Chapter 8
In a twinkle of an eye, three days passed and Chen Zhen said nothing about the pictures he saw. He didn't even reveal any emotions.
Standing in front of the mirror, Lin Ying looked at her beautiful red dress decorated with gold embroidery with a faint smile on her face.
Her hair was tied up neatly in a bun and her makeup was done beautifully. Her gorgeous red dress was simple yet majestic as customary in the Chinese tradition. Although it was just going to be a small wedding, Lin Ying felt happy leaving her past behind and knowing that this marriage could help her father in many ways.
'Knock knock' a knock came from the door of the room where she was and shortly after, it opened. Grandma Song Ting walked in dressed in a simple yet occasional pink dress.
"Everyone is waiting for you." she gently spoke seeing her granddaughter in front of the mirror.
Lin Ying turned around and grandma Song Ting gasped. "Woah..." she was amazed to see her granddaughter looking so beautiful.
Because of how happy she was, she almost forgot that this was a marriage of convenience.
Song Ting raised her hand to touch Lin Ying's face, "You have grown so beautifully." she commented with a faint smile on her face.
Lin Ying's lips curved slightly upwards. "You also look beautiful as always grandma."
The old woman was happy with her granddaughter and tucked her arm, "Shall we?" she asked optimistically and Lin Ying nodded.
They both walked out of the room and went to a garden at the Lin family house. As this was a quick wedding, the Lin family suggested that they use the garden since they wanted to see their daughter and granddaughter leave their house.
Everyone was present already and Chen Zhen was also there waiting for Lin Ying. He had a cold expression on his face which looked icier than before.
As she walked to the front, she had her head bowed slightly. This was a once-in-a-lifetime moment and she wanted to make everything perfect but she couldn't help but feel weird.
She kept walking but suddenly stopped Midway. Everyone looked confusingly at her seeing that she wasn't taking any further steps.
There was a moment of silence. Even Chen Zhen was confused. He wasn't expecting her to show her unwillingness now that they were already getting married.
Chen Zhen's stepmother giggled seeing Lin Ying like that. "Now all that is left is for her to turn around and run as fast as she can. Ha! Isn't that going to be a beautiful sight?" she murmured.
Lin Quan's brow furrowed. He was furious seeing her act like this. He wasn't expecting her to disappoint the whole Lin family by doing this.
Unknown to all of them, running away wasn't what disturbed Lin Ying at all. Rather it was the thought of getting married in the absence of her father.
It just didn't feel right to her.
Lin Quan stood from where he sat but before he could get to where Lin Ying was standing, someone else took her hand.
Lin Ying felt a soft palm holding hers and raising her hand to his elbow. When she looked up, she saw Chen Zhen standing by her side.
She blinked twice confused but he maintained an indifferent expression. Leaning a little closer to her, he whispered, "You can think about him after the wedding. For now, focus on what's more important." that was his response and she nodded in understanding.
Chen Zhen was talking about her ex_boyfriend not knowing that Lin Ying was thinking about her father.
They both walked to their spot and as a gentleman, he led her to where she would say their vows.
The priest stood there with a smile on his face. He couldn't help but view Chen Zhen as a supportive husband and just like the priest, the remaining people in attendance also saw him that way. Mrs Lin even started to have a different view of him.
They exchanged their vows and exchanged rings as well. Now all that was left was the tea party for the family as this was their tradition.
Lin Ying served the Chen family tea and poured it into their various cups as a sign of respect.
Because this wasn't a big wedding party, it ended quickly. Soon, it was time was Lin Ying and Chen Zhen to go to their new house.
Song Ting gave her granddaughter a big, tight hug and didn't want to let go. She was going to miss her granddaughter but she promised to visit as often as she could.
Zhou Yun on the other hand didn't want to see her daughter leave.
"Where is mother?" Lin Ying asked and Song Ting shook her head.
She sighed knowing what her grandmother meant by that. After all, her mother was not in support of this union.
She nodded in understanding and turned to leave with her husband but just then, Zhou Yun came from inside with something in her hand.
"So you were going to leave without seeing me?" she scolded Lin Ying and the duo hugged.
Zhou Yun gave Lin Ying the thing in her hand after they had hugged. "Take, this is my gift to you." it was wrapped in a box and Lin Ying could not guess what it was.
She thanked her mother and waved goodbye before entering Chen Zhen's car.
Chen Zhen bowed respectfully to the Lin and Chen family before getting into the car as well.
The car rode off with Zhou Yun waving from behind. "I hope it doesn't get too hard for her," she murmured.
***
In the car, Lin Ying sat at the end far away from where Chen Zhen sat. The border separating them from the driver was lifted and it felt as though it was just the both of them in the car.
Chen Zhen also kept to himself and said nothing but his expression was cold and disappointed.
Time passed and he spoke. "Do you like him that much?" he got no response from Lin Ying and sighed softly.
"If you did then why did you agree to get married to me? Why didn't you just stay with your lover outside the country?" his voice was a little louder than the first time he spoke but she still said nothing.
His brow furrowed and he leaned closer to look at her but it was only then that he realized that she was sleeping.
He blinked twice surprised that he had been talking to himself all this while. He leaned back and pinched the space between his eyebrows then chuckled.
"I can't believe she slept off," he said this with the sides of his lips curved up.