The most beautiful space

25 Su Wen's Plot

Xie Chengjing sat on the right side of the male guests' table. Su Tong turned her head and saw several women who looked familiar on the female guests' side. The one in the center with black curly hair was Qin Jing, the female lead in the palace drama. Next to her sat several actresses who played other concubines. Qin Jing's image in the drama was very classical and pure, but now she looked somewhat alluring and seductive. When she saw Su Tong looking over, she did not hide the fact that she was paying attention to Su Tong, and she raised her lips to reveal a meaningful and beautiful smile.

After the adorable ring bearers and flower girls, dressed in white suits and princess dresses, entered, it was time for the bride, Su Wen. This moment, usually the most anticipated by the guests at the wedding, was filled with an indescribable atmosphere. Many people stared at the church entrance while secretly glancing at Su Wen.

Wang Junqi chuckled, but stretched out his hands, ready to applaud. "Heh, Su Wen is really clever this time. I wonder where she found a bridesmaid who looks like her. I'd be doing our bride, who's been relegated to the background, a disservice if I didn't give her a good pat on the back."

Su Wen's wedding was professionally planned and designed. As the band played, countless pure white feathers gently floated down from the church. The screens on both sides of the wedding stage lit up, playing a heartwarming video of the bride and groom taken before the wedding. The bright and beautiful Su Wen and the elegant Xie Mingde played together in a flower field. In this beautiful and romantic scene, Su Wen, wearing a long and gorgeous wedding dress, walked gracefully into the church with her father's hand.

Yes, her makeup was exquisite, and indeed, she was noble and elegant, but all of this could not conceal the fact that she was no match for the bridesmaid who simply stood quietly with her eyes downcast.

Su Wen knew that everyone present was probably thinking she wasn't as good as Su Tong. Her hand elegantly held the bridal bouquet, but from an angle unseen by others, her sharp nails pricked her palms painfully. Su Tong had allowed herself to be ridiculed like this on the most important day of her life; she would definitely not let her get away with it. However, don't think that this would make her look bad!

Su Wen felt the pain in her palm, gracefully straightened her back, and a radiant smile bloomed on her face under the semi-transparent veil. She perfectly maintained her bridal demeanor, smiled and kissed her father goodbye, and then lightly stepped onto the wedding stage in front of Su Tong.

As the bridesmaid, Su Tong stood quietly beside the bride, Su Wen. Unlike Su Wen, she didn't have a sweet and gentle smile, nor did she constantly maintain her composure. Yet, she completely overshadowed Su Wen's radiance.

Su Wen's heart was filled with resentment towards Su Tong.

It wasn't until her husband, Xie Mingde, reached out and held her hand, and Su Wen looked up to see Xie Mingde smiling gently, his eyes reflecting only her, that she felt a touch of happiness. Ah, no matter how beautiful Su Tong is, his eyes still only have me, Su Wen. Isn't the most important thing for a woman to find a husband like this, someone she can entrust her life to? What use are other things like family background, appearance, fame, fortune, and talent?

Su Wen gently stroked her lower abdomen, thankful that she had made a timely decision, even resorting to drugging him to facilitate their first time together, and then becoming pregnant out of wedlock, ultimately winning over this good man.

Throughout the rest of the wedding, Su Tong remained a complete bystander. Su Wen spent as much time as possible with her husband, Xie Mingde, and did her best to show off their sweetness to all the guests. Even during the most touching moments of exchanging vows and rings, and when they were surrounded by guests cutting the wedding cake, she didn't forget to flaunt her happiness to Su Tong with her eyes. Su Tong felt exhausted just watching her.

As for Xie Chengjing, another bystander, no one could tell what he was thinking.

Su Wen was preoccupied with how to teach Su Tong a lesson. While sipping champagne on the lawn, a face that always disgusted her flashed through her mind, and an idea instantly formed in her head. She wondered if she was being too cruel, but seeing Su Tong, who was simply sitting on a chair by the lake eating cake, attracting the attention of almost every man present, she ultimately decided that since Su Tong had been unjust, it was only right that she teach him a lesson he would never forget!

Su Wen gripped the wine glass tightly, released Xie Mingde's hand as he chatted with guests, and naturally walked to Su Hui's side, softly calling out, "Elder sister."

Su Hui was feeding her son, Su Jiaxin, cake when she heard Su Wen's voice. She immediately handed the cake plate to Su Jiaxin and said, "Su Jiaxin, go play with your dad." Watching Su Jiaxin run off to his father, she turned back and asked, "Xiao Wen, is something wrong?"

Su Hui's grades weren't great from a young age, and her looks were just average. Growing up in her uncle's family, who were somewhat patriarchal, she only managed to find her current decent job thanks to her second uncle. She married a man who only graduated from a third-rate university. Although Su Wen didn't usually put on airs, Su Hui always felt inferior in her presence. Normally a gentle and indecisive woman, Su Hui felt completely awkward and unsure of what to do with herself in front of Su Wen.

