Nainai watched as Yibo sat beside her, his expression troubled. She sighed and said, "Well, look at you, all dressed up today, actually resembling a proper human being. Normally, you always look like a disheveled little monk..."
A-Ji, who had been busy observing the crowd, turned to Nainai and muttered, "What I can't understand is… does the bride's mother and her relatives even know you're here? No one has come to greet you, not even once. Look at us, sitting here like we're invisible, as if we don't belong. Do they even know that you raised Zhan since he was a baby? Honestly, the world has truly lost its manners."
Nainai clicked her tongue in annoyance. "I've been watching the whole thing in disbelief. They're parading around in gold and diamonds like thieves, yet not a single one of them has come over to show respect and say, 'Nainai, how are you?' Not even a simple greeting! Well, they have fortune follow them. And look at Zhan...he's sitting there, stiff as a board next to the bride, like someone who was dragged here against his will..."
Yibo chuckled, glancing at Zhan before turning back to Nainai and said. "And why exactly does this concern you?"
"Of course it concerns me!" Nainai huffed. "I won't just sit here and pretend not to notice. I should go over there and see what's wrong with him."
A-Ji nodded in agreement. "Go on, then. He looks far too tense. It's as if he's forcing himself to be here. Are we even sure this is a love match?"
Nainai pursed her lips and stood up. "If someone is messing with my boy, I'll find out soon enough. I know him inside and out, and there's no mistaking that something is bothering him."
Without hesitation, she started making her way through the crowded hall. The people refused to move, she pushed past them, muttering, "I swear, I've never seen such madness...people stuffing their faces with rice and chicken like starving wolves, and they won't even make way for an old woman!"
Heads turned as she passed, her sharp tongue drawing amused and curious glances.
"Some of these women," she continued grumbling, "have just emptied their entire suitcases onto themselves, dressing like peacocks, all for a free meal! Oh! Oh! Hunger is truly a disease."
At last, she reached the couple's table, where a bridesmaid was animatedly recounting the bride's history, her voice dripping with excitement as she dramatically fluttered her lashes. The guests clapped in approval as soft music played in the background.
Nainai stopped and gawked at the scene before her. Then, without hesitation, she stepped forward and lightly tapped the bridesmaid on the shoulder.
The people who recognized Nainai froze, eyes widening in horror.
The young woman turned around with a bright smile, oblivious to what was coming.
Nainai leaned in slightly, lowering her voice just enough for only the girl to hear.
"Which blind tailor did you pay to ruin your dress like this? Have you no shame, walking around with your backside practically on display?"
Nainai nearly jumped in shock, her eyes widening as her voice echoed through the massive hall, amplified by the speakers. The entire venue erupted into laughter.
Zhan immediately lowered his head in embarrassment. Yichen stood frozen in place, swallowing hard, struggling to keep her composure. Yibo buried his face against the table, quietly shaking with laughter. Meiling and the others were laughing uncontrollably from where they sat. Meanwhile, Zihan, Yuting, and Beiting sat still, hands on their chins, staring at Nainai, who had boldly positioned herself at the center of the hall.
The bride's relatives shot her a series of bewildered glances, clearly unsure of how to react.
As for the bridesmaid, who had been narrating the bride's story, she looked like she wanted to disappear into the floor. But the hall refused to quiet down, the laughter continuing.
From her seat, Ning Li scowled and turned to Zhan. "Seriously, Zhan? You were just handing out entry passes to anyone? Look at this old woman—how did she even get in? Who gave her a pass to walk in here and humiliate my best friend in front of everyone? Do you even know whose daughter she is?"
Zhan's voice was steady. "Watch your words."
Furious, Ning Li snapped, "Don't tell me that, Zhan! How dare that old woman insult my friend like that? Do you have any idea who she is? She's the governor's daughter!"
Still calm, Zhan replied, "I don't care if she's the governor's daughter. That old woman is my grandmother, and if you have a problem with her, you have a problem with me. And let me be clear with you...that old woman have the power to stop all this..."
