Chapter 2 — The Groom Swap on Wedding Day

You will never regret this, we are going to live wonderfully!

Chuan Chen had hired two additional videographers, eager to capture every single angle of this wedding without missing a single flaw. I overheard the two cameramen whispering to each other:

Before this, I kept wanting to warn the bride. That guy named Chih had us take countless photos of him and another young woman, and anyone could tell there was something deeply wrong.

Fortunately, the bride is smart. She swapped grooms! If she had actually married into that family, who knows how much grief she would have endured?

The groom she has now is fantastic. He puts the bride first in everything. Now this is the kind of man you can spend your life with!

A truly blessed person always finds their way to happiness!

I stood dazed before the mirror, gently touching the corner of my eye. Hearing such high praise for Chuan Chen, a genuine smile crept onto my face. Then, Dan Dao sent me another message. Having seemingly gauged Chih Yen's attitude, her words were both blunt and deeply greedy:

Sister Zhao Zhao, half an hour has already passed. Hurry up and transfer the money. If the little crybaby doesn't nod, Chih Yen cannot marry you!

Hmph hmph! Now you know how powerful the little crybaby is!

I wasn't nearly as furious as I might have imagined, because I knew deep down that I deserved to be treated infinitely better! After a brief moment of thought, I replied to her:

There are plenty of men out there with two legs. I sincerely wish you and Chih Yen a lifetime of misery together.

Right after that, I deleted and blocked her. At the same time, I transferred the one hundred and eighty thousand bride price straight back into Chih Yen's bank card. Chih Yen still assumed I was just throwing a childish tantrum. He sent me a text:

Shen Zhao, stop returning the bride price over every little thing. Acting like this is so immature.

Immediately afterward, his tone softened:

Dao Dao simply has that kind of unpleasant personality. Can't you just be a bit more tolerant of her? Let me personally apologize to you tonight, alright?

Not alright. I muttered the words silently to myself. Without a second hesitation, I permanently deleted Chih Yen and blocked his number entirely. The wedding coordinator rushed over to me:

Miss Shen, we are ready to welcome the groom!

I clutched the bouquet of yellow roses that Chuan Chen had rushed to order—my absolute favorite flowers—my heart overflowing with joy as I awaited the groom. He gently carried me onto the car, and we smoothly arrived at the wedding venue. As the relatives caught sight of the groom, absolute astonishment swept through the crowd. Those who knew the inside story could be heard muttering curses about how Chih Yen completely deserved this. My aunt, who had been eagerly waiting to watch me make a fool of myself, wore a dark and sullen expression. However, upon hearing rumors that Chuan Chen's family had originally intended to bring a bride price of six hundred and sixty thousand, she immediately squeezed a fake smile onto her face, looking as though she wanted to walk over and greet us. My father didn't even spare her a glance, leading me and Chuan Chen straight past her without a backward look. My youngest aunt's daughter was remarkably straightforward; she stared in amazement, gave me a enthusiastic thumbs-up, and whispered seriously:

Incredible! You actually managed to trade up for a much more handsome groom!

I laughed, helplessly covering my face with my hands. The new banquet hall and the old one were separated by nothing more than a single wall. Quite a few of Chih Yen's relatives spotted me dressed in a pristine wedding gown yet holding hands with another man, and shock was written all over their faces. Chih Yen's second aunt stormed over and demanded:

Shen Zhao, today is your wedding day, yet you are entangled with another man! What on earth do you take our Chih Yen for?

Chuan Chen stepped in front of me, his expression stern and resolute. Father spoke up, his tone laced with heavy displeasure:

The marriage arrangement between our family and Chih Yen has already been completely canceled. Hmph, why don't you go ask your precious Chih Yen what disgraceful deeds he has actually committed!

Mother stepped forward protectively, her voice sharp:

If you dare harass my daughter again, don't blame me for being utterly merciless!

Chih Yen's second aunt was trembling with rage:

Even if Chih Yen made a mistake, you still cannot just swap grooms right on the wedding day! Wasn't there anything that could be calmly negotiated?

By acting so heartless, where do you expect the dignity of our family's younger generation to go?

I let out a cold laugh. Dignity? If Chih Yen truly cared about dignity, he never would have condoned Dan Dao bullying me on the very day of our wedding. I immediately instructed the venue staff to escort Chih Yen's entire family off the premises. The wedding ceremony officially began. Chuan Chen took my hand from my father's and walked step by step toward the altar. He produced a treasured imperial green jade ring passed down through generations from his parents. Perhaps it was meant to be; before setting off, the two of us had tried it on, and the size turned out to be an absolute, flawless fit. Chuan Chen took a deep, shaky breath, his eye sockets turning distinctly red. The wedding host teased him gently:

Relax, Mr. Groom, there is no need to be this nervous.

Chuan Chen laughed through his tears:

Marrying the woman I love with all my heart, it is simply impossible not to be nervous!

I covered my mouth and giggled, thinking to myself: At this very second, the way I look at Chuan Chen must be filled with stars. Just as Chuan Chen was preparing to slide the ring onto my ring finger, a sudden commotion erupted near the grand entrance of the banquet hall. Chih Yen's voice drifted over faintly: Shen Zhao, how can you possibly marry someone else! Chuan Chen instinctively glanced in my direction, trying his absolute best to maintain his composure. Yet I could see it clearly—the unmistakable look of anxiety still flickered in his eyes. I turned slightly and instructed the host:

Anyone who blocks him gets a three-hundred-dollar bonus, anyone who slaps him gets five hundred, and anyone who kicks him gets a thousand!

There is no upper limit!

The host froze for a split second, then beamed with absolute delight. He grabbed his walkie-talkie and immediately relayed the orders to the rest of the wedding staff. Within moments, several miserable shrieks echoed from the entrance hall, before quickly fading back into peaceful silence. I urged the groom softly: Chuan Chen, I want my ring now.