Chapter 89: Extra 3
The wedding was held at Yiwan Landscape’s private estate. That evening, the grounds were a spectacle of luxury—sports cars, private jets, and a groom who descended from a helicopter only to sweep his bride into his arms the moment her feet touched the red carpet.
The guest list was a who’s who of business magnates, politicians, media elites, lawyers, and A-list celebrities.
The bridal party?
Groomsmen: Zhou Yang, Jiang Yu, Li Yi, Wen Ze Li, Wen Ze Xin, Yan Xing, Li Yao.
Bridesmaids: Liu Yan, Li Yuan’er, Xu Qing, Zhu Min’er, Zhao Yanjun, Yun Lu.
—
### The Dowry Wars
Xu Dian’s dowry stunned the internet:
– Three villas
– Five income-generating apartmentsInterstellar
– Six luxury cars
– Xu Corporation stock dividends
– A media company
– Prime LiCheng land
Even Meng Ying’s most vocal critics fell silent. How do you hate on that level of wealth?
Then came Meng Ying’s dowry—which, against all expectations, included:
– Eight apartments (gifted by Xu Qing, Liu Yan, Zhou Yang, Yan Xing, Li Yao, Zhao Qiao, Zhao Yanjun, and Gu Yan)
– Eight cars (courtesy of Li Yi)
– A private island (crowdfunded by 32 society matrons)
Netizens: “????”
Since when did the both side contribute to the bride’s dowry?!
Chen Jiao, initially planning a modest dowry, was shamed into splurging—liquidating her savings to buy 100,000 RMB worth of gold jewelry.
She regretted it instantly.
“Years of scrimping—gone! And you!” —she pointed at Meng Xiao— “still need tuition!”
Yet she still tied red strings around each piece for luck.
—
### The Ceremony
Champagne cascaded as Xu Dian guided Meng Ying’s hands to pour the golden liquid. Hu Ye, officiating, boomed:
“Full cups, full hearts—may your love last a century, and your children come swiftly!”
“Xu Dian, do you love her?”
Xu Dian didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
Meng Ying’s fingers trembled. The last drop fell as she turned—kissing the corner of his mouth.
Applause shook the estate.
When they parted, she whispered, “I love you too.”
Xu Dian froze, then crushed her to his chest, his peach-blossom eyes drowning in her. “Worth every second of chasing you.”
—
### Afterparty
Guests scattered—some to poker, some to the shooting range. Meng Ying, in a crimson mermaid gown, sipped champagne by the door.
Across the room, Xu Dian leaned against a balcony railing, glass in hand, smugness radiating off him.
Their eyes met.
He raised his drink. “Wife.”
The word echoed the past:
“What are you staring at, classmate?” (LiCheng University, circa 2015)
Meng Ying lifted her glass in reply. They toasted across the crowd, draining their cups in sync.
She coughed, wiped her lips, then marched over and yanked his loosened tie.
“Classmate,” she murmured, “be my boyfriend?”
Xu Dian’s brows shot up. “Wife,” he corrected, amused.
The room erupted:
“Wrong script! They’re supposed to be dating, not married!”
Wen Ze Xin raised his glass. “Sister, I look like a college student. Your husband’s too scheming!”
Meng Xiao piped up: “I’m the actual undergrad here…”
Laughter shook the chandeliers. Meng Ying just burrowed into Xu Dian’s arms, her cheeks flushed.
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re drunk,” he teased. “How will we manage the wedding night?”
Meng Ying pinched his earlobe and said, “Just use a little more force.”
Xu Dian: “……”
…
Was he counterattacked?
The night deepened.
The villa was still lively, but Meng Ying was already drunk beyond recognition, her head spinning as the ceiling lights seemed to swirl above her.
Xu Dian carried her upstairs to the largest bedroom and laid her on the bed. The moment she touched the sheets, she struggled to pull down the zipper on her dress. “I’m hot.”
Her hips arched slightly as she lay on her stomach. Xu Dian sat beside her, helping her undo the zipper. Then she began tugging at her shoulders.
Xu Dian chuckled lowly, his breath carrying a faint hint of alcohol as he leaned in and kissed her. “No need to rush. Take your time.”
