C4 You Say It Is Ridiculous!

She was banking on the affection Shen Qingli's grandfather had for her to secure a marriage with her father.

Otherwise, it would be Fu Jianing wearing the bridal gown and marrying Mr. Qingli today!

As an honored guest, Jianing's custom champagne-colored cocktail dress was both luxurious and exquisite.

But now, even if all the world's treasures were laid at her feet, they wouldn't compare to the noble and pure white gown gracing Fu Yunyi.

"No matter what you say, it's not you, Fu Jianing, who will be holding Shen Qingli's hand and walking down the aisle today."

With a cunning glint in her eyes and a playful smile, Yunyi toyed with her bouquet, "Such a shame. You plant flowers hoping for blossoms, yet it's the willow planted without intent that thrives."

"You—"

Jianing's face flushed with anger, turning from red to white as she stood up abruptly, pointing at Yunyi's nose, too furious to speak.

This infuriating woman was blatantly rubbing in the fact that while Jianing had tirelessly pursued Mr. Qingli, it was Yunyi whom he had chosen!

Even though she knew her words were biting, Yunyi found it satisfying to see Jianing so enraged.

Fiddling with her manicured nails, Yunyi mused on why so many women relished playing the vixen.

She had to admit, occasionally playing the spiteful vixen to rile up her sister did have its perks.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and Chen Xueli, decked out in glittering attire, strode in on her high heels. Upon seeing Yunyi still in the lounge, her composed expression crumbled.

"Now that Young Master Shen is here, why are you still dawdling in this room?"

Chen Xueli, hands on her hips, launched into a tirade, "You should be grateful for having me, your benevolent stepmother. Without me, how could you ever hope to marry into the Shen family?"

If it weren't for Yunyi being chosen by the Shen family's patriarch, it would be her own daughter walking down the aisle today!

She couldn't fathom what enchantment Yunyi had used to convince the patriarch to insist on her becoming Shen Qingli's wife!

With a self-deprecating curl of her lips, Yunyi whispered, "Truly a wonderful stepmother you are. As if I'm desperate to be Mrs. Shen."

"What are you muttering to yourself over there, you foolish girl?"

"Nothing." Fu Yunyi had long grown accustomed to the barrage of insults from other women. She rose to her feet, her expression unreadable, and declared, "I'll go and assist Shen Qingli in greeting the guests."

As Yunyi made to leave, Fu Jianing, driven by spite, quickly clutched her mother's arm and whined, "Mom, Yunyi just accused me of failing to seduce Young Master Shen and mocked me, saying I'm a toad lusting after swan meat!"

Yunyi's crystal high heels halted. She lowered her lashes in resignation. Jianing was intent on framing her, and in doing so, had insulted herself as well. Truly, as foolish as a pig.

"What?" Chen Xueli's brows shot up in anger, her heavily made-up face twisted with fury. "You ungrateful child, she's your sister! How could you speak like that?"

Yunyi simply watched as Chen Xueli raised her hand high, her gaze cool and unflinching, showing no sign of fear or avoidance.

Confronted with Yunyi's icy stare, Chen Xueli's arm seemed to be held back by an unseen force, unable to complete its descent.

Jianing, eager for a spectacle, bulged her eyes in desperation, "Mom, why aren't you slapping her?"

"I..." Chen Xueli's arm shook with indecision, and finally, she bit back her anger, "If it weren't for the fact that you're about to meet Young Master Shen, I would have swollen your face!"

Yunyi curled her lips in contempt, no longer willing to engage with the mother-daughter duo, and strode away.

Jianing stamped her foot in vexation as she watched Yunyi's elegant figure recede. "Mom, why did you just let that lowlife walk away?"

"Jianing, you don't understand!" Chen Xueli soothed her daughter softly, "She is Mrs. Shen now. No matter how much we detest her, we must appear cordial to gain any advantage!"

Mrs. Shen, always Mrs. Shen! Envy and resentment turned Jianing's eyes a deeper shade of red. She vowed that one day, she would reclaim the title of Mrs. Shen that was rightfully hers!

The venue was transformed into a scene straight out of a fairy tale, with champagne, roses, romantic white balloons, and corridors in European style. The carpet was strewn with red rose petals, making the entire place a breathtakingly beautiful sight to behold.

Fu Yunyi couldn't present herself before the guests, so she made her way backstage, yet she didn't catch a glimpse of Shen Qingli.

Instead, she encountered her father.

Fu Guoyi gazed at his daughter, clad in her wedding gown today. Although the affection he felt for her had been somewhat diluted by the actions of Chen Xueli and her daughter, he had watched Yunyi grow from an infant into a woman of unique independence. To claim he wasn't moved would be untrue.

However, after countless betrayals by Chen Xueli and her daughter over the years, Yunyi's feelings had grown cold.

"Father."

"Are you all set?" Fu Guoyi asked, his voice quivering as he nodded, "At last, I get to witness you walk down the aisle."

Yunyi replied with a smile that was both elegant and distant, "I'm afraid the wedding you wish to see isn't really for me, is it?"