Volume One, Chapter Three: The Wedding Will Take Place This Week

"Fang Mo, is everything your sister said true?"

The old man looked at Fang Mo with a hint of astonishment. In his eyes, Fang Mo had always been Ning Yuelan's younger brother. He hadn't even had time to digest the news of them dating, and now his granddaughter had doubled down.

Both children had already registered their marriage.

Even with Elder Ning’s composure, he felt it was all too sudden—the sheer volume of information was overwhelming.

"Tr-true, it’s true!"

Ning Yuelan revealed her pearly white teeth and tightened her grip on Fang Mo’s elbow. Fang Mo’s face flushed red again, and he began to stutter.

*Sister, please stop with the seduction.*

"A-actually, I’ve always liked my sister too."

"From the first time I saw her, I felt an uncontrollable heartbeat. I still remember her wearing a ponytail, swinging it back and forth, looking so lively. It’s just that she had a somewhat introverted personality and was always holding a book. I don’t know why, but I just loved that quiet version of her!"

Fang Mo braced himself and blurted out some nonsense. It was true that in his memories, Ning Yuelan had been an introverted and quiet girl, at least when she was younger.

While children of the same age were full of vitality, Ning Yuelan did everything at her own unhurried pace, with a touch of coldness about her.

As these words left his lips, a rosy glow swept across Ning Yuelan’s lovely face. She gently rested her chin in one hand, her beautiful eyes filled with tenderness.

Fang Mo didn't notice this.

He was thinking to himself, *It shouldn't be a crime to spout some nonsense while acting out this play, right? My future wife, I am sorry. I had to yield to Sister Yuelan’s tyranny today. I apologize to you.*

If Ning Yuelan knew what he was thinking, she would probably have his head off in a heartbeat.

Elder Ning’s mouth twitched violently upon hearing Fang Mo’s explanation.

"Are you sure it was love at first sight? You were only about five or six years old when you first met."

A five or six-year-old Fang Mo falling in love at first sight with a fourteen or fifteen-year-old Ning Yuelan? It was possible, but the child was perhaps a bit too precocious...

Fang Mo felt like dying, but given the atmosphere, he could only nod hard.

"It’s not that the younger brother matured early, it’s just that the sister was too enchanting."

*Keep lying! Keep lying! Who was it that said they wanted to divorce me just a moment ago?*

Ning Yuelan gave Fang Mo’s arm a light pinch and hummed softly.

Elder Ning didn't notice the little exchange between the two young people. Hearing this, he laughed heartily.

"I remember the first time you came to my house, your grandfather brought you along. You were a little squirt, not even reaching my waist, looking so adorably stupid. Back then, you loved following your sister’s heels like a little snot-nosed brat. Who would have thought you’d grow up so fast."

*Yes, not only did I grow up fast, but I also became your granddaughter’s husband. Surprised? Shocked? I’m surprised and shocked myself.*

Elder Ning seemed very interested in the love story of the two young people.

"So tell me, since you two had been out of touch for years, how did you... get back together?"

*Why does he make it sound like we were having an affair?*

Fang Mo wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Facing Ning Yuelan’s expectant little gaze, he had no choice but to keep improvising.

"It’s like this..."

"I always felt the age gap was too big, and I was afraid my sister only saw me as a younger brother, so I buried my admiration for her in my heart."

"Then, we happened to meet again a while ago. That’s when I realized she had been waiting for me all along. I was so happy that I confessed, and then we got together, and then we registered our marriage."

*Huh!? That’s it?*

Elder Ning blinked. "That’s all?"

"That’s all." Fang Mo felt like crying. It really was all; he couldn't squeeze out another drop of fiction. As the saying goes, the more you say, the more you trip up. If he kept making things up, he would definitely be exposed.

Elder Ning smacked his lips. "So where did you two reunite? Such a significant place, why don't we just buy it as a wedding gift for you both? Or as a greeting gift from me—not as the grandson of an old friend, but as my grandson-in-law."

"If you wanted the moon from the sky, I would try to get it for you," the old man continued. "Besides, a plot of land doesn't cost much..."

*A plot of land doesn't cost much? Listen to this, is this even human talk?*

In Jiang City, where every inch of land is worth gold, only Elder Ning could say such a thing. The number one wealthy family in Jiang City truly lived up to their reputation.

"Let’s not, Grandpa." Fang Mo waved his hands in refusal. The Ning family could afford to be extravagant, but his own pockets were cleaner than his face. If he accepted such a gift and ended up divorcing his sister later, how heartbroken would the old man be?

Elder Ning was a stubborn man. Seeing Fang Mo wouldn't say, he turned to ask Ning Yuelan, "Where did you two reunite?"

Ning Yuelan and Fang Mo exchanged a glance.

"A bar."

"A school."

The two did not say the same thing.

Elder Ning’s smiling expression gradually froze.

The next moment, they spoke again.

"A school."

"A bar."

*Good grief, is there any chemistry at all?* Fang Mo was so angry his scalp felt like it might explode. The old man was really good at picking questions. He even wanted to track down the location of their reunion—was he really planning to buy the land?

Fortunately, Ning Yuelan reacted quickly.

"Cough, cough. It’s like this, Grandpa. I was at Fang Mo’s university visiting a friend when I ran into him. That evening, we decided to go to a bar together."

*So that’s how it was!* The old man nodded. Ning Yuelan’s story sounded reasonable. *This granddaughter of mine!*

The elders of both families had always thought of them as siblings, so no one had ever thought in that direction. *If only you two had spoken up earlier about your mutual affection! I wouldn't have had to arrange blind dates with random men for her. Fang Mo, someone we know inside and out, was the best candidate all along!*

The next moment, the old man asked Fang Mo, "What is your school called? Do you have the principal’s contact information? The bar is easy to handle; I can buy it in a minute, but I’ll need to talk to someone at the school."

