The car smoothly moved forward, creating an awkward harmony inside.
Gu Jiayin looked out the window, recalling one moment after another from the past, while Sheng Qianchi quietly watched her.
He was the kind of person who rarely spoke and seldom showed emotion, but at this moment, his eyes were filled with thick warmth.
When Gu Jiayin came back to reality, she turned her head and locked eyes with the man's deep and bright gaze.
Frowning slightly, she spoke with disgust, "What do you mean by looking at me like this?"
Sheng Qianchi did not avert his gaze, continuing to look at her face with warmth, his voice gentle, husky, yet seductive, "Isn't it clear enough? I'm attracted to you."
Such straightforwardness, coming from such a cold and domineering person, seemed to transcend time and space. Even Mo Jun, seated in the driver's seat, couldn't help but twitch his ears.
He had thought that Young Master Chi would never be moved by a woman.
If it hadn't been for Qin Yishu saving Young Master Chi's life back then, and Mrs. Sheng actively pushing for them, he wouldn't have promised a marriage.
The space fell silent for about ten seconds.
"Ha!" Gu Jiayin sneered disdainfully, casually smoothing her hair, "So what?"
"Be my woman."
This was the second time he had asked her to be his woman.
"Hahaha..." Gu Jiayin laughed out loud in great amusement, "I'm repulsed by men used by Qin Yishu."
Sheng Qianchi's aura instantly turned cold, his gaze became even sharper, he pressed his lips tightly, staring fixedly at the indifferent and mocking woman.
He suddenly realized that this woman had truly changed; not only was she prickly, but she had also become sharp-tongued and clever.
He had been involved with Qin Yishu for three years, engaged for three years—six years in total—but he hadn't even held her hand.
However, he was Sheng Qianchi; he had his pride and would never offer an explanation.
His heart felt tangled as if blocked by a ball of silk, the threads pulled tightly.
Sheng Qianchi pressed his lips firmly, turning to gaze out the window, the atmosphere inside the car reaching freezing point.
Gu Jiayin sneered again, turning to look out the window too; only when she could anger Qin Yishu's man to the point of bleeding did she feel satisfied.
The silence could have lasted until their destination, but after a few minutes, Sheng Qianchi suddenly spoke, "If you think I'm dirty, what about Pei Nianchen?"
He remembered reminding her last night that Pei Nianchen had slept with Qin Xueyao.
Clearly, he was still jealous of Pei Nianchen.
Gu Jiayin had no idea that during these silent minutes, Sheng Qianchi was still tangled up in this matter; she truly didn't understand him because they weren't familiar with each other.
Yet she was very interested in irritating him, "How can you compare to my Brother Nianchen? We were childhood sweethearts, our feelings deep as the ocean. As long as he's willing to leave Qin Xueyao, I still want him."
Sheng Qianchi stared unwaveringly at the woman in front of him, his thin lips pressed even tighter, a string seemed to be about to snap in his eyes; heaven knows how much strength he used to control himself from gripping her chin as he did last night.
In the standoff, time crept by for half a minute.
Sheng Qianchi suddenly spoke as if a cold wind blew through an arid desert, "I'll make you give up."
Indeed, bringing her to this wedding today was to make her completely give up.
...
After an hour, the car finally arrived at Luoli Hotel—the most luxurious, high-end hotel in Licheng City—where a grand wedding was taking place.
Pei Nianchen had a significant background; his father was the commander-in-chief of the Licheng City Military District, and he himself was a super soldier king, holding the rank of major general at a young age. His younger brother was also a well-known soldier king, serving in the Southern Military District.
Qin Xueyao, not only the second daughter of a wealthy family, but also had a dazzling identity as the most popular celebrity.
Thus, their wedding naturally attracted various media outlets for filming and reporting; the hotel entrance was crowded with reporters, cameras lined both sides of the red carpet.
Being in the entertainment industry, Qin Xueyao naturally maintained good relations with the media, so she prepared drinks and distributed red envelopes for the reporters.
When Sheng Qianchi's car arrived at the hotel entrance, reporters swarmed around, cameras flashing incessantly.
"Young Master Chi, do you have anything to say about today's wedding?"
"Young Master Chi, the Qin family's second daughter is getting married, you've been engaged to Miss Qin for so many years, do you have plans to marry?"
Faced with reporters' questions, Sheng Qianchi ignored them coldly, while Mo Jun walked ahead, paving the way.
Gu Jiayin had never faced so many flashing cameras; frankly, she was a bit unaccustomed, but today was a war; she was fearless as she followed Sheng Qianchi out of the car, even making a deliberate smile.
Though seven years had passed, back then, Licheng's number one socialite was too famous, so reporters naturally remembered Gu Jiayin's appearance, and when she appeared, it caused an uproar, with more cameras focusing on her.
"Isn't this Gu Jiayin who died at Crocodile Bay seven years ago? Could it be she didn't die?"
With this realization voiced aloud, reporters frantically pushed forward, numerous microphones were held close to Gu Jiayin's face.
"Miss Gu, are you appearing now to reclaim your first love?"
"Miss Gu, you've been gone for seven years; do old feelings remain hard to forget?"
"Miss Gu, why are you here with Young Master Chi?"
Gu Jiayin only smiled faintly, not intending to answer any questions; silence at this moment was more powerful than words. Reappearing at her first love's wedding seven years after supposedly dying was shock enough.
Sheng Qianchi, however, was increasingly on the edge of rage, the angrier he got, the colder his face appeared; his entire aura seemed to freeze. He detested how these reporters still linked Gu Jiayin and Pei Nianchen together.
Mo Jun had followed Sheng Qianchi for many years and knew his temperament and disposition well, so with swift action, he brought security to forcibly remove the reporters, clearing a path.
Sheng Qianchi naturally clasped Gu Jiayin's wrist, pulling her as they strode into the hotel.
This move felt like a monumental hand-holding event, providing enough news points for reporters to chase and snap pictures all the way, this photo could create big stories.
...
In the hotel's banquet hall, a newlywed couple was dancing in the center, guests surrounding them, clapping to offer blessings.
Those attending this wedding were all from high society and various celebrities, shining like gold; everywhere was an aura of luxury.
The groom wore a tailored black suit, tall and handsome, impressively dignified; the bride wore a high-end custom-made white floor-length dress, beautiful and graceful.
Indeed, they looked well-matched.
But the groom's expression was overly cold, starkly contrasting with the bride's sweet and enamored demeanor.
Outside the banquet hall doors, Gu Jiayin paused, momentarily hesitating.
It had been seven years, too long—after surviving a life-or-death ordeal, how should one feel seeing Pei Nianchen again and all the changed circumstances?
After all, genuine emotions had been given in the past, even though youthful ignorance clouded them then.