Chapter 2: Marrying for her sister, her determination
The noisy wedding banquet continued, with cups being clinked and laughter ringing out, as if the awkward monologue on the stage had never happened.
Su Wanqing was asked to leave the banquet hall by a middle-aged female assistant who was dressed in a smart suit and had a serious face. She said her name was Chen and that she was the person assigned by Chief Huo to handle the follow-up matters.
"Madam, the commander has instructed that you return to your residence and rest after the ceremony." Assistant Chen said respectfully, yet with an unquestionable formality, "This way, please."
She wasn't even asked for her opinion, and she wasn't even given time to say goodbye to Su's parents. Perhaps in the eyes of Huo Tingxiao and everyone else, she, a "substitute bride," didn't need these unnecessary procedures.
Su Wanqing said nothing, only nodded slightly, and followed Assistant Chen to the hotel's dedicated elevator. The hem of her gorgeous wedding dress trailed silently across the mirror-like marble floor, leaving behind a subtle rustling sound, like a silent farewell.
The elevator led directly to the underground garage, where a black Hongqi H9 sat silently, its license plate a conspicuous white military plate. The driver, a young soldier, immediately got out when he saw her, straightened his stance, opened the door, and stared straight ahead, not glancing to the side.
"Ma'am, please."
Su Wanqing bent down to get into the car, her huge wedding dress almost filling the back seat. Assistant Chen sat in the passenger seat.
The vehicle drove out smoothly, completely isolating the hotel's splendor and hustle and bustle.
The neon lights of the city outside the car window were moving rapidly, and the light and shadow flickered on her calm face.
She thought back to yesterday, in the depressing villa of the Su family.
Her mother, Lin Li, grabbed her hand and cried without any image: "Wanqing! You have to save the Su family! Save your father! We can't afford to offend the Huo family! That damn girl Man Ning ran away. If the Huo family blames us, your father's company will be finished! Our whole family will be finished!"
Father Su Mingyuan paced anxiously, his tone shrewd and cold, typical of a businessman: "The Huo family wants a marriage alliance, and they want the daughter of the Su family! It doesn't matter who it is! What matters is that this marriage must take place! Wanqing, you haven't been with us since you were a child, and we've treated you unfairly, but this time, you must shoulder the responsibility for the Su family! This is also your responsibility!"
responsibility?
What a ridiculous word.
She had been frail since childhood, and a fortuneteller said she had "impacted" the Su family's fortunes. Without hesitation, she was sent to a small town in the far south to be raised by her grandmother. Over the past decade, her parents had visited her only a handful of times, as if she didn't exist.
Her elder sister, Su Manning, enjoyed the best resources and all the love, and was the proud pearl of the Su family. But she, Su Wanqing, was just the forgotten "second daughter" who was only remembered when needed.
Now, when Mingzhu is willful and getting into trouble and needs a chess piece to maintain their dignity and gain benefits, they finally remember her.
Remembering that she still has "responsibilities".
She looked at her mother's tearful face and her father's anxious yet threatening eyes, and a chill spread over her heart, almost freezing her blood.
She didn't agree immediately.
Until her grandmother who raised her called, her voice old and tired: "Qingqing... Did something happen to the Su family? They came to me... They said your father's company encountered a big problem and needed help from the Huo family... Grandma knows you are wronged, but..."
Grandma didn't have the heart to say the rest, but Su Wanqing understood.
The Su family used the most effective method - putting pressure on her grandmother who had done her a favor.
At that moment, the last glimmer of hope for family affection in her heart was completely extinguished.
She said to her grandmother on the other end of the phone in a soft and steady voice: "Grandma, don't worry, I know what to do."
After hanging up the phone, she looked at her parents who were full of expectation, her eyes as calm as a pool of deep water.
"Okay, I'll marry you."
Two words, firm and decisive, without any emotional ups and downs.
Lin Li burst into tears of joy and rushed over to hug her: "Wanqing! My good daughter! I knew you were sensible!"
Su Wanqing turned slightly to avoid the hug that was twenty years late.
Su Mingyuan was also obviously relieved, and immediately changed his expression: "Okay, okay! Wanqing, Dad knew you were sensible! The Huo family is extremely wealthy, and if you marry into it, you will be the wife of the leader and enjoy endless blessings! Don't forget to support your family in the future..."
