He hooked his hand around the small bag, and Xu Lai refused to let go, which made him even more certain that the item was definitely in the bag. In the end, he still took it.
Zhang Ye opened the bag, took out the shoes, and handed them to Cao Bin. Cao Bin's face lit up with joy: "Thanks, brother, it's all thanks to you."
The groom picked up the bride, and the two served tea to the bride's parents. Uncle Xu gave his daughter and son-in-law a red envelope and said, "I hope you will have a happy and fulfilling life together and grow old together."
Cao Bin picked up the teacup: "Mother-in-law, please have some tea."
Aunt Xu picked up the glass, took a sip, and gave a red envelope as well.
As the bride and groom got into the wedding car, Xu Lai saw tears in her aunt's eyes; she was still reluctant to let her daughter get married.
Then it was time to go to Heng County. Xu Lai stood by the roadside, looking at the convoy of cars, unsure which one to get on.
At this moment, Zhang Ye waved and said, "Bridesmaid, get in my car."
Upon hearing this, Xu Lai didn't hesitate and immediately opened the car door and got in. Then her cousin and Xu Yin's friend also came over.
Four people per car, and after the bride's relatives were seated, the convoy started moving.
It's not even 10 o'clock yet, and it will take another hour to drive there from here.
The car was driving smoothly when Xu Lai felt sleepy. She turned her head to the side and fell asleep.
When they were almost at the man's house, her cousin gently woke her up. Xu Lai instinctively wanted to rub her eyes, but then realized she was wearing makeup and stopped herself.
Then she checked her makeup to make sure it was complete, and then took out a powder compact to touch up her makeup.
When it was the groom's turn, the same tea ceremony was held, and then the groom's parents were picked up and taken to the hotel together.
While Xu Yin was waiting to go on stage, they helped her straighten her dress from behind, and then Xu Lai was no longer needed.
She casually sat down at a table to have a bite to eat, as she would need to help Xu Yin later.
While they were reminiscing, Xu Lai didn't even look up. She clapped when it was time to clap. As she ate, she noticed that the person next to her had changed. She looked to the side and saw Zhao Qingyun. Why was he here?
Zhao Qingyun spotted Xu Lai from a distance. There were only a few bridesmaids there; one was handing out rings, another was waiting below the stage, and Xu Lai was engrossed in eating.
Today, she was someone he had never seen before. She was wearing a light gray bridesmaid dress, revealing her beautifully curved shoulders and neck. Her hair was tied up and secured with a bobby pin to avoid getting her clothes dirty, and she ate very carefully.
He waited a while before sitting down, but the girl choked as soon as she saw him.
Zhao Qingyun poured her a glass of juice, and Xu Lai drank two sips before she felt better.
Xu Lai wasn't too surprised to see him; it wasn't what he expected. She sensed his thoughts and said, "I was at the KTV that day too."
He then realized that she had known all along. Xu Lai had finished eating and drinking, and the bride was about to start changing her clothes. She wiped her mouth, threw her bag into his arms, and said, "Keep an eye on this for me. If it gets lost, I'll come looking for you."
Xu Yin prepared a set of toasting clothes, but Xu Lai was worried that she would have trouble putting them on by herself, so she went to help her.
Once she's done here, there's nothing more for her to do. She just needs to wait until the wedding is over, give all the red envelopes she received to the couple, change out of her bridesmaid dress and return it, change back into her own clothes, and then she'll head home.
After the banquet, Xu Lai went to find her grandparents, intending to stay at their home in the county for the night and return the next day. To her surprise, neither of her parents came back this time; they only gave her red envelopes to pass on.
She pressed the elevator button. There weren't many guests yet. While waiting for the elevator, her uncle and aunt came out and said, "Dad, Mom, stay here tonight and go back tomorrow."
Grandma shook her head: "I'm not used to staying in this big hotel, so let's not waste the money. Besides, your second brother has a house in the county."
The uncle had no choice but to give up, while the aunt had a look on her face that said, "See? I knew it would be like this."
Back then, my aunt and grandmother had a falling out, so their relationship remained lukewarm. My uncle chose his wife over his mother, and his family moved out of the Xu family home and into my aunt's house.
This is a ridiculous story. After my aunt gave birth to Xu Yin, it happened to be the double harvest season in the countryside. My grandparents were busy harvesting rice, and my aunt complained that no one was taking care of her during her postpartum period and that no one was looking after her daughter.
Then she took her daughter back to her parents' home, and in the end, it was her uncle who begged her to come back.
When Xu Lai was born, she was born in the eleventh month, the most leisurely time of the year. Her grandmother helped her second daughter-in-law take care of the child for a few days, which made her aunt angry. She felt that her mother-in-law was deliberately targeting her and favoring her younger son's family.
This matter remained a thorn in their side until Xu Yan was born. The eldest aunt felt that the old lady had been exceptionally kind to their family, had a big argument with the family, and then left.
Just then, the elevator arrived. Xu Lai said goodbye to them and helped her grandparents inside. As the elevator doors were about to close, a hand pressed the down button, the doors opened, and Zhao Qingyun's face appeared before her.
The elevator was quite crowded. After he squeezed in, Xu Lai felt that the previously spacious room suddenly became cramped.
As they approached the first floor, he suddenly spoke up, "Why don't you ride home in my car?"
Xu Lai grunted "Hmm?" and repeated, "I said, you and your grandparents can ride in my car home."
Xu Lai was overjoyed. Rather than waiting for the bus at the bus station, she preferred to hitch a ride.
But her and her grandparents' things were still at home, and she said somewhat tactfully, "Wouldn't this be too much trouble? Besides, we haven't packed our things yet."
Zhao Qingyun couldn't hold back any longer and said in front of the two elders, "Xu Lai, when did you become so polite? Can't you be normal for once?"
Xu Lai's fake smile stopped, and then she said expressionlessly, "Could you please take us home to retrieve our belongings before returning to Shangxi Village?"
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