The moon hung high and full in the velvet sky, its silvery light casting an ethereal glow over the Hei Family estate.
The stars twinkled, and a lively atmosphere buzzed through the air as the estate was filled with guests from various prestigious backgrounds.
The Hei Family had spared no expense, and the celebration was a spectacle to behold.
Hei Long, wearing a luxurious red robe trimmed with gold, stood to the side.
Beside him, his mother, Li Mei, remained unusually quiet, her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions.
"…" Hei Long, ever the attentive son, leaned in and said:
"Mother, I hope you'll enjoy yourself tonight. This is a night to celebrate, so please, don't hold back."
He let out a small chuckle and patted her gently on the back, his touch sending a shiver down her spine.
"Ye—Yeah…" Li Mei felt a rush of desire, a longing for more of her son's touch, a need that had been building ever since last night.
She bit her lip, taking a step back to compose herself, not wanting to succumb to such indecent thoughts in public.
Clearing her throat, she forced a smile and replied, "I'll celebrate, I just need some time to process everything…"
Li Mei's heart ached with a complex mix of emotions.
She should have been overjoyed for her son's wedding, but instead, she felt a pang of jealousy.
She understood that her son deserved a pure, virgin bride, a woman who could bear him heirs and bring honor to their family.
Li Mei knew she could never fill that role.
She had always been his mother first, and anything more would be a complicated, taboo affair.
Yet, she couldn't help but hope that perhaps, just perhaps, she could be more than a mother to him.
A mistress, a confidante, a lover—
Anything to keep her close to him.
'My son will still need his mommy, right?' Li Mei thought, a glimmer of hope sparkling in her eyes.
But the hope was fleeting, overshadowed by the reality of their situation.
After all, her son was destined for greatness, and his future would undoubtedly include a harem of beautiful, worthy women.
"…" Li Mei took a deep breath, trying to push down the embers of jealousy and desire that burned within her.
"I'm going to go drink," she said abruptly, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
With a hurried step, she made her way to the refreshments.
"Have fun." Hei Long offered a small, nonchalant wave, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.
He was well aware of the tumultuous thoughts swirling in his mother's mind.
But he was patient, confident that in time, she would fully surrender to him.
For now, he was content to let her wrestle with her emotions, knowing that the waiting game would ultimately pay off.
Hei Long turned his gaze to his cuckold of a father, who was busy greeting guests at the entrance, standing beside the Patriarch of the Qing family.
"It should be almost time for everything to officially begin," he murmured to himself:
"I should probably start greeting guests."
The wedding was a formality, a necessary step in his grand scheme, and Hei Long was eager to move past it.
He didn't particularly care about the wedding itself; his thoughts were already focused on the night to come.
When he would claim one of the heroines, take her virginity, and make her his.
Hei Long wasn't one to waste time, and he certainly wasn't going to draw out the courtship with this one heroine when he had many more to draw to his bed.
Dealing with multiple heroines simultaneously would be a hassle, and he preferred to tackle them one at a time.
'This should be an easy heroine to take,' Hei Long thought to himself.
He knew this heroine and many other heroines had only heard rumors and whispers about him, that they had never laid eyes on him before.
This worked to his advantage.
He would put on a show, a spectacle.
Hei Long was a master of manipulation, and he intended to use every ounce of his charm and cunning to ensure that the each heroine fell for him completely.
'To trick a woman as a handsome man was as simple as breathing.'
Hei Long was a little egotistical...
.
.
.
Hei Long stood at the front of the courtyard.
The chatter quieted as the sound of footsteps approached.
Two attendants, dressed in matching crimson robes, led the way, scattering petals in gentle arcs.
Behind them, Qing Yue appeared, her face hidden beneath a scarlet veil.
In her hands, she held a small bouquet of jasmine, its fragrance sweet and pure.
Hei Long held back the urge to lick his lips, as he saw the information appears above her head:
[Name: Qing Yue]
[Love Meter: Hatred]
[Cultivation: Middle Stage, Nascent Realm]
'Hatred? Ouch.' Hei Long held back a scoff:
'I would've settled for indifference—but I guess I am the villain, after all.'
His hands remained respectfully at his sides, fingers curled slightly as if resisting the urge to draw her closer.
Tradition demanded patience; their first true exchange would come soon enough.
The master of ceremonies raised his voice, reciting blessings and ancient verses that echoed through the courtyard.
"As the sky endures, so shall your love; may blessings and fortune last long."
Together, Hei Long and Qing Yue were led to the altar, where the ritual of—the Three Bows—would be performed.
However…
Suddenly…
Everything was shattered as loud, frantic yelling pierced the air.
All eyes turned to the source of the commotion—
Lin Fan tumbled over the estate's wall, his body glistening with sweat and his robe disheveled from the climb.
He landed with a thud, quickly springing to his feet, his chest heaving with exertion.
"STOP THE WEDDING!"
The sudden intrusion had left the entire Hei Estate in a state of stunned silence.
Everyone exchanged glances, their expressions of confusion.
The unspoken question hung in the air:
"Who the fuck is this guy?"