After the Nobel Prize award ceremony, with his workload temporarily easing up, Tang Xiao was lying at home doing nothing when he was suddenly urged to get married by his parents.
“So, when do you plan to have the wedding with Xiao Jun?” Mother Tang asked casually.
Tang Xiao was stunned for a moment. “Uh… we’re already married.”
They had already obtained their marriage certificate. Incidentally, Jun Tesi’s identification card was issued by the human governments of both worlds. He had no idea how they pulled it off, but somehow, they managed to officially register their marriage. At least in human legal terms, Tang Xiao and Jun Tesi were already legally wedded husbands.
“Sigh, I’m not talking about that. I mean the wedding ceremony.” Mother Tang rolled her eyes. “Before, it was understandable because of work, but now that you finally have some free time, how much longer do you plan to make Xiao Jun wait? I'm telling you, a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event, incredibly meaningful. Xiao Jun may not have said anything on the surface, but he’s been secretly looking forward to it for a long time!”
Tang Xiao: “…Since when did you two get so close?”
“Of course, while someone was busy burying himself in the lab and never home.” As Mother Tang spoke, Jun Tesi happened to come out of the kitchen, carrying a plate of neatly sliced fruit with a fork on the side. He placed it in front of Mother Tang considerately. “Auntie, would you like some fruit?”
“I’d love some. Xiao Jun, you’re so thoughtful.” Mother Tang beamed and skillfully accepted the plate from Jun Tesi’s hands. Tang Xiao watched silently, suddenly realizing something. He turned to Jun Tesi.
Jun Tesi looked completely innocent. “What’s wrong, Xiaoxiao? What were you two talking about?”
“We were talking about the wedding. Xiao Jun, you’ve been looking forward to it for a long time, haven’t you?”
At those words, a hint of anticipation flashed across Jun Tesi’s face, but he hesitated and looked at Tang Xiao. “But Xiaoxiao is so busy…”
Under Mother Tang’s threatening gaze, Tang Xiao relented. “…Fine, fine, we’ll do it! Right away!”
Jun Tesi immediately lit up with joy. Tang Xiao chuckled helplessly. Oh wow, when did he evolve to this level? While he was deep in academic research, Jun Tesi seemed to have grown in some very unexpected ways!
And so, a few days later, a very special wedding invitation was sent to Third Eye and placed on the desks of various influential forces.
The Wedding Day
Representatives from both world governments, most of the scientists from Third Eye, and of course, Tang Xiao’s close friends and family, all gathered at the Third Eye base for the wedding.
Yes, in the end, they chose to hold the ceremony at the Third Eye base. For Tang Xiao and Jun Tesi, this was the place where they had met and fallen in love. No location could be more meaningful or suitable.
The forest outside the Third Eye base, once covered in white mycelium, had long since been returned to Third Eye. However, with everyone previously busy at the Joint Research Institute, many scientists had not returned for a long time, leaving the base feeling empty. Now that the institute had disbanded, it was likely that things would return to normal soon.
But today, for this one special day, this academic research base had been transformed into a wedding venue.
Jun Tesi didn’t need any human help for the decorations. The mycelium that usually covered the base had transformed into white silk ribbons, flowers, and drapery, adorning every corner. The once eerie, web-like appearance had turned into something breathtakingly beautiful, warm, and almost sacred. When the scientists from Third Eye arrived, their expressions were filled with disbelief.
Abek: “…Did I walk into the wrong place? I remember that was supposed to be a laboratory. How did it turn into a greenhouse? And the dissection room—what’s with all those stuffed animal dolls?”
Lodge twitched at the corner of his eye. “Just ignore it. I’m sure everything will go back to normal in a few days.”
Compared to the scientists who knew the original state of the place, the guests from Tang Xiao’s side were much more relaxed, amazed by the venue’s beauty.
Even the most inconspicuous corners were decorated with exquisite ornaments. Just by looking at it, one could tell how much effort had gone into preparing the venue.
Most of the decorations were white, which felt a little unusual, but most guests didn’t mind this small detail.
The base was massive, and the wedding wasn’t actually taking place in the lab areas. Once again, the chapel took on this important role. Since there were so many guests, white banquet tables were set up on the lawn in front of the chapel, and the wedding adopted a buffet-style dining arrangement.
Ba Rong curiously touched one of the decorative flowers on the wall. It felt smooth and delicate, nothing like plastic. He plucked one and pinned it to his chest pocket, turning to Li Mu. “Even the smallest decorations here are so intricate.”
