Chapter 136: So Sudden?

Chapter 136: So Sudden?

Yu Mingze left the Zheng residence but didn’t head straight home.

He parked his car halfway and sent messages to a few close friends: "Do you guys have time now? Want to hang out?"

Twenty minutes later, a group of them gathered at their usual private lounge.

Yu Mingze walked in and saw Lu Qixing and Lu Yan were already there.

"How did you guys beat me here?"

"Since Yu Shao personally invited us, how could we not come early?"

Lu Yan bumped fists with him and teased, "Yu Shao, you've been so busy lately. What made you think of inviting us out today? Do you have something to ask us?"

Yu Mingze took the drink Lu Qixing handed him and smiled, "Do I need a reason to hang out with you guys?"

Lu Yan shook his head, "Of course not, we wish you could come out every day."

"But I do have some news for you today."

"What is it?"

Yu Mingze raised his glass.

"Everyone, let's toast to my newfound freedom today!" With that, he downed his drink in one gulp.

"Pfft!"

Lu Qixing spat out the wine in his mouth.

"No way, man, are you serious...?"

"Yep, I’m divorced!"

Everyone froze, glasses in hand, exchanging stunned looks.

Yu Mingze was puzzled, "Why isn’t anyone congratulating me?"

"Congrats, Ah Ze!"

"Ah Ze, congrats on finally breaking free from the marriage trap!"

"Thanks, guys!"

Lu Qixing and Lu Yan exchanged glances, and the latter asked, "Ah Ze, congrats on the divorce, but why so sudden?"

"It’s complicated. You know my wife—well, ex-wife—was arranged by my family. We weren’t exactly in love, and now I’m divorced."

Yu Mingze then added, "Next spring, I’ll need you guys to stand by me as groomsmen again!"

"...!"

"Wait, groomsmen? Us?"

"Ah Ze... who are you marrying?"

In an instant, Lu Yan’s heart leapt into his throat.

Just as he had anticipated, Yu Mingze smiled and said to them, "You all know her—An Ran, the daughter of the Zheng family."

"We've wasted so many years, but now we can finally be together. We've set the wedding for next April, and you all must come!"

"Haha, definitely, definitely."

Everyone's expressions were mixed.

Lu Qixing set down his glass and said awkwardly, "Ah Ze, are you really sure about this?"

"Yes, I have."

"Are you absolutely sure you don't want to think it over?"

"Why would you say that?"

Yu Mingze finally noticed the strange looks his close friends were giving him.

He was confused, "What's the matter? I'm marrying the person I love—aren't you guys happy for me?"

Lu Qixing stood up, put his hand on Yu Mingze's shoulder, gave it a couple of pats, and sighed, "Ah Ze, we're not trying to tell you what to do, but maybe you should think about marrying someone else."

"Why do you say that?"

"Ah Ze, there's something we need to tell you."

Lu Yan didn't want to spill the beans today, but if he waited any longer, his buddy would be married.

"Ah Ze, come take a look!"

Just as Yu Mingze was about to step forward, Lu Qixing suddenly spoke up, "Ah Ze, don't get too upset after you see this."

"Yeah, Ah Ze, someone like that isn't worth it!"

"What are you guys talking about?"

Yu Mingze's eyelids twitched a few times, and he felt a sense of foreboding.

He watched as Lu Yan pulled out a thick stack of photos from the bottom drawer of the coffee table, and the others tactfully moved aside, avoiding looking at the items on the table.

Lu Yan slid the photos over to him, "Ah Ze, you'll get it once you see these."

The room was dimly lit, and Lu Qixing called for someone to turn on the main light, but Yu Mingze shook his head, saying it wasn't needed.

He picked up one of the photos and held it close to his face, saying nothing, but his expression visibly darkened.

The stack contained dozens of photos, each one showing his beloved An Ran... in the arms of, and kissing, another man.

Yu Mingze didn't know what kind of mood he was in as he looked through these photos, and even when Lu Yan handed him several videos, he watched them in silence.

Angry?

Of course, angry!

Want to laugh?

He only felt ridiculous.

"Ah Ze..."

"Who is this man?" Yu Mingze asked calmly, his expression unreadable.

Lu Yan sighed and spilled the beans on how he had recruited Qin Lang and sent him to Zheng Anran's side.

"Ah Ze, don't blame me. I had your best interests at heart."

Lu Qixing, naturally, wouldn't let Lu Yan take all the responsibility alone. He quickly added, "Ah Ze, we were all in on this. If you want to blame someone, blame us!"

At this moment, Yu Mingze remained unnervingly calm: "Why did you do this?"

"Ah Ze, we were afraid you were too close to the situation to see clearly!"

"Exactly! That Zheng Anran is obviously no good. She dared to leave you five years ago, and now she has the nerve to mess around with another man behind your back. If it were me, I wouldn't let her get away with it. I wouldn't be a man if I did!"

Lu Yan saved the videos Qin Lang had sent over, tidied up the scattered photos on the table, and poured Yu Mingze another glass of hard liquor.

"Ah Ze, I admit we set this up on purpose, but she fell right into it. If she had been loyal to you, how could she have fallen for the person I sent?"

Lu Qixing crossed his arms and nodded vigorously in agreement: "Yes, if she hadn't done such a thing, we would have wholeheartedly supported you two. But now... well, let's just drop it."

"Ah Ze, you must see this woman's true nature clearly. Don't let her deceive you again!"

"Ah Ze, don't waste your tears on her. It's not worth it!"

"Ah Ze..."

They took turns pleading with him, but Yu Mingze remained silent, not responding.

After a long while, his tense shoulders finally sagged heavily: "Lu Yan, give me copies of the photos and videos... and bring that man here."

Lu Yan nodded: "Alright, if you need anything from us, just let us know!"

"No need, I... can take care of it myself."

==========

"Dad, I refuse to go!"

"I'm just asking you to meet the son of Chairman Zhang. It's not like I'm forcing you into anything. Just think of it as networking. Why won't you go? Our family can't put all our eggs in one basket, An Ran!"

"No reason, I just don't want to!"

Zheng Anran refused Zheng Yongming's request and stormed out of the room.

"Look at what your daughter's done!"

Zheng Yongming smashed the ashtray and sat on the sofa, breathing heavily. Fang Fei comforted him while asking Aunt Li to clean up the mess.

"Husband, An Ran has her own plans. Don't pressure her, okay?"

"I'm pressuring her? I'm doing this for her own good. Why can't she be more sensible!"

"Alright, alright, don't be angry. I'll talk to her when she comes back."

Fang Fei hadn't yet told Zheng Yongming about the plan she and her daughter had, thinking she would inform him once it succeeded.

Otherwise, given Zheng Yongming's temperament, he would definitely not agree to what they were doing.

He seemed more inclined to have their daughter marry Chairman Zhang's son.

Fang Fei had met that man. He was as tall as her daughter when wearing shoes, but his body was twice as wide.

Such a man—not just her daughter, but even she herself couldn't tolerate him.