Heart Flutter

Chapter 175 [Extra 5]

Since they hadn’t been able to settle on a wedding venue, they decided to keep it simple and hold it right in Huadu—at least it would be convenient for family and friends.

Tang Yan’s mother’s invitation was one of the first to be sent out, since it would take a few days to arrive. Still, Tang Yan wasn’t sure if her mom would even be willing to come to the wedding.

Her mother hadn’t returned to Huadu since the day she left, and Tang Yan always carried a little guilt about that. She’d been reaching out more frequently, and while her mom still replied and chatted with her from time to time, their conversations never included Ji Yuqing—or their relationship. To Tang Yan, it was clear her mother hadn’t truly accepted it. At most, she had reluctantly acknowledged it because she had no choice.

Days passed after the invite was sent, but no reply came. Tang Yan felt anxious. If, on the day of their wedding, all their friends and colleagues showed up, but her own mother didn’t… that would be a painful regret.

They had already gotten their visas for Australia. Tang Yan wanted to see koalas and kangaroos, so they chose it as their honeymoon destination—and planned to get their marriage license there after the wedding.

The wedding was tomorrow.

Tang Yan sat in her old room, packing. For some reason, everything felt a little unreal.

She thought back to the wide-eyed girl she’d been when she first came to this big, unfamiliar city. Back when her secret crush had quietly taken root—and now, somehow, she was about to marry the goddess from her dreams. It felt like a fairytale.

Meanwhile, Ji Yuqing was organizing the liquor cabinet in the living room when the doorbell rang. It was already 8 p.m.—who could it be?

She walked over to open the door, and was immediately startled by a group of girls shouting, “Surprise!”

There stood Shen Yuyin and Zhao Xiaoyun, both dressed in over-the-top party outfits, along with several girls Ji Yuqing didn’t recognize.

“What’s going on…?”

“We’re taking Tang Yan out for her bachelorette party! She’s getting married tomorrow, after all!” Shen Yuyin declared.

Ji Yuqing blinked, a little alarmed, and called out, “Tang Yan!”

Hearing her name, Tang Yan came rushing out, confused. Before she could make sense of anything, Shen Yuyin and Zhao Xiaoyun had each grabbed one of her shoulders.

“Borrowing her for the night! We’ll return her later!”

“Hey, hey, what are you guys doing?” Tang Yan asked, dazed as they dragged her away.

Ji Yuqing couldn’t help worrying. “Don’t stay out too late!” she called after them.

Once they were out of sight, the house fell quiet. Ji Yuqing closed the door, feeling just a little lonely.

“Where are you taking me?” Tang Yan asked as the two girls continued marching her along.

“Shh! Your bachelorette party is about to begin!” Shen Yuyin and Zhao Xiaoyun shoved her into a jeep and slammed the door.

Back at the house, Ji Yuqing wandered around, not quite sure what to do with herself. She eventually plopped down on the couch to zone out when the doorbell rang again.

Now who?

At the door stood Zhang Miya and Pei Wen. They’d run into each other at the entrance to the complex and decided to come together.

Pei Wen held up a bottle of wine. “Your bachelorette night!”

Ji Yuqing frowned. “But I’m getting married tomorrow. I shouldn’t be drinking.”

“Don’t be such a buzzkill, Ji,” Zhang Miya scolded, hands on her hips. “I left my husband and kid just to spend the evening with you.”

After a moment, Zhang Miya looked around. “Where’s Tang Yan?”

“She got dragged off by her friends for her own bachelorette party,” Ji Yuqing replied with a helpless shrug.

Pei Wen snorted. “Well, that works out perfectly.”

“Yeah, yeah, now let us in. The mosquitoes out here are vicious.” Zhang Miya pushed her way through like she owned the place.

With no choice, Ji Yuqing let them in and shut the door behind them.

Zhang Miya fetched three glasses from the liquor cabinet. “Those young girls get a bachelorette party, we middle-aged women get one too.”

“Hey!” Ji Yuqing protested. “Who’re you calling middle-aged?”

“Seriously, I’m only in my early thirties,” Pei Wen said, backing her up.

