Chapter 1 — Jilted at the Altar

During the tea ceremony at our wedding, my mother-in-law pulled out a red envelope she had prepared well in advance and waved for my best friend, who was standing right behind me, to step forward.

"Wan, to be honest, I have always preferred you. It is just a pity my son lacks the good fortune to have claimed you first."

"Since you cannot be my daughter-in-law, today I shall adopt you as my daughter."

"Now, take this ten thousand and one yuan, and change how you address me. Call me Mother."

The hand I used to hold the tea set stiffened instantly. I turned to look at Xu Ze, who stood beside me, my gaze demanding an explanation for this spectacle. He cleared his throat in embarrassment and whispered, "We originally planned to hold the official adoption ceremony after the wedding, but my mother decided it would be more convenient to do it now."

"I thought that since you and Wan are best friends, you would not mind, so I gave my consent."

After saying this, he urged my best friend to quickly accept the red envelope. Lin Wan’s eyes reddened; she took the envelope and called my mother-in-law "Mother" in a trembling voice.

My mother-in-law nodded with a satisfied smile. Noticing my sour expression, Xu Ze nudged me gently with his elbow. "Alright, don't put on such a miserable face on a joyous day."

"You and Wan are both entering my family now. The three of us will only grow closer, which is a wonderful thing, isn't it? Besides, my mother didn't play favorites. She prepared a red envelope of eight hundred and eighty-eight yuan for you as well. Hurry up and finish the tea ceremony; don't hold up the wedding."

Watching Xu Ze’s impatient expression, I set my teacup aside. "There is no need for us to become closer. As for this wedding, you might as well just marry Lin Wan instead."

A flash of shock crossed Xu Ze’s face, followed by a hushed, reproachful tone. "Are you insane? There are so many relatives and friends watching. What are you making a scene for?"

I let out a cold, sharp laugh. "I am making a scene? Your entire family decided to adopt a daughter right in the middle of my wedding without even consulting me, and now you demand I be 'broad-minded.' Tell me, Xu Ze, do you really think I am that easy to bully?"

Xu Ze furrowed his brow. "Shen Nian, stop acting like a spoiled brat. Finish the ceremony; I will make it up to you when we get home."

Seeing this, Lin Wan stepped forward and held out her red envelope to me, her voice choked with fake sobs. "Nian Nian, please don't blame Mother or Ze; it’s all my fault. I don’t even want this money anymore. Please don't call off the wedding because of me."

Despite her words, her fingers gripped the thick envelope tightly. Xu Ze, overwhelmed with "pity," immediately pulled her into his arms. "Wan, ignore her. You must take this money today; it is the gift my mother gave you for changing your title! Shen Nian is just throwing a tantrum. With so many people watching, she wouldn't actually dare to cancel, would she?"

I looked at his familiar face, yet it suddenly felt entirely alien. "Xu Ze, do you truly believe that just because I am wearing this wedding dress, I am obligated to marry you?"

Upon hearing this, my mother-in-law sprang to her feet, pointed a finger at my face, and began to shriek. "You ungrateful wretch! It is a blessing that my son even looked your way! If you dare to walk out today, even if you crawl back on your knees to beg me, I will never let you step foot into the Xu household again!"

Ignoring her, I turned to the emcee standing nearby. "Please, give me the microphone."

The emcee handed it to me instinctively. Xu Ze realized something was wrong and reached out to snatch it away. "Shen Nian! Stop this!"

I dodged his hand, gripped the microphone tightly, and looked out at the guests. "Ladies and gentlemen, relatives and friends, I apologize for this interruption. Today’s wedding ends here. This marriage... is off."

The crowd erupted into a buzz of confusion. I walked off the stage, where my parents rushed to meet me. My mother grabbed my hand; her palms were cold, slick with sweat, and trembling. "Nian Nian, what on earth is going on?"

I held her hand, soothing her, and recounted exactly what had transpired on stage. My father’s face darkened instantly. "The Xu family has gone too far!" He tore the boutonniere from his jacket, threw it to the ground, and turned to head toward the stage.

By then, Xu Ze had caught up to us. "Father, please don't be angry; it’s all just a misunderstanding. Nian Nian is being stubborn, making a mountain out of a molehill. Wan is her best friend. Mother adopting her will only bring us closer—it’s a good thing!"

My father stared at him, his entire body trembling with rage. "A good thing? My daughter is getting married, and the 'title-change' money for her is eight hundred and eighty-eight yuan. Meanwhile, an outsider gets ten thousand and one? Is this how your family humiliates others?"

Xu Ze’s forced smile faltered, but he tried to defend himself. "Father, the amount is just a gesture—"

"A gesture? The hell it is!" My father, a refined man who had spent his life as a teacher and never once raised his voice in anger, swore aloud and shoved Xu Ze aside. "Get out of my sight!"

