Quick Travel to the Clouds

Chapter 408 Yun Xiaqing 15

After three years, she finally wanted to formally bring the person she had been concerned about and confident about for three years to her mother and father Han.

"Are you nervous?" She turned her head and looked at Gu Yanzhe's angular profile with a gentle smile on her lips.

Gu Yanzhe was dragging a heavy suitcase with one hand, while holding her hand tightly with the other, his knuckles tense and even slightly sweaty. He took a deep breath, and the Beijing air was mixed with a unique smell of smoke and dryness.

"To be honest, a little." Gu Yanzhe looked back at her frankly, his deep eyes gleaming with seriousness. "I'm even more nervous than when I first gave a presentation at an international trade forum."

He knew who he was going to meet today—Yun Chu and Han Yanzhi.

Yun Xiaqing's parents were also low-key but extremely influential figures in the Beijing community. Their approval was not only a recognition of Gu Yanzhe as a person, but also a confirmation of his ability to truly integrate into Xiaqing's life and protect her throughout her life.

Yun Xiaqing squeezed his hand tightly. "What are you afraid of? My mom and dad, although... they're a little demanding, they're really nice people."

"Especially my mother, who has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. She knew that you blocked that difficult project for me last year. She didn't say it, but her tone softened over the phone. Father Han looks serious, but he actually dotes on me very much. Do you understand why he loves me and loves everyone in me?" She spoke in a light voice, trying to dispel his tension.

"Yeah, I understand." Gu Yanzhe nodded and smiled, a smile that held the power to comfort her. "For you, Wu, I have to be at my best today."

The traffic flowed through the bustling streets, finally stopping in front of a tranquil courtyard amidst the bustle. The carved beams and painted buildings, with their soaring eaves and angled corners, nestled among ancient trees, exuded a sense of history and understated elegance.

The door opened. No servants were there to greet them. Standing in the hallway were two distinguished men and women.

Yun Chu stood in front, her posture straight, wearing a simple and elegant Xiangyun silk cheongsam and a matching cardigan. Time had not left many marks on her face, but instead, it precipitated a gentle and elegant charm, a majestic presence without anger.

Yun Chu's gaze, like the calm surface of an ancient pond, slowly fell on the young man beside his daughter - Gu Yanzhe.

Half a step behind Yun Chu was Han Yanzhi. He was wearing a fine wool sweater and casual trousers. He had an elegant face, a calm and gentle look in his eyes, and a subtle, encouraging smile at the corner of his mouth.

Han Yanzhi's presence was not as strong as Yun Chu's, but he strangely created a sense of solid and reliable backing, silently supporting Yun Chu's dominance.

"Mom, Dad Han! We're back!" Yun Xiaqing let go of Gu Yanzhe, took two quick steps forward, and hugged Yun Chu affectionately.

Gu Yanzhe took a step forward, stood still, and bowed slightly to Yun Chu and Han Yanzhi. His posture was neither humble nor arrogant, and his voice was steady and clear: "Hello, uncle, hello, auntie. I am Gu Yanzhe, and I am very happy to come to visit you two elders."

"Come in, you've had a hard journey." Yun Chu's voice was calm and no emotion could be heard, but her eyes still stayed on Gu Yanzhe's face, as if she wanted to penetrate the outer skin and see the bones and soul underneath.

After three years of interaction, Yun Chu knew a little about it.

Han Yanzhi nodded gently, a hint of approval in his eyes. He naturally extended his hand: "Yanzhe, right? Give me the luggage."

"No, no, Uncle Han, it's very heavy. I can do it myself." Gu Yanzhe quickly declined.

"That's okay, give it to me." Han Yanzhi's attitude was gentle but tolerant, as he took the suitcase handle. This seemingly simple gesture instantly eased the tense atmosphere of their first meeting in the hallway, conveying a sense of acceptance.

Yun Xiaqing watched Han's father's actions from the side, quietly pinched Gu Yanzhe's palm, and gave him a look that said "see, I told you so".

Entering the warm and bright living room, the furniture, a clever blend of Chinese and modern styles, exudes elegance under the light. The air is filled with the faint fragrance of tea.

After the host and the guest were seated, Sister Guihua served tea and snacks. Yun Chu sat at the main seat, picked up the exquisite teacup, gently stirred the tea leaves floating on it, and finally spoke, raising a question:

"Xiao Gu, Qingqing said that you..."

This was clearly more than just a pleasantry. It was the beginning of their first formal confrontation, Yun Chu's way of measuring the vision, ability, and responsibility of this young man.

