Since the wedding date was set for New Year's Day, Old Master Lu asked Lu Yanbei to visit relatives one by one with Su He before then. They were to deliver invitations to show the importance of the marriage.
It was fine with the Su family; they had a simple household and only needed to be notified. However, the Lu family's relatives proved to be a headache for Su He.
When she was previously married to Lu Jingyang, those people had made countless sarcastic remarks. They looked down on her background or felt she wasn't good enough for Lu Jingyang.
In short, their words were harsh.
Now, she was marrying Lu Yanbei, and she could only imagine what cruel things those people would say.
"Don't worry, I'm here with you." Seeing her distressed expression, Lu Yanbei reached out and squeezed her slightly cold hand.
Su He was momentarily stunned.
Recently, due to dealing with the Old Master, they had been in closer physical contact. She had assumed it was all for show and hadn't taken it to heart. Who would have thought that after so much time had passed, he still hadn't broken character?
His hand-holding action was too natural!
Su He, startled, quickly withdrew her hand. "Perhaps we could go separately?"
"That wouldn't be appropriate. The older generation values tradition. For a joyous occasion like a wedding, it's best for us to be a pair," Lu Yanbei gave her a reason she couldn't refuse.
To appease Su He, Lu Yanbei was thoughtful in every way. "It's just a formality. We'll sit for a while and then leave. Also, we'll only visit a few families we're close to. For the others, I'll have the housekeeper convey our regards."
Hearing him say that, Su He finally felt a little relieved.
She hated being in a situation where a large group of people sat together for a meal, discussing family matters and picking out her flaws.
The Lu family was wealthy and influential, so they naturally had many relatives and friends.
When everyone learned that Lu Yanbei was getting married, they were all stunned into silence. Upon looking at the invitation and seeing Su He's name, they almost fell off their chairs.
"I'm not mistaken, is that Su He?"
"Could it be the person I'm thinking of?"
"Perhaps it's a different person with the same name?"
The relatives pulled out their phones to look at photos and carefully identify her. Then, they all fell silent.
"Could there be a mistake? How could Yanbei possibly be with her? Wasn't she Lu Jingyang's wife?"
"Not anymore! They divorced a few months ago!"
"Lu Yanbei can have any lady from a prominent family, why would he be interested in her?"
"Even if Su He and Lu Jingyang were innocent, she was his sister-in-law for many years... This... isn't this going too far!"
"How could the eldest uncle agree to this marriage? Did she use some trick?"
"I think it's possible! Did she threaten the eldest uncle with his health to force Yanbei into marrying her?"
"This woman is truly cunning! She actually plotted against Yanbei!"
After the invitations were sent out, they caused quite a stir throughout City B. Especially those women who had ambitions of marrying Lu Yanbei, they felt utterly humiliated.
"Lu Yanbei could marry anyone, why specifically Su He? What's so great about her!"
"If it were anyone else from our circle, I wouldn't be so angry! Who is this Su He to think she's worthy?"
"I'm so furious! How can this Su He be so shameless, seducing her ex-husband's brother!"
But the fact remained.
The wedding invitations had already been sent out, so there was no possibility of a mistake.
The Lu family wouldn't get such an important matter wrong.
Therefore, the news of Lu Yanbei and Su He's upcoming wedding was true!
That night, countless women's hearts were broken, and they wept themselves to sleep.
Especially those who had hoped to get close to him, like Zhou Yingzi, Song Yan, and Su Anan, were so furious they couldn't sleep all night, wishing they could pounce on Su He and devour her alive.
*
Zhou Yingzi learned about Lu Yanbei's impending marriage from Lu Yunting.
At the time, she didn't know who the bride was, but her eyes turned red with jealousy.
"H-how could this be so sudden?" Zhou Yingzi clenched her fists tightly, her breathing becoming heavy. She was afraid that if she couldn't hold back, tears would stream down her face.
Zhao Yafen was also surprised. "Whose daughter is she?"
Lu Yunting's face was tight with displeasure at Lu Yanbei's fait accompli. "It's that girl Su He!"
"Su He? Why her!" Zhao Yafen and Zhou Yingzi exclaimed in unison.
"Are you sure?" Zhao Yafen, shocked and indignant, exclaimed. What kind of enchantment had that annoying, uncouth girl cast on Old Master Lu to force Lu Yanbei into marrying her?
"Has the Old Master lost his mind?" Zhou Yingzi blurted out, trembling with anger.
Lu Yunting glanced at the prostitute but didn't reprimand her.
Because he thought the same thing.
Old Master Lu was such a shrewd man. If he wasn't senile, why would he let his precious grandson marry a used woman? A woman that Lu Jingyang didn't want!
He must be crazy!
"I heard the Old Master was hospitalized again recently. Could it be that he wants that girl to ward off misfortune again?" he murmured. It seemed like no other reason could explain it.
"Even so, he shouldn't act so recklessly!" Zhao Yafen's shrill voice almost shook the roof. "That brat Su He has no manners and is incredibly petty. If she enters the Lu family, will we ever have a good life again?"
"It's because of her that we were kicked out of the Lu family. If she whispers in his ear later, won't Brother Yan ignore us even more?" Zhou Yingzi knew that no one but Lu Yunting could stop this. So, she kept fanning the flames. "Mom and I don't care, but Uncle, you are Brother Yan's biological father. You've contributed so much to the Lu family over the years, you deserve credit if not hardship..."
"Even if the Old Master doesn't think about the Lu family, he should at least consider Yanbei! Su He's background is completely unworthy of him, and she can't bring him any assistance."
Lu Yunting's lips turned downward, indicating he had taken her words to heart.
Yes, he had lived in the Lu family for so many years, always bowing and scraping, serving the Old Master, trying to please his son Lu Yanbei, like a grandson, and enduring so much hardship.
Now Lu Yanbei had grown up and was strong enough to kick him out of the Lu family and claim the Lu family fortune for himself. Why? He and Lu Xiyan were legally married, and according to the law, he was entitled to half of her inheritance!
Lu Yunting grabbed his car keys and stomped out angrily.
"Yunting, it's so late, where are you going?" Zhao Yafen pretended to try and stop him.
Lu Yunting shoved her aside. "Of course, I'm going back to the villa. I want to ask Lu Yanbei if he still has any regard for me as his father!"
With that, he slammed the door shut and left.
Behind him, Zhao Yafen and Zhou Yingzi exchanged a look, a triumphant smile on their faces.
At the same time, Lu Jingyang, fuming, drove back to the Lu family villa.
His eldest brother must have been forced into this!
He had to expose Su He and make Grandpa see her true colors.