Chapter 640: A Test of Love Before the Wedding

“Qian Qian, open up! It’s me, Zhou Can!”

Zhou Can called out from outside the door.

“Dr. Zhou, if you want to pass this door and win the beauty, you have to answer a question first!”

That was Qiu Jie’s voice.

Don’t let her health fool you—Qiu Jie might need a cane to get around, but she’s truly brilliant.

Li Lao once told stories about dating her.

She was president of the school’s literature club, a legendary scholar, with poems and essays that Li Lao deeply admired.

Li Lao himself was pretty talented, so naturally, his wife wouldn’t be anything less.

He’d even privately admitted more than once that his wife outclassed him in talent.

Now with Qiu Jie setting the question, Zhou Can’s head started to ache.

“Sis-in-law, you know I’m just a college grad. I studied clinical medicine—you can’t hit me with anything too hard!”

Zhou Can quickly tried to plead his case.

“It’s not hard! Even the civil service exam throws in a logic test. This is just to see how much heart you have for our Qian Qian!”

Qiu Jie had barely finished when Jiang Wei chimed in.

“Boss, ready yet? I’m about to read it!”

“Go on!”

At this stage, Zhou Can felt like he’d fight through a gauntlet if he had to.

Today, he was determined to pass every trial and marry his beloved.

“Wood is born from earth—so why does it end up trapped by earth?”

What in the world does that mean?

He’d expected questions like what do you love about Su Qianqian, or can you cherish her for life, but not some weird brain teaser like this.

Dealing with literary types was never easy.

Their minds run wild—always digging deep into words, searching for hidden truths and philosophies.

“Uh… let me think! This one’s kind of tricky.”

Zhou Can frowned, lost in thought.

Clearly, they weren’t looking for a surface-level answer—they wanted to see how real his love for Su Qianqian was.

How deep did his love go, really?

“Li Lao, you can’t help him answer! Otherwise it doesn’t count. Dr. Zhou’s answer has to be his own, straight from the heart.”

From inside, Qiu Jie warned Li Lao.

“Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t answer that! Can you ask something easier so A Can can hurry up and marry Qian Qian?”

Li Lao tried to help Zhou Can out.

“This question isn’t hard at all. It’s just about whether Dr. Zhou’s love for Qian Qian is genuine!” Qiu Jie gave another hint, “I’m not just being difficult—I just want to see how deep your love for Qian Qian goes.”

Her words were a nudge in the right direction.

She’d pretty much given him the key to the answer.

It was like a riddle—sometimes you get a category or a clue to help you along.

“Thanks, sis-in-law! Let me think a little more.”

Zhou Can caught her drift and settled back to think.

Wood usually stands for men—like how slow-witted guys get called ‘wooden.’

Earth, that’s usually used for women.

In most literary works, the land is always called the mother.

But judging by Qiu Jie’s riddle, maybe it’s the other way around.

She loves reading English literature, especially classics from the West.

In Western mythology, wood is often called ‘elf,’ a metaphor for beautiful, kind-hearted girls.

Sure, elves can be male, but it’s almost never used for men.

Without a doubt, Su Qianqian really does fit the image of a female elf.

She’s stunningly beautiful and has a pure, gentle soul—like a spirit among mortals.

So, if ‘wood’ means Su Qianqian, then ‘earth’ must mean the man.

Once Zhou Can straightened out the logic, he couldn’t help but be relieved that Qiu Jie wasn’t his wife.

Otherwise, with riddles and word games every day, he’d probably be bald by forty.

Wood grows from earth, but ends up trapped by it.

What was she trying to say?

Was it about how Su Qianqian fell for him and can’t pull herself away now?

“If love is just about appearances, it fades. If it’s about gain, it’s gone with profit. But if it’s about virtue, it lasts as long as heaven and earth; if it’s about the heart, it lasts longer still. From the day Qian Qian and I met to now, through every ordinary day, every moment proves our hearts to each other. If one day she ever feels bound by the earth that once nourished her, I’d dig up that earth myself and wander the world with her by my side.”

