Chapter 643: 570 Wedding Turmoil (5): Wait
Lu Xiaoer took a seat where Song Lili had been sitting; however, she had barely sat down for a few minutes when a guest came up to her, bombarding her with questions...
"Miss Lu, what exactly is going on between you and the second young master of the Zhongli Family? To make such a scene at someone’s wedding, does Minister Lu know?"
Lu Xiaoer started eating from Song Lili’s bowl and plate.
"Miss Lu, you’re really brave, just rushing up here like that. Wow..."
The speaker was a young girl, not known to be from any notable family,
"It’s like you’re acting in an idol drama for the love you bear, so utterly romantic."
Lu Xiaoer simply listened but didn’t say a word.
"To cause such commotion at another’s wedding, it’s a complete lack of upbringing, of rules, a reflection of wanton behavior, although it fits the reputation of the Lu Family’s daughter."
Another woman approached.
Lu Xiaoer glanced at her and suddenly smiled.
This was one of Zhongli Wuzhi’s numerous exes.
"Was it really worth it, all for Zhongli Wuzhi?"
The woman smirked,
"I heard you broke up with Zhongli Wuzhi because you were almost... you know, right?"
Lu Xiaoer’s hand that was picking up food paused slightly.
"I’m very curious, whether it was a near miss or it actually happened... but because of reputation, it was said..."
The woman spoke half and left half unsaid, but her insinuation was clear to anyone who heard it.
Lu Xiaoer raised her eyebrows, still saying nothing.
"Can’t speak? Did I guess right?"
"Wu Shen, stop talking nonsense here; the incident today is chaotic enough as it is. I think despite the numerous rumors about Lu Xiaoer recently, Miss Lu is a victim. Mocking her now feels a bit like kicking someone when they’re down."
"Ha, you really can’t distinguish good from bad."
Wu Shen sighed,
"Right now, the bride and groom, along with the parents of both sides, even Mr. President and the President’s wife, have gone upstairs to discuss the matter. I’ll tell you, the result of their discussion will absolutely not be as romantic and touching as this young lady described."
"..."
Wu Shen’s words were actually quite gossip-worthy.
After all, that was the result everyone present was eagerly awaiting.
"Wu Shen, why do you say that? I think Zhongli Wuzhi will definitely reject the marriage with Princess Chinian and be with Lu Xiaoer. Didn’t you see Zhongli Wuzhi’s reaction when Lu Xiaoer showed up?"
"Ha, what kind of person is Zhongli Wuzhi? He’s a playboy who flits among women, masterful at reading their minds."
"..."
"Seeing his handsome and dashing appearance, and his tender moment with Lu Xiaoer just now, you think he’s devoted?"
"Wu Shen, you can’t be saying things like this because you have been involved with Zhongli Wuzhi and it... didn’t end well, right?"
Wu Shen shook her head,
"Fine, let’s not talk about Zhongli Wuzhi’s character. Let’s just look at today’s wedding."
"...What about the wedding? It hasn’t been completed yet, nothing’s been decided."
"Today’s bride is Her Highness the Princess from the Royal Family of the United States. If the wedding is interrupted halfway and the groom bails, what kind of blow would that be to Princess Chinian?"
"..."
"Not only would she become the joke of the wedding, but she would also become the laughingstock of the entire world."
Wu Shen snorted softly,
"The reason Mr. President and the President’s wife are present is not simply because the wedding involves two families forming in-laws, but it also concerns the diplomatic relations and connections between two countries."
"Sitting here is the King of the United States Royal Family; what esteemed person do you think he is? Would he let the royal family be humiliated for the sake of one couple’s love?"
"..."
"Besides, I don’t think Zhongli Wuzhi is entirely without feelings for Princess Chinian. There were frequent sightings of Zhongli Wuzhi and Princess Chinian together for some time."
"..."
"Firstly, whether Zhongli Wuzhi calls off the wedding or not, he’ll be labeled a scoundrel. Secondly, if he cancels the wedding, he’ll offend the entire United States. And... I don’t think Princess Chinian is someone to be trifled with; she’s not likely to stand by and watch things unfold without reacting..."
Wu Shen spoke reasonably, which made people, especially those rooting for Lu Xiaoer and Zhongli Wuzhi, feel a chill in their hearts, and they looked at Lu Xiaoer with concern.
But then they saw the person in question continue eating nonchalantly, seemingly unaffected by Wu Shen’s words.
"If it were me, I would leave now, at least to prevent this farce from escalating further."
Wu Shen huffed as she spoke.
She seemed to have absolute confidence in her words, believing what she said was logical and true.
"Sister Lu... how... how can you still eat?"
The girl who spoke was around seventeen or eighteen, her eyes red as if she had just cried...
