Chapter 4 — Happiness in Hand

Upon hearing this, Yi Chen immediately chimed in with a nod, "Right, exactly, Uncle is completely right! Mom, Dad, anyway Nan Hi and I understand each other so well, you can just wait to attend our wedding!"

The elders around the banquet table stared at him in utter astonishment. Finally losing his patience, the elder Yi slammed his hand onto the table and barked, "We are discussing your uncle's marriage here, what business is it of yours to butt in?!"

Yi Chen still failed to grasp the situation, his expression entirely nonchalant. "My uncle is getting married too? Well, that is truly a joyous occasion! Why don't we just hold our weddings together? That would make the Yi family estate all the more lively!"

The elder Yi frowned deeply. "What on earth are you talking nonsense for? Who said anything about a joint wedding? It is not your turn to get married yet!"

"The one getting married is your uncle and Nan Hi! Stop acting like a reckless child and causing a disturbance!"

With that, the elder Yi turned toward me, cheerfully raising his wine glass. "I almost thought I would never live to see my younger brother take a wife! Nan Hi, I propose this toast to you!"

Yi Chen finally froze, his voice stuttering and trembling. "Dad... what did you say? Who... who is marrying whom?"

Before the elder Yi could reply, Bin Qian placed the hand he was holding flat onto the table, his gaze calm yet resolute as he looked straight at Yi Chen.

"The ones getting married are myself and Nan Hi."

"Impossible! This is completely impossible!" Yi Chen bolted straight up from his chair, his face contorted with sheer disbelief.

"Stop losing your mind! What the hell do you think you are doing?!"

"Making such a loud, boorish scene at a formal family banquet—where is your decency? Is this how you treat your elders?"

"If you continue to act wild, get the hell outside right this instant!"

Clenching his fists tightly, Yi Chen forced down the chaotic emotions churning in his chest and slumped back into his seat. Throughout the remainder of the banquet, every single conversation revolved around the upcoming union between myself and Bin Qian. From that moment on, Yi Chen's eyes never once left me. Even when Xing Chan deliberately tried to act coquettishly by his side, he refused to spare her a single glance.

After the banquet concluded, as we reached the exit, I suddenly realized I had left my coat behind. Bin Qian immediately turned back toward the banquet hall to retrieve it. As I stood waiting by the entrance, I was abruptly yanked hard by the arm. Yi Chen's eyes were bloodshot, his voice ragged.

"Tell me the truth! Why is your marriage alliance with my uncle?!"

As I struggled to wrench my arm free from his grip, I asked with cold indifference, "Why shouldn't it be?"

Yi Chen tightened his grip further, his voice boiling with fury. "Stop playing games, Bai Nan Hi! You loved me to the point of obsession; how could you possibly agree to marry anyone else besides me?!"

I let out a soft, mocking laugh.

"Yet, as you can see, I am marrying someone else now."

"Yi Chen, I spent countless years chasing after you, but now I am exhausted, and I don't love you anymore."

"Besides, the person you truly love isn't me anyway, am I right? So please have some self-respect and stop clinging to me!"

A flicker of incomprehensible anguish flashed across Yi Chen's eyes. "That's impossible... You couldn't possibly stop loving me! Clearly, in our past life, we still..."

He abruptly cut himself off, a flash of utter confusion crossing his features before quickly shifting into an expression of forced reluctance as he lowered his voice into a soothing tone.

"Alright, Nan Hi, you don't need to throw tantrums to spite me anymore."

"I agree to your terms. Our wedding will be held exactly to your tastes, and we will buy the style of wedding dress you like, okay?"

"Furthermore, even though I registered my marriage with Xing Chan, I will never bring her back to our marital home to be an eyesore for you. Is that satisfactory?"

I stared at him, feeling such profound disbelief that it felt as though I was truly understanding the essence of this man for the very first time.

"My wedding was supposed to be according to my wishes from the very beginning!"

"Yi Chen, this is the last time I will say it—the only person I want to marry is Bin Qian. Stop acting like a lunatic here!"

Yi Chen's face hardened, his patience wearing entirely thin. "Just you try marrying him!"

He tightened his grip, violently dragging me toward his chest. But in the very next second, I was pulled into a warm, sturdy embrace. Bin Qian draped my coat over my shoulders, and without a moment's hesitation, he clenched his fist and delivered a vicious, direct blow to Yi Chen's face.

"Yi Chen! Who gave you the audacity to lay hands on my fiancee?!"

The corner of Yi Chen's mouth split and bled, but he merely gritted his teeth, a bizarre, twisted smile spreading across his features.

"Uncle, why don't you ask around? Is there anyone in the entire capital who doesn't know how many years Bai Nan Hi spent trailing after me like a dog?"

"Such a 'used' piece of goods... do you really want her?"

Bin Qian's knuckles clenched even tighter, and he struck him with yet another ferocious punch.

"Can't keep your filthy mouth shut, huh? Let me take your older brother's place and teach you how to behave like a human being!"

"As for your position as general manager, if you feel you have sat in that seat long enough, I can find someone to replace you at any second! Now get the hell out of my sight!"

I looked down at Bin Qian's reddened hand, unable to stop myself from asking, "Does it hurt?"

A sliver of hope flared in Yi Chen's eyes, but the moment he saw me gently taking Bin Qian's hand and inspecting it with anxious concern, the last remaining light in his eyes vanished entirely.