Bei embraced Zhan, her eyes filled with tears, her heart aching. She removed the top layer of her clothing and draped it over Zhan to cover him. Gently, she began leading him inside. Zhan's mother, her eyes red and her heart heavy with pain, stood nearby. Though she needed no confirmation, she knew Zhan's marriage had fallen apart yet again. With a broken voice, she said, "Take him to your house, Bei. Don't bring him in here-there are too many people who might figure out what happened. Anything could escalate from this. He needs solitude, and I need some peace of mind too."
Bei turned to her, concerned. "But what about you, Auntie? Uncle Wen is furious. What if he lashes out at you in front of everyone?"
"I'll be fine. Just go."
Without another word, Zhan's mother retreated indoors. She couldn't even bear to look at her son, overwhelmed by the heartbreak of his current state. Bei wrapped Zhan more securely and led him out. Outside, the crowd parted as they passed, their eyes full of curiosity and judgment. Meanwhile, Yibo's security team dragged Sen out to the second gate, giving him a brutal beating. His cries for mercy echoed, but the homeowner, Yibo, had already walked away, indifferent to the commotion. Seeing no intervention from their boss, the guards showed no restraint, pummeling Sen until someone rushed to inform Uncle Wen.
Uncle Wen hurried out, stumbling in his agitation, nearly falling as he reached the scene. He intervened, pulling Sen away from the guards. But Sen, his face bloodied and swollen, glared at Uncle Wen with defiance rather than remorse. Through gritted teeth, he spat, "This is all because of Zhan!" Then, without waiting for a response, he staggered to his car, clutching his aching side. He couldn't even start the car, his vision blurred and his face grotesquely swollen. Uncle Wen quickly called his son Jian, who came out to assist. Together, they helped Sen into the car, and Jian drove them to the hospital.
Meanwhile, Zhan had gone straight to his room upon arriving at Granny's sitting room. His red-rimmed eyes were closed, but he wasn't asleep...sleep was impossible after what had happened. He refused to see or speak to anyone, consumed by his thoughts. Bei, understanding his need for space, stayed in the living room. Letting out a heavy sigh, she sank into a chair, her own mind troubled.
Granny noticed and asked, "What happened? Why do you all look like this? Is everything okay?"
Bei didn't hold back, explaining everything that had transpired. She concluded with, "Uncle Wen blames Auntie for everything. She's in deep distress, and now it seems certain that Zhan's marriage has been called off....again."
Granny's expression darkened. "I've been praying for Zhan's happiness in this marriage, but maybe this is for the best. I only wish him a better future and a partner who will truly bring him joy."
Bei, clearly upset, nodded. Tears filled her eyes as she whispered, "I know Sen wasn't right for him, but after all the wedding preparations, it's heartbreaking to see Zhan's fifth engagement fall apart like this."
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That night, the atmosphere in Granny's house was heavy, almost funereal. Zhan lay on his bed, eyes shut, but his mind was racing. Of all his broken engagements, this one had been the most humiliating.
At Zhan's house, the mood was no better. The joy and excitement surrounding the wedding had been replaced with anxiety and sorrow. No one knew what the morning would bring-whether the marriage would proceed or be called off entirely.
Granny, always the voice of reason, called Zhan's mother to offer some comfort. She reminded her to stay hopeful and accept whatever fate had in store. "Whether the wedding happens or not, trust that it's for the best. Pray for clarity, and let's see what tomorrow brings."
With a heavy heart, Zhan's mother replied, "I accept it, but how could Wen even consider marrying him off to someone else in anger? If his words become reality, Zhan's life could be ruined. The marriage might not even see the light of day."
Granny reassured her firmly, "Zhan's life will not be ruined. Han will not let that happen. I'll speak to him if this wedding falls apart. If this isn't meant to be, someone better will come along."
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When Dai Jie entered Zhan's room and saw Yi, their mother, her heart sank with worry and fear as she heard what had happened. Gazing at Yi's teary eyes, she spoke gently, "Mama, please don't cry. This is just a test, and Zhan will get through it. We must have believed that."
Yi lowered her head, shaking it slowly, overwhelmed by sadness and worry. "This is indeed a test," she said softly. "I can barely handle the anguish of Zhan's situation, and now your Grandma won't even let me have peace in this house. Wen has sworn to marry Zhan off to whoever comes next. How am I supposed to find peace with such a decision?"
