Chapter 15: The Bride Disappears
Chen Bozhou had a magnificent dream.
In the dream, he wore a well-tailored suit and proudly married the woman he loved most.
Amid the applause of a hall full of guests, they vowed to love each other for a lifetime.
Amid the cheers, he kissed Jian Tang, who shyly nestled into his embrace, her hand adorned with a wedding ring tightly clutching his sleeve.
Chen Bozhou was an athlete with only average literary skills; he could not quite express his joy in words, only the feeling of fulfillment.
In the dream, his heart suddenly ached sharply, jolting him awake. He looked out the window at the bright daylight, sprang from the bed, and grabbed his phone to check the time just as his alarm rang promptly.
Fortunately, he hadn’t overslept.
He exhaled in relief, pressing his fingers to his temple, wondering if the dream’s beauty had caused such a deep sleep.
Slipping on his slippers, Chen Bozhou left the bedroom and heard murmuring from the kitchen.
It was Shen Feiyu’s voice.
He remembered telling her to leave before sleeping—had she not gone?
Chen Bozhou approached quietly; it was just as well, this relationship needed to end today.
In the kitchen, Shen Feiyu was stirring porridge. “Did you and Dad get to the wedding venue?”
Shen Chunmei replied, “We did. Your brother came too. How are things on your side?”
Stirring the pot, Shen Feiyu said, “Brother Bozhou took his medicine and will sleep through the wedding. I’m still here watching over him.”
Shen Chunmei’s eyelids had been twitching since morning.
“You foolish girl, since he’s already taken the medicine, there’s no proof of wrongdoing. Staying by his side means you’re confessing. If you hadn’t failed to keep his heart, you wouldn’t risk this. Hurry and join us.”
Shen Feiyu had already made up her mind early that morning. “He’s asleep and won’t know I never left. What use is a wedding without the groom?”
Shen Chunmei wanted to say more, but Shen Feiyu, focused on adding fresh meat to the rice porridge, replied, “Mom, I can’t talk right now; I’m busy in the kitchen,” then hung up.
She turned to open the fridge, only to suddenly see someone standing at the kitchen door—Chen Bozhou.
Shen Feiyu’s face drained of color. “Bo…uh.”
Chen Bozhou raised his hand and gripped her neck fiercely. With a grim voice under her terrified gaze, he said, “You should be grateful I didn’t oversleep. Otherwise, I would have killed you.”
He had long awaited this moment and would not miss it as long as he had breath.
“Get out. Never appear in front of me again!”
He shoved her away.
---
Shen Feiyu clutched her neck, coughing violently, tears blurring her vision. “Cough, cough… I… I just love you so much. I only want you… cough, cough… to myself… What wrong have I done?”
Chen Bozhou’s jaw tightened. “Your love means nothing to me.”
Shen Feiyu clung to him from behind, sobbing, “I don’t believe it. After all this time, I don’t believe you have no feelings for me.”
Chen Bozhou pried her hands away. “You’re definitely better than a sex toy, but that’s all.”
Shen Feiyu shook her head, crying, “You’re just angry because I drugged you. You don’t mean those harsh words… I…”
Chen Bozhou cut her off coldly. “Regardless of today’s events, after I marry, I will have nothing to do with you. I won’t let Tang Tang suffer any wrong.”
Shen Feiyu broke down and demanded, “What about me? What am I to you?!”
Chen Bozhou answered coldly, “Used tissue.”
With that, he strode away.
Shen Feiyu collapsed to the floor, letting out a piercing scream.
---
Driving his sports car to the wedding venue, Chen Bozhou felt joyous at everything he saw.
At a red light, he tilted his head to the clear blue sky, the breeze carrying an intoxicating fragrance.
Passing an intersection, a giant 3D screen displayed wedding photos of him and Jian Tang, attracting many onlookers.
Left alone in the spacious apartment, Shen Feiyu went mad, smashing everything around her.
After calming down somewhat, she sat on the carpet, clutching her knees and crying.
Her phone buzzed incessantly on the sofa. Irritated, Shen Feiyu answered, but stopped crying abruptly when she heard the voice on the other end.
“What did you say? The bride can’t be reached?”
The wedding coordinator, surprised to hear her voice, confirmed he was calling the groom’s number before continuing, “May I ask where the groom is? Did something happen to the bride? Does the ceremony need to be adjusted?”
Wiping away tears, Shen Feiyu stood slowly. “No adjustments are needed.”
The coordinator asked, “May I ask who this is?”
Without answering, she hung up and switched off her phone.
Quickly retrieving her own phone, she called Jian Tang repeatedly without answer, her heart pounding as she paced the room.
Could her recent videos and messages have worked?
Had Jian Tang finally given up?
At this thought, Shen Feiyu wiped away the gloom and pain, went to the vanity, and touched up her makeup. She was ready to go to the wedding.
---
When Chen Bozhou arrived at the wedding venue, guests had already gathered, and the media, cameras ready, prepared to broadcast the grand event live.
Straightening his tie with elegant poise, Chen Bozhou entered the banquet hall.
The once noisy and lively room fell silent upon his arrival.
At first, Chen Bozhou didn’t notice, his face still beaming with happiness, until—
The wedding coordinator hurried over. “Mr. Chen, you finally made it. Where is the bride? The makeup artists and stylists arrived long ago, but no one can reach her.”
Chen Bozhou’s smile froze. “What do you mean by ‘can’t reach’?”
Jian Suishan approached with a grim expression. “The servants said she came for makeup early this morning, but no one’s found her. Doesn’t she know what day it is? And she just vanished!”
Chen Bozhou’s mind went blank for two seconds, then he immediately ordered, “Check it out for me. Investigate the route from the Jian residence to the venue. See if there were any traffic accidents today… Also check hospitals. If there’s any news about Jian Tang, tell me immediately!”
The coordinator asked quietly, “Mr. Chen, what about the wedding ceremony...?”
“What wedding! I just want to know she’s safe!” Chen Bozhou’s tone was sharp.
When can’t a wedding be held? What kind of wedding can’t be held?
But Jian Tang was one of a kind.
His Tang Tang was irreplaceable!
As Chen Bozhou gripped his phone, overwhelmed by worry and fear, the giant screen displaying their wedding photos suddenly showed Jian Tang herself.
In the video, she wore a wedding dress and sat quietly before the camera—the most beautiful bride.
She smiled at the lens and said, “I am Jian Tang, today’s bride. Before the wedding begins, I have prepared four gifts for everyone here.”
The guests’ faces showed varying emotions, unsure of what was being hinted at.
Jian Suishan’s displeasure was evident; he scowled at Jian Tang’s mystique.
Shen Chunmei and Shen Yuyang exchanged glances.
Only Chen Bozhou’s worries melted into surprise, his eyes full of anticipation.