Chapter 294 - 290: Old-School Romance Novel Heroine 10

Chapter 294: Chapter 290: Old-School Romance Novel Heroine 10

The soft light of the fitting room fell upon the pristine white wedding dress. Ji Xiaosong stood before a curved mirror, gazing at the unfamiliar woman staring back at her.

Layers of lace outlined the gentle curve of her baby bump, and the tiny diamonds on her veil glittered under the light.

"Absolutely beautiful," the Old Madam said, dabbing the corner of her eye. "When Chenchen sees you, he’ll surely..."

Before she could finish, Ji Xiaosong’s vision suddenly went black, and she collapsed forward.

"Madam!"

In a daze, she heard a chorus of screams and felt someone catch her.

When she woke again, all she could see was a blinding white.

"You’re awake?" a deep voice asked from beside her.

Ji Xiaosong turned her head and saw Huo Chen sitting by her hospital bed. The overbed table in front of him was piled high with documents, and three assistants stood by, silently awaiting his instructions.

"What happened?"

She tried to sit up, but Huo Chen gently pressed her back onto the pillow.

"Anemia from the pregnancy, compounded by overexertion."

Huo Chen’s voice was as cold as ice, but his touch was exceptionally gentle. "The doctor said you need three days of bed rest."

Ji Xiaosong glanced out the window at the bright sunshine. "But the quarterly board meeting is tomorrow..."

"I postponed it." Huo Chen closed a file and waved a hand at his assistants. "All of you, out."

After the door closed, he suddenly lifted the covers, slid into bed beside her, and wrapped a long arm around her, pulling her into his embrace. "Now, sleep."

Ji Xiaosong was too stunned by this series of maneuvers to speak.

The faint scent of ambergris from his body enveloped her. His warm chest was pressed against her back, his heartbeat steady and strong.

"If you’re here... what about the company?"

"Shut up."

Huo Chen placed a kiss behind her ear. "If you say another word, I’ll kiss you."

Ji Xiaosong immediately fell silent, but a small smile played on her lips in the dark.

...

On the morning of the day before the wedding, the butler burst into the dining room in a panic. "Young Master! The rose garden... something’s happened to the rose garden!"

Huo Chen paused, the coffee cup in his hand stopping short.

That garden, filled with the white roses Ji Xiaosong loved most, was the source for their wedding’s main floral arrangements.

The sight in the garden was horrifying.

The white roses, which had been ready to bloom, were all blackened and withered. Their petals were shriveled as if they’d been scorched by fire, and the air reeked of a pungent chemical agent.

"It’s glyphosate," the gardener said, trembling. "Someone poisoned the irrigation system overnight."

The head of security rushed over. "We caught him. It was Third Great-Uncle’s former driver."

He lowered his voice. "He confessed. Someone offered him five million to sabotage the wedding."

Huo Chen stood amidst the dead rose bushes, his black trench coat whipping in the morning wind.

He suddenly let out a soft laugh and took out his phone. "Secretary Li, have them tear out the grapevines at the Proven?al Vineyard."

The person on the other end was clearly stunned. "Mr. Huo, but that’s the one you cherish the most..."

"Tear it all out."

Huo Chen gazed at the brightening dawn. "Replace them with fields of lavender. I want it done by the end of the day."

Hanging up, he turned to the dumbfounded butler. "Contact the airlines in Country F. I need ten dedicated cargo planes ready."

*

On the day of the wedding, Ji Xiaosong stood at the entrance to the hall, her fingers unconsciously twisting her bouquet.

She was wearing the pearl-adorned wedding gown, the diamonds on her veil sparkling like a field of stars.

"Don’t be nervous." The Old Madam patted her hand affectionately. "A bride should be happy on her wedding day."

The pipe organ began to play the wedding march, and the grand doors slowly swung open.

Ji Xiaosong took a deep breath and looped her arm through the Old Madam’s.

She had no parents, so the Old Madam had insisted on walking her down the aisle herself.

But as the doors opened fully, she stopped in her tracks, stunned.

The hall, which was supposed to be a palace of pure white roses, had been transformed into a sea of purple!

Tens of thousands of lavender stalks filled every corner, their pale purple blossoms swaying gently in the breeze. The entire hall was filled with their calming fragrance.

At the end of the red carpet stood Huo Chen, dressed in a black tuxedo. The scar above his eyebrow was particularly striking in the sunlight.

He looked at her, his eyes filled with a tenderness she had never seen before.

"How...?"

Ji Xiaosong asked as she reached him, her voice choked with emotion.

Huo Chen gently wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "In your study, you have a copy of *A Year in Provence*. The most well-worn page is the one about the lavender fields."

The officiant cleared his throat and began the vows.

When the officiant asked if he would take her as his wife, Huo Chen suddenly dropped to one knee and pulled a vintage velvet box from his jacket.

"This was forged from the gold my mother left me."

He opened the box to reveal a simple, elegant gold ring. The inner band was engraved with ’HS to JXS.’ "Mrs. Huo, will you spend the rest of your life with me?"

A collective gasp went through the guests.

Ji Xiaosong blinked her teary eyes, then suddenly pulled a titanium steel ring that gave off a cold gleam from her bouquet. "What a coincidence. This is made from the aerospace-grade titanium my adoptive father treasured."

She raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Huo, do you dare wear it?"

Huo Chen burst out laughing, a smile that lit up his entire face.

He took the unremarkable-looking ring and, without a moment’s hesitation, slid it onto his left ring finger. "It’s a perfect match for my aerospace watch."

After they exchanged rings, Huo Chen cupped the back of her head and, to the cheers of the crowd, gave her a deep, long kiss.

The kiss was both dominant and tender, filled with an undeniable possessiveness, yet he remained mindful of the baby in her womb.

"And now, it’s time for the bouquet toss!" the emcee announced loudly.

But instead, Huo Chen took the lavender bouquet from her and, to the astonishment of everyone present, got down on one knee again. "I have one more proposal to make."

He pulled a document from the inner pocket of his suit jacket. "Ten percent of the Huo Corporation’s shares, in exchange for a lifetime with you."

The guests erupted in gasps.

Ten percent of the Huo Corporation’s shares was worth over ten billion.

Ji Xiaosong pulled him to his feet and gave him a passionate kiss in front of everyone.

"Deal."

Then she leaned close to his ear and whispered, so only he could hear, "I took a test this morning. It’s twins."

Huo Chen’s expression froze.

His gaze shot down to her belly, then back up to her mischievous eyes. The ever-calm and self-possessed Mr. Huo was, for once, at a loss for words.

"T-two of them?"

Ji Xiaosong nodded, laughing aloud at his rare, dumbfounded expression.

*

At midnight, the final fireworks of the night blossomed in the sky above the estate.

Ji Xiaosong, now in comfortable flats, leaned against Huo Chen’s chest as they watched the dazzling night sky.

The butler hurried over, his expression grave. "Young Master, there’s news from R Country. They said the Third..."

"We’re not discussing that today."

Huo Chen cut him off, lowering his head to kiss the top of her hair.

But Ji Xiaosong had already straightened up sharply, plucking the document from the butler’s hand.

The logo of a bank in R Country was clearly visible on it in the moonlight.

"Looks like our honeymoon is getting a detour?"

She waved the document, a dangerous glint in her eyes.

Huo Chen laughed, wrapping an arm around her waist. "As expected, nothing gets past Mrs. Huo."

The night wind swept over the lavender fields, creating a ripple of purple waves.

Huo Chen held his wife close, his fingers unconsciously stroking the titanium steel ring on his finger.