Chapter 4: The Cannon Fodder Fiancée (4)
The master of ceremonies asked the groom, Fu Han, "Do you vow to marry this beautiful lady before you, Yun Jin, and have her as your lifelong companion?"
A faint gleam appeared in Fu Han’s dark, ink-black eyes. Just as he was about to part his thin lips to say “I do,” the ringtone of his phone sounded at the critical moment.
“Wait a moment.” Amid the stunned gazes of those around him, Fu Han pulled his phone from his suit pocket and answered the call. “Hello?”
After hearing the voice on the other end, Fu Han’s expression shifted repeatedly. Finally, he took a deep breath and said to the master of ceremonies, “The wedding is paused.”
The entire hall erupted in murmurs.
No one had the heart to eat; their eyes flickered repeatedly between the bride and groom, filled with curiosity toward the groom and sympathy mixed with ridicule for the bride.
Who would have imagined that the groom would halt the wedding ceremony on such a momentous night? For the bride, it was a crushing blow.
Fu Han’s eyes showed a trace of apology as he looked at Yun Jin, explaining, “Sorry, something urgent has come up. I have to leave.”
Of course, Yun Jin knew exactly what the matter was.
Su Murong, in a bid to prove she was the only one in Fu Han’s heart, had forced him to make a choice by threatening to go abroad before the exchange of rings.
In the previous life, the original Yun Jin had clung tightly to Fu Han’s hand, unwilling to be humiliated before everyone. Despite the shame and pain, she had tearfully begged him to stay.
This time, Yun Jin’s eyes glinted with scorn as Fu Han turned to leave. She said, “It’s for Su Murong, isn’t it?”
Fu Han stopped in his tracks, his face stern. “It has nothing to do with her.”
What nonsense.
Not long ago, Yun Jin had received a provocative message from Su Murong.
“Fu Han belongs to me. Today, you’re destined to be the pitiful one abandoned at the wedding.”
Poor Yun Jin—after waiting so long for this day, her wedding was reduced to a laughingstock by the scheming of a scoundrel and a harlot.
As Fu Han left, he felt the cold, piercing gazes behind him.
The chill hit him like an icy wind, sending shivers down his spine.
He descended the steps without waiting for Yun Jin to stop him. She didn’t even utter a single word to him.
It left a bitter discomfort in Fu Han’s heart.
Then he remembered that Su Murong was about to leave the country today. If he didn’t intercept her, he would never forgive himself in this lifetime.
So, his last shred of guilt toward Yun Jin vanished.
“Don’t go.” His parents blocked his path with outstretched arms.
Fu Han’s mother, eyes filled with disappointment, grabbed him firmly. “On such a joyous day, how can you have something so important to leave Yun Jin behind? What do you take us for?”
“Sorry.” Fu Han bowed his noble head low, not daring to meet his mother’s gaze. “It’s an urgent matter. The wedding can be postponed.”
Once he caught up with Su Murong, he would return to make it up to Yun Jin—he would give her an even grander wedding.
Yun Jin had loved him for many years, forgiving even his flirtations with other women. He was confident she would forgive him this time as well.
Then he could just buy her a few more handbags to soothe her temper.
***
“Scoundrel!” Grandpa Fu swung his cane violently, striking Fu Han hard.
“Do you know how much this marriage means to Miss Yun? What you’ve done has broken her heart! How is she supposed to live with her head held high now?”
Fu Han had not only shattered Yun Jin’s heart but also disappointed both his parents and the Yun family.
Yet none of that mattered to him—true love made all else insignificant.
Enduring the pain, he pushed through the crowd and left.
Watching his retreating figure, Qi Ming spat disdainfully and cursed, “Trash. What could possibly be more important than a wedding? Yun Jin marrying him is like a flower planted in manure—truly humiliating.”
His words echoed the thoughts of Xie Yanci.
He recalled the information Qi Ming had handed him, describing Yun Jin as a traditional woman.
How could such a woman climb into bed with a stranger on the eve of her wedding?
It was clear Yun Jin must have learned of her husband’s infidelity beforehand. Heartbroken, she had drowned her sorrows in a bar.
