Chapter 5: The Wedding Ceremony's Sudden Change (Part 2) Flying Coffin Web

  Liu Yan finally withstood the temptation and sent Fei Xue back home. It wasn't because Liu Yan's thinking was conservative, but he felt that since he had waited for so many years, there was no need to leave any regrets in the few days leading up to their wedding. He wanted to use his purest mindset to personally lift off Fei Xue's red veil and let her become his bride without any regrets, becoming the intimate lover destined to spend a lifetime with him.

  Xue's parents were not unfamiliar with Liu Yan, especially in recent years. They had always looked at him with the eyes of a son-in-law, often making him feel uneasy all over. Now it was different, now that they had a certificate from the civil affairs department, although they hadn't changed their mouths yet, the two old men were already considered to be Xue's parents-in-law.

  Piaoxue is an impatient person and quickly set a wedding date at the end of the month. In recent years, Xia Zhi Xue's advertising company has been booming, allowing both of them to save up quite a bit. The house was bought by Liu Yan long ago and decorated according to Piaoxue's preferences. Piaoxue said there is no need for a big fuss, they are not kids chasing novelty anymore, being able to live together peacefully is what truly matters.

  If this story were to end here, it would be a mediocre short story, with Liu Yan and Piao Xue living happily ever after like the prince and princess in a fairy tale. If I were to really end it that way, dear readers, you would surely scold me, because this love story is too ordinary, just like many people's life experiences - waiting for a result, then going together to deal with the mundane aspects of life. Let's just say that up until now, this has only been an important episode in his life journey, one that has made him suffer and yearn, and almost destroyed him. As for who is his true soulmate, you'll have to keep listening to me tell the story.

  It's always the case that at critical moments, unexpected events occur, and people who shouldn't appear do, or things happen that shouldn't. For example, just when Liu Yan and Piao Xue were busy preparing for their wedding, Xia Zhe returned to China.

  Life abroad looks very comfortable, that little white face back then now has a few shades of beach color, and the style is more inclined towards European and American fashion, when speaking Chinese, often bursts out with a few English sentences, making people feel like they are in a cloud.

  When Xia Zhe called, Liu Yan and Piao Xue were discussing how many layers of champagne towers to use at the wedding. Unlike Liu Yan's excitement, Piao Xue's heart sank instantly, and her absent-minded gaze drifted somewhere else for a while before she came back to herself, excusing that she wasn't feeling well and hastily returned home.

  That night, Liu Yan hosted a grand banquet at the largest hotel in Binan City, leading all employees of Xia Zhi Xue Advertising Company to welcome the chairman back home. Everyone came except for Piao Xue.

  Xia Zhe met with the employees with a lot of style, then gave a speech, calm and composed from start to finish, but his eyes were slightly disordered, wandering around in the crowd, searching for Fei Xue's shadow.

  "What about Piaoxue?" Finally having found the opportunity to speak with Liu Yan alone, Xia Zhe could no longer hold back his thoughts of Piaoxue and asked openly.

  Liu Yan's expression was somewhat awkward as he dialed Snowflake's phone, and a weak voice came from the other end: "Do you really want me to go?"

  Liu Yan looked at Xia Zhe beside him with eager eyes and sighed, saying: "Come on, it's been six years since we last met. How can you not come?"

  Half an hour later, Piaoyue arrived at the hotel without makeup, looking dejected and pale. Xia Zhe was the first to notice her, pushing aside several flattering middle managers of the company, almost running to her side, and embracing her in his arms, excitedly saying: "Baby, I'm back! You're still so beautiful!"

  The lively party suddenly turned cold, the air temperature seemed to drop to freezing point in an instant. The employees stared at the chairman who had just returned from abroad, looking at the financial director who was at a loss in his arms, and then secretly looked at the general manager with a complex expression, wondering about their relationship in their hearts: Are they the protagonists of a shocking love triangle? Did the chairman go abroad and the general manager steal his brother's woman? In the extremely dirty thoughts of the white-collar workers, Liu Yan's image plummeted.

  Xia Zhe was gently pushed open by the snow, and he asked somewhat despondently: "When did you come back?"

  Xia Zhe didn't notice anything unusual about Piao Xue's emotions, or rather, with Xia Zhe's personality, he never paid attention to others' feelings. Only Liu Yan would always be mindful of Piao Xue's joys and sorrows at all times.

  "I came back in the morning and called Liu Yan as soon as I got home. I wanted to give you a surprise, have you missed me all these years?" Xia Zhe continued to talk excitedly to himself.

  Xue's eyes were slightly red, her voice trembling as she tried to maintain a calm tone: "These years? To be exact, it's been six years. You haven't come back in six years! Not even a phone call. I thought you were dead! Six years without any news, what are you coming back for now?"

  "Snowflake, you..." Xia Zhe was stunned, unable to understand why the usually gentle Snowflake had become like this.

  "Snowflake, don't be like this." Liu Yan quietly walked to Snowflake's side and stopped her from losing control of her emotions.

  Xue was now on the verge of collapse, glared at Liu Yan and shouted: "Get out! This has nothing to do with you!"