But he hadn’t expected her dress to be so difficult to remove. By the time he finally got it off, beads of sweat were rolling down his chin, some slipping past his collar and dampening his shirt.
As he undid his own collar, he used a towel to wipe Meng Ying’s back. Once he was done, he scooped her up by the waist and carried her into the bathroom.
After washing up, Xu Dian held her close, her body nestling into his embrace. He gently patted her shoulder, his chest covered in faint scratches—marks left in the bathroom.
He pulled the blanket over them, turned off the lights, and they drifted into sleep.
That night, Meng Ying dreamed of a sea of flowers.
Xu Dian, however, dreamed of a golden dragon. He was stunned, and even after waking the next morning, he still hadn’t fully shaken off the dream—until the woman in his arms stirred.
Xu Dian looked down just as Meng Ying opened her eyes. Their gazes met.
Then Meng Ying curved her lips. “Morning, hubby.”
“Morning, wifey.” Xu Dian’s eyes were clear, filled with warmth. He kissed her forehead lightly before they both got up. While brushing his teeth, Xu Dian seemed distracted. He finished first and walked over to Meng Ying, who was combing her hair, wrapping his arms around her.
“You’re 33 this year, right?”
Meng Ying, still sore and lazy, hummed in response.
“They say it’s best to have children early.”
Meng Ying kept combing her hair and simply replied, “Oh.”
Xu Dian: “……”
He didn’t press the topic further, nor did he force her. Their honeymoon lasted two months, and upon returning, they both threw themselves into work. Meng Ying took on another film—a campus drama where she played a teacher entangled in school bullying, workplace conflicts, and class disparities. It was a dual-female-lead story with no romance.
That year, she happened to win Best Supporting Actress for Starlight.
After two years of being a runner-up at the Golden Drama Awards, she was now the actress with the highest win rate. The new film would take four months to shoot, and this time, Meng Ying immersed herself in the role quickly.
During those four months, Xu Dian visited often—sometimes for work, sometimes just to see her. Fans and crew had grown accustomed to his frequent appearances. Once filming wrapped, Meng Ying returned to Licheng while Xu Dian left for a business trip to Geneva.
Meng Ying first went to the family home to have dinner with Zhao Qiao before finally returning to Yiwanshanshui under Zhao Qiao’s reluctant gaze.
Exhausted, Meng Ying dropped her suitcase on the sofa as soon as she entered, then sat cross-legged in a daze. After a while, she took the elevator to the third floor, wheeled her suitcase into the walk-in closet, grabbed her pajamas, and headed for a shower. By the time she stepped out, the fatigue had mostly washed away.
With her tablet in hand, she entered the study.
Xu Dian had installed a soft tatami mat, a floor lamp, and a small desk in the study, allowing Meng Ying to lean against the window and enjoy the view outside while reading, browsing her phone, or reviewing scripts. She poured herself a cup of coffee and set it on the table. When she turned around, her gaze swept over the row of magazines on the bookshelf.
Then—
She noticed one of the magazines had been moved. Hesitating for a moment, she pulled it out, returned to the tatami mat, stretched out her long legs, and flipped to a specific page.
Under the 2019 record, new notes had been added.
But they were all numbers—random and indecipherable to her.
For example:
23.01.12
Then 23.01.17, followed by 23.01.25
23.02.17
23.02.22, then 23.02.30
…
This pattern continued until April. Now it was May, the month Meng Ying had returned home after filming. Resting her chin on her hand, she stared at the numbers, trying to decode them.
Just then, Xu Qing sent her a WeChat message: My husband is such an idiot.
Xu Qing: He’s actually tracking my ovulation cycle.
Xu Qing: Hah, no way I’m giving in.
After reading it, Meng Ying suddenly understood.
No wonder the dates looked familiar—they were her menstrual cycles, usually delayed by five days. He… was also tracking her ovulation period?
These men.
So dramatic.
Meng Ying: Mine too.
Xu Qing: Ugh, these annoying men.
Xu Qing: Tell them to get lost.
Meng Ying: Exactly.
She closed the magazine, lay back down, sipped her coffee, and scrolled through her phone until sleepiness overtook her.
