"My mom has tons of virtues. As for Beidou, I suppose his best quality is that he isn’t blind," Shen Yi said nonchalantly.

Shen Xiaoya was a bit dense and didn’t immediately catch Shen Yi’s subtext—that he was calling Shen Zhengfeng blind. Crestfallen, she turned and went back to the banquet hall. Just like Li Xiaomei before her, all the fight went out of her.

The long corridor connected the bride’s lounge on one end to the lively banquet hall on the other.

Shen Yi blocked the way, looking at Shen Feng with a humorless smile. "Where do you think you’re going? The restrooms aren’t this way, and neither is the back door. The only thing down this hall is the bride’s lounge."

Shen Yi took a step forward. He was already dressed quite maturely for the day, and he was slightly taller than Shen Feng to begin with. His eyes glinted dangerously as he spoke. "So, are you planning to see my mother, or my wife?"

It was a loaded question. No matter what Shen Feng said, he couldn’t very well claim he was going to see Du Liya.

His expression hardened. "Shen Yi, you’re not going to be this petty, are you? Qin Jiao and I were classmates, after all. Can’t I go see a classmate on her wedding day? Or is there something you’re worried about?"

They were squaring off now, neither holding back.

Ordinarily, Shen Yi’s hot temper would have led to fists flying by now. But today was his wedding day. ’I get to have Jiao Jiao in my life for a second time. What did I ever do to be so lucky?’ If he started a fight and made a scene today, Jiao Jiao would be upset.

So Shen Yi reined in his temper. He nodded. "You’re right. You are our classmate, after all. Which means for my and Jiao Jiao’s wedding, you wouldn’t have skimped on the red envelope, would you?"

Shen Feng frowned.

Shen Yi pressed on. "You didn’t just tag along with Shen Zhengfeng without preparing a red envelope, did you?"

Shen Feng was speechless.

Shen Yi would rather neglect his duties greeting guests out front than give Shen Feng any chance to see Qin Jiao in the back. The two stood in a stalemate for a moment before Shen Feng frowned, turned, and walked away.

Qin Jiao was completely unaware of any of this. When the MC out front made the announcement, she linked arms with Du Liya, and together they walked out.

The ceremony, of course, began with the senior couple. Mr. Du took his daughter Du Liya’s arm and slowly walked her toward the center of the hall, where a handsome Beidou was waiting.

Mr. Du patted his daughter’s hand. "This is the second time, Liya. Dad hopes you’ll be happy this time."

Twenty years ago, Mr. Du had given his daughter’s hand to another man in this very same way. Now, that man sat in the audience, watching it all with cold eyes.

Du Liya’s eyes welled with tears. "Dad, you’re being too sentimental," she said, her voice choked with emotion. "This is my second time around; I wasn’t planning on crying, but now you’ve made me want to. I don’t know if I’ll find happiness, but I promise I’ll try my best, Dad."

Hearing his daughter’s words, Mr. Du didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

And just like that, they reached the end of the aisle. Mr. Du had no choice but to solemnly place his daughter’s hand in Beidou’s. "You’d better treat Liya well from now on," he urged.

"Don’t worry, Dad!" Beidou squeezed Du Liya’s hand, a wide smile spreading across his face.

Next up was the second couple. Qin Zhonghui was wearing a suit and felt rather awkward in it. He’d seen his boss wear one back when he was a laborer, but having one on himself just felt strange.

He forced himself to stand still, but his palms were slick with sweat. He was even more nervous than his own daughter who was about to be married.

Qin Jiao chuckled softly. "Dad, don’t be nervous. Just walk slowly. It’ll be fine."

"This shirt is too tight, the suit is too stiff, this..."

"I know, Dad, I know." Qin Jiao glanced down at the main table, where her mother was sitting with Xiao Shi, watching her with a gentle expression. She gave a small smile.

’Du Liya was getting married for the second time, but wasn’t she, Qin Jiao, doing the same?’

Qin Jiao lifted her head and looked to the end of the aisle. Shen Yi was standing there, his gaze deep and filled with overwhelming tenderness as he watched her.