Chapter Nineteen: Stirring Up Trouble

Liu Jingye walked up to the stage with effortless grace, joining the host in the red suit. He received the groom’s boutonniere and pinned it to his chest, standing tall and composed. The group below was utterly stunned; they instantly recognized Liu Jingye as the man they called Second Pillar just yesterday.

One of them whispered, “What do we do, Boss? That guy’s actually the groom. Talk about enemies crossing paths—plus, the place is full of police. We’re in trouble.”

The woman called Boss wore a look of resignation. After thinking it over, she said, “I don’t think so. He was clearly helping us out just now. Besides, if he’s getting married today, why was he eating alone at the restaurant last night? Something’s definitely fishy here.”

Boss was indeed worthy of her name. Though she looked like a young girl, her wisdom was extraordinary; she saw through the situation in an instant and was convinced there could only be one truth.

Suddenly, another person asked, “Isn’t today the wedding of the leader of Glorious Dynasty? Could he be their boss?”

Boss replied, “No, if he were the leader of Glorious Dynasty, rumor has it he’s vindictive and never lets a slight go. We tricked him last night—there’s no way he’d let us off so easily.”

“So who is this guy, then? Whose wedding is this, really?”

Not only were they puzzled, but even Liu Jingye himself couldn’t untangle the complexities at play.

Fortunately, Yuan Xiaoying was always low-profile; few knew her boyfriend, and her relatives were from out of town and had never met him. So, as long as there was a groom, the wedding could proceed.

Standing on the stage, Liu Jingye felt uneasy under the eager stares of the guests. Luckily, the auspicious hour arrived, and mellow music began to play. The host, microphone in hand, addressed the crowd with enthusiasm, “Distinguished guests, dear friends and family, welcome! Heaven has blessed us with a match; the moon smiles from above, flowers bloom in pairs, and spring brings new beginnings as the couple steps forth in song.

First, let me introduce the handsome young man beside me—today’s groom…”

The host paused, glancing furtively at his palm in the midst of the crowd, then continued, “Mr. Liu Jingye!”

A chorus of jeers rose from the audience; the host had forgotten the groom’s name and written it in his palm—a clear breach of professionalism. Yet, it was hard to blame him, since only five minutes before the ceremony, the bride had informed him of a last-minute groom switch. He could hardly keep up with such rapid changes.

Because of this, the host’s rhythm was disrupted and everything became simplified.

“Our groom, Mr. Liu Jingye, will here take his lifelong love as his bride, the beautiful and virtuous Miss Yuan Xiaoying. Let’s not keep the groom waiting—please welcome the lovely bride…”

With that, the wedding march began. From behind the floral arch opposite the stage, the bride walked in, arm-in-arm with her father, stopping before the stage. After the host’s lively introduction, Liu Jingye stepped forward at the signal, holding a bouquet, kneeling on one knee with sincerity to propose. Then, the father placed the bride’s hand in his, marking the transition from old to new.

As their hands joined, a warm current flowed between their palms; under the romantic atmosphere, both felt a bit dazed.

Meanwhile, Yuan Xiaoying’s father was watching Liu Jingye with a peculiar gaze. He knew the wedding was a sham, and had no intention of paying much mind to the temporary groom—possibly someone hired at fifty yuan an hour. Yet, upon seeing Liu Jingye, a sense of familiarity struck him, as if they had met before.

Liu Jingye was inwardly uneasy as well; Yuan Xiaoying’s father was a high-ranking official at the provincial police headquarters, likely privy to confidential files about him.

The father-in-law smiled at Liu Jingye, the smile tinged with mystery. Liu Jingye kept his composure, holding Yuan Xiaoying’s hand, stepping onto the stage amidst romantic music and enthusiastic applause, facing the guests with confidence.

At that moment, Liu Jingye noticed several ushers hurrying out. While the host continued his monologue, Yuan Xiaoying whispered, “People from Glorious Dynasty seem to be here to cause trouble. Luckily, the place is full of police, so they shouldn’t be able to stir things up. But I’m worried they’ll try something dirty against you—be careful.”

“They’re targeting me? Those in black, and the four thugs from yesterday who ended up with broken bones—do you think they did that to themselves? Am I supposed to be afraid of them?” Liu Jingye scoffed inwardly.

The wedding proceeded smoothly; the ushers soon returned, evidently having dealt with the issue with ease.

It was much like robbers storming a bank, only to discover that every customer in line was armed—the very day police received their wages.

Next came the most crucial moment of the ceremony: the completion of rites, and the groom’s chance to kiss the bride.

Liu Jingye and Yuan Xiaoying were instantly embarrassed, but the guests responded with wild enthusiasm, egging them on loudly.

With no choice, they pressed forward. Liu Jingye leaned in, but Yuan Xiaoying instinctively dodged. When she finally summoned the courage to offer her lips, Liu Jingye pulled back. The back-and-forth felt like a bout of Tai Chi.

Both resolved themselves, gazes locked, slowly closing the distance.

Just then, a crisp child’s voice rang out, “Daddy…”

No one knew which family’s child had wandered off, but the call was loud and clear, drawing every eye.

At the doorway, a three- or four-year-old boy rushed in, heading straight for the stage. He wrapped his arms around Liu Jingye’s leg, face alight with joy, “Daddy, Daddy, I finally found you!”

Everyone was stunned, and the hall erupted in thunderous jeers. The bride’s family was furious, with some immediately rushing to the stage to confront Liu Jingye. Even Yuan Xiaoying was dumbfounded.

Very quickly, both Yuan Xiaoying and Liu Jingye realized this was likely part of Glorious Dynasty’s scheme—a prank so shameless and despicable that even a child had been exploited.