CH 78.3

Somewhere within earshot, a guest had just completed his registration and deposited his congratulatory money. As he calmly made his way into the venue, he whipped out his phone and made a call. 

The call did not connect, but the man wasn’t going to give up that easily. On his fifth try, the call finally connected. 

“Xinxin.” The man licked his lips in excitement. “I just heard an important piece of news that you definitely won’t want to miss out on.”

“...” Ji Xinxin replied with a voice that was suppressed to the bare minimum, “Cen Xiangyang, didn’t I tell you not to contact me again?”

Cen Xiangyang’s complexion darkened. “Evergreen Nursing Home. Does it ring a bell?”

“...” Ji Xinxin fell silent.

Cen Xiangxiang patiently waited for a moment before continuing on, “I’m beside the reception area. Meet me and I’ll let you in on the details.”

He ended the call right after saying his bit, not giving Ji Xinxin a chance to bargain.

While waiting for Ji Xinxin, Cen Xiangyang tidied up his hair looking in a nearby glass panel. His reflection showed a sniggering man with a hint of madness in his eyes.

With the handle he now had over Ji Xinxin, she would never be able to escape from his clutches even after becoming Mrs. Li.

You’re mine.

Cen Xiangyang whistled in a good mood. 

Shortly after, he was approached by a staff member. “Are you Mr. Cen?”

The staff member led him to a room beside the bridal preparation room. Not too long later, Ji Xinxin entered in her wedding dress. 

“You’re gorgeous,” Cen Xiangyang praised. “It’s a pity that I’m not the groom.”

Ji Xinxin vexatiously cut him off there and got straight to the point. “Let’s not waste time. Now that I’m here, you should explain what you said on the phone.”

Suppressing his emerging smile, Cen Xiangyang repeated the conversation he had overheard from Li Mingyue, Father Ji, and Mother Ji. He ended off with a taunt, “Li Mingyue has a good head. She sent her assistant out after hearing your parents’ words. Aren’t you curious what her plans are? Could she be thinking of ousting you out as an imposter?”

Ji Xinxin tightly gripped her skirt. Without a word, she turned around and left the room.

Cen Xiangyang allowed her to leave. 

What he was seeing in his eyes was a helpless prey running straight toward a trap. 

… Who was it? Who raised Li Mingyue’s suspicions?

Was it Ji Fanyin? Was it really her? Didn’t she offer us her blessings?! How could she go back on her word?

Ji Xinxin practically sprinted all the way to the groom’s preparation room. She stopped at the door, took in a deep breath to recompose herself, and plastered a blissful smile on her face. Then, she knocked on the door. “Xiaoxing, may I come in?”

A flurry of activity could be heard on the other side, but it didn’t take long before someone answered the door.

It was Li Xiaoxing’s assistant. Behind him, a dashing suited-up Li Xiaoxing was slowly wheeling himself toward the door.

He looked at Ji Xinxin with an endearing smile and offered her his hand. “What’s wrong? Are you getting cold feet now?”

“Of course not.” Ji Xinxin returned a smile. She squatted down beside Li Xiaoxing’s wheelchair and took his outstretched hand in hers. Tears welled up in her eyes. “I’m just… frightened you’ll suddenly change your mind and abandon me.”

“There’s no way I would do that.” Li Xiaoxing stroked her hair tenderly. “I love you.”

“Shall we…” Ji Xinxin broke out into a smile. She suggested with a mischievous glint in her eyes, “Shall we surprise everyone by commencing the ceremony now?”

Her heart hammered so loudly in her chest that she thought that it would rip right out of her ribcage. Both her voice and hands were trembling ever so slightly. 

Li Xiaoxing was falling more and more in love with her unease. He squeezed her trembling hands comfortingly and accepted her wilful request, “Let’s do that then. Let’s commence the ceremony now.”

Ji Xinxin let out a huge sigh of relief. She was glad to have overcome the ordeal, even if just for the time being. 

So what if Li Mingyue discovers the truth? 

I’d have already become Li Xiaoxing’s fiancé by the time she gathers the evidence. By then, the Li Family won’t be able to get rid of me anymore. I’ll have all the time in the world to win Li Xiaoxing over.

Ji Xinxin rested her forehead on the back of Li Xiaoxing’s hand and mumbled, “... I love you too.”

“Mm.” Li Xiaoxing tenderly stroked Ji Xinxin’s nape. “There’s nothing to be scared about. I’ll always be by your side.”