Lu Xiaoer looked up at her, amused into laughter by her appearance,
"What happened to you?"
She finally spoke, but it was to express care for the young girl.
The young girl was both laughing and crying,
"When I saw Sister Lu run up to the stage and propose to the groom just now, I don’t know why... tears just started falling."
"Was it my behavior that made you cry because it was so stupid?"
Lu Xiaoer still had the heart to joke about it.
"Sister Lu, I was just thinking... what exactly is love, that it can make someone muster the courage to do something so grand and passionate..."
She was just a simple girl of seventeen or eighteen, with a face full of confusion, curiosity, and expectation, as she asked Lu Xiaoer this question.
Lu Xiaoer looked at her pure expression and felt very envious.
If one hadn’t gone through anything and had only witnessed the most beautiful aspect of love, what a happy thing that would be.
"Sister Lu, why is it that even though you and the groom like each other, he is still getting married to someone else? And why is it that even though you clearly don’t want him to marry someone else, you came to make a scene on the wedding day?"
The young girl was truly puzzled.
Lu Xiaoer put down her chopsticks and after a long while, she said,
"Actually, I don’t know either. Right now, I was supposed to be on a plane flying to the United States."
"..."
"My best friend told me that she had seen what I looked like when I was immersed in love, wrapped in happiness. She thinks that version of me is much more beautiful and joyful than I am now."
"..."
"She told me that running away isn’t a good solution if you can’t let go. When someone lives in your heart, no matter how far you flee, he will still be there. But I just can’t accept it..."
"That bastard Zhongli Wuzhi is getting married to someone else, and I’m still struggling with it, wondering why I’m the one who has to give in at the end, why I’m the one who can’t let go..."
"She said that it was not like that... Everyone who does something wrong has a way of punishing themselves, and Zhongli Wuzhi is punishing himself too. So I was foolish... what does that count for?"
"It’s clear that both Zhongli Wuzhi and I are in pain, clear that we love each other yet inflict harm upon each other, and let another person benefit... Thinking this way, my heart became even more unwilling."
Lu Xiaoer curved her lips into a smile, looking at the young girl who was gazing at her with adoring eyes,
"So that’s why I came here. If I want to win someone, I need to put in great effort. If the person I want to win is especially outstanding, then I have to put in a lot of effort."
"Sister Lu, aren’t you afraid of returning disappointed? Just like Sister Wu Shen said... this wedding doesn’t seem so simple."
"I am afraid."
Lu Xiaoer extended her hand to the girl in front of her,
"My hands are sweaty. I’m nervous."
"Wow, you came here without being a hundred percent certain?"
The young girl already had a look of admiration for Lu Xiaoer.
Lu Xiaoer withdrew her hand, still smiling...
"Then... aren’t you worried that doing this might be misunderstood by many people? Don’t you feel even a little bit... embarrassed?"
Lu Xiaoer glanced at Wu Shen and murmured,
"Does the opinion of others really matter? You have to live your own life; others are just spectators. If you let spectators decide your life, wouldn’t that be foolish?"
"As for the embarrassment..."
Lu Xiaoer lowered her gaze and said, "Some people can use dirty tricks to force others into marrying them, and they are not ashamed. Me, I simply made an honest and open proposal, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about."
"Heh... what an optimistic way of thinking. I wonder if you’ll still be able to smile like this when things don’t go as expected in a bit."
"I will only stay for one hour. If after one hour Zhongli Wuzhi still doesn’t come, I will leave."
Lu Xiaoer looked toward Wu Shen,
"But Miss Wu Shen, you really... don’t understand what kind of person Zhongli Wuzhi is at all."
"..."
Wu Shen’s expression changed slightly, but soon she lifted the corners of her lips, perfectly showing the leisure of someone waiting to watch a good show.
Time passed by minute by minute, and indeed the wedding banquet was lengthy.
Guests kept happily discussing the incident as a topic of conversation, never finding it boring.
Lu Xiaoer glanced at the time, her eyes darkened.
Wu Shen also glanced at the time and then smiled.
One hour, sixty minutes...
Lu Xiaoer waited calmly, the young girl sitting opposite her was even more nervous than she was.
"You said one hour, and now an hour has passed, Lu Xiaoer, aren’t you leaving?"
Wu Shen urged.
"Sister Lu, wait a little longer please!"
The young girl said hastily.
Lu Xiaoer showed no expression on her face, as she stood up and took a deep breath, a promise was a promise.
"Lu Xiaoer!"
But before she could even take a step, a hurried shout already rang through the entire banquet hall!
Startled, Xiaoer turned around and saw Zhongli Wuzhi running down, out of breath. He picked up a nearby microphone and shouted toward Lu Xiaoer again,
"Lu Xiaoer!"
"..."