One month later.

Their wedding was held by the sea.

The eldest son of the Fu family was getting married, so keeping things low-key was practically impossible. Fu Yan, for his part, had completely washed his hands of the preparations, leaving Lin Lan to suffer. It took her a full three weeks just to draw up the guest list. Fu Hongping even mobilized all five of his secretaries, terrified that anything about his son’s wedding might be less than perfect.

In Chairman Fu’s sharp-eyed view, this wasn’t merely his son’s wedding—it was a grand occasion for the Fu family. He wanted to invite all his business partners and tell them that his son, like himself, had excellent taste: when it came to choosing a wife, he picked only the best.

The night before the wedding, Fu Yan was dragged off to a bachelor party by his “good-for-nothing friends.” He hadn’t originally planned to go, after all, Gu Zhan didn’t like him drinking recklessly outside.

But Li You had been jumping all over the place, and had actually managed to tempt Gu Zhan with the agency rights for a well-known baby-products brand for two years. Fu Yan was still trying to figure out how to politely turn Li You down when he suddenly learned that Gu Zhan was going to attend his bachelor party too.

Absolutely not. There was no way he was going to let his wife fool around with that crowd by himself.

And so, on the night before the wedding, both grooms fell into debauchery, dancing and drinking with a crowd of handsome men and beautiful women until dawn.

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

Fu Yan turned groggily in bed and stretched out an arm, but he didn't find the person he expected. He shot fully awake and stared around the hotel room.

Oh no. Where was Gu Zhan?

Could some seductress have lured him away last night?

No, no, no.

Fu Yan ran a hand through his messy hair. He clearly remembered the two of them returning to the room together last night.

He made several phone calls, but no one answered. Just as he was frantically searching the hotel for Gu Zhan, Lin Lan walked over.

“Son, you’re finally awake. Hurry up and come change.”

“Mom, do you know where Gu Zhan went?”

“He’s in the lobby with your father, greeting the guests.” Lin Lan could barely hide her delight. “A-Zhan is such a sensible child. Look at you, sleeping until now. If A-Zhan hadn’t stopped me and said that Li You got you to drink quite a lot last night, I would’ve woken you up hours ago.”

“Oh.”

Hearing that Gu Zhan had indulged him and let him sleep in, Fu Yan couldn't keep the smile off his face.

“Then I’ll hurry up and get changed.”

“This way, this way.” Lin Lan sighed. “The makeup artist is in this room. Hurry up. The ceremony is about to begin.”

By the time Fu Yan hurried into the lobby, Gu Zhan was standing at the entrance with Fu Hongping, welcoming the guests.

Fu Hongping was beaming, shaking hands with guests one moment and leaning over to Gu Zhan the next to introduce him to valuable business associates.

The moment Fu Hongping saw his son approaching, his expression suddenly turned cold.

“Why are you only getting here now?” he muttered reproachfully.

Fu Yan looked apologetic. “Dad, I drank a little too much last night.”

“Wasn’t A-Zhan with you last night? How come he didn’t drink too much? Look at you. I thought you’d improved over the past two years. Compared to someone else...” Fu Hongping spread his hands disdainfully. “You’re still the same as ever...”

“Dad.” Gu Zhan tugged lightly at Fu Hongping’s arm. “Fu Yan won two baby-and-maternity product lines from Li You last night. The Fu Group’s KPI for next quarter could go up by several percentage points.”

“Oh, really?”

Fu Hongping immediately grinned and patted Gu Zhan’s hand. Suddenly, his son looked much more pleasing to him.

After all, whether a son was good or not depended on whom you compared him with. Compared to his old friends’ sons, his Fu Yan was practically a steam engine. Never mind his education and appearance—even in the area Fu Hongping had once looked down on most, his son’s sexuality, he had turned out to be so successful that it was almost a pleasant surprise.

The more he looked at the two of them, the more satisfied he became.

“You two newlywed husbands stay here and greet the guests. I’m going inside to entertain a couple of old friends.”

“Okay, Dad. Go take care of your business.”

Fu Yan nodded, exchanged a smile with Gu Zhan, and stood beside him.

