Please Marry Me (GL) - Chapter 26

The wedding was held by Tuli Yun Lake. The lake was a clear, emerald green, brushed by a gentle breeze. Along the shore, broad-leaved ginkgo trees had turned a brilliant, golden yellow.

The venue featured numerous balloon and floral archways, with rows of benches facing a grand stage.

Great-Grandaunt looked magnificent today. Her wedding dress was eye-catching, and her face beamed with a radiant, happy smile.

Jiang Yi joined the crowd in applause, staring absently at the happy couple on stage. Just a month ago, she had been the same—wearing a white veil, her train stretching two meters behind her. Only back then, it was a fake wedding staged solely to spite Shen Siyun.

Over the past month, Shen Siyun had been frequently provoked by her, flying into rages. It had certainly provided a satisfying vent for the two years Jiang Yi had wasted. But Shen Siyun was merely angry; her relentless insistence on Jiang Yi getting a divorce was driven by nothing more than bruised pride.

Jiang Yi had been waiting—waiting for Shen Siyun to truly wake up, for her to personally say those words: Let’s get married.

“What are you thinking about?” Song Rao took her hand. Seeing her expression, she guessed Jiang Yi was likely thinking about how Shen Siyun had toyed with her.

The wedding vows of the Great-Grandaunt and her groom rang out clearly from the podium.

Jiang Yi was actually sad. She knew who she liked, who she wanted to marry, and who she wanted to grow old with.

But unfortunately, that person didn’t understand. That person’s eyes only saw “investor and mistress” agreements; she lacked even a shred of reverence for marriage.

Jiang Yi also knew that her affection was slowly eroding. People naturally seek stability. When one seeks but fails to find, they can only stand still in disappointment. Once she stopped and settled for the status quo, she might never have the energy to love someone else again.

“It’s nothing.” As soon as Jiang Yi spoke, there was a hint of nasality in her voice. Song Rao looked down at her and pulled a tissue from her pocket.

“Wipe your eyes.”

“How touching.” Suddenly, a moderate voice drifted from behind. Song Rao froze and turned around, only to find Shen Siyun and Xin Wenyue sitting directly behind them.

Shen Siyun sat upright with her legs crossed, leaning back. The wind by the lake was strong, blowing the fine curls at her temples. Following Xin Wenyue’s remark, her gaze slowly shifted from the stage toward them.

More accurately, she looked toward Jiang Yi, her emotions unreadable.

Song Rao knew very little about Shen Siyun. She withdrew her gaze and slowly gripped Jiang Yi’s hand, trying to offer her strength.

She knew her best friend was foolishly in love with someone she shouldn’t be, but what could be done? Feelings once poured out cannot be taken back.

People don’t say goodbye until they have exhausted every bit of expectation. How long this “experiment” could continue, Song Rao wasn’t sure. She wasn’t even certain what the final “reaction” would be.

The wedding ended that day. The following morning, Song Rao drove Jiang Yi back. It happened to be the weekend when they returned.

Jiang Yi looked at the empty fridge. “Song Rao, let’s go to the supermarket. We have nothing left.”

Song Rao leaned over to check the freezer. Aside from some seafood specialties sent by her parents, everything was gone.

“Let’s go then.”

The two changed clothes to head out.

“Song Rao, help me grab that black leather bag.” Jiang Yi ran to the shoe rack to put on her small heels.

“Okay.”

Before they left, Song Rao couldn’t help but take an extra look at Jiang Yi’ social outfit. It was a simple combination: a white knit bodycon dress, paired with black stockings that were bound to steal everyone’s attention.

Her legs were long and slender, making the black stockings look inexplicably sexy. Jiang Yi casually pinned up her long hair, though it hung low due to its weight, with a few loose strands framing her face. her swan-like neck was white and delicate, like a budding willow shoot.

“Did you get the keys?” Jiang Yi checked her bag. “Got ’em. Let’s go.”

After a few steps, she realized Song Rao wasn’t following.

“What’s wrong?” She turned back.

Song Rao complimented her, “You look very beautiful.”

