Chapter 203 A Special Wedding
That night was the most peaceful sleep Quinley had since arriving at Cloudrest Peak.
She didn't have any nightmare at all, sleeping straight through until nearly noon.
When she woke, Zachary sat at the computer working. She didn't disturb him, just curled up under the covers watching his profile.
He was deeply focused when he worked, incredibly serious. His back straight, his expression grave—he looked imposing.
Quinley recalled the first time she'd met Zachary. She'd just joined his team, an unremarkable new employee in the secretarial department. That day was a departmental work deployment meeting.
Quinley had entered with the other secretaries. Zachary sat at the head of the table, brows furrowed, unsmiling, making everyone instinctively nervous.
She remembered clearly—when his cold gaze swept over her, she'd hastily looked away in fear.
Who could have imagined that after all their twists and turns, they'd actually end up together?
"Keep staring and I'll eat you up."
Just as Quinley was lost in thought, Zachary suddenly turned and made a face at her. Caught off guard, she laughed.
"Didn't you get enough to eat last night?"
Zachary stood and approached with a mischievous grin. "That was dinner. I still haven't had breakfast or lunch today. How about... I have them both now?"
"You're terrible."
Quinley grabbed a pillow and threw it at Zachary. She climbed out of bed barefoot, wrapped herself in a bathrobe, and quickly darted into the bathroom.
The way she and Zachary interacted now felt increasingly grounded and real. This feeling brought peace of mind and made her feel truly happy.
When Quinley emerged from her shower, the meal Zachary had ordered had already arrived. Both were starving. They sat cross-legged on the carpet, devouring the food with relish.
"How about we stay two more days? We came all the way here but haven't gone anywhere."
"Where else do you want to go?"
Quinley asked while eating.
Zachary thought for a moment. "Everywhere. I've arranged everything at work—I can take two more days off. Let's explore and see the sights here."
Quinley had been determined to leave, but when Zachary said this, she found herself tempted. Most importantly, Zachary had found them a tour guide—a Cloudrest Peak local who knew the area intimately.
After they finished eating, the guide was already waiting in the hotel lobby. Quinley and Zachary changed into casual clothes and came down. The guide greeted them warmly.
"Today there's a wedding ceremony here. Let me take you there to have an experience of what wedding ceremony looks like here."
Hearing this, Zachary became interested. "Let's go."
They arrived in the afternoon. The area was decorated with lanterns and streamers, bustling with activity.
The guide led them forward, greeting locals in dialect as they walked. There weren't many people here. They seemed isolated from the world. When they looked at Quinley and Zachary, their eyes showed unfamiliarity. Yet even so, the simplicity on their faces and purity in their eyes couldn't be found elsewhere.
"The ceremony will commence at dusk, with a bonfire party too."
This was the first time either Zachary or Quinley had experienced something like this. They left all arrangements to the guide, who found them a courtyard, brought a small table and two chairs, fetched a teapot, and they sat there drinking tea.
Time moved so slowly that you could hardly sense its passing. Yet time also moved quickly. After just a few cups of tea, the sky had darkened.
"It's starting." The guide said excitedly.
All the lights came on. Men and women, old and young, everyone emerged from their homes. Each person wore traditional local clothing, all with smiles on their faces.
"I really envy them." Quinley said sincerely.
Zachary's eyes deepened. "If you're willing, we could stay here."
But even if she were willing, staying here wouldn't give them the same peace of mind these people had.
"Miss, please come with me."
Suddenly, the guide approached with two local women. Without explanation, they pulled Quinley to her feet and led her toward a wooden house.
"Go ahead. I'll wait here for you." Zachary smiled and waved.
"Where are you taking me?"
Quinley was confused. She asked, but the two women chattered in words she couldn't understand at all.
They led her to a bedroom-like space. Someone retrieved traditional local clothing from a closet, while others undid Quinley's hair to style and dress her up.
"Thank you, but I don't need to." She politely declined, but the two women insisted, chattering away incomprehensibly.
Unable to understand, Quinley had no choice but to do as they indicated.
Half an hour later, she'd been completely transformed. There was no mirror in the room, so she couldn't see herself. But the two women who'd dressed her kept praising her enthusiastically.
They pulled Quinley's hand and led her back out. Soon, she was brought to where they'd been drinking tea earlier.
Zachary stood tall and elegant. He too had changed into traditional local clothing. Tall and handsome, the outfit suited him perfectly without any awkwardness.
Seeing Quinley approach, his eyes crinkled with admiration. "Quinny, you look absolutely beautiful today."
"So do you. Very handsome."
Quinley held her skirt and twirled in a circle.
"Let's go to the plaza up ahead." The guide said.
Zachary took Quinley's hand. The two walked there cheerfully.
There was a large open space where quite a crowd had gathered. In the center, a huge bonfire was already burning. Flames licked at the woodpile with crackling sounds.
"Wait here a moment. I'll be right back." Zachary suddenly released her hand and quickly disappeared into the crowd.
Quinley had just found her footing when the two women reappeared. They grabbed her arms, chattering incomprehensibly. Quinley didn't understand but instinctively followed their steps forward.
Soon, everyone had gathered around the bonfire, naturally forming a circle with hands on each other's shoulders. Someone started it, they all began singing local folk songs in unison. As they sang, they started dancing.
Quinley didn't know the dance, but the atmosphere was infectious. Experiencing this for the first time, she quickly joined in. When everyone stepped left, she stepped left too. When they raised their right feet, she raised hers as well.
She danced with the crowd. Though she couldn't understand what they were singing, the joyful happiness transmitted itself to her heart.
After dancing for a while, Quinley still hadn't seen Zachary appear. She looked around. Everyone circled the bonfire dancing, and with Zachary also wearing local clothing, she couldn't spot him at all.
Just as she was growing disappointed, the crowd gradually stepped back. Quinley started to retreat too, but the two women pushed her forward instead.
Right by the bonfire, Quinley saw Zachary.
He'd somehow acquired a huge bouquet of red roses and was looking at Quinley with deep affection.
"This is..."
Surprised and delighted, Quinley covered her mouth with her hand.
Zachary walked toward her and took her hand.
"I'm sorry for not telling you beforehand. Did I scare you?"
This kind of melodramatic plot usually only appeared in TV dramas. Quinley never imagined that one day, she and Zachary would actually be living out a scene from a romantic evening drama.
It was melodramatic, yet she was deeply moved.
"No. Thank you."
Quinley smiled, but her voice choked with emotion.
"Quinny, this belated and hastily arranged wedding is my promise to you for this life and the next. Here at the peak of Cloudrest Peak, I ask you to forever be my wife, Zachary's wife. Will you?"
He knelt on one knee, gazing intensely at Quinley.
The lights here shone brightest in this moment. People gathered at the perimeter, holding hands, singing folk songs, blessing them in the purest way.
Quinley never imagined her wedding with Zachary would take this form.
Very simple. But very special.
Her emotions surged, difficult to contain.
After a long moment, she smiled through her tears. "I will."