The two men wore matching tuxedos. The only difference was that Gu Zhan’s had a slight tailcoat design. Both suits were a pure, immaculate white, and both men wore identical boutonnieres.

Two equally tall and handsome men standing side by side with smiles on their faces looked almost unreal, as if they had stepped straight out of a comic book. The guests couldn't help taking pictures and repeatedly turning around to look.

Fu Yan smiled and nodded at the guests while secretly hooking his finger around Gu Zhan’s.

“Do you know any of these people? Where did all these guests come from?”

“Who knows?” Gu Zhan maintained his professional smile and whispered, “We’ve been standing here for more than three hours. It seems like everyone still hasn’t arrived.”

“Are you tired? Your feet must be sore.” Fu Yan’s voice was full of concern. “Let’s go. Whoever wants to greet guests can do it themselves.”

“Would that be all right?”

“It’s fine.” He leaned close to Gu Zhan’s ear. “It’s our wedding. We make the rules. Do you remember when I asked you what kind of wedding you wanted?”

“Of course. We agreed on the same thing—the seaside.”

“Not just the seaside. The ends of the earth.” Fu Yan added to his answer. “In the setting sun that’s about to disappear, I’ll tell you forever.”

Gu Zhan chuckled. “You really prepared all that?”

“Of course. Today is the most important day of our lives. How could I really have just been sleeping?”

Gu Zhan raised his wrist and checked his watch.

“It’s 5:38 p.m. There are twenty-two minutes until sunset, Mr. Fu. You don’t have much time left.”

“It’s already this late! Then let’s hurry.”

Fu Yan anxiously took the hand beside him.

“Okay.” Gu Zhan squeezed his hand back, the corners of his eyes curving up. “I’ll count to three. Shall we sneak away together?”

Fu Yan met his smile and nodded.

“One, two, three—”

The two white figures suddenly dashed away, ignoring the confused shouts behind them.

They ran straight out of the hotel toward the blue sea and endless beach, hand in hand, sprinting as fast as they could.

At that moment, the sun hung low over the horizon, bathing the entire world in gold.

After the intense running, Gu Zhan was slightly out of breath.

“I... Are we going to keep running like this?”

Fu Yan glanced at the sunset that was about to disappear, panting as he continued running.

“We won’t make it... Let’s find some kind of vehicle.”

They stopped beneath a palm tree.

Gu Zhan pointed at the beach buggy beneath it, looking like he was about to laugh.

“We’re taking that?”

“Of course.”

Fu Yan confidently climbed into the driver’s seat and tilted his head toward him.

“Get on. I’ll drive.”

Gu Zhan happily climbed onto the back.

“Fu Yan, is your driving reliable?”

“Don’t worry, Gu Zhan. I’m an experienced driver.”

Fu Yan took Gu Zhan’s hands and placed them around his waist.

“Hold on tight. I’m taking you flying.”

Before he could finish speaking, the buggy shot forward like the wind.

“Woohoo—!”

The sensation of racing through the wind made Gu Zhan cry out.

“Haha!”

Fu Yan’s hair flew wildly in the breeze.

“Off to get married!”

The two of them raced madly across the golden beach, chasing the sunset. Their slightly lifted tailcoats looked like wings attached to their little happiness-mobile.

Suddenly, snowflakes began drifting down from the sky.

At first Gu Zhan could hardly believe it. Then he felt the cool flakes melt against his face. He looked up at the helicopter appearing and disappearing among the clouds.

“This... You did this?”

“Yep.”

Fu Yan was driving, so he had to shout for Gu Zhan to hear him.

“Do you like it?”

Gu Zhan didn’t answer. He simply stared dazedly as the snowflakes landed on Fu Yan’s shoulders and scattered through his black hair.

“You told me you liked snow. Since it’s something you love, I hope that every time you think of it in the future, it’ll be the most beautiful memory.”

Gu Zhan’s lips slowly spread into a smile.

He understood what Fu Yan meant.

Fu Yan was making up for that night in the snow when they had broken up. He was telling him that from now on, he would never again have to watch that cold figure walk away from him.

Under the golden setting sun, everything within Gu Zhan’s field of vision seemed to glow—including Fu Yan, who turned back and smiled at him.

