Chapter 23 Doesn't Your Conscience Ache
In the evening, Chen Xuan changed into clean clothes and drove out.
He had originally planned to pick up Su Yunxi, but halfway there, Su Yunxi called. She had important matters to handle and would drive to the hotel herself later.
Chen Xuan knew that Su Yunxi's status was extraordinary and she must be busy. However, he was already very happy that she agreed to come, at least he wouldn't be utterly disgraced at the banquet.
Chunchang Grand Hotel was a mid-to-low-end restaurant in a suburban town.
It usually catered to banquets like weddings and postnatal celebrations.
Normally, if anyone in the nearby villages and towns held a wedding banquet, they would come here.
The cars parked at the entrance were mostly common models like Volkswagen and Geely. Chen Xuan's brand new BMW, with its license plates not yet attached, stood out as the brightest among them.
Chen Xuan parked his car, got out, and walked directly into the largest private room at Chunchang Grand Hotel.
By the time Chen Xuan arrived at the private room, everyone was already there. Including him, a total of twenty people had come. A few extra chairs had been added to this room designed for eighteen.
Although Chen Xuan had married into the Li family, and the Li family was wealthy, he was still an in-marrying son-in-law, which lacked face. He had only invited close relatives like paternal uncles, aunts, and cousins, and no distant relatives.
Chen Xuan's grandfather had four sons and one daughter. His father, Chen Jianhua, was the second eldest. However, Chen Jianhua married and had children early, so Chen Xuan was the oldest among the grandchildren.
But now, even his cousin Chen Long, who was four years younger than him, had been married for a year, making Chen Xuan feel very awkward.
What surprised Chen Xuan even more was that Li Jiajia had already arrived at the private room before him!
Chen Xuan looked up and saw Li Jiajia staring at him with a smile that wasn't quite a smile, and his expression immediately sank.
He wondered what kind of trouble this woman would stir up today!
"The groom is here, hurry up and sit down. You must sit next to Jiajia. You and Jiajia are the main characters today!"
"Our Chen Xuan has married well. I heard the Li family is quite rich, they own a factory and have considerable assets!"
Everyone wore smiles, but Chen Xuan could clearly feel their mockery.
Chen Xuan, being the eldest, had chosen to marry into the wife's family, which in their eyes was a desperate move due to his inability to find a wife.
No matter how wealthy the woman's family was, he wouldn't even have the right to decide his children's surname. He would surely live a very stifling life in their home.
Back then, when Chen Xuan's father was doing well, these relatives would flock to him, begging for favors. But after his father disappeared and the factory went bankrupt, not a single one of them lent a hand when it came to repaying debts.
Chen Xuan had long seen through their true colors.
He nodded expressionlessly and sat in the empty seat next to Li Jiajia.
Li Jiajia, with her arms crossed and resting on her chest, stared at Chen Xuan with a mocking expression, as if waiting to watch a good show.
The son and daughter-in-law of Chen Xuan's eldest uncle stood up and said to Chen Xuan and Li Jiajia with a smile, "Cousin, Sister-in-law, wishing you a happy wedding!"
Chen Xuan's eldest aunt reminded him, "Cousin, you are marrying into a wealthy family. When you get to their home, you must be diligent and don't let them kick you out."
Following that, the son and daughter-in-law of Chen Xuan's second eldest uncle also stood up and said, "Cousin, the Li family is not like our family. You must be filial to your in-laws and don't be picky."
"Jiajia, I heard my cousin gave your family a betrothal gift. If you have two children, if possible, try to have one child named Chen."
This was the rule for the Chen family. If an in-marrying son-in-law paid a betrothal gift, he would have more status in the wife's family and could choose to have one child take the husband's surname. Of course, this depended on the wife's willingness.
If the wife was unwilling, the husband had no right to object.
One by one, the Chen family relatives stood up. While appearing to offer blessings and advice, their words were filled with unconcealed mockery.
