The girl in the red dress was Su Xiyan's cousin, and also the bride for this wedding - Sheng Xueyao.
This cousin was three years older than Su Xiyan, and they had grown up together. After graduating from university, she immediately took a position in her family's company and found a suitable husband from a matching background.
In the eyes of the elders, Sheng Xueyao was practically the ideal model of a young woman.
Although Su Xiyan was also very accomplished, in the hearts of the elders, she was always seen as too aloof, like moonlight on a snowy night sky, exuding an unapproachable coldness.
After Su Xiyan went to college in Su City, she maintained contact with her cousin Sheng Xueyao.
For this wedding, one of Sheng Xueyao's bridesmaids had a last-minute issue, so Su Xiyan quickly stepped in to take the bridesmaid position.
Sheng Xueyao, with her picturesque features, smiled with even more vibrant energy: "It seems it's not just a simple boyfriend situation, is it?"
Her meaning was obvious - the room was full of men's clothes, and Su Xiyan had walked out of this room with sleepy eyes. Wasn't it clear what was going on?
The smile froze on Su Xiyan's face: "Ah... this... actually I..."
Sheng Xueyao wore an "I understand" expression and waved her hand: "Oh Xiyan, no need to explain! Your cousin has been in love before, I'm experienced and can understand, really!"
"When you're passionately in love, you definitely don't want to be apart for even a minute, wishing you could be stuck together all the time."
"Right, Xiyan?"
Su Xiyan was completely exasperated: ￣□￣||
How could she explain clearly to her enthusiastic and gossipy cousin?
"Um... Cousin, I need to freshen up. Why don't you wait for me in the room for a bit?"
Sheng Xueyao showed a strong sense of boundaries: "If it were before, I would have definitely barged into your room. How could I just stand in the hallway chatting with you?"
"But now you have a boyfriend! And you're even staying in your boyfriend's room. I won't go in, hehe~ It would be so awkward if I saw something I shouldn't, right?"
As she finished speaking, Sheng Xueyao even gave Su Xiyan a light nudge with her elbow.
Su Xiyan: "..."
All her makeup was still in her original room, but the main character of the wedding these two days was her cousin Sheng Xueyao, so it didn't matter if she wore makeup or not. Su Xiyan thought it best to keep a low profile and not steal her cousin's spotlight.
So she decided to use Chen Shuo's toiletries!
Su Xiyan's lips curled into a peculiar smile - how novel!
The hotel provided high-end complimentary toiletries, but how could they compare to Chen Shuo's?
Su Xiyan rummaged through Chen Shuo's suitcase and found his toiletries.
After carefully freshening up, she emerged from the room feeling refreshed.
With a bare face, she wore a low-key knit sweater and jeans.
Her glossy long hair was casually pinned up at the back with a hairpin, with a few stray strands framing her face, softening her facial features.
"Huh? Where's your boyfriend?" Sheng Xueyao peered into the room: "I heard from my mom that your boyfriend is very handsome!"
"If he weren't handsome, he wouldn't be worthy of our Xiyan!"
Su Xiyan glanced at the open door of the adjacent room. Chen Shuo was no longer there, and a housekeeping maid was cleaning the room.
Where did that guy go so early in the morning? And without even calling her to go along!
In the hotel restaurant, there was a breakfast buffet.
Su Xiyan and her cousin Sheng Xueyao ate an exquisite breakfast before taking the elevator to the banquet hall for the wedding rehearsal.
Many staff members were setting up the wedding venue in the hall. It was already taking shape, with only some details left to be fine-tuned.
Sheng Xueyao led Su Xiyan to the rest area behind the hall and introduced her to the other bridesmaids.
Several groomsmen were also present, and when they saw Su Xiyan, as cold and beautiful as a snow lotus, they could barely take their eyes off her.
Not just the groomsmen, even the bridesmaids were amazed by Su Xiyan's bare-faced beauty.
Su Xiyan greeted everyone: "Hello everyone, I'm Su Xiyan. It's nice to meet you all."
After saying this, she didn't utter another word.
Polite, yet full of distance, making people afraid to approach her too closely.
Her gaze occasionally drifted towards the door.
Because Chen Shuo still hadn't arrived.
The rehearsal was about to begin, and the bridesmaids and groomsmen had all gathered in the hall, waiting to take their positions.
Cousin Sheng Xueyao was discussing the bride's entrance positioning with the emcee on stage, while below, some of the waiting groomsmen were already getting restless.
One of the groomsmen, wearing glasses and looking quite scholarly, hadn't taken his eyes off Su Xiyan since she arrived.
Taking advantage of a break, he approached Su Xiyan and mustered up the courage: "Miss Su, it's a pleasure to meet you. My name is..."
Su Xiyan cut him off coldly: "We've already been introduced."
The bespectacled man didn't give up: "After the rehearsal, may I treat you to a coffee, Miss Su?"
Su Xiyan maintained her distant attitude: "I don't drink coffee."
The man in glasses was about to say something else, but Su Xiyan's fist was already clenched.
For people with no sense of boundaries like this, an iron fist was the appropriate response!
Fortunately, the emcee came over: "Bridesmaids and groomsmen, let's discuss the bride's entrance ceremony for the wedding!"
The emcee was clearly experienced, gesturing to both sides of the stage: "Before the bride officially enters, our bridesmaids and groomsmen will enter first. Bridesmaids on the right, groomsmen on the left, holding up the bride's white veil as you walk in front."
"When you reach the predetermined positions, the bride will then enter. When the bride reaches the middle of the veil, we'll all release it together, letting it cover the bride."
After hearing the emcee's explanation, the bridesmaids nearby were flushed with excitement: "Wow! What a dreamy and romantic scene!"
The emcee directed: "Come on, bridesmaids and groomsmen, take your positions. Let's do a run-through!"
The emcee then realized a groomsman was missing: "Oh my! We're short a groomsman. Where is he?"
Chen Shuo hadn't arrived.
Su Xiyan didn't know what that guy was up to either. Last night, he had disappeared after entering the room, only to return mysteriously later.
This early morning, he was neither in the room nor at the rehearsal venue.
The bespectacled groomsman from earlier quietly moved to stand opposite Su Xiyan.
This way, during the wedding entrance, he would be walking in the same row as Su Xiyan.
Seeing that Su Xiyan's boyfriend hadn't shown up, cousin Sheng Xueyao figured he must be busy with something and didn't say anything. She just signaled the emcee to start the rehearsal.
The bespectacled man even spoke with a sarcastic tone, deliberately praising himself while putting down Chen Shuo: "I thought everyone would be as punctual as me!"
After saying this, he intentionally moved closer to Su Xiyan's side.