His eyes were amber, his hair golden, and his entire being radiated warmth.

Gu Zhan wrapped his arms around that broad back and rested his cheek against it, letting the falling snow whiten their heads.

The buggy stopped in front of a small chapel standing over the water.

Hand in hand, they pushed open the magnificent stained-glass doors.

Inside, a kindly old pastor waited for them with a smile.

Fu Yan held Gu Zhan’s hand and led him toward the altar bathed in the setting sun.

The floor-to-ceiling windows, several stories high, reflected the dying sunlight, as though they could freeze this moment in time.

Fu Yan gazed intently at the man before him.

He was just about to kneel on one knee when his expression suddenly changed.

He frantically searched his suit pockets, his trousers, all over himself...

What the hell? Not again?

At a moment this critical, had he lost the ring again?

Fu Yan was so anxious that sweat appeared on his forehead. He glanced around awkwardly.

Seeing him in such a panic, Gu Zhan chuckled and slowly pulled a small velvet box from his pocket.

“Are you looking for this?”

“You...?”

Fu Yan stared in surprise.

How had the ring ended up in Gu Zhan’s hands?

According to Lin Lan’s plan, the ring should have been held by the best man. They were supposed to exchange rings tonight in the noisy hotel ballroom.

The artificial snow and quiet little chapel were supposed to be a surprise he had secretly prepared for Gu Zhan.

Then—

The doors burst open again.

“Did we make it? Did we make it?”

Wang Yanqiao rushed in first, followed by Fu Chuyin, Li You, Hua Jiu...

Lin Lan and Gu Ru came in arm in arm, while Fu Hongping hurried in last, practically shouting as he ran.

All their family members and closest friends were there.

“Just in time. Perfect timing.”

Everyone excitedly took their seats, gazing expectantly at the two men standing before the altar.

Gu Zhan gracefully knelt down and looked up at Fu Yan.

In an instant, Fu Yan’s eyes reddened.

“You’ve already proposed once. This time, let me do it.”

Gu Zhan’s expression was more solemn and sincere than it had ever been.

“I always thought Heaven wasn’t very kind to me. After all, other people were born with both parents, while I didn’t have a mother until I was six.”

Gu Zhan glanced toward the audience.

The moment he said this, Gu Ru was already crying, embracing Lin Lan, whose eyes were wet as well. The two women gently patted each other’s shoulders, comforting one another.

Gu Zhan continued:

“Until I met you, Fu Yan, I realized that Heaven had actually been saving something wonderful for me, waiting for me further down the road.

“You once said that I changed you and made you a better person. But in truth, you changed me too. You made me recognize my own feelings and gave me the courage to stand firm.

“You warmed the first half of my life. I can’t imagine how I’m supposed to face every morning and every quiet night in the future without you.

“So today, with all the sincerity in my heart, I want to ask you: Are you willing to come and warm the rest of my life?”

“I... I...”

Fu Yan was so moved that he couldn't speak.

He had prepared the most romantic and sincere vows, just like Gu Zhan had. But at this very moment, he couldn't get a single word out.

He cried, tears filling his eyes.

He had desperately wanted to maintain his polished appearance in such an important setting, but he simply couldn't.

In the end, he could only tremblingly extend his hand and choke out:

“I do.”

Gu Zhan gazed into his eyes, his love and sincerity completely undisguised, and happily slipped the ring onto his finger.

Fu Yan, trembling as well, placed the eternal promise on Gu Zhan’s finger.

His dark eyes were filled with blazing emotion. He couldn't find the right words to express what he was feeling.

“Gu Zhan, I love you.”

“Fu Yan, I love you too.”

They embraced and kissed passionately.

At this moment, no more words were necessary, because the sweetest words had already melted into that golden kiss.

The sun set, freezing eternity in place.

Thunderous applause filled the chapel as their closest family and friends, tears in their eyes, offered them their most heartfelt blessings.

After the wedding banquet ended, the moment everyone had been waiting for finally arrived—

The wedding-night festivities.

No one was more excited than Wang Yanqiao.

The big brother he had admired since childhood had actually managed to win over his male idol. How could he possibly be satisfied with merely “making trouble” at the newlyweds’ room? He practically wanted to hide under the bed and watch.

