Ouyang Lingyun came with his three sons.
The three brothers, Ouyang Zhengang, Ouyang Zhenhua, and Ouyang Zhening, were all dressed very formally.
Accompanying them, Ouyang Feifei and Ouyang Huihui had also dressed up meticulously.
The two sisters wore floor-length gowns, and their hair was carefully styled.
As soon as they arrived, they astonished everyone, even Lin Zeping, Wang Zhengqiang, and several other elders looked over.
After the Ouyang family arrived, Luo Liansheng left the others, personally went over to greet them, and chatted with them.
Quite a few members of the Ling Family came, apart from Ling Zhengping’s family, Ling Zhengjun, Ling Zhengmin, and Ling Qixian with his descendants all attended.
It could be said that all the important members of the Ling Family came to the hotel to support Ling Ruonan.
Zhao Guosheng also came uninvited, he arrived with Wang Rongjun and Wang Guoguo’s family.
Zhao Guosheng and Wang Rongjun were both in casual clothes, and they even came in the same car.
Seeing the two of them getting out of the car laughing and chatting, Luo Ziling was a little taken aback.
These two old men have become so chummy?
What Luo Ziling didn’t know is that today Wang Rongjun reported on work matters to Zhao Guosheng at the military department, and during their chat, they discovered the other was also attending Ling Ruonan’s wedding, so they decided to come together.
On the way, the two of them got into quite a conversation.
Their coincidental arrival together suggested another layer of meaning to many people.
These two senior military officers have a very close relationship indeed.
Today, Wang Guoguo also wore casual clothes, unlike the other women who wore dresses, and she looked as cute as a neighbor’s girl.
Luo Ziling didn’t spend much time with them; after leading them into the banquet hall and handing them over to people there, he continued to the main entrance to greet the guests.
Those who taught and researched with Luo Ziling, Wang Xuyun, Dong Qiqing, Cheng Bushi, He Yan, and Gu Jian’an with his grandson all came, Li Haiyang, along with Fenghuang and Shanque, also arrived. Just as they were arriving together, Luo Ziling almost didn’t have time to greet them.
Cao Jianhui’s parents arrived very low-key; they didn’t disturb anyone and went directly into the banquet hall with Cao Jianhui.
Zhao Lijing, Yang Ying, Cheng Binbin, and Li Jing, Jin Yan, and Zhou Chaoyang, who had a good relationship with Luo Ziling, or those who were heavily used by Ling Ruonan, also attended the banquet. As they walked into the banquet hall and saw a group of bigwigs chatting there, they were stunned.
They understood that to be able to attend today’s banquet was an incredible stroke of luck.
They were also amazed by Ling Ruonan’s influence, that she got so many big figures to join the wedding feast.
Wu Mingyun and Li Jinhui also showed up uninvited.
Around six o’clock, Luo Ziling, Luo Yuqing, and the other young friends finished their greeting duties and returned to the banquet hall.
There were indeed many guests.
Many guests were people Luo Ziling didn’t know, but Wuyue and Lin Lan did.
As these guests entered the hotel, the facial recognition system they controlled identified their identities.
There were about two hundred guests in total, occupying twenty-five tables.
In fact, given the Ling Family and Ling Ruonan’s influence, having two hundred tables at the wedding was entirely possible.
Many people were eager to attend their wedding banquet, just to show their face at the wedding scene.
The banquet hall was festively decorated, creating a jubilant atmosphere, but it didn’t feel cumbersome.
When the master of ceremonies announced that the wedding was about to begin, all the guests sat down at the tables.
This wedding filled many with anticipation, especially those closely related to Luo Ziling and Ling Ruonan.
Of course, those most expectant were Ling Mingrui, Xie Enhua, Luo Liansheng, and Luo Ziling.
For Ling Mingrui and Xie Enhua, although their daughter and son were already adults, they hadn’t formally married yet.
Huaxia is the country that values etiquette the most, any matter without a formal ceremony is considered imperfect.
For parents with daughters, their greatest wish is to personally send their daughter down the red carpet, helping her create a new home with another man. Though the process can be a bit bittersweet, some fathers might even cry in public or secretly when their daughters marry. But for them, their daughter joining hands with another man to walk into a marriage hall, to form a new family, and to have a lifelong partner is a comforting and fulfilling achievement.
The parents are certainly the ones who wish for their children’s happiness the most.
Ling Ruonan marrying in her forties and holding a wedding made Xie Enhua self-reproach many times.
Seeing today’s lively scene, she couldn’t help but shed tears.
When the master of ceremonies announced that Mr. Luo Xusheng and Miss Ling Ruonan’s wedding was about to begin, she again could not help but wipe her eyes.
After the ceremony master announced the wedding’s imminent start, the hall quieted, and the band stopped playing.
With all the guests’ expectant eyes upon them, Luo Ziling, already dressed as an ancient scholar, and Yang Qingyin in a beautiful Hanfu, walked hand in hand onto the stage. After reaching the center stage, they bowed to the entire audience.
Since today’s wedding theme was classical Chinese, both Luo Ziling and Yang Qingyin, the officiants, dressed and conducted themselves in an ancient style.
After bowing to the audience, Luo Ziling raised the microphone and said to all the guests: "The first thing I want to say today is: this wedding really shouldn’t be hosted by me, it should have taken place before I was even born. Maybe it’s divine favor that gives me the opportunity to personally host my biological parents’ wedding. I think such a scenario is rare even across all of Huaxia, don’t you agree? Aren’t you all envious?"
When Luo Ziling started speaking, some people thought he might express dissatisfaction, but he surprised everyone by making a humorous joke.
Soon, people started clapping and cheering, saying that Luo Ziling was indeed a fortunate person; after all, they would never have the chance to attend, let alone host their own parents’ wedding.
Once the applause and laughter subsided, Luo Ziling resumed with a rather helpless tone: "Today’s groom is very handsome, the bride is also extremely beautiful, and our pair of hosts look great as well. If you’re envious or jealous, feel free to shout it out loud, I will not mind."
As soon as Luo Ziling finished speaking, there were shrieks all around, naturally from the younger attendees.
The older attendees also chuckled in amusement.
"Today, the still-handsome groom and beautiful bride will become husband and wife under the witness of all the guests here. With their union, I, as their son, also find my place, no longer someone perceived by others as parentless. Actually, when I first came to Yanjing, many people labeled me as a bastard. At that time, I felt very inferior because I didn’t grow up with my parents, lacking a formal identity. I was an illegitimate child, a very pitiable person. But today, all regrets are erased, I’m just like all of you, having parents who are legal spouses. However, this day, this wedding, I have waited far too long for, and everyone has waited far too long for."
After saying these words, Luo Ziling smiled again, but it was a bittersweet smile.
The crowd fell silent, with no applause or cheers.
Many lowered their heads in silence...