The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 384 - 386. Shen Family Wedding 2

Chapter 384: 386. Shen Family Wedding 2

"Sister Xiyao, no, I should start calling you sister-in-law now," Shen Qinglan said with a laugh.

A blush spread across Wen Xiyao’s face, and she still seemed unaccustomed to Shen Qinglan’s new address for her. "It’s not official yet."

"It will be soon, and sooner or later you’ll have to call me that. You should get used to it."

"Qinglan," Annie, who was the bridesmaid today, called out to her and then pulled Shen Qinglan aside, asking in a low voice, "Qinglan, is Eden coming today?" There was a look of anticipation in her eyes.

Shen Qinglan shook her head, "Eden is busy today and won’t be coming." The truth was Eden knew that Annie would be among the bridesmaids at today’s wedding, and so he chose not to come.

Annie’s face fell with disappointment. "Aren’t you good friends with him? Why wouldn’t he attend your brother’s wedding? Could anything be more important than this?"

Shen Qinglan’s eyes flickered slightly, "Who told you that Eden and I are great friends?"

"I saw a picture on Eden," explained Annie, "it’s several years old and has you in it, that girl we met that day, as well as the movie star Andre and the supermodel Cissily. You guys have known each other for several years, haven’t you?"

Shen Qinglan didn’t expect that it was a photo that revealed their relationship, and for a moment, she didn’t know what to say. Annie lowered her voice, "I know you don’t want others to know, don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone."

Shen Qinglan smiled, "Thank you."

"No need to be so formal, you are Xi Yao’s younger aunt after all," Annie continued and then suddenly asked, "Qinglan, can you tell me, does Eden actually have someone he likes?"

Shen Qinglan’s beautiful eyes glinted, "I’m not sure about that. Eden and I have a good relationship, but we don’t keep in touch much, and we don’t pry into each other’s personal lives."

Annie’s disappointment grew heavier, and she spoke softly, "Qinglan, do you think I’m really that inadequate?"

Shen Qinglan looked at her puzzled, "Why would you say that?"

"I’ve been pursuing Eden for a long time, but he just doesn’t like me, even often avoids me. I wonder if it’s because I’m really unlikeable that he behaves that way."

"Affection is also a matter of fate," Shen Qinglan said indifferently. "I can’t say much about Eden’s situation, but there are things that don’t necessarily lead to results simply because you persist." Her meaning was quite clear.

Annie was stunned, looking blankly at Shen Qinglan, "You also think that there’s no chance for me and Eden, and that I should give up?"

Shen Qinglan just smiled, not continuing the conversation, and turned to go find Wen Xiyao. She had said what needed to be said. If it weren’t for Eden’s current attitude, she wouldn’t have broached the subject. Her words were for both Eden’s and Annie’s sake.

Annie stood there, lost in thought over Shen Qinglan’s words, momentarily distracted.

"What did Annie talk to you about?" Wen Xiyao asked as she noticed Annie pulling Shen Qinglan aside earlier in a secretive manner, which seemed a bit strange.

Qinglan shook her head, "It’s nothing. Sister-in-law, are you very nervous?" She looked at Wen Xiyao’s hands, which were slightly trembling as she held the bouquet.

"Yes, you have no idea. I couldn’t sleep last night, thinking that I’ll soon be marrying your brother. I was so excited that I couldn’t fall asleep. If it weren’t for reminding myself that I need to be a beautiful bride tomorrow, I probably would have stayed awake until dawn," admitted Wen Xiyao bluntly, without any fear of being mocked by Shen Qinglan.

Shen Qinglan watched her, a smile flickering in her eyes. Without any hesitation, she betrayed her brother, "My brother is just as nervous as you. When I went to see him today, Sister-in-law Song told me he woke up at four in the morning, and then kept checking the time, as if he couldn’t wait to fly over and bring you back."

Wen Xiyao’s cheeks turned slightly red, and her grip on the bouquet tightened, "Qinglan, stop it. The more you talk, the more nervous I get." Knowing that Shen Junyu was just as nervous as she was, she felt sweet but also worried that something might be amiss with her today. She looked at Shen Qinglan, "Qinglan, can you check if there’s anything improper about me? Is my makeup smudged?"