Not far from them, another researcher overheard and curiously touched the wall’s decoration as well. After a brief pause, he quickly retracted his hand and silently returned to his seat.
Li Mu, however, was oblivious, distracted by the distinguished guests. “Damn, isn’t that the Vice President of the Human Alliance?” His jaw dropped in astonishment.
Now that diplomatic relations had been established between the two worlds, news from the other world occasionally appeared in the media. The Vice President of the Human Alliance was frequently mentioned in those reports, making him easy to recognize.
In fact, not only were there representatives from the Human Alliance, but their own world’s government officials were also in attendance, albeit in a more low-profile manner.
Aside from the political figures, the majority of the attendees were top academics. After all, Tang Xiao was not only a Nobel Prize winner but potentially a rare double Nobel laureate across two worlds. Even Ba Rong, who wasn’t deeply involved in academia, recognized many of these academic giants, while Li Mu, who had one foot in the field, had been craning his neck non-stop since he arrived.
“Damn, so many academicians… And look, Xiao Bai is here—oh, well, of course, he would be. And there’s another one of those Third Eye scholars from the other world? All of them are geniuses… The collective IQ here is off the charts.”
Li Mu murmured as he scanned the crowd, suddenly spotting another familiar figure. “Wait, isn’t that Xiao Bai again? …Oh, right, that must be the alternate world’s Xiao Bai.”
Since the wedding had invited people from both worlds, there were occasional moments of confusion when identical-looking guests appeared.
The ‘Xiao Bai’ from the gaming world had also noticed the issue. When he spotted the alternate world’s Xiao Bai and Madam Xiao, he hesitated for a moment before instinctively changing direction.
“Please wait a moment.”
A gentle yet firm female voice stopped ‘Xiao Bai’ in his tracks. Madam Xiao looked at him warmly but resolutely…
As he walked over, ‘Xiao Bai’ found himself in a dilemma—advancing wasn’t an option, nor was retreating. His body froze in place.
“You… you're the Xiao Bai from that world, aren't you?”
At last, Madam Xiao stepped forward, blocking Xiao Bai’s path.
Unconsciously, Xiao Bai averted his gaze, not daring to meet Madam Xiao’s eyes. She raised an eyebrow, her tone becoming slightly more serious: “Xiao Bai, look at me.”
Xiao Bai was her childhood nickname for him—whenever she was angry when he was little, she would call him by it forcefully. Instinctively, ‘Xiao Bai’ straightened up and met her gaze, only to realize too late that he had fallen into her trap.
Yet at this moment, it felt as if his shoes were glued to the ground, making it impossible for him to leave.
Madam Xiao observed ‘Xiao Bai’s’ reaction, confirming her suspicions. She spoke softly, “Won’t you sit and talk with me?”
“I… I'm not him.”
“I know.” Madam Xiao let out a deep sigh before suddenly stepping forward and gently placing her hands on ‘Xiao Bai’s’ shoulders. “You’ve been through so much these years. Thank you.”
Caught off guard, ‘Xiao Bai’ found himself surrounded by a familiar scent that instantly awakened old memories. His limbs felt weak, and he couldn't even form words of refusal. Dizzy and disoriented, he was led away by Madam Xiao. By the time he came to his senses, he was sitting face-to-face with another version of himself from the other world.
Two identical faces stared at each other, with Madam Xiao smiling between them. ‘Xiao Bai’ felt an immediate wave of discomfort and stood up. “I think I should go sit with the Third Eye scientists instead.”
“What's the rush?” Madam Xiao firmly pressed down on ‘Xiao Bai’s’ hand and gave a meaningful glance at her son.
Xiao Bai spoke up, “Just sit here. I also want to thank you properly. If it weren’t for you, the research wouldn’t have been completed in time. Besides…”
Lowering his voice, he glanced at Madam Xiao before softly saying to ‘Xiao Bai,’ “I also wanted to discuss Mom’s health with you.”
Hearing this, ‘Xiao Bai,’ who had been about to leave, instinctively furrowed his brows. Half-risen from his seat, he settled back down. “What’s going on? Explain in detail. Is it a side effect of the treatment?”
Madam Xiao, still smiling, watched as her sons from two different worlds quietly discussed the pros and cons of a new gene therapy.
Meanwhile, across the room, Tang Chen also noticed the man who looked exactly like him. An eerily similar situation unfolded—just as their gazes met, ‘Tang Chen’ immediately looked away guiltily.