Dai Jie sat down beside her, resting her chin in her hand as anxiety and fear consumed her. She muttered a silent prayer, hoping Sen wouldn't back out. Despite his flaws, at least he was familiar, and if he withdrew, who knew what kind of person Uncle Wen might find next. After all, once Uncle Wen made a vow, he would follow through on it, no matter the consequences.
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On the other side of the family, Wang Dad spoke with Granny, explaining the entire situation before concluding, "This marriage between Sen and Zhan isn't right. Sen is not a calm or respectful person, and he clearly lacks the maturity and dignity required for marriage. If this engagement isn't called off, We must reconsider giving Zhan to him."
Granny fell silent, deeply affected by Wang Dad's words. Wang Dad held Zhan dear, like his own child, and he couldn't support a marriage that seemed destined to bring unhappiness. He resolved to speak with Uncle Wen that very night.
Granny added, "When you call him, let me know. I want to speak to him too. This situation has deeply distressed Zhan's mother, and we can't let Wen make a hasty decision."
At the hospital, Uncle Wen were busy making apologies to Sen's mother and uncle. Since Sen's father had passed away, Uncle Wen were trying to reassure the family that everything would be resolved after the wedding the next day. But Sen's mother, furious and distraught over her son's condition, retorted, "Even if Xiao Zhan were made of pure Jade, my son would not marry him. We will take this matter to court for the assault on Sen, and I will spend every penny I have to ensure justice is served."
Hearing this, Uncle Wen felt a pang of anguish. He had suspected this would happen. Suppressing his frustration, he attempted to reason with Sen's uncle, suggesting they resolve the matter as men and settle the issue after the wedding. But even Sen's uncle found the situation unacceptable. To have Sen assaulted in Zhan's home before marriage was a serious matter.
Sen's uncle turned to Uncle Wen and said calmly, "Mr. Xiao Wen, this marriage cannot proceed tomorrow. Perhaps it can happen in the future, but for now, it's out of the question."
Uncle Wen remained silent, his heart heavy with disappointment. This was not the first time he had gathered everyone for a wedding only for it to be canceled. He vowed it would be the last.
As the group left the hospital, they hailed a taxi in silence. Even Jian, who was upset about the broken engagement, felt the situation had escalated unnecessarily. He privately thought that if everyone had sat down and talked, things might have been resolved. Instead, legal threats were now being considered. He suspected that Yibo's soldiers were involved in the assault, not Wang Dad's, which made matters even more complicated.
Back at the house, the air was filled with the noise of wedding preparations. Guests filled the halls, but some relatives had chosen not to attend, tired of the repeated wedding cancellations. Uncle Wen sent Jian to fetch Grandma, knowing he couldn't discuss the situation openly in a house full of people.
Grandma, sitting calmly and enjoying some fruit, looked up as Jian delivered the message. Seeing the serious expression on his face, she immediately felt uneasy. Putting her fruit aside, she stood and slowly made her way out, her frail legs moving with the deliberate pace of the elderly. She left quietly, ensuring no one noticed her departure.
Uncle Wen stood waiting outside. As Grandma approached, Wang Dad called him on his phone, asking him to come to the meeting point they had arranged to discuss the matter. Uncle Wen turned to Grandma and said, "Mother, let's go meet Wang Han. It's quieter there, and we can speak openly."
Before they reached the meeting point, Grandma asked, "Wen, is this about Zhan's marriage?"
Uncle Wen remained silent, his heart heavy, until they arrived at the guest parlor where Wang Dad and Granny were already waiting. Once everyone was seated, the serious conversation began.
With great respect, Wang Dad looked at Grandma after they had all sat down in a courteous manner and said, "Mother, welcome. You walked this long with your legs issue to be here. Thank you for your efforts."
"I had no choice, Han," Grandma replied. "Since the heavens has blessed me to live long and in good health with my children, I take pride in it. But the matter of my grandchildren is now becoming a source of stress for me."
After exchanging pleasantries with Granny, who offered her words of encouragement amidst the commotion of the gathering, Uncle Wen also greeted her. Then he turned his attention to Wang Dad, his concern evident as he began to speak.
"Han, although I don't know the exact reason you called for this meeting tonight, I have something significant to address regarding tomorrow's wedding arrangements. From the information I gathered, Zhan and his mother had an altercation with Sen Nan earlier today. Additionally, Yibo's security team got involved, and the situation escalated to the point where Sen Nan was injured and is now hospitalized. In light of these events, his family has decided to call off the wedding."
