ebookslot Chapter 72 The Newlyweds
Chapter 72 The Newlyweds
As the wedding day of Rito Kubo and Yumiko Seki draws ever closer, the preparations are reaching their climax. Choosing a wedding dress, finalizing the itinerary, inviting guests, and decorating the venue—although both sides are well-off, there are still many things that can't be done by others. Rito has to keep an eye on Keyakizaka from time to time, so Yumiko is handling most of these tasks. Of course, Rito isn't entirely without support; he's sent his most capable assistant, Airi Suzuki. The two assistants hit it off immediately and worked together seamlessly, leaving the wedding planning company somewhat confused about who was getting married.
That afternoon, Rito, unusually free from the Seed Flower Building, drove to the wedding venue for final confirmation. As he parked, he saw Yumiko standing in the waterfall courtyard at the entrance, bending over to check the floral arrangements with a staff member. She was wearing a light blue linen dress, and her hair was a little shorter than when they last met, just reaching her shoulders, with slightly inward-curling ends—exuding a mature, wifely charm.
"Rito, you're here." Yumiko looked up and saw him, a sweet smile appearing on her face, and naturally took his arm.
"Sorry I'm late." Rito walked over, not caring about those around, and immediately gave the president a lingering, wet kiss. After the shy president hurriedly pushed her away, Rito smiled and asked, "Is there anything else you need to confirm?"
"Really, there are people around here," Yumiko complained, half sweetly and half angrily, punching his chest with her little fist. She looked around and saw that the staff around them had wisely smiled and left, leaving the newlyweds alone.
Slightly embarrassed, the president smiled at them again, then looked at Rito and, after thinking for a moment, said to him, "I'm thinking, besides Kobayashi, who else has agreed to come?"
"Where's Aoi? I remember you two were on good terms, weren't you?" Although neither of them intended to make this wedding a so-called wedding of the century, the Kubo and Seki families were both prestigious families, and they certainly couldn't get married in secret. Therefore, Rito never intended to keep it a secret from the beginning. When he heard that his wife wanted to invite members over, he casually suggested someone.
"Xiao Kui is too young. I'm afraid she'll be bullied if she goes to the children's table."
The chairman listened with concern and said that it was clear that he had already considered this matter.
Indeed, Aoi is still too naive. The wedding is attended by many second and third-generation rich kids, and there are bound to be a few mischievous children who like to play pranks. Yumiko and I can't keep an eye on her all the time, so it is a bit of a hassle.
Li Ren thought about it and agreed. Besides, she was just a middle school student and might not like such formal occasions, so there was no need to force her. Therefore, she changed her mind and said, "You're right, then forget it. I'll just bring her a few packets of wedding candy to share in the joy, that should be enough."
"Don't treat people like children." The president rolled her eyes at him, amused by his irresponsible tone. She slapped him lightly, then tucked her loose hair behind her ear, revealing a pair of small pearl earrings. He had given them to her when they went shopping the day before yesterday. They weren't very expensive, but she still liked them very much and wore them all the time.
The topic of inviting members came to a temporary halt. She glanced down at her watch, then suddenly tugged at his sleeve. "Oh, right, I asked Airi to get the altered wedding dress. She should be back soon. Let's go inside and wait for her."
Sure enough, a short while later, the assistant entered, carrying two huge dust bags with the logo of a high-end bespoke bridal shop in Ginza printed on them. She was wearing a black business suit today, her hair tied in a high ponytail, and she looked more capable than usual. However, she wasn't wearing makeup, and Rito guessed that she probably didn't want to steal Yumiko's thunder during this time, so he let her be.
"The wedding dress has arrived. Shall we open it and check it?" Airi hung the dust bag on the hanger and turned to look at the two of them with an inquiring gaze.
"I trust you to handle things." Yumiko shook her head, knowing that with her meticulousness, she must have checked it before bringing it over. Rito thought so too. Just as he was about to speak, his phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket. He glanced at the caller ID, his brows furrowing slightly. After hesitating for a second, he made an apologetic gesture to the two of them, then turned and walked to a corner to answer the call.
Only Yumiko and Airi remained in the dressing room for the time being. The president went over and helped Airi adjust her wedding dress. The expensive wedding dress was not complicated in design. Although she was a young lady from a wealthy family, Yumiko's aesthetic sense had well inherited the tradition of the Seki family—less is more.
(Although I feel that the student council president just didn't catch the right time; starting with Mama, graduation gowns finally weren't so plain anymore.)
"Isn't she beautiful?" The president gazed at her for a moment, a sweet smile playing on her lips. For a girl from a family like hers, finding a marriage that was both suitable and fulfilling was incredibly difficult. Even though she and Rito were mutually in love, if things had followed the normal process, they wouldn't have gotten married until late in their twenties. If things dragged on, many things would be beyond her control. It was the voice in her head that forced her to take this step, allowing her to stand out among her potential competitors and, while they were still developing, successfully win them over in one fell swoop.
