Chapter 32 True or False Matrimony

Chapter 32 True and False Marriage

Tan Youming arrived slightly late. During this period, several industry associations were still in an adjustment phase, with various influential figures each showing their unique skills, leaving the companies below caught in the crossfire as they negotiated and coordinated rectification efforts.

Tan Youming had been so busy for a full week that he could hardly manage everything. He had just returned to the main island from Aoyu in the afternoon. Fortunately, the engagement banquet was held at a hotel under the Huantu group. Even if the biological brother wasn’t present, there was still the sworn brother Shen Zongnian to hold the fort.

The Cayenne slid into the underground parking lot. Tan Youming had a reserved parking spot at any Huantu hotel, but two cars were blocking the ramp.

With just a little courtesy, they could have easily proceeded side by side. Yet, as the Panamera advanced a foot, the Aston Martin followed closely, moving a yard—you advance, I retreat; you come, I go. It was unclear whether they were playing chess or dancing the Latin, but they completely blocked the way.

Tan Youming lost his patience. Glancing at his wristwatch, he laid on the horn. The drivers of the Panamera and Aston Martin each glanced in their rearview mirrors, and their driving skills suddenly improved.

The ramp was instantly clear. The Bentley slowly passed under the watchful eyes of the two cars.

Tan Youming wasn’t usually one to push his advantage, but today they had crossed a line. As he passed between the two cars, he rolled down both windows and called them out from a distance, playing referee and reprimanding both equally: “Is this any way to drive? This is a parking lot. If you want to race, turn left and head to the racetrack.”

Both cars fell silent, flashing their high beams as if paying respects. Only after the Cayenne drove off did they both roll down their windows.

Liang Dingyan, holding the steering wheel of the Aston Martin, played the gentleman like a wolf in sheep's clothing: “Mr. Wen, after you.”

Wen Jiacheng glanced at him, nodded politely for appearances' sake.

The two who had just been at odds now exchanged false courtesy and pretentious politeness.

Tan Youming changed into a new diagonal stripe tie, got out of the car, and went upstairs. The lights were dazzling, and the champagne tower stood eleven layers high.

People greeted him along the way, and Tan Youming responded with a smile. He wore a tailored suit, casual and relaxed yet not too informal. With a sail-style ticket pocket and gleaming monk straps, he cut an impressive figure as the bride’s brother.

Guan Kezhi was chatting with friends when he approached, and all eyes lit up when he approached. Tan Youming greeted and exchanged pleasantries with each person, making the ladies beam.

Guan Kezhi asked what took him so long. Tan Youming slightly lifted his chin to adjust his tie and said quietly, "Ran into two lunatics in the parking lot."

"What?"

"Not sure if they were racing or flirting," Tan Youming replied, not giving a damn about anyone else. He didn’t bother elaborating and asked, "Where’s Shen Zongnian?"

"You, the actual brother, have the nerve to ask? Nianzai arrived at noon and has been coordinating with the managers ever since."

Tan Youming scanned the room but didn't spot him and said, "I’ll go check on Zuyi first."

"Go ahead."

"Joey!"

"Brother, you look so handsome today." Tan Zuyi was playing on her phone, wearing the hotel’s white cotton slippers. If it weren’t for her expensive gown and jewelry, no one would guess she was the one getting engaged today.

Tan Youming adjusted his patterned tie and ribbed the bride-to-be, "Who’s more handsome, me or Zhong Ze?"

Tan Zuyi closed her game, set her phone aside, and said, "You are."

"How much honey did you drink to make your mouth so sweet?"

Tan Zuyi grinned and admitted, "I'm obliged after all your gifts." Her brother had gifted her both a car and an apartment, along with a jade screen hand-carved by an intangible cultural heritage master from the capital—it was hard not to find him handsome after that.

Tan Youming didn’t take all the credit. "Not all of it was from me."

Tan Zuyi understood. "Pitching in together, were you? Well, Brother Zongnian pampers me more than you do. Besides those, he arranged the wedding expenses, media relations, fresh rose ceiling displays, Meunier-Pinot Noir, and the black-and-gold starlit pool for me."

Tan Youming was unaware of this: "You've got some nerve!"

"Well, you're the one who said Brother Zongnian is also like a brother."

The year Tan Youming first brought Shen Zongnian back to the ancestral home, Tan Zuyi was seven years old. Tan Youming held Shen Zongnian's hand and said to his sister, "This is Shen Zongnian, he's also your brother."

Tan Zuyi looked at Shen Zongnian, wanting to call him "handsome brother," but seeing how cold and somewhat nervous he seemed, she just smiled sweetly and called out, "Brother Zongnian."

Tan Zuyi was the first person to call Shen Zongnian "brother." With her, the favorite eldest daughter, setting the precedent, the other younger members of the family followed suit.

