Xueyi sat in front of the gilded mirror, her reflection half-hidden beneath layers of intricate red robes embroidered with gold and crimson phoenixes. The warm light of the room highlighted the delicate makeup being applied by Xiaomei and a handful of maids—faces pale from nerves, hands shaking slightly as they pinned her hair ornaments into place.
"Careful with the hairpin, Miss," one whispered, trying to adjust a decorative tassel.
Xueyi blinked at her own reflection. I am so screwed.
*Do they expect me to survive all of this?* she thought, feeling the weight of silk and fabric pressing down on her shoulders, the collar stiff against her neck. *So many layers, so many threads… how do people even move in these things? The real me would have fainted five minutes ago.*
She glanced down at the heavy red skirt pooling around her feet. *And the real me never wanted to marry anyone in the first place. How did girls even tolerate this? I swear, if this is how the real Xueyi felt… no wonder she was always exhausted.*
Xiaomei fussed with a small golden ornament at the side of her hair. Xueyi let out a long sigh.
*I'm pretty sure Jin Wei is miserable too,* she thought, a small smirk tugging at her lips. *All those layers, all that pomp… he's probably cursing everyone under his breath and wondering why he's still alive. Honestly, if anyone can survive a day like this without fainting, it's him.*
Ha. Like he could possibly be miserable. He'll probably look completely unaffected, the same icy, untouchable presence he always has. Great. Just perfect.
Her fingers fidgeted with the sleeves of the robe. *And all these relatives—so many of them! Faces I've never seen. Faces I'll probably never remember. And none of them matter anyway. The real Xueyi didn't even know them either. So why am I acting like it matters?*
She leaned back against the chair, letting the maids finish the last touches. Her mind wandered again. *And Jin Wei… is he okay? Probably. But also probably annoyed at all this nonsense. I wonder if he even notices I'm a mess under all this silk.*
A final touch of rouge on her cheeks, a small adjustment to the phoenix crown, and she took a deep breath. Today, she would step outside and face everyone.
The moment she walked into the courtyard, her heart jumped into her throat. The guests were already assembled. Brightly colored banners fluttered in the morning breeze. Incense burned in small braziers. The entire world felt surreal, like it had been lifted straight from the pages of the novel she'd been reading—or rather, like she'd somehow fallen *into* it.
*This isn't real. It's a hallucination. I am just thinking about novel. I am not actually getting married.*
Her stomach twisted. Every step toward the ceremonial canopy made her knees weaker, every breath heavier.
Then she saw him.
Jin Wei.
Standing perfectly still, expression unreadable, arms crossed lightly, watching over the courtyard. Not a flicker of nervousness, not a single sign that this massive, chaotic ceremony could rattle him. Calm. Unmoving. Absolutely unbothered.
*Of course he's calm,* Xueyi thought bitterly. *Of course. Of course. The one person who should be just as terrified as me… is not. Why do I even try?*
Her heart sank a little. *Why does he always make everything look so effortless? Even in front of a hundred witnesses, even when the world is upside down, he's… him. And here I am, a sweating, panicking mess in red silk.*
She bit her lip and took another step forward. The veil in her hands felt heavier than ever, the reality—or hallucination—of her situation pressing down like the embroidered phoenixes across her chest.
*I am not in a novel. This isn't real. I am sane. Totally sane.*
But the sight of Jin Wei, so calm, so untouchable, made her miserable anyway.
And somehow… that tiny, frustrating thought made her heart beat faster.
Xueyi's heart hammered as she stepped further into the courtyard. The warm morning light caught the red silk of her robes, making the intricate golden phoenixes shimmer like tiny flames. Every eye seemed to be on her, and yet, somehow, none of them mattered.
*Why are there so many people?* she muttered internally. *Do I have to greet each one personally? Great. Just what I needed today.*
She gritted her teeth, trying to straighten her back, but the layers of fabric made even standing upright a feat. *This is heavier than a mountain. And the phoenix crown? I think it's slowly crushing my skull. I swear, if the real Xueyi had to endure this, no wonder she prefer death.*
The guests were arranged in neat rows—family on one side, officials and friends on the other. All wore muted colors, letting her and the groom's side shine in ceremonial red. The whole scene felt surreal, as if she'd stepped straight into one of the novels she used to read.
*This isn't real. I am not really married. I'm hallucinating. Yeah, that's the only thing keeping me sane right now.*
The officiant, a senior elder of the family, stepped forward. His voice was firm and resonant as he instructed the bride and groom to bow to Heaven and Earth.
Xueyi's knees trembled as she bent forward, touching the ground with careful precision. Her mind wandered again. *All these bows, all this ritual… I'm bending so much I might pull a muscle. But at least I'm not fainting yet. Small victories.*
The next bow was to her parents and elders. She glanced at her mother, whose eyes shone with tears, and then at her father, standing tall but clearly trying to hide the relief he felt.
*Yeah, Xueyi, focus. Remember, you survived a kidnapping yesterday. You can survive a few bows. Just don't trip over your own robes.*
The final bow was to the groom and his family. She straightened up, hands clasped in front of her, and forced herself to look at the other side of the courtyard.
And there he was.
Jin Wei.
He had not moved. Not a muscle betrayed him. Arms loosely crossed, his gaze calm and unwavering, taking in the entire courtyard, the ceremony, and most importantly… her.
*Of course he's calm,* Xueyi thought bitterly. *Of course. The one person who should be panicking alongside me, sweating under all that silk… is not. Fantastic. Just fantastic. Thanks a lot, Jin Wei.*
Her chest tightened. Every nerve screamed awareness of his presence, his strength, his… composure. She felt both protected and utterly miserable.
The officiant continued, reciting words of loyalty, fidelity, and respect. Xueyi moved with precision, performing each ritual gesture carefully, though internally she complained.
*I'm bending, bowing, pretending to be graceful… and he's just… standing there, perfect, untouchable. Why do I even try?*
When it came time for the symbolic exchange—the red ribbon between the bride and groom, and the ceremonial scroll with the vows—Xueyi's hands trembled slightly. The silk felt heavy, her heart heavier.
*Okay, remember. Don't mess this up. Keep your expression neutral. Don't faint. Don't blush. Don't think about Jin Wei.*
Too late. Her eyes caught him again, and her pulse jumped. He didn't smile. He didn't look impressed. He didn't even blink. And somehow, that calm, untouchable demeanor made her feel like a frantic child who had somehow wandered into the wrong palace.
*Why is he so… perfect?* she groaned silently. *Why does he always make me feel like a mess?*
The ceremony concluded with a final bow, signaling the completion of the formal union. The guests clapped softly, the musicians played a restrained melody, and the ceremonial incense smoke curled gracefully in the morning air.
Xueyi's feet ached. Her shoulders ached. Her mind was dizzy from layers, heat, nerves, and the absurdity of the situation.
And yet, in the middle of all the chaos, she knew one thing:
Jin Wei had watched her through every moment. He had never spoken, never gestured, never moved to make it easier for her. And yet, she had felt the full weight of his protection, silent but absolute.
I am not fainting, I am alive, I am standing… and he is still perfect. Smile..
Her stomach twisted in exasperation and something else, something like admiration, though she'd never admit it aloud.
*Great. I'm miserable, exhausted, and… I'm noticing him too much. Fantastic timing, Xueyi. Really.*
And somewhere in the shadows of the courtyard, Jin Wei remained—a sentinel, unmoved, untouchable, silently promising that nothing would harm her again.