The bridesmaid, Yi Ke, pulled the groom aside, and the groom, Shang Weiming, asked, "Who's that?"
Yi Ke hesitated for a moment before answering, "Chu Fang."
Upon hearing this, Shang Weiming remained silent.
The groom knew the name.
He and Zhang Yan were childhood sweethearts, attending the same elementary, middle, and high school schools. They were kindred spirits and had mutual affection.
Shang Weiming thought the two of them could fall in love and get married, but he never expected Chu Fang to appear.
More than twenty years of childhood friendship could not withstand a chance encounter.
From then on, his relationship with Zhang Yan gradually drifted apart until they met again last year. Today, the two of them went to the Temple of the Matchmaker.
Shang Weiming looked at Chu Fang, his voice a little hoarse: "He's very handsome."
Yi Ke said against her will, "Um... it's alright."
Zhang Yan raised the full glass of baijiu to Chu Fang, then downed it in one gulp.
Chu Fang: "Sigh..."
Zhang Yan wiped the alcohol from the corner of her mouth and said, "Last year, my dad's company ran into financial difficulties. I took the ten million you gave me and finally got through the crisis. Thank you."
Chu Fang waved his hand: "It's nothing, it's nothing."
He was quite disappointed when the bank called him, thinking that Zhang's father had ultimately disregarded Zhang Yan's dignity. He never expected it to turn out this way.
The father behind him had a somewhat forlorn look in his eyes.
Zhang Yan said, "I will pay it back."
"That was your birthday present, no need to return it. We're classmates, helping each other is only natural. Is it enough? If not, I..."
"Need not."
Chu Fang obediently replied, "Oh."
Zhang Yan turned her gaze to Zhong Tingyue, who nodded in agreement: "It's been a long time. We won't bother you any longer. We'll be going now."
Zhang Yan said, "Let's save it until after the banquet."
Zhong Tingyue smiled and said, "Okay."
Zhang Yan pursed her red lips, took her husband's arm, left the banquet table, and went to another table to toast the guests.
After the newlyweds left, all the guests looked at Chu Fang and his wife, and he could only smile in response.
It's numb!
Even someone as thick-skinned as him felt embarrassed, that kind of embarrassment of clenching his big toe.
When Zhang Yan ended up at the banquet, all I can say is: it was a coincidence—like a wheat awn falling into the eye of a needle.
Chu Fang and Zhong Tingyue exchanged glances.
Why aren't you leaving?
Do I dare to leave?
Is she your mother?
Don't blame me, this is all your fault, you know? If you hadn't attended the banquet, none of this would have happened.
You're blaming me? How was I supposed to know you could sneak in so easily?
That just goes to show how amazing I am!
You're amazing. How do we resolve this now?
... ...
As the old saying goes, "Husbands and wives are like birds in the same forest; when disaster strikes, they fly away separately."
Before the disaster even struck, he and Zhong Tingyue started arguing.
The two exchanged glances and immediately decided that the best of the thirty-six stratagems was to flee.
withdraw!
They sneaked away, but just as they reached the door, they heard the groom, Shang Weiming's voice: "Please wait, gentlemen."
Chu Fang and Zhong Tingyue stiffened and turned around to see Shang Weiming, Zhang Yan, and Yi Ke.
Shang Weiming said, "If we're not in a rush, I'd like to invite you two to come with us somewhere."
Huh?
Can I say it's urgent?
My house caught fire, my mom became a "little husband" while playing cards, and my grandpa lost his "king" in chess...
They're so anxious they're practically smoking!
Chu Fang forced a smile and said, "No rush."
The five people got into the car together. Shang Weiming sat in the driver's seat, Chu Fang sat in the passenger seat, and the three girls sat in the back.
The car was quiet all the way, as if the air itself had stopped moving.
After a half-hour drive, we turned into the villa district of Shanghai and arrived in front of a luxury villa.
The group got out of the car, and Shang Weiming said, "This villa is something I bought for Yan Yan. It's worth over 50 million yuan. It's not expensive, but it represents my feelings."