That was Zhou Can’s answer.

And if ever the earth that nurtured her became a prison, he would give up everything to set her free.

Somehow, the whole suite went utterly silent.

Everyone could feel the love filling the air.

Love was in every breath.

It’s just different when cultured folks tie the knot.

No rowdy drinking contests or breaking down doors—just poetic, heartfelt confessions.

“Qian Qian, what I want you to know is this—marriage isn’t a cage for love, but a hall where we commit and honor each other. It’s a coronation, a transformation, and proof of our love. It turns love into something sacred and solemn.”

Zhou Can raised his voice to the room once more.

The bedroom door opened from within.

Tears streaking her face, Su Qianqian rushed forward and threw herself into Zhou Can’s arms.

In that moment, she just wanted to give every piece of herself—body, heart, soul—to this man.

Qiu Jie watched from her wheelchair, her gaze filled with blessings for the couple.

Jiang Wei flashed a big thumbs-up at Zhou Can.

“Boss, I always thought you were just a surgeon, wielding cold scalpels in the OR and curing sick patients. Who knew you understood love so deeply? You reminded me how beautiful love really is.”

She was, after all, a PhD who’d studied abroad—smart and accomplished.

For her to be touched, that spoke volumes.

Even if Zhou Can’s answer didn’t get him a perfect score, it was at least a 99.

As the saying goes, you always leave off one point so nobody gets big-headed.

“I wish you two a long and happy life together, protecting each other and growing old as one.”

When the two finally let go, Qiu Jie offered her sincerest blessings.

“Thank you, sis-in-law!”

Zhou Can thanked her warmly.

“Boss, Qian Qian, may you two be devoted for a lifetime—together through mountains and rivers, in joy and love, hand in hand to the end!”

Jiang Wei, the scholar, added her own heartfelt wishes.

“Thank you, thank you!”

Zhou Can and Su Qianqian thanked her in unison.

“So, can we finally head to the hotel now? We’ve got a wedding to throw, and time’s running short.”

Li Lao, acting as big brother for Zhou Can, had been helping with the wedding from start to finish.

For the head of Golden Entertainment to free up a whole day just to help out—it was something only Zhou Can could pull off.

The two were as close as brothers, sharing endless conversations and even similar quirks.

“Let’s go!”

Zhou Can bent over, scooped Su Qianqian into his arms—and she squealed in surprise.

Everyone clustered around the lucky couple as they set off for the hotel where the wedding would be held.

The wedding motorcade rolled forward, slow and steady.

A festive, joyful mood wrapped around the whole entourage.

Photographers were snapping shots the whole way.

Some well-connected reporters trailed along, hoping to catch a scoop or two for tomorrow’s headlines.

Not many people knew Zhou Can was one of the two main shareholders of Golden Entertainment.

But it was hard to keep things like that under wraps, so the word inevitably got out.

Golden Entertainment had become the strongest entertainment company in the province—and the entire south-central region. Like a dark horse, it shot up from nowhere straight to the top.

And it was still rising.

Some predicted it wouldn’t be long before Golden Entertainment stood shoulder to shoulder with Imperial Capital Media up north and Tianyu Interactive in the south, becoming the country’s third mega entertainment company.

A company that powerful was bound to attract attention.

The wedding of one of its shareholders was even more explosive than a celebrity’s.

After almost half an hour, the wedding cars pulled up to the Victoria Hotel. Zhou Can’s colleagues, schoolmates, teachers, friends, and relatives poured in, each bringing their well wishes.

Guests filled the venue to the brim.

Even some big names from the entertainment industry showed up.

Even if Zhou Can never managed day-to-day affairs, his status as majority shareholder was undeniable.

Where the mountain stands tall, the view is majestic.

He only had to be himself for the power players to treat him with respect.

Even the medical community sent a lineup of experts—and government officials from regulatory agencies weren’t far behind.

If you want to know a person’s weight in the world, just look at the company they keep.

