Chapter 98 "What are you looking at?"
After the ancestral worship ceremony, Xia Dongbo opened the gift basket and happily distributed wedding cakes to all the relatives and media present.
In addition, the children and reporters also received a large red envelope. The children munched on brown sugar sesame cakes with smiles on their faces, and the reporters were happy too.
Even the headlines were more sensational than usual:
@BreakingNewsQueen: [The Zhou family patriarch makes his first public appearance in over thirty years, handsome and dashing as he greets his bride]
@ThisIsBeijing: [The chairman of Kepler arrived at Xia Garden with a betrothal gift, accompanied by eight Rolls-Royces and ten armed escort vehicles, causing a huge commotion that startled passersby!]
@EntertainmentNews: [The Zhou and Xia families are now even closer, with a four-meter-long gift list spread out on the ground, and a limited-edition Bugatti Veyron sports car making a grand finale!]
@Today's Richest People: [Xia Mian, Beijing's new darling, possesses astonishing charm, captivating the Zhou family patriarch and spending billions for him]
Just as there are media outlets that attract attention, there are also those that lack ethics, starting with making fun of summer sleep:
@EntertainmentCaptain: [A Slum Boy's Perilous Journey to the Top of Beijing's Elite Circle—A Look Back at Xia Mian's Growth Path]
@Senior Sister Says: [Xia Mian is suspected of being possessed by a fox spirit; a rational analysis of whether he had facial plastic surgery or not]
Even more unethical, they've started to compare and belittle each other:
@BeijingThings: [Xia Mingzhao and Xia Mian share the same surname but have different fates; their treatment is worlds apart. With a dowry of billions in front of them, Xia Mingzhao frowns and looks dark.]
@EntertainmentTransferrer: [The myth of the wedding of the century was shattered in just half a month. The billions of dollars in dowry were a slap in the face. Xia Mingzhao congratulated her with tears in her eyes, then turned around and angrily tore off her hair ornaments.]
The Zhou family patriarch's first public appearance, coupled with the marriage between the Zhou and Xia families after a half-month hiatus, caused a media frenzy, with reports coming one after another.
Netizens were also thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.
[Holy crap, what kind of amazing stuff is all over the ground? Am I even worthy to look?]
These are all priceless antiques and paintings... Has the Kepler Group done anything illegal?
[Waaaaah, I'm just a mongrel. I don't want a sports car, and I don't want antiques. Can I just have a gold ingot to chew on?]
[My soul travels back to summer hibernation; I can't imagine how cheerful I would become if my husband gave me such a large dowry.]
[Soul-transmigrated into summer hibernation +1. Once these things are converted into cash, I probably couldn't spend them all even in ten lifetimes.]
[Soul Transmigration into Summer Sleep +2]
[Soul Transmigrated into Summer Sleep +3, Today we are all in Summer Sleep!]
Netizens with good memories immediately recalled the revelations from marketing accounts a few days ago:
[A marketing account claims that Xia Mian used underhanded tactics to ingratiate himself with a powerful figure in the Zhou family, but the Zhou family didn't even care about him. How come reality is different from what they say?]
[It's true that they're getting married soon, and it's also true that the other party is the tycoon of the Zhou family. But the rest is completely different; just look at that mountain of gold and silver jewelry—the Zhou family tycoon absolutely loves it!]
[Ahhhhh, Jay Chou is so handsome! I always thought chairmen were all old men, but I never expected him to be so young and handsome. He and Mianmian are such a perfect match!]
Xia Mian's makeup and styling today are so good! Who could resist sending him money when they see such a handsome young man?
No wonder Xia Mian spends money like water in "Little Days"—now I really understand. Xia Mian, please spend more, spend quickly, I love watching!
[Xia Mian's career fans are heartbroken. He was just starting to get successful when he abruptly withdrew to get married. Did he even consider his fans' feelings?]
Marrying someone else might hinder your career, but marrying a big shot like this is something to be happy about. Xia Mian will never lack resources in the future.
[Exactly, he doesn't need to go back to the family to be a wife and mother; he can just sit back and wait to reach the top.]
[Only mom fans are sad. You have no idea how anxious I was the past few days. Luckily, my son found a pretty good son-in-law, so I'm happy again, hehe]
[Don't get too excited yet. With the Zhou family backing them up, your idol might just retire from the entertainment industry and live the life of a rich kid right away.]
Shut up, you brat!
Of course, whether you're a fan or a casual observer, whether the discussion is enjoyable or not, it ultimately boils down to comparisons and disparagements:
Is it reasonable that the betrothal gifts given by the eldest grandson of the Zhou family and the head of the Zhou family differed so much?
The eldest son's family is definitely not as wealthy as the head of the family.
It's not that simple. The Zhou family's eldest son's house is quite nice, but look at the photos—is there anything substantial about it? Feel free to guess the reason.
