Chapter 18: Yesterday Like the Wind

After Gu Xinyao and Dugu Yi’s marriage was finalized, the first thing she did was share the happy news with Qin Rou and her husband. Although the couple did not entirely approve of a marriage with such a significant disparity in social standing, they were, after all, friends. Seeing Gu Xinyao’s wish finally come true made them happy, and they offered their blessings without hesitation. How they celebrated, however, is another story.

One day, Gu Xinyao made several small red envelopes at home to hold wedding candies, which she had taken from Qin Rou’s grocery store. She thought about giving them to Dugu Yi; regardless of anything else, since they were getting married, he should have a few friends, and giving gifts to friends was a thoughtful gesture.

Just as she arrived outside Dugu Yi’s apartment, she ran into him coming out the front door. Upon asking, she learned he was on his way to the government building to submit his resignation to Duanmu Feng. After a moment’s thought, Gu Xinyao decided to accompany him.

It was Tuesday morning, and there were not many people in the office. In the main hall, aside from the staff, there were very few visitors. Although the recent incident had largely subsided, there were still busybodies who, upon seeing Dugu Yi, would stop and point or whisper.

The more this happened, the more Dugu Yi tightened his expression, his demeanor becoming increasingly cold and aloof.

Gu Xinyao was different. She had already anticipated that Dugu Yi’s resignation would cause a stir, and she had prepared herself for how to handle it.

Seeing two clerks at the entrance hall still pointing and whispering about them, she took out the candy-filled red envelopes she had prepared. Thanks to her experience attending weddings, she had learned how to make these herself—pouches made of red velvet fabric, embroidered with a large, festive "Double Happiness" character. The character was not only celebratory but also designed to put the recipient in a good mood.

"Don't go over there!" Dugu Yi, not knowing what she intended to do, reached out and pulled her back. He had long grown accustomed to people’s gazes—whether they were filled with awe or contempt, he no longer cared. He did not want, nor was he willing, to let her suffer the same treatment; after all, she had done nothing wrong. Her only "mistake" was wanting to marry him.

Gu Xinyao soothed him with a gentle gaze, patted his hand, and said, "Don't worry! I'll be fine."

With that, she carried the bag of candies and walked toward the two clerks.

The clerks had, of course, seen Gu Xinyao and Dugu Yi. Seeing Gu Xinyao approaching, they initially planned to walk away, but she was faster, blocking their path in a few quick strides.

"Hello!" she greeted them with a loud, friendly smile.

Seeing that they could not avoid her, the clerks managed a forced smile and waved. "H-hello!"

Gu Xinyao handed them two candy pouches and said warmly, "My name is Gu Xinyao. You probably already know, but I am going to marry Secretary Dugu—that is, Dugu Yi. These are our wedding candies. If you have the time, you are welcome to attend our wedding."

The clerks were surprised by her words but accepted the candy pouches.

Dugu Yi, worried about Gu Xinyao, had followed her over and heard the entire conversation.

"C-congratulations!" The scandal from a while back had been the talk of the town; how could the government staff and clerks not know about it? They were simply curious why Dugu Yi hadn't married Duanmu Feng, choosing instead to marry such an ordinary person.

"Are you the employee from that grocery store?" one clerk suddenly recalled having seen Gu Xinyao while shopping there.

Gu Xinyao did not hide her identity and answered with the same steady smile: "Yes, I used to work there. I probably won't be serving everyone there in the future. I love Yi very much, and from now on, I will serve only him."

This statement was entirely sincere. Under normal circumstances, Gu Xinyao would never have said such a thing in public, but at this moment, in front of Dugu Yi’s former colleagues, she declared it loudly.

Dugu Yi, the recipient of such a public declaration of love, felt a bit flushed. As for the two clerks, realizing they would not get any more aristocratic gossip, they awkwardly excused themselves, saying they had work to do, and hurried away.

Gu Xinyao smiled faintly as she watched them leave, then turned and walked to Dugu Yi’s side, as if nothing had happened.

"Let’s go, to Duanmu Feng’s office," she said, taking his hand.

Her composure made Dugu Yi feel as though his earlier caution had been excessive. Yet, he had seen and heard it all himself. She was not the type of person who liked to show off, and he believed she had spoken so openly about their marriage not to boast, but for him—to ensure he wouldn't feel any inferiority in public. He squeezed her hand, his heart warmed as if basking in the brightest sunshine.

Duanmu Feng’s office was on the top floor, where there were no other staff members besides the secretary’s office.

Currently, the secretary’s office was still empty, clearly waiting for Dugu Yi’s return.

Gu Xinyao stopped at the door of Duanmu Feng’s office. She pointed to the closed door and gestured with her lips for him to go in alone.

Dugu Yi opened his mouth to ask her to come with him, but thinking it inappropriate, he nodded and went inside.

Gu Xinyao sat on the sofa outside, waiting quietly.

Before long, Dugu Yi emerged. His face was expressionless, but his eyes were momentarily vacant. He held the resignation letter in his hand, standing at the door for a long time without immediately asking Gu Xinyao to leave with him.