Shen Qinglan had never seen Wen Xiyao so unsettled and couldn’t help but laugh, "You look very beautiful today, absolutely perfect. I guarantee my brother won’t be able to take his eyes off you."

Wen Xiyao glared at her, "I’m serious."

Shen Qinglan scrutinized Wen Xiyao’s face carefully and indeed noticed something amiss, "Hmm, it seems that your eyeshadow isn’t quite even. I’ll call the makeup artist to touch up your makeup."

Wen Xiyao nodded, "Okay, hurry." The wedding was about to start.

Elsewhere, Mrs. Du and Du Honghai found a place to sit. Thankfully, the Shen Family had anticipated some uninvited guests, so they had prepared far more seats than the number of invitations sent out, ensuring that Mr. and Mrs. Du would not be without a seat.

Once seated, the smile that had been fixed on Mrs. Du’s face faded. She lowered her voice, "It’s just like you to put on a brave front. They didn’t even send us an invitation, which was a clear sign. Yet we still showed up uninvited, which is simply asking for trouble."

Mrs. Du was clearly unhappy with her husband’s decision. According to her, even if the Wen Family invited her, she wouldn’t have come. Since the relationship between the Wen and Du families was severed, it was justifiable not to come. Instead, coming here only made things uncomfortable for herself.

Du Honghai nodded and smiled at the other people at the table, then whispered to Mrs. Du, "We’ve already discussed this. Since we agreed to come, can you please cheer up? If you keep frowning, others will think you’re here to cause trouble."

Mrs. Du huffed as if she was here of her own volition. But still, her smile became somewhat warmer.

"By the way, have you called Du Nan? Where is he now?" asked Du Honghai. In fact, when he told Mrs. Wen earlier that Du Nan was in Hai City, it was a lie. Du Nan had disappeared a few days ago; his phone was off, he hadn’t shown up at the company, and he wasn’t returning home.

Du Honghai had considered the possibility that Du Nan had come to Beijing, which was one of the reasons he insisted on attending Wen Xiyao’s wedding. After all, if he was around and saw Du Nan, he might be able to prevent him from doing something foolish.

"I’ve gotten in touch. The silly kid ran off to Hawaii. He said he couldn’t bear to see the woman he loves marry someone else. It’s heartbreaking. There are plenty of women in the world besides Wen Xiyao. Why is he so obstinate," she lamented.

"Are you sure he’s in Hawaii?" Du Honghai asked. As for the matter of Du Nan being heartbroken, he could no longer afford to care about it or even give it a second thought. Du Nan was a man, and men should prioritize their careers. Pining over a woman all day showed no ambition.

To put it bluntly, Du Honghai had little respect for Du Nan’s previous actions over Wen Xiyao, but since he was his only son and hardworking in his career, he had not voiced his disapproval. Now that Wen Xiyao was getting married, Du Honghai was actually quite pleased.

As long as Wen Xiyao was married, it would finally put an end to his son’s lingering thoughts, allowing him to focus on his career. This was a good thing.

"Of course, he’s in Hawaii. Would my son lie to me? I’m telling you, when we get back, I’m going to arrange blind dates for my son. With how outstanding he is, I can’t believe he won’t find a good woman. I’m determined to find him someone a hundred times better than Wen Xiyao, just to spite Wen Bingchuan."

Du Honghai ignored her latter words and said, "It’s good he’s gone out, but tell him to come back early. To become so dejected over a woman is truly disgraceful."

Mrs. Du was unfazed, "So what if he went out to clear his mind? Xi Yao is just fickle by nature... Nevermind, talking about this now is pointless. I know, I’ll call him later," she said nonchalantly.

She looked around and saw that the venue was lavishly decorated, wondering how much money the Wen Family and the Shen Family had thrown into this wedding. A hint of disdain flashed in her eyes as she whispered to Du Honghai, "I think it’s good that Xi Yao isn’t marrying Du Nan. She’s the type to despise the poor and curry favor with the rich. I bet she’s after the Shen Family’s background. If our Du Family had that kind of foundation, I don’t believe she would’ve taken a fancy to the Shen boy."

