The man's cold fingertips brushed across the corner of his lips, raising a faint smile. “Go take a look.”
Xiao Xu guessed correctly this time, but he felt puzzled.
President Lu had always been indifferent to women. When he kissed Miss Su just now, Xiao Xu had thought he was seeing things.
Could it be that an accident had occurred?
The wedding venue was extremely noisy. The groom was already waiting onstage for his bride.
As Su Jingsheng came downstairs, a sarcastic smile curled at the corners of her lips. Over the years, she had fantasized countless times about her wedding with Shen Mingfeng. He had always readily agreed, yet in the end, he had still chosen Su Yuning.
He had truly deceived her terribly.
For some reason, their gazes suddenly collided.
Seeing Su Jingsheng looking so stunning for the first time, Shen Mingfeng felt a flicker of doubt. Then, for a long while, he could not pull his gaze away.
Shen Mingfeng, do you regret it?
A perfunctory smile lifted the corners of Su Jingsheng's lips. After she descended the stairs gracefully, Lin Ning emerged from the side.
“Jingsheng, mother told you to dress up before, but you refused. Look how beautiful you are today after I had someone dress you up.” Lin Ning deliberately spoke a little louder than usual.
Even though the speakers were still playing music nearby, everyone in the vicinity heard her words.
Su Jingsheng had always known that Lin Ning was skilled with words.
Otherwise, among all his many female companions, Su Dahai would never have brought her home. In the past, Su Jingsheng had not cared and had thought they could simply muddle through, but now she had been harmed so terribly.
How could Lin Ning have the nerve to take the credit and make people think that she was a wonderful stepmother?
Su Jingsheng said calmly, “stepmother, you must have misunderstood. I came from my mother's apartment. I didn't see anyone you arranged.”
Since everyone was putting on an act, she might as well perform a scene of maternal love and filial devotion.
As soon as she said this, everyone's gaze toward Lin Ning changed.
Lin Ning was unable to react in time either. Only after a while did she say, “They may not have reached you. All right, today is your younger sister's wedding. As your older sister, you came, and mother is truly happy. Come on, hurry and meet the eldest young master of the qi family. I saw him at the entrance just now, and he seemed to like you very much.”
That man at the entrance just now?
At first glance, he did seem quite good, but since Lin Ning had introduced him, she would not dare accept him.
“Stepmother, you're joking. I'm still young, and I have a career. Unlike my younger sister, I can't simply sit back and enjoy the benefits others bring her. So, I think I'll pass.”
Su Jingsheng discreetly freed herself from Lin Ning's grasp.
How could Lin Ning possibly let Su Jingsheng off now? Judging by her appearance today, who knew whom she might curry favor with in the future?
What if she found someone more powerful than the Su Family? This young miss would certainly shift the blame. Rather than let that happen, Lin Ning might as well find her a “good family.”
“Your younger sister isn't as blessed as you. All right, I've already made arrangements with the eldest young master of the qi family. You can't make mother lose face, can you? You're only going to meet him once.”
Lin Ning bit out the last two words through clenched teeth.
Worried that Su Jingsheng would reject her again, Lin Ning reached a hand behind Su Jingsheng.
“Sorry.”
Xiao Xu suddenly appeared carrying a wine bottle and accidentally bumped into Lin Ning, forcing her to withdraw her hand.
She was just about to say something, but when she saw that the other party was someone President Lu had brought, she realized that even though she had been hit painfully, she was the one who should apologize.
Lin Ning smiled. “It's fine.”
Xiao Xu cast her a cold glance. Without even responding, he left directly, as though he had never been there.
Lin Ning rubbed her shoulder and continued speaking to Su Jingsheng. “All right, come with me.”
“Sorry, I don't have time.”
Su Jingsheng suddenly saw someone familiar arrive at the entrance.
Leaving Lin Ning standing there, she walked toward Mia at the entrance.
Hadn't she said she was not coming?
Mia had disliked this wedding from the start and stood at the entrance unwillingly.
“Xiao Ya,” Su Jingsheng called.
“Jingsheng?” Mia frowned deeply.
“What are you doing here?” they asked in unison.
Mia immediately wilted and muttered, “grandfather had originally sent someone else, but he thought we had a good relationship and that I should attend your younger sister's wedding, so he sent me here.”
Her being close to Su Jingsheng did not mean she was close to Su Yuning.
That white lotus was disgusting just to look at, let alone become friends with.
“What about you? Why did you come again?” Mia asked.
“I came because I wanted to.”
Su Jingsheng did not dare explain directly. Otherwise, Mia would certainly make a scene at the wedding venue. Ruining the wedding would not matter, but she could not anger Grandpa Mi.
“All right.” Mia did not want to press further. In any case, the two of them were already at the wedding venue.
Su Jingsheng and Mia stood together.
Before long, the wedding began. Su Dahai led Su Yuning onto the red carpet by the hand, and everyone applauded in celebration.
Onstage, Su Yuning and Shen Mingfeng were smiling so broadly that their eyes had nearly disappeared.
A talented groom and a beautiful bride, evenly matched family backgrounds, and mutual affection—every beautiful description could be applied to them. Yet everything was built upon Su Jingsheng's suffering.
While they laughed joyfully,
Su Jingsheng was crying, her heart torn apart, but she could only grit her teeth and could not even utter a sound of pain.
Gazing at the newlyweds, Su Jingsheng's eyes reddened, and Xiaobao's image appeared before her.
This was a human life, yet they had actually treated it as a game.
Xiaobao, wait for me. Today, mother will definitely demand an explanation for your birth.
Su Jingsheng suddenly lowered her eyes, concealing all her hatred.
The people on the red carpet smiled happily and, under everyone's gaze, said, “I do.”
As the ceremony progressed, it was time for the parents to speak. The Shen Family was very polite, offering a few words of blessing to the newlyweds before ending their speech, which made it seem as though they were not particularly satisfied with Su Yuning.
When the microphone fell into Lin Ning's hands, she began searching the crowd for su jingsheng's figure. “We are very happy that everyone could attend the wedding of my daughter, Su Yuning, and my son-in-law, Shen Mingfeng. We sincerely thank you all.”
“However, everyone knows that I have another daughter. Although I did not give birth to her, we have had a harmonious relationship all these years. We are not related by blood, yet we are closer than biological family. Today, one daughter has married, and one remains. I wonder which family would like to form a marriage alliance with us. We can discuss it below the stage later. Ha-ha.”
In the end, Lin Ning concluded with several awkward laughs.
Her words sounded as though she cherished her daughter and wanted to find her a husband, but in this setting, they made Su Jingsheng seem impossible to marry—as though whoever came for her would be enough for Lin Ning to marry her off.
Her worth plummeted again and again.
Mia was displeased as soon as she heard this and wanted to step forward to refute her, but Su Jingsheng stopped her. Shaking her head, she said, “Forget it. Don't fall into her trap.”
“I know, but look at what she meant. She made it sound as though you can't get married. Why should you have to put up with that? You are the legitimate young miss of the Su Family. Su Yuning is merely an illegitimate daughter. Look at how lavishly this wedding was held. I don't believe the Su Family will spend a fortune to send you off in such grand style when you get married.”
The more Mia thought about it, the angrier she became.
They were both daughters. Wasn't this favoritism too blatant?
Su Jingsheng still shook her head. “If they won't pay for it, I'll arrange it myself. Besides, right now my heart is focused only on work, not romance. All right, calm down.”