“I didn’t say I wouldn’t go, it’s just…” Ye Qianqian couldn’t tell Lu Jingchen that she was actually targeting the Bullet Chat, not him!
“Do you… hate him so much that you can’t even bring yourself to wish him well?” Lu Jingchen asked with a darkened expression.
The deeper the love, the sharper the hatred—the more hatred she showed, the more it proved her lingering affection. He couldn’t understand why she still couldn’t let go of that scumbag after everything he had done to her.
Hate? It didn’t feel like much hatred, just resentment. Ye Qianqian didn’t want to say that, so she was trying to come up with another excuse.
Before her eyes, the Bullet Chat was snowballing: 【The female supporting character is so foolish, daring to say she hates her ex in front of the big shot. He’ll lock you in a golden cage and torment you day and night.】
【Although the consequences of angering the big shot are severe, he’s a Love-brain. As long as the female supporting character sweet-talks him, he’ll give her his heart and soul.】
【Female supporting character, don’t you dare mess this up! I’ve got my snacks ready, waiting for you two to make a stunning entrance.】
【The female supporting character making a stunning entrance? I think she came here just to get sent to a mental hospital.】
【Exactly, no one here wants the female supporting character to show up anyway.】
By now, the Rolls-Royce Phantom had arrived at the entrance of the Marriott Hotel. Even through the car window, Ye Qianqian could see the scrolling red characters on the screen above the main entrance:
“Welcome to the joyous union of the Song family’s eldest son, Song Yuntao, and the Ye family’s eldest daughter, Ye Qingyan.”
Anyone arriving would immediately know who the stars of today’s wedding were. If she hadn’t seen the Bullet Chat, she would have rushed in alone without a second thought!
The more she thought about it, the more terrifying it became—and even without thinking, it was still terrifying. Ye Qianqian felt a chill run down her spine, icy tendrils of fear creeping into her heart.
She took Lu Jingchen’s hand and said earnestly, “Third Master, how could I possibly hate that dog of a man? If it weren’t for his scheming to send me to you, I wouldn’t have had the chance to spend such a wonderful night with someone as exceptional as you.”
For some reason, Lu Jingchen felt that the two ordinary words “Third Master” suddenly sounded so pleasing to the ear.
Qianqian’s voice was even more delightful—spending a wonderful night.
If she could call him by his name, it would probably sound even better.
Over and over again, preferably beneath him…
Lu Jingchen’s gaze grew increasingly intense, his eyes fixed on their intertwined hands. After a few seconds of mental blankness, he reached out with his other hand and gently patted Ye Qianqian’s head. His Qianqian was still as innocent and kind-hearted as ever.
He tightened his grip on her hand, his voice low and steady. “If Madam doesn’t want to go in, shall we go home?”
Ye Qianqian felt like prey being watched by a hungry wolf. If she didn’t take action soon, she would be devoured.
“Third Master, I just want to take a quick look inside, but I’m so afraid that the moment I step in, they’ll treat me like a lunatic and send me off to Myanmar.”
Seeing Ye Qianqian trembling, Lu Jingchen’s tone softened unusually. “Don’t be afraid. With me here, no one dares lay a finger on you.”
With that, he carried Ye Qianqian out of the car and then, holding her hand, walked toward the Marriott Hotel.
In truth, he could have prevented everything that happened last night, but he didn’t. Instead, he allowed himself to indulge in his desires.
It was his desire for her that made him let go of his restraint.
If she ever found out about all this, she probably wouldn’t have married him so calmly, let alone rely on him like this!
As they reached the entrance, they were stopped by security. “Sir, please show your invitation.”
“I’m the Ye family’s second daughter. Can’t I enter?” Ye Qianqian asked calmly.
The two security guards exchanged glances. They had received strict instructions from the Ye family’s eldest son and the Song family’s eldest son: under no circumstances was the second daughter to be allowed in to cause trouble.