Du Honghai glared at his wife fiercely, thankful that she had spoken softly; had others heard, being asked to leave would have truly been an embarrassment.

Mrs. Du, on the other hand, didn’t care – so what if people heard? If Xi Yao dared to act presumptuously, couldn’t people talk about it? Still, realizing they were on someone else’s turf, she only dared to mutter under her breath.

Du Honghai sighed as he looked at his wife. Ever since Xi Yao had gotten a boyfriend, his wife’s attitude had completely crumbled. She’d occasionally make biting remarks, a far cry from her previous demeanor as a lady of stature. This had become even more apparent after the Wen Family had suppressed the Du Family.

Seeing that her husband was still watching her, Mrs. Du dared not mutter anymore and stayed quiet, taking a sip of water from the glass on the table.

She thought about Du Nan’s situation. Her casual mention of matchmaking actually seemed like a good idea now. The family business had stabilized, and with the Du Family’s background, finding a daughter-in-law was entirely within her purview.

With this thought, Mrs. Du felt consoled, and a sincere smile appeared on her face. Seeing this, Du Honghai felt somewhat relieved. After all, it was improper to arrive at someone’s wedding with a sullen face, as if they were there to bring misfortune rather than blessings.

When Mrs. Wen saw the Du couple, she felt a bit uncomfortable and took the opportunity to speak to Wen Sihan, "They said Du Nan is still in Hai City?"

Mrs. Wen nodded, "I’m just worried he’ll come and make trouble. I’m more at ease if he doesn’t show up."

Wen Sihan was noncommittal, "I’ll keep an eye on them. Mom, go ahead and entertain the other guests." After speaking, he left, glancing at the Du couple from afar. Seeing them conversing with others, he walked away to a secluded spot and made a call to his assistant, "Check if Du Nan is still in Hai City."

He stayed put, waiting for his assistant’s call. Soon after, the assistant called, "President Wen, the Du Family’s people say their general manager hasn’t been to the office for several days, and nobody at home has seen Du Nan. He’s like he’s disappeared from Hai City."

Wen Sihan’s expression changed slightly, "Did you check the airport?"

"It’s too short notice, there wasn’t time to check. Should I?"

"No need," Wen Sihan said. It was already clear. If Du Nan wasn’t in Hai City, given his obsession with Xi Yao, he would definitely come to Beijing.

When Wen Sihan found Shen Qinglan, she was chatting and laughing with Xi Yao in the lounge room.

"Brother, why are you here? Aren’t you out front entertaining guests?" Xi Yao asked curiously.

"The others are out there including my parents. I’m just taking a quick break. The wedding starts in half an hour, are you ready?" Wen Sihan asked with a smile.

"Yes, I’m ready," Xi Yao said. Her makeup had just been touched up, and she was flawless from head to toe.

Wen Sihan looked at his sister in her wedding attire and suddenly felt a pang of reluctance, "I now understand why Daddy didn’t want to come in."

Xi Yao looked at him, puzzled.

"After raising a precious daughter for over twenty years, to have her marry into another family and become part of that household... I guess every father is reluctant to witness such a moment and part with her," Wen Sihan said.

"Brother," Xi Yao protested sweetly.

Wen Sihan laughed and turned to Shen Qinglan, "Qinglan, I just saw Hengyi looking for you."

"Hengyi is looking for me?" Shen Qinglan raised an eyebrow and stood up, "Sister-in-law, I’ll go to him then."

After Shen Qinglan left, Wen Sihan also went on his way. Just around the corner, he saw Shen Qinglan waiting, "Qinglan, why are you here?"

"Brother Wen, didn’t you say you had something to tell me?" Shen Qinglan asked back.

Wen Sihan paused, then laughed and shook his head. "Just a few words and you grasped my intention. Your intelligence scares me."

Shen Qinglan’s lips curved slightly, "Thanks for the compliment."

"Actually, I do have something to tell you." Wen Sihan became serious and relayed the earlier matters.

Shen Qinglan immediately understood; it turned out that the person she saw in the mall yesterday was indeed Du Nan. She took out her phone and called Jin Enxi again, "An, I’ve been watching closely. I haven’t seen Du Nan at any of the gates, nor any suspicious figures. He probably hasn’t come."

