Chapter 276

Chapter 276: The Ending Chu Tang's wedding was prepared over two months, with the wedding date set for the end of October. Two days before the wedding, Chu Tang received a call from an unfamiliar number. Recently, while preparing for the wedding, Chu Tang had been receiving many congratulatory calls every day—some from her classmates, some from relatives on the Ruan or Su side, and some from relatives on the Jiang side. So receiving calls from unfamiliar numbers had become routine for Chu Tang. Chu Tang picked up the phone and greeted, "Hello? Hi there." She assumed it was someone calling to congratulate her, but to her surprise, the person on the other end was Gu Zechuan. Gu Zechuan's voice was low and hoarse, carrying a hint of bitterness. "Chu Tang, I heard you're getting married." Chu Tang recognized Gu Zechuan's voice and immediately turned cold. She said coldly, "Yes. If you're calling to congratulate me, then thank you. If you're here to cause trouble, then—" Before she could finish, Gu Zechuan interrupted her. He was emotionally agitated, his voice suddenly rising. "Chu Tang, don't be fooled by Jiang Shixu's disguise! He's not what he appears to be at all—he's a scheming, calculating villain! Do you know that when you were still with me, he was already pulling strings behind the scenes? Chen Wan's return to the country was also his doing!" Chu Tang paused, furrowing her brows slightly. "What do you mean?" "Back when you were with me, Jiang Shixu had people set me up. When I went out to have fun with others, his people would shove women at me. When I went out for meals or business dinners, they'd also arrange female companions for me. And when I was drinking, those hostess girls were all arranged by his people too. Chen Wan's return was also related to him—his people went and whispered things in Chen Wan's ear..." "Gu Zechuan." Chu Tang coldly interrupted the rambling Gu Zechuan. Her voice was icy, and the voice on the other end of the line came to an abrupt halt. Chu Tang questioned coldly, "So you're saying someone knocked you unconscious, stripped you naked, threw you on a bed, stripped those women naked, and threw them on the bed to make you two have sex?" "No, it's not like that, Tangtang..." "Then were you drugged, out of your mind, burning with lust, and forced to sleep with those women?" Gu Zechuan stammered, "That's... that's not it either..." "Then did someone threaten that they'd kill you if you didn't sleep with those women?" Gu Zechuan's voice grew smaller and smaller, clearly feeling guilty. "No... no..." "Hmph." Chu Tang let out a cold laugh. "So you accepted those women while fully conscious. You're a clear-headed, able-bodied adult man. When you had a girlfriend and others shoved women into your arms, the one who didn't refuse was you, and the one who had a good time with those women was also you. So what does this have to do with Jiang Shixu?" Gu Zechuan's voice was agitated, carrying unwillingness. "He's the one who had those people shove women at me!" "Can't you refuse? You can't control your own lower half, and after having your fun, you blame others?" Chu Tang's voice carried anger. "Thank you for telling me this. If you hadn't, I wouldn't have known. I really need to thank Shixu properly—if it weren't for him, I wouldn't have seen through your true scumbag nature so quickly back then!" "Gu Zechuan, you're the most disgusting person, and you're the filthiest person. You never see your own problems and only push all the blame onto others. Someone like you doesn't deserve love." After saying this, Chu Tang hung up without hesitation and blocked the number. Jiang Shixu pushed the door open and came in. "You heard all that?" Chu Tang asked. The door hadn't been closed just now, and her voice on the phone hadn't been quiet. Jiang Shixu hummed in acknowledgment. Chu Tang asked, "Gu Zechuan said that back then, you had people shove women at him, and that Chen Wan's return was also related to you. Is that true?" Jiang Shixu didn't deny it. "It's true." Chu Tang looked up at him. Jiang Shixu's gaze trembled. "Tangtang, do you blame me?" "Blame you for what?" "Blame me for ruining your relationship with Gu Zechuan, for breaking the two of you apart." Chu Tang slowly walked closer to Jiang Shixu. Jiang Shixu's gaze stayed fixed on the woman, and the hands hanging at his sides slowly clenched. He was nervous. He was afraid that after Chu Tang learned of these things, she would blame him. After all, what he had done back then was indeed not exactly honorable. Chu Tang stopped in front of Jiang Shixu, lifting her gaze to look at him without blinking. "Jiang Shixu." Chu Tang looked into the man's eyes and called his name softly. "Mm, I'm here." "Thank you." Chu Tang's expression was serious. "Thank you for loving me silently all this time. Thank you for helping me see through that scumbag's true nature. Thank you for waiting for me all this time. Thank you for choosing me steadfastly. You've worked so hard all these years. From now on, you're no longer alone. I'll be with you and love you forever, until the end of my life." Ripples spread through Jiang Shixu's ink-black eyes, emotions surging, dark and unfathomable. His Adam's apple bobbed as he tried to say something, but the words got stuck in his throat. Chu Tang stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him. Jiang Shixu's heart melted. He held Chu Tang and kissed her gently and tenderly. ...... The marriage alliance between the Jiang and Ruan families became the grandest event in Jiangcheng that year. The area around Moonlit Lake, spanning several kilometers, was cordoned off, with guards stationed at the entrances and exits. Aside from the relatives and close friends of both families, nearly all the elite and notable figures of Jiangcheng attended the wedding. The sky was like washed blue silk, without a trace of impurity. Sunlight filtered through the sparse clouds, casting dappled, shifting light and shadows. The lake's surface was as calm as a mirror, with the occasional leaf drifting down lightly, stirring delicate ripples. Zhou Xueluo and Chen Yuanyuan had both changed into bridesmaid dresses, accompanying Chu Tang. "Who would have thought Tangtang would be the first among us to get married," Chen Yuanyuan said, tears welling up as she looked at Chu Tang in her wedding gown. "Tangtang, you must be happy." Zhou Xueluo's eyes were also red. "How wonderful—Tangtang is marrying for love." "May we all be happy," Chu Tang said, holding her two best friends' hands, one on each side, a mist forming in her eyes. ... The moment Chu Tang stepped out in her veil, Ruan Shaodong's eyes reddened. "My little girl has grown up and is getting married. Dad really can't bear to let you go." Ruan Shaodong wiped away his tears. Chu Tang gave her father a gentle embrace. "Dad, I will always be your daughter." The wedding was about to begin. Chu Tang placed her hand on Ruan Shaodong's arm, stepping onto the red carpet and walking slowly toward Jiang Shixu. Jiang Shixu wore a custom-tailored black suit today. His brows were sharp and high, his features deeply defined, his strikingly handsome face just as it had been when they first met. He stood at the end of the red carpet, a gentle smile curving at his lips, quietly watching her. Chu Tang suddenly felt a pang in her nose, on the verge of tears. Today was her wedding to Jiang Shixu. After all those wasted years, they had finally stepped into the halls of marriage together. The wedding march began to play. Ruan Shaodong led Chu Tang to Jiang Shixu's side and placed her hand into his. Jiang Shixu took Chu Tang's hand and led her toward the officiant. The flower girl, Ruan Jiaojiao, presented the wedding rings. Before the witnesses of their family and friends, Chu Tang and Jiang Shixu recited their vows and placed rings on each other's fingers. The autumn breeze gently swayed the leaves, rustling softly like lovers' whispers. The groom kissed the bride through her veil. For the rest of their lives, they would walk hand in hand. [End of Main Story]