Though Zhou Wenbang had chosen an ordinary restaurant, the dishes weren’t shabby.

After all, the guests were Zhou’s family relatives. Since they were invited to the wedding banquet and brought gifts, why serve them poor food?

Zhou Wenbang was quite generous with this expense.

Later when Yuan Han offered to cover the banquet costs, Zhou Wenbang even had the restaurant add several special dishes, raising the standard even higher.

Zhou Yi wore a bright red wool coat today, with a bridal hairstyle and makeup, looking quite well.

Naturally, she was in good spirits.

Although the wedding venue was slightly below her expectations and fewer guests attended, it was understandable that some relatives and friends from out of town couldn’t make it due to the rushed date.

None of this bothered Zhou Yi!

She was marrying the man she loved – a little discomfort at the wedding banquet didn’t matter. Once her parents’ anger subsided, everything would be fine again.

Learning about Xia Xiaolan’s mother’s remarriage to Mayor Tang didn’t make her jealous.

Both Xia Xiaolan and her mother were such materialistic people, that she wasn’t surprised at all.

Only the Yuan family felt bitter about it. Zhou Yi herself was very confident – though her father wasn’t a mayor, he might become one; her second uncle’s position wasn’t lower than a mayor’s, and her grandfather’s too… Why should she compare family backgrounds with Xia Xiaolan? Zhou Yi was always clear about her family’s status.

She didn’t care that Xia Xiaolan had a mayor for a stepfather.

But unexpectedly, her parents personally went to the entrance to welcome them.

“Isn’t that a bit excessive?” Zhou Yi muttered quietly.

When she saw her mother smiling while accompanying Liu Fen and Xia Xiaolan inside, Zhou Yi felt somewhat jealous.

Was it necessary?

Her mother hadn’t smiled at her daughter all day, yet she smiled at Xia Xiaolan.

They had always opposed her relationship with Yuan Han, and on this joyous day, couldn’t they just pretend to get through it?

A while later, Yuan Han entered with his family.

Zhou Yi huddled with Yuan Han and complained, “My mom’s overdoing it. He’s just a mayor, and only Xia Xiaolan’s stepfather, not even her real father. Why be so enthusiastic?”

Yuan Han’s eyes flickered, “Xiaoyi, you knew about this already?”

“I heard my parents talking about it last night. Xia Xiaolan’s mother married Mayor Tang recently.”

Learning about it just last night meant she hadn’t deliberately kept it from him. They hadn’t had a chance to meet all day yesterday.

Yuan Han’s heart settled, but he still reminded Zhou Yi, “In the future, you must tell me about such things early. I’m not clear about your family’s relationships and might accidentally show disrespect.”

Yuan Han’s cautiousness caused Zhou Yi’s heartache.

To gain her family’s approval, Yuan Han had been standing in the cold wind all day. She should have been greeting guests at the entrance too, but Yuan Han insisted she stay inside since she was pregnant.

“Did someone upset you?”

Today, the relatives were cold towards her, so they certainly wouldn’t be warm to Yuan Han!

Could it be Xia Xiaolan, looking down on Yuan Han now that her status had changed?

Zhou Yi was anxious and angry, wanting to confront Xia Xiaolan immediately.

Glancing around, she saw Xia Xiaolan being pulled to a table with the younger generation by Gu Siyan and Cheng Min. The children from both aunts’ families and other relatives’ young ones were all very friendly with Xia Xiaolan.

Fortunately, Zhou Yi didn’t get the chance to confront Xia Xiaolan, who would likely have responded honestly: it wasn’t about changed status – she had looked down on Yuan Han from the beginning!

When Xia Xiaolan arrived at the restaurant, Gu Siyan and Cheng Min immediately grabbed her. The sisters had saved her a seat and introduced her to the children of Zhou family relatives.

Zhou Cheng’s girlfriend.

The Huaqing University academic star.

These were Xia Xiaolan’s defining characteristics.

Even those who hadn’t met her had heard about her from family members. Xia Xiaolan had become a role model for the Zhou family relatives’ children.

The younger generation didn’t care about Xia Xiaolan’s family background, past or present. They just knew she was easy to talk to and impossible to dislike.

Gu Siyan watched Zhou Yi and Yuan Han being affectionate and kept sighing:

“Sister Xiaolan, thankfully you came. I noticed Aunt hadn’t smiled at all before. This marriage… only Sister Zhou Yi is blindly happy.”

Xia Xiaolan shook her head, “What’s done is done, no use discussing it now. The adults aren’t concerned, so just focus on your studies. Eat when it’s time, don’t talk too much. You won’t have many chances to deal with the Yuan family in the future.”

Gu Siyan understood the reasoning but still couldn’t make sense of it.

Seeing the Yuan family today made her even more confused.

The Yuan family was extremely enthusiastic, perhaps because they noticed the elders’ cold attitude, and kept trying to talk to the younger generation. Gu Siyan was only in her teens, with a strict, traditional father, and wasn’t used to such forced flattery.

The compliments were one thing, but Yuan Han’s eldest sister, who was about her mother’s age, kept eyeing her watch while talking.

The watch was a gift from Xia Xiaolan. Gu Siyan knew it was expensive, but Yuan’s eldest sister’s gaze gave her goosebumps… These people would be relatives now?

Gu Siyan found it terrifying.

She felt slightly reassured when Xia Xiaolan said they wouldn’t have many dealings with the Yuan family in the future.

Indeed, they were just Zhou Yi’s in-laws. At worst, she could see less of Cousin Zhou Yi and naturally wouldn’t see her in-laws.

With everyone present, the restaurant began serving.

Dish after dish was placed on the tables, and even Xia Xiaolan thought the food was good. Though the wedding atmosphere was strange, the food wasn’t poisoned – it would be wasteful not to eat.

Xia Xiaolan needed to return to school after eating; she had afternoon classes.

Yuan Han and Zhou Yi went from table to table toasting, Zhou Yi drinking tea instead of alcohol due to her pregnancy, while Yuan Han’s face grew red with drink.

After toasting two tables, the wedding banquet finally gained some atmosphere.

At the main table, toasting parents, Zhou Wenbang and Jiang Hong reluctantly sat with Mother Yuan.

Yuan Han and Zhou Yi knelt and kowtowed, and all three adults gave red envelopes.

Mother Yuan looked at the luxurious dishes, thinking about how Yuan Han had to pay for the banquet, feeling quite pained. Remembering the cold reception at the restaurant entrance, Mother Yuan knew the Zhou family looked down on Yuan Han.

Yuan Han said there was still time ahead, but Mother Yuan couldn’t hold back. Seeing all the Zhou family relatives present, she couldn’t resist trying to get some benefits for her son and suddenly spoke up:

“In-laws, now that the children are married, we’ve emptied our savings to meet your wedding requirements. Since we’re all family now, the Yuan family will certainly treat Zhou Yi well, but our Yuan Han can’t stay idle without proper work forever. In-laws, perhaps… you could arrange a job for Yuan Han?”

The dining room fell silent.

The Zhou family members exchanged glances.

Gu Zhengqing frowned – the Yuan family had no sense of propriety.