Return of the Antagonistic Lady Boss

Chapter 971: Chapter 944: Still Limping Today

Qian watched as this guy took off his shirt, not even leaving his vest on, revealing his strong abs. He raised his glass but didn’t drink, just tipped it over, spilling it all.

Then he gave her that mischievous look, as seductive as possible, making Qian’s face flush red. She wanted to turn and leave, but how could she run away?

She was pulled back, "Hey buddy, weren’t you going to drink? Come on..."

The wind stirred the curtain and the aroma of wine mingled with whispers.

A long, long time later.

Qian suddenly opened her eyes, remembering something.

"What’s up?" Xiaoqiang sat up too, with his hair tousled, looking charmingly lazy.

"What time is it?"

He grabbed the small alarm clock from the bedside table and glanced at it casually, "It’s only 1 o’clock, go back to sleep. If you don’t want to sleep, exercise is great too—"

"Oh, shut up! My mom told me again and again, not past midnight!!"

Because tomorrow is the big day, according to tradition, you can’t meet the day before.

Went drinking to the point of forgetting the serious matter at hand.

If Qian’s mom found out, she’d surely roar in fury and wouldn’t let Qian off the hook.

If life gets even slightly tough in the future, that superstitious menopausal woman could pin it all on this.

So Qian and Yu Minglang exchanged looks and then fell silent.

A few seconds later, Xiaoqiang silently adjusted the clock’s time backward to nearly midnight, pulled on his pants, and dashed outside.

"Hmm, the time hasn’t passed yet. When you get back, remember to explain to Mom, darling. I’ll call you tomorrow; we can’t break the rules by meeting!"

Qian woke up particularly early the next day, receiving a call from her mom as soon as she got up.

"Qian’er, where are you?"

"At the new home, what’s up?"

"When did Minglang leave last night?" Qian’s mom was just concerned about this.

"The clock showed just before midnight."

This isn’t a lie; the clock did display that, though it had been adjusted back.

"Didn’t go past then?"

"The clock showed that time, anyway." Qian doesn’t lie; she only carries facts. Xiaoqiang has to bear the blame for adjusting the clock.

"Then come back quickly. We’re hosting guests today."

"Got it."

For the bride’s side, the day before the wedding is when they host guests. According to Q City customs, the groom can’t be present; if he’s present, it’s considered the son-in-law entering by the backdoor, and future children should bear the bride’s surname.

Qian got ready to head home, where the whole family was in new outfits. Qian’s mom wore a tailored cheongsam, adorned with various jewelry, looking several years younger. Even Dalong was dressed up like a young lad; Liumei and Fugui were there too.

"Relatives will arrive at the restaurant soon. Let’s hurry and get there first to check what hasn’t been arranged... Qian’er, what’s wrong?"

Qian shook her head and displayed a radiant smile.

"Nothing, just happy to see you."

It was genuine happiness.

In her past life, there wasn’t such a big family.

Nor was there this wedding delayed for two lifetimes.

"Do you know how hard it was to book this hotel? Lately, everyone’s been choosing these ideal days to get married, and all the decent hotels are booked. We had to pull some strings to get in; we really should be happy!"

Qian’s mom didn’t understand what Qian was referring to; she assumed Qian was talking about the hotel.

Back then without money, they were frugal, skimping on food and clothing. Now that life is better, such big events are never compromised. Everything must be done with utmost attention, especially hosting the bride’s family guests at the most lavish place, with the most expensive banquet.

The two were talking about different things, but Qian’s smile remained bright.

"Yes, we’re all happy."

She wouldn’t let go of the happiness in her grasp.

They were all hers—her man, her family, a stable life—none would escape.

"Our Qian’er looks lovely when she smiles. Usually, she keeps a little stern face; maybe it’s related to her profession. Even Fugui doesn’t smile much." Mr. Liao joked. Knowing Qian for so long, today was the day she smiled the most.

"Dad, if you find a doctor smiling like a flower, would you dare let them examine you?"

Fugui explained helplessly.

Though he works in psychiatric forensic medicine, which is connected to law, he’s also considered a doctor. It’s a field where a steady demeanor is required, where frivolous expressions are unwelcome.

It’s not about keeping a stern face; it’s just that expressions are relatively fewer, especially in Qian’s position, requiring her to constantly observe clients. She has to minimize her presence because even slight expressions from a doctor can influence patients’ emotions.

"Regardless of your professions, let’s stick to our hometown’s customs. On the wedding day, you have to cry when you leave the house, but don’t cry once you’re out; it doesn’t look good on video. Smile brightly, understand?"

"Mom, what do you mean by ’crying when departing’?" Dalong didn’t quite understand.

"Your sister’s marrying out of our house, so she has to cry. Crying is a good thing, the more fiercely the better because it’s believed in our hometown that crying when departing brings good fortune. Of course, once she’s out, she shouldn’t cry anymore. There’s full video coverage now; it won’t look good howling in the car."

Wedding customs vary by region; some places expect the bride to cry to express reluctance to leave her family, and in some ethnic groups, brides can’t marry without tears—the more intensely the better. Yet, in some areas, crying is frowned upon, deemed inauspicious.

"Any other customs?" Dalong asked.

"Haven’t I told you several times already? You rascal, poor at studies and reluctant to use your brain!" Qian’s mom tapped her son’s head.

Fugui, with good-tempered responsibility, continued, "Tomorrow, when the car leaves our house, if it encounters another wedding vehicle, it’s a double blessing, and the bride must exchange red handkerchiefs. Also, tomorrow morning, we have to cover all the manholes with red paper..."

There really are a myriad of wedding customs; they’re truly one after another. Qian hadn’t been home recently, so she’s been a hands-off bride, with her brothers remembering everything.

As the family walked outside, discussing all these complex rules, Qian felt a bit of a headache.

Marriage is a major life event, inevitably accompanied by some ceremonial norms. That’s why Qian wanted a destination wedding, to avoid these chaotic customs, but was firmly discouraged by her mom.

In fact, she had a nominal marriage in her past life, but her feelings were different from now. She couldn’t remember how she was married off then, but this time she could vividly recall every detail, despite her mom’s overwhelming number of rules.

The mood really was different.

Just stepping out of the hallway, Qian immediately saw Qiuqiu’s dad limping towards them.

Qian’s mom noticed he came again and uttered a noise of surprise.

"Why did this old man, dazed from mumbling, come again? And limping today?"