Just as the guests were finishing their congratulations, the host raised his microphone again.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the head of the Duan family, the distinguished Mr. Duan Wuqin!”
The grand entrance doors slowly opened.
A tall, broad-shouldered man in a charcoal suit strode into the hall, his polished shoes clicking against the marble floor. His black hair was streaked with gray at the temples, and his sharp eyes carried the confidence of a man accustomed to commanding respect.
At fifty-one, Duan Wuqin still looked imposing. His mature features, upright posture, and unhurried steps gave him an unmistakable air of authority.
The moment he appeared, several guests immediately approached to greet him.
“Mr. Duan!”
“Good evening, Mr. Duan!”
He acknowledged them with brief nods before making his way toward the stage.
I narrowed my eyes.
Duan Wuqin.
The name immediately caught my attention. He was the same man I had seen behaving inappropriately with two women before—and the very man I had witnessed with my younger sister, Yi Luoli, earlier that afternoon.
My expression stiffened, but I quickly composed myself.
So he was Duan Hai's father.
I couldn't help feeling stunned.
Now that I thought about it, Duan Wuqin hadn't attended Yue Ning and Duan Hai's wedding. I had never met him in person at the time, so I had no idea what he looked like or who he was.
I had never imagined that the disgusting man I had seen behaving so inappropriately with those women—and the same man I had caught touching my younger sister's buttocks earlier that afternoon—would turn out to be Duan Hai's father.
More importantly, he was Yue Ning's father-in-law.
What a damn coincidence.
I had absolutely no idea that the man I despised was connected to our family in this way.
Duan Wuqin stepped onto the stage and took the microphone from the host. He glanced around the hall, his expression composed and confident.
“First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for taking the time to attend my son's first wedding anniversary celebration,” he began. “It's a pleasure to see so many familiar faces gathered here today. Over the past year, Duan Hai and Yue Ning have built a life together, and as his father, I'm happy to see their marriage going so well.”
He turned toward the couple standing beside the stage.
“Duan Hai, Yue Ning, congratulations on your first anniversary. I hope the two of you will continue to love and support each other in the years to come. And now that you're about to welcome a new member into the family, I hope you'll cherish this blessing and take good care of each other.”
The guests responded with warm applause.
Duan Wuqin raised his glass.
“Thank you all for coming. Please enjoy yourselves tonight!”
He stepped down from the stage and began making his way around the hall, exchanging greetings and clinking glasses with the guests. As the head of the Duan family, he was clearly accustomed to such occasions. He moved from one group to another, accepting congratulations and offering polite responses.
I watched him from a distance, feeling increasingly uncomfortable whenever I caught sight of him.
It was difficult to reconcile the respectable image he presented in front of everyone with the behavior I had witnessed earlier. Yet I kept my thoughts to myself. This was Yue Ning and Duan Hai's anniversary celebration, and I had no intention of causing a scene.
Meanwhile, the party continued in a lively atmosphere. Guests chatted over drinks, waiters moved between the tables carrying trays of refreshments, and cheerful music played softly in the background. Read the latest chapters at NovelPing.
Not long afterward, Yue Ning finally made her way toward our table with Duan Hai beside her.
“Big Sister!” Yue Ning called happily when she saw Yue Ran.
Yue Ran immediately stood up and embraced her younger sister.
“Congratulations on your first anniversary,” she said, smiling. “And congratulations on becoming a mother.”
Yue Ning's cheeks turned slightly pink. She placed a hand over her stomach, her expression filled with happiness.
“Thank you, Sis. I still can't believe it myself. Everything feels so unreal.”
“It's only the beginning,” Yue Ran replied affectionately. “You'll understand even more once the baby arrives.”
The two sisters continued chatting, clearly delighted to have this moment together.
Duan Hai greeted my parents politely before turning to me.
“Yiluo, it's been a while. Thanks for coming today.”
“Of course. It's your first anniversary. How could we miss it?” I replied with a smile.
He laughed and gestured toward the table. “Please, make yourselves comfortable. There's plenty of food and drinks, so don't hold back.”
My dad nodded approvingly while my mom congratulated the couple again. Little Yi Cheng, meanwhile, was far more interested in the desserts displayed nearby than in the adults' conversation.
