Ten Years of Yearning. My Love, Let Me Protect You.

But when Sheng Ruming stepped ahead, the woman beside her didn't move at all. She touched her transparent veil and glanced at him through it. Her eyes hesitated a lot while her legs refused to move. 

Sheng Ruming felt her palms were a little sweaty and hot. When he rubbed it, he felt it was too soft 

"Ruming, I'm a little nervous…no, too much nervous… what to do?!" Luo Lixi murmured in a shaking voice. Finally, when the time for leaving came, her nervousness kicked in.

She knew that in a while, she would become Mrs Sheng in the eyes of others successfully but there was a kind of restlessness in her heart. Luo Lixi glanced at him and tightened her grip. "Ruming…"

Sheng Ruming smiled warmly but his eyes turned deep. He lifted her veil and saw her forehead, all wrinkled with her frowning and was a little drenched. He took out a red floral handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the skin gently. 

He then brought his fingers and traced her forehead and made her look up at him, the lines slowly fading as she calmed at his touch, however, she looked away shyly and gulped her saliva.

"You… don't tease me!" Luo Lixi curled her right hand which was in his grip and pinched him. 

He saw her face which was somewhat pale and red. But when he felt the naughty fingers trying to pinch him, he laughed out, "Your fingers will break if you put too much pressure. Stop trying hard~"

"..." Luo Lixi gave him a gaze full of contempt and tried to take back her hand but he tightened his grip on her further. 

"Heh! From today, even if you want, you can't escape from me anymore! All attempts are useless. My Lixi!" Sheng Ruming winked at her and gave her an evil smile. 

In return, softly slapped his arm, "Oh, Ruming. Don't show such a smile. It's utterly disgusting!"

But the man didn't listen and continued to tease her. When he saw her trying to walk ahead but stopping and retreating, again and again, he said with amusement.

"You are nervous… but." 

He forced her to face him and coaxed her gently, "Don't be afraid, it's only our relatives and closest friends that are attending the function. Also, no one will put pressure and embarrass you. Besides, I am here…"

Luo Lixi looked up at him and nodded. Sheng Ruming put back the thin veil carefully and stepped ahead but in the next second, Luo Lixi's whole body shook. 

Sheng Ruming hurriedly caught her up and put her on the chair, looking at her intensely. "You are sick?!"

Luo Lixi inhaled deeply and shook her head, "I am fine. Really fine. Just that my head is a little ...dizzy."

While Luo Lixi was saying, her eyebrows knitted into a frown. Sheng Ruming murmured without a second thought, "Let's postpone the ceremony then. No rush…"

"No!" Luo Lixi cried out in a low voice. She glanced around and was relieved that there wasn't a third person present, "How can we?! The people have already arrived. It will become a joke!"

"But your condition…" Sheng Ruming was anxious about her condition. He blamed himself for being ignorant about her health issues. Even though he saw her pale face, he thought it was because of the make-up.

And seeing her so weak in his arms and the tired expression, did something to him. He leaned down and whispered beside her, "It's fine. You can take a little rest for a moment. They will just have to wait a little longer."

Luo Lixi glanced at the clock and then outside. The sky was pitch black but the light decor didn't let people think that it was late.

Luo Lixi shook Sheng Ruming's hands with her and murmured somewhat determined but still nervous, "I feel like I can't walk the whole way. What will I do if I fall down or say the wrong thing later? Won't we be ashamed of my behaviour?"

Sheng Ruming didn't reply and glanced down at her. His eyes eyed her body which appeared a bit tired and out of shape. He suddenly began to grope her around.

"Hey, hey!" Luo Lixi turned flustered because of his sudden perverted behaviour.

The man whispered with a deep frown, "Lixi, you've turned thinner than before…"

"For this, you don't have to... touch me like that!" Luo Lixi awkwardly murmured. She was momentarily lost because of his unruly hands.

Right then, a knock sounded on the door. Luo Lixi hurriedly pushed him away and whispered, "Someone had come. Go check!"

The man reluctantly left her and went to the door. At the back, Luo Lixi put away the big bouquet of red roses and rubbed her legs. She glanced down and saw the heels. When she moved her feet a little, she saw that the back of her feet got bruised.

'Just have to endure it for a little. Then, it will be fine…' Luo Lixi thought and hid her feet in under her wedding dress.

…

When Sheng Ruming opened the door, he saw an unfamiliar face. He frowned and his brain put up its guard against her. 

For unknown reasons, he got a very bad feeling from the old woman.

Madam Wang lifted her face and stared at Sheng Ruming. Looking at the well-groomed young man in a white suit, her mind drifted away for a second. 

"Cough." Sheng Ruming coughed just to get her attention.

She smiled softly and said, "We are still waiting. Where is the bride?"

Sheng Ruming looked at the woman. He couldn't help but take another look when he saw the somewhat familiar face. He asked with doubt, "May I ask who you are?"

"Oh, me?" Madam Wang pointed at herself in doubt and then hurriedly spoke aloud, "Look at this! I forgot to introduce myself." 

Madam Wang feigned her embarrassment and stepped back. She gently gave an introduction, "I am from the Wang family, Wang Yue. Lixi's grandfather and my father are friends…"

After saying that, she gave a bright smile again, "But most people like to call me Madam Wang. I am also part of the Luo Corporation's board of directors and executives."

"Oh… nice to know you, madam Wang. You can come in if you want." Sheng Ruming nodded thoughtfully and went aside to give her space to enter. 

"You are too polite." Madam Wang chuckled and went in. When her eyes fell on the bride version of Luo Lixi, her eyes dimmed. 

Her long fingernails dug into the purse she had brought with her and one even broke with a snap and made her right index finger stained with the flowing blood. But her mind was set on Luo Lixi and she ignored the stinging pain.

Even so, she walked ahead and stepped beside Luo Lixi. Her hands fell on her shoulder and rubbed it gently. Then she went to rub her cheek and mumbled, "Lixi my dear, finally you will get married. Also, you are looking so stunning~ Everyone will be shocked today!"

"Ah, aunty, don't say it…" Luo Lixi's face turned fully scarlet under the veil. She smiled and lifted her veil again so that she could talk properly. 

Madam Wang chuckled and then whispered seriously, "Well, guests are waiting, child. Are you ready to go out? Shall aunty help you?"

Luo Lixi shook her head gently. Then her face turned normal as she said, "I will go there in a while. Just that I am not feeling well a little…"

Watching them talking so freely, Sheng Ruming put down his guard and glanced back. Then, he left the room without making them aware. 

But, how could it escape from Madam Wang's keen sense?! She noticed it right away and smiled.

Then, she looked down at the young bride sitting on the chair. If Luo Lixi had seen Madam Wang's face with a little more observation, she could have realised that something was very wrong with the other person.

Madam Wang's face changed in a second. She turned serious as she said sharply, "Xixi, look at you. You are looking so sick! What will people say if they see you in this condition?!"

Luo Lixi became flustered by her sudden change of subject and her sharp words. She wanted to lick her lips but upon remembering that she was wearing lipstick, she refrained herself. 

Madam Wang shook her head like an elderly, "You… sigh. Still an inexperienced woman..." 

Luo Lixi felt bad because of her expressions and words. "Aunty…"

But Madam Wang motioned her to stop and glanced around the room. Then, she went to a corner. Soon she came back with a bottle of water. 

Under Luo Lixi's watchful eyes, she took out a little silver packet and put the red content into the bottle. 

After gently shaking it, she passed it to Luo Lixi. When Luo Lixi touched the bottle, unexpectedly, it was a bit hot. She returned her eyes to Madam Wang and asked, "What is this?"