Chapter 1347: The Bliss of Simplicity

August 8th, the capital.

Summer weather was capricious—scorching sun one moment, torrential rain the next, and occasionally, like today in the capital, thick fog.

When Zhao Fusheng got up in the morning, he even thought he had time-traveled to the capital a decade later, because in summer, with such low visibility, it couldn't be anything but smog.

But fortunately, the fog at this time was just fog, without that character for smog attached.

“Kid, you're getting married today, and you end up with this kind of weather,” Jiang Wen said, sitting in the car, complaining when he saw Zhao Fusheng.

Clearly, he was quite resentful about the weather today.

Zhao Fusheng laughed: “Isn't this fine? Maybe the fog will lift in a while.”

“Pfft, you think you're the Jade Emperor, with your golden words? Fog lifting? There's been heavy fog every day lately,” Tan Kaixuan, sitting in another seat, glared at Zhao Fusheng and said scornfully.

He had come specially from Ninghai to attend the wedding.

Too lazy to bother with this guy—today was his wedding, so Zhao Fusheng decided to forgive his loose tongue. Glancing at Tan Kaixuan, Zhao Fusheng said irritably, “You didn't bring that girlfriend of yours, did you?”

“Why would I bring her?” Tan Kaixuan curled his lip. “Today's your wedding; bringing her would just mess things up for you.”

This guy had recently picked up a girl from an art academy in Shanghai, said to be studying performance. He even mentioned to Jiang Wen whether she could join a film crew for a bit role, just any part, and he could invest two million.

Zhao Fusheng could only express helplessness at this.

Rich people liking to date actresses was simply unavoidable. Zhao Fusheng didn't do such things himself, but he couldn't stop others from doing them.

People tend to view the world with double standards—specifically, using one set of standards for themselves and another for others.

The former is undoubtedly lenient, while the latter is relatively strict.

No one could avoid this, not even Zhao Fusheng.

It was only because the person doing this was Tan Kaixuan, his good friend, that Zhao Fusheng couldn't be bothered to care. If it were someone else, he would definitely curse them out.

This wasn't surprising. Back when director Zhang Li tried to take advantage of a female student, Zhao Fusheng publicly embarrassed him, and later, when people in the Beijing circle talked about it, he directly called the guy scum.

“Good that you know.” Zhao Fusheng nodded. “Today it's just some friends; no outsiders invited.”

“You're too low-key,” Jiang Wen interjected. “Such a big event, you should at least make it lively.”

In his view, a billionaire like Zhao Fusheng should at least throw a grand celebration.

But then, Old Jiang was just a commoner. Among the big shots he knew, Zhao Fusheng was the richest. Following the logic that a king's life must be feasting on delicacies every day, Jiang Wen felt that Fan Baobao and Zhao Fusheng's wedding, even if not known to everyone, should at least be extremely luxurious.

Speechless, Zhao Fusheng glanced at Jiang Wen and shook his head. “Lively? Baobao and I don't like liveliness, nor do we plan to make a big deal. We got our marriage certificate years ago; this is just a supplementary ceremony.”

What!

Jiang Wen was instantly dumbfounded, and even Tan Kaixuan looked at Zhao Fusheng in shock.

“You say you've already gotten your marriage certificate?”

Tan Kaixuan stared at Zhao Fusheng in disbelief. “When did that happen? How come I didn't know?”

He really didn't know about this. When did Zhao Fusheng and Fan Baobao get the certificate?

Helplessly shaking his head, Zhao Fusheng explained, “Back when I was starting Future Advertising, Baobao came to the capital to study. Her family thought we should get the certificate first, and then talk about the formal wedding when we grew up...”

Tan Kaixuan and Jiang Wen exchanged glances. So everyone had thought the two were cohabiting unmarried, but they were actually a legitimate couple. What a twist.

“Kid, you're not messing with me, are you?” Tan Kaixuan looked at Zhao Fusheng suspiciously. Clearly, Zhao Fusheng's words were still hard for him to imagine.

Zhao Fusheng shook his head helplessly. “Why would I lie to you? It was just before Baobao came to the capital to study. We had gotten engaged, and soon after she was coming here. Her mother worried that with the distance, the girl might be tempted and do something foolish. So she simply had us get the certificate to keep her from overthinking.”

He didn't mention that Zhao's father and mother had also agreed.

