39. Purgatorial Wedding (2)

"Ladies and gentlemen, what you are witnessing now is Mr. Long Tianyu, Chairman of the Longteng Group, presenting the keys to a villa to the fortunate bride. We trust that the newlyweds moving into the 'Yuezhen Garden' will surely find matrimonial bliss," the host declared with great passion before the camera.

Tong Zhenzhen sneered. How generous of Long Tianyu to gift her a villa? She suspected he was merely trying to sabotage her marriage to Jun Lengche. After all, what man could tolerate his ex-boyfriend making such a grand gesture at their wedding?

As she had anticipated, Jun Lengche’s grip on her hand tightened perceptibly. Although she had no interest in the villa, she took pleasure in seeing Jun Lengche’s frustration, so she neither withdrew her hand nor spoke.

Instead, Jun Lengche stepped forward, his cold voice sharp as a drawn blade. "Thank you to the Longteng Group. However, this gift is far too generous; I am afraid we cannot accept it."

Many among the onlookers gasped. Who in this world would turn down a windfall?

"This groom is overstepping his bounds. The gift is for the bride," Long Tianyu said, looking past him directly at Tong Zhenzhen.

Tong Zhenzhen looked radiant today, like a fairy fallen to the mortal realm—fresh and ethereal. Her subtle makeup highlighted her clear, autumn-water eyes, naturally drawing everyone’s gaze. Petite and enveloped in a light, pure white wedding gown, she looked so endearing that one felt a desire to cherish her in their heart.

Long Tianyu was instantly captivated, a pang of regret surfacing: why had he so easily let go of her hand back then? Yet, he believed there was nothing in this world he could not obtain.

"My dear bride, the Longteng Group only wishes to add to your happiness. Surely you wouldn't refuse this heaven-sent fortune?" Long Tianyu’s phoenix eyes shimmered with starlight, his voice charming and seductive, like an invitation from a devil.

Tong Zhenzhen stood motionless, watching him as if observing a clown.

Long Tianyu felt a flash of embarrassment, but he stepped forward, using his back to block the view of the media, and held the crystal box before her. The rose-relief box shimmered, alluring as Pandora’s box. Others might have been unable to resist, but she would not.

Since the spectacle had been made and the guests in the banquet hall were surely aware of the situation, it was time to end it. Tong Zhenzhen raised an eyebrow. "Chairman Long, I..."

Long Tianyu, a shrewd man, had anticipated her refusal from their past dealings. He lowered his voice. "Your grandfather’s company is in dire straits. I hear that if the procurement debts aren't paid today, the court will freeze the assets tomorrow and initiate liquidation proceedings."

What? Her grandfather’s company was in such a desperate state? Her grandfather hadn't breathed a word of it, and her uncle, who had come to escort her earlier, had shown no signs of distress. Tong Zhenzhen was stunned.

"If you accept my gift, I can lend your grandfather ten million immediately. By then, not only will the debts be paid, but he can make a comeback," Long Tianyu dangled the tempting offer.

Ten million? That was no small sum. How could the stingy Long Tianyu be this generous? But she had no time to ponder his motives. The company was her grandfather’s life’s work; it could not go bankrupt! Her only thought was to save it.

"And your condition?" Tong Zhenzhen did not believe Long Tianyu was selfless; business was business. She wanted to see if his price was one she could afford.

A wicked, charming smile tugged at the corners of Long Tianyu’s mouth, his phoenix eyes flashing with certainty. "Become my secretary. Simple, isn't it?"

Just that? Tong Zhenzhen hesitated. Ten million for a secretary? Had he lost his mind? His sudden reappearance after years of separation, followed by such aggressive pursuit—it all felt suspicious. What was his true motive?

***

But could she refuse? Tong Zhenzhen calculated that even if she sold the jade jewelry her grandfather had given her, it likely wouldn't be enough to resolve the company’s financial crisis. Otherwise, Long Tianyu wouldn't have led with ten million.

What should she do?

"Chairman Long, your information is quite outdated," Jun Lengche, standing beside her, spoke up. "Zhenzhen’s family is my family. Why don't you check again to see if her grandfather’s company still has financial issues?"

What did Jun Lengche mean? He was not a man to speak without basis. Had he already helped her grandfather’s company through the crisis?

"What do you mean?" she couldn't help but ask for confirmation.

Jun Lengche raised his hand and tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. "Little girl, your affairs are my affairs."

With that, she was certain her grandfather’s company was safe. She turned to Long Tianyu and gave a light shrug. "Chairman Long, did you hear that? It is a pity, but I cannot accept your gift." She raised her voice on the last sentence to ensure the media behind Long Tianyu could hear.

"What?" "What’s going on?"

Her refusal caught the uninformed media by surprise.

"Why?" the host asked, leaning in.

