Shen Qingqing asked, "Is it alright if I bring one more person?"
"No problem, please come in."
The attendant naturally wouldn't dare to say there was a problem, let alone look too closely.
The wedding venue was decorated luxuriously and extravagantly, with many guests already present, dressed impeccably and carrying themselves with elegance. Even before the ceremony began, people were mingling and conversing.
Though attending a wedding, the primary purpose for many was networking and making connections.
The moment Shen Qingqing and Fu Jingshu entered, they drew considerable attention, their exceptional presence undeniable.
One was handsome and tall.
The other was stunningly beautiful, a vision of unparalleled charm.
"Haven't I seen these two before?"
"Could they be some rising new powers?"
"Anyone receiving an invitation from Chairman Feng to attend this wedding must be no ordinary person."
"That's true. The man's demeanor doesn't suggest he's a commoner. For some reason, his face seems vaguely familiar…"
But someone quickly interjected, and the thought eluded him.
Although no one knew Shen Qingqing and Fu Jingshu's identities, the discerning guests were adept at recognizing opportunities. If there was a chance to connect, they would seize it, for future benefit.
After all, more friends meant more paths forward.
Consequently, Shen Qingqing and Fu Jingshu found themselves constantly surrounded.
Eventually, Shen Qingqing, at her wit's end, delegated the situation to him and, with the shorter figure in tow, retreated to a quiet corner to enjoy some pastries.
The hotel's pastries were indeed quite good.
The two of them ate with gusto.
With half an hour remaining until the wedding ceremony, the shorter figure peeked out from under her hat, revealing a small, fair face. "Sister, what are your plans?"
As soon as she spoke, her head was gently ruffled.
"Don't worry, I've arranged everything."
She narrowed her eyes slightly, a flicker of contentment in their depths. Of course, she was at ease. She never doubted her sister's capabilities. She ate a little more and glanced at the time.
The minute hand and hour hand converged at the 12.
The wedding ceremony officially began.
Fan Hang, dressed in a suit, had already appeared on stage. However, guests noticed his expression was devoid of joy, making him look less like a groom and more like… someone attending a funeral.
The crowd found it peculiar. Could the rumors be true, that the Fan and Feng families were merely entering a business alliance?
Among the guests were many reporters, as they had previously sought interviews with Chairman Feng, only to be repeatedly refused. He had promised a satisfactory response at the wedding.
Soon, the bride arrived.
Dressed in a pristine white wedding gown, her face veiled, she gracefully walked down the aisle, her arm linked with Chairman Feng's.
Chairman Feng, beaming with happiness, solemnly entrusted his daughter to Fan Hang. With a slight tremor in his voice, he said, "Fan Hang, my precious daughter is now in your hands. You must treat her well. If she ever suffers any grievance, I will hold you accountable."
Fan Hang smiled, remaining silent.
As for the bride, through the veil, guests could vaguely discern her exquisite makeup and a hint of shy modesty. Beyond that, her expression was unreadable.
The guests grew increasingly uneasy. Why did this couple appear so rigid, lacking the vibrancy of a bride and groom?
They seemed more like… puppets, manipulated at will.
Only Chairman Feng appeared genuinely heartfelt, displaying the bittersweet emotions of a father giving away his daughter. He even lowered his head and dabbed at the corner of his eye as the couple prepared to exchange rings.
Could he be crying?
The guests marveled. It seemed Chairman Feng's affection for his youngest daughter was indeed profound, and she was truly his cherished jewel.
The attendees applauded, offering their sincere blessings regardless of their inner thoughts.
Before the ring exchange, the emcee's voice boomed through the venue, "Next, we will present a slideshow. Let us immerse ourselves in the story of how this couple met and offer them our sincere wishes for a beautiful and happy future."
As the words fell, backstage staff clicked to play the video.
The initial frames of the slideshow depicted two children playing in the dirt. The boy's features bore a resemblance to Fan Hang, and the girl was even more unmistakable.
A miniature Feng Yilian.
The couple watched the video with impassive faces.
The next moment, the image abruptly shifted, revealing a pagoda.
This small pagoda, with its two stories, had weathered red bricks and green tiles, its faded paint and crumbling plaster bearing the marks of time.
At the pagoda's entrance stood four guards, dressed in black suits, wearing sunglasses, and sporting stern expressions.
Upon seeing the pagoda, Chairman Feng's face drained of color. He immediately looked to his assistant, who jolted, unsure of what had happened, and hurried backstage to investigate.
However, the backstage staff were equally bewildered.
They realized the wrong video was playing and immediately tried to stop it, but for some reason, the computers seemed to have frozen. The keyboard was unresponsive, no matter how they pressed it.
"Cut the power! Cut the power!" the assistant exclaimed in desperation.
To his surprise, the hotel manager flatly refused, "We have other guests staying upstairs. Cutting the power is absolutely out of the question. It would disrupt their rest and use of appliances. Can you take responsibility for that?!"
"You!"
The assistant was infuriated, his liver aching. This was no ordinary hotel. The people behind it were not to be trifled with. Direct confrontation was out of the question.
Chairman Feng had chosen this hotel for its prestige.
He had never imagined it would lead to his own downfall.
Meanwhile, the video continued to play.
The camera seemed to be filming from a high vantage point, the time was eight o'clock in the evening. The night sky had enveloped the entire world, with only the crescent moon and stars providing a faint glow.
The camera slowly, almost dreamily, entered the pagoda. The fleeting glimpse of the living room showed it to be empty and desolate.
The camera then moved to the second floor.
A girl sat on a large white bed.
She wore a pure white dress, exposing her fair arms and shoulders. Her slender frame looked as if it had no more than two ounces of flesh. Her legs dangled by the side of the bed, motionless, as she gazed out at the moonlight and starry sky.
Her eyes were dark brown, clear and limpid.
"Is this… a doll?"
Someone murmured.
But he quickly realized it was not. The girl was alive. She turned her head to look at the camera and then, as if nothing had happened, turned back to continue watching the stars.
The onlookers were shaken by that glance.
What kind of eyes were those? Ethereal, pure, numb, and vacant, as if nothing could be seen in them, as if the entire world did not exist.
"Who is this girl?" someone asked.
From within the crowd, someone replied, "I don't know who this girl is, but I do know that this pagoda belongs to the Feng family. I visited their home once and saw this pagoda. Chairman Feng doesn't allow anyone near it."
"So, he's keeping a concubine locked away in the pagoda!"
At these words, the crowd stared at Chairman Feng in shock and disbelief, their eyes subtly filled with disdain.
If this were true, he was nothing more than a hypocrite!
Chairman Feng's mind was in turmoil, but he feigned composure. "This is indeed a pagoda on my property, but this girl is not some concubine. Please watch your words. She is a distant relative of the Feng family and is in poor health, not suited for public view. I emptied the pagoda for her to reside in and prevented others from approaching not to scare her…"
"Liar!"
Just as he finished speaking, a woman's sharp voice cut through the crowd.