Gu Yanzhe sat upright, meeting Yun Chu's calm yet penetrating gaze, and began his story...

The setting sun streamed in through the large French windows, casting a warm glow over the figures chatting in the living room. The voices rose and fell, punctuated by the occasional chuckle.

Yun Xiaqing sat next to Gu Yanzhe, watching him calmly and sincerely respond to each of his mother's seemingly ordinary but mysterious questions, and watching the sparks of thought that collided when he and Father Han discussed industry trends... Her heart slowly and steadily fell back to where it should be.

Three years have passed, and with many ups and downs, I am now returning home to Hong Kong with my beloved. I have seen many ups and downs, but my original intention remains unchanged.

Yun Chu's gaze also quietly faded a little from its initial scrutiny, gaining a subtle touch of gentleness and... satisfaction? She picked up the teacup and took a sip, concealing the slight trace of moisture in the corner of her eyes.

Han Yanzhi took it all in, his smile deepening as he gently discussed the next topic with Gu Yanzhe. On this golden autumn afternoon, this family had taken on the presence of a new member, heralding the beginning of a new bond.

Time is like quicksand, and in the blink of an eye, it slipped into 1999.

In the depths of winter in the capital, the sky was sprinkled with fine snowflakes, blanketing the ancient streets and vermilion palace walls in a pure white. This pristine snow felt like a natural velvet carpet laid out for a grand event—the wedding day of Yun Xiaqing, daughter of the Yun family, and the talented young man Gu Yanzhe, unfolded slowly amidst this blanket of silver.

The wedding was not held in a luxurious hotel, but in a courtyard house bought by Yun Chu.

The courtyard of the quadrangle was meticulously decorated, its columns entwined with festive red silk, and hanging lanterns cast a warm glow amidst the falling snow. Several wintersweets, blooming in the courtyard, blended their delicate fragrance with the delicate scent of the guests' clothing, creating a strikingly elegant atmosphere.

Yun Xiaqing wore a gown embroidered with dragons and phoenixes, hand-embroidered by a time-honored Beijing craftsman. Gold and silver threads weaved across the red satin, creating an intricate and luxurious pattern of peonies and phoenixes. Her skin, white as snow, was accentuated by her eyes, which shone with the shyness of a bride-to-be and the unconcealable glow of happiness.

Pinned on her bun was an emerald hairpin that Gu Yanzhe had specially found. It was of a brilliant aqua color, warm and translucent, just like his heart for her.

Gu Yanzhe was wearing a traditional Chinese long gown and jacket, and the royal blue color made his posture look even more upright and majestic.

He stood in the center of the auditorium, his eyes piercing through the falling snowflakes, fixed firmly on the bride who was walking towards him step by step, personally carried by her father, Han Yanzhi.

The scenes of their six years together flashed through his mind quickly: their interactions at work, the nervousness when meeting his parents in Beijing, the little details of starting a business together... In the end, all of this turned into the smile on her lips that was enough to melt the cold winter.

He reached out and firmly grasped Yun Xiaqing's hand, covered in red gauze. Han Yanzhi solemnly placed his daughter's hand in his, and a rare glimmer of moisture crossed the eyes of this usually refined father. A thousand words melted into a firm grip: "Yanzhe, treat her well."

"Dad, please don't worry!" Gu Yanzhe's voice was clear and powerful. It was a promise to his elders and an oath to his own heart.

The master of ceremonies recited the ancient wedding words aloud, and the snowflakes falling from the patio seemed to become natural fireworks.

Amidst the blessings of "the ceremony is over", Yun Xiaqing and Gu Yanzhe, dressed in bright red dresses, bowed deeply to each other surrounded by guests.

When he raised his head, Gu Yanzhe saw Yun Chu sitting in the main seat. The deep scrutiny in her usually calm eyes had completely disappeared, leaving only a kind of relieved tenderness. She nodded slightly, and there was a rare and clear warm arc at the corner of her lips.

After the bustle, the bridal chamber was filled with warmth. Red candles with dragon and phoenix designs burned, their dancing flames illuminating the sweet faces of the newlyweds. Gu Yanzhe carefully lifted Yun Xiaqing's red veil. Their eyes met, and without words, their hearts connected.

"Finally," Yun Xiaqing's voice was choked with a barely perceptible sob, her eyes like stars, "Mrs. Gu."

"Well," Gu Yanzhe smiled, holding her in his arms, and gently rubbing his chin against her forehead hair, "It is the greatest achievement of my life." Outside the window, the snow fell silently, and inside the house, the room was warm.