Chapter 1: The Groom Has Disappeared

H City

The marriage of the Qiao and Chu families was a grand and magnificent event, attracting the attention of the entire city.

Inside the hotel, Qiao Lan sat in front of the vanity mirror, adorned in a golden silk wedding dress. Her hair was neatly styled in a bun, devoid of any extra adornments, save for a golden lotus flower hairpin with phoenix wings encircling it. The simplicity exuded elegance, while her demeanor was gentle and dignified.

Behind her, chaos reigned.

“How could the groom have disappeared?”

“Does Chu Zhiheng even know what day it is? How dare he act so recklessly?”

“The auspicious time is approaching, we need to find him immediately!”

Qiao Lan’s delicate brows furrowed, her surroundings enveloped in a cold, oppressive atmosphere.

The screen of her phone on the table lit up, revealing a picture of a man and a woman passionately kissing. Her pupils constricted abruptly, ignoring the pleas and objections of those around her, she grabbed her car keys and left the hotel.

…

Western City Villa

Qiao Lan gazed at the large red double happiness characters and vibrant balloons adorning the entrance, finding them incredibly jarring. She steeled her nerves, her high heels clicking as she entered.

The villa was adorned with double happiness characters everywhere, radiating an atmosphere of joy and happiness. A red carpet stretched from the entrance to the staircase, with elaborate floral arrangements and ribbons hanging from the handrails on both sides, as if to usher the couple into a path of happiness.

However, along this path, a man’s suit and a woman’s dress were scattered on the ground, leading all the way to the master bedroom…

A pair of underwear, intertwined in a suggestive manner, lay discarded by the door. A woman’s seductive voice continuously emanated from within.

Upon witnessing this scene, Qiao Lan’s anger flared, her desire to barge in and tear them apart overwhelming her. Yet, a sliver of reason remained, compelling her to take heavy steps towards the master bedroom.

Standing at the bedroom door, Qiao Lan silently observed the two individuals entangled in a passionate embrace, their separation seemingly impossible. She couldn’t resist taking out her phone to capture this vivid moment.

Qiao Yue, upon noticing Qiao Lan’s presence, a glint flashed in her eyes. Her legs were tightly wrapped around the man’s body, and she asked in a coquettish tone, “Zhiheng, do you love me or my sister?”

The man’s hoarse voice tightened, “Of course it’s you, she’s not as interesting as you.”

“Do you know who I am?”

“Yue’er, my dear Yue’er.”

“Then marry me, okay?”

“Okay.”

Qiao Yue laughed happily, “Zhiheng, I’m so happy…”

Qiao Lan’s stomach churned, unable to bear this nauseating performance any longer. Raising her hand, she splashed a bucket of cold water on the two.

“Ahhhhh!!!”

Qiao Yue’s seductive voice transformed into a piercing scream, nearly shattering the roof. The cold water sent a shiver through her, and she realized she was naked. She quickly burrowed back under the covers, her voice filled with fury, “Qiao Lan, what are you doing?”

Qiao Lan sneered, “You two are doing such filthy things in my house, I’d be letting you off easy if I didn’t go crazy.”

Chu Zhiheng sat up groggily, his handsome face turning pale upon seeing Qiao Lan at the bedside. His lustful eyes regained clarity, his heart filled with guilt, “Qiao Lan, how did you get here?”

Qiao Lan found it amusing, “Do I need to remind you what day it is?”

Chu Zhiheng slapped his forehead in annoyance, hastily picking up the clothes on the floor, “Qiao Lan, I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. I’ll explain everything to you later, let’s go to the wedding venue now.”

“No need, I will announce the cancellation of the wedding to the world.”

Chu Zhiheng paused, his voice low and reproachful, “Qiao Lan, don’t be impulsive!”

Qiao Lan looked at him coldly, “Do you think you can still marry me after you’ve slept with Qiao Yue?”

Chu Zhiheng knew he was in the wrong, his tone softening, “Qiao Lan, I will give you an explanation after the wedding is over, and I promise it won’t happen again.”

Chu Zhiheng made a solemn promise, quickly putting on his clothes and reaching for Qiao Lan’s arm.

Qiao Lan’s beautiful eyes flashed with disgust, she dodged his touch with lightning speed, and threw a file at him, “Sign this document, or I will expose your dirty deeds to the public.”

She couldn’t tolerate any sand in her eyes.

He could sleep with Qiao Yue once, he could do it again. Just thinking about it made her find the man utterly repulsive, how could she accept a second-hand item used by Qiao Yue?

Chu Zhiheng glanced at the real estate sales contract, then looked up at Qiao Lan’s cold and aloof face, his voice soft and pleading, “Qiao Lan, I can buy this house and give it to you, but our two families’ marriage is highly valued in the industry, and we have established many collaborations. If we cancel the wedding at this critical juncture, both companies will suffer significant losses, you can’t disregard the bigger picture.”

Qiao Lan remained unmoved, “Sign it quickly, I don’t have much patience.”

The wedding house was hers, and after Chu Zhiheng and Qiao Yue used it, it was already tainted. She wouldn’t live there anymore, nor would she let those two benefit from it. She would sell it to him at twice the market price.

As for the company, she had single-handedly lifted the near-bankrupt Qiao Corporation to become an industry benchmark, she wasn’t worried about suffering any losses. The one who should be worried was Chu Corporation.

Qiao Yue saw Chu Zhiheng’s hesitation, she stood up and embraced him, her soft curves rubbing against him, “Zhiheng, a forced fruit isn’t sweet. Since my sister has made up her mind, don’t force her.”

She paused, her voice laced with a deeper meaning, “Besides, the marriage between the Chu and Qiao families doesn’t have to be with her.”

Chu Zhiheng felt the unique softness of a woman, his throat tightened, his mind filled with the intoxicating images from earlier.

He had to admit, Qiao Yue was more feminine and easier to control than Qiao Lan, and she was also Qiao’s father’s most beloved daughter.

But Qiao Lan was more valuable in terms of marriage.

This marriage was a joint decision made by both families, he didn’t believe Qiao Lan could unilaterally cancel it. His panicked and heavy heart gradually calmed down, and he signed his name on the contract, “Qiao Lan, I hope you won’t regret this.”

“You haven’t earned the right to make me regret anything!”

Qiao Lan scoffed, grabbed the contract and left in a hurry. As she passed through the living room, she took one last look at the place.

The villa’s decoration was her favorite light French style, the cream-colored soft furnishings were warm and cozy, from the furniture to the small ornaments, she had carefully selected each piece, every corner exuded her dedication.

What a pity…

After leaving the villa, Qiao Lan sent the video on her phone to her assistant.

“The people at the wedding venue want to eat melons, right? Put this on the LED screen and let them have their fill!”

The assistant hesitated, “Ms. Qiao, if this video is released, your marriage with the Chu family will be completely beyond repair. Are you sure you want to release it?”

“Release it!”

A simple word, decisive and firm, beyond any doubt!

She wanted it to be beyond repair.

Didn’t Qiao Yue want to steal her man?

Then she would give her a helping hand!

But she wouldn’t do anything nice for someone else’s benefit. Qiao Yue wanted to step on her to marry into the Chu family, forget about the door, even the window was closed!