Chapter 96

Chapter 96

"Hahaha, that’s hilarious!" Fan Qing linked arms with Lin Tingyue and suddenly remembered something. She asked, "Yue Yue, do you think those two are really into each other, or are they just messing with that guy and his mom?"

Lin Tingyue thought for a moment before replying carefully, "Pretty sure it’s real."

"After all, that friend’s always been into girls."

Fan Qing’s eyes lit up—so that man had just been fooling himself this whole time?

Guess he got what was coming to him!

Fan Qing nodded. "That’s great. I think they suit each other well."

Hearing this, Lin Tingyue checked what happened to them.

"They went on a trip together afterward and even got hitched overseas."

Wait, seriously?

Just like that? Happily ever after?

"By the way, Qing Qing, didn’t you say yesterday you had something to tell me? What was it?"

"No big deal. I’m just going on a trip with my mom. Since you’re not coming, we won’t see each other for a while, so I wanted us to hang before I leave."

Lin Tingyue patted Fan Qing’s head. Fan Qing looked up at her, and Lin Tingyue gave a playful wink. "Then remember to bring me a gift."

Fan Qing beamed. "Of course! I’d skip anyone but you."

"You better mean it—I’ll remember!"

"Go ahead, hold me to it," Fan Qing leaned against Lin Tingyue and snuggled her. "You should even write it down word for word in a notebook!"

"Oh you—Qing Qing!" she exclaimed, interrupting herself. "You little sneak, are you doing this on purpose?"

"Oops, busted."

Lin Tingyue chased after Fan Qing as she ran off, the two of them sending pigeons scattering across the square.

Fan Qing doubled over, gasping for air, while Lin Tingyue grabbed the hem of her clothes. "Gotcha now."

"Okay, okay—you win. I’m dead."

Lin Tingyue held her up. "Let’s sit over there for a bit?"

"Mm."

The two sat down on a bench by the square when suddenly, they heard a sharp cry behind them.

Fan Qing and Lin Tingyue turned to look—a man was gripping the hand of a woman in a black cheongsam holding a large umbrella, his voice trembling. "Y-you… how could you…"

"That’s… weird," said Fan Qing. "Why does he look like he’s seen a ghost?"

And yet, there was this weird mix of shock and joy, like he’s seeing a ghost—or maybe finding something he thought was gone forever.

Fan Qing felt her stomach drop. Even though the rare winter sun was shining warmly today, it suddenly felt chilling. Goosebumps prickled her arms.

What in the world was going on? Fan Qing was dying to know the truth.

But just then, a pigeon landed on Lin Tingyue’s knee. Looking around, Lin Tingyue said, “Let’s go buy something over there to feed the pigeons.”

“Okay.”

The distraction made them both forget about it—until Fan Qing attended a wedding banquet with Feng Shuiyun. Staring at the photo on the poster, she paused. Wasn’t that the same woman from before…?

Feng Shuiyun saw her daughter staring at the bride’s photo and smiled, asking, “Is the wedding dress beautiful?”

Fan Qing had been focused on the bride’s face, but now shifted her attention to the gown. It was probably custom-made—both gorgeous and unique. She said, “Yeah, it’s gorgeous.”

“If you love it, just get one.”

“Mom,” Fan Qing huffed, “Marriage isn’t even on my radar. Are you that desperate for grandkids?”

Feng Shuiyun poked Fan Qing’s forehead. “Oh please, I’m still living my best life. Why would I want to be tied down by a grandchild? And you—you’d really give up seeing the world just to stay home?”

“I wouldn’t want that.”

Just thinking about it sounded like a nightmare.

“I knew you wouldn’t. You can rock a wedding dress anytime you want—it doesn’t have to be for marriage.”

“Yeah, yeah, Mom.”

Entering the hall with Feng Shuiyun, Fan Qing spotted Lin Tingyue and Bai Yaxin from afar and waved. “Mom, Yue Yue and Aunt Yaxin are over there.”

The four met up, and Feng Shuiyun grinned. “No way, what are the odds?”

“Yes, didn’t expect to see you here too.”

“Love your new hair! Where’d you get it done?”

“You want one? I’ll hook you up.”

“Sure!”

And just like that, the moms wandered off, deep in conversation.

Fan Qing and Lin Tingyue: “?”

Did they just forget about us?

Fan Qing grabbed Lin Tingyue’s hand. “Moms do their thing, we’ll do ours.”

“Okay.”

Fan Qing and Lin Tingyue found a place to sit. When Fan Qing heard that Lin Tingyue had bought a ton of sleep-aid aromatherapy stuff—not just for Ying An, but also for Lin Chengyan and Lin Yuhuan—she hesitated before asking, “You don’t think Ying An will be mad?”

Lin Tingyue looked puzzled. “Why would he be mad?”

“Ying An was thrilled when he got his.”

Girl, you’re seriously clueless. He was happy *now*, but if he knew Lin Chengyan and Lin Yuhuan got the same thing? He’d lose it.