Ning Li glared at Nainai, who simply clicked her tongue in exasperation. Lowering her voice, she muttered, "So, this whole hall is wired to speakers, huh? I can't even say a word without it blasting through the room."
Turning back to the bridesmaid, she added, "You should just take the dress back and have it fixed. You paid for it, and they cheated you with that awful stitching." With that, she walked away toward Zhan.
Ning Li continued watching her, still fuming, until Nainai reached the couple's table. She flashed a smile at Zhan, then turned to glance at the bride. "So, this is the bride-to-be?"
Ning Li looked away, her face stiff with annoyance.
Nainai cupped her chin in thought. "Well, well. She sure is dripping in diamonds, I'll let it be...For now."
Meanwhile, Ning Li's mother had stormed over to Yichen, her face twisted in fury.
"Yichen! Do you even see the kind of high-profile guests we have here? And you allowed that old woman...some random maid...to walk in here and humiliate my daughter's friend in front of everyone? Do you even know whose daughter she is? Are you trying to ruin my reputation?!"
Yichen, still overwhelmed, kept apologizing, her voice shaky. "I swear, I have no idea who let her in. Please, just forgive me. I didn't even know who she was..."
Still seething, Ning Li's mother snapped, "Then get her out of here right now! Before this turns into a complete disaster. Either you remove her, or I'll have security throw her out!"
Yichen's hands trembled as she pleaded, "Please, she'll leave right away! Trust me, we're just as humiliated as you are. I have no idea who gave her a pass. I don't even know her!"
She sighed, shaking her head. "These old women… the moment they see a gathering, they just walk right in like they belong here."
Ning Li mother stormed off angrily, muttering, "Get her out of here before I call security to drag her out…"
Nainai looked at Zhan and asked, "You don't look well. Are you feeling okay? Or have you not eaten?"
He shook his head. "I'm fine. Just go back to your seat."
"Alright, but we still haven't seen any food. And A-Ji over there won't stop yawning," she said, picking up an expensive drink from the table. "Should I take this?"
"Take it," he replied.
She grabbed it and sighed. "I just hope you're not bringing home a wife with your mother's attitude." With that, she walked away.
Ning Li glared at her and scoffed, while Yichen struggled to find a peaceful way to get Nainai out of the hall. She kept pacing back and forth, looking worried.
Meanwhile, Nainai returned to her seat and loudly addressed the guests. "Anyone who finishes eating, please put your trash in your bag. Let's not make a mess and dirty the place…"
After settling down, she placed one drink in front of A-Ji and kept the other for herself. "This should help with the heat," she muttered while opening it.
She took a sip before sighing. "I went to see him, but do you know that the bride didn't even greet me? I ignored her, though. I'm too old to embarrass myself in front of a crowd. I could have made a scene and shamed her completely, but I held back…"
A-Ji nodded. "It's good you didn't. Just wait until she's settled in Zhan's new home, then go and remind her of how close you and Zhan are."
"Of course," Nainai agreed. "She needs to understand the struggles I went through raising him. Once she moves in, I'll have Yibo accompany me to visit her and explain everything properly."
Just then, Yichen rushed over, breathless. "Mother, I just got a call—your living room is flooded! The water is spilling outside, and the door is locked. Did you leave the backyard tap running by accident?"
Nainai shot up in shock. "Beiting! She was the last one to use the bathroom! That's it—the water must have overflowed! My house is ruined! My furniture, TV, bed, carpets, fridge... everything is inside!"
A-Ji, equally alarmed, jumped up. "Oh no! My purse is in that room, and I had two thousand yuan inside! What am I going to tell my kids? I came to a wedding and ended up in a flood disaster!"
Yichen quickly tried to calm them down. "I'll send the driver to take you both home immediately. The courtyard is completely flooded."
But Nainai didn't even wait...she bolted out of the hall, shouting, "This is a disaster! Call the firefighters! And my emergency funds—Sen Wen gave me fifty thousand yuan, and it's in the house!"
A-Ji ran after her, panicking just as much.
