Chapter 38: The Grand Ceremony

Lin Niaoniao charged off the stage like a shrew, heading straight for Song Qingyou, shrieking, “It was you, wasn’t it? You wanted me and Ting Shen to make a fool of ourselves on our wedding day! You’re trying to drive a wedge between us so you can get back together with him. You poisonous woman—I’ll kill you!”

Everyone scrambled out of her way as she barreled down, her eyes fierce with malice, as if she wished she could skin Song Qingyou alive.

Fu Wenzhou’s gaze darkened; he shielded Song Qingyou behind him with quiet poise.

Today’s guests were all prominent figures from Beijing’s elite circles. They watched Lin Niaoniao’s outburst with a mix of sympathy and disdain.

Their gazes toward Fu Tingshen grew even more mocking.

Fu Tingshen drew a deep breath and strode over to Lin Niaoniao, grabbing her arm. “Have you finished making a scene?”

“Tingshen…”

“If you want to cause trouble, do it at home. Don’t disgrace yourself here!”

“And you’re still standing up for that bitch?” Lin Niaoniao was completely unhinged, her voice sharp and trembling with tears. “Do you still love her?”

Fu Tingshen’s face was thunderous. Ignoring her screams, he had someone drag her away.

Fu Changlin and Qin You, who had shamelessly used the old man’s connections to invite so many wealthy families in hopes of recouping some costs from the wedding, emerged with dark faces to salvage the situation.

They forced smiles, explaining to everyone that it was all a misunderstanding, that the photos and videos were doctored.

But everyone there saw through it immediately. Still, no one exposed them—after all, paying a token gift to witness such a spectacle was well worth it.

The guests tactfully played along with Fu Changlin and Qin You.

Besides, for them, attending the wedding was secondary; what really mattered was using the opportunity to secure investments and discuss business.

Song Qingyou stood quietly in the corner, like a pure snow lotus—cool and aloof, elegant and otherworldly.

Fu Wenzhou stood beside her, tall and dignified, his eyes bright as stars.

At first glance, these two seemed more like today’s main couple than Fu Tingshen and Lin Niaoniao.

“Little fox.”

Unbeknownst to her, the man leaned close, whispering with a low chuckle in her ear.

A shiver ran through Song Qingyou’s sensitive earlobes; the mingled scents of cedar and tobacco drifted over her, intoxicating.

She inhaled softly and looked up.

He bent low; she raised her head. Their faces drew close enough that, from a distance, it might easily appear as if they were sharing an intimate kiss in the corner.

Song Qingyou clearly didn’t realize this, gazing intently into Fu Wenzhou’s eyes.

She noticed his eyelashes were long, his eyes slanted at the corners, making him look both charming and unfeeling.

Yet at this moment, his gaze on her was focused and gentle, in stark contrast to those innately indifferent eyes.

His warm breath brushed her cheek, and a flush bloomed on her pale face as her heart beat faster.

“Why are you always so close to me?” she murmured. Though it was meant as a complaint, her naturally soft, clear voice grew even softer at the end, sounding almost like a lover’s playful reproach.

Fu Wenzhou’s throat tightened, his gaze fixed on her rosy lips.

He thought of her lips day and night, living off the memory of their taste.

The more he tried to restrain himself, the more he wanted to kiss her.

Fu Wenzhou let out a sudden sigh and straightened, recalling her cold refusal—“You’d better not fall for me”—his voice low and hoarse. “Sister…”

Song Qingyou’s heart skipped a beat.

Fu Wenzhou glanced at her with a deep, searching look. “When do you plan to sleep with me?”

Song Qingyou’s eyes darted around in alarm, checking if anyone was nearby. Luckily, they were in a quiet corner, unnoticed.

She turned away with a forced smile, unwilling to acknowledge this madman.

—

In the lounge.

“Back then, your father and I thought you were more sensible than Song Qingyou, that’s why we agreed to let a woman with no family or background like you marry into the Fu family. Who knew you’d be so ungrateful! So what if Tingshen goes out with other women? It’s all necessary socializing. As his wife, you should be magnanimous, not expose those photos on your wedding day! Were you trying to embarrass us on purpose?” Qin You harangued Lin Niaoniao endlessly. The humiliation of today nearly left her gasping with anger.

Fu Changlin also glared, reprimanding her coldly, “If you didn’t want to marry in, no one forced you. After today’s scene, this marriage is over. But the child in your womb stays!”

Lin Niaoniao, who had been hanging her head, suddenly looked up, tear-streaked and stunned. “Dad, Mom, what did you just say?”

Qin You replied impatiently, “You can stay in the Fu house until you give birth, and Tingshen has given you plenty of money over the years. Consider it payment for bearing the child. Once it’s born, you can get out.”

They had never been satisfied with Lin Niaoniao; it was only because she was more adept than Song Qingyou and happened to be pregnant that they agreed to let her marry Tingshen. But after today’s spectacle, the Fu family’s reputation was in ruins!

Lin Niaoniao’s face was filled with disbelief. She hated this couple to the core, but her eyes brimmed with pitiful tears.

“Dad, Mom, you have to believe me—I’ve been framed! I didn’t release those photos. It was Song Qingyou who set me up!”

She turned desperately to Fu Tingshen, who stood silent and sullen. “Tingshen, you know how much I love you. How could I ever want to disgrace you? It was that wretched Song Qingyou! She’s jealous of our marriage and wanted revenge!”

Fu Tingshen said nothing. He had always indulged Lin Niaoniao, granting her every wish. During her pregnancy, when they couldn’t be intimate, he had simply sought release elsewhere.

He never expected she would slap him in public, humiliating him utterly.

Today, her shrewish behavior repulsed him. For the first time, he regretted divorcing Song Qingyou. At least she never cared how many women he had outside, nor would she ever cause such a scene.

Fu Tingshen closed his eyes, reconsidering whether this marriage was worth pursuing.

Lin Niaoniao panicked, terrified he would abandon her, and suddenly collapsed at his feet, weeping bitterly.

“We loved each other when we were young. For you, I gave up studying abroad, gave up my beloved dancing, and willingly stayed by your side for three years without status or title. Tingshen, have you forgotten your promises? You said you would love me forever, would marry me, and treat me well for life…”

Fu Tingshen’s stern expression softened at last. He couldn’t bear it and bent to help her up. “Rest for now. I’ll go out with Dad and Mom to entertain the guests. We’ll talk about this tonight.”

With that, he led the still-fuming Fu Changlin and Qin You out.

The door closed, and Lin Niaoniao finally lost control, screaming.

She leapt up, sweeping everything off the table onto the floor and stomping on it in rage.

Today was supposed to be the day when photos of Song Qingyou and Fu Wenzhou’s intimate kiss were exposed; then everyone would know she was involved with her husband’s nephew. She would become the object of public scorn, branded immoral and depraved, and the shame of the Song family—ultimately a laughingstock in all of Beijing.

She would never recover from it!

Lin Niaoniao burst out laughing, the sound shrill and piercing.

She had planned everything perfectly—how had it ended up being Fu Tingshen’s bed photos with another woman instead?

No wonder Song Qingyou had said she, too, had a grand gift to present. So this was what she meant…

“Song—Qing—you!”

Lin Niaoniao spat Song Qingyou’s name out through gritted teeth, her usual innocent facade utterly gone; now she was nothing but a venomous woman.

Her delicate face twisted with a sinister smile, hatred burning in her eyes.

She hissed, “I’ll kill you!”