Chapter 1 Thank you for coming to our wedding, brother
The wedding took place on a cool spring day.
Outside the hotel window, there was a drizzle and green grass slopes. The sound of the rain was pleasant and the green grass was fresh, like an oil painting that had not yet dried, with a bit of wet British style.
In fact, this is a southern city in Huinanji.
The bridesmaid was touching up the bride's makeup in the upstairs suite: "Sisi, don't move."
The bride came back to her senses: "My name is Cheng Ti, you can call me Cheng Cheng, Xiao Ti, whatever is fine."
The bridesmaid hurriedly apologized, "It's been a festive time recently, and everyone's rushing to get married. We've been so busy these past two days."
Cheng Ti was also quite polite: "It's okay, just don't say anything wrong in front of others later."
The bridesmaid smiled and said, "Don't worry, we don't earn these two thousand a day for nothing."
The TV was on in the room, replaying yesterday's 315 Gala, exposing all kinds of counterfeiting: blended liquor, synthetic steaks, braised dishes and bacon processed from diseased and spoiled poultry... Cheng Ti thought to himself, what else is real these days?
In comparison, she and Ye Siheng, the fake couple, and the fake bridesmaids hired for two thousand a day didn't seem so hateful. She consoled herself: at least they didn't harm the interests and safety of the general public. The only person she felt sorry for was Ye Siheng's father, a small capitalist.
It is said that if it rains on the wedding day, it is a good omen for favorable weather and the bride's wishes will come true. However, Cheng Ti looked up at the long light gray sky and felt like something was going to happen.
It was with this feeling that she met Gao Xunmei in the corridor.
The corridor was made of wood, and the high heels passing by made a jingling sound. She had been holding up her wedding dress and had just lowered her head, but when she heard the sound, she unconsciously raised her head.
At seventeen, Xunmei was the woman in her life who could most beautifully wear high heels. That year, Xunmei was a sophomore, and Cheng Ti loved sneaking into the university to watch her host evening parties. Under the bright white lights of the stuffy auditorium, her high heels and skirt swayed gracefully as she ascended the steps, one step at a time. Standing with Shao Mengdong, they were the renowned golden couple of the college.
After so many years, Cheng Ti is still attracted to him, and the other party is still as charming as ever.
Cheng Ti stopped, in disbelief, "Xun Mei?"
"Little Bell!" Xunmei recognized her and, of course, reacted even more visibly than she did, completely stunned. "You're back from Canada? When did you come back? Hey, you, you're—are you the bride today?!"
Cheng Ti smiled awkwardly as a tacit agreement, "I just came back and have been busy planning the wedding. Everything is a mess. I haven't had time to catch up with old friends, let alone invite everyone over. And now I've been caught."
The two exchanged contact information and explained their situations to each other. It turned out that Xun Mei's factory was one of the suppliers of Ye's company, and Cheng Ti and the groom were classmates in Canada who fell in love and got married.
The bridesmaid even found her midway. True to her professional acting degree, she wasn't shy or awkward at all. She used her made-up identity to strike up a conversation with Xunmei, chatting and laughing freely, as if it were a real thing. She even asked Cheng Ti, "Why does Miss Gao call you Little Bell? Is that your nickname? Cheng Cheng, that's really not nice of you. Why didn't you tell us?"
Xunmei smiled and said, "That happened many years ago. It was given to her by her brother's college friend. Xiao Lingdang was still in high school at that time." At this point, Xunmei suddenly frowned as if remembering something, then revealed a somewhat puzzling smile, "No wonder I saw your brother's car outside. Where is he?"
Cheng Ti was stunned: "Shao Mengdong? He, he's here too?"
Xun Mei smiled and said, "What else? Do you have other brothers?"
"I… don't know where he is."
