Chapter 6 — The Groom Swap on Wedding Day

Chi Yen's aunt was particularly agitated, so furious she looked ready to strike me, though she was swiftly restrained. She pointed a trembling finger at me and shrieked, "You and Chi Yen have already slept together, what pretense of chastity are you putting on now?" Turning frantically to the police officers, she scrambled to explain, "They are just a couple having a minor lover's spat." Unwilling to be dragged any further into their circus, I immediately produced the definitive evidence. This included two pristine marriage registration certificates along with video footage of Chi Yen's failed attempt at harassment. I fixed a cold, piercing glare on the aunt. "If your mouth remains so filthy, I will personally ensure the entire Chi clan's lineage ends up behind bars." The noisy, chaotic police station fell into an instant, deadened silence. Chi Yen stared blankly at the marriage certificates, the corners of his mouth twitching as he spoke. "We broke up such a short time ago, and you've already married Chu Che? Shen Zhao, how truly heartless you are."

I paid no heed to his sorrowful, melancholic act, focusing entirely on laying down my reasonable demands. "Either you agree to sell the property, and after the proceeds are divided according to our original financial contributions, we go our separate ways once and for all. Or I pursue this to the absolute end and send you straight to prison!" Chi Yen adopted an expression of heart-wrenching despair. "Shen Zhao, that house is the last remaining tie between us. Do you really have to be so ruthless?" I had already reached my limit of nausea. Were it not for the fact that I was enveloped in the scent of Chu Che's jacket, I might have caught the stale odor of alcohol still clinging to Chi Yen. On our wedding day, he had condoned an exorbitant eighty-eight thousand ransom fee for the traditional name-changing ceremony, nearly destroying my wedding and utterly humiliating me. Now, he was attempting to inflict yet another psychological trauma upon me. This time, however, I refused to indulge him. I turned my head back toward Chi Yen's aunt. "Prison or a house sale, pick one." His horde of aunts and uncles gritted their teeth in frustrated resignation, ultimately forcing him to sign the settlement agreement. Throughout the entire negotiation process, Chu Che remained steadfastly by my side, his expression stern and unyielding like the most loyal of bodyguards, fiercely protecting me. A month later, my share of the funds finally arrived. The real estate agency transferred the money to the lawyer, who in turn transferred it to me. Armed with these funds, I took Chu Che house hunting. After much deliberation, we decided against purchasing a newly built property, opting instead for a well-maintained, fully renovated older home in a prime location. On the day we moved, I happened to run into Chi Yen and Tran Dao. As it turned out, the moving company had delivered to the wrong address. Our new residential complex was named Ocean Joy City Bay, but the movers had misread a single character, confusing it with Ocean Joy Blue Bay. Their truck had pulled up to the wrong gates before they realized the mistake, and the workers showered me with profuse apologies. I waved a dismissive hand to indicate I did not mind, yet I neither spoke nor urged them to hurry. My gaze drifted out through the vehicle window, where Chi Yen and Tran Dao stood locked in a bitter argument right at the gates of Ocean Joy Blue Bay. Even from a considerable distance, their shouting was clearly audible. Tran Dao was weeping hysterically as she pointed aggressively at Chi Yen's nose. "Chi Yen, I am carrying your child! Are you really refusing to provide even a single roof over our baby's head? Before you and Shen Zhao were supposed to get married, hadn't you already bought a house?" Chi Yen wore a look of utter, consuming impatience. "If you hadn't stuck your nose in and stirred up trouble back then, the person I should have married was Shen Zhao. Would it ever have been your turn?" Tran Dao let out a cold, cynical laugh. "You think I don't regret it? If your aunt hadn't used my job to blackmail and threaten me, who in their right mind would have agreed to marry you? A pathetic, spineless mama's boy with no backbone—you actually believed it when I called you 'big brother,' stupid enough to collaborate with me just to sabotage Shen Zhao. Regretting it now? Let me tell you, it's far too late! Being saddled with you is your ultimate retribution. For all we know, Shen Zhao right now is living in absolute bliss with her husband!"

Those words struck with pinpoint accuracy at Chi Yen's most vulnerable nerve. In a blind rage, he swung his hand and struck her across the face. Tran Dao was no pushover either. Pregnant though she was, her fighting spirit exploded; clutching her rounded belly, she lunged at him, tearing and clawing furiously. The two of them descended into a savage brawl right there in the open street. I pulled my gaze away and instructed the movers to drive on. Chu Che was waiting for me at our new home. He had polished the wooden floors to a gleaming shine so that I could walk barefoot without a care. I wandered from the living room into the master bedroom, checked the guest room and the study, and finally looped back to the living room, where I threw myself directly into Chu Che's arms. Gazing at the pristine white walls and the sofa with its wrapping still unpeeled, my mind was already racing with plans on how to decorate this space to make it both gorgeous and inviting. Chu Che allowed me to sit comfortably in his lap, the cool air conditioning blowing softly as he looked down at me with a beaming smile. Catching his gaze, I asked with mild curiosity, "What is it?" Chu Che's face radiated pure happiness. "I'm just looking at my wife." He paused briefly before adding, "And our wonderful, happy home." I nodded in firm agreement. "Yes, this is our happy home!" Chu Che's eyes danced mischievously as he leaned in and proposed, "Wife, can you give me a kiss? I'm terrified all of this is just a dream." Hah, playing that old trick again! I knew his game well, but willingly leaned in and planted a loud, affectionate smack right on his cheek, my heart overflowing with contentment. All those wretched days were finally, permanently behind us.