Hearing this, Shen Qinglan felt a bit more at ease, "Thanks for your effort." Originally, Jin Enxi was supposed to go on a trip with Daniel but had been summoned by a call from Shen Qinglan.

"Du Nan isn’t here," Shen Qinglan informed him.

Wen Sihan looked at her, "You were already prepared?"

"Just keeping an eye on each entrance, preemptive measures. Sister Xiyao’s and my brother’s wedding surely can’t have any imperfections," Shen Qinglan stated matter-of-factly.

Wen Sihan sighed inwardly. The world had long heard about how Shen Junyu doted on his sister, doing whatever she wanted, but who knew about Shen Qinglan’s careful attention to her brother? Perhaps this was why Shen Junyu cherished his sister even more.

"Qinglan, thank you," Wen Sihan said sincerely. Whether it was the previous engagement party or this wedding, he felt grateful to Shen Qinglan.

"Brother Wen, you don’t need to be so formal. Sister Xiyao is my sister-in-law; we’re family. It’s somewhat awkward to say ’thank you’ among family members."

Wen Sihan smiled and stopped talking, "I’m going to entertain guests out front. Are you coming with me, or...?"

"I’ll go find Hengyi in a bit. You go ahead," Shen Qinglan said.

After Wen Sihan left, Shen Qinglan was about to leave when she noticed a figure. Her gaze sharpened as she followed, but just as she turned the corner, the figure vanished, and then someone who looked similar walked out of the men’s restroom, giving Shen Qinglan a strange look.

Shen Qinglan shook her head with a smile, thinking she might be overreacting, and turned to find Hengyi.

**

Y country, a certain castle.

Xu Nuo lay on the ground, gasping for air, her complexion beyond the pallid description of past days. She suffered to the point where life seemed worse than death, with the pain in her hands and legs growing increasingly severe, as if someone were breaking her limbs with a stick over and over again, each time more violently than the last. She nearly died, tormented to the brink of death.

Just like a moment ago, Xu Nuo only just recovered from a wave of pain. The heart-wrenching screams of Xu Nuo echoed in Qin Yan’s ears day after day. Initially, she could remain calm, but as time went on, her irritation grew. No matter how vicious her words, Xu Nuo couldn’t suppress her cries. Qin Yan vaguely regretted having the housekeeper set Xu Nuo’s bones; she wasn’t helping Xu Nuo but tormenting herself.

Xu Nuo tried moving her hands and feet, noting that after each episode of pain, she felt somewhat better. A glimmer of hope appeared in her eyes; perhaps the housekeeper hadn’t lied to her, and her limbs might indeed heal.

Noticing the quiet next door, Qin Yan opened her eyes, her gaze filled with fury. Were it not for the iron bars between them, she truly wished to strangle Xu Nuo to death—she had never seen someone so weak that they couldn’t even withstand this level of pain.

Just as Qin Yan was about to speak up, footsteps approached. Soon, Allen’s figure appeared in the dungeon. Seeing him, Qin Yan questioned, "Allen, do you plan to keep me here forever?"

Allen stopped in front of her and looked at her. "I do have that plan." Qin Yan was too good at causing trouble, and since he couldn’t kill her, he decided to keep her locked up.

"You really think you can do it?" Qin Yan asked coldly.

"If you can escape, I’ll commend your skill," Allen replied indifferently. "Of course, that’s assuming your lovers even know you’re locked up, and still in my hands. Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you, your lover from Nancheng, Yan Anbang, is still searching the world for you. I truly admire that, even after you’ve ruined his family and life, he’s still deeply in love with you, pining only for you. If my deadbeat father had trained you as an assassin, you’d definitely be the best one."

Hearing this, Qin Yan’s eyes flickered slightly. It wasn’t that Carl didn’t want to train her, but she truly lacked talent in that respect. She was dismal at physical training, bright as she was, but turn into a complete fool when it came to bodily movements. Even Carl was at his wits’ end and had to give up in the end.

"If you let me go, I can assure you I won’t trouble the Shen Family," Qin Yan bargained with Allen, who let out a chuckle. "Do I look like an idiot to you, Qin Yan?" If one could trust Qin Yan’s words, pigs might fly.

