‘Yan Che Hao, do you take Gun Gun Yuan to be your lawfully wedded wife?’ the priest asked.

  Yuan Gun Gun laughed softly, and Hao Yan Che smiled. They both thought Gun Gun Yuan sounded funny, because the priest was asking him if he wanted to marry crying south.

  ‘I do,’ Hao Yan Che said.

  ‘Gun Gun Yuan, do you take Yan Che Hao to be your lawfully wedded husband?’ the priest asked.

  Hao Yan Che squeezed Yuan Gun Gun’s hands.

  ‘I do,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

  ‘The rings,’ the priest said.

  Hao Yan Che put a werewolf ring on Yuan Gun Gun’s left thumb. A bright light flashed out of the werewolf ring and bound them together forever.

  Yuan Gun Gun didn’t know why Hao Yan Che put a ring on her thumb, but she felt happy when he put a ring on her thumb. She put his werewolf ring he wore since the day Qiu Li Luo gave it to him, on his left thumb.

  The ancient blood inscription on Yuan Gun Gun’s forehead shone, but only Hao Yan Che could see the inscription.

  Qiu Li Luo held Hao Yan Che’s hand when Yuan Gun Gun’s forehead shone. Their first son was happily married.

  ‘By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife,’ the priest said. ‘Yan Che Hao, you may now kiss the bride.’


  Hao Yan Che pulled Yuan Gun Gun’s veil over her head, and he kissed her lips. They could only hear each other’s heart beats.

  Rose petals confetti fell from the church ceiling and the wedding guests clapped and cheered.

  Hao Yan Che took Yuan Gun Gun outside the church.

  ‘Why can’t we use chocolate confetti instead of petals?’ Yuan Gun Gun asked.

  Hao Yan Che laughed.

  ‘Chocolate confetti?’ Hao Yan Che asked.

  ‘Yes,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

  ‘Do you want to be kicked?’ Hao Yan Che asked.

  Yuan Gun Gun quietly got into the car.

  At the wedding reception venue at nine at night, Yuan Gun Gun was hungry and tired of changing into different dresses, shoes and having her makeup retouched. She felt weddings were a curse, and didn’t want to have another wedding. Her head felt dizzy, and her wedding day was a blur. What touched her heart was seeing how happy her parents and Hao Yan Che’s parents were, and when Hao Yan Che put her ring on her left thumb.

  ‘Are you hungry?’ Hao Yan Che asked.

  ‘Yes,’ Yuan Gun Gun said. ‘Look at all the delicious food on the tables. It’s a waste we don’t have time to eat them. Let’s eat at home.’


  ‘Um,’ Hao Yan Che said. He rubbed Yuan Gun Gun’s flat stomach. ‘We’ll eat at home.’


  At twenty past ten, Yuan Gun Gun walked through the front door of the Hao Mansion.

  ‘Aunty Chen, I’m starving,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

  ‘Go take a bath,’ Mrs Chen said. ‘I’ll cook your favorite dishes.’


  ‘Thank you aunty Chen,’ Yuan Gun Gun said. ‘You’re the best. I’ll never forget your kindness.’


  Yuan Gun Gun ran to the master bedroom.

  ‘Young master, Na Liu Ting Du sent a box of chocolates from Paris to Gun Gun,’ Mrs Chen said. ‘Do you want to give them to Gun Gun?’


  ‘I’ll give them to her tomorrow,’ Hao Yan Che said.

  ‘Yes young master,’ Mrs Chen said.

  ‘Aunty Chen, put a little Mateus in the food,’ Hao Yan Che instructed.

  Mrs Chen understood, and she walked to the kitchen.

  In the master bedroom, Yuan Gun Gun was happy to take off the heavy diamond beaded dress and remove her makeup. She soaked her tired body in the bathtub for half an hour. Then she walked to the bed, and saw paradise. Her favorite dishes were brought to the master bedroom.

  ‘Little hungry demon,’ Hao Yan Che called affectionately.

  Yuan Gun Gun smiled and continued eating.

  Hao Yan Che took an hour bath. By the time he returned to the master bedroom, Yuan Gun Gun’s cheeks were rosy from eating Mrs Chen’s cooked dinner dishes.

  ‘Che, my head feels dizzy,’ Yuan Gun Gun said. ‘Aunty Chen’s food tastes strange tonight.’


  ***