The photo against a red background was extremely simple.
Lin Shiya wore a radiant smile, tilting her head slightly to the side with a hint of shyness.
And the other face was one Su Chen knew by heart!
It was actually Xu Lang!
Su Chen rubbed his eyes and looked at the phone screen again.
He was shocked to find that the necklace Lin Shiya was wearing around her neck was the very same heart-shaped red ruby necklace he had given her just a few days ago!
Lin Shiya had once told him that she would wear this necklace when they got married.
Beneath the wedding photo were a few words brimming with deep affection.
"Today is eternity. May every year be like today."
This was a post Xu Lang had shared on his Moments.
Dizziness washed over him once more.
Su Chen pressed his nails hard into his palms, struggling to stay conscious.
I'm fucking dying of a terminal illness, and you two actually went and got your marriage license!
A sharp pain stabbed at his heart, yet Su Chen's gaze grew incomparably resolute.
The thoughts in his mind became clearer and clearer.
Peng Jian drove Su Chen back to his residence and urged him to get some rest before leaving.
The moment Peng Jian left out the front door, Su Chen grabbed the medicine the doctor had prescribed earlier and headed straight for the garage.
Xu Lang lived in the suburbs, not far from downtown Donghai City—about a half-hour drive.
Today, he wanted to see for himself just how Lin Shiya took care of Xu Lang's mother!
He had endured it all this time to protect their relationship.
But now, Lin Shiya had crossed his bottom line!
Su Chen's face was stern, his lips pale.
Thinking of the post Xu Lang had shared, he slammed his foot all the way down on the accelerator!
A flash of coldness crossed Su Chen's eyes as he gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white.
Xiangyang Garden, in the southern suburbs of Donghai City.
Su Chen had burned the location Xu Lang posted in his Moments into his brain.
Driving at top speed, Su Chen cut a full ten minutes off the GPS-estimated travel time!
Xiangyang Garden was an old residential complex, far from luxurious.
Yet the security guards here were highly vigilant.
When he reached the north gate, the display screen flashed: "This vehicle is not authorized for entry."
A security guard immediately stepped out of the guard booth.
"Sir, please park your car in the lot outside. Only residents' vehicles are allowed inside."
Su Chen rolled down the car window.
"Does Xu Lang live in this complex? Is there an entry registration for Lin Shiya?"
The guard froze for a second, then realization dawned on him.
"Are you here for the wedding? Just park your car and sign in over here."
A wedding?
Damn it!
What the hell kind of wedding!
Taking a deep breath, Su Chen forced himself to stay calm.
"Xu Lang and Lin Shiya's wedding?"
* * "Right. The bride and groom are keeping it very low-profile, so the north gate isn't fully open. The groom gave instructions that anyone saying they're here for the wedding just needs to sign in to enter."
"Got it."
A mocking smirk played at the corner of Su Chen's mouth.
"Lin Shiya, the esteemed president of Donghai Green Expansion Company, running off to the suburbs to get married in secret. You really something else!"
He parked the car, quickly filled out the logbook, and strode forward!
Past two decorative archways lay the wedding venue.
The sight before him left Su Chen dumbfounded!
Amidst the music, Lin Shiya wore a pure white wedding dress, the hem trailing on the ground, outlining her graceful figure to perfection.
At that moment, she was linked arm-in-arm with Xu Lang, walking slowly forward!
Not far away, a man dressed as a pastor was smiling at them.
The two stopped walking when they reached the pastor.
"Ms. Lin Shiya, are you willing to take Xu Lang as your husband?"
Su Chen's heart tightened abruptly, and even his breathing turned shallow.
"I am."
Lin Shiya's voice was sweet and serene, tinged with a hint of shyness.
"Mr. Xu Lang, are you willing to take Ms. Lin Shiya as your wife? Whether in poverty..."
The pastor slowly read the vows.
The fire in Su Chen's heart burned all the more fiercely.
Amidst a chorus of blessings, the wedding atmosphere was pushed to new heights.
"What the fuck are you two doing! Lin Shiya, Xu Lang, what the hell is this!"