Gu Xinyao had known the moment he came out, but she didn't disturb him. There were many things he needed to process on his own; she didn't want to make decisions for him, nor did she want to interfere.

After a while, he spoke softly to Gu Xinyao, who was sitting on the sofa with her back to him: "Let’s go!" There was a sense of relief in his voice.

Gu Xinyao’s heart stirred. She stood up, her expression calm, took his hand, tucked the resignation letter away, and said, "Alright! Let’s go!"

***

The Dugu family’s efficiency was remarkable. In less than a month, the wedding was ready. Before Gu Xinyao even fully realized what was happening, she was notified that she would be attending her own wedding in three days.

Qin Rou teased her, calling her the most carefree bride in the world, and perhaps the worst bride in history, since she was only told the date of her wedding at the last minute.

The wedding hosted by the Dugu family was grand—luxurious, even. They not only invited various major media outlets but also foreign diplomats and noble families with significant standing in the Republic.

It was less of a wedding and more of a successful press conference, or perhaps more accurately, a marketing campaign designed to push the Dugu family and their enterprises into a wider arena, while simultaneously washing away the scandal between the Dugu and Duanmu families.

In front of the public and the media, the Dugu family could high-profilely proclaim their approachability, noting that even the most favored eldest son of the Dugu family was marrying an ordinary person—and that this ordinary person was even marrying *into* the family.

In the Republic, although a man’s reputation was not as critical as it once was, if a man’s intimate affairs were made public, it was difficult for him to be accepted into a noble family as a primary spouse, let alone for a woman to marry into a man’s family.

Such large-scale publicity brought the Dugu family great positive reviews and solidified their unshakable status in the Republic.

In the dressing room, Qin Rou was helping Gu Xinyao adjust her wedding attire. Bridal dresses in the Republic were not like those in the 21st century. Although the bride wore a veil, it was red, worn as a symbolic accessory on the right side of the hair, covering no more than a third of the head.

The dress itself was unique—a red qipao, vintage yet representative of the nation's character. From the collar to the hem, it was embroidered with a full-scale pattern of peonies in bloom, festive and auspicious. Her wedding shoes were bright red high heels. Overall, the bride looked as if she were wrapped in a ball of flame.

As for the groom’s attire, Gu Xinyao had not yet had the pleasure of seeing it.

The makeup artist was famous in the Republic, and Gu Xinyao’s look was not heavy; it perfectly highlighted her features. When she looked in the mirror, she almost didn't recognize herself.

"The wedding is starting!" Ge Yue pushed open the door and called out.

Qin Rou hurriedly helped Gu Xinyao up. The dress wasn't heavy, but after sitting for five or six hours, no one could stand up and walk perfectly on their own.

When they stepped out of the dressing room, Gu Xinyao finally felt her blood circulation returning. She pushed aside Qin Rou’s arm and said with a smile, "Sister Qin, no need to support me. If I’m carried out, people might think the bride is a cripple."

Qin Rou let go, looking a bit frustrated but saying nothing.

When she learned that Gu Xinyao was marrying into the Dugu family, she had tried to dissuade her, but unfortunately, Gu Xinyao was determined to marry Dugu Yi.

On the eve of the wedding, the Dugu family had notified Gu Xinyao that since she was marrying into the family, she had to give up her current job—either to join the company with Dugu Yi or stay at home as the woman behind the man.

Ultimately, Gu Xinyao chose the latter; she would stay home and fully support Dugu Yi. Though she was staying home, it didn't mean she had abandoned her own ambitions; stopping was only temporary.

The "Wedding March" began to play in the main hall. Gu Xinyao walked in, accompanied by Qin Rou, while the groom waited behind the floral arch.

Walking down the long red carpet, Gu Xinyao felt incredibly nervous. With so many people watching, witnessing her happiness, she should have been joyful, yet a faint sense of melancholy slipped through her heart.

Reaching the floral arch, she took Dugu Yi’s hand. Only then could she see him in his full wedding attire.

He wore a black suit, and, unusually, a red tie against his white shirt. Even with such a garish color, his temperament and appearance made it look exceptionally handsome.

His hair had been styled by the groomer to sweep backward, revealing his full, high forehead, and his features were displayed without obstruction under the lights.

This was the first time she had seen his face so completely. She couldn't help but stare at him; if not for the emcee’s reminder, she would have almost forgotten it was their wedding day.

She did not follow the old custom of linking arms as they entered the hall; instead, she held his hand. She wanted to hold his hand as they walked into their new life together.

He turned to look at her, finding her staring at him, and he curled the corners of his lips into a smile.

The two smiled at each other. Just as they gazed into one another’s eyes, a camera flashed.

It was unclear who had captured such a moving moment.

"The wedding begins! The bride and groom enter!"

The emcee spoke into the microphone, and the entire hall erupted in thunderous applause.

Behind the crowd, hidden by a pillar, Duanmu Feng stood slowly sipping a glass of red wine.

"How does it feel to watch your beloved marry someone else?" A young man walked out of the crowd. He wore a white shirt with two buttons undone, revealing his tan skin.

