The 3 B's- Beauty, Brains and Bravery

Chapter 527: I vow to thee

As cameras focussed upon the man, the citizens of the entire nation witnessing the ceremony live; Xi Yuan had eyes for none but the woman in front of him at the moment. He took his time, watching her smile, and blink, and move, before he finally inhaled a sharp breath, as he started with his piece.

"Love, to me, had always been a myth. A facade, an alliance even. Something movies, and novels, and dramas glorified. I used to believe that I would never have someone love me with such selflessness. Until you pranced into my life, that is. Hoping for a glass of Virgin Mojito, at that.", he smiled as the crowd listening to him broke into a burst of laughter. Rong Xinghe simply smiled, thinking of their first meet. Their meet-cute. 25th of February. Tonight remarked three years of that serendipitous encounter of theirs. 

"You were my first love. And I intend to have you in my middle, and in my end, come what may.", the man said, his tone earnest now, "I love you. I love how you care about everyone around you, and how you never give up on yourself. I love the way you cry over sad endings in books and I love to watch you grow, like a plant. I love to see you make time for your brothers, and sisters-in-law, and friends, no matter how much your work occupies you. 

"You never cease to amaze me, Xinghe. You are the most intelligent, strong-willed, and resilient person I have ever met. Everything you do, you do so passionately, and fiercely, and devotedly; that it gives people who watch you, hope. Me, being one of them.", the man smiled, "You make me want to be a better version of myself. You make me want to live, Ma Jolie. 

"So today, as we become one another's, I vow to be yours. For the forever, we shall have together. I vow to speak when words are needed and to share the silence when they are not. I vow to ardently love you in all of your forms, in your positives and in your negatives, until I breathe my last. I vow to never forget that this is an epic love that we have. And lastly, I vow to give you a best friend, a confidant, an advisor, a listener, a soulmate, and a husband, anytime you'd find yourself yearning for one."

As applause spread throughout the room, Rong Xinghe looked at the man, a sense of indescribable contentment surging through her heart. He had always been good with words, hadn't he? Gentle, and affectionate. 

"Bride now.", the officiant turned to the girl, satisfied by the bond the couple shared. Rong Xinghe laughed softly, blinking back her tears before she looked at the man, deciding to begin with a poem. 

"For the way, you changed my plans

For being the perfect distraction

For the way, you took the idea that I had

Of everything that I wanted to have

"And made me see

There was something missing

For the ending of my first beginning

And for the rare and unexpected friend

For the way

You're something that I'd never choose

But at the same time something I don't wanna lose

And never wanna be without

"Ever again

You're the best thing I never knew I needed

So when you appeared I had no idea

You're the best thing I never knew I needed

Now it's so clear I need you here always

My accidental happily

Ever after

The way you smile and how you comfort me

With your laughter

"I must admit you were not a part of my book

But now if you open it up and take a look

You're the beginning and the end

Of every chapter

You're the best thing I never knew I needed

So when you appeared I had no idea

You're the best thing I never knew I needed

Now it's so clear, I need you here, always."

Rong Xinghe had always had a mesmerizing voice. So as it resounded through the regal space, her words in sync, every person in there could feel their hearts flutter with excitement. With a sensation, difficult to narrate themselves. Even the violently active journalists from earlier found themselves drowning in the presence of the woman's poised tone, and in the love that she held for her darling. 

"I was broken when we met.", the girl continued, not paying heed to the onlookers but at all, "I was terrified of love, and of home. I used to think that I didn't deserve to dream of a family. To me, even smiling was no less of a sin then, for I'd always worry of my destiny flipping about the next second. After all, that was the life I'd lived before. But then, well, you happened. 

"You were there, sitting next to me, listening to my cries, and screams. You were there, quietly wiping my tears, and healing my wounds.", Rong Xinghe stopped for seconds then, gathering herself, "And never once did you demand answers from me. You just waited. Patiently. Like the gentleman you are. 

"I never used to let people in. It scared me. To let go for once, and to accept that I was hurting. But you were this hopelessly stubborn stranger, accompanying me through my worst. You were by my side, looking out for me secretly. You have no idea how much you mean to me, Yuan. But you need to know that you'll always be my home and that, you'll always find a home in me. 

"I vow to love you with every atom in my soul. I promise to comfort you in times of pain and struggles. I vow to accept you for you, and I vow to have you in all my adventures and tantrums. And in the end, as a woman, I vow to be your equal in the family. I vow to bear the burdens of our home alongside you, and not from a distance. I vow to you that in me, you'll always have a friend, a confidant, an advisor, a gossip-buddy, and a wife.", the girl chuckled as she stole his words, bringing a smile to the man's perfectly carved lips. 

"Oh! And I vow to not let my brothers gang up on you.", the woman added, eliciting a wave of warm laughter from the groups of guests assembled, including the Six Tigers, of course.

As they came to their senses now, the photographers shot the couple's pictures, while the journalists jotted down the pointers to their vows into their notepads hurriedly. This was going to be huge. Everything about this wedding was going to be huge, for the entirety of the world had its gazes set upon the grandness of it all. 

"Time to exchange the wedding rings.", the old priest announced a minute after, as Lu Alix jumped down from her Uncle Al's arms, a different basket in hands now.