Fu Yan was genuinely getting a headache from these rowdy friends.

He blocked the doorway with his body, trying to stop the bored young people from barging in.

“There’s really nothing to see. We’ve been together forever. There’s no entertainment here.”

“Who says?” Hua Jiu joined in, eyes sparkling mischievously. “Brother Yan, the first time I saw the two of you together at the Japanese restaurant, I was already looking forward to tonight. Hahaha.”

“Exactly!” Wang Yanqiao shook the fuzzy bunny-ear outfit in his hand and winked at Fu Yan.

“I even prepared a game. Don’t you want to try it?”

Li You stroked his chin thoughtfully.

“I really have never seen Fu Yan wear this. Are you gays really this wild?”

“Damn it!”

Wang Yanqiao angrily shoved Li You.

“These bunny ears are for putting on and doing a girl-group dance! Li You, you filthy straight man, what on earth are you thinking?”

“Hahahaha—”

Everyone burst into laughter.

Only Fu Chuyin stood quietly in the corner, eyes wide, staring blankly at the furry bunny outfit.

Fu Yan looked around.

Apparently, Fu Chuyin was the only normal person left in this group.

He hurriedly signaled to him.

“It’s so late. You guys should hurry back, wash up, and go to sleep. Chuyin, take everyone to the rooms we booked.”

“Huh? Oh.”

Fu Chuyin nodded and tugged at the person beside him.

“Why don’t we go back? Brother and A-Zhan must be exhausted today.”

“Exhausted? Those two still have plenty of energy left.”

Li You grinned suggestively.

“Hahaha—”

“Haha, yeah!”

Wang Yanqiao immediately caught on and laughed.

“Little Chuyin, Du Zhe has been looking for you all night. Go play with him.”

“Why is he looking for me?” Fu Chuyin muttered under his breath.

Everyone else was still trying to squeeze into the room.

“Brother Fu, just let us in!”

“Yeah, Brother Yan, accept your fate. Stop resisting, haha!”

Fu Yan spread his arms and struggled to hold the door.

He was about to lose the battle when Gu Zhan, who had just returned from the bathroom, walked over.

He grabbed Fu Yan’s hand, shoved him inside, and closed the door.

If one looked carefully, Gu Zhan’s eyes were already tinged with red.

Fu Yan, caught off guard by the sudden pull, froze for a moment.

He realized that Gu Zhan seemed considerably stronger than usual.

Fu Yan instinctively sensed that something was wrong.

But he had already been shut inside, leaving Gu Zhan alone outside with that crowd of troublemakers.

“Hey? Gu Zhan, what are you doing?”

Fu Yan knocked on the door.

Outside, everything suddenly fell strangely silent.

A moment later, Fu Yan couldn't help wrinkling his nose.

A cold, piercingly crisp scent filled the air.

It was Gu Zhan’s pheromones.

And there was so much of it—an intensely aggressive concentration.

Gu Zhan was using his S-rank pheromones to suppress everyone outside the door.

“What’s going on? Gu Zhan, are you okay?”

Fu Yan anxiously knocked again.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

Pheromone suppression was considered rude. Under normal circumstances, an alpha wouldn’t act this aggressively unless they were dealing with someone they genuinely hated.

Wait.

There was one other possibility.

Fu Yan knocked again.

This time, the door opened.

Everyone else had already scattered.

Only Gu Zhan remained standing at the doorway, his eyes red and his expression looking as though someone had bullied him.

If not for the overwhelming pheromones radiating from him—strong enough to crush everything around him—Fu Yan might genuinely have thought someone had hurt him.

And what was that in his hand?

Fuzzy bunny ears?

“Gu Zhan, are... are you in your rut?”

An alpha in rut would develop an intense possessiveness toward their mate and a powerful territorial instinct. Within what they considered their safe territory, they wouldn't allow anyone else to disturb them.

Gu Zhan suddenly hoisted Fu Yan over his shoulder and tossed him onto the bed.

Then he seriously locked the security chain on the door several times and even pushed a chair against it.

“Gu... Zhan, are you okay?”

Fu Yan was completely bewildered by this series of reactions.

