Yue Chengfeng gazed at Yu Zixuan in her wedding dress, grinning like a fool, which made Yu Zixuan blush and lightly punch his chest. "You're such a dummy."
Yue Chengfeng pulled her into a tight embrace, whispering in her ear, "It feels like a dream. You're really marrying me."
"What nonsense are you talking about? We already got our marriage certificate ages ago," Yu Zixuan chuckled, nestling in his arms. "I've been yours for a while now."
"Yeah, you've been mine for a long time. You can never escape me now." Yue Chengfeng smiled softly. "Zixuan, I'll make sure you're happy."
"Mmm." Yu Zixuan's eyes shimmered as she listened. After a long pause, she wrapped her arms tightly around him again. "I'll never leave you in this lifetime."
...
The wedding was grand and lavish, with the Yue family sparing no expense to give the Yu family face.
Perhaps due to overwhelming stress, Yu Zixuan had felt her eyelids twitching incessantly since last night, her chest tight as if she couldn't breathe properly.
"Are you okay?" As the maid of honor, Xia Qingtian was closest to Yu Zixuan and the first to notice something was off.
"I'm fine. Just a bit nervous, I guess." Yu Zixuan forced a smile and joked, "First time getting married—it’s inevitable. I’ll do better next time."
Her words drew laughter from those around them.
Xia Qingtian joined in the laughter, giving Yu Zixuan’s hand a reassuring squeeze.
When the time came, someone came to notify them, and Xia Qingtian helped Yu Zixuan step out.
Leaving the bridal suite, they turned at the end of the hallway toward the chapel where the vows would be exchanged.
The walk wasn’t particularly long, but every step felt like treading on clouds—light and unsteady, as if one misstep could send her plummeting into an abyss.
Into eternal ruin.
The heavy doors swung open. Yu Zixuan, arm-in-arm with the man she nominally called her father, stepped onto the red carpet under a shower of flower petals.
At the altar, Yue Chengfeng turned to look at her, his eyes filled with awe.
Just as Xia Qingtian had said, today, Yu Zixuan was the star of the show—the most beautiful bride.
Following behind, Xia Qingtian carefully adjusted the train of Yu Zixuan’s dress while the flower girls scattered petals with solemn focus.
Halfway down the aisle, someone suddenly blocked their path.
"You!" Yu Zixuan’s "father" scowled. "What are you doing here? Get out of the way!"
Having raised this daughter himself, he knew from her expression alone that she was up to no good.
"Dad, even if you're her biological father, shouldn’t the one who walks the bride down the aisle be the man who raised her for so many years?" Yu Linwan’s eyes burned with jealousy as she watched Yu Zixuan on her father’s arm.
Back when circumstances had forced her to marry Gu Yaoqing in haste, this very father had disowned her, calling her shameless and immoral, showing no concern for her helplessness or innocence.
At her own wedding, the man who had raised her refused to walk her down the aisle, claiming he wasn’t her real father.
That day, she had swallowed her bitterness and endured the farce of a ceremony alone.
A wedding was supposed to be the happiest moment of a woman’s life—so why had she been the only one turned into a joke?
If that was how it had to be, then Yu Zixuan wouldn’t get off easy either!
She might not be able to take down Xia Qingtian, but crushing Yu Zixuan was child’s play.
Even if she couldn’t destroy them, she could at least make their lives miserable!
Yu Zixuan’s expression stiffened at Yu Linwan’s words, her eyelids twitching again.
Then, a timid, plainly dressed couple rose from their seats, their faces blank with confusion, unsure even where to place their hands.
"Yu Linwan, what exactly are you trying to pull?" Xia Qingtian’s brows furrowed. Was this woman incapable of going a single day without stirring up trouble?
"What can I do? I just think it’s heartless for Yu Zixuan not to invite the parents who raised her on such an important day." Yu Linwan smirked. "If outsiders think our Yu family is this cold-hearted, it’d be a real shame."
"Then perhaps you’ve forgotten that those two are your biological parents?" Xia Qingtian countered. "To prove the Yu family isn’t heartless, why don’t you demonstrate how *filial* you are?"
Yu Linwan’s face darkened instantly.
"If you insist on dragging them into this, shouldn’t you, their *real* daughter, be the one to escort them?" Xia Qingtian knew exactly what Yu Linwan hated most. If she wanted to ruin things, she’d have to pay the price. "And when you call them 'Mom' and 'Dad' later, make sure to do it loudly and affectionately—after all, so many people are watching!"
"Xia Qingtian, what does any of this have to do with you?!" Yu Linwan snapped.
"Oh, it has *everything* to do with me." Xia Qingtian smiled sweetly. "I’m the maid of honor. My main job is to shut down any trash trying to sabotage the wedding."
"You—!" Being called "trash" made Yu Linwan’s eyes bulge with rage.
Before she could retaliate, another couple stormed in through the entrance, shoving past Yu Zixuan’s group to deliver a stinging slap across Yu Linwan’s face.
The sudden blow left Yu Linwan stunned. She turned in disbelief to see an elegant, dignified woman glaring at her with red-rimmed eyes.
"How much more must you torment Zixuan before you’re satisfied?! How could I have given birth to a daughter like you?!"
Beside her stood a stern-faced man, radiating fury.
They were Yu Linwan’s biological parents—Yu Zixuan’s adoptive parents.
Having been in Finland, they had closely followed Yu Zixuan’s career. After learning of the hardships she’d endured, they had moved up their flight to return early.
Unwilling to assume the worst of their own flesh and blood, they had conducted their own investigation.
What they uncovered horrified them—they could hardly believe the vile, scheming woman responsible was their own daughter.
The scene left everyone in shock.
Weren’t Yu Linwan’s biological parents supposed to be that meek, impoverished couple?
Clutching her cheek, Yu Linwan stared at the pair in utter disbelief.