Looking at the young lady who made no attempt to hide her pride and smugness, Airi, whose upbringing was almost the complete opposite of hers, sighed almost imperceptibly. This world is just so unfair. Some people are beautiful, smart, and born into good circumstances. They are even invincible in the most unpredictable field of love. Fortunately, she is not the kind of person who is jealous, otherwise she might have been so angry that she vomited blood and died.
"Of course, the president and you chose this together." After composing herself, Airi smiled and agreed.
"Hey, I already told you to just call me Yumiko. I know you usually call him Rito in private. Do you think I'm some kind of difficult person to deal with?"
The president glanced at her, then suddenly stopped smiling, raised his eyebrows, and said something pointed. Airi was startled and quickly said that she didn't think so.
"That's good, Airi." The president narrowed his eyes and continued, "I know your feelings for Rito, and he certainly needs someone trustworthy to be by his side, but—"
Airi seemed to sense that the man wanted something from her, and her expression gradually calmed down. She remained silent and continued to listen. Seeing that she was so cooperative, the chairman nodded in satisfaction, pulled her aside, and whispered something to her.
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On Saturday, September 14, 2013, Rito and Yumiko's wedding took place as scheduled.
The waterfall garden at Meguro Gajoen Garden gleamed warmly in the afternoon sun, water cascading down from a rugged artificial hill, splashing into the pond. The garden was lined with flower baskets from guests, white orchids and pink peonies interspersed, the air filled with a delicate fragrance of flowers and woody notes. A simple sign at the entrance bore the surnames "Kubo" and "Seki" in dark gray lettering.
This was a private wedding, and none of the media outlets that wanted to join in the fun got through. However, there were still quite a few invited guests, mostly relatives and business partners from both families, as well as a few friends specially invited by the newlyweds.
At 3:00 PM sharp, the ceremony officially began in the indoor wedding hall. The hall was large, and every corner was filled with the couple's thoughtful touches. Crystal chandeliers hanging from the dome cast a soft glow, and on the tables covered with white linen tablecloths, the florist wove a small flower basket with begonias and baby's breath for each table. Each person also had their own wedding favor on their seat.
The wedding march began softly, and the doors were gently pushed open. Yumiko Seki, arm in arm with her father, walked step by step down the red carpet. She wore a pink silk wedding dress, the skirt simple yet flowing, flaring out slightly from the waist like the petals of a blooming lily. Her headdress was sparkling and exquisite, clearly the result of considerable craftsmanship and financial investment. Her short hair was styled into soft waves, and her pearl earrings swayed gently, reflecting the light of the crystal chandelier. She looked dignified and gentle, yet retained her always independent and composed demeanor.
Rito stood on the platform watching her walk towards him. Asians are not usually suited to suits, but they looked surprisingly good on him. The cufflinks were the same silver cufflinks his father and mother used when they got married, and they looked brand new after being repaired. He rarely dressed so formally, but standing there with his back straight and his eyes following the bride's steps, he was beginning to look like a husband.
Yumiko stopped in front of him, and her father placed her hand in Rito's, patted their hands, and then sat down in a seat to the side. The officiant was a highly respected old pastor, but he was not there on behalf of any religion; he was simply there as an old friend of the Kubo family. He read the vows according to procedure and then turned to the newlyweds.
"Kubo Rito, do you take Seki Yumiko to be your wife, to love and cherish her, in good times and bad, in wealth and poverty, in sickness and in health, until the end of your life?"
Rito turned to look at Yumiko. Through the thin veil, he could see the thin layer of tears in her eyes and the forced, dignified smile on her lips. He smiled slightly, his voice steady and clear, falling in the quiet hall like a pebble thrown into a deep pool.
"I do."
The officiant turned to Yumiko and asked the same question. Her eyelashes drooped slightly and then lifted again, her pearl earrings swayed gently, and the light from the crystal chandelier cast soft shadows on her face.
"I do," she said, adding in a voice only the two people beside her could hear, "although I believe that day will never come."
The officiant paused for a moment, then let out a kind chuckle and whispered that it was due to her duty. Rito smiled too and shook her hand.
During the ring exchange, Rito pulled a small, dark blue velvet box from his suit pocket, opened it, and took out a simple platinum ring engraved with extremely tiny letters, almost illegible unless viewed up close. Yumiko took the ring, glanced at it before slipping it onto his ring finger, and then suddenly smiled. She recognized the letters—it was a phrase she had casually scribbled on the wrapper of a Mickey Mouse cotton candy on their first trip to Disneyland: "Today is the best." He had taken a picture of it, kept it on his phone, and now it was engraved on the ring.