Once he was certain the door could no longer be opened casually, Gu Zhan shot toward the bed like lightning, threw himself into Fu Yan’s arms, and kissed and hugged him, clinging so tightly that Fu Yan could barely breathe.

“Ow—”

A sharp pain came from the back of Fu Yan’s neck.

An alpha’s gland being pierced didn't produce pleasure; instead, it caused a painful sensation of violation.

He patted Gu Zhan’s shoulder lightly, trying to calm him down.

“You... slow down.”

Gu Zhan sensed the resistance coming from his mate’s instinctive biology.

He stopped.

His eyes were moist as he looked at Fu Yan, pouting unhappily.

“Why? Wife, don't you love me anymore? Wife.”

Pfft—

Fu Yan was stunned.

He never would have imagined that Gu Zhan in rut would be like this.

Not only was he clingy, he was also a crybaby?

“Wife, I want a hug.”

He opened his arms toward Fu Yan.

Fu Yan was completely melted by the sight and immediately pulled him into his embrace, tenderly kissing his reddened nose.

Feeling his partner’s affection, Gu Zhan began nuzzling and kissing him again.

Before long, Fu Yan was left with hardly a stitch on.

Fu Yan could clearly feel that Gu Zhan was much more impatient in rut than usual. He didn't even have the patience for any preparation and rushed forward, causing Fu Yan to cover his face in pain.

Then Gu Zhan started crying again.

Fu Yan was utterly baffled.

He had been indulging him all evening. Why was Gu Zhan crying again?

With an aggrieved expression, Gu Zhan pulled Fu Yan’s hand away. Tears fell as he continued moving more forcefully.

“W-Wife... why won’t you look into my eyes? W-Wife...”

Fu Yan could only hold him close and coax him for a long while before the tears finally stopped.

Then he looked directly into those eyes, making no effort to hide the desire and emotion in his gaze.

They continued like this until dawn was almost breaking.

Fu Yan thought Gu Zhan’s rut should have subsided considerably by then. He kissed the man in his arms awake and gently asked,

“Do you want to get up and eat something?”

The moment Gu Zhan became conscious, he immediately wrapped his arms around Fu Yan’s waist again and buried his head in the crook of his neck, his voice full of sleepy irritation.

“No. Wife, don’t go. W-Wife...”

Hearing something off in his voice again, Fu Yan worried that he might start crying.

He patted his back and softly soothed him.

“Okay, okay. I won’t go.”

An unmarked alpha in rut could become especially insecure.

Fu Yan was an alpha himself and knew this feeling well.

Thinking of how little affection Gu Zhan had received during his childhood, he was sure this must be even harder for him than for an ordinary person.

He held him tighter, tenderly kissing his ear.

“I won’t go. I won’t go. Poor thing. I’ll always be here. I’ll always, always stay with you.”

Only then was Gu Zhan satisfied.

He nuzzled against Fu Yan’s chest.

Not long afterward, Gu Zhan seemed unable to sleep.

He got out of bed and began rummaging around the room, apparently looking for something.

Fu Yan sat up.

“What’s wrong? What are you looking for? I’ll help—”

He stopped himself.

Was it too late to take that back?

Gu Zhan was holding up the furry bunny-ear outfit, smiling sweetly at him.

“No.”

Fu Yan pressed his lips together.

“Gu Zhan, you might have misunderstood. This isn’t used the way you think. You’re supposed to wear it while doing a girl-group dance...”

Gu Zhan’s dark eyes immediately lit up even more.

“No, no, that’s not what I meant. I’m not saying I want to do a girl-group dance...”

Fu Yan quickly shut his mouth.

Because he saw Gu Zhan lower his head mournfully, pouting as though he'd suffered the greatest injustice in the world.

“But you promised, Wife... You promised you’d wear a skirt for me to see. W-Wife...”

“When did I ever promise that?”

“You did!”

“I don’t think I did.”

“You did!”

Gu Zhan looked so sorrowful that he seemed on the verge of tears.

“All right, all right. Don’t cry.”

Fu Yan resigned himself to his fate and took the outfit from his hands with a sigh.

“Did I really promise you?”

—The End—