Zhou Can never dreamed that, after starting out as an ordinary doctor, fate would lead him to build such a massive network.

On Su Qianqian’s side, plenty of friends, VIP clients, and colleagues also showed up.

Though she’d once been a top star, Su Qianqian kept a low profile, so she didn’t actually make all that many friends.

But the ones who did attend her wedding were all influential in their own right.

Honestly, even minor bosses with a few million to their name could barely stand tall here.

Why?

Because there were too many billionaires in the room.

Not to mention the officials with real power.

Now and then, A-listers or industry insiders would pop in, sparking waves of excited screams.

The star power really couldn’t be denied.

Su Qianqian graduated from Imperial Capital Media University—the country’s top entertainment school.

Her old classmates were all good-looking, male or female.

Greeting guests at the entrance were the happy couple, Zhou Qishun and his wife.

Boss Zhou and his wife had seen their fair share of the world.

When their son was getting married, they had wanted the wedding back in their hometown.

But today, they finally learned what real wealth and nobility looked like.

They never imagined their son would achieve so much in just a few years.

The first guest to arrive was a middle-aged man with presence—his suit was immaculate. Boss Zhou and his wife didn’t know him.

After a bit of small talk, he dropped off his gift at the registry table.

Bringing a gift is a must at weddings—a mark of respect and celebration.

Red envelopes and gifts aren’t just about saying congrats, then sitting down for a meal.

With so many guests, most wouldn’t get a word with the bride and groom.

So, they’d write their name and gift on the registry, for the newlyweds to review later.

Because that’s how relationships go—today’s gift is tomorrow’s return favor.

The middle-aged man simply set a paper bag on the gift table.

Zhou Can’s uncle, with his son Zhou Hai and daughter-in-law, handled the registry like record keepers.

You’d only trust close family for that job.

Uncle Zhou smiled and offered the man a cigarette, but he waved it off.

Uncle gestured for him to write his name down.

“Cui Zhengjin.”

Turns out, this was Mr. Cui—the foreign trade businessman who lived next door to Li Lao.

He and his wife had once saved Boss Zhou in a crisis.

When the Zhou family’s food factory was nearly ruined,

Mr. Cui and his wife stepped in, saving the day and helping the business thrive.

Boss Zhou and his wife, though, didn’t recognize them.

If they had, they would’ve been ten times as warm.

Uncle opened the paper bag and took out stacks of cash.

Nineteen bundles, all fresh from the bank.

Crisp cash, right from the vault.

“How much is all this?”

Uncle was so shocked by the sum that his voice started to tremble.

“One hundred eighty-eight thousand—just for good luck, nothing much, please don’t be offended.”

Mr. Cui said calmly.

Uncle could barely believe his ears—so much money, and yet Mr. Cui talked as if it were pocket change.

Who exactly had Zhou Can’s nephew gotten to know?

Even Zhou Hai was stunned, his hands shaking as he started to count the cash.

Luckily Zhou Can had already given instructions.

His mother quickly told Zhou Hai not to bother counting—just stash it in the box.

Then she smiled politely and invited Mr. Cui to take a seat.

And that was just the first gift. Every guest after that brought a windfall, leaving Uncle’s family doubting reality.

Only now did they understand what a ‘distinguished guest’ really meant.

Even the smallest gift was sixty-six or eighty-eight thousand yuan—auspicious numbers.

The lowest was six hundred yuan—from Zhou Can’s fellow doctors.

Doctors weren’t all rich—just earned a little more than most.

The main point was to wish them well.

But between the lavish gifts and honored guests, Uncle’s family and Boss Zhou felt equal parts pride and nervousness.

They’d never heard of their son knowing so many big names.

Maybe these were all connections from the star-studded daughter-in-law?

But no—most guests clearly congratulated Chief Zhou, Dr. Zhou, or President Zhou. They were here for their son.

A few even looked like high-ranking officials, making Boss Zhou’s family feel even more anxious.

It’s just human nature—regular folks are always a little in awe of people with power.

That’s as normal as it gets.