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Not married, but not without love.
墨書 Inktalez
Friend's weddings are always colorful and vibrant, leaving people intoxicated with the beautiful vision of love. However, in a luxury hotel, a splendid wedding is taking place, and some people hold different views on such beauty.
The decorations in the banquet hall are truly admirable, showcasing the designer's ingenuity. Exquisite crystal chandeliers hang from intricately carved ceilings, with each crystal sparkling like stars under the light. The art murals on the walls seem to bring a gentle breeze, filling the entire space with a lively and luxurious atmosphere.
The bride is dressed in a pure white wedding gown, trailing a long train like a fairy; the groom is in a formal suit, looking dignified.
In such a colorful and splendid occasion, the host led the bride and groom through the traditional wedding vows.
The host, dressed in a black suit with a silver tie, stood in front of the magnificent main stage, cleared his throat, and said, "Groom, Mr. Chen, do you promise to take care of this beautiful bride, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for as long as you both shall live?"
The groom smiled slightly, looked at the bride beside him with deep affection and determination, and said, "I do."
Next, the host turned to the bride and asked, "Miss Lin, do you willingly love him, respect him, and accompany him through success and setbacks, to spend your life with him until eternity?" The bride, with tears in her eyes and a happy smile on her face, elegantly replied, "I do."
The groom then took out a beautiful diamond ring and placed it on the bride's delicate finger, saying, "I love you not only for who you are, but also because being with you makes me a better person."
The bride then put on the gold ring from the groom's hand and affectionately said, "You are the most important person in my life. I am willing to share with you all of me, my love, my life, and my future."
The host announced, "Now, I pronounce you husband and wife! Groom, you may kiss the bride."
The groom and the bride passionately embraced, and a beautiful marriage is about to begin.
The applause and cheers of the guests echoed once again in the banquet hall, and colorful ribbons and flower petals scattered in the air.
The bride stood in the center of the stage, her wedding dress extending several meters, like a fairy. Her smile shone like stars, bright and confident.
The bridesmaids stood behind her, each wearing a dress designed by a famous designer, but none could outshine the bride.
"Okay, now it's time for the bride to toss the bouquet!" the host announced in an excited tone.
The bride smiled as she picked up the bouquet of roses and lilies, hesitated for a moment, and then held it up high. Her face was filled with happiness and anticipation, as if this action symbolized not only tradition but also the future and hope.
"Three, two, one, throw!" the host shouted.
At this moment, the bridesmaids were like ignited flames, rushing forward frantically.
They were like participants in a high jump competition at the Olympics, leaping eagerly, hoping to catch the bouquet, as if catching it would bring them happiness. One of the bridesmaids even threw herself at the bouquet, prompting cheers and applause from the entire audience. The whole hall was filled with an atmosphere of happiness and frenzy, as if this was the epitome of love.
However, in one corner of the room, two special guests behaved somewhat differently.
However, in a nondescript corner of this magnificent banquet hall, Chen Yifan (Evan) furrowed his brow slightly as he read the wedding invitation in his hand. His gaze swept over the ornate text and high-quality paper, as if skimming over a gilded falsehood. As the creative director of a well-known advertising company, Evan had become too accustomed to discerning the subtle nuances of authenticity and artifice between occasions and people.
His appearance was that of a typical urban successful male: neatly groomed short hair, dressed in a well-fitted dark gray suit with a pair of sunglasses casually tucked into the suit pocket. His eyes exuded confidence, yet also carried a hint of unfathomable aloofness.
"Evan! Come, take a photo with the bride and groom!" A colleague, Zhang Tingting, walked over excitedly. She was wearing a light purple evening gown, and her makeup was as delicate as a work of art.
"Of course, I wish them eternal happiness," Evan said as he stood up. But there seemed to be a hint of mist in the corner of his eyes and in his smile, making it unclear whether he was genuinely offering his blessings or just playing a role.
With a click, the photo shoot was completed. Evan politely shook hands with the newlyweds and then returned to his seat.
He reached for the wine glass on the table and carefully sipped the wine. It was a 1947 Lafite, but to Evan, it was nothing special.