Tan Youming said, "Fine, then let him also sign the Huantu alliance card for you. When the time comes, he can handle the whole package—wedding and honeymoon."

"That's still far off. Who knows, I might just decide not to go through with it."

On such a joyous day, the two siblings were not holding back. Tan Youming said, "Of course, if you don’t want to, then you don’t have to."

Tan Zuyi laughed, "And no honeymoon either. After the engagement, I’ll take a few days off and then go to work." She graduated with her college degree last year and felt it was better to gain some practical experience first; she could always go back to studying later if she wanted.

Tan Youming was curious: "Pinghai? Jianxin? Or are you planning to start your own thing?"

Tan Zuyi had bigger plans: "Why can’t I go to Huantu?"

Tan Youming chuckled, "You can go wherever you want. It’s up to your Brother Zongnian whether he’ll take you."

Tan Zuyi said proudly, "I’ve already talked to him. Brother said he’d welcome me."

Tan Youming had already come to terms with the fact that everyone in their family preferred to go to Shen Zongnian for things: "So you’re choosing your adopted brother over your real one."

"Not at all," Tan Zuyi said, sweet-talking him after getting her way, "Brother, I actually know it’s all because of you."

"What?"

"Brother Zongnian isn’t being good to me; he’s being good to you." The fresh-cut rose ceiling, the Meunier-Pinot Noir, the black-and-gold starlit pool—none of that was really for her.

Tan Zuyi’s flattery hit the mark this time, and Tan Youming was happy to hear it, playing dumb: "I doubt it."

Tan Zuyi continued to praise, "It’s definitely true."

Tan Youming, flattered by the praise, insisted, "If you wrong him like that, he’ll be heartbroken."

Tan Zuyi mimicked him, "I doubt it," then asked, "But are you happy?"

Tan Youming: "Huh?"

"I think if you’re happy, he’s happy."

Just as Tan Youming was about to speak, the door opened, and Zhong Ze came in, calling out, "Brother."

It was time for the first dance. He had come to fetch her, placing the high heels by Tan Zuyi’s feet: "Hurry up and change, my dear."

"No rush, no rush." Tan Zuyi leisurely kicked off her cotton slippers and stepped into the heels he held.

Tan Youming didn’t want to be a third wheel, so he turned back to the banquet hall. Shen Zongnian was accompanying Tan Chongshan in conversation with others. Tan Youming strode over and stood quietly beside him, listening to the boring small talk.

Tan Youming stood close, sleeves brushing sleeves, close enough to catch a faint whiff of scent. Shen Zongnian glanced at him, and Tan Youming smiled back at him. Shen Zongnian turned back with an indifferent expression.

On the stage, the couple stood in elegant attire, hand in hand. Below, the two men in suits and white shirts stood shoulder to shoulder.

Childhood sweethearts, one bright and one reserved, two separate worlds: on stage, a perfect match; below, feelings developing in secret, unknown to anyone.

Others remarked on the Tan and Zhong families' union through marriage, praising Tan Zhongshan's two beloved sons as exceptionally outstanding.

When someone offered a toast, Zhong Ze took the glass from Tan Zuyi and said, "I'll take this one."

When someone offered a cigarette, Tan Youming declined it for Shen Zongnian, saying, "He doesn’t smoke."

As the violin music swelled and congratulations filled the air, it felt as though more than just the couple on stage were entering into marriage tonight.

Shen Zongnian and Tan Youming were seated at the immediate family table. Before the ceremony even began, two rounds of drinks had already been served—both imported and vintage, all premium selections.

Third Aunt, a seasoned connoisseur, lit up: "Zongnian is so thoughtful—he’s brought over half a wine cellar."

Little Aunt laughed: "Well, look at how close he and Ming are—Ming’s little sister is like his own sister."

The sisters-in-law teased Guan Kezhi: "Your two sons are closer than real brothers."

"True that. Hey, have you heard?" The conversation inevitably turned to gossip—the ultimate destination of all chats. "About Huang Yide’s two sons."

"What about them?"

"They’re dividing the business shares. Old Huang isn’t even deceased yet, and they’re already doing equity distribution."

"No way, those two were always so tight. The older one used to drive the younger to school every day—they were in the same district as our Ah Wen. And that Tianli project—the older brother gave his share to the younger without taking a cent."

"Exactly. When the older one was penalized by the securities commission and faced charges, it was the younger one who spared no effort to get him out."

"Ah, times change. Brotherly love is no match for money. There are no eternal brothers, only eternal interests. If they were good before, it just means the stakes weren’t high enough yet."

"Is it really true?" A cousin’s wife didn’t believe it and asked Tan Youming, "Ming, you’re so close with Huang’s second son—have you heard anything?"

Tan Youming neither understood brothers turning against each other nor believed true bonds could shatter over money and interests. He simply said, "I don’t know. He hasn’t mentioned it to me."

