C2 2 Slap

The hotel’s back door stood open, and as the son-in-law by marriage, he could only enter through there.

The spotlight focused.

A slightly weathered, somewhat unwell-looking middle-aged man appeared in the scene. Yet, his expression was resolute.

“Wow, big news! The top beauty in town is marrying such a scruffy old guy. What a joke!”

“Yeah, did you hear? They say he’s a deserter from the battlefield. How pathetic!”

“It’s like a rose stuck in a pile of manure!”

A few young men below whispered and mocked disdainfully.

Mengyao, dressed in her wedding gown, instinctively stood on tiptoe as the spotlight hit, trying to catch a glimpse of the husband she had never met. After all, once married, they would officially be husband and wife.

Xiao Tian faced the crowd’s ridicule with indifference and walked straight toward the stage. His gaze fell on Mengyao.

Girl, it’s been twelve years!

We finally meet again.

Their eyes met for just a moment.

Xiao Tian stepped onto the stage without a word, quietly standing beside Mengyao.

“Now, let’s welcome Old Madam Chen to the stage, as the newlyweds offer her tea!”

Old Madam Chen walked up to the stage and took the main seat. After the tea ceremony concluded, she said, “Xiao Tian, from today, you are officially the grandson-in-law of the Chen family, Mengyao’s husband. I hope you treat Mengyao well in the future.”

After speaking, he waved for Mengyao to come over. Mengyao bit her lip and took a few steps forward. It was their first close encounter. She was truly beautiful. Xiao Tian was mesmerized; the little girl from twelve years ago had grown into a stunning woman.

This moment symbolized their official union, and the guests erupted into applause. Only Chen Qiang's family frowned, knowing everyone present was eager to see them embarrassed. After this wedding, the whole city would know that their daughter, the Chen family's most outstanding and beautiful granddaughter, had married a deserter, a complete failure.

At that moment, Mengyao's mind was blank. When the officiant announced them as a legally married couple, she almost lost her balance. She felt wronged and unwilling, having been married off like this. But what could she do in the face of reality? Looking at Xiao Tian, she didn't blame him; it was all part of her uncle's scheme. Helplessness washed over her.

Throughout the rest of the wedding, she forced herself to go through the motions with Xiao Tian. Despite her deep reluctance, she had no choice but to comply. As the reception neared its end, her parents began to argue nearby.

"Well, there it is. Our daughter's happiness has been ruined for life!"

"Keep your voice down. There are so many people here. If my mom hears, it'll be a disaster."

"Your mom, your mom! Don't you know who's really behind all this? How did I end up marrying such a spineless husband?"

Yulian was in tears. Ignoring the guests at the reception, she ran out of the wedding venue. Seeing his wife so upset, Qiang worried she might do something rash and quickly followed her.

Their daughter watched as her parents argued over her happiness, and finally, she couldn't hold back her emotions. She ran out of the hotel and sat down on a bench in a secluded hallway.

She couldn't stop the tears from streaming down her face. She didn't know how long she cried, but the breeze on her cheeks finally brought her back to her senses. That's when she noticed someone standing nearby.

She looked up and saw him—Xiao Tian. The man her grandmother had chosen for her.

Xiao Tian pulled a tissue from his pocket and handed it to Mengyao. She took it without a word and dabbed at her eyes.

"Uncle, this isn't your fault..." she said, addressing him as "Uncle" since he was more than a decade older than her.

Xiao Tian remained silent, standing quietly by her side. This girl before him was the same little one who had given him warm bread twelve years ago.

She was just like before—pure and kind-hearted. Even when she felt endless grievances deep down, she gritted her teeth and accepted it all for her parents and her family.

"Hey, Mengyao, today's your wedding day! Why are you over here crying by yourself?"

"Haha, this is hilarious. I should get my phone and capture this moment."

Laughter and mocking voices echoed from not far away. A young man and woman approached. They were Chen Wenchao, the eldest grandson of the Chen family, and Chen Qian, Mengyao's cousin.

Both worked at the Chen family's business, but their abilities were average, and Mengyao always outshone them. They didn't like her and often mocked and undermined her. In the company, Mengyao, a graduate from a prestigious university, stood out with her exceptional skills, and they couldn't do anything about it—her performance spoke for itself.

But now, things were different.

No matter how outstanding she was, she was marrying a man they considered a loser. She probably wouldn't even have a chance to inherit any family assets. Old Madam Chen favored the males in the family and was old-fashioned. With an outsider marrying in, it was even less likely.

Mengyao couldn't be bothered with the two of them and got up, intending to walk away.

"Hey, don't leave, Mengyao. Aren't you happy to be marrying such an 'excellent' husband? My dad picked him out just for you. Why the tears?" Wenchao blocked her path.

After speaking, they couldn't resist mocking Xiao Tian: "Xiao Tian, you better take good care of my sister. Maybe you two should have a kid soon. Grandma would be thrilled."

"Yeah, have a kid, haha..." Chen Qian smirked mischievously. "Bro, what if the kid turns out to be a coward who runs away from a fight? That would really embarrass our family, wouldn't it?"

"True, our family is at least a respectable name in Cloud City..."

The two of them bantered back and forth, teasing and ridiculing Xiao Tian and Chen Mengyao.

"Chen Wenchao, Chen Qian, have you two said enough?"

Chen Mengyao's eyes were red with anger, her fists clenching tighter by the second.

"Don't be mad, look at you. Qian and I are just wishing you both a happy union," Chen Wenchao said smugly.

"I don't want to talk to you. Please move aside!" Chen Mengyao's eyes were teary. She knew Chen Wenchao was the eldest grandson and the future heir of the family, so she had to endure it.

"Oh, Chen Mengyao, let me tell you, even if you're talented, so what? Your dad's a pushover, and now you've got a pushover husband. What do you have to fight me with? Believe me, if I say one word to Grandma, your whole family could be kicked out!"

"Wenchao, don't push your luck. Move aside!"

After being humiliated repeatedly, Mengyao was getting angry.

"I'm not moving today. What are you going to do about it?" Wenchao taunted, escalating the situation with Mengyao.

"Hold on!"

Xiao Tian, who had been calm until now, finally intervened, placing a firm hand on Wenchao's shoulder.

"Get your filthy hand off me! You're just a useless son-in-law. Don't overstep your bounds. Get lost!" Wenchao spat out venomously.

Ha!

As the eldest grandson of a second-rate family, Xiao Tian didn't consider Wenchao a threat at all.

"Girl, tell me, what do you want to do?"

Mengyao was frustrated, having endured Wenchao's bullying and mockery countless times within the family, always choosing to hold back.

"I want to slap him!"

As soon as she spoke, Xiao Tian swiftly turned, swung his arm, and slapped Wenchao across the face.

Smack!

A bright red imprint of five fingers appeared.