"You're talking about her, a person who has nothing to do with me. In 100 days, she'll go back to where she came from. Why even bring her up?" Zhan Qipei said with a distinct lack of interest.
While Zhan Qipei was indifferent, Lu Zijiao had an excited expression on his face.
"Heh heh—Let me tell you, your wife for these 100 days is no simple woman! She just arrived and already talked back to your mom, and even hit your sister!"
"Nanqing got hit, and you're this excited?" Zhan Qipei said with an air of annoyance.
"What I'm saying is, it's interesting. I really want to meet her. Someone who starts by hitting people must be big and burly, strikingly powerful..."
Lu Zijiao hadn't finished speaking when he saw Zhan Qipei lie down, pull up the covers, and assume an utterly uninterested demeanor.
"Young Master Zhan, I haven't finished talking yet."
"I want to rest, get out," Zhan Qipei said, closing his eyes.
"No, no, it's not that you—"
"Get out."
Lu Zijiao shrugged his shoulders, "Alright then, you rest well. I'm leaving."
When he reached the door, he stopped and looked back, "The wedding is in three days. Can you make it with your injury? If not, let your family know."
Zhan Qipei opened his eyes but didn't turn around, "No one should find out about my injury."
"Are you worried about your family getting concerned?"
"Also, I'm not attending the wedding in three days."
"Are you serious?!" Lu Zijiao was shocked by Zhan Qipei's words.
"When have I ever joked?" Zhan Qipei closed his eyes again after speaking.
"Eh? No, wait, Young Master Zhan, you can't be joking, this—"
"You may leave now."
Lu Zijiao "..."
This guy has been like this ever since we were kids; it's useless to pressure him when he doesn't want to talk.
Forget it; the wedding is Zhan Qipei's own business, what does it have to do with him anyway? Why should he care?
"Tsk tsk tsk," Lu Zijiao smacked his lips, the wedding celebration is going to be lively in three days.
Before you know it, three days had passed.
Qiao Jing, in her wedding dress, stood alone in the ceremony hall and looked down at her watch.
According to the schedule, there were eight minutes left until the appointed time. If Zhan Qipei didn't show up, she would walk out.
The wedding guests were whispering among themselves.
"The bride sure is beautiful, but to marry into a wealthy family, good looks aren't enough."
"Exactly. I heard she was born in the countryside and has always worked the fields. The Zhan Family is the top family in our Imperial City. These two families are worlds apart, incompatible as they are unmatched in status."
"Anyway, it's just for 100 days. After that, this new bride will be chased out of the Zhan Family."
"..."
Hmph! Zhan Nanqing snorted in her heart.
Serves her right! Thinking she's worthy of marrying her brother? Now she's getting her comeuppance, isn't she?
Meanwhile, Zhan Qipei was hurriedly making his way to the hotel where the wedding was being held.
He had no choice. Just ten minutes earlier, Zhan Yuanshan had phoned him, threatening that if he didn't show up for the wedding today, he'd jump off the hospital roof. He'd even video called him, showing the old man standing on the hospital rooftop with the wind howling, one foot dangling off the edge, as if ready to jump at any moment.
Gritting his teeth and thinking it was only for 100 days, Zhan Qipei figured it would soon pass.
Eight minutes went by.
"Time's up," Qiao Jing muttered to herself, then lifted her hand and tore off the white veil.
"What is she doing?" Su Manhan stood up.
Ignoring the gazes of the crowd, Qiao Jing carried her wedding dress towards the hotel entrance.
"Qiao Jing, where are you going?" Su Manhan chased after her, full of fury.
Qiao Jing pointed to the watch on her wrist, "It's been more than a minute. I have to go."
Every fiber of Su Manhan trembled, barely containing the rage threatening to burst as she shouted, "Don't you have a sense of propriety at all? It's your wedding day, with so many friends and relatives watching. How can you just leave? Is that acceptable to you?!"
"I don't understand propriety, I don't know the rituals? I'm saying, Madam Zhan, aren't you mistaken? It's your son who's late and hasn't shown up. He's the one disregarding all these friends and relatives, treating this wedding like a child's play. Why are you pointing at me and scolding me? Just because you're a wealthy family, you think you can be despotic and unreasonable? Because you're wealthy, you think you can bully me, a girl with no one to rely on?!"
Qiao Jing's words were sharp and clear, striking directly with each syllable and sentence.
Lodged by Qiao Jing's forceful rebuttal, Su Manhan had all the words stuck in her throat and also felt the weird glances of the people around, her face flushed with embarrassment and irritation.
By the time she came to her senses, Qiao Jing was nowhere to be seen.
Did she really just leave?
Qiao Jing, holding her wedding dress, walked onto the street, ignoring the looks from passersby, contemplating the corn in the field.
At that moment, her phone rang.
"Sister Jing, congratulations on getting married today!"
"Are you mocking me?" Qiao Jing asked, unamused.
"How would I dare? I'm sincere."
Qiao Jing raised an eyebrow, a smirk in her eyes, "Well then, give me the gift money."
The fourth brother twitched his mouth, cursing himself for his loose lips.
"Anyway, it's just for 100 days. When you get married again later, I'll give you the gift money then."
"Now is now..."
As Qiao Jing was on the phone, a black Maybach sped along the road.
"Eh? Young Master Zhan, isn't that woman in the wedding dress by the side of the road your fiancée?" Lu Zijiao looked ahead.
Just as Zhan Qipei was about to look, he heard Lu Zijao suddenly exclaim "Holy shit—" and then Lu Zijao sharply turned the steering wheel, causing the car to lose control and violently crash toward the roadside.
Qiao Jing, who was on the phone, heard the commotion, turned her head to look, and the next second saw the out-of-control car hurtling straight towards her.