Returning - Chapter 163
Chapter 163: Child
The solemn and dignified wedding march continued, and the bride in her resplendent gown remained dazzling under the brilliant lights.
But at that moment, the audience below was already in an uproar.
The groom had abandoned the bride at the wedding, and with over a thousand guests watching and countless media outlets broadcasting live, it was impossible not to imagine the immense scandal that would ensue.
In such a sudden chaos, the experienced host was naturally the first to react.
He immediately adjusted his microphone and tried to humorously make excuses for the groom's departure.
Yet, even if the guests hadn't seen the sheer coldness in Xu Chengyan's gaze when he looked at the bride before leaving, the resolute action of throwing away the pocket flower was enough to declare his attitude toward her: resentful and disgusted.
With such an exit, no matter how glib the host was, his words lacked any ounce of conviction.
The next moment, his awkwardly strained explanations, no matter what, were interrupted by Zhuang Yiqing.
The bride who had just been jilted had already composed herself in an instant. Her demeanor was elegant, her expression calm, but her tone carried an indescribable, bone-chilling coldness: "Thank you all for coming to my wedding. This sentiment is something both I and the entire Lanxi Group will remember in our hearts. Regrettably, I misjudged his character and have let down your good intentions."
"However, I won't let you all come here for nothing. Tonight, please treat this as a banquet of gratitude from our Lanxi Group."
"I'll stay and share this dinner with all of you."
At this point, she specifically addressed those who were still taking photos and live-streaming: "Members of the media, thank you for your hard work as well. Please, sit down and join the meal. And of course, I must also trouble you to pass a message to Mr. Xu Chengyan: From this day forward, I, Zhuang Yiqing, have no further connection with him. I wish him well and hope he takes care of himself."
Such a reaction was naturally the most graceful one possible under the circumstances.
Since the situation was irrevocable, the only thing she could do now was avoid panicking or weeping pathetically, which would only add to the mockery.
The alliance between the Zhuang and Xu families was a mutually beneficial one, not the Zhuang family desperately seeking the Xu family's favor.
Now that the Xu family had made her and the entire Zhuang family lose face, she absolutely would not lower herself by hoping for Xu Chengyan to have a change of heart.
Moreover, such a performance actually allowed the Zhuang family to gain the upper hand in public opinion.
After all, it was the Xu family who had broken faith first. Even if the relationship was severed, it was the Xu family who owed the Zhuang family.
The Xu family members were indeed caught completely off guard by this sudden turn of events. As they tried to placate the Zhuang family, they also sent people to find Xu Chengyan. Unfortunately, Lu Bin had left with him, neither was answering their phones, and no one knew what he was doing or where he had gone.
Zhuang Yiqing's words clearly declared a complete severance between the two families from that moment on.
The Zhuang family's attitude was extremely hostile; even though the fault lay with the Xu family, it was impossible for them to humbly accept excessive accusations.
And so, in the end, the two families parted ways for good.
On the surface, the guests mingled cheerfully, chatting idly, but privately, everyone was fixated on this melodramatic and thrilling spectacle.
Yet, those who were reveling in her misfortune were far from limited to these guests.
The sarcastic remarks from a few illegitimate children of the Zhuang family alone were enough to make Zhuang Yiqing furious, but she had no choice but to maintain her elegant and poised image.
"I'm going to find Xu Chengyan." Zhuang Ye was already burning with rage, itching to give the man he had almost called brother-in-law a severe beating. "Bro, stay with my sister."
Ji Sui nodded. Even his own position within the Zhuang family was awkward, making it even less appropriate for him to step forward and demand justice for Zhuang Yiqing.
Zhuang Yiqing had her own pride. After being so heartlessly abandoned, she would never eagerly go and demand an explanation. The elders had just reached an impasse in their discussions, and while it was impossible for the Zhuang and Xu families to form a marriage alliance now, the reasons behind it still needed to be clarified. Letting Zhuang Ye confront Xu Chengyan was the most suitable course of action.
Fueled by fury, Zhuang Ye walked extremely fast as he left the banquet hall, paying no attention to the people around him.
Just as he rounded a corner in the corridor, he collided heavily with someone.
"Sorry." The words were barely out of his mouth when he froze. "Song Xuan?"
Song Xuan was also surprised to see him: "Zhuang Ye? What are you doing here?"
Seeing Zhuang Ye in formal attire, Song Xuan smiled again: "Did you and Tang Xi finally get married?"
Zhuang Ye was somewhat taken aback. He had thought Song Xuan would certainly know about his breakup with Tang Xi.
Shaking his head with a bitter smile, he replied: "Not yet. Are you also here for the wedding?"
