"You two newcomers, step closer. Groom, flash a smile."
"Are you two too nervous? How about you take a break and let the next couple go first?"
The tall man beside them stood up, slipped a red envelope to the staff member in front of him, and said in a magnetic voice, "Apologies for the trouble, everyone. Any photo will do."
The staff member glanced at Shen Qingxia's complexion. "That doesn't seem right. Aren't you going to ask your girlfriend's opinion?"
Shen Qingxia's small face turned slightly red, and she lowered her head, saying softly, "I don't mind, pick any one."
The staff member found the young couple a bit odd, but it wasn't his business. He officially processed their marriage certificate for them.
"Congratulations to you both."
"Thank you, we appreciate it." He then handed the staff member a handful of candies.
"It's all done, Qingxia, let's go."
He then tried to take Jun Jiuli's hand, but Jun Jiuli subtly avoided it. Just moments ago, Jun Jiuli had taken control of Shen Qingxia's body.
"I'm a bit tired, I need to go back to the apartment and rest."
The man casually lowered his right hand, pinching his brow with his left. "I'm sorry, Qingxia. I worked too late at the company yesterday. I'm feeling a bit unwell. Please don't be angry, okay?"
"I'm fine," Jun Jiuli sidestepped him and walked straight out of the Civil Affairs Bureau. Following her memory, she found the original owner's car and got into the driver's seat.
"Shui Wa, transmit plot."
Just then, the man from before ran out, tapping on the car window and shouting, "Shen Qingxia, can you stop throwing a tantrum like a child? I didn't do it on purpose."
"We already got the marriage certificate, what more do you want? You didn't have any objections just now, did you? Why are you suddenly being so petty?"
Other couples applying for marriage certificates were looking over. Nangong Han then noticed they were in a public place and felt a bit embarrassed.
He tried to open the car door to get into Jun Jiuli's passenger seat, but unfortunately, he couldn't open it.
Jun Jiuli frowned slightly, impatient with the man's interruption. Seeing that Jun Jiuli wasn't speaking, the man became agitated. He leaned towards the window and said in a low voice.
"What do you mean? You're giving me attitude over a stupid photo."
At that moment, his phone rang. He glanced at it, then quickly hung up and stuffed it into his pocket. As he was about to speak again, his phone rang once more.
"It seems Mr. Nangong is also busy. I won't keep you."
With that, Jun Jiuli stepped on the accelerator. Nangong Han hurriedly dodged, falling to the ground in a disheveled heap.
He struggled to get up, his clothes stained with dirt. The side of his right palm was completely scraped, and his tailbone ached terribly.
He limped out of the parking lot. Shen Qingxia had driven to pick him up today. He hadn't driven himself, so he had to book a car online.
As he thought about it, he opened his phone and looked at the familiar number. After all, he couldn't bear not to call back.
"Hello, who is this?" Nangong Han pretended not to know and asked first, to preserve a sliver of his dignity. He didn't want this heartless woman to know he was still thinking about her.
"Ahan, don't you remember me? I heard you're getting married, congratulations. She must be very outstanding, someone like that is worthy of being with you to the end."
"Yes, the eldest daughter of the Shen family. She's the dream wife of many men. Many friends in the circle envy me. What about you, have you found a boyfriend? How are you doing now?"
The person on the other end seemed to be covering their mouth and crying. The sound coming through made Nangong Han's heart ache.
"Ahan, I wish you happiness. I won't bother you again. I will raise our daughter alone and will never cause you trouble in the future." After speaking, she hung up the phone.
Nangong Han was stunned. Azhi was pregnant with his child. They actually had a daughter. Then why did Azhi leave him back then?
Thinking of this, he called his special assistant and asked him to investigate Bai Zhi's past years and her current address.
Suddenly, he thought of something and quickly called his mother.
"Mom, Bai Zhi is back. In her situation back then, how could she have left? You did it, didn't you?"
Xie Wanrou was furious. She had spent five million yuan to get rid of that woman. That little slut should have left A City after taking the money and not contacted her son again.
How could she be so untrustworthy? Now that her Nangong family was about to welcome a daughter-in-law, Bai Zhi was playing this game with her. They were all thousand-year-old foxes, and no one understood her intentions.
She had read too many wish-fulfillment novels, thinking that the white moonlight could make a grand return and enter her Nangong family as the president's wife. It was utterly laughable.
She rubbed her freshly done nails and said nonchalantly, "Bai Zhi, which family's daughter is she? I don't remember anyone like that. Is she Xia's friend?"
"Mom, you really don't know?"
"Oh dear, my son, what do I need to remember? Is this person important? I have no impression at all."
"She was my high school classmate and even visited our house."
"Oh, I remember now. She's that extremely petty one who broke your grandfather's vase. What happened? Is she planning to compensate for the money? We told her not to pay back then, and she cried so pitifully, as if I, your mother, was bullying her."
"Mom, she didn't do it on purpose. Can you not bring it up again?"
"Oh, then why are you suddenly mentioning her? And what do you mean by leaving? Did she go abroad to study? What does it have to do with you? You and Xia have already gotten your certificates. The two families have also announced their alliance and cooperation. Don't do anything that betrays Xia, or I'll skin you alive."
"Mom, I understand what's more important. It's fine if you don't know."
"That's my good boy. Have you gotten the certificate with Xia yet?"
"We have."
Xie Wanrou breathed a sigh of relief. She knew her son well. Even though he was infatuated with that vixen Bai Zhi,
He still had responsibilities. As long as the certificate was obtained, she wasn't afraid of any trouble from Bai Zhi.
"Then invite Xia to our house for dinner tonight. Your mother will cook personally. I'll make your favorite dishes."
"No need, Xia and I both have things to attend to."
"Alright then, you two busy people, take care of yourselves."
"Mom, I know. Please take care of yourself."
After hanging up the phone, Nangong Han felt a wave of self-reproach. How could he have suspected his mother? His mother was such a gentle and sophisticated person. Bai Zhi's departure must have had her own unavoidable reasons.
Just then, the taxi he had called arrived. He decided to go back to his apartment first to change his clothes, apply some medicine to his hand, and then go look for Bai Zhi and their daughter.
Meanwhile, as soon as Xie Wanrou hung up the phone, she immediately contacted a trusted private investigator to look into Bai Zhi's past.