Tang Chen's eyes narrowed sharply.
He recalled scenes from the memory fusion process and, with a half-smile, stepped in front of ‘Tang Chen’ to block his path. “Oh my, isn’t this my counterpart? Why are you standing around? Come, let’s sit together!”
“Ahaha… no need, really. I’d rather sit with my colleagues.”
“Don't be shy, don't be shy. I actually have some questions for you.”
“No, no, I wouldn't want to bother you all—”
“But my parents are very eager to meet you.” Tang Chen half-pushed ‘Tang Chen’ toward them.
Originally, ‘Tang Chen’ had been determined to leave, but when he caught sight of Mother and Father Tang’s curious gazes, his footsteps involuntarily slowed.
His last memory of his parents was from the day the base was overrun—they had fought desperately to send him out of the city.
“Xiao Chen, where did you go—oh my,” Mother Tang gently covered her mouth in surprise. “Is this your counterpart?”
Now that the two worlds had established diplomatic relations, the existence of counterparts was no longer a secret. Many people were curious about their alternate selves, with some even actively seeking them out.
‘Tang Chen’ was forced into a seat, wedged between Father and Mother Tang. His face grew awkward as Tang Chen put on a fake smile and said, “Yes, and in his world, he worked for the Third Eye organization for a long time. He even served as Tang Xiao’s personal bodyguard. Weren’t you both always curious about Tang Xiao’s experiences over there? You can ask him.”
Hearing this, Father and Mother Tang’s eyes lit up. ‘Tang Chen’ broke into a cold sweat. “Uh, well…”
Too shameless!
‘Tang Chen’ thought bitterly. How could he refuse now?
“Is that true?” Mother Tang asked.
“Y-Yes,” ‘Tang Chen’ admitted reluctantly. “I used to be his bodyguard.” He hesitated, but then slowly began recounting the events. “But in my world, there was no Tang Xiao, so at first, I didn’t recognize who he was. We first met at Dr. Feng’s conference. At the time, he was…”
Mother and Father Tang listened intently as ‘Tang Chen’ spoke about Tang Xiao’s journey. It was a piece of their son’s life they had never known. Tang Chen had originally meant to make things difficult for his alternate self—after all, this guy had even dared to flirt with his younger brother! But as the story unfolded, he couldn’t help but listen seriously himself.
“… He was truly incredible, in both academia and other fields. By the time I realized it, he had already become a top talent sought after even by the Alliance,” ‘Tang Chen’ admitted.
Tang Chen gave a meaningful “Oh?” and smirked. “So, at that time, you were basically reenacting Einstein—”
“Cough, cough, cough!” ‘Tang Chen’ nearly choked. Father and Mother Tang looked confused. “What does this have to do with Einstein?”
Before they could press further, the wedding march began, drawing everyone's attention back to the ceremony.
Basil, now with graying hair, had managed to secure the role of officiant thanks to an old clergy certification. He donned formal attire and stepped to the center of the chapel. “Welcome, everyone. Thank you for gathering here to witness this sacred union.”
“Today’s couple is rather unique—not only are they an experimental subject and a researcher, but they also represent the union of a human and a non-human.”
Basil recited the pre-confirmed script. Even though it had already been reviewed, he was still amazed by Tang Xiao and Jun Tesi’s unabashed openness.
Among the friends and family attending the wedding, not everyone was aware of Jun Tesi’s identity. For instance, Li Mu and Ba Rong were completely stunned. They glanced around but found that no one else seemed surprised.
Li Mu, Ba Rong: … Are we the only ones out of the loop?
“As one can imagine, the journey they took to be together was filled with trials and tribulations. Even today, many of us still remember those struggles vividly. There was a time when I couldn’t understand why Dr. Tang Xiao made such a choice, but I suppose, as one of the smartest people in humanity, he must have found the answer that was best for him.”
“As scientists, all of us here know experimental subject 428, but we know nothing about Jun Tesi’s soul. Starting today, I think we must reintroduce ourselves to him—to this unique yet ordinary couple.”
“And now, let us welcome them.”
The church doors opened from the back.
Everyone instinctively turned their heads. According to a typical wedding ceremony, one of them should have entered first. However, to their surprise, two figures in fitted white suits appeared simultaneously at the doorway.
Tang Xiao and Jun Tesi walked arm in arm, stepping down the red carpet under the gaze of everyone present until they finally stood before Basil.
