The engagement ceremony, how could the groom not show up! After waiting for a while, everyone realized something was amiss and began to whisper.
"Where's the groom?"
"Does he not want to marry Miss Wang?"
"Can Zheng Dajun control Zheng Xiao? I heard Zheng Xiao is quite capable himself!"
"Wu Yueli isn't here either. How could she miss such an occasion!"
Amidst the chatter, Zheng Dajun's expression grew increasingly grim.
Suddenly, a video, secretly filmed, appeared on the electronic screens on either side of the stage. It was of Zheng Ze and Mao Wenjing whispering in a corner of the garden.
"Why are you still looking for me? Why don't you go find those nouveau riche daughters of yours?"
"Wenjing, I already told you last time, I was only reluctantly going out with them to appease my father. You know, I only have you in my heart!"
"A Ze, then can you just stop going out with them? It really hurts me to see you chatting and laughing with other women."
"Wenjing, soon I won't have to deal with them anymore. Just help me with one thing?" Zheng Ze urgently grabbed Mao Wenjing's hand.
"Don't rush, tell me slowly what it is."
"A few days ago, I overheard my dad talking with Mr. Wang about marrying Wang Bingjie to Zheng Xiao... Wenjing, we absolutely cannot let them get married. If Zheng Xiao gets the support of the Wang Corporation, I'll never be able to compete with him!" Zheng Ze became increasingly anxious.
"A Ze, then let's not compete. Let them do whatever they want! When I go to university, we'll get married. With my parents, life won't be bad!" Mao Wenjing, blushing, brought it up herself.
"Wenjing, don't be naive! You have another daughter at home. You can't possibly get all of your parents' assets. If you're lucky, you might get half, or if you're unlucky, you might get nothing, especially since you're not their biological child!"
"That's impossible! Mom always said she loved me the most. She wouldn't let me suffer!" Mao Wenjing refused to believe it.
"Okay, okay, Wenjing, don't get agitated! It's not urgent for us to get married. The most crucial thing now is to prevent Zheng Xiao and Wang Bingjie from getting engaged!" Zheng Ze began to appease her.
"Then what should we do?"
"This way... I'll arrange other things later. You just need to give my car keys to Zheng Xiao and have him drive my car!"
"Why should he drive your car? Did you do something? And what if he refuses to drive it?"
"I just tampered with the brakes a little, so he won't be able to make it to the engagement banquet. What happens after that depends on his fate. I'll handle other matters, you just help me with this!"
"Will someone get killed?" Mao Wenjing became a little scared.
"They're forcing me to! Why is it that for the same son of Zheng Dajun, he, Zheng Xiao, is a young master who grows up in luxury, while I'm an illegitimate child who has to grovel to live a good life? Clearly, I'm the elder brother! Clearly, my mother met my father first!" Zheng Ze clutched Mao Wenjing's shoulder with some mania. "Wenjing, you're the only one in this world who's good to me. Can you bear to see me kicked out of the Zheng family like a stray dog? As long as Zheng Xiao is incapacitated, I'll be the sole heir of the Zheng family. Then my father will have no choice but to focus all his attention on cultivating me. And you won't have to worry about me going out with other girls anymore."
"Th... then alright!" In the end, Mao Wenjing in the video accepted the car keys.
Seeing this, Zheng Ze hugged her and said emotionally, "Thank you, Wenjing! I knew you were the best to me!" Then he began to kiss her, and the screen suddenly tilted, as if the person filming was startled, and then plunged into darkness.
The entire venue fell into a brief silence, which was quickly followed by an eruption of excitement, as everyone's gossip instincts were ignited.
When the video first started playing, Zheng Ze and Mao Wenjing were stunned. They frantically looked for a way to shut down the projection but couldn't. By the end of the video, everything was set in stone, and they stopped their futile struggles.
"Where is Zheng Xiao? You just said he drove your car and left? How could you be so heartless? He's your brother too!" Zheng Dajun finally reacted and roared at Zheng Ze,
Zheng Ze had been trying to deny it earlier: "It wasn't me, Father! I... Right, Mao Wenjing gave me this idea. I didn't want to do this!"
Mao Wenjing could hardly believe her ears when she heard this. She stammered, "A Ze, how could you do this?"
However, Zheng Dajun was not fooled by Zheng Ze's attempts to shift blame. He slapped him, "You're still trying to pass the buck? The video clearly showed you admitting it yourself just now!"
"Haha, yes, Father, you won't have to worry about it anymore. Then you'll only have me, your son, to dote on!" Zheng Ze no longer argued, covering his face, already appearing somewhat deranged.
Zheng Dajun's chest ached with anger, his face growing paler. He fumbled for his phone to call Zheng Xiao. Although he loved his first love, Wu Yueli, more, he also genuinely cared for Zheng Ze. However, when it came to finding an heir for the Zheng family, Zheng Xiao was undoubtedly the best choice in terms of capability and reputation.
Zheng Ze continued to shout, "Father, I'm your son too! And I'll do better than Zheng Xiao. If you train me more, I'll be more successful than Zheng Xiao in the future!"
Before Zheng Dajun could dial, the doors of the banquet hall were pushed open. Zheng Xiao's voice rang out, "Zheng Ze, it's a shame to disappoint you!"
"Little Xiao, you're safe, that's great!" Zheng Dajun excitedly stepped forward, examining him from head to toe.
"Dad, I'm fine!" Zheng Xiao gently pushed his father away and bowed towards Wang Haoyang and Wang Bingjie. "However, Mr. Wang, I apologize, but I will not agree to the marriage my father arranged with you."
"Little Xiao, don't be foolish. Your Uncle Wang and I have been good friends for a long time, and our families are well-matched. If you marry Miss Wang, the alliance between our families will be even stronger. This is a marriage that benefits both sides, with no disadvantages." Zheng Dajun became agitated again.
"Dad! I have someone I love, and I believe I can achieve what I want with my own hands. You and Mom's marriage was a tragedy born of a business alliance. I don't want my marriage to follow in your footsteps." Zheng Xiao replied resolutely, subtly glancing at Xiao Wenqiang when he mentioned the person he loved.
"You unfilial son, why can't you understand my good intentions?" Zheng Dajun said helplessly, then turned to Wang Haoyang, "Old Wang, look at how this has turned out..."
Wang Haoyang's expression was also grim, but he still managed a polite smile. "Old Zheng, let the younger generation handle their own affairs! Since Zheng Xiao is not interested, we shouldn't force the child! Haha, it's not bragging to say that my daughter Wang Haoyang is afraid of not being wanted!"
"Yes, yes! Let the young people handle their own matters. Today is Bingjie's birthday, we should celebrate happily, hahaha..." Zheng Dajun put his arm around Wang Haoyang's shoulder, and they awkwardly left.