When it was Yumiko's turn to put the ring on Rito's finger, she took out a platinum ring with the same design, but with a different date engraved on the inside: June 3, 2011, the day she flew to Tokyo and her future husband picked her up at the airport.
After the two rings were exchanged, the officiant smiled and announced, "Now, the groom may kiss the bride."
Rito reached out and lifted Yumiko's veil. Her face appeared exceptionally soft in the daylight, her eyes gently curving upwards. She winked at him and whispered, "Nervous?"
"It's alright," he said, then leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. Restrained applause erupted from the audience, and Rito's father discreetly dabbed at the corner of his eye with his sleeve.
After that, the wedding proceeded with the usual routine, continuing until 5 p.m., when guests began to leave one after another. Airi stood at the door seeing guests off, checking the guest list and distributing return gifts to each guest. Rito and Yumiko stood not far behind her, watching the crowd gradually disperse.
"Be careful on your way back." Yumiko bid farewell to her family one last time. From this day forward, she would no longer be just the daughter of the Seki family, but also the wife of Kubo Rito. The effects of this change in status would only gradually become apparent in the future.
After the wedding, the couple returned to their new home, which was purchased with funds from both sets of parents. Yumiko had grown tired of living in the villa, so this time they moved to a large single-level apartment, with the two floors combined, totaling more than 600 square meters. The renovation costs alone were enough to buy several apartments for the family members.
Rito pushed open the door, and the motion-sensor light in the entryway turned on, casting a warm yellow glow on the two of them. Yumiko stood in the entryway, looking around the house that belonged only to her and Rito. Perhaps it was just her imagination, but she felt much more comfortable here than at Matsushō's place. The lingering scent of citrus was no longer in the air; instead, there was the slightly bitter white tea aromatherapy she had brought from home—clean, refreshing, gentle, and long-lasting.
"Welcome home." Rito gently wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.
Yumiko turned around and looked up at him. Her hair was a little loose from a busy day, and her makeup was lighter, but her eyes were still surprisingly bright in the dim light. She reached out and cupped his face in her hands, gently stroking his eyebrows with her thumbs, then stood on tiptoe and kissed his lips.
This kiss wasn't as restrained and subtle as the one at the wedding. It carried a sense of belated compensation—long-suppressed emotions, forced promises made ahead of time, and feelings that both of them knew but never truly expressed, all blended into this warm, somewhat clumsy, yet extremely earnest kiss.
Rito pressed her against the wall, cupping her face in his hands, his grip a little tighter than usual. Yumiko let out a soft nasal sound, her fingers sliding down the back of his neck into his hair, gently pulling him closer. Their breathing grew increasingly rapid, the first button of their shirts undone, then the second, then the third—each unbuttoning felt like opening a room she had kept locked away for a long time.
"Danna." Her voice was breathless, her lips brushing against his earlobe, her warm breath making him tremble. "What are you waiting for?"
The bedroom lights weren't all on, only a small, warm yellow nightlight was left on by the bedside. The curtains weren't drawn yet, and moonlight and distant streetlights streamed in, casting soft shadows on the floor. Yumiko stood by the bed with her back to him, took off her earrings and placed them on the bedside table, then raised her hand to unbutton the last button.
The lights of Tokyo Tower streamed through the curtains, casting dappled orange shadows on their intertwined figures. Her voice was broken, mingling with his occasional whispers of her name, mostly drowned out by the whirring of the aromatherapy diffuser. Suddenly, she covered her mouth with her hand, turning her face to one side, revealing a lingering trace of moisture at the corner of her eye. Rito leaned down, removing her hand from her mouth, their fingers intertwining on either side of the pillow. He didn't speak, but simply placed a gentle kiss on her collarbone.
After an unknown amount of time, everything returned to calm. Yumiko nestled in his arms, her head resting on his uninjured shoulder, strands of her short hair clinging to her forehead with sweat. Her breathing hadn't fully calmed, her chest rising and falling slightly, but her eyes had regained their usual clear composure.
"It's so beautiful, it's like a dream." She said, holding her hand up to her face, letting the platinum ring on her ring finger gleam elegantly in the moonlight. "Now you really can't back out."
Li Ren chuckled: "Who would go back on their word? I'm just worried that you won't marry me."
"It's not like you care about my family's money. My only advantage is nothing to you. To you, I'm just a scheming and manipulative woman." She glanced at him sideways, her tone half-jokingly jealous.
Rito didn't speak, but simply hugged her tighter, his lips gently brushing against the top of her head, a soft gesture that seemed like a silent apology, or perhaps a promise to her.
Night deepened. Yumiko's breathing gradually calmed, and she drifted into a deep sleep. She slept soundly, a faint smile still lingering on her lips, her hand resting on his waist, like a cat that had let down its guard, completely surrendering herself to him.