Chapter 457: The bouquet and garter toss

Nana and Jinhai were the center of attention not because they were they just had their wedding done, but because of the precious bouquet and garter, they were holding.

Jinhai had already removed the garter from Nana’s left thigh under her wedding gown when they got changed. Usually, the groom unties it in front of the witnesses, but even if it was not much skin exposed, like hell, he would let anybody see even that much part of his beloved wife.

Nana felt as if all the single women were looking at it with X-ray vision.

“Mam!” Meiling waved her hand. “Please throw it a bit this side. I am here!”

“Hey! You are the rigging the toss!”

“That’s not fair!”

Meiling snorted. “Everything is fair in love and war.”

Nana laughed. “Well, I wouldn’t don’t know where I am throwing because I will be tossing it from my back.”

“So do I,” Jinhai said.

“So, no partiality.”

“Booooooo….”

Liu Hai clapped. “Okay, now! We will get ready for the bouquet toss first!”

Everybody cheered.

Huo Xiao Fan giggled and silently wished her luck while Huo Shen and Liwei had sulky expressions on their faces to see Serena taking part in it.

Huian smiled and wished everyone luck.

Nana said, “Okay. Get ready!”

She turned, and her back faced everybody. She raised her hand, and the bouquet came in full view.

All the women were ready in their positions. Serena was looking forward to the bouquet toss, but with all the ladies’ eyes glued to the bouquet like hungry wolves and their feet ready to run and grab the bouquet the moment it was tossed, Serena didn’t have much hope for herself.

“I am ready. I will begin the countdown. 3…”

The atmosphere instantly silent, as if it was the beginning of a war.

“2…” Nana slightly waved the bouquet from side to side, and everybody’s eyes followed the path along with her.

“1!”

Nana tilted the bouquet slightly towards her to give the momentum and then randomly tossed it behind her with all her strength.

All the women immediately dashed forward.

“I will catch it!”

“Hey, out of my way!”

“The bouquet is coming my way.”

It was chaos till the bouquet hung in the air.

Serena blinked her eyes twice as she saw the bouquet was coming towards her. It was already too close to her, and she instinctively leaned, raising her arms.

“Oh, no!”

The women exclaimed, and they ran, but it was too late.

The bouquet already landed in Serena’s hands.

“Ahh!” Huo Xiao Fan squealed in delight.

“Who caught it? Who caught it?” Nana was excited, and as soon as she turned, she was surprised to see Serena holding it.

“Ahhh!! Serena, you caught the bouquet!”

“Zhilan dear, congratulations!”

But two people, in particular, were not happy at all – Huo Shen and Liwei. Their faces turned dark and ugly.

Zhilan caught it!

They lamented on listening to Huo Xiao Fan!

“Mom! She caught the damn bouquet!” Liwei exclaimed in frustration.

“Yes!” Her gaze sparkled. “It’s good news! What are you two getting so depressed for? Zhilan really caught it!”

“…”

“…”

Huo Shen and Liwei were speechless.

Serena was still in a daze, and so was Jianyu on his side.

She caught it…she caught the bouquet. Now, I have to catch the garter at any cost!

Was it a sign that his proposal would really be a success?

Am I hearing the wedding bells ringing?

Now, Jianyu felt even more pumped up for the garter toss. If Serena caught the bouquet on her side, then he had to succeed, too, in getting the garter! How can he let anybody else do that?

His gaze burned in determination.

Chen Liling was satisfied to see her son ready for his part.

Huian giggled. “Congratulations, Serena.”

“T-thank you.”

Nana came down from the podium and hugged her. “Wow, Serena. Congratulations. I am so happy for you.”

“Ho~~” Liu Hai laughed. “Guess we will finally see somebody else’s wedding too.”

Serena blushed.

Shin was carefully observing Huian the whole time. At first, he was a little excited about the garter toss too. He didn’t show it in his expression, but if Huian had caught it, then he had decided to give his all to catch the garter too. He didn’t know why. It was instinct that, if it was Huian, then it was him on this side too.

But, he felt a little disappointed that Huian didn’t take part in the toss at all.

It was just a fun game…why didn’t she go for it? Did she really think the deal was serious about her getting married next if she had caught it?

