“I thought he wouldn’t dare to come,” Ji Ya murmured, a smile blooming on her face.

Since a car drove directly to the lawn’s edge, guests couldn’t help but take extra glances. This was unusual – George had booked the entire resort, and cars were supposed to be directed to the parking lot. Most guests had come from hotels by taxi since many were from out of town.

How strange that someone’s car was allowed to drive in directly – what was the resort staff thinking? But what could the staff do? They were all trained, and while they might not recognize the Mayor himself, they certainly knew his license plate. They naturally gave him the green light. When Xiao Wang rolled down the window and showed the invitation, saying they were here for the wedding, even the dumbest staff member wouldn’t have the nerve to say “Mayor, please walk from here.” Instead, they jogged ahead to guide the way, and Xiao Wang drove right up to the lawn.

The resort was lavishly decorated, with flowers and silk ribbons even in the trees.

As the guests took a closer look, they noticed something was amiss. Someone stood up first, making others nervous. Among Ji’s family’s friends and relatives, there wasn’t anyone more prestigious than the Special Zone Mayor. When some recognized the Mayor’s vehicle, others felt they couldn’t remain seated – not that the Ji family didn’t know people with higher positions than Tang Hong’en, but knowing someone was different from being close friends. Important leaders were busy – would they travel to Pengcheng for a wedding? The Ji family might boldly extend invitations, but others would likely just make an apologetic phone call or send junior family members and female relatives.

Among the present guests, there wasn’t anyone more prominent than Tang Hong’en.

“Mayor Tang has arrived…”

People couldn’t help whispering.

Couldn’t help huddling together to discuss.

This was too extraordinary. Those who knew about Tang Hong’en and Ji Ya’s relationship felt like cats scratching at their hearts.

Ji Lin was shocked: “What’s going on? What is Tang doing here!”

Ji Lin believed Tang Hong’en had ill intentions, but saw Ji Ya, who was holding his arm, smiling happily. The back of Ji Lin’s head tightened in disbelief: “You knew he was coming? You invited him?”

Ji Ya nodded, “Yes, isn’t it interesting that he came?”

The car stopped, and Xiao Wang rushed to open the door. Ji Jiangyuan emerged from the crowd – if he didn’t go forward to welcome them, he feared Tang Hong’en would feel more awkward.

Ji Ya’s face darkened, “Tang Hong’en sure knows how to win people over. Indeed his son – no matter how the Ji family raised him, he’ll never truly be one of us.”

Ji Lin glared at Ji Ya, “Jiangyuan is doing the right thing!”

Inviting Tang Hong’en to the ceremony might feel satisfying, and guests would surely discuss this for a long time after the wedding. While Tang Hong’en might lose face, wouldn’t people also judge the Ji family’s actions?

Besides satisfaction, this would only harm the Ji family. Ji Jiangyuan going forward could minimize the impact. Others might think the Ji family had reconciled with Tang Hong’en, and that he was truly magnanimous to attend his ex-wife’s wedding.

Ji Lin gently removed Ji Ya’s hand and walked over – as the Ji family head, he needed to play his part in this show completely.

When the Mayor appeared, even the music stopped.

The priest looked bewildered, and George’s parents didn’t understand what was happening.

George briefly explained to his parents, who were quite surprised: They’d heard Chinese people were conservative, but this didn’t seem so – Ji Ya’s ex-husband was quite open-minded!

By the time George and Ji Ya stood together, Tang Hong’en finally emerged from the car.

“It is Mayor Tang!”

The guests were somewhat shocked.

Today’s wedding was full of surprises – the person who shouldn’t be here had appeared, and Mayor Tang wore a gentle expression. Was he truly so magnanimous?

Who knew how he felt watching his ex-wife marry another man?

Zhen Wenxiu lowered her voice to whisper to Ning Xue:

“Your Aunt Ji went too far this time. Even as a woman, one shouldn’t be so aggressive. It’s better to resolve grudges than create them. With Ji Jiangyuan having such a birth father, why make enemies?”

Zhen Wenxiu was teaching her daughter a lesson. Ning Xue usually didn’t care much about such social matters, and Zhen Wenxiu truly feared her daughter might follow Ji Ya’s style.

Ning Xue’s clear, innocent eyes couldn’t understand Ji Ya’s thinking:

“You mean Aunt Ji deliberately invited Mayor Tang?”

Why do such a complicated thing? Even Ning Xue felt the wedding was perfect – spending hundreds of thousands of dollars just to prove to an ex-husband that she’d married well… How had she ever thought Ji Ya was clever and enviably beautiful? The past was past – anyone, male or female, who couldn’t let go was truly pitiful!

As Ning Xue thought this, she watched Ji Jiangyuan stop two or three meters away.

Someone emerged from the passenger seat – it was Xia Xiaolan.

Zhen Wenxiu squeezed her daughter’s hand involuntarily:

“Why is she here?”

If Ji Ya invited Tang Hong’en, why invite Xia Xiaolan too?

Ji Ya disliked Xia Xiaolan.

Remembering the encounter on the plane, Zhen Wenxiu felt an ominous premonition.

As if confirming her suspicions, Tang Hong’en walked to the other side of the car, and a petite woman got out, standing with him – it was Xia Xiaolan’s mother, whom they’d met on the plane. With two or three hundred eyes watching, Tang Hong’en showed no hesitation as he extended his hand. Liu Fen placed her hand in his palm, and he gently helped her out.

Once Liu Fen was steady on her feet, they quickly separated their hands.

But so many people had witnessed it – how could it be fake?!

“This—”

What was going on?!

Zhen Wenxiu guessed but refused to believe it, still trying to deceive herself.

Yet how could she not think – Tang Hong’en being so intimate with Liu Fen in public, everything was unspoken but clear.

“So that’s how it is.”

Ning Xue finally understood the essence of everything.

Zhen Wenxiu looked bewildered, “How is it?”

“Xia Xiaolan and Ji Jiangyuan fell out because of Aunt Ji long ago, but recently they’ve been seeing each other frequently. I thought it was because they both went to Pengcheng on weekends, running into each other often, but it’s because of this… They’re about to become step-siblings.”

Nonsense!

How could Tang Hong’en, being who he was, marry Xia Xiaolan’s mother?

Zhen Wenxiu didn’t believe it, but the scene before her forced her to. Tang Hong’en and Liu Fen walked side by side, and though they weren’t holding hands in public, everyone could see their intimacy.

Ji Lin wanted to rush forward and bite someone. Walking quickly, he lowered his voice:

“Tang, what do you mean by this? Don’t go too far!”

This time Tang Hong’en looked at him, and unlike Ji Lin’s furtiveness, Tang Hong’en’s voice was neither loud nor soft, his expression quite frank:

“I don’t mean anything. Ms. Ji Ya has found a good match, and I sincerely congratulate her. Since she’s open-minded enough to invite me to attend the wedding with family, I won’t be petty and decline. So I came, bringing my family along – is there a problem?”

Family?!

Liu Fen stood on Tang Hong’en’s left, with Xia Xiaolan standing on Liu Fen’s left.

It did look like he brought his wife and daughter to the wedding.

Ji Lin’s mind buzzed – Tang Hong’en deliberately let everyone hear, deliberately did this, he did it all deliberately!