"I tried reasoning with them and attempted to mediate, but the boy's mother was adamant. In the end, one of his father's brothers apologized and firmly stated that the wedding is no longer happening. They won't reconsider, and I know for certain there's no going back from this. To summarize, there will be no wedding with Sen Nan tomorrow."
The room fell silent for several minutes. Everyone was visibly disturbed, particularly Uncle Wen, whose frustration was palpable. Grandma lowered her head and broke into soft, stifled sobs, saying, "Zhan is always bringing misfortune upon himself and, by extension, upon us, as we bear his burdens."
"Don't say that, Kuan," Granny interjected gently. "It's not entirely his fault. Zhan, too, would be the happiest to see himself settled in marriage. He wouldn't deliberately ruin things, especially at this stage when everything was set for the ceremony tomorrow."
Uncle Wen remained quiet, unable to offer any suggestions for the following day, lost in his thoughts.
Clearing his throat, Wang Dad gathered his composure and spoke with measured calm. "Mother, patience and acceptance are virtues we must continue to uphold. As for Sen Nan, he wasn't the right match for Zhan. Frankly, some of the details I've recently learned about his character confirm that it's for the best. Whether it was Zhan or his mother who caused this situation is irrelevant. The truth is, the universe simply did not align for this marriage to happen. We must accept this as a test and move forward.
"As for tomorrow's wedding gathering, we will need to inform the guests, both near and far, about the postponement and offer our apologies. This is an unfortunate turn of events, but we must handle it with grace and dignity."
When Uncle Wen finally spoke after a long silence, he said, "The wedding planned for tomorrow will proceed, as I've decided. Since the situation didn't align the way we originally intended, I've resolved that Mengshi will marry Zhan instead. This should have been the plan from the start, as their union will strengthen family ties. The primary reason I called you tonight was to inform you of this decision. After considering the influential guests attending the wedding, it would be disrespectful to cancel it at the last moment. Therefore, this is my final decision."
Grandma, wiping her tears, responded,
"This decision is for the best. I hope it bring blessings upon the family."
Granny, however, voiced her concerns with visible unease. "How can Mengshi remarry so soon? It hasn't even been seven months since his last marriage ended. This isn't fair to Zhan either. He has done nothing wrong. He's always hoped for a proper marriage, not something rushed and forced like this."
Uncle Wen sighed heavily and said,
"Mengshi is a capable man, a second pillar of our family. He'll understand his duty and bear this responsibility. As for Zhan, he had his share of failed engagements. He's already driven away so many suitors. I made a promise to him and his mother that I wouldn't let his next engagement end in failure. So tomorrow's wedding will happen, no matter what. This is my decision."
In a soft but trembling voice, Grandma said,
"hope this turn out for the best, but, let's ensure we don't create further problems. Call Mengshi and inform him of the decision. Let him speak for himself so that we avoid any unnecessary conflict."
Granny, unable to contain her frustration, exclaimed, "It's humiliating for Zhan to be pushed into this marriage without proper discussion, especially with Mengshi, who just recently divorced a young girl. There's nothing but insult and disparity in this arrangement. Zhan is a person of dignity and self-respect. How can we force this upon him?"
Her tone turned resolute as she continued,
"There's no need to call Mengshi. She turned to Wang Dad and order, pay the groom price for Zhan and proceed with the marriage to Yibo tomorrow."
Wang Dad, though visibly disturbed by Uncle Wen's decision, kept his emotions in check. He looked at Granny, who was clearly enraged, and said, "The marriage to Yibo will resolve everything. The six-year age gap between them is insignificant. It's not an issue worth dwelling on."
At this, Grandma broke into tears again and said, "How can we ever repay your kindness? You've taken care of Zhan since his father passed away, raising him into the fine man he is today. Now, you're willing to accept him even at this challenging time in his life. As for Zhan, whether he agrees or not, doesn't matter. Wen, you've always had the authority over Zhan, so just proceed with the arrangements and marry him off to Yibo."
Wang Dad turned to Uncle Wen and asked,
"What do you think about this?"
Uncle Wen, overwhelmed with shame at Granny's unwavering support for Zhan, couldn't meet her gaze. He finally looked at Wang Dad and said, "Hope this decision bring happiness to everyone."
Granny left the room, her resolve unwavering, while Grandma, now relieved, smiled as her worries dissipated. The marriage arrangements would now proceed smoothly, with no room for doubt or cancellation. Uncle Wen, though still unsettled, remained silent, allowing the matter to rest until the morning of the wedding.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