Qin Yan narrowed her eyes, "Don’t I have your trust at all? After all, I did save you eight years ago."

Mentioning eight years ago made Allen’s gaze turn eight degrees colder. Had he not been a busybody, he would’ve been free eight years ago, rather than continuing to exist in this world, neither fully alive nor dead.

Qin Yan, of course, was unaware that Allen thought this way; otherwise, she might have died of rage. She paid a significant price to save Allen back then, even calling in many favors to engage Peter, who initially didn’t even know Allen.

She hadn’t saved Allen expecting repayment, but she certainly never imagined Allen would repay her kindness with hostility because of Shen Qinglan.

"All I want is to go back to Yan Anbang and tell him the whole truth. I swear I won’t go after anyone from the Shen Family," Qin Yan said. After all, Xu Nuo had already sent out the email; the Shen Family should know her real identity by now, so whether or not she went after them didn’t seem so important anymore.

But what Qin Yan couldn’t possibly anticipate was that while Xu Nuo had sent out an email, Shen Qian had decided to hide Shen Qinglan’s identity out of love and guilt for his daughter. The so-called scenes of Shen Qinglan being ostracized, the Shen Family falling apart, and Shen Qian being deserted by his wife and children—none of these came to be.

Allen smiled faintly, sitting quietly across from Qin Yan and detailing the events in Beijing, and he didn’t spare the details. Qin Yan’s indifferent demeanor twisted into a grotesque snarl.

"Impossible," Shen Qian said, holding his family’s honor in the highest regard. "If he knew Shen Qinglan’s true identity, he definitely wouldn’t react like this." Qin Yan couldn’t believe it, the outcome was totally opposite of what she had expected, and she just couldn’t accept it. Suddenly she looked at Xu Nuo, "Is it possible that you never sent the information out? You useless thing, what good is it for you to be alive."

Qin Yan was hysterical, and upon hearing her words, Xu Nuo’s face also turned very ugly. She had paid such a painful price, yet it didn’t cause Shen Qinglan any harm, how could she accept that?

Allen looked on with pleasure at Qin Yan and Xu Nuo’s reaction, his eyes full of satisfaction. Seeing others more miserable than him made him happy.

"Allen, let me out!" shouted Qin Yan. Her vengeance was not yet satisfied; she couldn’t be locked up here.

Allen watched Qin Yan at his leisure, with a smile. Allen’s features were somewhat delicate and refined, probably from his constant exposure to dark deeds, even his smile bore a somewhat eerie quality. But the housekeeper knew that at this moment, Allen was in a very good mood.

"Housekeeper, tell your mistress what Yan Anbang is doing," Allen said.

The housekeeper standing behind him responded, "Yan Anbang has reported to the police that his wife has been kidnapped and has requested the police to find her. Zhao Jiaqing’s cause of death has been uncovered, and the police suspect it’s related to the mistress but can’t find any evidence. Yan Anbang is trying to prove his wife’s innocence." The housekeeper relayed to Qin Yan the information Allen wished her to know.

After the housekeeper had finished, Allen spoke up, "You know, Yan Anbang truly loves you. If I were you, I’d forget about that damn Carl and live a good life with Yan Anbang."

"Shut your mouth." Qin Yan roared angrily, emotional and rarely this out of control, even Xu Nuo had never seen her like this before, "No one can be mentioned in the same breath as Carl. Carl is the best man in this world, my god. They killed him, they should pay the price."

Allen sneered, Carl, that devil deserves to be called a god? He wasn’t even worth a human if it weren’t for the fact that he was his father, Allen would have fed his ashes to the dogs long ago.

Xu Nuo listened silently to their conversation, her gaze always on Allen. Even with Allen treating her this way, there was no hatred in her eyes, not even a hint of resentment.

Noticing Xu Nuo’s gaze, Allen instructed the housekeeper, "If she keeps looking, gouge out her eyes for me, and preserve them in formalin to make a specimen as a gift for her."

Xu Nuo flinched, her eyes widening, and seeing the housekeeper actually approach her, she quickly averted her gaze. The housekeeper stood outside, watching her. Seeing that she had settled down, he walked back to Allen’s side.