Meanwhile, Beiting and Zihan, seeing Nainai rushing out, hurried over to Yichen, worried. "What's going on?"
Yichen couldn't help but chuckle. "She forgot the money she was supposed to give the bride at home. That's why she's in such a hurry—she's making the driver take her back."
Beiting and Zihan stood in silence, unsure of what to say. Yichen let out a sigh and said, "Well, may things turn out for the best. As for mother, this is just typical of her." With that, she walked away, leaving them standing there.
Yibo remained seated, left with Nainai's old-fashioned bags. Just then, Suyue rushed over and asked, "Wait, instead of following Nainai to take care of what we need to, you just let them leave?"
Yibo's eyes widened. "Oh, right! We should at least pretend we're following them with their bags and then sneak away."
Suyue nodded. "Alright, grab them, and let's go."
Yibo picked up Nainai's bag and handed A-Ji's to Suyue. Just as he turned, he caught Zhan staring directly at them. His eyes flickered with alarm. "Suyue, do you see how Gege is looking at us?"
Suyue glanced in his direction and saw that, despite being surrounded by well-wishers and Ning Li, Zhan's gaze remained fixed on them. She quickly sat back down. "He's definitely suspicious of us. Do you know what we should do?"
Yibo shook his head.
Suyue opened her bag and pulled out a crisp new note. "Take this and hand it to the bride. Before you come back, I'll slip outside to the car. Meet me there quickly. But first, let me change my seat."
Yibo nodded and moved toward the front of the hall, an envelope full of cash in his hand.
Meanwhile, Meiling, Xinyi, Mengxi, and a few of Ning Li's friends and relatives, dressed head-to-toe in gold, were lost in the music, dancing enthusiastically as the song filled the hall.
Ning Li, too, was gently swaying to the rhythm, her eyes fixed lovingly on Zhan. But Zhan stood still like a statue, absently scrolling through his phone.
When Yibo reached them, he refused to meet Zhan's gaze and instead focused on Ning Li, who was still dancing. He extended the money toward her.
Ning Li met Yibo's eyes directly, a deep stare that made Yibo's stomach twist in unease. He quickly looked away, keeping his focus on handing over the money, unwilling to make eye contact again.
Zhan made his way toward his younger siblings, who were fully engrossed in dancing—especially Meiling. He started moving subtly to the beat, swaying little by little.
Ning Li shot him a sharp glare when she realized he was only dancing with his siblings and not paying her any attention.
Yibo, noticing her reaction, hesitated. Instead of handing her the money as planned, he pulled back and turned toward Meiling and the others.
Facing Yibo directly, Zhan locked eyes with him and slowly started dancing. Yibo immediately dropped his gaze to the floor, unable to look at him. But as the music continued, he tentatively began moving as well.
Beiting turned to clap along, soon joined by Zihan, and within moments, all of Zhan's friends had joined in, cheering and applauding.
Ning Li felt like she was sinking—everyone had turned their focus to Zhan and Yibo. She stood alone, her elegant gown the only thing flowing around her. It was as if the entire hall had forgotten about her existence.
Even Yichen was wide-eyed in disbelief, watching the scene unfold. Guests kept arriving, and instead of congratulating the bride, they cheered for Zhan and Yibo, as if Yibo were the real center of attention. Many hadn't even noticed Ning Li standing there, let alone realized she was supposed to be the bride.
Yibo, now overwhelmed with embarrassment, felt as though he had become the unintended star of the event.
Zhan continued dancing right in front of him, eyes locked on Yibo. Sheer nervousness made Yibo desperate to escape, but the crowd had formed a circle around them, blocking his way.
Finally, with great effort, he managed to slip away, his heart pounding. He glanced toward where Suyue had been sitting and saw that she had already left. Without hesitation, he hurried toward the exit.
As soon as Suyue spotted him outside, she flashed the headlights of the waiting car...Seth car. Yibo made his way toward it, but just as he reached for the compound center, someone grabbed him from behind and yanked him back.
A startled scream escaped him as he spun around, his heart racing in terror.
Zhanxianyibo❤️💚💛