The wedding was almost over, so it should be fine, but they didn’t dare to make the decision themselves.
The tall security guard politely said, “Please wait a moment, Second Miss. I’ll go inside to ask for permission…”
Before the guard could finish his sentence, Lu Jingchen’s driver hurried over with the invitation. “Third Master, you forgot your invitation in the car.”
“Third Master? You’re Third Master Lu? Please come in. It’s my fault for not recognizing you earlier.” The guard looked at the gilded invitation and immediately bowed apologetically.
Lu Jingchen said nothing, and Ye Qianqian remained silent as well, linking her arm with his as they walked into the banquet hall.
The golden curtains shimmered under the lights, and the crystal chandelier hanging overhead resembled countless brilliant stars.
Fresh rose petals were scattered across the luxurious carpet, transforming the entire banquet hall into a dreamlike scene.
The guests were all dressed in their finest attire. Such a high-society wedding was not only a celebration for the newlyweds but also an important social occasion.
On the LCD screens lining the walls of the banquet hall, images of Song Yuntao and Ye Qingyan’s sweet past were being displayed.
Although Ye Qianqian had personally arranged the wedding venue, there was no trace of her presence anywhere.
As Ye Qianqian walked into the banquet hall arm-in-arm with Lu Jingchen, she heard Song Yuntao’s loud and resolute voice: “I do.”
She lifted her gaze toward the sound and saw the bride, Ye Qingyan, wearing a custom-made pure white wedding gown.
The skirt of the dress bloomed like a white water lily, her slightly curled hair cascaded over her shoulders, and she wore a diamond-studded jeweled crown on her head.
The tall and handsome groom stood beside the bride in a white suit, looking like an enviable golden couple.
The solemn voice of the officiant rang out: “Miss Ye Qingyan, do you take Song Yuntao to be your husband, to love and cherish him, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, in good times and in bad, no matter what he becomes, for as long as you both shall live?”
“…” The bride did not immediately say “I do.” Instead, she stared intently at the newcomers.
Everyone followed the bride’s gaze and saw Ye Qianqian walking in slowly, her arm linked with Lu Jingchen’s.
Lu Jingchen rarely attended social events, but wherever he went, he almost always drew the attention of the entire room.
However, many guests only knew him by name and not by face. Among the guests invited by the Song family, some recognized Third Master Lu and immediately approached him with glasses of champagne to strike up a conversation.
Lu Jingchen handled the situation with ease, his words appropriate and his demeanor graceful. When the crowd around him grew, he simply wrapped his arm around Ye Qianqian’s waist, as if to protect her from being jostled.
It had to be said, Lu Jingchen was truly captivating in moments like these.
The groom hadn’t noticed Ye Qianqian, nor had he seen Lu Jingchen. Anxiously, he whispered to the bride, “Yanyan, do you regret marrying me?”
“…Ah!”
Seeing the bride’s strange reaction, the officiant frowned slightly and repeated loudly, “Miss Ye Qingyan, do you take Song Yuntao to be your husband, to love and cherish him, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, in good times and in bad, for as long as you both shall live?”
“I… do,” Ye Qingyan said with a furrowed brow. At that moment, her mind was entirely preoccupied with one thought: Why had Third Master Lu come?
Had he come specifically to bless her?
Or had he come to stop her wedding?
Three years ago, her decision to go abroad wasn’t solely because of Song Yuntao’s car accident. It was also because she had learned that Third Master Lu was going to France, and she had followed him there.
But once she arrived, she hadn’t even caught a glimpse of Third Master Lu.
Just as she was planning to return home, she received a call from her eldest brother saying that Song Yuntao had been diagnosed as paralyzed by a renowned doctor, so she stayed in Country F to pursue her postgraduate studies.
Country F without Third Master Lu was not romantic at all. The only reason she continued to stay there was to avoid coming back to care for Song Yuntao, who deeply loved her.
The emcee’s voice rang out once more: “Next, let us invite the bride and groom to exchange rings.”