[Did the Zhou family's eldest branch not take a liking to Xia Mingzhao?]
[Hmm. Both are in the capital, but the Xia and Zhou families are worlds apart. They're not a good match, and Xia Mingzhao is a man who can't carry on the family line—his social standing is completely skewed, so he definitely wouldn't be interested. The head of the family is different; no one can interfere with him, and he can marry whomever he wants.]
[So if a person doesn't work hard enough, he can't even control how much dowry he gives to his wife.]
Everyone's talking about the bride price, but I'm the only one curious about the relationship between Xia Mian and Xia Mingzhao.
Rumor has it they are brothers.
[I remember someone saying at the wedding of the century that Zhou Ting's love was too extravagant. In my opinion, Jay Chou's love is truly extravagant!]
[I second that, he absolutely loves Jay Chou!]
[Aww, Xia Mian must be so happy! She's going to have a big time when she gets home tonight!]
[...]
"We're almost there."
Xia Mian was scrolling through Weibo when Zhou Pingchuan suddenly reminded her.
Xia Mian was startled and quickly locked her phone. But then the driver drifted into the parking space, and the phone, due to inertia, not only failed to lock but also slipped from her hand and fell to Zhou Pingchuan's feet.
Zhou Pingchuan picked up the phone; the screen was lit up, and he naturally noticed what Xia Mian was looking at.
Because those comments concerned him, he picked them up while repeating them in a low voice:
"I second that opinion; Mr. Jay Chou's appreciation of talent is truly commendable."
"He loves Jay Chou so much."
"Waaaaah, Xia Mian must be so happy! She's going to have a big time when she gets home tonight."
He spoke in his usual calm and composed tone, tinged with a hint of awkwardness and scrutiny.
It's no less humiliating than having an AI read erotic novels aloud in public, only to be overheard by ten thousand passersby who then turn around and stare at you.
Xia Mian initially felt a little embarrassed to be caught by the person in question, but after hearing his retelling, she immediately realized that feeling embarrassed was unnecessary, and Zhou Pingchuan would only laugh at her.
He snatched the phone, gritted his teeth, and got out of the car.
Watching the fleeing figure, Zhou Pingchuan raised an eyebrow and followed behind him.
The restaurant had already arranged the seats according to the list submitted by the Xia family. As the owners, Xia Dongbo and Tang Wenhua naturally sat in the main seats, with Xia Mian and Zhou Pingchuan next to them, and then the eldest son of the Zhou family and Xue Chunling.
Xia Mingzhao should have sat at the main table, but since she was already married to Zhou Ting, she could only sit at the table next to him.
Xia Dongbo said a few words first, and then the banquet began. Logically, one should eat for a while before having free time, but Xia's relatives couldn't even wait ten or eight minutes and all gathered around the main table.
On the day Xia Mingzhao got engaged, when Zhou Pingchuan arrived, they were in the same situation, swarming around Zhou Pingchuan like flies.
It's just that there's one more person complimenting me today.
--aestivation.
Zhou Pingchuan was too aloof; they were afraid of offending him if they said too much, and afraid of not achieving the desired effect if they said too little. It would be better to start with Xia Mian.
Sometimes, a word spoken by your spouse is more effective than three bows and nine kowtows.
"Mianmian, do you remember me? We met at Mingzhao's engagement banquet. I'm your aunt. Congratulations! This is a small token of my appreciation. Please accept it. Bring Third Master to visit sometime."
“Mianmian, on behalf of your second uncle, I would like to offer you a toast and wish you and your third uncle a long and happy marriage. Your second uncle is an excellent cook; you must come to his house in a few days to try his cooking.”
"Mianmian, don't drink so much, it's bad for your stomach. Have a swan pastry. I heard you picked out the suit Third Master is wearing. My company also carries that brand. If you ever need clothes, just ask me, and I'll get you something..."
Xia Mian was wearing a white suit today, with red sequins scattered in his hair from the children playing. He smiled at everyone who came to chat with him, his skin was fair and clear, like the little prince described in a fairy tale.
His two legs were awkwardly pressed together under the table—there were many people at the main table, and everyone was sitting close together; he didn't want to be next to Zhou Pingchuan, that living devil.
But the number of guests was ultimately limited. After toasting everyone, fewer and fewer relatives remained around them. Xia Mian gradually felt a gaze falling on her face.
He couldn't hold back any longer, turned his head, and looked the other person in the eye: "What are you looking at?"
Zhou Pingchuan had just finished a round of drinks, and his eyes were not as clear as before, nor was his expression as cold. He even smiled.
Unfortunately, in the eyes of the guilty person, this smile was directly distorted into mockery, and Xia Mian turned back in shame and indignation.
Her neck turned red.
Zhou Pingchuan's smile deepened, and under the table, he gently nudged Mianmian's thigh with his own: "Is it presentable, Mianmian?"
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