She felt extremely ironic when listening to her father's utilitarian calculations.
Enjoy life?
Marrying in a stead, facing a cold and absent husband whom she had never met, and an obviously extremely complicated wealthy military family, how could her future path possibly have anything to do with the word "enjoyment"?
This is just a transaction with a clear price.
Use her marriage to exchange for the Su family's respite and grandma's peace.
And she also took this opportunity to completely sever the thin and ridiculous family ties with the Su family.
From then on, both parties were clear.
…
"Ma'am, we're here."
Assistant Chen's voice brought Su Wanqing back from her cold memories.
The vehicle drove into a heavily guarded, quiet compound. As it passed the guard post, the soldier saw the license plate, saluted, and then let it pass.
Finally, the car stopped in front of a three-story building. The building had a simple and elegant exterior, with a distinct military style, exuding an inviolable solemnity.
Assistant Chen got out of the car and opened the door for her. "Madam, this is where the commander and you live. The commander usually lives here when he's in the military area. He also has an old house in the suburbs of Beijing where he occasionally goes back."
Su Wanqing got out of the car. The night breeze blew past, bringing with it the tranquility unique to the compound and a hint of autumn night coolness. She looked up at the unfamiliar, unadorned building.
This is what she will call "home" from now on.
"Your luggage has been delivered ahead of time and is in the master bedroom." Assistant Chen led her inside, explaining as they walked, his tone still businesslike. "The commander's return date is uncertain. If you need anything in the meantime, you can contact me at any time. Here's your phone number, entered, and my number is saved. We have everything you need for daily life in the hospital. If you need anything, just ask the orderly."
The interior of the house is simple and stark, with black, white, and gray as the primary colors, cold lines, and almost no soft decorations. It is clean and tidy, but also deserted and without a trace of life, more like a temporary dormitory for a senior military officer than a home.
Especially the entrance and the living room, there is no trace of a newlywed at all.
Assistant Chen walked her to the door of the master bedroom and stopped: "Madam, please have a good rest. I will take my leave first."
Su Wanqing nodded: "Thank you, you've worked hard."
Assistant Chen left, and the footsteps disappeared at the stairs.
She was the only one left in the huge house.
It was so quiet that I could even hear my own breathing.
She pushed open the door to the master bedroom.
The room was large, equally simple and cold. The only noticeable thing was her old suitcase placed beside the bed and the few pieces of her clothes hanging in the closet - a large empty space next to it indicated the presence of another owner.
What was out of tune with this cold and hard space was her gorgeous and intricate wedding dress embellished with jewels.
She walked over to the dressing mirror and looked at herself.
Her pale face was covered with delicate makeup to hide her fatigue, but her eyes were clear and calm, with a kind of detachment that seemed to see through everything.
She raised her hand and fumbled for the complicated back clasp of her wedding dress, unbuttoning them one by one, slowly and firmly.
The heavy wedding dress suddenly slipped off and piled up on the smooth floor, like an abandoned gorgeous dream.
She was left wearing only a simple silk petticoat.
In an instant, it was as if a huge burden was lifted.
She didn't look at the expensive wedding dress, but walked straight to the suitcase, opened it, and took out her usual pajamas.
The movements were neither hurried nor slow, with a kind of calmness after determination.
From the moment she said the words "I marry", she knew that Su Wanqing, who used to live a quiet life in a small southern town, was dead.
As soon as she stepped in here, she was Huo Tingxiao's wife, the eldest grandson's wife of the Huo family, and the nominal wife of the leader.
The road ahead is unknown and may be full of thorns.
But she, Su Wanqing, has never been a soft persimmon that can be bullied by others.
The Su family thought she was just a pawn who accepted everything, the Huo family probably expected her to be a vase that obeyed the rules, and the absent husband probably just wanted a decoration that would not cause trouble.
They all misjudged her.
Marrying someone else is her determination to break away from the past.
And how to go in the future will be decided by herself.
She changed into her pajamas and walked into the bathroom. The warm water rushed over her, washing away her makeup and, as if washing away the last trace of hesitation.
The mirror was covered with mist, blurring the face but making the eyes appear even clearer and more determined.
It’s late at night.
In this cold and unfamiliar house, her new life began quietly in an extremely lonely way.
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