That begged another question in his mind.

Is she not ready for a relationship?

His gaze dimmed, and he couldn’t help but sulk. Since Huian didn’t participate, he didn’t feel in the mood to be in the garter toss. It just dampened his spirits.

Liang Xiao Dan said, “Shin. Come on. It’s the men’s turn next!”

“I will not be there for the toss. I am just not in the mood.”

“Eh? What happened suddenly?” she was perplexed.

“Nothing…I will pass,” he smiled, but it didn’t reach his ears.

Liang Xiao Dan felt that something was serious. Before, he seemed playful just like them, but now something felt off.

She put her hand on his shoulder. “Shin. Is everything alright?”

“Son,” Liang Zou came too, “Is anything the matter?”

“No, Dad.”

“Then why aren’t you taking part? You should enjoy these fun games.”

“Mom, Dad, please!” Shin was now irritated, “it’s just a garter toss. What’s the big deal if I don’t take part in it? Is it necessary just because I am single? Well, not like I want to be like that, okay?”

They were stunned at his behavior. They exchanged glances.

Wasn’t everything just fine a while ago?

Shin realized his outburst and quickly calmed down.

“I…Sorry, Mom, Dad. But…I don’t want to be here. Forget it. I will be outside for a while.”

Shin quickly left the reception area.

Liang Zou asked, “What happened? He wasn’t this angry just a few minutes ago. What changed?”

“I don’t know Zou…I am worried about him,” Liang Xiao Dan was concerned. “Should I go after him?”

“No, let it be. He is annoyed at us now. Let us give him some time and space to calm down. We will talk to him later once he is not angry anymore.”

She sulkily nodded.

At the other end, Huian was frequently watching over Shin’s side, so she saw the little argument between Shin and his parents.

She was too far away, so she couldn’t hear the conversation, but from Shin’s expression, it seemed that he was pissed off at something, and then he just left.

“What happened to him so suddenly? Is it because of…” she murmured.

She turned a little pale thinking of that. Her heart raced in fear.

“Huian dear, are you okay? You are sweating,” Xiang Qingge asked worriedly. “Are you sick?”

Xiang Wei touched her forehead. “Your temperature seems okay.”

“No, I am fine,” she quickly smiled. She eyed the way in which Shin went. “I will just go to the washroom and come back.”

They nodded.

Huian got up and quickly walked away.

—

Jing yelled. “Now, it’s time for the garter toss! Get ready, all the bachelors!”

“Woohoooo!” Everybody cheered.

Jing mysteriously looked at Yukito and said, “I will catch the garter for sure!”

Yukito raised his brow at him, and Jing winked.

He giggled.

Well, we will see…

Jinhai said, “Get ready.”

He turned and raised the garter just like Nana did.

“1…”

“2…”

“And 3.”

Jinhai tossed the garter behind him, and everybody dashed forward.

But Jianyu was already a step ahead of them. He literally did what Chen Liling told him to do like measuring the angle and speed and mapping out the direction.

He took a huge leap and jumped forward. The men were stunned at his athletic side, and they could only gape at him.

Jianyu effortlessly caught the garter since there was no competition.

He snorted. “At least, you could have given me a challenge.”

Everybody finally snapped out. Serena’s mouth was wide open to see him seriously trying to catch the garter. But, her heart fluttered, too, knowing that he caught it. Now, she felt if she should really propose to him today.

Huo Shen snorted. “That was a simple catch.”

“Heyyyyy Chen Jianyu caught it already!”

“You didn’t give us a chance, bro!”

“Yeah, you leaped in like your life was depended on it.”

Chen Liling squealed. “Ahh!! My son caught it! Guiren, he caught it.”

She wiped her non-existent tears. “Our son isn’t useless after all.”

Chen Guiren nodded. “En.”

Jianyu shrugged. “Winners keepers.”

The bachelors moped their sorry faces all around.

Jianyu clutched the garter, and he took a deep breath. He looked at Serena and wanted to say something, but Huo Shen and Liwei didn’t look like they would let him even come near her.

He took out his phone and typed a message.

Serena’s phone buzzed a moment later. She opened it to see Jianyu’s message.

Her heartbeat quickened as she opened it.

“Can we talk alone for a few minutes?”