Zhang Miya looked at the two of them siding together and dramatically patted her chest. “Fine, fine, I’m the middle-aged one. You two can stay eighteen forever.”

Ji Yuqing burst out laughing, and soon all three of them were laughing, sipping wine, reminiscing about youth and dreaming about the future. They stayed up talking until nearly midnight.

Meanwhile, Tang Yan’s night was a whole different vibe—way wilder.

A pool party. Shen Yuyin’s specialty. Girls in bikinis dancing around, flirting in front of Tang Yan. She wanted a pair of censor glasses just so she wouldn’t have to see anything. She felt guilty—like just accidentally looking would be cheating on Ji Yuqing.

“It’s your last night as a single woman,” Shen Yuyin reminded her. “After tomorrow, you’ll be officially off the market. Better live it up while you can!”

Tang Yan waved her off. “You all go have fun. I’m happy right here with my fruit juice.”

She resisted every temptation that night, keeping her distance, staying composed. It felt like she’d ascended to another level of inner peace.

Then came the twist.

Turns out it had all been a test.

Her expression when she found out? Priceless.

Shen Yuyin patted her on the shoulder with solemn pride. “Xiaoyun may be your bestie, but I’m Ji Yuqing’s little sister. Congrats. You passed. As a representative of her family, I officially approve your marriage.”

So that’s what it was… Tang Yan had passed the trial.

The next morning, both brides overslept. On their wedding day.

Shen Yuyin and Pei Wen, the designated drivers, arrived early with the wedding car. In a panic, they called a makeup artist to come straight to the house.

At the same time, Tang Huiyi—Tang Yan’s mom—was on a plane with her husband and son, racing to make it in time.

Tang Huiyi clutched her husband’s hand, worried. “I hope we’re not late.”

“You spent all that time debating whether to come, and in the end you changed your mind. We could’ve booked earlier tickets.”

“Don’t start. Just check how much longer until we land,” she snapped.

Little Wang Yixuan, looking dapper in a tiny suit, bounced in his seat. “Mom, Mom, do I look cool today?”

“You look super cool. Handsome as ever.”

“What do I call my sister’s partner when I meet her?”

That one stumped both parents. Not an easy question to answer.

The officiant—one of Huadu’s most renowned—was leading the ceremony. He mentioned it was his first time officiating for a same-sex couple.

Ji Yuqing told him, “Well, now that you’ve done it once, I’m sure there’ll be many more.”

Tang Yan grinned beside her. “We’re expanding your career, you know.”

The ceremony was held on a lawn instead of a church—because, as Ji Yuqing put it, their love wasn’t meant to be hidden. If the media wanted to report it, so be it.

As guests arrived, Tang Yan nervously scanned the crowd. No sign of her mom.

Ji Yuqing joined her, squeezed her hand, and said quietly, “It’s okay. Whether she comes or not, she’s already accepted us in her own way.”

Tang Yan nodded, but deep down she still wished her mother would show. It would feel complete.

The officiant leaned in. “Brides, it’s time. Shall we begin?”

Tang Yan was about to ask for a few more minutes when, from the corner of her eye, she saw three figures rushing in.

It was Tang Huiyi and her family.

Her heart jumped. “Wait—some guests just arrived.”

Ji Yuqing froze in disbelief. She’d long given up hope of Tang Huiyi showing up, much less bringing her whole family. Gratitude and emotion overwhelmed her—she didn’t even know what to say.

Three seats at the front had been saved for them all along.

Tang Huiyi held her son’s hand in one and her husband’s in the other as they made their way to their seats. Tang Yan finally smiled—and nearly burst into tears. She had never imagined this moment. She always thought choosing Ji Yuqing meant giving up her mother.

But she hadn’t lost her after all.

“It’s a happy day—don’t start crying,” Ji Yuqing whispered.

“I’m not crying,” Tang Yan sniffled.

With everyone in place, the ceremony began.

Under the warm sun, on a lawn strewn with pink rose petals, Tang Yan and Ji Yuqing exchanged rings, vows, and a kiss that sealed everything they had fought for, dreamed of, and finally earned.