Jiang Yi accepted the praise humbly. “You don’t look bad yourself.”

At the nearby supermarket, they filled a cart with groceries. Just as they were about to pay, Jiang Yi received a call.

“Jiang Yi! That silly girl Ye Sixin went to sign a contract with a client all by herself! I just got word that the client is difficult and likes to touch women inappropriately. I’m afraid she’ll be taken advantage of, but I can’t get away! I’ve asked everyone else, but they all have weekend plans. Can you go check on her?”

Lin Fei sounded frantic on the phone. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Jiang Yi immediately got the address. She told Song Rao to head home alone and rushed out of the supermarket toward the location.

Song Rao could only watch her retreating back and call out, “Be careful!”

Jiang Yi hailed a ride-sharing car via an app. It arrived quickly. She checked the license plate, confirmed it, and sat in the backseat.

Fastening her seatbelt, she said, “Driver, Taixi Hotel! It’s urgent, can you please hurry?”

After clicking the belt, she received no response, and the car didn’t move. She frowned and looked at the driver’s seat, nearly jumping out of her skin.

As if that wasn’t enough, Shen Siyun’s voice came from right beside her, calling her name with a smirk.

“Jiang Yi.”

“What are you guys doing here?” Jiang Yi couldn’t believe Xin Wenyue was in the driver’s seat, or that she had accidentally “carpooled” with the President of Jiayu, Shen Siyun.

Amidst her shock, she remembered Ye Sixin. Not wanting to chat, she just gave a curt greeting. “Auntie Shen, what a coincidence. You’re carpooling too? So down to earth.”

Shen Siyun closed her eyes.

Jiang Yi then greeted Xin Wenyue with a polite smile. “I didn’t expect Auntie Shen’s friend to work part-time for a ride-hailing app.”

Xin Wenyue closed her eyes.

“This is a Rolls-Royce. Do I look like I need the money from ride-hailing?” Stifled by the comment, Xin Wenyue gripped the steering wheel and reluctantly started her car.

Her younger brother had borrowed the car for the wedding and, for some reason, had registered her as a driver on the app as part of some “social practice.” She and Shen Siyun had just sat down to go to lunch when the system assigned them a passenger.

Jiang Yi didn’t care about the money; she cared about speed. “Miss Xin, can you drive faster? I’m in a rush.”

“If the Little Niece is in a hurry, take the next car. I’m not at your service,” Xin Wenyue snapped. She wasn’t used to being ordered around.

Just then, a phone rang. Xin Wenyue answered as she drove. “What is it?”

It was her brother, sounding panicked. “Sis! I forgot to tell you—my school requires social practice. I signed up as a driver. The school leaders check the rating and credit; it’ll affect my GPA! If you don’t want to pick up orders, don’t open the interface!”

“Too late.”

“What’s too late?”

“I already picked up an order.”

The other end went silent, then, knowing his sister’s temper, he began begging her not to get a bad review. Finally, he let out a soul-rending cry: “Sis—I beg of you!”

Xin Wenyue’s head throbbed. She hung up, fuming. “I. Get. It.”

Jiang Yi listened to the whole call with a straight face, then offered a sweet, gentle smile. “Is Miss Xin still kicking me out?”

“…”

Seeing the car was still moving slowly, Jiang Yi waved her phone. “If a customer’s needs aren’t met, I have the right to leave a one-star review, oh.”

That “oh” was dragged out with feigned innocence.

“…”

Sitting in the back, Shen Siyun rubbed her temples, signaling she couldn’t help. “Just speed up.”

Xin Wenyue gritted her teeth and accelerated, resigned to her fate as a temporary driver.

Satisfied, Jiang Yi leaned back. Her legs were pressed together, her skirt shifting to reveal the alluring black stockings.

Shen Siyun, wearing a beige trench coat, sat with her legs crossed. She rested her chin on her hand, looking out the window, but caught the reflection of Jiang Yi’s shifting stockings in the glass. Her gaze froze for a moment. She turned her head to look at her former mistress, her expression darkening.