When the opening dance began, Tan Zuyi and Zhong Ze took the floor hand in hand, and the gossip ceased. Everyone marveled at what a perfect match they were—a talented man and a beautiful woman, made for each other.

"Look how well Zuyi and Ze complement each other. Her father’s face is red from drinking."

"That’s why marriages should have the family’s approval to succeed. Don’t dismiss parents as old-fashioned—they’ve walked decades longer, seen more people. Elders won’t lead you astray."

"True. Relationships blessed by family are the ones that last. Unlike the Xie family—"

"Hey, hey, why bring that up on such a happy day?"

Tan Youming leaned against his highball glass, watching the stage, tuning out the chatter. As Tan Zuyi glanced his way with a smile mid-dance, the image of Xie Zhenlin’s face in the midnight airport flashed through his mind—remembering him say, "If only you were really my brother."

Younger brothers and sisters, lasting romances, different worlds.

Where elders gather, the young can’t escape questions about love and marriage. Tan Youming bore the brunt but handled it effortlessly. He never shied from the topic, so the ladies often circled back to him.

After the banquet, there was still a dance party. Shen Zongnian stood to leave, but Tan Youming grabbed him: "Where are you off to? It feels like it’s been days since I last saw you."

In front of everyone, he gripped Shen Zongnian’s wrist. Shen Zongnian instinctively tried to pull away but couldn’t.

He frowned slightly, not knowing how to respond. It wasn't that he had somewhere to go—it was just that, from funeral halls to weddings, there seemed no place where Shen Zongnian truly belonged. He finally said, "Great-uncle and his group are about to arrive. I’ll go check."

With elders present, Tan Youming let him go. He watched Shen Zongnian’s retreating figure for a moment, then buried himself in eating.

Guan Kezhi, after chatting with a sister-in-law, asked him, "Did you run into your second uncle?"

"No. Was he looking for me?"

"Ah, said Mr. Wang is back, with his granddaughter." Guan Kezhi usually didn’t interfere, but—"Mr. Wang and your grandfather were old comrades. Rumor has it, the first capital for going overseas was a loan from Mr. Wang."

Tan Youming understood: beyond friendship, there was also a debt of gratitude.

Guan Kezhi guessed, "Probably wants you to meet the younger granddaughter."

Tan Youming sipped his soup, indifferent: "When?"

"Said whenever you’re free. You’ve been nowhere lately—what have you been busy with?"

"Busy catching up to Minglong."

"…" Guan Kezhi joked, "Isn’t that perfect?" Wang Jing had just been promoted in the business association this year.

Tan Youming, full and satisfied, set down his chopsticks arrogantly: "No way. What era is this, still relying on connections? Pinghai should just prepare to go bankrupt."

"…Well, you handle it as you see fit."

"I know what to do."

Shen Zongnian, after greeting the guests, spotted Guan Kezhi socializing with Tan Youming from afar. The Tans never had to make the first move—simply standing there chatting, mother and son attracted a steady stream of married women introducing their daughters.

Tan Youming was composed, with a warm smile. Tonight felt like a perfect rehearsal.

Shen Zongnian watched for a while, then looked away.

The banquet was a joyous success, praised by elders: "Zongnian worked hard tonight, managing everything—more devoted than Zuyi’s own brother."

Others laughed: "They’re all brothers anyway. Zongnian brought half his wine collection as wedding wine—we all got to enjoy it."

"You’re enjoying it alright," an uncle teased a cousin. "Next, have Zongnian arrange Ming’s wedding banquet so you can drink again."

The group burst into laughter. A second aunt added, "No need to say it—what’s the bond between Ming and Zongnian? Even real brothers aren’t this close. When Ming gets married, Zongnian will handle it flawlessly, right?"

Well-meaning, teasing eyes turned to Shen Zongnian like interrogation lights—intense and burning. Shen Zongnian, calm and stern, lowered his gaze slightly, agreeing numbly but willingly: "Mhm."

Tan Zuyi’s engagement banquet was grand and lavish, bringing warmth and celebration to a city that had seen mourning since spring.

Details of the banquet were covered by Haishi’s media for a full week. Riding the wave of the Tan-Zhong alliance, Pinghai promptly announced several major project launches.

The cultural tourism project stood out particularly. Some media even reported that, following Feya’s appointment as Pinghai’s comprehensive spokesperson for the peak season, Tan Youming was in talks with last year’s Golden Palm winner for best limited series director, Fang Shiying.

Fang Shiying, a native of Haishi, debuted as a Miss Island pageant contestant after her family’s fortunes declined. She later left the spotlight to study abroad, biding her time before emerging years later.

Paparazzi uncovered that she and Tan Youming had been classmates. Insiders claimed the then-rising young Tan once paid a massive penalty fee to free her from a contract and personally took her away from a hotel.

Feya was a decoy; Carolin was the true muse.

Rumors ran rampant, each more fantastical than the last.