"Allen, tell me, your terms, how can you let me go?" Qin Yan calmed down and asked.

Allen chuckled lightly, "What can you give me? Money?"

Qin Yan, of course, wouldn’t offer money. Allen certainly didn’t lack it. After thinking for a bit, Qin Yan spoke softly, "Let me go, and I will seek revenge. I’ll tear down the Shen Family, leaving Shen Qinglan abandoned by everyone. Then she will have no choice but to return to your side. Of course, I can ensure that Shen Qinglan’s identity remains a secret." Last time Allen had rejected her offer because he was afraid Shen Qinglan’s identity revelation would bring disaster. Now, it wouldn’t be disclosed, so it should be fine.

Allen stroked his chin and said, "Hmm, sounds like a not bad idea."

Qin Yan’s eyes lit up, "Do you agree?"

Allen shook his head, stood up, and said, "No, I don’t trust you. Rather than believe in you, I trust myself more. You’d better stay here for now." He had come down today purely because he was in a bad mood and wanted to see Qin Yan upset too. Now that he had seen it, he was in a very good mood and didn’t feel like wasting any more time with Qin Yan here.

Qin Yan obviously knew she had been played and watched Allen’s retreating figure with hatred, yet she was powerless against him. She was merely a prisoner at his mercy; she couldn’t even make it outside, let alone anything else.

Seeing Allen about to leave, and despite knowing the danger, Xu Nuo still couldn’t help but call out to him, "Master, please kill me."

Allen’s footsteps paused slightly, but he didn’t turn around; instead, he said coldly, "Want to die? It’s not that easy, Xu Nuo. You betrayed me, you should know that dying is the easiest thing in this world. Never try to commit suicide. If you dare, I’ll feed your corpse to the stray dogs."

Xu Nuo’s body stiffened. Her words were meant as a step back to gain ground, but who knew Allen would not play by the rules.

"Housekeeper, since she finds life so boring now, find her some amusement," Allen said, his voice devoid of warmth. The housekeeper, hearing this, flashed a look of understanding, "Yes, Young Master."

Xu Nuo’s expression changed, panic filling her eyes. Although she didn’t know what Allen was planning next, a bad premonition filled her heart. "No, master, I was wrong."

Unfortunately, Allen had already left. The housekeeper took a pitying look at her. If she hadn’t been too clever for her own good just now, Allen might not have bothered to punish her.

The housekeeper soon came back, followed by two men. He pointed at Xu Nuo and told them, "The young master said, this woman is a reward for you. The rest of the brothers can come in rotation. Make sure you take ’good care’ of her," he emphasized the words "take care," the meaning clear as day.

Xu Nuo’s complexion changed drastically, trying to back away, but her hands and feet were drained of strength. The housekeeper’s bone-setting technique required her to lie still for ten days, enduring pain that became more intense with each passing day, after which she might recover well—if she lasted that long. Three days were left until the ten days were up.

Xu Nuo was like a worm on the ground, moving helplessly as she watched the two men approach her.

"Don’t, get away from me, you scum, get the hell away from me."

The two men’s expressions shifted slightly. Indeed, being subordinates, they had always seen Xu Nuo, who was at Allen’s side, as a lofty and untouchable figure. But now, she was nothing more than a prisoner at their feet, soon to be begging under them.

The men exchanged glances, undressing as they walked. Qin Yan, witnessing this scene, turned her head away as if she had seen nothing, her brows furrowed in thought about how she could escape. She couldn’t just let Allen confine her here forever. Shen Qian had killed Carl, and she couldn’t let the Shen Family go. Absolutely not.

The dungeon was soon filled with Xu Nuo’s heart-rending shrieks and the men’s lustful laughter.

Hearing Xu Nuo’s cries of despair, a thought appeared to spark in Qin Yan’s eyes, her face showing contemplation.

Outside, after listening for a while, the housekeeper went back to report to Allen, "Young Master, everything is arranged, two a day."

Allen, while watering the flowers, wore a smile, "Add two more, just don’t kill her."

"Yes," the housekeeper replied calmly, as if such events were routine to him.