In her memory, Jiang Yi had almost never worn sexy items like black stockings in front of her.

It was the weekend, and she didn’t have to work. Who was she going to see?

Shen Siyun pursed her lips into a line and asked tonelessly, “Those stockings… I’ve never seen you wear them before.”

“Bought them a couple of days ago.” Jiang Yi turned to meet her gaze. Seeing Shen Siyun staring fixedly at her legs, she felt a sudden wave of discomfort.

Jiang Yi pretended not to notice and looked out the window. A few seconds later, she saw in the reflection that Shen Siyun was still staring.

“…”

She couldn’t help but turn back.

“Shen Siyun, black stockings are for my wife to see. Are you my wife? Why are you looking?”

Driving the car, Xin Wenyue couldn’t help but glance at the rearview mirror after hearing that stinging remark. She saw Shen Siyun, under Jiang Yi’s glare, slowly withdraw her gaze with a cold face—looking exactly like a defeated soldier retreating in shame.

She looks like a bullied little wife… Xin Wenyue suddenly felt like her own situation wasn’t so bad after all.

Silence followed until they reached the Taixi Hotel. A low-profile but luxurious Rolls-Royce stopped at the entrance. The waiter, thinking a VIP had arrived, stepped forward to greet them.

Instead, he saw a beautiful woman in black stockings jump out of the car in a hurry, saying in a crisp, gentle voice: “Thanks, driver! I’ll give you a five-star review when I have time!”

Waiter: “…” So it was just a beautiful girl who hailed a Rolls-Royce?

Shortly after, another stunning woman stepped out of the Rolls-Royce. The waiter stopped his approach, his eyes flickering with a hint of disdain. So it’s just a “social climber” carpooling. He wondered how one even hails a Rolls-Royce. Rich people don’t play like that, surely.

Shen Siyun walked over in her heels and gave her usual command. “Wanghai Pavilion, private room.”

Before she could take two steps, she was stopped. “Miss, how many people?”

“Two.”

“Miss, are you sure?” The waiter sounded skeptical. “The Wanghai Pavilion is our premium section. If there are only a few of you, you might want a lower-tier room.”

Shen Siyun stopped. Since when did a small party prevent her from booking a high-end room? Or did she need a crowd just to eat dinner?

“One room in Wanghai Pavilion. Did you not hear me?” Shen Siyun’s eyes turned cold.

The waiter nodded outwardly but rolled his eyes where she couldn’t see. “I heard you, I heard you. But Miss, I should remind you that the average spend for a room in Wanghai is over 5,000 yuan. For two people, that’s 2,500 each.”

And that was the minimum; the ceiling was much higher.

“Are you implying I can’t afford it?” Shen Siyun found it hilarious. She stood with her arms crossed. “Are you new here?”

Xin Wenyue caught up after parking and, hearing the exchange, realized what the waiter was implying. she struggled not to laugh.

Likely, Jiang Yi’s “five-star review” had been so lethal that it was now affecting Shen Siyun, the President of Jiayu, turning her from a “carpool climber” into a “dining climber” in the waiter’s eyes.

Xin Wenyue leaned on Shen Siyun’s shoulder, trying to hold it in, but eventually burst out laughing. “Shen Siyun, he thinks you’re a fake socialite! This is gold, hahaha!”

She was ready to call this the funniest “CEO joke” of the year.

Shen Siyun’s face was pitch black.

The waiter recognized Xin Wenyue as the Rolls-Royce owner. Rolls-Royce = Money. Rolls-Royce Driver = Rich. Seeing their intimacy, cold sweat broke out on his back. He didn’t dare breathe.

Feeling Shen Siyun’s “death stare,” Xin Wenyue withdrew her hand and looked coldly at the waiter. “She is the President of Jiayu, understand? Forget a private room; she could buy this entire hotel. If you lack this much insight, don’t be a waiter—go find a job in a factory.”

The waiter’s face flushed red and white with shame. He bowed deeply with a forced smile. “Yes, yes, I deserve the lecture. Ladies, I’ll book the Wanghai Pavilion for you immediately.”