Half-conscious, she took Qi Ming for someone else and, in a moment of blurred reality, sought solace in an intimate encounter.
Upon sobering, the bride realized her mistake.
Panicked and desperate, she fled the hotel, then put on a facade of calm as she went to attend her wedding.
If the groom hadn’t fled, no one besides Yun Jin and Fu Han would have known what happened that night.
Well, not entirely—Qi Ming knew about Fu Han’s mess as well.
Xie Yanci was pondering how to silence the big-mouthed Qi Ming when he noticed Qi Ming staring unblinkingly at Yun Jin. Feeling uneasy, he snapped, “What are you looking at? What’s so interesting?”
“I’m watching the bride,” Qi Ming sighed. “Look at her, all alone up there—so pitiful.”
Pitiful, indeed.
He had been used as a substitute, then discarded like a receipt—treated like a mere pawn.
Who was more pitiful than him?
The little deceiver brought this fate upon herself; it was no accident, but entirely her own doing.
Just wait—he was going to drag her down and confront her face-to-face.
Qi Ming saw Xie Yanci moving toward the stage and was startled. He quickly pulled him back. “Calm down. Let’s assess the situation first.”
Guests below whispered among themselves.
“The bride is truly pitiful.”
“Yes, I heard the groom never showed up during the ceremony—didn’t even come to the bridal welcoming. He didn’t leave the bride any dignity.”
“How can she stand that? Shouldn’t she have turned back right then and there and divorced that scumbag?”
“Shh, don’t say that. The Yun and Fu families are allied through this marriage, and the Fu family values this daughter-in-law.”
***
“What use is that? The bride has to live with the groom for the rest of her life; she can’t just rely on her elders. Why do you think the groom left? Was it because he found the bride ugly?”
“Impossible—Yun Jin is beautiful. Most likely, the groom left her for some insignificant mistress.”
Besides family and friends, reporters from a magazine had secretly followed into the wedding venue.
After all, the public loved to feast on scandals among the wealthy elite.
A reporter carrying a camera and microphone approached Yun Jin directly.
“Ms. Yun, what is your response to the groom fleeing the wedding?”
Fu Han’s father was furious. “Where did these reporters come from? Security! Drag them out immediately!”
One came, then another. Reporters quickly surrounded Yun Jin, pointing their lenses at her.
Yun Jin picked up the nearest microphone and smiled. “Sorry, I’m not very clear about what’s going on. But I do have some provocative messages and photos sent by a certain harlot. Would anyone like to take a look?”
“What are you doing?” Fu Han’s mother, in high heels, rushed onto the stage to stop her in time. “Yun Jin, I know Fu Han has wronged you. In my heart, you are the only daughter-in-law of the Fu family. No one can replace you.”
They were already married, yet she still called her “auntie”—clearly, she was not truly accepted as family.
If that was the case, Yun Jin saw no need to spare the scoundrel’s family any face.
She would make Fu Han realize the severe consequences of leaving the wedding.
Yun Jin shook off Fu Han’s mother’s hand and, using the wedding venue’s projector, displayed the explicit photos and chat records Su Murong had sent her.
Su Murong’s foolishness lay in not censoring or editing the images. Everyone present, including the reporters who had rushed over, were treated to a full display.
Cameras and phones clicked rapidly, capturing the images on the screen.
Fu Han’s mother screamed repeatedly upon seeing the photos on the projector and nearly fainted.
Watching Fu Han’s mother’s reaction, Yun Jin said calmly, “Welcome, everyone, to my wedding cancellation banquet.”
“This is what Fu Han did behind my back on the eve of our wedding.”
“He was unfaithful first, and the mistress insulted me afterward. They forcibly destroyed the wedding I had been looking forward to.”
“Everyone here, please listen to me. I, Yun Jin, dare to love and hate. Since he has wronged me, I can choose to reject him.”
“We are done.”
“Today’s events are due to our families not arranging matters properly. Please enjoy the meal. All expenses will be borne by Fu Han.”
“Finally, I wish everyone good health and happiness.”
The vast banquet hall fell into sudden silence, then erupted into intense discussion.
“What’s going on? She’s canceling the wedding already?”