After Setting Me Up With My Ex, The Aloof Alpha Regrets It - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Wen Yue Publicly Requests a Postponement of the Engagement.

After returning home, under the watchful eyes of Zhu Shengxi and Shen Qinghe, Zhu Yunqi changed into the formal dress that had been custom-made for her.

It was said that the entire family of the private tailor had worked together for a whole week to complete it.

It was a strapless, pure white mermaid gown, with a belt of natural, wild blue seawater pearls around the waist. The tailor who was helping her put on the dress boasted about its priceless value: “Naturally grown seawater pearls are already rare, and this engagement dress has a full ninety-eight of them. Their color, size, shape, and quality are almost perfectly identical. It would be impossible to find a second set of such perfect seawater pearls in the entire Federation…”

A necklace made from these would have a starting bid of eight figures at an auction. What’s more, the rest of the dress was hand-tailored by a master craftsman using extremely rare fabrics.

The tailor looked at her perfect creation and praised it incessantly.

Zhu Yunqi had been in the dress for less than a minute when she wanted to take it off.

“I’ve tried it on. Mother, Mom, you’ve seen it, so you can’t say I’m not even willing to try on the dress. I don’t want to get married in the first place.”

She usually wore pants, and even when she wore dresses, they were mostly soft and comfortable knee-length dresses or skorts. Putting on a formal dress that weighed several pounds felt awkward all over, as if she were bound by a metal hoop.

Ignoring the somber looks of Zhu Shengxi and Shen Qinghe, Zhu Yunqi headed straight for the dressing room to take it off. After a couple of steps, she couldn’t walk smoothly, so she simply lifted the skirt and waddled into the dressing room.

When she finally managed to get out of the dress, Zhu Shengxi and Shen Qinghe were still waiting for her. The tailor had already been sent away. On the living room table were a pair of deep blue velvet boxes. Without even looking, she knew they contained a pair of ridiculously large diamond engagement rings.

“We’re having dinner with Yueyue tonight,” Shen Qinghe said.

Zhu Yunqi sneered, “Has she had her dress made? I heard she was shot not long ago.”

“It was just her arm. It’s almost healed,” said Shen Qinghe, who was more patient since Zhu Jingxian wasn’t home. She spoke unhurriedly: “If you want to know what her dress looks like, you can ask her yourself tonight.”

“Not interested.”

Shen Qinghe smiled, “Your mother and I, and Yueyue’s father, Lieutenant General Wen Lirong, will all be there, just like the first time you met. Yunqi, don’t act like a child. It won’t do you any good. Remember to show some concern for her tonight.”

Zhu Yunqi suddenly wanted to see what state Wen Yue was in right now. She had been shot, kidnapped, and her beloved girlfriend was seriously injured. Would she really be in the mood to have dinner with her fiancé?

“I’ll go to dinner. On one condition, you have to withdraw all the people who are monitoring me at the villa.”

Zhu Yunqi seized the opportunity to make a demand. Although she could sneak out without anyone knowing when she left or where she went, she didn’t want to feel like a thief in her own home.

After a few times, Zhu Shengxi had gradually realized that Zhu Yunqi couldn’t be controlled.

She simply took the easy way out and agreed to her request.

Evening arrived in a flash.

At the five-star Bedo Lake restaurant.

Inside the car, Wen Lirong looked at the listless Wen Yue through the rearview mirror.

“Cheer up,” he said sternly.

After being scolded by her father, a hint of displeasure arose in Wen Yue’s heart. It was a stark contrast to his usual commanding attitude, which she was accustomed to. But for some reason, she was repulsed by all of her father’s commands recently.

Her light brain’s chat interface still showed an unread message from Shi Li.

My dearest Shi Li: Have you eaten, Yueyue? Want to get some supper together.

Wen Yue closed the light brain’s chat.

“Dad,” she said, frowning slightly. The black long dress with slits was making her exposed skin feel a little cold. She asked casually, “Do I really have to marry Zhu Yunqi?”

Wen Lirong looked back at his daughter. Wen Yue avoided his gaze.

“It’s too late for you to be asking this now. Zhu Yunqi and you are a good match. You’re very suitable for each other.”

“But… we’re not close at all, and I’m not sure if I love her. And I feel like she doesn’t love me,” Wen Yue said, mustering her courage.

“Are you going to marry for love?” Wen Lirong’s voice turned completely cold.

His voice was like a cold, sharp sword, carelessly cutting into Wen Yue.

Wen Yue realized she was not fully prepared to defy Wen Lirong.

She wasn’t marrying completely for love, but Shi Li… still held more weight in her heart than Zhu Yunqi.

The first time she met Zhu Yunqi, she was attracted to her because Zhu Yunqi was strong enough. She couldn’t help but want to follow and admire a strong person. Her feelings for Zhu Yunqi weren’t love, but merely a desire to use her to satisfy her own vanity. But after this period of entanglement with Shi Li, she had gradually discovered another side of her: Shi Li was no longer just a tough front but had revealed her vulnerable Omega side, which made her feel needed. When Shi Li had jumped out of the car and sacrificed herself just to buy her some time to be rescued, she realized that Shi Li loved her so much she was willing to die for her.

It wasn’t just because of gratitude and guilt, nor was it just because of their shared near-death experience.

When she had just confessed to Shi Li that she was getting engaged to Zhu Yunqi, Shi Li had immediately broken up with her. She had thought Shi Li didn’t love her that much.

But now, Shi Li had proven her love through her actions.

Wen Yue didn’t want to let go of someone who loved her more than their own life.