But at that time, Li Yuan felt she didn't have long to live and wanted to give Fan Baobao a support. Zhao's parents, on the other hand, felt that since they had invested so much, it wouldn't be worth it if this daughter-in-law ran away.

In short, that was when Zhao Fusheng and Fan Baobao got their certificate.

“Really, no wonder...” Jiang Wen sat in the car, finally uttering this after a long while.

To this day, he actually admired Fan Baobao a bit. This girl's luck was simply incredible. Not to mention their childhood bond, the mere fact that she dared to marry Zhao Fusheng without knowing whether he was doing well or not meant she was gambling with her own life.

As an actress, especially a female one, marrying in her early twenties like Fan Baobao was almost unheard of. Yet who could have imagined that the unremarkable advertising student from back then would now become a billionaire?

Such is the times, such is fate.

The ancients did not deceive me.

Old Jiang sat there, lost in thought.

Zhao Fusheng couldn't be bothered with him and asked Tan Kaixuan, "How's the project with my dad going?"

Before the New Year, he had introduced his father to Tan Kaixuan and Han Bin. He wondered how their cooperation was progressing.

Tan Kaixuan smiled. "Pretty well. We had a pleasant talk with your uncle. Han Bin and I invested capital, so now I'm a shareholder in your family's company."

Rolling his eyes, Zhao Fusheng gave him a contemptuous look. "Stop bragging. Han Bin at least helps manage the company and run projects. What can you do?"

Tan Kaixuan's face instantly reddened. He retorted, "I put in money! I'm the one who invested the most."

Zhao Fusheng spread his hands. "What use is just money? Do you think that in China, real estate development can succeed with money alone?"

Tan Kaixuan fell silent, knowing full well that Zhao Fusheng was right. In this patch of land called China, money alone wasn't enough. Unless your wealth was overwhelming enough to crush everything, a rich man didn't necessarily have a say.

This was the national condition, undeniable by anyone.

"On such a happy day, why are you talking business with me!" After a long pause, Tan Kaixuan finally found a retort. He glared at Zhao Fusheng. "Besides, that was between me and Uncle Zhao. What's it to you?"

Clearly, this guy now considered himself a partner of Zhao's father.

Zhao Fusheng couldn't be bothered to mock him. Today was his wedding day, and they were heading to the hotel. There was no rush to teach Tan Kaixuan a lesson.

...

...

The car slowly stopped at the entrance of the Guomao Hotel. Zhao Fusheng, Jiang Wen, and the others got out and went upstairs.

There were only three tables of guests today, all friends of Fan Baobao and Zhao Fusheng from the capital. As for journalists, there were none.

In Zhao Fusheng's own words, 'I'm getting married, not taking a company public. Why would I notify the press?'

Zheng Yao had no choice but to let it be. She was completely helpless when it came to her boss's habits.

Zhao Fusheng was the type who, on matters he didn't insist on, could go with the flow without any principles. But if he insisted on something, even if the sky fell, he wouldn't easily waver.

'You're here so soon.' Fan Baobao walked over to Zhao Fusheng and gently hugged him.

She was beautiful today, in a red bridal gown, paired with Zhao Fusheng's black suit. Standing together, they seemed to merge into one.

Zhao Fusheng chuckled softly and whispered in her ear, 'Because I couldn't wait to see you.'

'Annoying.'

Fan Baobao shot him a glare and smiled charmingly.

To be honest, she was overjoyed today, even more so than when she first learned she could come to the capital to study at the Central Academy of Drama.

In this world, no one could find happiness amid lies and masks, because human nature is fickle, always wanting to trade the present for something better.

Fan Baobao once thought she would never have happiness in her life. With her father a compulsive gambler, her mother in poor health, and a younger sister to care for, she had no choice but to shoulder the family's burdens.

Since she had to pretend to be invulnerable, she naturally prepared herself to withstand a thousand arrows piercing her heart.

Fortunately, she met Zhao Fusheng.

He appeared by her side at just the right time. It was then that Fan Baobao realized he had always been a part of her life, ever since they were children.

It was a wonderful feeling, as if someone knew everything about you—your joys, sorrows, worries, and troubles. In front of Zhao Fusheng, Fan Baobao knew she didn't need to hide anything; she could just be her truest self.

Because he would accept everything about her, protect her, and make her the happiest woman.

Thinking of this, Fan Baobao looked up at the man standing beside her, her face radiant with happiness.

From today on, she could legitimately wear the wedding ring that had long been bought and announce to the world that she was a woman with a husband.