Fan Qing said casually, “Probably ’cause it wasn’t special just for him.”

"It's not a gift," Lin Tingyue stuffed a piece of orange into Fan Qing's mouth. "I just thought they needed it. Gifts are things I'd carefully pick to ensure they're unique."

Fan Qing fell silent. Yue Yue really knew how to draw the line.

Fan Qing poked Lin Tingyue’s elbow and asked, "So what do you think of Ying An?"

"Mr. Ying?" Lin Tingyue’s cheeks were puffed up with orange, making her look like an adorable hamster. She mumbled, "He’s super hot!"

Unable to resist, Fan Qing pinched Lin Tingyue’s cheek and pressed, "Just handsome?"

"Looks are everything, okay!"

"If I were looking for a partner, my top requirement would be looks!"

Oho, now we’re talking!

Seeing Lin Tingyue staring at her, Fan Qing agreed, "Looks really do matter."

"Do looks pay the bills?"

Fan Qing and Lin Tingyue turned their heads simultaneously—several ladies had gathered nearby to chat.

"Handsome or not, it doesn’t matter. He’s a total womanizer. His wife hasn’t even been dead a few days, and he’s rushing to remarry. Mark my words..."

"What?"

"Bet you anything he was already fooling around with this one while his wife was still alive—just waiting for her to go. Tsk, and he has the nerve to throw a big wedding? Isn’t he afraid of the backlash?"

"And get this—he’s marrying someone who looks just like his late wife."

One lady gasped, "Like a stand-in romance?"

"Exactly! Rumor has it his little brother has been inappropriate with both sisters-in-law."

The gasping lady widened her eyes. "The brother stealing his brother’s woman? And two of them?"

"Oh dear," the lady beside her quickly tugged at her sleeve. "Let’s not start unfounded rumors. It could ruin someone."

The first lady immediately clapped a hand over her mouth. "Yeah, you’re right."

Fan Qing, who’d been eavesdropping, muttered, "Wow, they’re really up on the drama."

Stand-ins, brother-stealing—who even comes up with this stuff?

"Uh-huh, sure."

Yue Yue was totally brushing her off, huh?

Fan Qing glanced over and saw Lin Tingyue staring at her phone. If she had to guess, another scandal was about to drop.

"No, no, no. It’s not brother stealing wives—it’s brothers battling for their stepmom."

Fan Qing: "!"

She should’ve known. Yue Yue always delivers.

The chatting ladies fell silent, trading stunned glances.

W-well, that’s a twist.

The first woman who started spreading the rumors couldn't help but exclaim, "How did anyone even find out about all this?!"

This was juicier than her own gossip!

Before she could figure it out, the main event began.

Accompanied by melodious music, the bride glided down the petal-strewn aisle. She wore a veil—her beauty was more subtle than in the promotional photos. It became hazy and enchanting, making everyone wonder what she looked like beneath it.

Just as the bride and groom were about to exchange rings, someone rushed in from outside, shouting, "I don't consent to this!"

Before the person could get close, the groom ordered security, "Stop him. If you let him through, I'll fire all of you."

Then, with tender affection, he looked at the bride and urged the officiant, "Proceed with the ring exchange."

After officiating countless weddings, this was the first time the officiant had encountered an attempted wedding stoppage. Thankfully, he had high professional standards. Clearing his throat, he announced, "Please exchange rings."

"I forbid it, I forbid it!" The held-back man screamed wildly.

Fan Qing frowned. "Who's that guy? What's his problem?"

"His brother."

Fan Qing: "?"

Oh, that makes sense now.

After putting on the ring, the bride glanced at the man below. The groom immediately snapped, "Don't look at him. You left me once—you won’t get a second chance."

The bride shot back coldly, "Do I even have a choice?"

The groom snapped arrogantly, "If you can't leave, then don’t. Stay by my side forever."

Meanwhile, Lin Tingyue had already figured out the whole story.

"The bride was once taken away by the man’s brother, who even faked her drowning suicide. But that day, the man caught them red-handed. Furious, he took the bride back and locked up his brother."

So this bride was actually the man’s previous wife?

Fan Qing felt a sudden chill. The bride was a person, not an object—how could she be okay with being treated like some prize? Did anyone even ask what she wanted?

Suddenly, the bride on stage said, "I don’t like this veil."

The groom grabbed her wrist and sneered, "Do you also dislike this wedding dress?"

"Yes," the bride replied calmly, staring at him. "And I don’t like you either."

The groom gritted his teeth. "I know—you like my brother..."

The bride nearly laughed out loud.

Way off.

She hated everyone in this damn family.

Noticing Lin Tingyue pulling out her phone, Fan Qing asked, "Yue Yue, what are you doing?"

Lin Tingyue replied, "Someone’s being illegally confined. I'm calling 911."

Fan Qing: "..."

Why did it always feel like they weren't in a civilized society until Lin Tingyue took action?