Thankfully, the Siren and Silver Ring from the Silver Snake Regiment had arrived just in time. If anything had happened to Shi Li, she would probably never have been able to forgive herself.

Wen Yue hesitated and said, “No, Dad, but at least there should be some emotional foundation.”

“Feelings can be nurtured. You will naturally understand after you get married. Besides, I remember when you first met her, you told me you were very satisfied with Zhu Yunqi.” Wen Lirong’s tone was unquestionable.

Wen Yue licked her lips. She made one last effort: “I didn’t know much about her back then, and so much has happened recently…”

“Have you come to a new understanding of her now? As far as I know, you two haven’t seen each other since, have you?”

Wen Lirong stared at his daughter’s face. This made Wen Yue feel as if a gun were pointed at her head.

Wen Lirong paused, and his next words almost made Wen Yue’s heart jump into her throat: “Or is it that someone else has changed your mind?”

For a moment, Wen Yue wanted to throw caution to the wind and shout, “Yes, that’s right! I don’t want to marry Zhu Yunqi. I want to marry Shi Li!”

But she just managed to stop herself from acting on this impulse.

She understood her father. If Wen Lirong found out about Shi Li’s existence, he would do everything he could to get rid of her. And that would be a scene she didn’t want to see.

After her outburst at the hospital last time, she had gone to great lengths to convince Wen Lirong that she and Shi Li were just friends. Fortunately, Wen Lirong hadn’t used his authority to investigate Shi Li.

Wen Yue stammered, “Dad, you’re overthinking it. It’s time. Let’s go in.”

Both families arrived at roughly the same time.

The elders of both families were raising their glasses and chatting amiably. Zhu Yunqi, on the other hand, was indifferent throughout the entire dinner, wearing an expensive evening gown but acting as if she were eating a prison meal. Wen Yue was forcing a smile the whole time, but you could tell at a glance that her mind was elsewhere.

The elders of both families finalized the engagement date again, which was still the originally planned Saturday of next week.

Zhu Shengxi said that she had already instructed people to start preparing the venue.

Wen Yue suddenly stood up as if she had been shocked.

“Aunties,” she said, forcing a smile that looked bitter but also resolute. “I have an impolite request. Can we discuss postponing the engagement for a while?”

As soon as she finished, as if she was afraid of being interrupted by Wen Lirong, she continued non-stop: “It won’t be for long… just half a month, or even a week. Aunties, my arm hasn’t fully healed yet, and that night left me with some psychological trauma. I need time to recover. Marriage is a lifelong commitment, and I don’t want to marry Yunqi when I’m not ready. That would be disrespectful to Yunqi, too.”

She looked at the Alpha who was shaking a wine glass in her hand as if for help.

Zhu Yunqi narrowed her eyes, observing Wen Yue with a scrutinizing gaze.

She hadn’t expected Wen Yue to be so bold as to propose a postponement of the engagement in front of both families.

Ah, it seems she could see the light of victory.

After Wen Yue’s words fell, the faces of the three elders all changed. Wen Lirong immediately wanted to speak up to deny her request.

Zhu Yunqi cut him off before he could speak: “I agree. Your health is the most important thing. Let’s talk about everything else after you’ve fully recovered.”

Wen Lirong’s face was ashen.

The request to postpone the engagement was made by Wen Yue. Zhu Shengxi had been through a lot in the business world for a long time and could see at a glance that this was Wen Yue’s own decision, but she also habitually left some room for the other party. As Wen Yue’s future mother, she was willing to grant her child’s first request.

She could also earn a favor. Although Wen Lirong and Wen Yue disagreed, to outsiders they were a single entity. Earning a favor from Wen Yue was equivalent to earning a favor from Wen Lirong.

Moreover, Wen Yue’s request was not excessive; it was a postponement, not a cancellation. And her reasons were all true.

Furthermore, Zhu Shengxi had secretly observed Zhu Yunqi’s expression and found that she was also surprised. It didn’t seem like the two of them had planned this in advance.

She smiled, looking every bit like a kind mother, “Yueyue, sit down. Auntie agrees with your request. You should rest. My family’s company has the top medical experts in the Federation. You can ask for their help anytime you need it. There’s no need to be polite since we’re family. The extra time will also give us a chance to improve the engagement venue.”

In public, Shen Qinghe always appeared to be obedient to Zhu Shengxi. She also chimed in with a few words of agreement.

To save face, Wen Lirong had no choice but to smile and not object.

Finally, Wen Yue’s face was as white as a sheet, and her palms were sweating with cold sweat. As if her soul had been taken, she collapsed into the chair.

Zhu Yunqi handed her a packet of tissues.

After the small interlude, the three elders talked about the future trends in politics and business. The matter of the space pirates had been sorted out. Only half of them were space pirates from the Black Star Belt. The other half were anti-Federation elements lurking in the Upper and Middle Star Regions. They were hired by a Federation major general, and the explosion of the Star Capital Control Center was a diversion. Their main target was actually Wen Yue, to use her to threaten Wen Lirong into withdrawing from the next Federation general election.

After the plot was exposed, that major general had committed suicide in shame.

The dinner lasted a long time.

At the end of the dinner, Zhu Yunqi sent a message to Shi Li. It had always been Shi Li giving her progress reports. This was the first time she had reported to Shi Li.

Zhu Yunqi: Wen Yue publicly proposed to postpone the engagement today.

Shi Li replied with a string of firecracker emojis to celebrate.

Zhu Yunqi’s lips were originally curved in a smile, but after seeing the firecracker emojis, the smile slowly froze.

If she and Wen Yue eventually broke off the engagement, would Shi Li then marry Wen Yue?

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