Chapter 2
Chapter 2
After hanging up, I headed back toward the banquet hall. Suddenly, a woman’s scream rang out from the VIP room.
Occupational hazard. I rushed over in one swift stride.
At the doorway, I slammed on the brakes.
The VIP room door was half open, and there was a dispute going on inside.
There were two “brides” in wedding dresses.
The bride on the right was a little plump, roughly 173 centimeters tall by my estimate, with a mole beneath one eye. Her arms were crossed, and she looked furious.
The bride on the left was thinner, about 160 centimeters. Her makeup had been ruined by tears, and she clung to the groom’s arm, looking deeply wronged.
My assessment: this was probably a relationship dispute.
The 173 bride should be today’s actual bride, and the 160 bride was the ex-girlfriend.
Sure enough, 160 looked at the groom with tearful eyes. “Have you forgotten everything between us? You said you’d love me forever. How can you marry someone else?”
The groom covered his face with one hand and struggled to pull away. “I’m begging you, stop making a scene, okay?”
173 yanked 160 away fiercely. “Have you got no shame? Get out of here!”
160 grew hysterical. “You homewrecker! What right do you have to chase me away? You stole Brother Zhiming from me! I’ll fight you!”
173’s eyes widened. “You think I’m scared of you?”
The groom shielded 173 and pushed 160 away, shouting angrily, “My Xiaoyu is not a homewrecker! Stop slandering an innocent person! You were the one who had an online relationship and dumped me. I was heartbroken for half a year before I started dating Xiaoyu. If you insult my wife again, don’t blame me for getting rough!”
160 stared in disbelief. “Brother Zhiming, you… you’re actually defending this woman. I might as well die.”
Die.
That word was like a shot of adrenaline, instantly putting me on alert.
It was time for me, a police officer, to step in and mediate.
I was about to walk in.
All of a sudden, I saw the girl from the elevator, the one I’d only caught a glimpse of earlier. She stepped into the middle first, blocking the argument between the two brides.
173 planted her hands on her hips, fuming. “Xiaxia, move aside and stay out of this. Just watch me tear that crazy woman’s mouth apart!”
So her name was Xiaxia.
What an adorable name.
Xiaxia gave 173 a look. “Go get married properly. Leave the rest to me.”
With that, Xiaxia put an arm around 160 from behind, took a tissue from her small purse, and gently wiped away 160’s tears.
“You must have worked up a lot of courage to come here in a wedding dress today. I truly admire you.”
160 looked at Xiaxia as if she’d found someone who understood her, turning her head toward her while sobbing too hard to speak.
Xiaxia patted 160’s back and led her toward the door, saying gently, “Sweetie, if you’re willing, you can talk to me. Come on, let’s find somewhere private. If Old Zhao really did something wrong to you, I’ll help you ruin this wedding. I can’t let my best friend get tricked.”
160 actually followed Xiaxia. “It’s like this…”
Interesting. This Xiaxia really had some skills.
She’d actually talked the troublemaker away just like that.
The instant they came out, I quickly crouched down and pretended to tie my shoelace.
Xiaxia led 160 around me.
I couldn’t help looking up at her.
Our eyes met.
She seemed to remember me. “Did you find the brooch?”
Me: “No.”
End of conversation.
She kept an arm around 160 and guided her toward the elevator.
I got up and headed back to the reception hall.
When I returned to my table, the aunties and uncles who had been chatting enthusiastically all went silent in an instant.
Uh…
Was I some kind of terrifying beast?
As soon as I sat down, my mom secretly pinched my arm, her face full of disdain. “Why are you back again?”
I took the brooch out of my pocket. “Mother, your son found your brooch for you.”
My mom glanced awkwardly around at the aunties nearby. “Ah, haha, ha. Let’s eat.”
Yes, Mom.
I picked up my chopsticks and quietly ate.
Just then, a child across from me started crying and demanding to go outside and play.
His grandmother, who was holding him, pointed at me to scare him. “Be good. That uncle is a police officer. He’ll take you away.”
The kid really did seem intimidated. He looked at me with tearful eyes.
I decided to help his grandmother out and play along. So I slapped the table, widened my eyes, and barked, “Behave yourself!”
The kid froze, then burst into loud sobs.
Immediately, everyone turned to look this way.
The aunties and uncles at the table all “reproached” me with their eyes, extremely displeased.
My mom quickly grabbed a handful of candy and went over to coax the child. At the same time, she stabbed a finger at me from across the air and hissed through gritted teeth,
“Lou Xiao, eat your food. Don’t look up! Don’t speak!”
Yes, Mom.
The wedding began. Three bridesmaids stood behind the bride.
When it came time for the bouquet toss, the bride held the microphone and said emotionally, “This bouquet was originally meant for my best friend, Qiao Xia. Unfortunately, she isn’t here in the hall.”
So her name was Qiao Xia.
She was the bride’s best friend.
Rounding up, that meant she was the groom’s friend too.
I thought I could ask the groom to introduce us.
No matter what, I had to get her WeChat today!
You can do this, Louzi. You’re so tall and handsome. You definitely can!