At the same time, Lin Meichi (Michelle) stood on the other side of the auditorium, also observing everything around her.
As a project manager at the same advertising company, she always gives people a sense of determination and confidence.
Wearing a modest yet sexy black evening gown, her delicate arms adorned with a simple pearl bracelet, her hair cleverly coiled at the back of her head, exuding a mature and elegant charm.
"Michelle, why are you standing here alone? Go interact with everyone!" A female colleague pulled her arm.
"I'm waiting for someone," Michelle responded, but did not elaborate further.
At that moment, her gaze inadvertently met Evan's.
Both of them could see a similar indifference and disdain in each other's eyes, as if they shared the same distrust and skepticism towards the institution of marriage. Michelle found this moment very strange and decided to walk over to talk to Evan.
"Hi, I'm Michelle, the project manager. I just noticed you, and you don't seem very interested in all of this."
Evan glanced at her and then smiled. "Hi, I'm Chen Yifan, but everyone calls me Evan. I'm the creative director. Your observation is sharp. Yes, I have a different view on marriage."
He held Michelle's hand with a slight grip. She responded with a smile, but the smile did not reach her deep eyes.
Michelle heard this and felt like she had found a kindred spirit. "What a coincidence, I feel the same way. In a society where everyone thinks marriage is a must, sometimes I feel like an outsider."
Evan raised his glass and smiled, "Well then, let's toast to the outsiders."
The two of them clinked their glasses and each took a sip of red wine.
"What do you think of all this?" Evan gestured towards the newlyweds receiving congratulations. "Do you think it's a bit overly romantic or overly dramatic?"
Michelle smiled slightly, as if the question touched upon a secret in her heart, and answered, "Perhaps, I have always believed that marriage is not the only destination of love."
Evan was drawn to Michelle's response, and for this seemingly calm woman with a unique perspective, he felt an indescribable interest.
"Where do you think the end of love is?" Evan asked.
"Who knows? Maybe there's no such thing as an end," Michelle's answer made Evan even more curious. "Or maybe, true love doesn't need an end at all."
At that moment, both of them realized that they had the same views on love and marriage.
"So, Evan, what are your thoughts on marriage?"
"In simple terms, I feel that marriage is not a necessary condition for love. Love can be free and casual, it doesn't need any labels or frameworks to restrict it. Moreover, I learned some lessons from my parents' marriage. Their divorce made me understand that marriage is not the solution to everything; sometimes, it is the root of the problem."
Michelle felt a pang in her heart and her eyes revealed a deep understanding. "I understand what you mean. My mother went through something similar. She chose to raise me alone because of my father's infidelity. So I have a natural resistance to marriage."
Evan waved his hand as if to dispel some unpleasant memories. "Yes, after all, entanglement and bondage are not synonymous with love."
Michelle nodded. "I completely agree. Love should be a force that allows people to grow and be free, rather than a chain that binds them."
As the conversation deepened, the atmosphere of this wedding was both lively and magnificent. Bright lights shone on the crystal chandeliers, emitting a charming glow. The light, filtered through the crystal chandeliers, became soft and tranquil, as if creating a secret little universe for the two newly acquainted individuals.
They exchanged a smile as they gazed at each other, feeling the unusualness of this encounter. In a society where most people uphold marriage and even consider it a necessary path to a successful life, they found each other and also found shared values and aspirations for the future.
"So, when should we meet again?" Michelle asked.
Evan smiled slightly, "It depends on your schedule. How about we meet at a restaurant next time and have a meal together?"
Michelle looked satisfied and said, "Sounds good!"
Unconsciously, the wedding came to an end. The bride changed into her going-away outfit, holding a basket of candies, and stood at the door to bid farewell alongside the groom.
The two of them took out their phones and exchanged contact information, adding each other on Line.
Evan glanced at his watch, then stood up, gracefully pulling out the chair like a practiced gentleman. "It's been a delightful evening. Well then, I suppose this is where we part ways for today. I hope we can chat more next time we meet."
Michelle also stood up, her eyes shining with anticipation. "Well, I am too, so I'll be looking forward to your invitation next time."
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