Jiayi was dressed in a custom-made Michael Cinco Royal Family-style wedding gown. The white veil cascaded like a waterfall, half-concealing her delicate makeup, yet unable to hide her jet-black hair, snow-white skin, rosy cheeks, and red lips. The fishtail-style dress adorned with southern pearls had a two-meter train, flowing on the red carpet like a stream. The abdomen had been thoughtfully designed with an elastic fabric, covered with romantic lace, making her pregnancy inconspicuous. On the contrary, it even accentuated her fuller bust, courtesy of her condition.

"What’s wrong? Feeling envious, jealous, and bitter? Look, Jiayi has had two weddings already. You should step up your game. If you keep delaying, you’re going to end up an old spinster. Hey, hey, hey, don’t tell me no one is chasing after you? That’s pathetic. For the sake of being old classmates, should I bring you to a few rich second-generation gatherings sometime and help you snag a golden bachelor?" Shangguan Yao was standing nearby and chimed in with his teasing remarks. He had accompanied his father, Shangguan Xiong, to congratulate Huo Zhenyang on behalf of the Shangguan Family.

"Shangguan Yao, zip it! No one would think you were mute if you spoke less! Why should it concern you if I end up an old spinster? Am I eating from your family’s pantry? Set me up with men from your circle? Oh, please. I thank your ancestors from eight generations past! If they’re all like you, I’d rather stay single forever!" Liang Anya retorted, hands on her hips, and shot him a glare.

Jiayi chimed in to defend Liang Anya: "Anya is so beautiful; there’s no way she’d become an old spinster. You should stop meddling."

Shangguan Yao raised an eyebrow, then suddenly gave Liang Anya a sly, knowing look and joked, "She’s definitely confident—her luck with romance has come knocking again."

"What do you mean?" Jiayi asked suspiciously.

Lowering his voice, Shangguan Yao grinned and replied, "I just went to the Huo Family villa with my dad, and I saw this girl chatting away with Teacher Jiang, laughing so hard her eyebrows were dancing, clearly smitten. They even exchanged contact details! Oh, Liang Anya, if I recall correctly, didn’t you pursue Teacher Jiang during college? You even confessed to him on the campus forum, didn’t you? Too bad he turned you down. What’s this? Haven’t given up yet? ... Jiayi, maybe this wedding of yours could even bring the two of them together."

"Shangguan Yao, stop spouting nonsense!" Liang Anya clenched her fists, her face flushed with anger.

Even Jiayi couldn’t resist joining in the gossip: "Really, Anya? You met up with Teacher Jiang? What did you guys talk about? Oh, should I see if I can arrange for his room to be closer to yours later?"

Liang Anya almost burst into tears from frustration. "Jiayi, how could you gang up with him to tease me?!"

Shangguan Yao burst out laughing, but his laughter was interrupted by the sound of steady, deep footsteps approaching from behind.

Huo Zhenyang walked over, catching Shangguan Yao mid-laugh. His thick eyebrows lifted slightly as he wrapped his arm around Jiayi. "What’s so funny?"

Although it seemed like a casual question, his tone was laced with guardedness, like a beast protecting its territory.

This Shangguan Yao had pursued Jiayi in the past; Huo Zhenyang hadn’t forgotten.

If it weren’t for Shangguan Xiong’s reputation and his promise to Jiayi to invite all her friends, he wouldn’t have let this guy show up in the first place. Yet here he was, laughing and joking with his wife.

Jiayi could tell from her husband’s expression that he was getting jealous again. She quickly smiled and said, "Nothing really. We were teasing Anya."

Only then did Huo Zhenyang’s expression soften. With a slight squeeze of the arm he had wrapped around her waist, he drew her closer into his embrace.

...

Meanwhile, an imposing dragon-shaped convoy was making its way up the mountain, eventually pulling up one by one in front of He’an Cathedral.

It was clear these were not vehicles from the Huo Family’s island fleet.

These were new guests.

The bodyguards and assistants around the Huo Family perimeter were taken aback at the sight of the cars. Weren’t all the guests supposed to have arrived yesterday? Who could be arriving now?

The convoy came to a stop, and the driver of the central car stepped out, stunning everyone even further. The driver was visibly a Westerner.

The driver quickly opened the rear door, and a long leg stepped gracefully onto the ground. Then, a tall and impeccably dressed figure appeared before all the onlookers inside and outside the cathedral.

The man looked about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, wearing a black suit with the top two buttons of his white shirt undone, giving off a strong air of laziness and nonchalance. His deep chestnut hair, pale skin that was almost translucent, and an amber earring on his left ear gave him a striking appearance. Despite wearing sunglasses, his exotic, Western-style features—touched by an unmistakably Eastern elegance and restraint—were impossible to miss.

After stepping out, the man strode toward the cathedral without sparing a glance at the reporters or guests around him, treating their questions like background noise.

"Who’s that?"

"Obviously a wedding guest."

"Is he a friend of the Huo Family? He looks like a mixed-race guy. Could he be a guest from A Country?"

"Hmm, Huo Shao’s mother does have ties to A Country, and they’ve always been close. He’s probably from there."

Amid the speculation, some young female guests let out infatuated whispers.

...

Although there was still some distance, Liang Anya caught sight of the newcomer out of the corner of her eye.

Her heart skipped a heavy beat, and her face instantly turned ashen, as though she’d just seen the devil himself.

Her hands slackened, causing the bouquet she was holding to fall to the ground with a thud, unnoticed.

Shangguan Yao picked up the bouquet, frowning. "He’s handsome, but you don’t have to swoon so hard."

But Liang Anya seemed oblivious to Shangguan Yao’s teasing. Cold sweat seeped from her palms as she suddenly snapped back to her senses. Before the man could notice her, she quickly fled along the cathedral’s corridor.

Jiayi, noticing Anya’s sudden departure, felt concerned. Seeing Jiang Pinhao seated at the back of the cathedral, she quickly lifted her gown and hurried over. In a low voice, she said, "Teacher Jiang, could you please check on Anya for me?"

Jiang Pinhao, having noticed Liang Anya’s strange behavior and glancing at the mixed-race man who had just arrived, seemed to have a faint inkling of the situation. However, he said nothing more and stood up. "Alright."

Meanwhile, Si Yuheng had arrived at the foot of the cathedral steps. His hawk-like gaze scanned the surroundings near the couple before his brows furrowed slightly.

Not here? Impossible.

George stepped forward, about to speak, but Si Yuheng removed his sunglasses, revealing mesmerizing, ocean-blue eyes with a bewitching charm. He raised his arm, lightly pushing George aside, and addressed the groom with a mocking tone, "No matter what, Huo Shao, we share some kind of distant kinship. I’ve even helped you and Miss Chu in the past. Yet here’s such a grand occasion, and you haven’t invited me?"

Huo Zhenyang’s thin lips curled slightly. Of course, he knew why Si Yuheng had come. Since he’d shown up uninvited, he likely wouldn’t leave easily. Today was a joyous occasion, so in good spirits, Huo Zhenyang decided against arguing. "Since you’re here, feel free to stay. Someone, please see to it that Hall Master Si is attended to."

George, hearing the Boss’s response, stepped back without further objection.

Under the guidance of the Huo Family’s assistants, Si Yuheng was seated among the wedding guests.

Jiayi, noticing Si Yuheng staying, tugged on Huo Zhenyang’s sleeve. "Will this cause any trouble?"

"Si Yuheng isn’t going to eat her. I’ll have the assistants keep an eye on things. I won’t let Beiming Hall stir up trouble on my turf."