Tong Zhenzhen gave a sweet smile. "Too much of a good thing is bad. I have already been lucky enough to find the one I truly love; how could I be greedy for more luck?"

Tit for tat. Thinking of Jun Lengche’s help for her grandfather, she felt it necessary to turn the tables on his behalf. At the same time, this served as a counterattack to dampen Long Tianyu’s arrogance.

*Hmph, Long Tianyu, you opportunist, trying to blackmail me with my grandfather.* She smiled brilliantly, looking him straight in the eye.

"I see." The host nodded silently, seemingly agreeing with her.

"Since it is a gift for you, it is yours!" Long Tianyu was embarrassed by her public rejection.

The attention of the crowd shifted back to Tong Zhenzhen. *Long Tianyu, that guy, he’s annoyed, isn't he?* Tong Zhenzhen felt a sense of satisfaction seeing him thwarted. Since he insisted on giving it, she might as well turn it into a favor.

"Chairman Long, you are truly a kind person," she said, smiling even more sweetly as she accepted the crystal box.

Jun Lengche’s gaze darkened, his lips pressed into a thin line.

She winked playfully at the camera. "How about this? I will perform a good deed on behalf of Chairman Long. I am willing to sell this villa and donate all the proceeds to the orphanage in G City."

"That’s wonderful!"
"My, this bride is truly generous."
"Kindness brings good rewards..."

The onlookers buzzed with discussion.

***

Tong Zhenzhen handed the crystal box to the astonished host with a graceful smile and snapped the lid shut. "Please bear witness, media friends; this act of kindness is due to the generosity of Chairman Long of the Longteng Group."

She did this to ensure Long Tianyu would stop pestering her. The wedding was about to begin.

Unexpectedly, Long Tianyu changed his expression quickly and clapped his hands. "Good, very good! Our bride is truly kindhearted. In that case, I will entrust the supervision of this charity to my sister-in-law, Ms. Lin Mujin, who is the planning director for our 'Yuezhen Garden' project."

Long Tianyu raised his hand and beckoned to the group behind him.

"Lin Mujin?" Tong Zhenzhen heard Jun Lengche repeat the woman’s name beside her. She looked up curiously, only to find his gaze fixed intently ahead, his face tense, his eyes wide.

Following his gaze, Tong Zhenzhen saw a woman walking gracefully, arm-in-arm with a man who bore a slight resemblance to Long Tianyu. She guessed it was Long Tianyang, Long Tianyu’s half-brother.

*Strange,* she thought. *Long Tianyu has been sabotaged by Long Tianyang and his mother many times; why would he forgive his brother? And why give his sister-in-law a director position? Is there something more going on here?*

Tong Zhenzhen was puzzled, but her immediate concern was why Jun Lengche was staring so fixedly at Lin Mujin.

At this moment, Jun Lengche’s eyes were entirely focused on Lin Mujin, his hands balled into fists at his sides, his knuckles white from the intensity of his emotion. What was that look? Hatred? Longing? Tenderness? Confusion?

Did he know her?

Tong Zhenzhen took a closer look at Lin Mujin. She was slender and frail, as if a gust of wind could carry her away, much like a sickly beauty. Her expression was faint, her smile unreal, like morning mist that would vanish at the touch of the sun.

*Lin Mujin... she does have a certain ethereal quality like Lin Daiyu,* Tong Zhenzhen mused.

Lin Mujin seemed uncomfortable in the spotlight, her gaze drifting. Suddenly, her misty eyes became clear, adding a spark of vitality to her ethereal appearance. It happened the moment her eyes met Jun Lengche’s. But the glow lasted only a few seconds before dimming rapidly. Tong Zhenzhen felt it was because Lin Mujin’s gaze had fallen upon her white wedding dress.

In that fleeting moment, time seemed to stand still. Tong Zhenzhen noticed the corner of Long Tianyu’s mouth lift to the right—his signature expression of triumph.

This was certainly no coincidence. What message was Long Tianyu trying to send?

"Lengche, why haven't you gone in yet? It’s about to start," Li Ming, the best man, ran over from the banquet hall, breathless. He nudged the distracted Jun Lengche and winked at Tong Zhenzhen. "Sister-in-law, you look beautiful today."

Jun Lengche withdrew his gaze as if waking from a dream. "Let’s go in." He took Tong Zhenzhen’s hand with a somewhat stiff movement.

*Why am I bothered?* Tong Zhenzhen wondered. *I don't care about him, so why does my chest feel so heavy, as if something is blocked inside?* She frowned slightly and walked with him toward the banquet hall.

As they reached the entrance, the solemn "Wedding March" began to play. To her ears, however, it sounded pale and powerless. The dazzling spotlights made the red carpet they were about to walk down look starkly, chillingly white.