Su Wen smiled even more gently, "It's nothing, I'm just worried that Tongtong might want to go home tonight and not attend my and Mingde's wedding reception. Big sister, please persuade her to stay. I only get married once in my life, and my second sister has to leave, so I just wanted to have you and Tongtong, my two sisters, with me today. Big sister, you will definitely help me fulfill this dream, right?"

Everyone could see that Su Tong had stolen the spotlight from Su Wen, the bride. Su Hui knew Su Wen's personality quite well and didn't believe Su Wen could still be in a good mood. She thought it was strange that Su Wen wanted Su Tong to stay at the party, so she whispered, "Maybe... forget it. It won't make a difference without Tongtong..."

Su Wen's smile froze instantly, and her eyes darkened. "Big sister, are you not going to help me with this?"

"no no!"

Su Hui didn't want to tell her husband about this, as it would only make him feel useless. So she quietly walked to Su Tong's side without saying anything, but she never let Su Tong out of her sight until all the guests had gone home and those who were going to the wedding reception had made their own preparations. Su Tong had completed her task, so she said goodbye to Su Hui and said she was going to take the bullet train home.

Su Huicai hesitated before speaking, "Tongtong, can't we not go back?"

"There's nothing to do here, so I'll head back now." Although Su Hui wasn't particularly assertive or capable, she was the most tolerant of her younger siblings when they were little, and Su Tong had a very good impression of her, so she answered with a smile.

But Su Hui grabbed her hand, not letting her leave. Facing Su Tong's surprised gaze, she explained haltingly, almost pleadingly, "Um, Tongtong, there's nothing else going on, and the wedding reception is quite lively. Tongtong, can you go back tomorrow?"

In Su Tong's memory, her cousin Su Hui almost never did anything that implied "forcing others to do things against their will." It was precisely because of this personality that she was able to get along well with her husband, who had a particularly bad temper. Su Tong glanced at Su Wen and saw Su Hui's expression change instantly, and she understood who was trying to keep her here. However, Su Tong thought that no matter how outrageous Su Wen was, she just wanted to embarrass her so as to vent her resentment. So, not wanting to put Su Hui in a difficult position, she smiled and replied, "Alright then, anyway, I'm just an unemployed bum staying at home anyway. Second sister, let's eat some good food at the party tonight, so we can at least recoup the cost of the wedding gift."

Su Hui then smiled, "That's right, our family also gave a very generous red envelope." As she said this, the woman, who had never been loved by her parents since childhood, had tears welling up in her eyes.

***

The cocktail party was held in the rooftop lobby of the five-star Shangpin Hotel. Several dazzling crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling of the luxurious European-style lobby, and a band played soothing and elegant melodies. The waiters who came and went were all tall and well-dressed. Su Wen was originally in the entertainment industry, and Xie Mingde's family was a prominent family in H Province. However, the star-studded event and the number of important figures from the city who attended were completely beyond Su Wen's expectations.

She was wearing a very ordinary black dress that she had just bought. She and Su Hui and her husband stood in the shadows behind a curtain behind a row of self-service pastry shelves. They didn't know many of the city's high-ranking officials, but they did know some celebrities. As the waiter at the entrance called out the names, Su Hui and her husband kept exclaiming who had arrived.

Besides the two rising stars of the TV series, Qin Jing and Fang Zhengting, many familiar faces from the first and second tiers of the industry attended the event in their finest attire. When Lin Shanshan, a popular actress known for her youthful charm, entered in a champagne-colored backless evening gown, even the usually reserved Su Hui almost screamed with excitement. Compared to Qin Jing, a relatively new star, Lin Shanshan has already starred in several blockbuster films and is considered a true A-list actress and "goddess of the masses."

Su Hui's husband's voice trembled: "Isn't this Goddess Shan? She's here too! I should have bought a better suit before coming!"

Su Tong was incredibly bored and had been watching the whole event closely. She noticed that no fewer than ten city officials, who were to be personally and respectfully greeted by Xie Mingde, had come, and even a star like Lin Shanshan was there. What was so attractive about this party?

It wasn't until Xie Chenghui and Su Erbo, who hadn't shown up yet, led the imposing and aloof man into the venue and the three of them sat down in a rest area on the left, that Su Tong finally understood why this wedding reception had attracted so many distinguished guests.

As soon as Lin Shanshan entered, Su Wen greeted her warmly, smiling as she offered her a glass of red wine. She raised her glass and said, "Sister Shanshan, I never expected you to attend my wedding reception. It is truly an honor for my husband and me. I should really toast you."

"Of course." Lin Shanshan clinked glasses with her, downed her drink in one gulp, and handed it to a passing waiter. Then she asked Qin Jing, who was leisurely sipping her wine in the back, "Qin Jing, you told me he would be here today. Where is he?"