He walked up to Duanmu Feng and leaned against the pillar, completely unbothered by the impropriety of his actions.

Duanmu Feng raised her right eyebrow as she looked at the man. He smelled faintly of soap, and they were standing close—so close she could easily smell it.

She reached out with her free hand, her fingers sliding inside his open shirt to graze his collarbone.

"Dugu Chi," she heard her own voice, "do you think I would let my beloved marry someone else?" The faint scent of wine on her breath brushed against his face, leaving him momentarily stunned.

In that instant of his distraction, she captured his lips. He widened his eyes, but she covered them with her hand.

Before he could react, she broke the kiss and whispered into his ear: "My beloved has never been him, do you understand?"

He wanted to ask for an explanation, but she had already disappeared outside the hall with her wine glass.

In the hall, the noisy and exaggerated wedding ceremony continued, but Dugu Chi stood blankly by the pillar. He had always thought Duanmu Feng loved Yi, and he assumed she had agreed to the marriage only out of necessity. What did her words mean?

He glanced back at the two people on the stage, still being directed by the emcee. Covering his lips, he didn't care about the consequences of running out at such a time; he resolutely turned and chased after the direction Duanmu Feng had left.

***

The wedding lasted all day, and by the time they saw off the last guest, it was already five in the evening.

Gu Xinyao felt that humans had invented weddings purely to torture themselves. She didn't like wearing high heels; usually, a pair of casual shoes or sneakers solved all her problems. In this setting, she had to abandon her own comfort for the sake of the bigger picture. The shoes weren't very high, but they made her stand a head taller than Dugu Yi, which felt awkward; she couldn't understand why people in this country insisted that a woman be taller than a man to be considered "noble."

She bent down to rub her legs. After standing and walking for so long, her legs were numb.

Dugu Yi didn't seem much better off. He usually disliked social functions, and being forced to attend his own wedding was an ordeal. Many of his former colleagues and elders had seized the opportunity to toast them; she had drunk half, and he had drunk quite a bit. The way his brow was furrowed showed he wasn't feeling well.

Furthermore, looking at his flushed ears—he always turned bright red when he drank too much.

"I’ve arranged a luxury suite here for you. Stay here tonight. You can rest tomorrow, and the day after, return to the Dugu family’s main residence. I will arrange for Yi to join the company." Dugu Muqing and Gu Yu walked over. Dugu Muqing said this to Dugu Yi with the air of someone who had everything settled and expected them to comply.

Tonight, Dugu Muqing and her husband were also dressed formally; if one ignored their usual relationship, they looked like a very well-matched couple.

Gu Xinyao sighed inwardly, but as the daughter-in-law of the Dugu family, she knew she had to observe protocol.

"I will take good care of Yi. Please don't worry, Mom and Dad!" she nodded.

Gu Yu looked at them with a smile, but Dugu Muqing ignored Gu Xinyao.

"Alright, I understand," Dugu Yi pursed his lips and said only that. His face had been flushed like honey soaked in red wine, but after Dugu Muqing appeared and spoke, though his face remained slightly red, his expression had returned to indifference, even coldness.

"Hm! Your father and I are heading back now," Dugu Muqing nodded with satisfaction and walked out first.

Gu Yu did not follow immediately but stopped in front of Dugu Yi. After a long pause, he said, "Son, don't blame your father. From now on, you'll have to rely on yourselves. Take care."

This was the first time Gu Yu had spoken to Dugu Yi in such a tone. Dugu Yi was stunned; he hadn't expected his father to say these things.

Gu Yu patted Dugu Yi on the shoulder and then said to Gu Xinyao, "I’m leaving Yi to you. Please take good care of him." This was the most genuine expression of concern a father could offer. Gu Xinyao heard both helplessness and sincerity in his words.

"Dad, rest assured, I will cherish Yi with all my heart," Gu Xinyao said, taking Dugu Yi’s hand.

"Good child! Get some rest." Gu Yu nodded with relief, cast one last look at Dugu Yi, and walked away.

Perhaps because a long-standing emotional knot had been untied, or perhaps because at this very moment, Dugu Yi realized his father’s love for him, he couldn't help but call out to Gu Yu, who was already walking into the shadows: "Dad!"

The figure stopped for a moment, then slowly walked away.

"We still have time!" Gu Xinyao hugged Dugu Yi’s waist. All she could do was be his support so he wouldn't collapse at this moment.

"Ugh—" Gu Xinyao didn't expect him to release his pent-up emotions in such a passionate way. She had been about to comfort him, but instead, he covered her lips with his own.

His lips were hot, burning; his tongue was hot, too. If she hadn't held onto a shred of reason, she feared their wedding night would have taken place right there at the hall entrance.

Finally ending the fiery kiss, Dugu Yi buried his face in her embrace. Since she was taller than him, she leaned against the pillar behind her, letting him bury his face against her chest.

The damp, warm sensation on her chest told her he was crying—crying for the years of misunderstanding his father, and because his father had finally expressed that heavy, silent love he held for his son.

She stroked his back, giving him strength in this way. Perhaps his father had loved him through distance in the past, but from now on, she would warm him with her own love.