Xunmei pulled her phone from her purse and dialed a number. She smiled into the line before she even spoke, "I finally met your sister. Mr. Shao is so tight-lipped. He's like the Yintai young master's brother-in-law, but he hasn't told us a word." She couldn't tell anyone what was being said on the other end, but she chuckled even more. "They're truly siblings, how come they talk the same way? How many other sisters do you have? Come over, we're in the corridor behind the first floor."
The bridesmaid was completely bewildered and quickly glanced at Cheng Ti, implying, "You didn't even mention your brother was coming. Does this brother know I'm hired? Should I pretend to know him or not?"
Unfortunately, Cheng Ti was already down. The bridesmaid touched her hand and found it icy cold, knowing she couldn't be counted on. However, professional bridesmaids knew that those who were hired to play relatives and friends often had difficult family situations, so she didn't think much of it and simply made an excuse that she had forgotten to take her veil and quickly fled this dangerous place.
After an unknown amount of time, Cheng Ti saw Xunmei waving and heard the sound of leather shoes. She almost subconsciously turned around and looked in the direction of the sound.
In the courtyard, tall trees and a pond are side by side, with clusters of azaleas in bloom. In the gloomy weather, the surface of the water is empty and quiet, like a silver mirror, reflecting the crystal chandeliers in the corridor and the man walking down the corridor.
How strange.
She met Shao Mengdong again.
In this grand and gloomy courtyard, at a distance that is neither too close nor too far, a simple look back spans six years.
He hasn't changed much, he's become more mature, thinner, his facial features are more profound, and he looks more calm and capable. Maybe it's because he didn't know how to wear such a well-tailored suit before, which makes him look taller.
Xunmei spoke first, "Mr. Shao was afraid of treating guests, so he didn't even tell us that my sister was coming back to get married?" She had an intellectual and gentle charm when she joked.
Shao Mengdong smiled and said, "I met Aunt Su when I just came here. She was also looking for you. The roads are slippery in the rain, so the elderly should be careful."
When Xunmei heard this, she was about to go find her mother. She smiled sweetly and said, "I'll go first. You two siblings should settle the accounts."
The long corridor seemed to be suddenly silent. The rain had stopped, the mist had dissipated, and everything seemed to be in a state of desolation. Cheng Ti heard a slight click, turned her head, caught a glimpse of the orange spark between his fingers, and then looked up, finally meeting his gaze.
It seemed that only then did Shao Mengdong begin to look at her seriously through the smoke.
"She's become so beautiful that I can hardly recognize her."
He had long eyes, and when he smiled, the corners of his eyes curved upwards beautifully. He looked at her wedding dress, at her face, with a look of gentle satisfaction. However, only those who knew him well knew the opposite was true. He looked like this, unhappy, and when he was unhappy, someone was doomed.
Cheng Ti said softly, "Brother, we haven't seen each other for six years. I'm twenty-five this year."
"Really? I haven't heard from you in all these years. Lu Cheng sent you something once but it didn't arrive. I thought you didn't live to this age."
Cheng Ti pretended not to hear his sarcasm and simply replied, "It was sent. I sent it back. The check inside was too valuable. I've been doing well overseas these past few years and don't need anyone to support me anymore."
He exhaled a puff of smoke: "Then why did you come back?"
"Get married." Cheng Ti said lightly.
"How long have you been talking?"
She took a few seconds to react before saying, "Two or three years. He's been the longest among all the people I've dated."
Shao Mengdong seemed to pause, but then he reached out and slowly dusted off the ash from his cigarette without saying anything.
Cheng Ti looked away: "Brother, how about you? Have you been doing well these years?"
He didn't answer, but only said: "What are your plans for the future?"
"I don't have any plans. I'm just going to live a good life." She lowered her eyes and said nonchalantly, "Live a normal life."
Shao Mengdong took these words and her attitude to heart and chuckled, "How can you live a serious life?"
“… …”
He then asked, "How can it be considered improper?"
Cheng Ti bit her lip and was about to leave when he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. "I'm asking you a question, but you keep calling me brother. Why are you so rude?"