Seeing his eager expression, Yue Ning crouched slightly and patted his head.
“Yi Cheng, do you want some cake?”
“Yes!” he answered without hesitation.
Everyone laughed at his immediate response.
For a moment, I let myself relax and enjoy the warm atmosphere around us. Yue Ning looked genuinely happy, and seeing Yue Ran smiling so brightly at her younger sister made me feel happy as well.
Still, whenever my eyes drifted toward Duan Wuqin across the hall, the uneasiness returned.
I knew I couldn't let my discovery ruin the celebration, but I also couldn't simply forget what I had witnessed earlier that afternoon.
For now, I decided to keep my suspicions to myself and focus on the people gathered around our table.
I started drinking with the other guests, hoping to relax and enjoy the celebration. However, I had barely taken a few sips before I began to feel dizzy.
I had always been a lightweight when it came to alcohol. Even a small amount was enough to make my head spin, and tonight was no exception.
I set my glass down and leaned back in my chair, trying to steady myself. As I glanced around the hall, my eyes once again landed on Duan Wuqin.
He was standing nearby, talking with Duan Hai and Yue Ning. The three of them seemed to be having a pleasant conversation, with Duan Wuqin occasionally raising his glass and smiling at the younger couple.
I frowned slightly.
For some reason, seeing him standing there so casually made me feel uncomfortable. Perhaps it was because I couldn't forget what I had witnessed earlier that afternoon. The way he had touched my younger sister still bothered me, and now I knew he was Yue Ning's father-in-law. Read this novel at novelping . com for the best experience.
I couldn't help wondering what kind of person he really was behind that respectable appearance.
After a while, Duan Hai seemed to become occupied with several guests who had approached him. Duan Wuqin and Yue Ning then left him and walked away together.
I watched them for a moment, my brows drawing together.
Why were they leaving Duan Hai behind?
Before I could think any further, Yue Ran noticed my expression and followed my gaze.
“What's wrong?” she asked quietly. “Why are you looking at them like that?”
I turned toward her, hesitating for a moment.
Before I could answer, Duan Hai returned to our table. He had clearly noticed Yue Ran's question and offered an explanation with a relaxed smile.
“Yue Ning is feeling a little tired, so my father is accompanying her to rest for a while. I'll stay here and welcome the guests. There are still quite a few people I need to talk to.”
Yue Ran nodded in understanding.
“She's pregnant now, so she should get plenty of rest. Don't let her overexert herself.”
“Don't worry,” Duan Hai replied. “I'll make sure she takes care of herself.”
He then turned toward my parents and continued chatting with them, behaving like the perfect host.
However, I couldn't quite relax.
My head was already spinning from the alcohol, making it difficult to think clearly. Even so, I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that had settled in my chest.
Duan Wuqin had left with Yue Ning, while his own son remained behind to entertain the guests.
Perhaps there was a perfectly reasonable explanation. After all, Yue Ning was pregnant, and it was only natural for her to feel tired during a crowded celebration.
I tried to convince myself of that.
But the image of Duan Wuqin placing his hand on Yi Luoli's buttocks earlier that afternoon kept resurfacing in my mind.
I lowered my eyes toward my glass and let out a quiet breath.
After a while, I could no longer stand the discomfort in my stomach. The alcohol had made me feel even dizzier, and I desperately needed to find a bathroom.
I leaned toward Yue Ran and whispered, “Honey, I'm going to the bathroom.”
She glanced at me before nodding. “All right. Be careful. You've already had too much to drink.”
“I know,” I replied with an embarrassed smile before getting up.
I left the hall and followed the corridor, expecting to find a bathroom nearby. However, the Duan family villa was enormous, with several hallways branching off in different directions. The lavish decorations and identical-looking corridors soon left me confused.
I turned left, then right, trying to remember which way I had come from.
“Where the hell is the bathroom in this place?” I muttered under my breath.
My head was still spinning, making it even harder to find my way around. Just as I reached another quiet corridor, I heard a woman's voice coming from somewhere nearby.
“Father-in-law, didn't we already do it this morning? Let your daughter-in-law get some rest.”