As most guests had arrived, she assumed the bride and groom must already be prepared inside the church, awaiting the ceremony.
Until no more guests entered from outside, several elders from the Qin family remained at the main entrance, looking around as if expecting someone important.
Gu Susu's legs grew numb and sore from standing behind the tree. What distinguished guest was so late that the Qin elders were waiting like this?
At this moment, she saw a middle-aged man in a bright yellow Tang suit emerge from the church. He carried himself with an extraordinary air.
However, the middle-aged man was furious, questioning the Qin family members, "Where is Qin Tianyi? Today is his wedding, why isn't he here yet?"
"We just contacted Xiao Anjing. Tianyi is on his way, almost here," a Qin elder replied with a forced smile.
The middle-aged man roared, "What is he playing at? Being late for his own wedding, what does he think of my daughter!"
The Qin elder chuckled, "Ah, young people are like this, they have no sense of time. We'll lecture him when he arrives."
Listening, Gu Susu realized this middle-aged man was Shu Yan's father. He appeared older than his actual age, though his excellent upkeep made his true age hard to discern.
The person everyone was waiting for was Qin Tianyi. This realization lessened her disappointment.
Could it be that Qin Tianyi wouldn't come, delayed by some matter, and they wouldn't be able to marry today?
But just as she secretly hoped Qin Tianyi wouldn't appear, a car sped over and screeched to a halt at the church entrance.
Two people alighted from the car: Qin Tianyi and Xiao Anjing.
Her heart sank to the bottom instantly. Why did she care so much if Qin Tianyi got married? What business was it of hers?
Qin Tianyi, impeccably dressed in a dark suit, wore the groom's boutonnière, his expression as cold as ice.
The Qin elders offered him a few perfunctory words, but he paid them no mind, sweeping them with a cold glance that silenced them.
It was Xiao Anjing who stepped forward with a smile to explain to Shu Zhongze, "Mr. Shu, President Qin had some urgent matters to attend to this morning, hence the slight delay."
Shu Zhongze, unable to contain himself, threatened Qin Tianyi in a low voice, "Are you trying to mess with our Shu family, young man? The Shu family is not to be trifled with!"
"I wouldn't dare," Qin Tianyi replied with just two simple words.
Xiao Anjing quickly tried to smooth things over, "Mr. Shu, the wedding can commence."
"Hurry up and go inside," Shu Zhongze urged Qin Tianyi in a low voice.
Qin Tianyi stepped forward, his face expressionless.
"Madam, the wedding is about to begin. Please come inside."
Gu Susu thought she finally had a chance to leave, but a priest from the church spotted her, mistaking her for a guest.
She quickly turned her back, afraid of being discovered by Qin Tianyi and Xiao Anjing. She nodded at the priest but didn't move, intending to leave as soon as everyone else had entered the church.
However, the priest enthusiastically guided her, "The wedding is being held inside. I'll take you in, please follow me."
To avoid drawing the attention of the people entering the church, she had no choice but to follow the priest through a side door into the spire-topped building where the wedding was taking place.
Upon entering, she thanked the priest and sat down in a corner at the very back.
As soon as she sat down, the church music began to play, and the wedding venue fell silent. The main doors and side doors on both sides were closed.
At this point, no matter which door she opened to leave, she would likely draw everyone's attention.
She sat there helplessly, resigned to witnessing the scene she most wished to avoid.
The church was decorated romantically, reminding her of her own wedding to Qin Tianyi.
That had felt like a farce, unromantic and certainly not as solemn and sacred as today.
Amidst the poetic, song-like music, Qin Tianyi made his entrance first, with Xiao Anjing still standing beside him as the best man.
Not long after, Shu Yan, in a pristine and grand wedding gown, walked slowly towards Qin Tianyi, her arm linked with Shu Zhongze's, from the very back of the church.
What a beautiful wedding. Under the blessings of all, the priest first asked the groom, "Mr. Qin Tianyi, do you take Miss Shu Yan to be your wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part?"
Qin Tianyi, however, seemed not to understand and did not respond.
The priest, slightly embarrassed, repeated, "Mr. Qin, do you?"
But Qin Tianyi still did not answer. The guests on both sides were becoming restless.
Shu Yan looked at Qin Tianyi nervously, tugged his sleeve, and whispered, "Tianyi, answer him."
Qin Tianyi turned his head to look at Shu Yan, then said in a low voice, "I'm sorry." He then turned back to the priest.
The priest also became nervous, taking out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his brow, and asked him again, "Mr. Qin, do you?"
"I do not."
Qin Tianyi's words caused an uproar throughout the hall.
Shu Yan lifted her veil, her eyes wide with disbelief, and said, "Qin Tianyi! We had already agreed, why are you going back on your word!"
Qin Tianyi did not explain to her, but walked down from the stage.
Xiao Anjing stood frozen, unable to imagine the consequences. Tianyi had completely lost his mind.
Shu Zhongze's face turned icy. He hadn't expected Qin Tianyi to renege at this moment, showing utter disrespect for their Shu family.
Gu Susu, sitting in the back corner, was also stunned by Qin Tianyi's actions. At the same time, she noticed Qin Tianyi was indeed looking at her and walking towards her.
No, it couldn't be. It must be her imagination. No one would notice her.
But she felt an inexplicable panic and buried her head even lower.
Qin Tianyi still walked up to her and commanded, "Gu Susu, come with me."
Gu Susu looked up at him, her eyes wide, as if he were a madman, unable to utter a single word.
Qin Tianyi simply grabbed her arm and pulled her up unceremoniously, "Let's go."
Gu Susu was pulled out of the church by Qin Tianyi under everyone's gaze. Shu Yan stood alone on the stage, her beautiful face contorted. As expected, Gu Susu had come to ruin her wedding!
But no matter how much she hated Gu Susu and Qin Tianyi, she still had to face the embarrassing and humiliating situation alone. She covered her face, tears streaming down.
Xiao Anjing, seeing Shu Yan's disheveled and pained expression, felt deep self-reproach. He also bore some responsibility for how things had turned out and felt a pang of sympathy for Shu Yan.
Gu Susu, inexplicably dragged out of the church by Qin Tianyi, regained her senses and broke free, saying, "Are you crazy? Leaving Miss Shu alone in the church, how is she supposed to face all those relatives and friends!"
Qin Tianyi again grabbed her arm domineeringly, pushed her into his car, and stared at her, asking, "I didn't send you an invitation, why did you come?"
"I don't know, it was completely unexpected..."
"Unexpected?" Qin Tianyi said disbelievingly, "In your heart, you don't want me to marry anyone else!"