In her drowsy state, she heard faint footsteps. Blinking groggily, she saw a tall figure approach. Xu Dian loosened his tie and casually draped it over the sofa before scooping her up by the waist. Instinctively, Meng Ying wrapped her arms around his neck. Xu Dian paused, glancing down at her.
“Awake?”
Meng Ying hummed, burying her face in his chest. Xu Dian carried her out of the study and into the master bedroom, placing her on the edge of the bed. As her mind cleared slightly, she reached toward the nightstand. Xu Dian, unsure what she wanted, opened the drawer for her.
“What are you looking for?”
Meng Ying muttered, “Condoms. I want to check if you poked holes in them.”
Xu Dian immediately let go of the drawer, slamming it shut.
His lips pressed into a tight line, not saying a word.
Meng Ying narrowed her eyes at him before rolling over, stifling a laugh.
The next morning, Meng Ying woke up, sat up to tie her hair, and casually opened the nightstand drawer—only to find it fully stocked with brand-new, unopened condoms.
She froze for a moment.
Then, she smiled.
Truthfully, there wasn’t much work in the coming days, so she could consider getting pregnant and having a baby.
After all, she wasn’t getting any younger.
At the end of June, Meng Ying went to the hospital due to stomach cramp. Xu Dian rushed over in a panic. The moment he pushed the door open, he saw Meng Ying shoving something in his face.
Without even looking, Xu Dian pushed the object aside, pulled her into his arms, and glared at Li Yao. “What’s wrong with her?”
Li Yao coughed, hands in his pockets. “She’s pregnant.”
Xu Dian was stunned.
He didn’t snap out of it for a long time.
Then, Meng Ying held up a pregnancy test stick in front of him and said, “Look, two lines.”
Xu Dian focused his gaze.
There were indeed two.
A moment later, he cursed under his breath and chuckled softly. “It’s a daughter. It’s definitely a daughter.”
*
Xu Dian had a strong obsession with having a daughter. Meng Ying could see it in his eyes. During this time, while resting for her pregnancy, she discussed their child’s future with him. Xu Dian even signed an agreement promising he would help take care of the baby after birth and wouldn’t just leave it to the nanny.
Meng Ying could choose to just “stay pretty.”
Zhao Qiao eagerly insisted, “I’ll take care of the baby! Let me do it! I’m so free! I have time! And I’m still young!”
Xu Dian smirked coldly.
Let Zhao Qiao raise another rebel to oppose him?
A girl should be like Meng Ying—definitely not like Zhao Qiao.
Zhao Qiao had no idea and kept visiting their home at Yiwanshanshui every day.
Meng Ying got along well with her mother-in-law and even registered her face for biometric access. Xu Dian stood nearby with his arms crossed, visibly annoyed but forced to endure it.
At 38 weeks, Meng Ying’s water suddenly broke. Zhao Qiao and Xu Yi rushed her to their family’s hospital. Xu Dian hurried over from work, his forehead covered in sweat, and dashed upstairs.
Four or five doctors surrounded Meng Ying, but she only allowed Zhao Qiao inside—Xu Dian was barred from entering. The moment he stepped into the delivery suite’s adjoining room, he heard Meng Ying’s cries of pain.
At that moment, his knees nearly gave out. He barely managed to steady himself against the door.
After her water broke, Meng Ying was actually in decent condition since she had been practicing yoga regularly. But the pain of dilation was unbearable, and it happened too quickly—she couldn’t help but scream. Amid her cries, she finally reached full dilation. Thanks to her strong physique, she gave birth in just fifteen minutes.
Without any tearing, she slumped back, exhausted.
Zhao Qiao fed her water.
Dr. Liang Wen held a baby boy and said softly, “Congratulations, it’s a boy.”
Meng Ying, pale-faced, smiled and nodded. Then, remembering something, she whispered, “Don’t tell him it’s a boy yet.”
“Okay.” Dr. Liang Wen, a relative of Zhao Qiao’s, smiled and carried the baby to the door. She pulled it open, about to speak—
But then she saw tears streaking Xu Dian’s sharp, handsome face.
Suddenly, Liang Wen couldn’t bring herself to say it was a boy.
“How is she?” Xu Dian’s voice was hoarse.
Liang Wen: “She’s fine.”
Xu Dian: “Good.”
One child was enough.
He never wanted to go through this again.
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