Plunder-Chapter 203: A Special Wedding
That night was the soundest sleep Qiao En had had since arriving at Yun Mountain.
She didn’t dream and slept straight through until nearly noon.
When she awoke, Zhou Jin’an was busy at his computer. She didn’t disturb him, just curled up in the blanket, staring at his profile.
He was very focused when he worked, and exceptionally serious. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
His back was straight, his expression solemn, giving him an imposing look.
Qiao En remembered the first time she met Zhou Jin’an. Back then, she had just joined his team as an inconspicuous new employee in the secretarial department.
That day, they had a departmental strategy meeting, which Qiao En attended along with other secretaries. Zhou Jin’an was sitting at the head of the table, frowning, solemn, which made everyone tense.
She clearly remembered that when his piercing gaze swept towards her, she was so frightened that she hurriedly looked away.
But who could have imagined that after all the twists and turns, they would really end up together.
"Keep looking, and I’ll eat you up."
Just as Qiao En was deeply engrossed in observing him, Zhou Jin’an suddenly turned and made a "biu" gesture at her, catching her off guard, and she laughed.
"Didn’t you eat your fill last night?"
Zhou Jin’an stood up and approached Qiao En with a mischievous smile, "That was just dinner, and I haven’t had breakfast or lunch today either. How about... I eat them together?"
"Stop it!"
Qiao En grabbed a pillow and threw it at Zhou Jin’an.
She quickly got out of bed, barefoot, wrapped a towel around herself, and darted into the bathroom.
Her interactions with Zhou Jin’an were becoming more and more grounded.
This feeling was reassuring and made her feel blissfully happy.
When Qiao En came out after her bath, the meal Zhou Jin’an had ordered had already been delivered.
Both of them were starving, sitting cross-legged on the carpet, gobbling down the food with great relish.
"Why don’t we stay a couple more days? It’s not easy to come all this way, and we haven’t explored anywhere yet."
"Where do you want to explore?"
While eating, Qiao En asked.
Zhou Jin’an thought for a moment, "I want to go everywhere. I’ve already arranged work matters, and I can take two more days off. Let’s go out and explore the local customs."
Qiao En had planned on leaving, but Zhou Jin’an’s suggestion suddenly tempted her.
The key was that Zhou Jin’an had arranged for a guide.
The person was a local from Yun Mountain, very familiar with the area.
After finishing the meal, the guide was already waiting in the hotel lobby.
Qiao En and Zhou Jin’an changed into casual clothes and came down, greeted warmly by the guide.
"Today, we have a wedding in the old village. I’ll take you to experience it."
At that, Zhou Jin’an was intrigued.
"Let’s go."
When they arrived, it was the afternoon.
The village was festooned with lanterns and streamers, bustling with activity.
The guide led them forward, greeting the locals in the dialect as they walked.
The village was small with not many people.
They seemed secluded from the world, especially evident in the way they looked at Qiao En and Zhou Jin’an, their eyes full of unfamiliarity.
Yet despite this, the simplicity on their faces, and the purity in their eyes, was something not seen elsewhere.
"The ceremony will be held after dark, followed by a bonfire party."
Zhou Jin’an and Qiao En, experiencing this for the first time, left all arrangements to the guide.
They found a courtyard where the guide brought a small table, two chairs, and a teapot. Qiao En and Zhou Jin’an sat there drinking tea.
Time moved slowly, so slow it felt like its passing could be sensed.
Yet time also flew, and just after a few cups of tea, it had already grown dark.
"It’s starting."
The guide said excitedly.
Then, all the lights in the village lit up, and everyone, men and women, young and old, came out of their houses.
Everyone was wearing local traditional costumes, all with smiles on their faces.
"I truly envy them."
Qiao En sincerely exclaimed.
Zhou Jin’an’s eyes deepened, "If you wish, we could stay here."
But even if she wished for it, staying here wouldn’t give them the same mindset as the locals.
"Ma’am, please follow me."