"I hope she lives a happy and carefree life..."
Before her husband could finish speaking, Zhang Yan left the villa, leaving behind the words: "Love doesn't need money to prove it, and to show off, you need to find out who the other person is."
Shang Weiming's movements and expressions were stiff, and his face was pale, as if he had lost his life.
Seeing this, Chu Fang and Zhong Tingyue looked at each other, feeling as if they had gotten themselves into a big mess.
They quickly said they had something to do at the company, and without waiting for the other person's reply, they rushed out of the villa as if they wanted to carry a train with them.
After a long silence, Shang Weiming asked in a hoarse voice, "Why?"
Yi Ke regretted concealing Chu Fang's identity, which had led to this catastrophic situation. She exhaled and said, "Chu Fang is very rich."
Yi Ke concealed Chu Fang's identity to prevent Shang Weiming from feeling inferior and to continue the wedding ceremony, but unexpectedly, Shang Weiming mistook Chu Fang for an ordinary person.
Using money to express his love only provoked Zhang Yan's resistance.
Shang Weiming seemed to understand immediately, and just then, Zhang Yan slowly walked into the villa: "I'm sorry, I was rude just now..."
"No need." Shang Weiming took a deep breath and replied calmly, "It was my arrogance that made me a clown."
"Chu Fang is handsome and rich. Compared to him, I am just a clown. Anyone would choose him."
“If it were before, I would have just laughed it off, buried it in my heart, and continued to pursue you, but today I really don’t want to do that anymore. I’m tired, and I think it’s time to end it here.”
Yi Ke quickly said, "Weiming, don't say that."
Shang Weiming said, "Then what should I say? My lawfully wedded wife has another man in her heart."
Zhang Yan said, "I didn't."
"Heh~" Shang Weiming felt a little relieved. "Whatever you want, it's over between us anyway."
After speaking, Shang Weiming left the villa, leaving Yi Ke and Zhang Yan behind. The latter was expressionless, while the former was cursing Chu Fang vehemently.
"It's all that man's fault! We didn't invite him, so why did he attend the wedding? He's causing trouble, he's trying to kill us!"
... ...
On the way back, Chu Fang and Zhong Tingyue looked at each other and breathed a sigh of relief.
Finally, I left, leaving that awkward place behind.
"Ms. Zhong, you are the most beautiful woman in the world."
"Mr. Chu, you are the most handsome man in the world."
The two praised each other, celebrated their escape, and headed to the studio in a taxi.
At this moment, neither of them was aware of the damage their actions were causing to their happy marriage.
Back in the studio.
Jiang Wenzhen asked, "Hey? Why did it take you two so long to have lunch?"
Zhong Tingyue's lips twitched.
She vowed that she would never again freeload at someone else's banquet.
Chu Fang leaned against the front desk and casually said, "They took it."
Zhong Tingyue kicked him; he never utters a serious word.
Jiang Wenzhen looked at him with disdain: "Then your time was short enough."
"Time is not about how much you have, but how you use it!"
“... ..."
They slacked off until sunset, and after Zhong Tingyue finished packing up the documents, Chu Fang and the other left the studio together.
As Chu Fang walked downstairs, he casually glanced around and noticed that the lavish flowers at the hotel where the banquet had been held earlier were gone, with only staff cleaning up.
A sense of foreboding washed over Chu Fang, and he stepped forward to ask, "Hello, is the wedding banquet canceled?"
The waiter replied, "The young couple had a fight and decided not to get married. You know, young couples these days are really something else, treating marriage like a joke."
Chu Fang asked, "Why didn't you get married?"
"Why? That's interesting." Suddenly, Yi Ke appeared to their right, glaring at them with an unfriendly expression. "You ruined the wedding, and you're still asking why?"
"Chu Fang, why are you at the wedding? What are you up to? Do you want Yan Yan to stay single forever? Bah, you scumbag! You're not even a scumbag, you're a piece of trash!"
After saying that, Yi Ke went into the hotel.
