At this moment, everyone in the Yuan family was bustling about for the wedding that was to take place the next day. Yuan Yaer sat in the dressing room, trying on one makeup look after another, but none of them satisfied her. Thus, she seemed a bit fidgety.
Taking advantage of the makeup artist's break, she took out her phone and scrolled through the social platform. As expected, she saw the heated discussions on the internet.
On the first two pages of the post, after netizens dug out the old news from four years ago, they indeed launched a merciless criticism of Yuan Xi's character and morality. Words like "promiscuous", "vile", "scheming bitch", and "black-hearted lotus" were all uttered. Yuan Yaer felt extremely delighted and excited as she read these unpleasant remarks.
However, as she scrolled further down the post, these negative voices gradually faded away. Basically, from the third page onwards, what everyone was discussing were Yuan Xi's lipstick shade, the style of the clothes she was wearing, her dressing collocations, the way she maintained her hair, and the way she educated her children.
Jealousy and hatred contorted Yuan Yaer's face, but she regained her composure in a moment.
Yuan Xi, do you really think that now that there's someone protecting and helping you, you can really wash away the dirt and stains splashed on you four years ago? I won't let that happen.
Yuan Yaer saved the screenshots of the live cooking competition posted by others on the internet and sent them to Yan Zhen, along with a message:
[Brother Yan Zhen, I didn't know that Sister Xiaoxi is actually with Uncle Yan San. He's your own uncle... Did you know about this beforehand? This... How could this be?]
The phone rang the next second. Yan Zhen asked anxiously, "Yaya, where did you see these pictures?"
Yuan Yaer said in a very downcast tone, "Haicheng TV Station is live - broadcasting a cooking competition. I heard that Sister Xiaoxi is a judge for this competition. These are the screenshots taken by netizens. Brother Yan Zhen... Is this true? Sister Xiaoxi is going to be our aunt, right?"
As she spoke, she suddenly burst into tears. "Brother Yan Zhen, do you think Sister Xiaoxi is blaming me? Blaming me for returning to the Yuan family and taking everything from her? That's why she chose this way to take revenge on you and me. Otherwise, shall we not get married?"
Her sobs made Yan Zhen feel extremely heart - ache. He didn't care about anything else and quickly comforted her, "Yaya, don't cry. You're originally a member of the Yuan family. Returning to your ancestral home is only natural. How can this be your fault? Moreover, I'm marrying you because I truly love you. It has nothing to do with anything else. Don't overthink and don't cry. You'll be a bride tomorrow. If you cry and make your eyes swollen, you won't be beautiful tomorrow."
"Okay... Brother Yan Zhen, I won't cry. I'll listen to you." Yuan Yaer stopped her tears. She said cautiously, "Brother Yan Zhen, can I invite Sister Xiaoxi and Uncle Yan San to our wedding?"
Yan Zhen was stunned and didn't know how to answer for a moment.
"Brother Yan Zhen, Sister Xiaoxi has been missing for so long. Dad and Mom were so worried. I also feel very guilty. Now that I know she's still alive, I feel relieved. I think... If Mom and Dad can see Sister Xiaoxi on such a happy and festive day as our wedding, they'll definitely be very happy, too."
Yan Zhen sighed. How could his Yaya be so kind? She was the one who had lived a hard life outside the Yuan family for more than a decade. After returning to the Yuan family, she still had to take care of Xiaoxi's feelings everywhere. Even now, upon learning that Xiaoxi was still alive, her first reaction was to invite her to their wedding to make her parents happy.
The jealousy he felt upon seeing his uncle and his former lover together immediately turned into pity for Yuan Yaer. Yan Zhen said, "Okay, Yaya. I'll talk to Grandpa and ask Uncle to bring Xiaoxi back to our wedding."
Yuan Yaer broke into a smile through her tears. "Brother Yan Zhen, you're so nice."
After hanging up the phone, Yan Zhen looked at himself in the mirror. He was wearing the wedding suit for tomorrow's wedding. This suit made his handsome face and tall and straight figure stand out, enough to charm countless young girls. Yan Zhen knew that his appearance was outstanding, but compared to his uncle, he was still far inferior.
Was he really going to watch those two people be together?
No, he wouldn't. He would never call Xiaoxi "aunt"!
Taking off the wedding suit, Yan Zhen turned around expressionlessly and walked towards the study. When he pushed open the door of the study, Yan Haikun was grinning stupidly at the TV.
"These two little cuties are so adorable! Hahaha!"
Caught off - guard by Yan Zhen's appearance, Yan Haikun immediately turned off the TV, put away his smile, and resumed his serious demeanor as the chairman of the Yan Corporation. He scolded, "You're about to get married, but you still act so rashly. Don't you know how to knock on the door before entering? Get out and knock before coming in!"
Yan Zhen clenched his fists tightly. He wasn't that naive! Grandpa had just turned off the live - broadcast of the cooking competition! He had already seen the two children born to Uncle and Xiaoxi!
Taking a deep breath, Yan Zhen turned around and walked out of the room. As Yan Haikun had said, he raised his hand and knocked on the door outside. Only after getting permission did he walk back into the study. He said to Yan Haikun, "Grandpa, I saw Uncle and Xiaoxi on TV. Are they making their relationship public?"
"Is this what you should be concerned about now?" Yan Haikun looked at him deeply and said, "Tomorrow is your wedding with Yuan Yaer. Have you prepared everything?"
Yan Zhen smiled and said, "Grandpa, you misunderstood. What I mean is... If Xiaoxi and Uncle have chosen to be together, then I want to invite them to our wedding. After all, we'll be a family in the future. Yaer and I should toast to them at the wedding, right?"
Seeing that Yan Zhen seemed to not care at all, Yan Haikun was touched and thought this was a good idea. If he could get A Cheng to bring the person back for the wedding, wouldn't he be able to see his two little grandsons?
Although he had just seen the two little grandsons on TV, after all, it was through a screen. He couldn't hold or kiss them, and it simply couldn't satisfy his heart as a grandpa.
However, he didn't answer Yan Zhen immediately. Instead, he said in a deep voice, "You don't need to worry about this. You just need to prepare well to be the groom."
Yan Zhen knew that he had made his point. He nodded and walked out of the study.
But after leaving, the smile on his face disappeared instantly.
...
Haicheng International Hotel.
On the judges' panel, among a group of middle - aged men in suits with receding hairlines, the young, beautiful, and energetic Xu Zixi was the most eye - catching scenery.
Facing the skeptical looks from the audience below and the live - broadcast cameras of the TV station, Xu Zixi, who had neither a chef's certificate nor a referee's certificate, remained calm and composed. After all, she had attended more grand and solemn occasions than this.
Her calm and confident demeanor also confused the other judges beside her. Jiang Chang'an couldn't help but steal glances at her from time to time. He couldn't help but think to himself: Is this the mysterious master that the master mentioned, the one who can satisfy Mr. Yan's picky taste buds and is Mr. Yan's partner? She's so young!
At this time, the host raised the microphone and said, "Next, let's give our warmest applause to welcome Ms. Xie Shi, a gold - medal famous chef in Country C, the president of the Country C Chefs Association, and a special - level referee of the Country C Chef Competition!"