  This curse shocked the employees even more. In recent years, they have all seen Liu Yan's care for Piaoxue in silence, and no matter what, they couldn't imagine that Piaoxue would scold Liu Yan so severely, without leaving any face at all.

  Liu Yan retreated a step back with a sullen face.

  Xia Zhe smiled apologetically at Liu Yan: "Don't mind, my Piao Xue is just like that. We've been classmates for so many years, don't you understand her yet? Just coax her and she'll be fine."

  Xia Zhe's words were met with a burst of boos, especially from An Ran, who stood up in anger: "Mr. Xia, please show some respect, Director Chen is President Liu's wife."

  An Ran's words were like a knife, cutting through the veil of concealment. Xia Zhe looked at Piao Xue with an odd expression, then at Liu Yan, before returning his gaze to Piao Xue, gradually becoming very cold.

  Piao Xue suddenly raised her head very resolutely, looking straight into Xia Zhe's eyes: "I, Chen Piao Xue, don't belong to anyone. I'll marry whoever I want to marry. Do you have any opinions on this?"

  Liu Yan saw that the gunpowder smell between the two sides was too strong, and hurriedly blocked in the middle, putting his hand on Xia Zhe's shoulder: "A Zhe, calm down, this matter... has its reasons, we'll discuss it later, today is your first meeting with company colleagues, don't..."

  Before Liu Yan could finish speaking, Xia Zhe slapped him heavily on the face, causing Liu Yan to stumble and bleed from the corner of his mouth.

  "How dare you hit him!" An Ran hastily supported Liu Yan and glared at Xia Zhe in anger.

  Xia Zhe saw Liu Yan being beaten, originally wanted to go and blame him, but seeing An Ran being more impulsive than himself, he retreated to the side and coldly watched the chaotic scene.

  Xia Zhe's joints cracked as he clenched his fists, his voice cold and detached. "You ask me why I hit him? It's because he's ungrateful! Don't believe me? Ask Liu Yan, would he be where he is today without me, Xia Zhe? I treated him like a brother, and before I left, I entrusted him to take care of Piao Xue. But look at how he took care of her - into his own bed?! What kind of brother is that?"

  An Ran listened to Xia Zhe's scolding, which was righteous and severe, and for a moment didn't know how to refute it. She could only stiffen her neck and say: "No matter what happened, you shouldn't hit people! Hitting people is against the law!"

  Xia Zhe gave An Ran a cold look: "Don't talk to me about the law, I remember that I am the chairman of Xia Zhi Xue Advertising Company. If you don't want to work here, then get out!"

  An Ran wanted to speak again, but was stopped by a kind-hearted older sister in the company. Liu Yan also signaled her not to be impulsive with his eyes, and then walked in front of Xia Zhe again: "A Zhe, I know you're feeling wronged, many things have happened in these six years, I'll explain it to you, I and Piao Xue..."

  Xia Zhe waved his hand to interrupt Liu Yan's words: "Do you think I'll listen to your explanation? Please disappear from my sight immediately!"

  An Ran burst out again: "Xia Zong, even if the company is yours, but Liu Zong has worked hard for many years and made great contributions to the company's growth. Everyone in the company will not let Liu Zong leave!"

  Although Liu Yan was moved by these words, he was more worried. No leader would tolerate a subordinate who has more prestige than himself. The outcome of those who have high achievements and overshadow their superiors is often very tragic.

  Xia Zhe's expression changed after hearing An Ran's words, and he coldly snorted at Liu Yan: "You really have skills, six years of time, it seems you've done a lot of big things. But don't forget, back then you were following me around to eat, I'll keep an eye on you, whatever you take away, I'll take back!"

  The party ended without joy, and Liu Yan didn't send himself home in the snow, nor did he accept Xia Zhe's invitation. He called a taxi by himself. An Ran wanted to chat with Liu Yan, but was pulled away by the company's kind-hearted sister. In the car, the kind-hearted sister kept reminding An Ran to speak less, now that the company is secretly surging, it's not the time when Liu Yan holds power, between the chairman and general manager for power, also for women, there will definitely be a fierce battle, at this moment, you can't blindly take sides, there is a danger of no return.

  The kind sister's words calmed An Ran down, and after thinking for a while, she asked: "Then who do you think will win between Liu Zong and Xia Zhe?" Without waiting for the kind sister to answer, she continued: "I think it must be Liu Zong. After all, Xia Zhe hasn't returned in six years, and Liu Zong's reputation in the business circle is so loud!"

  The kind-hearted sister shook her head and sighed, saying: "After all, you're still a kid, you don't understand the intricacies of this business. In our line of work, what's most important isn't intelligence, but relationships. Liu only knows a few businessmen, but the chairman is different, his father is Vice Mayor Xia Wenzhong of Binan City, with deep roots in Binan City. It's easy for him to crush a small advertising company like ours. An Ran, you can't act rashly, I know your family situation, your mother needs money for surgery, this job isn't easy to come by, don't let emotions cloud your judgment when dealing with the chairman and general manager, we're no match for them."

  Lost in thought, An Ran had just walked into the house when her phone rang. She instinctively felt it was Liu Yan who needed to chat with her, but the incoming call display showed an unfamiliar number.

  The phone was answered and the other party said a few words. An Ran was stunned and subconsciously asked, "How is it you?"

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