He looked at Cheng Ti. Her hair was tied up, which made her neck look longer and her bones thin and distinct. Her face was calm, but she was competitive inside. She seemed to be the same stubborn and unreasonable girl as before.
He has curved eyebrows, round black eyes, and a slightly upturned nose, as if nothing has changed.
But today, nothing is different.
He suddenly let go and stopped looking at her: "When will you return to Canada?"
"You're expecting me to leave?"
"Is this the first time you've heard this today? I told you six years ago to go as far as you can and never come back."
… …
Every part of the wedding was incredibly long. Cheng Ti stood on the stage the entire time, the blazing spotlights obscuring her view of the guests' faces. She worried only about tripping over her wedding dress and sweat smudging her makeup. It wasn't until the toasts, as she clinked her goblet beside Ye Siheng, that she realized he had a pretty good seat.
Someone introduced him, "This is the vice president of Ancheng Technology, Shao Mengdong, Mr. Shao."
Mr. Shao said gracefully, "Mr. Lin, you're too polite." Then he looked at the newlyweds and smiled, "I'll drink this. Please feel free to do as you please."
Cheng Ti looked at him and remembered what he had just said.
——"What is considered serious?"
He must look serious now, with handsome features, relaxed and calm. He has a straight nose and is tall. When he looks at people, he glances down, which inevitably makes him look a little arrogant.
Although she smiled, the smile did not reach her eyes.
Cheng Ti suddenly felt disgusted with this cunning and weird man. She held out her wine glass, calmed herself down, and smiled sweetly.
"Thank you for coming to our wedding, brother."
As soon as the words were spoken, there was an uproar everywhere.
Everyone was stunned, looking at each other, not knowing what to say. At that moment, Mr. Ye and his wife were drinking and currying favor with their business friends, so Ye Siheng was the first to speak out in surprise: "You have a brother? A biological brother?"
Cheng Ti turned her head and smiled at him: "Don't you think so?"
Ye Siheng held the wine glass in one hand and cupped her chin with the other. He pretended to look at her for a while, then raised his lips and said, "Your makeup is too heavy, I can't tell." When Cheng Ti slapped him, he said, "Your last names are not the same, are they?"
Cheng Ti smiled faintly. "Didn't our parents divorce a long time ago? I changed my last name later. I went abroad when I was nineteen. I haven't seen each other for so many years. I don't even have their contact information. I didn't expect to meet in the lobby before the ceremony."
Ye Siheng smiled and said, "Why didn't you tell me?"
Cheng Ti replied angrily: "I told you, but you forgot."
Seeing that they were flirting with each other, the onlookers started to make a fuss again. Some shouted that the bride should be punished, some said that the groom should be punished, but everyone agreed: the reunion of family members was double the joy, and the young couple must toast the brother-in-law together.
Cheng Ti caught a glimpse of the fleeting danger on Shao Mengdong's face and almost laughed out loud. She thought, if he hadn't appeared, she would have almost forgotten that even her brother was fake.
… …
Amidst the applause and blessings, Xunmei was sitting at a table a little further away, gently fiddling with the diamond earring on her left ear. She watched the scene of her brother-in-law and uncle drinking together with some boredom. It was like an old scab in her heart was being peeled off, making her feel itchy and painful.
She remembered the cold winter of that year, when the brother and sister had a fierce quarrel outside over something. The brother was so angry that he dragged his sister into an alley. She was worried and quietly followed them to try to persuade them. She saw her sister slap her brother. The brother must have been going to fight back. He angrily pinched his sister's shoulders and would not let her break free. He must have been going to fight back.
The next moment, he pulled her into his arms.
They are kissing.
That night, heavy snow fell, and it was like a white rain. The weather was freezing cold, and their heads and faces were covered with snowflakes, just like now, the gold and silver confetti covering the heads and shoulders of the newlyweds.
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