Qin Xiaolan remarked admiringly from the side, "No wonder my sister was the top scholar. She’s even reading on her wedding day. That’s incredible."

Qin Jiao smiled faintly.

It was Su Yun who sighed at her side. "I never would’ve guessed Shen Yi’s aunt was so formidable. It’s a good thing she’s not in the country."

The "aunt" Su Yun mentioned was Zheng Zhuli, the woman who had just nearly reduced Li Xiaomei to tears.

Qin Jiao had dealt with Zheng Zhuli in her past life as well. She was, indeed, a formidable woman. She would often tell Qin Jiao, ’You’re too much of a pushover. This is no way to live. How can two young people like you live with such a lack of passion?’

Back then, Qin Jiao had already resigned herself to just getting by. She’d argued that she had seen how it was for many parents—that over time, love turned into familial affection. Where was all this passion supposed to come from?

Zheng Zhuli had then asked her sharply, ’Then do you and Shen Yi even have familial affection?’

’No, there was nothing. The most passionate they ever got was when they were arguing. The fact that they didn’t come to blows was the last shred of decency they afforded each other.’

Qin Jiao set down the English copy of the classic novel she was holding—*The Three Musketeers*—and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She sighed. ’To think I’d be reborn only to marry Shen Yi again. But this time it’s fake. I suppose there won’t be any passion this time, either.’

’Do we have a friendship now, at least?’

’Well, at least there’s something.’

After getting a tongue-lashing from Shen Zhengfeng, Li Xiaomei came back completely subdued. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and she didn’t say a word. As for Shen Zhengfeng, he turned right around and went back to schmoozing with the guests.

In truth, in Shen Zhengfeng’s eyes, making money and his career were far more important than his wife and children.

Li Xiaomei was genuinely afraid that Shen Zhengfeng, tired of her age, would actually go and find a younger woman. So, she remained on her best behavior for the rest of the reception.

Meanwhile, Shen Xiaoya and Old Mrs. Shen were just there to watch Du Liya make a fool of herself. Shen Xiaoya asked the person next to her, "Hey, have you seen the groom? Is he handsome?"

"Which groom are you talking about?" the person asked.

Shen Xiaoya froze for a second, then muttered, "Who else would I mean? Xiao Yi is my own nephew; of course I know him. I’m asking about Du Liya’s man. What’s he look like?"

"You’ll see what he looks like soon enough. If you’re that anxious, go take a peek backstage."

Neither of the two couples had made an appearance yet, and Shen Xiaoya was getting antsy. She tried to drag Li Xiaomei with her to the lounge in the back, but Li Xiaomei, still smarting from Shen Zhengfeng’s tirade, refused to budge. Just then, she heard Shen Feng whisper from nearby, "Auntie, I’ll go with you."

"Great! See, Xiao Feng is the sensible one."

Both Old Mrs. Shen and Shen Xiaoya knew that Shen Feng was Shen Zhengfeng’s biological son, so they were much warmer toward him than they were toward Li Xiaomei.

As the two of them were heading backstage, they happened to run into two men in wedding suits walking toward them.

One was younger, looking to be just over twenty. The other had the air of a mature man, and with his mixed-race features, he was particularly striking.

They were the two grooms for today’s wedding.

Shen Xiaoya stared at the handsome Beidou, completely dumbfounded. Her voice caught as she asked Shen Yi, "Xiao Yi, is he... is he..."

"Technically, he’s my stepfather, but he’s too young. I’d rather just call him Bro." Shen Yi looked at Beidou. "You got a problem with that, Bro?"

Beidou burst out laughing. "Of course not. Alright, I’m going out to greet the guests. You should come out in a bit, too."

The grooms’ preparations were simple. In fact, all they needed was a bit of hairspray to style their hair.

Shen Xiaoya was completely dumbstruck. Her eyes filled with a toxic mix of envy and jealousy as she muttered, "How is that possible? A man that handsome... what could he possibly see in your mother?"