Sometimes people fear comparison, because once they discover someone else’s situation is worse than theirs, they feel that their own isn’t so bad after all.
Putting Wan Shimin’s situation on herself, Zhu Zihua felt that if her daughter were to get married and encountered the same situation as Wan Shimin, choosing between keeping her daughter’s current single status or making her endure such a situation,
she would undoubtedly choose to keep her daughter single; she would rather her daughter stay single for a lifetime than experience such an ordeal.
It was humiliating, too humiliating.
She had lost all her dignity.
Looking at the rapidly changing expressions on her old friend Wan Jia Bing’s face...
She felt suffocated with embarrassment for him!
She had no idea how he would face his relatives and friends in the future...
Originally, Zhu Zihua was extremely reluctant to attend the wedding banquet, especially because she had forced her daughter to find a partner unsuccessfully.
Unable to refuse Wan Jia Bing’s repeated invitations and also considering some mutual friends they had, who Wan Jia Bing had also reached out to,
Zhu Zihua had prepared herself for mockery and ridicule, but then... the event took so many twists and turns, it actually made her laugh out loud.
Zhu Zihua even heard someone murmuring, "This wedding probably won’t happen after all."
But Wan Jia Bing was really determined.
He went out with a face as dark as a burnt pot lid and disappeared for over half an hour.
Some, to avoid the host’s embarrassment, politely left early, but many stayed.
They stayed to see how things would unfold.
After all, both of the to-be-weds today were not insignificant people; everyone present knew them well.
In the past, groom Wan Jia Bing was proficient in eating, drinking, gambling, and philandering; he was infamous for his private affairs with women.
And the bride, though previously unremarkable, had truly become quite sought after in recent years.
There were quite a few families who valued Xue Li’s abilities and had considered sending their underachieving boys to forge a marital alliance with her.
Now, they must be feeling lucky...
Otherwise, they would be the ones embarrassed.
The guests didn’t have to wait too long before Wan Jia Bing, along with today’s couple, reappeared.
At this time, Wan Jia Bing’s complexion, though still quite awful, had improved significantly.
He forced a few creases onto his face, managing a smile that didn’t quite resemble a smile, just odd.
And following right behind him, Wan Shimin’s expression was much grimmer.
Despite that, he still suppressed his emotions and obediently, at his father’s signal, took the bouquet handed over by the master of ceremonies.
Compared to the groom’s deathly pallid expression, the bride’s face was much more animated.
It was as if she had cast aside some taboo, Xue Li openly and intimately intertwined fingers with her bridesmaid.
Unflinchingly facing the glances coming from all around, she would even theatrically raise their clasped hands, waving them a couple of times to the guests present.
Observing her bridesmaid’s shy demeanor, everyone present felt an illusion.
It seemed like the real protagonists of this wedding were the two of them.
The constantly forward-moving Wan Shimin, in contrast, seemed superfluous.
Tan Zhi, watching this farcical scene, confidently said, "Who would’ve thought that scoundrel would see such a day."
"He got sold off by his own dad for a good price."
Just now she had seen it—Wan Shimin’s parents had come over, and though she didn’t know what they discussed with the bride, they suppressed the soon-to-be groom who wanted to make a scene, forcefully keeping him there to continue this theatrical wedding.
Su Li nodded with a smile.
These two, father and son, were not good men.
People say that it’s typically the mean mother-in-laws who like to pick on their daughters-in-law, but in her past life, the original owner had not only dealt with a troublesome mother-in-law but also an unfriendly father-in-law.
Ordinary people, when faced with unpleasant situations, can generally self-soothe and process their emotions.
Even if they became slightly depressed, it never reached the point of self-destruction or world-weariness.
However, the experiences of the original owner in her past life seemed ordinary, yet being surrounded entirely by such people and compounded by her own psychological issues, the result was, of course, predictable...
In her past life, Wan Jia Bing, this father-in-law, appeared relatively kind, but in reality, he was someone who prioritized benefits the most.
There was no choice in her past life, so they had to settle for the original owner. This life, with Su Li’s involvement, his anticipated plans could not be carried out, and a better option had emerged.
Moreover, as long as he could secure this daughter-in-law, the matter he’d long yearned for might be realized. Wan Jia Bing would never give up.
This was also why, after receiving the troubling news, he did not immediately announce the cancellation of the wedding.
His wife, upon hearing the news, nearly passed out.
When interests didn’t clash, he and Wan Shimin were naturally the friendly father and son pair.
In such a situation... heh, Wan Shimin also got a taste of being betrayed by his own father.
More tragically, he couldn’t even resist.
After the bankruptcy of the Wan Family, the little that was left was firmly in the old man’s hands.
He feared that the moment he desperately fought back, the old man was ready to step in.
After all, judging by Miss Xue Li’s demeanor, she seemed to only need a marriage partner.
The old man didn’t look bad, and he was well-maintained...
The more he thought about it, the less Wan Shimin dared to imagine, and he could only begrudgingly accept it.
After the wedding proceeded normally, Su Li did not stay long before she left.
Tan Zhi, on the other hand, seemed reluctant to leave.
The old saying really is true, one evil person wears down another...
The crisscrossing lights created an exceptionally lively atmosphere.
Men and women joyfully danced social dances in the dance floor, while outside, various successful people held wine glasses, drinking alone or tasting with friends.
Among them, a man with a glass, a smile at the corner of his mouth, and a mischievously charming aura was particularly eye-catching.
One of the young women, who’d finally squeezed into such a high-profile banquet following her girlfriends, noticed the man across from her. Her eyes brightened, she adjusted the stray hairs at her temples, and prepared to strike up a conversation.
But before she could take two steps, her arm was grabbed by one of her girlfriends.
"What are you doing?"
The young woman pointed at the man and whispered, "He looks good, whose young master is he?"
Her girlfriend snorted and said, "You’re mistaken. Despite his proper appearance, he’s been ’branded.’"
"He’s Miss Xue Li’s husband."
Her friend stressed the word "husband" very emphatically, speaking loudly enough that people nearby could hear without fear.
Just hearing the name Miss Xue Li, the young woman understood the reality and looked back at the man she’d previously wanted to approach. The look in her eyes was no longer the same.
Much more flippant...
The man, subject to such scrutiny, was none other than Wan Shimin.