Song Xuan nodded, then looked at him enviously: "So you and Tang Xi should be getting married soon, right? Or are you already married? Ever since I broke up with Yu Jin, I haven't been in contact with Tang Xi. Who knows, she might even be a mother by now."
Zhuang Ye was stunned again: "You and Yu Jin broke up too?"
Although he and Song Xuan were in the same university and the same year, they were in different departments and never interacted.
Their only connection was when Song Xuan and Yu Jin were in a long-distance relationship; occasionally, when Yu Jin came to Donghai, Tang Xi would drag him along to have dinner with the two of them.
Adhering to the principle of keeping a distance from his girlfriend's best friend, he didn't even know Yu Jin's contact information, let alone Song Xuan's, with whom he had never found common ground.
After that unpleasant breakup with Tang Xi, he erased everything related to her from his life and never saw Song Xuan or Yu Jin again.
He had thought that such a sweet couple would have married and had children long ago. He never expected they had met the same ending.
"'Too'?" Song Xuan quickly caught the emphasis in his words. "You and Tang Xi broke up too? That's impossible, you two were so clearly..."
"Was it because of the child you lost? But I heard from Yu Jin that it wasn't Tang Xi's fault. Don't tell me you..."
Zhuang Ye felt as if he'd been struck by a heavy blow.
He stared blankly at Song Xuan, his voice trembling: "Wha... What child?"
Song Xuan looked surprised, then seemed to realize something, forcing a dry laugh as he shook his head: "No... it's nothing. I have something to do, I should go."
Zhuang Ye grabbed his arm firmly: "Explain! What child? Are you saying... Xi Xi... she was... she had a child..."
Song Xuan stood awkwardly for a moment, then nodded: "Yeah, Yu Jin told me. It seemed to be right at the start of the second semester of our senior year."
"She said she wanted to go back and see Tang Xi because Tang Xi was pregnant."
"During that time, she and I were fighting and about to break up, so I wasn't in the frame of mind to pay attention. Later, during a phone call argument, her emotions broke down and she mentioned the child was gone. She said Tang Xi was clearly not at fault, why did she have to suffer like that."
"I thought you blamed Tang Xi for carelessly losing your child, which was why you were breaking up with her."
"But didn't Yu Jin say your sister promised to give Tang Xi a large sum of money to go abroad and recover? I thought you two had already made up by then, how did it end up..."
"The child..." Zhuang Ye felt his legs go weak, his entire body swaying unsteadily. "Not... not... it was a mistake... I was wrong..."
Song Xuan quickly stepped forward to support him: "Are you alright?"
"You... you and Tang Xi, what exactly happened?"
Zhuang Ye's face was already deathly pale. After trembling for a long moment, his lips suddenly curved into a self-mocking smile: "Why didn't I consider that possibility? Why... why would my sister do this? Why treat me this way?"
"Zhuang Ye." Song Xuan gripped his arm tightly. "What's wrong with you?"
Looking up at him in a daze, Zhuang Ye suddenly broke free from his grasp and staggered back toward the banquet hall.
But after a few steps, he stopped abruptly.
Even if he went and confronted her now, would he get any answers? After so many years, he didn't even know where Tang Xi was. He had no evidence. Would his sister admit it?
Admit that she had forced Tang Xi to abort the child? Forced Tang Xi to break up with him?
And even... that scene of catching Tang Xi "in the act" was also her arrangement?
No wonder it was so coincidental, him being suddenly called back to the country, and then immediately stumbling upon that scene upon his return.
But why hadn't he thought of it then? Why hadn't he considered that Tang Xi might have had her own reasons?
But that person was his own sister, the one who had protected and spoiled him since childhood, the one who had treated him best in the world, the one who had personally promised to arrange a grand wedding for him and Tang Xi.
How could he possibly have suspected her?
"Song Xuan!" Zhuang Ye spun around and rushed back. "Do you know where Xi Xi is now? Right, you don't know. Then do you know where Yu Jin is? And also, where is Yu Jin's hometown?"
Song Xuan said: "I don't know where either of them is now."
"Their hometown is Wucheng, you always knew that, right?"
"I mean specifically where? Which district? Which street? Or..."
Song Xuan shook his head: "Weren't Yu Jin and I the same as you two? We kept our relationship secret from our families. I've never been to her home, how would I know the specifics? But I think I heard Tang Xi's roommates say she's been in the United States all this time. I thought you were in the US too."
"That's right, her roommates!" A look of joy appeared on Zhuang Ye's face.
"Her roommates and you were in the same class. You must have their contact information. They must know where Xi Xi is."
Song Xuan took out his phone: "I'll ask them for you."
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