The flower children handed them the rings, and Basil solemnly asked, “Tang Xiao, do you take Jun Tesi to be your lawfully wedded partner? To have and to hold, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?”
Tang Xiao gazed into Jun Tesi’s eyes and softly said, “I do.”
“Jun Tesi, do you take Tang Xiao to be your lawfully wedded partner? To have and to hold, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death—”
“I do!” Before Basil could even finish, Jun Tesi eagerly interrupted, then added in a quiet voice, “Though I doubt even death could separate us.”
A trace of laughter appeared in Tang Xiao’s eyes as he gave a small nod.
“Alright,” Basil chuckled, then turned to the guests. “Does anyone here object to this union? If so, speak now or forever hold your peace.”
Those aware of Jun Tesi’s identity: … Who would dare?
Try it and see what happens.
Tang Xiao and Jun Tesi also looked around the crowd. Tang Xiao’s gaze passed over his parents and his two older brothers. He was briefly surprised before smiling and giving them a small nod. Father and Mother Tang, overwhelmed with emotion, gave him a thumbs-up through their tears.
Tang Chen looked equally sentimental, while the alternate-world older brother… seemed oddly relieved?
Tang Xiao’s eyes moved on, stopping at the Third Eye’s table. Lodge, dressed in a groomsman’s suit, was staring at him intently. He pursed his lips but eventually gave a smile of sincere blessing. Aberk, already looking drunk, slung an arm around Lodge’s shoulder and grinned at Tang Xiao. Dr. Feng raised his glass. Leon sat among them, sulking.
Jun Tesi’s gaze also searched the audience. Dawson had been seated in the front row, making him impossible to miss. Jun Tesi’s eyes were filled with an expression that screamed, ‘Teacher, I did it!!!’
Dawson’s table already had several empty glasses. Clearly, he had been drinking a lot. At this moment, faced with Jun Tesi’s fiery gaze, his expression was a mess of emotions—one-third complicated, one-third gratified, one-third embarrassed, and one-third melancholic.
Finally, he sighed and gave Jun Tesi a thumbs-up.
‘You’re amazing.’
Jun Tesi’s smile grew even brighter.
There was some murmuring in the crowd, but no one voiced an objection. So, under the witness of everyone present, Basil solemnly declared, “Then from this moment on, you are officially married. You may exchange rings.”
Jun Tesi and Tang Xiao each took a ring from the flower children. It was the same ring Jun Tesi had used to propose. Even though Tang Xiao had already worn it once before, Jun Tesi’s hands trembled like a nervous kid proposing for the first time, struggling to slip the ring on.
Tang Xiao sighed, snatched the ring from him, and slipped it onto Jun Tesi’s finger himself. “Are you going to do it, or should I just handle it?”
Jun Tesi, gathering his courage, took Tang Xiao’s hand and solemnly placed the silver band on his ring finger.
The matching rings shimmered in the light. The audience instinctively began clapping, and if one listened closely, there were even cheers from the crowd.
“Kiss! Kiss.”
“Kiss! Kiss.”
Basil barely held back his laughter. “Alright, now the groom may kiss the groom.”
Jun Tesi’s heart pounded as if it would burst from his chest. Tang Xiao, though appearing composed, had a faint pink hue on his ears. But suppressing his embarrassment, he closed the distance between them, their breaths mingling.
And then— Boom!!!
At that moment, every white decoration in the venue turned pink. The guests looked up in shock. The artificial flowers, originally for decoration, suddenly bloomed in full splendor, transforming the venue into a sea of pink.
Ba Rong felt something off on his chest. He looked down—only to watch in utter horror as the fake flower pinned to his suit scurried away as if shy.
Ba Rong: ??? It was alive?
Wait, then what the hell are all these?!
At that moment, the researchers familiar with Jun Tesi silently averted their gazes, clearly recognizing what these were.
“Pfft, this is probably the most unforgettable wedding I’ve ever attended,” Aberk muttered, sobering slightly. “The first wedding ever held inside a monster’s body. I don’t know whether to call him lazy, dedicated, or just—”
“It’s normal for non-humans and humans to have different perspectives,” Lodge said softly, watching the kissing newlyweds. “As long as he’s happy with it, that’s what matters.”
Aberk shrugged. “Damn, Dr. Tang is scary.”
To make a monster willingly disguise itself as human. And for someone as brilliant as Tang Xiao to accept that monster.
In a way, they really were a perfect match.
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