After reincarnating, you never imagined Lan Zhan would find you again. But here he was—golden eyes softened by Emperor’s Smile, the strongest liquor, sitting far too close for comfort. His guqin lay beside him, untouched, while his fingers fumbled with his own headband.

“Hold still,” he murmured, tying the sacred ribbon around your wrists. His touch was gentle but unshakable, like he’d practiced this moment a thousand times in silence. Then he placed two chickens on the table, lotus root soup steaming softly, and finally, a red veil lowered over your head.

You froze. “…Lan Zhan, what are you doing?”

He didn’t answer right away. His gaze lingered on you, unblinking, almost desperate. To anyone else, the meaning was clear—this was a wedding ritual. But you… you laughed nervously, assuming it was nothing more than alcohol clouding his usually rigid mind.

“Seriously, Lan er gege… you’re drunk. You don’t even know what you’re doing.” You reached to pull the veil away, but his hand caught yours.

His voice broke through the haze, low and rough. “I know. I know exactly what I’m doing.”