Chu Fang stood there in silence. After a long while, he came to his senses and said softly, "Let's go home."
On his way home, Chu Fang was silent and somewhat dazed, and almost crashed into a car, causing an accident.
Back home, Zhong Tingyue told Chu Fang to rest and cooked a simple meal for him. During the meal, Chu Fang was absent-minded and couldn't concentrate.
"Sigh!" Zhong Tingyue sighed. "Mr. Chu, I'm sorry, I was too reckless today."
If she hadn't wanted to attend the banquet, none of this would have happened, and the wedding would have continued.
Chu Fang spoke up: "I was wrong."
“You did nothing wrong.” Zhong Tingyue sensed the immense guilt in her fiancé’s heart. “Without the two of us, that relationship might not have lasted. It’s a good thing to end it sooner rather than later.”
Zhong Tingyue is a person who prioritizes reason over personal relationships.
Chu Fang is right!
Even if Mr. Chu is wrong, it is a 'correct mistake'.
Chu Fang threw down his chopsticks, grabbing his hair: "How could this happen?!"
This happened in a way that he couldn't handle.
He cannot forgive himself for disrupting a beautiful marriage because of his actions.
"I'm going out for a walk." Chu Fang went outside.
"I'll go with you."
He waved his hand, wanting to be alone and quiet.
As night falls and the city lights come on, the vibrant cityscape of Shanghai is on full display.
Chu Fang drove aimlessly, his mind completely blank. Not long after, Zhong Tingyue sent him a message with an address.
[Wang Shu: This is Zhang Yan's home address. Go and ask her.]
He turned the steering wheel and headed towards Zhang Yan's house.
Meanwhile, in Zhang Yan's home, the bright lights illuminated the house, and Zhang Yan, Yi Ke, Zhang's husband, and Zhang's mother sat in the living room, their faces filled with worry and sorrow.
The housekeepers were very careful, afraid of making any noise. Back in the break room, they breathed a sigh of relief and whispered among themselves:
"Sigh! Miss Zhang finally found a relationship and was about to get married, but unexpectedly she just called it off."
"Who can you turn to for justice in this matter?"
"Actually, Miss also has her own problems; she's married but still thinking about that man."
"I feel that the young lady's problem isn't with that scumbag, but rather with heartache."
"What kind of heartache?"
"have no idea."
"You're absolutely right. Don't say that again."
“... ..."
Mr. Zhang smoked a cigarette, while Mrs. Zhang comforted her daughter: "Alright, alright, my daughter is the most beautiful in the world. Some people will pursue her, and if she leaves, she will leave. The next one will be even better."
Zhang Yan said, "Mom, I don't want to get married."
“Fine, then we won’t get married!” said Zhang’s mother. “How many people can stay single for life? They can live a carefree life. I just regret marrying your father.”
Yi Ke chimed in from the side, "We two sisters are going to form a singles alliance and fight against all couples in the world!"
Just then, the doorbell rang, and the auntie quickly went to open the door and led them in.
Mother Zhang glared at Chu Fang, her anger reaching its peak: "You wicked devil, what brings you here? Haven't you harmed my Yan Yan enough?"
Ike also said, "You are not welcome here. Please leave."
Mr. Zhang extinguished his cigarette: "I'm sorry, please leave immediately. I will repay the money as soon as possible."
Chu Fang looked at Zhang Yan and said softly, "I'm sorry."
"What's it to you?" Zhang Yan said calmly. "What does my business with Shang Weiming have to do with you? Even if we end up in court, it's none of your concern."
"Don't think you can be so smug just because I've liked you for a few days. It's none of your business to apologize!"
Zhang Yan waved her hand, and the group pushed Chu Fang out of the house.
Yi Ke closed the door: "Get out."
Chu Fang said, "I want to know Shang Weiming's home address. I want to talk to him."
Yi Ke sighed: "Shang Weiming left the villa today and has disappeared. His parents don't even know where he is."
The villa door closed, and Chu Fang stood outside.
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