Suddenly, the guide led two local women over to Qiao En.
Without further ado, the women took her by the hand and led her towards a wooden house.
"Go on, I’ll wait here."
Zhou Jin’an smiled and waved to her.
"Where are you taking me?"
Qiao En was full of doubts as she asked, but she couldn’t understand a word of the gibberish spoken by the two people.
They led her to a room that resembled a bedroom, where someone fetched local attire from a cabinet and another person untied Qiao En’s hair, ready to do her makeup.
"Thank you, but I don’t need it."
She politely thanked them, but the two insisted.
They babbled on.
Qiao En, unable to understand, simply did as they instructed.
Half an hour later, she was completely transformed.
The room had no mirrors, so she couldn’t see her own appearance.
However, the two aunts who dressed her kept praising her non-stop.
They took Qiao En’s hand and led her outside. Soon, Qiao En was brought back to the place where they had tea earlier.
Zhou Jin’an stood tall and elegant, now dressed in local attire, giving off the vibe of a young man from Alishan.
He looked strikingly handsome, the attire suiting him perfectly.
Seeing Qiao En approach, he squinted his eyes, his face filled with admiration.
"En’en, you look absolutely beautiful today."
"You too, so handsome."
Qiao En picked up her skirt and twirled.
"Let’s go to the dam up front,"
said the guide.
Zhou Jin’an held Qiao En’s hand, and they walked joyfully towards it.
The village had a large dam, and at the moment, many people had gathered around a huge bonfire lit in the center of the dam.
The flames licked the wood, emitting a crackling sound as they burned.
"Just wait for me a minute, I’ll be right back."
Zhou Jin’an suddenly let go of her hand and quickly disappeared into the crowd.
As soon as Qiao En stood still, those two appeared again, grabbing her arms and mumbling incoherently. Not understanding, Qiao En instinctively followed their lead.
Soon, everyone gathered around the bonfire, naturally forming a circle with their arms on each other’s shoulders.
Then, as if on cue, they broke into a local folk song.
While singing, they started dancing as well.
Qiao En didn’t know how to dance, but she was infected by the atmosphere.
Experiencing this for the first time, she quickly blended in.
As everyone stepped with their left foot, she did the same, lifting her right foot when they lifted theirs.
She danced along with everyone, and although she couldn’t understand their song, the joyous happiness resonated within her.
After a while, though, Qiao En hadn’t seen Zhou Jin’an return.
She looked around; everyone in the village was dancing around the bonfire, and with Zhou Jin’an also in local attire, she couldn’t spot him at all.
Just as she was about to feel disappointed, the crowd gradually started to move back.
Qiao En would have moved back too, but the two aunts pushed her forwards instead.
Right by the bonfire, Qiao En saw Zhou Jin’an.
He had somehow acquired a large bouquet of red roses and was looking at Qiao En with deep affection.
"Is this..."
Qiao En was both surprised and delighted, covering her mouth with her hand.
Zhou Jin’an stepped closer and took her hand.
"Sorry for not telling you in advance, did I scare you?"
This kind of melodramatic scenario usually only appeared in films and TV dramas.
Qiao En never thought that one day, she and Zhou Jin’an would be part of such a scene typical of a prime time romance drama.
It was utterly melodramatic, but she found it incredibly moving.
"Not at all, thank you."
Qiao En said with a smile, but her voice was choked with emotion.
"En’en, this late and hurried wedding is the promise I want to give you for a lifetime. At the summit of Yun Mountain, I ask you to forever be my wife, Zhou Jin’an. Will you?"
He knelt on one knee, his gaze burning into Qiao En.
The lights of the village shone their brightest at that moment.
The people gathered around, holding hands, singing folk songs, and blessing them in the purest way.
Qiao En had never imagined her wedding with Zhou Jin’an would take this form.
It was simple.
But very unique.
She felt a rush of emotion that she struggled to contain.
After a long moment, she said with a tearful laugh, "I do."
