Chapter 21
One year later.
The early summer breeze carried the sweet, crisp scent of blooming jasmine across the manicured lawns of the Lu estate. The towering skyscraper of glass and steel had softened over the months, its cold, modern lines now complemented by vibrant flower gardens and warm, elegant outdoor terraces-all custom-designed to make the Lin family’s youngest son feel entirely at home.
Inside the spacious, sun-drenched master bedroom, Lin Mian stood in front of a full-length mahogany mirror, adjusting the silk bow tie of his immaculate white tuxedo.
At twenty-three, the boy who once looked fragile and exhausted from reckless, alcohol-fueled nights had completely transformed. His skin was radiant, his eyes carried a sharp, confident maturity, and his slim physique was elegant and poised. Over the past year, as the official Chief Marketing Officer of the Lin Group, he had successfully expanded the family’s digital commerce division across Southeast Asia, completely cementing his reputation as a brilliant corporate leader.
A sudden pair of strong, familiar arms wrapped around his waist from behind, pulling his back flush against a solid, broad chest.
Lin Mian looked up in the mirror, a soft, breathless smile breaking across his lips. Standing behind him was Lu Chen, looking devastatingly handsome in a matching, tailored midnight-black tuxedo. His left shoulder had healed flawlessly, leaving no trace of the injury from the wharf, and his short, neat hair was styled perfectly.
“You’re going to wrinkle my suit, giant wolf,” Lin Mian teased softly, though he immediately leaned his head back against Lu Chen’s shoulder, taking a deep, contented breath of the comforting sandalwood and rain scent that always made him feel completely safe.
“Let it wrinkle,” Lu Chen murmured, his deep, raspy voice vibrating against Lin Mian’s neck. He leaned down, pressing a warm, lingering kiss right over the sensitive skin beneath Lin Mian’s ear, making the younger boy shiver with delight. “I’ve waited a year for this day, Xiao Mian. In exactly one hour, you will legally and unalterably belong to me. If I want to hold you now, no one can stop me.”
Lin Mian let out a melodic, genuine laugh, turning around within the circle of Lu Chen’s arms to face him completely. He reached up, his fingers gently smoothing down the lapels of Lu Chen’s tuxedo jacket. “I already belong to you, Lu Chen. I have since the moment I woke up in this timeline. Today is just for show.”
Lu Chen’s dark eyes softened into an abyss of profound, bordering-on-obsessive adoration. He cupped Lin Mian’s face with his large, warm palms, his thumbs gently tracing the soft line of his cheekbones. “Then let me show the entire world what is mine.”
The wedding ceremony was a private, breath-taking affair held in the grand glass conservatory of the estate, surrounded by thousands of white roses.
As Lin Mian walked down the aisle, his hand resting securely on the arm of a fiercely proud, tearing-up Master Lin, his eyes never left the end of the altar. There stood Lu Chen, watching him with a gaze so fierce, so intensely emotional, that it felt as though the rest of the crowded room-the cheering business tycoons, his crying mother, his smiling siblings-simply ceased to exist.
When Master Lin placed Lin Mian’s hand into Lu Chen’s, the connection was instant. A surge of electric warmth rushed through Lin Mian’s veins.
The exchange of vows was short, but every word carried the weight of a miracle. As they slid the matching platinum bands onto each other’s fingers, Lin Mian looked down at the glittering metal.
He remembered the cold asphalt. He remembered the blinding car horn, the crimson blood, and the devastating, silent tears of a broken Lu Chen kneeling over his dead body in that horrific past life. That nightmare had been the catalyst. His ghostly regret had reached the universe, and he had been granted the ultimate mercy-a second chance.
“I do,” Lin Mian whispered clearly, his voice thick with emotion, a single, joyful tear slipping down his cheek.
“I do,” Lu Chen replied, his voice a deep, unshakeable vow that echoed through the glass rafters.
“You may now kiss your groom,” the officiant announced.
Lu Chen didn’t wait a single second. He stepped forward, his large hand winding securely around Lin Mian’s waist, pulling him flush against his chest as he brought his lips down onto Lin Mian’s in a deep, passionate, and beautifully triumphant kiss. The conservatory erupted into thunderous applause, with Lin Heng loudly cheering and tossing rose petals into the air.
Late that evening, after the guests had departed and the grand celebration had finally quieted down, the newlyweds stepped out onto the private, secluded balcony of their master bedroom. The glittering lights of Shanghai danced across the distant horizon, a beautiful, sprawling metropolis that had once been the stage for their tragedy, but was now the foundation of their empire.
Lin Mian leaned his back against the marble railing, a glass of sweet sparkling juice in his hand. He looked down at his wedding ring, the diamonds catching the silver glow of the moonlight.
Lu Chen stepped out onto the balcony, holding a soft cashmere throw blanket. He wrapped it securely around Lin Mian’s shoulders, stepping into his space and locking him against the railing with his body.
“What are you thinking about, my little sparrow?” Lu Chen asked softly, his hand moving to gently stroke Lin Mian’s cheek, his eyes full of a peaceful, protective warmth.
Lin Mian looked up into the eyes of the man who had loved him through two different lifetimes-the man who had protected him when he was a monster, and who had crowned him when he became a king.
Lin Mian let out a soft, beautiful sigh, wrapping his arms tightly around Lu Chen’s waist, burying his face into his chest.
“I was just thanking the universe, Lu Chen,” Lin Mian whispered softly, his heart completely full, completely healed. “I’m thanking it for letting me open my eyes that morning. For letting me change. And most of all… for letting me love you the way you always deserved to be loved.”
Lu Chen smiled, a breathtakingly tender expression, as he pressed a deep kiss into Lin Mian’s hair, holding him so tightly that not even the night wind could separate them.
“The universe didn’t give us a second chance, Xiao Mian,” Lu Chen murmured into the quiet night, his voice a final, eternal promise. “Your soul just knew exactly where it belonged. And I will never let you go.”
Under the glittering Shanghai stars, the spoiled sparrow had finally broken free from its tragic cage, finding its forever sanctuary in the arms of the wolf who loved him.
THE END
