Zhou Jinbei spent over an hour applying makeup to hide her swollen eyes from crying.
At five in the afternoon, she changed into her dress, put on her heels, and styled her hair. Jiang Sicheng arrived punctually.
Seeing the young man, impeccably dressed and radiating energy, arrive in a flashy luxury car to pick up her daughter, the mother was immensely pleased.
Smiling broadly, she handed her daughter into Jiang Sicheng's embrace.
The two emerged from the villa, appearing like a "talented man and beautiful woman," and walked towards the car. However, Jiang Sicheng opened the rear door for her.
"You sit in the back, there's someone in the front."
Zhou Jinbei got into the car and closed the door.
At a glance, she saw a man in the passenger seat. He was taller than Jiang Sicheng, appeared significantly more muscular, and was equally handsome and young.
Aware of her presence, the man turned back and smiled teasingly at her.
"So you're Ah Cheng's future little wife? Hello, I'm your husband's boyfriend. You can call me Brother Kai."
Jiang Sicheng was truly audacious.
To put his boyfriend and fiancée in the same car and have them meet?
Just because he had paid money, he was so certain Zhou Jinbei would keep his secret, acting so recklessly?
If she had known this would happen, she wouldn't have come.
Already in a bad mood, now she had to watch her future husband openly display affection with another man.
It was adding insult to injury.
Zhou Jinbei's expression remained blank. "Hello."
"Oh, such an unfriendly attitude. You don't welcome me?"
Jiang Sicheng buckled his seatbelt. Brother Kai reached for his right hand and squeezed it.
"Perhaps I shouldn't go today. Your little wife is unhappy. Don't let me cause an argument between you two."
"You dare," Jiang Sicheng said with a smile, lifting him and kissing him near his lips.
"If you don't go, I'll be surrounded by so many annoying people alone. How am I supposed to live?"
"Don't mind her, she's not angry. She knows everything and is very generous."
After speaking, they both turned to look at Zhou Jinbei. "Right, Miss Zhou?"
Zhou Jinbei was almost amused to the point of anger.
"Indeed, I am very generous. Not only do I not mind, but I even wish you two well."
"A new year, I wish you both a loving and eternal relationship. Do you want to kiss to show me?"
The two, whether they had just gotten together or not, were being excessively affectionate.
Zhou Jinbei's sarcastic remark was taken seriously. After she spoke, they exchanged a look, and a spark of electricity seemed to fly between them.
Then, with a flurry of pecks...
The two held each other's heads and pecked endlessly in front of Zhou Jinbei.
After watching for a while, if they didn't leave soon, Zhou Jinbei felt like jumping out of the car. She slapped the seat hard.
"Stop. Someone's coming."
The two finally separated slowly.
Brother Kai reluctantly smoothed Jiang Sicheng's lips.
"Little one, I'll let you go for now."
Zhou Jinbei: "..."
As it was her first time meeting the groom's parents, the location was naturally chosen as the Jiang residence.
Zhou Jinbei linked arms with Jiang Sicheng and walked in. Father and Mother Jiang were very pleased with her.
Everything during the meal was harmonious, except for Jiang Sicheng occasionally turning his head to banter with Brother Kai as if they were buddies.
Towards the end of the dinner, Jiang Sicheng suggested they expedite the wedding so he could get married.
"Since you all have no objections, and I quite like Beibei, let's get married quickly."
"Only when I marry soon can you embrace your grandchild soon."
The mother immediately handed Zhou Jinbei a large red envelope.
"Then it's settled. With the New Year approaching, every day is a good day, and our relatives will have time to attend the wedding. We'll go propose to the Zhou family tomorrow."
"Let's aim for the sixth day of the new year for your wedding. I truly can't wait to hold my grandchild."
The Zhou parents were eager to finalize the marriage, and thus, very smoothly, Zhou Jinbei was to be married on the sixth day of the new year.
On the evening of the third, her father, while urgently writing invitations, remembered Madam Zhan.
"We didn't inform her aunt beforehand. She dotes on Beibei. I wonder if she'll be angry then."
"Tomorrow, you take Beibei and personally deliver the invitation. Invite Ah Jue as well. They are the only relatives our Zhou family can proudly present now."
Zhou Jinbei accompanied her mother to the hospital again.
She didn't see her aunt, but she saw Zhan Beijue, who appeared even more gaunt and had an even more fiery temper than before.
Her mother presented the invitation, but he accepted it with his eyes closed, without even looking.
"I know. I'll send someone then. You can leave now."
"Ah Jue, why haven't I seen your mother recently? Is she..."
"We had a fight. She went abroad. Don't ask me about her affairs from now on."
"..."
"Still not leaving? Should I give you the wedding gift money now?"
On the way back, her mother kept scolding.
She cursed Madam Zhan and Zhan Beijue for their arrogance and ingratitude, wishing them a terrible end.
"Don't forget she was also part of the Zhou family once, grew up sharing the same pot with your father. What's there to brag about?"
"Just because she married into wealth and acts superior? He doesn't even like her, hmph!"
"People like them, who are ungrateful and bully their own family, will not have good outcomes in the future!"
"Beibei, remember this! The reason we have to endure humiliation today is because we've fallen on hard times. Life without money is difficult."
"When you go to the Jiang family, be well-behaved. Win over your in-laws, and know how to handle Sicheng. Our family's future for the next few years depends on you. You must strive for us!"
Zhou Jinbei could say nothing but close her eyes and let out a long sigh.
Choosing one's birth was a technical skill.
With her poor technical skills, she was born into this family, burdened with such odd relatives. Who else could she blame but herself?
After several days of busy preparations, the sixth day of the new year quickly arrived.
Jiang Sicheng, with the best man group led by Brother Kai, went to pick up the bride. Early in the morning, they openly displayed their affection in front of her.
The emcee had prepared many segments to liven up the atmosphere. Jiang Sicheng eagerly joined Brother Kai in the games.
They hugged each other while cooperating to pop balloons, passed a card mouth-to-mouth, put on silly headbands together and made funny faces, and fought over a piece of candy...
Zhou Jinbei truly wished she were just an onlooker, that the wedding was between those two.
The day hadn't even truly begun, and already like this. In the long decades to come, she would likely have to focus all her energy on how to get a divorce.
Since it wasn't true love, Jiang Sicheng casually bought her a wedding dress. She put it on casually, and that's how they arrived at the wedding venue.
The romantic yet cliché wedding venue was packed with dozens of tables of guests.
The emcee droned on for a long time. The couple exchanged rings perfunctorily, and then it was time for the toast.
They went from table to table. Although she only took a tiny sip each time, Zhou Jinbei was already dizzy halfway through.
Until she suddenly saw Ah Zhong.
He was dressed as usual, in a neat shirt and suit, with a clean face and hair.
Despite his ordinary appearance, compared to the boisterous and clownish Jiang Sicheng, he seemed so elegant and composed.
The tears Zhou Jinbei had suppressed for days almost burst forth the moment their eyes met.
Ah Zhong quickly averted his gaze and elegantly stood up, holding his wine glass.
"I am here on behalf of President Zhan. Congratulations to Miss Zhou and Mr. Jiang on your wedding and may you have many children soon."
"The Madam is currently abroad and unable to offer her blessings personally. Please do not mind, Miss Zhou."
"You two please continue. I have some matters to attend to back there, so I'll take my leave now."