Chapter 6: The Wedding and Duels
1525 Words
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of God and this congregation to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony...”
Emily stood beside the bride, calm and radiant in her soft blue chiffon dress, her fingers laced together, bouquet in hand. Her braided hair glinted under the chandeliers. She looked every bit the perfect maid of honor—quiet, poised, and distant.
No one could deny the wedding was a grand affair. With guests from Giant Group, ZhiGuang Tech, and several A-list influencers in attendance, the ballroom felt more like a celebrity gala than a wedding. Emily’s aunt and uncle sat proudly in the front row, alongside other Cheng family relatives.
And in the center of it all, Daniel Cheng Xiang wore a grin so wide it rivaled the floral archway. His bride, Claire Mo Yao, beamed back. Years of persistence had led to this day. He had finally won the heart of the woman he loved.
The back doors opened quietly.
Isaac Qiu walked in with Caleb Han, Ryan Lin, Jayden Wu, and Noah Zhang, all sharply dressed. They slipped into the third row just as the music softened and the ceremony began.
“Before we begin the ceremony,” the officiant announced, “is there anyone who objects to this union?”
Silence. Reverent. Sealed.
“Daniel Cheng Xiang, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
“I do.”
“Claire Mo Yao, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I… do.”
Emily smiled and handed over the rings. She didn’t say much all morning. She didn’t need to. Everyone already knew she was Daniel’s cousin—the one raised in the States after a tragic accident took her family. Her return was public knowledge in their circles, especially since she now worked under Isaac at ZhiGuang Tech.
But what people didn’t know… was that she used to live in the shadows of a virtual world.
The ceremony continued with elegant precision—vows exchanged, camera shutters fluttering, guests applauding. Isaac’s gaze, however, remained locked on her.
He couldn’t quite explain it. That face. The way her hands moved. There was something familiar.
---
Later, he drifted into memory.
A wedding in Black Jade Chronicles—virtual yet painfully real. A digital wife in custom robes. A phoenix-themed mount. A ring he had coded himself. She had logged out and never returned.
Then—
Thud.
“Ah! I’m sorry—I didn’t see you,” Emily stammered as she bumped into him.
Their eyes met.
She froze.
He blinked. Recognition flickered—but didn’t land.
Before either could speak, Caleb and Jayden returned.
“Hey, Big Boss,” Caleb smirked, nodding toward Emily. “Still surreal seeing your employee in full Cinderella mode, huh?”
“She cleans up nice,” Jayden added. “But we already knew she was Daniel’s cousin. Can’t believe the Cheng family raised a coding prodigy.”
“She’s got good instincts,” Isaac said simply, then turned back to the bar.
But his mind remained on her.
***
Later in the evening, after the ballroom had dimmed and the dinner plates had been cleared, Isaac found himself standing with Daniel near the outdoor lounge, nursing a quiet drink. The stars above the garden shimmered, casting soft silver shadows across the grass.
Claire was off taking photos with her sisters, and Emily—thankfully—was nowhere nearby.
Daniel took a sip of his wine and broke the silence. “You know… I never thought we’d end up here.”
Isaac tilted his head, waiting.
“Talking. Laughing. At my wedding. It’s surreal,” Daniel said. “Considering we used to try to destroy each other in BJC over the same woman.”
Isaac let out a low chuckle, his first genuine smile in weeks. “Vivian.”
Daniel nodded. “She was... everything in that game. Elegant. Deadly. And so full of fire.”
Isaac smiled faintly. “She made me re-code my entire strategy after she wiped out my guild on a random Tuesday.”
Daniel laughed. “Yeah, well—she made me cry. Twice.”
They both chuckled, the tension slowly dissolving into shared memory.
“I still remember the night I finally confessed to her,” Daniel said, his tone softening. “Told her I liked her. That I wanted to duel beside her forever.”
Isaac raised his glass. “She told me. Said she admired your courage.”
Daniel scoffed playfully. “And then rejected me three minutes later.”
Isaac gave him a knowing look. “She was already mine. In the game and in life.”