**

Beijing.

Du Nan had actually entered the hotel the previous night. He lingered near Wen Xiyao’s resting room but couldn’t find a chance to get close to her as there was always someone inside.

The figure Shen Qinglan had seen was indeed him. Luckily, he reacted fast and hid in the men’s restroom and, even more fortuitously, found a hotel waiter of similar build. He paid the waiter to switch clothes and leave, which allayed Shen Qinglan’s suspicions.

After Shen Qinglan had left, Du Nan emerged from the restroom, thinking about how to take Wen Xiyao away while her resting room was unattended. For two days, he tried desperately to convince himself to let go of his obsession with Wen Xiyao, but no matter what, he couldn’t. Just thinking about her walking down the aisle in a wedding dress with someone else was unbearable. This feeling was driving him to the brink of insanity.

He had just turned a corner when he bumped straight into someone, Du Nan’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly lowered his head, "I’m sorry."

"Du Nan?" Annie’s voice rose.

Upon hearing her, Du Nan looked up and saw it was her, glanced behind her, saw no one else, and his heart relaxed. He grabbed Annie’s hand and took her to a quiet corner.

Annie followed him, "Du Nan, what are you doing here?" looking at his waiter’s outfit, "What are you planning?"

"Annie, I’m begging you for something, can you let me see Xiyao alone?" Du Nan began.

Annie’s gaze shifted, "Du Nan, are you really thinking about whisking her away?"

"Annie, I don’t want to whisk her away; I just want to see Xiyao for a moment. I have something I want to say to her. I promise I won’t do anything else. Could you just help me, let me see her, please?" His voice was filled with pleading. He was truly out of options. Ever since Wen Xiyao entered the resting room, he had been looking for a chance. With the wedding about to start and still not having seen Wen Xiyao, Du Nan was getting frantic.

"No, Du Nan, whatever you have to say can wait until after the wedding. You shouldn’t see Xiyao now," Annie flatly refused.

"Annie, haven’t you said it yourself? You wouldn’t stand by and watch the person you love marry someone else. You were the one who encouraged me to take Xiyao back. Now I am just trying again; why won’t you help me?"

Annie paused upon hearing this, "When did I encourage you to whisk her away?" Her voice cut short, as she finally remembered the scene from the night before last when she was drinking with Du Nan at the bar.

"Du Nan, those were just drunken words, you can’t take them seriously."

"But I have taken them seriously, Annie, I love Xiyao, I’ve loved her for nearly twenty years. I will truly die without her. Can you really bear to watch me die?" Tears glimmered in Du Nan’s eyes.

Annie’s heart softened instantly; the Du Nan she knew had never shown such a vulnerable side, "Du Nan, even if you go find Xiyao, she won’t go with you. Give it up."

Seeing her tone soften, Du Nan continued, "How do I know there’s no hope without trying? Just like you, the person you love doesn’t like you back, but you’ve never given up, right? The biggest difference between us is that you still have plenty of time, while I’m running out of it. Annie, I’m begging you to help me; I just need a chance to talk to Xiyao alone, ten minutes will be enough."

Annie’s expression changed uncertainly as she looked at Du Nan, "I can help you this once, but you have to promise, if Xiyao shows any unwillingness, you can’t force her to go with you." In her view, Wen Xiyao would definitely not leave with Du Nan; doing this was just to cut off Du Nan’s last thread of hope.

Du Nan nodded again and again, assuring her, "Of course, I love Xiyao, how could I bear to hurt her?"

"Alright, I will lead everyone away from the resting room later. You seize the chance to say what you want to Xiyao. The wedding is about to start; even if I help you stall, I can’t do it for long," Annie said.

Du Nan’s face lit up with surprise, "That’s enough, thank you, Annie. I don’t know how to thank you. No matter the outcome, I am grateful to you."

Annie waved her hand, "No need to thank me; we’re both in the same boat, after all." She thought of the words Shen Qinglan had said to her today, and her heart also felt sour.

If Annie had known what happened at the engagement party, knew the depths of Du Nan’s obsession, or if she had known what would happen after Du Nan went in there, she would definitely not have agreed to his request today.