Chen Xuan couldn't help but shake his head.
Just as Chen Xuan was about to speak, Li Jiajia glanced at him, stood up, her slender and graceful figure moving, and said coldly:
"Thank you all for your good intentions, but I, Li Jiajia, find this scumbag Chen Xuan utterly unappealing. I have already divorced Chen Xuan!"
"I've come today to inform all of you Chen family members!"
What?
The Chen family members were all stunned.
They didn't even want him as an in-marrying son-in-law?
The eyes of every Chen family member turned extremely contemptuous as they looked at Chen Xuan!
If this got out, wouldn't Chen Xuan be utterly humiliated in the village?
Chen Xuan's uncle stood up and accused, "Chen Xuan, Jiajia is such a good woman, why don't you cherish her? Tell us, how did you offend Jiajia?"
Chen Xuan's second eldest aunt, hands on her hips, sternly said, "Chen Xuan, by doing this, how can we Chen family members hold our heads up in the village?"
"Chen Xuan, you know your family's situation. You're lucky to have found a wife, it's as if your ancestors burned high incense. Why don't you cherish it? Hurry up and apologize to Jiajia!"
...
The gazes of the Chen family members were fixed on Chen Xuan, some angry, some mocking.
Their words, while seeming like reminders, were actually all about the Chen family's reputation and status in the village.
At this moment, Chen Xuan's eldest uncle stood up and commanded, "Chen Xuan, quickly kneel and apologize to Jiajia. Jiajia is not an unreasonable person, she will definitely forgive you."
Li Jiajia's beautiful eyes fixed on Chen Xuan and she said playfully, "That's right, Chen Xuan. If you kneel and beg me, perhaps I'll forgive you." "Yes, kneel!"
"Kneel!"
A chorus of agreement followed.
But at this moment, the door of the private room was suddenly pushed open, and a graceful figure with an apologetic expression walked in quickly.
It was Su Yunxi.
Su Yunxi surveyed everyone, apologizing profusely, "To all the uncles and elders of the Chen family, I am truly sorry. My company had an urgent matter, causing me to be late. Please forgive my tardiness."
Swish!
The gazes of the Chen family members immediately fell upon Su Yunxi.
Su Yunxi was clearly meticulously dressed today, with exquisite makeup and a trendy red long dress. She wore expensive crystal high heels.
In the eyes of the Chen family, Su Yunxi at this moment was like a dazzling star, someone who should be dining in a five-star hotel.
How could she be here?
Chen Xuan's eldest aunt reluctantly stood up, her face full of confusion, and asked, "Miss, did you come to the wrong place? We don't know you."
Su Yunxi scanned the crowd, her gaze landing on Chen Xuan, and she smiled charmingly.
Under the bewildered gazes of the Chen family, this star-like beautiful young woman, with a smiling face, hooked Chen Xuan's arm and said to the Chen family, "I haven't come to the wrong place. I am Chen Xuan's fiancée!"
"Ah?"
The entire room was stunned again.
How did Chen Xuan suddenly have another wife?
And she was even more beautiful than Li Jiajia?
Many of the younger generation of the Chen family looked at Chen Xuan with envy and jealousy.
Someone questioned, "Miss... isn't Chen Xuan's fiancée Jiajia?"
Su Yunxi smiled and said, "My Chen Xuan and Li Jiajia broke up long ago, and I am his new fiancée."
After speaking, Su Yunxi glanced at Li Jiajia and said faintly, "Furthermore, I don't think it's that someone doesn't fancy my Chen Xuan, but rather that someone is simply not worthy!"
Chen Xuan's cousins looked at Chen Xuan having such a beautiful fiancée and felt a sourness in their hearts, more sour than drinking aged vinegar.
"What did you say?! You said I'm not worthy of Chen Xuan, this little security guard?"
Li Jiajia was not surprised by Su Yunxi's arrival, but these words still made her incredibly furious.