Daniel took the jab with grace. “Yeah. I figured that out eventually. But I’m not bitter. Vivian… she changed me. And meeting Claire? That was my second chance at getting it right.”
Isaac looked toward the ballroom where Emily had just reappeared. “She changed me too. More than I realized.”
They both fell silent for a while, sipping their drinks.
Daniel exhaled. “You know, sometimes I still log into BJC. I roam the old zones. The server’s quiet now. Feels like a ghost town.”
“I keep her account active,” Isaac admitted. “Just in case.”
Daniel nodded. “Funny how life rewrites the code we think we’ve locked in.”
Isaac smiled faintly at that. “And how some players reappear, when you least expect them.”
Daniel caught his gaze, following it to where Emily stood beside Claire. He grinned. “You think she reminds you of Vivian?”
“No,” Isaac said quietly. “She’s nothing like her. That’s the strangest part.”
“And yet…” Daniel raised his brow.
Isaac didn’t reply.
Instead, they stood there for a while, two former rivals, not enemies anymore—just men quietly honoring the memory of the woman who once bound them in battle, and wondering if the game had just begun again.
Later, while Isaac and Daniel were discussing their new joint tech project, Emily came back and grabbed her cousin’s arm.
“Xiang ge! Yao jiejie and her sisters are bullying me! They’re making me play that stupid game.”
“It’s just a game, Em.”
“It’s torture!” Emily stomped her feet away.
“Okay, okay. I’ll talk to them.”
Isaac overheard. “Game?”
“You know it. BJC.” Daniel replied. “She used to be obsessed. Until her family died. She blamed the game for not going with them on that trip.”
Isaac’s voice lowered. “What’s her ID?”
“You’ll see. Come on.”
***
Inside the waiting room, the sisters giggled. “Just one round!”
“I don’t play anymore,” Emily said.
“Please?”
“I didn’t even bring my laptop!”
“Use mine!” Claire Mo Yao offered.
Emily rolled her eyes. “Who wants to duel me?”
“Me!” Caleb appeared. “I brought my laptop!”
“You’re still here?”
“Jayden and Ryan left. I stayed.”
She sighed. “Fine.”
Once logged in, messages flooded the screen.
“Wait... ‘Xiaohai Yunhai’?! That’s a guy character!” Caleb exclaimed.
“I used to use it,” she said flatly.
“You’re top three in PVP rankings! You should duel Big Boss!”
“Scared, Caleb?”
“Me? Let’s duel.”
Minutes later, Caleb was defeated. She cracked her knuckles and peeked over the screen. His soul had left his body.
She smiled sweetly. “GG.”
Just then, another voice joined. “I'll take the next round.”
Everyone turned. It was Isaac.
Caleb’s jaw dropped. “Big Boss himself...” he whispered, hurriedly pulling out his phone. He dialed Jayden and Ryan via video call. Ryan answered.
“You're not going to believe this. Get back here. NOW.”
Isaac sat opposite Emily. Calm. Composed. Challenging.
Round One: Isaac won. Fast, calculated, with surgical precision. Emily squinted at the screen.
Round Two: Emily adjusted her posture, cracked her fingers, and executed her combo perfectly. Victory was hers.
Ryan burst into the waiting room halfway through Round Three. Out of breath, he nearly shouted—until Caleb shushed him with a wild wave.
The room was still.
Emily’s hands moved swiftly across the keys. No hesitation. Her timing was flawless.
Isaac narrowed his eyes and responded with equal force. But this time, she was faster. Sharper. Her strategy unpredictable.
Victory.
Caleb gasped, almost falling off his chair.
“She’s insane…” Ryan muttered.
“She left the game for years… how is she still this good?” Caleb whispered.
Emily calmly removed her hands from the keyboard. She didn’t say a word.
Isaac stared at the screen, then slowly looked up at her. His expression unreadable.
No one could decipher what was in his eyes.
But he nodded.
And Emily, for the first time in a long while, smiled.
“GG, Big Boss.”
- Writer
