Someone in the audience couldn’t help but burst out laughing, but Luo Xusheng, already immersed in his memories, paid them no mind at all.
He went on, speaking very tenderly, "Back then, I came with my father to treat Sir Ling’s illness. I never thought I’d meet her there, let alone in that kind of way. Oh right, one day when my dad and I were treating Sir Ling, she suddenly rushed in and knocked over my medical equipment. I was furious, chewed her out, and made her cry."
At this point, Luo Xusheng turned his head and glanced at Ling Ruonan.
Ling Ruonan’s face was full of embarrassment, but the way she looked at Luo Xusheng was very gentle.
"She was really mad back then, swore she’d come after me. Later on, she really did get a few people together to deal with me. But the guys she found were no match for me at all, and in the end she herself got so scared that she twisted her ankle!" As Luo Xusheng talked about the old days, his voice was full of feeling, though his storytelling wasn’t very smooth.
It hadn’t occurred to Luo Ziling that Luo Xusheng was actually talking about his and Ling Ruonan’s love story; he was a bit surprised.
The gossipy folks down below were full of curiosity, holding their breath, eager to hear how the story would unfold.
"I was scared out of my wits too, so I hurried to treat her." At this point, Luo Xusheng gave an embarrassed smile.
"Don’t say another word!" Ling Ruonan’s face flushed crimson as she fiercely ordered Luo Xusheng.
Luo Xusheng gave Ling Ruonan a look, then regretfully said to everyone, "Since she says I’m not allowed to talk, I won’t, so I don’t make her angry. In this lifetime, I’ve owed her far too much. For the rest of my life, I’m going to do everything I can to make it up to her. I won’t allow anyone to bully her again. I’m going to make her the happiest wife in the whole world!"
With a sudden "whoa!", the whole audience exploded.
This middle?aged uncle, Luo Xusheng, who at first glance looked like one of those seemingly dull but secretly flirtatious types, actually used such a direct way to express his feelings.
Women like Dong Xiaowan and Wang Feiyang, who were always afraid the world might be too peaceful, couldn’t help but shriek repeatedly when they heard Luo Xusheng’s confession.
Luo Ziling glanced at Yang Qingyin, only to be met with a meaningful eye?roll in return.
Luo Ziling could only pretend not to understand what Yang Qingyin was hinting at with that look.
"I haven’t fulfilled my responsibilities as a husband, nor as a father. Facing her and facing my own son, I feel deeply guilty. Especially after learning that they were constantly being bullied, that they were even in danger of losing their lives, I felt so ashamed I wished I could crawl into a hole, because I hadn’t protected them properly. But here at this wedding, I want to tell them that from now on, I will do everything in my power to protect them, and never let anyone bully them again." After this heartfelt declaration, and amid many people’s surprise, Luo Xusheng added in a firm voice, "Unless I’m dead!"
Those words from Luo Xusheng made a few people’s hearts skip a beat.
Luo Ziling, on the other hand, was very moved and immediately took the lead in applauding.
Many others followed with applause, and Dong Xiaowan, Wang Feiyang, and the others started whooping again, loudly cheering him on.
Yang Yuanshan and his son Yang Yunlin, along with Yang Qingye and several people from the Fang Family, felt another pang hearing what Luo Xusheng had just said.
Just earlier, Luo Liansheng and Ling Mingrui had already used their wedding speeches to issue a public warning; they hadn’t expected Luo Xusheng to go even harder, sounding like he was ready to fight to the death. Only, since Luo Xusheng had used the excuse of a love declaration to say these things, they couldn’t openly react.
But whether it was those directly involved or other insiders who weren’t involved, everyone understood very well what the purpose was behind these men expressing similar sentiments tonight.
They were using the stage of this wedding to publicly say things that previously couldn’t be spoken, to directly voice intentions that couldn’t be expressed before. It was a warning, a reminder—and it could also be called a threat.
As a result, some people who’d clashed with them before felt a sudden urge to throw down their napkins and walk out.
Amid the cheers and applause from everyone, Luo Xusheng spoke again somewhat shyly, "Thank you so much to all the leaders and friends who came to our wedding. Being able to share this historic moment with everyone here, both Nan and I feel deeply honored. Thank you all!"
When he finished, he took Ling Ruonan’s hand and bowed deeply to the whole room.
After they finished bowing, Ling Ruonan took the microphone; she also wanted to say a few words.
"Twenty years of holding on has finally brought us to the completeness of today. I feel very fortunate and very emotional." Ling Ruonan spoke with great feeling. "From now on, being able to live together with my husband and my son, I have no more complaints. Let the past stay in the past. I hope everything will be better from here on, that life will be free of hardships, and that everyone can live in peace with each other."
Ling Ruonan didn’t say much more. After a few ceremonial lines, she handed the microphone back to Luo Ziling.
At this moment, Xu Chen stepped forward. She took a microphone, walked to the front of the stage, faced the entire banquet hall, and said very earnestly, "I’m volunteering myself to act as a representative of the guests attending this wedding. I want to ask, is everyone very interested in their love story?"
"Yes!" The young people immediately raised their arms and shouted.
"Do you want them to tell the parts of their story they just left unfinished?"
"Yes!"
"But we still have to respect their privacy!" Xu Chen said, then giggled. "If they’re willing to talk, then let’s listen carefully. If they’d rather not, if they want to keep it as their own treasure, then we shouldn’t force them, okay?"
Everyone shouted "Okay!" in unison again.
Luo Ziling hoped that at today’s wedding, Xu Chen would take the chance to show herself in front of everyone, so people would come to know who she was.
Tonight was full of big shots; even a little bit of presence might be enough for some of them to remember her.
Just before, he’d told the others not to step out and show off.
But the most solemn part of the ceremony was already over; now it was perfectly fine for guests to come onstage and interact a bit, adding to the festive mood. Xu Chen choosing to step forward at this moment showed good judgment, and Luo Ziling was quite pleased when he saw it.
"Let me ask the groom something," Xu Chen stood facing Luo Xusheng and asked him very seriously, "Since the bride won’t let you talk about the past, and doesn’t want your whole courtship process laid out for everyone, does that mean you really won’t say anything?"
Luo Xusheng didn’t know what Xu Chen was getting at, but he still nodded.
"Alright then, since you respect your wife’s wishes so much, we won’t make things hard for you!" Xu Chen said, then laughed again. "Actually, every wife hopes to have a husband who listens to her like this. I think all us women here are very envious of the bride, for being able to marry a man who’s so obedient to her."
Another round of applause swept through the hall, and some people couldn’t hold back their laughter.
In private, some people were already whispering that Luo Xusheng was a classic ’henpecked husband.’
"There’s a little program today that you absolutely have to do!" Xu Chen still spoke very seriously to Luo Xusheng and Ling Ruonan. "In front of all the guests, the two of you should kiss in the most loving posture you can manage, how about that? I think that among the guests here, no matter their age or gender, no matter how high or low their position, everyone would be more than happy to share this sweet moment with you, right?"
Xu Chen’s words once again set off a wave of cheers, along with a few shrieks from those whose thoughts weren’t entirely pure.
Many people noticed this woman, Xu Chen, who had good looks and bearing, and who could even take the lead in steering the atmosphere of the event.