My mother-in-law descended the stage with Lin Wan, her face twisted, shouting at my father. "In-law, what is the meaning of this? When did we ever humiliate anyone? Shen Nian was practically throwing herself at us for free, and now she wants more money? If she refuses to marry now, it’s the Shen family that loses face!"

In the past, Xu Ze claimed the family’s money was tied up in investments, leaving them cash-poor. I, out of sympathy, had not asked for a dowry and even covered part of the wedding expenses myself. I never imagined that I would be dismissed as a woman who "threw herself" at them.

I looked at her coldly. "The Xu family only had to show up with a groom. If this news gets out, we shall see who truly loses face."

My mother-in-law faltered, her gaze shifting away, though she still refused to yield. "My Xu Ze is handsome and talented! Countless girls are fighting to marry him!"

"If so many girls are fighting for him, then tell him to marry one of them instead." I turned to my parents. "Father, Mother, let’s go."

Xu Ze panicked, rushing forward to grab my wrist. "Shen Nian, if you walk out that door today, don't ever think about coming back!"

I jerked my hand away with all my strength. "Xu Ze, I will say this one last time. The wedding is over. From this moment on, we have no relationship whatsoever."

I turned and walked toward the backstage lounge. My mother followed me, while my father stayed outside to tell our relatives to leave. "We cannot continue the banquet today. Thank you all for coming; I will host a proper apology dinner another time."

Our relatives stood up in unison, asked no unnecessary questions, and walked out. The Xu family remained seated, looking at each other in confusion. Once inside the lounge, I locked the door. My mother’s eyes were red as she helped me unzip my wedding dress; her hands were shaking, and finally, her tears began to fall. "Nian Nian, we cannot let this go. They bullied you too much."

I nodded. "Don't worry, Mother. I won't let it go."

Just then, a violent pounding erupted at the door, accompanied by Xu Ze’s furious shouting. "Shen Nian! Open this door!"

I changed my clothes, pinned up my hair, and opened the door. Xu Ze stormed in, followed by his mother, Chu Gui-mei, and Lin Wan. The moment they entered, Lin Wan fell to her knees before me. "Nian Nian, it is all my fault. I shouldn't have taken the money, and I shouldn't have called her Mother. You can hit me or scold me, but please, don't be angry with Ze."

Seeing her artificial display, I found it almost laughable. "Lin Wan, what kind of performance is this? Do you really think I don't see your game?"

Since the wedding preparations began, she had constantly used the excuse of "helping" to insert herself into Xu Ze’s life. When picking the dress, she insisted on trying it on for me; during food tastings, she always sat next to him, laughing and whispering. I had once mistaken her enthusiasm for friendship. Now, it was clear they had been sneaking around behind my back for a long time.

Seeing Lin Wan on the floor, Xu Ze rushed to pull her up, sheltering her in his arms. "Shen Nian, Wan has already done all of this for you—what more do you want? Do you have to make everything so ugly? Where is your sense of empathy?"

Chu Gui-mei chimed in, pointing at me. "Exactly! Wan is so sensible, unlike you—you have no grace. Let me tell you, if you don't continue this wedding, you will end up a piece of used trash that no one wants!"

I let out a sharp, mocking chuckle. "Trash? Madam, the imperial dynasty fell ages ago, yet you still insist on carrying these archaic, oppressive attitudes? I haven't registered the marriage with your son; I am still an unwed woman. Calling off the wedding now is merely cutting my losses. On the contrary, your son has been flirting with the bridesmaid right in the middle of his own wedding. That is the behavior of an animal incapable of controlling its own impulses."

Chu Gui-mei’s face turned a bruised purple, and her finger trembled violently. "You… you are truly unraised! Fine! If you won't continue the ceremony, someone else will!"

She marched over to Lin Wan and grabbed her hand. "The tables are all paid for; it would be a waste not to use them! Today, we will simply change the wedding to one between my Xu Ze and Wan! I actually preferred Wan all along anyway! Besides, she is already carrying the flesh and blood of the Xu family!"

My mother gasped, clutching my arm instinctively. I looked at Lin Wan. She was looking down, her hands folded over her flat stomach, though she couldn't hide the smug smirk on her lips. A five-year friendship, a three-year engagement—while I had been exhausted trying to organize a perfect wedding, they had managed to conceive a child. My stomach turned with overwhelming revulsion.

Seeing the last pretense shattered, Xu Ze sighed. "Nian Nian, since my mother has said it, I won't hide it from you anymore. That night between Wan and me was just an accident. We had too much to drink and couldn't control ourselves. But you must believe me—you are the only one I truly love. I am only sincere with you."

He took a step forward, his eyes filled with a condescending sense of grace. "Nian Nian, we have three years of history. I don't want to make things ugly either. I’m giving you one last chance. Go change your clothes and come back out to finish the ceremony."