*Please, I beg you, stop showing off your wealth. Ever since you started asking about how we reunited, have you said a single normal thing?*

A bitter smile crossed Fang Mo’s face.

"By the way, since you’re married, have you two... you know?"

At this moment, the old man suddenly leaned in secretively, his hands clasped together, fingers moving. Fang Mo and Ning Yuelan were not children; both of their faces turned beet red instantly. The old man was essentially running the carriage over their faces.

Fang Mo gave a dry cough. *If we had done that, could I still run away? If that news got out, Ning Yuelan’s suitors alone would hack me to pieces in minutes.*

"N-not yet..."

"Not yet? Fang Mo, my boy, do you have some hidden difficulty? I’ve watched you grow up since you were little and I treat you like my own. If you have any problems, you should be direct!"

As he spoke, Elder Ning’s gaze landed directly on a certain part of Fang Mo.

Fang Mo felt black lines running down his forehead. "I am very healthy, Grandpa."

Elder Ning finally showed his true colors, grinning as he said, "Then you better hurry up! I have nothing to do at home but practice calligraphy, walk the dog, and tease the cat. Life is so boring. Hurry up and give me a little Fang Mo or a little Yuelan! That way, I can help you take care of my great-grandchild."

"I don't know how many years I have left in these old bones. I don't want to die without even seeing my great-granddaughter or great-grandson."

Noticing the old man’s expectant gaze, Fang Mo wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into. The more he explained, the worse it got; he had an ominous feeling.

At this moment, Ning Yuelan finally took over.

"That’s not the case, Grandpa. We want to wait until after the wedding. I’m still a very conservative person at heart. Don’t worry, as long as you’re alive, I will definitely let you see a great-grandchild."

"The wedding!?" Fang Mo was stunned.

Elder Ning slapped his thigh. "Exactly! The wedding. Even though you’ve registered, you haven't had the witness of parents and friends. When do you plan to hold the wedding? I’ve checked, and the dates suitable for Ning Yuelan are all in the second half of the year—July, August, September, and October all have good days."

Ning Yuelan shook her head. "I don’t have time in the second half of the year. I might have to go abroad for business."

*Ah!* The old man was devastated. Did he have to wait until next year? Did that mean he wouldn't be able to hold his great-grandchild until the year after next at the earliest?

"Then when do you have time?" Elder Ning asked, refusing to give up.

Hearing this, Ning Yuelan showed her pearly white teeth. "Me? I... only have this week free."

*You’ve already registered the marriage, can’t let this little thing run off, can you?*

Hearing this, Elder Ning was stunned for a moment, then slammed the table to make the final decision.

"Fine, then this week! This week it is. Three or four days is enough time to prepare. I’ll have the butler notify our relatives and friends right now."

"You two hurry up and pick out a wedding dress and diamond rings. Don’t worry about these things; I’ll handle everything for you. As for the hotel, the wedding cars, and so on, leave it all to me. You two just need to stabilize your relationship and then successfully consummate the marriage on your wedding night. Just try to give me a big, healthy baby boy!"

The old man’s desire to hold a great-grandchild was truly intense. Fang Mo smacked his lips, only realizing later: *Wait... this is supposed to be my wedding, right? What did they just say? The wedding is this week?*

Fang Mo’s expression stiffened. He braced himself and said, "Grandpa Ning, isn't that a bit too fast?"

"Fast? What’s fast?" Elder Ning looked at him suspiciously. "You two have already registered. Dating and registering were done in one go. What’s fast about preparing a wedding in a week?"

Fang Mo gave a bitter smile, and Ning Yuelan glared at him fiercely. It was as if she were saying: *If you refuse now, Grandpa will definitely be suspicious!*

*Yes, if I refuse now, the jig will be up. After all, what reason would two young people who rushed to register their marriage have for not rushing to hold a wedding?* Fang Mo couldn't even invent a suitable excuse!

"I just meant, isn't one week a bit too rushed?" *I haven't prepared myself mentally to be a married man yet!*

"Bah, don’t worry about that. I have plenty of money. Whether it’s equipment or venues, there’s nothing that can’t be bought. Besides, for the wedding cars, just use our Ning family’s collection. I remember we have a Bugatti and two Koenigseggs that have been gathering dust for a long time."

Elder Ning counted on his fingers. "As for the venue, we own several five-star hotels. Pick whichever one you like; you can use them as you please. As long as you two are satisfied, I’m happy."

*Woe is me! Damn it!* They say money is the root of all evil. Today, Fang Mo truly witnessed what real evil was. He didn't know how many times tears of envy had flowed uncontrollably from the corners of his mouth.

...

Until he was dragged away from the Ning residence by Ning Yuelan, Fang Mo’s head was still spinning.

By the time he came to his senses, Ning Yuelan’s BMW was already parked in front of a shopping mall.

"Sister Yuelan, what are we doing here?"

Ning Yuelan shifted gears, and the car backed smoothly into a parking spot. Outside was a pure white palace with an extremely luxurious decor, displaying all kinds of pure white gowns.

The woman turned her head and gave Fang Mo a mischievous smile.

"Need you ask? We’re trying on wedding dresses..."

Fang Mo’s expression stiffened again. Was it his imagination, or did Sister Yuelan seem very happy, even impatient?

Registering the marriage was indeed his mistake, but he increasingly felt that he was the one being trapped.