Xiao Qiang said, "Having lived under the same roof with Xia Qiqi for so many years, I must know what kind of personality she has. I did agree to Xiao Nanchen and her getting married because I do know Xia Qiqi is not a bad person at heart, otherwise I would not have agreed to it so easily if she was just any other girl."
An Nuan listened in silence.
So.
Xiao Nanchen and Xia Qiqi's marriage did get the consent of the parents after all.
Xia Zheng Hai must have agreed.
By comparison, he preferred Xiao Nanchen more. He had been forced to accept Nie Ziming all this while. Xia Qiqi being able to marry Xiao Nanchen in the end would surely make him happy, even if it meant sacrificing his own marriage.
An Nuan just did not expect that Xiao Qiang would approve.
She couldn't help but worry a little - would Xiao Nanchen and Xia Qiqi's marriage be affected by the older generation?
She could not let anyone tear their marriage apart.
That was why she had come today, to put in a good word for Qiqi, at least to make Xiao Qiang less prejudiced against her.
But it turned out to be unnecessary.
An Nuan smiled lightly, "Hearing Auntie say this, I feel relieved. I was really worried that silly girl Qiqi might unintentionally offend people without realizing it herself. Now that I know Auntie understands Qiqi, I'll not say any more."
"Xia Qiqi is very blessed to have you as such a good friend."
Ordinary friends would not be concerned over her relationship with her mother-in-law after she gets married.
Let alone take the initiative to put in a good word for her.
"It's mutual actually." An Nuan smiled lightly again, "I also believe that given some time, Qiqi will also grow to like Nanchen."
"I hope so." Xiao Qiang did not seem to harbor much hope. She sighed heavily again, "It would have been great if you had married Nanchen instead."
An Nuan was a little stunned.
She and Xiao Nanchen were like parallel lines that could never intersect.
She reckoned that even if they were stripped naked and slept in the same bed, neither would harbor any such thoughts about the other.
"But it's quite good that you're marrying Ye Jinghuai too." Xiao Qiang murmured again.
An Nuan did not take Xiao Qiang's words to heart.
Knowing to handle things tactfully, she also knew what to say and what not to. She turned to look at Xiao Nanchen and said, "Nanchen, you look very handsome today."
"It's thanks to your clothes too." Xiao Nanchen was as modest as always.
His modesty was genuine, definitely not put on for show.
He was truly modest, believing he was not that outstanding.
Perhaps it had to do with being raised in a single parent family.
Xiao Nanchen was always very introverted, never one to flaunt himself.
In fact, he was much more outstanding than most people.
"It fits me just right." Xiao Nanchen added.
He was still somewhat astonished.
The clothes were tailored to Nie Ziming's size, yet they fitted him perfectly like they were custom made for him.
"As long as you like it." An Nuan would not explain further. She said, "I'm leaving first. See you at the banquet later."
"See you later."
The moment An Nuan left, Xiao Qiang also stood up, "There's about ten more minutes before you have to go out with Xia Qiqi. I'll head out first to entertain the guests."
"Alright." Xiao Nanchen nodded.
"Don't push yourself."
"I won't."
As if he wouldn't.
Whenever it came to Xia Qiqi, Xiao Nanchen threw all reason out the window.
In other words, Xia Qiqi was Xiao Nanchen's voice of reason.
Xiao Qiang felt uneasy but still left Xiao Nanchen's waiting room.
By now, the doctor had also examined and made adjustments to Xiao Nanchen's bones to ensure there were no major issues before taking a seat on the nearby sofa to accompany him.
There was a sudden knock on the door.
Xiao Nanchen assumed it must be Xia Qiqi.
After all, it was time for them to head to the banquet to toast the guests.
Even if there were only 5 tables of guests.
They still had to adhere to the proper order of ceremony.
As he looked towards the door, the corners of his lips curled up slightly.
But that smile vanished abruptly the next second.
Gu Yanxuan witnessed that fleeting moment of joy on Xiao Nanchen's face morph into disappointment.
Without any attempt to hide his true feelings.
"Are you waiting for Xia Qiqi?" Gu Yanxuan asked bluntly.
Xiao Nanchen did not answer directly. He steered the conversation away, "What brings you here?"
"If I don't take the initiative to look for you, would you even spare me a glance?" Gu Yanxuan retorted sarcastically.
"Yanxuan, I've never accepted your feelings. And I've never given you any hopes, not when we were young, and not now." Xiao Nanchen spoke coldly.
Those words really stabbed Gu Yanxuan's heart.
In that instant, the pain was so unbearable she couldn't even breathe.
She just couldn't understand.
What exactly was it that Xia Qiqi had that she lacked?
What was it about Xia Qiqi that captivated Xiao Nanchen so?!
Was it her prowess in bed?!
She had witnessed Xia Qiqi's wild escapades on the dance floor at the nightclubs, the bewitching sexy figure as she dominated the dance floor.
Actually.
She was no less capable.
Even if she fell slightly short, she would willingly go for plastic surgery just to win Xiao Nanchen's affections.
The more Gu Yanxuan thought about it, the more upset she felt.
In a moment of loss of control, she rushed up to Xiao Nanchen who was seated in his wheelchair and kissed him fiercely.
Xiao Nanchen froze.
He truly did not expect Gu Yanxuan would do this.
Gu Yanxuan had liked him for years. But she had never been this daring.
So he was caught off guard completely.
It took him several moments before he even realized what was happening.
And the next instant, the door to the waiting room was shoved open again.
Xia Qiqi stood by the door, watching the scene unfolding inside.
At this point, she was wondering if she should just leave them be or step forward to start a catfight with the shameless couple right before her eyes.
If they were so madly in love.
Then they might as well just get married!
What's with coercing her into this marriage?! How ridiculous!
Ultimately.
Xia Qiqi neither left nor stepped forward. She just stood by the doorway watching them quietly.
Watching as they parted hastily.
It was Xiao Nanchen who pushed Gu Yanxuan away.
Probably feeling awkward that Xia Qiqi was there watching them.
"Please continue." Xia Qiqi said flatly.
As far as she was concerned, Xiao Nanchen could be intimate with any woman and she would be fine with it.
Because she did not care, she felt nothing at all.
Just that in that moment.
She turned and left.
It was them who insisted she come get Xiao Nanchen!
Look.
She had disrupted Xiao Nanchen's bliss huh!
