind the bouquet—all of these told everyone present that they were kissing.

Shen Shaoan let out a long, satisfied wolf howl.

Although Lu Yan didn't howl, the intensity of his clapping was significantly greater than before.

When the bouquet was placed down, Bai Junze's expression remained as calm as ever, but there was a very faint blush on his ears.

Gu Yunjin's lips curved into a smile, her eyes held a hint of laughter, and her cheeks were slightly flushed. Bai Junze reached out and gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

Bai Tianyi stood there, his eyes red-rimmed, two tears rolling down his perpetually smiling face.

"Tianyi?" Lu Yan was startled. "You cried?"

Shen Shaoan also turned his head, as if he had discovered a new continent.

"Tianyi, you actually cried? Your dad didn't cry, Aunt Zhuo didn't cry—look, Aunt Zhuo's eyes are just a little red, and your dad is wiping your mom's tears next to you—and you're crying like this?"

Bai Tianyi sniffed hard, wiped his face haphazardly with his sleeve, and his voice was still trembling with tears.

"You don't understand! I'm so touched! My older brother is thirty-three! He's finally getting married! Do you know how much I've worried about him!"

As he spoke, he choked up again, and tears streamed down his face.

"You have no idea! You know absolutely nothing! I've had it so tough... He's finally married... My good days are finally coming..."

Bai Tianyi's father, Bai Jing'an, sat next to him, his expression one that could only be described as "utterly hopeless."

He looked up at his good-for-nothing son, lowered his voice, and squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth:

"How old are you? Why are you crying in this situation? Aren't you embarrassed enough already?"

Bai Tianyi turned his head, his eyes brimming with tears, and looked at his father with a righteous tone.

"My mom cried too."

"Your mom is touched; your aunt is happy that her nephew is engaged."

"Dad, you don't understand! I was just touched!"

He blew his nose again as he spoke, his tone filled with relief at surviving the ordeal and heartfelt joy.

Bai Jing'an finally couldn't stand it anymore and slapped Bai Tianyi on the back of the head, his expression full of disdain: "A grown man like you crying like this, aren't you ashamed?"

"How am I embarrassing!" Bai Tianyi covered his head and retorted defiantly.

"My older brother's wedding is the happiest thing for me this year! It's even happier than reaching the highest rank in the game!"

He spoke so loudly that even Bai Junze, who was standing at the end of the flower corridor, turned around and glanced at him.

Gu Yunjin peeked out from behind the bouquet, looked this way, and smiled at him with her eyes crinkled.

"My good days are coming!! Hahahaha, my happy life is about to begin!"

Bai Jing'an opened his mouth, then closed it again, choosing to silently turn back, pick up his wine glass, and take a big gulp.

After the engagement banquet, the guests left in twos and threes.

The Bai family's private jet was already in place, and the motorcade was lined up in front of the hotel, ready to take everyone to the airport.

Zhuo Shengnan took her current husband's arm and got into the car. Bai Lingfeng, with Bai Jingchuan's help, got into the lead car, and the others took their places one after another.

Bai Junze stood at the hotel entrance, saying goodbye to each of the elders.

Bai Tianyi pulled Bai Junze aside, first blinking his eyes a few times with a "you know what I mean" look, then leaning closer and lowering his voice, his tone full of what he thought were very subtle hints.

"Brother, I won't go to Suiyuan. I'll go find Zhang Zhuoran instead."

"You stay with your sister-in-law and behave yourself. Don't worry about me. I definitely won't be within five kilometers of you tonight."

After saying that, he blinked again, so hard it was as if his eyelids had twitched, and then dashed into the sports car, the engine sound gradually fading into the night.

After taking a shower, Bai Junze came out of the guest bathroom wearing a dark gray silk robe, loosely tied at the waist, with the neckline open, revealing a well-defined chest.

He had clearly not pulled his robe up properly, his abs were faintly visible under the silk fabric, and he walked a little slower than usual.

Gu Yunjin was sitting on the sofa flipping through a magazine when she heard footsteps. She looked up, her gaze lingering for a moment on the exposed skin at his collar before calmly returning to the magazine.

He walked up to her, but instead of sitting down, he leaned down slightly and rested one hand on the back of the sofa.

Her voice was very soft, "Do you want to sleep with me tonight?"

Gu Yunjin looked up at him.

He added, "It's just sleeping, the kind where you're covered with a blanket."

Gu Yunjin looked at his face, which was so close to hers, his eyes deep and focused beneath his wet hair.

Bai Junze exudes a mixed signal that says, "I am your fiancé, and tomorrow I will be your legal husband, but I respect you so I am asking for your opinion."

She smiled slightly, raised her hand and gently tugged at his open collar, pulling him down a little, and then planted a kiss on his lips.

Give me a little time to adjust.

She continued frankly, "Although we're getting our marriage certificate tomorrow,... this pace is still a bit too fast for me."

Bai Junze looked into her honest eyes, without asking why, nor showing any displeasure or disappointment.

He nodded, then lowered his head again and placed a very light kiss on her forehead. His lips lingered on her forehead for a while before slowly withdrawing.

"Good night," he said. "May we both have sweet dreams tonight."