"Lin Shiya, have you forgotten the vows you made to me? You're my fiancée! Holding a wedding with someone else here, aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning from the heavens?!"
Su Chen roared!
The entire gathering was stunned!
None of the guests had expected someone to step out and disrupt the ceremony at such a crucial moment!
"What's going on? Is this guy trying to sabotage the wedding on purpose?"
"Did Xu Lang steal someone else's fiancée?"
"Even if you're going to marry someone else's fiancée, at least break off the previous relationship first! What kind of mess is this?"
"My worldview is completely shattered!"
Hearing the shout, Lin Shiya's heart clenched, a look of shock flashing across her delicate face.
Without missing a beat, she gathered her wedding dress and ran toward Su Chen.
"Su Chen, stop making a scene. I'll explain everything to you after we get back. Can't you just let us finish the wedding ceremony first?"
"Shit, do I have to wait until you two go to bed?"
"Su Chen, you're going too far! How can you say things like that? We're only doing this for Xu Lang's mother; her mental state isn't very good, and this is just a show for her."
Lin Shiya's voice was soft, yet her tone was filled with grievance, as if Su Chen had no business showing up here to ruin the wedding.
Seeing this scene, Su Chen suddenly calmed down.
"After the pastor reads the vows, are you going to exchange rings?"
"Yes, but you don't need to worry about it. Xu Lang and I are completely innocent. There's only friendship between us, nothing else!"
Ha.
She had already said "I do," and they were about to start exchanging rings for crying out loud, yet she still claimed there was only friendship.
Total bullshit!
"Fine, go ahead. Just pretend I never came."
Lin Shiya wore an awkward expression.
Hearing Su Chen say this, the surrounding guests looked at one another with curious, gossipy expressions.
"Even exchanging rings doesn't mean anything. Xiao Lang and I are besties, our relationship is totally pure."
Knowing that what she was doing today went a bit too far, Lin Shiya offered another explanation.
Not far away, the smile on Xu Lang's face gradually stiffened.
The wedding couldn't go on like this; he definitely needed to salvage the situation.
Over the past few months, Su Chen had brought him along to plenty of high-society events, and Xu Lang had long since memorized various contingency measures.
Quickly tearing the groom's flower corsage off his suit jacket, Xu Lang hurried over with a glass of wine, practically at a run.
"Brother Su, don't misunderstand. Today's event really was my mother's idea. We didn't spell it out for you beforehand just because we were afraid you'd overthink it."
"Sister Yaya and I are completely innocent. You guys are my benefactors—I wouldn't be where I am today without Brother Su's cultivation."
"Brother Su, I toast you."
Xu Lang raised his hands, offering the wine glass to Su Chen with an expression of utter reverence and humility.
Su Chen didn't even spare him a glance, acting as if he hadn't heard a word of what had just been said.
Beside him, displeasure flashed across Lin Shiya's face.
"Su Chen, Xiao Lang is toasting you. Drink up! There are so many people watching!"
"If you don't want to make an even uglier scene, you still want to push on with the wedding, huh?"
Meeting Su Chen's icy gaze, Lin Shiya faltered.
What has gotten into Su Chen?
That look in his eyes was like a frozen abyss—cold to the bone.
Ever since she had known him, Su Chen had never looked at her with such eyes.
"Brother Su, this is my fault. I apologize to you."
With that, Xu Lang raised his hand and slapped himself across the face.
*Crack!*
The slap rang out loud and clear.
Immediately afterward, red handprints appeared on Xu Lang's face.
Su Chen said nothing.
After a moment of hesitation, Xu Lang gritted his teeth and continued what he was doing.
The sound of slaps echoed continuously.
Hearing it made the guests' hearts skip a beat.
Lin Shiya's expression turned ugly in an instant.
"Su Chen, what on earth do you want? Can't you have some regard for the optics?"
"Regard your fucking grandmother!"
Seething with rage, Su Chen snatched the glass of red wine from Xu Lang's hand and smashed it fiercely against the floor right beside Lin Shiya's feet!
"You've already got your marriage license, recited your vows, and are about to exchange rings, yet you have the fucking nerve to tell me to watch the optics? You guys make me sick to my stomach!"