Chapter 456: The four families' serious planning and strategy

The ladies got Nana changed into a simple dress while Jinhai changed into a formal suit as well.

All the single ladies and men were excited for the most awaited bouquet and garter toss by the couple. The place already looked like a warzone.

Chen Liling pulled Jianyu to her side and elbowed him.

“Ouch! Mom, that hurts!” he whined. “You hit too hard!”

“Well, if you don’t catch the garter, then I would be worse than this!” she was openly threatening her son. “I want you to catch that garter at any cost. Do you get it? Just carefully look at Jinhai, judge the angle he will throw, map out the direction and speed, and run to catch it. It’s simple. You were good at sports, so I have high hopes for you. You cannot fail. Failure is not an option!”

“…”

Jianyu was speechlessly looking at his mother. She was giving a well planned and serious strategy…for catching a garter.

“Ugh…mom…”

Chen Liling hit his head. “If you don’t bring that garter with you, then I will disown you from the family! I have even brought the papers!”

Jianyu questioningly looked at Chen Guiren, and he simply nodded. “Do not let us down.”

Even you too?

“Of course I will try-“

She glared at him, and he shut up. “You don’t have to try! You have to succeed. I want to see you marry. If you catch the garter, then it would be a good sign that Serena might agree to your proposal!”

Jianyu knew it was useless to argue with his mother. He thought it was better to catch that garter than to incur her wrath later on.

Where Chen Liling was instructing Jianyu to catch the garter, the Huo family was doing exactly the opposite.

Huo Shen and Liwei looked so grim and serious that they might not have been so serious even during any board meetings before.

And Huo Xiao Fan was at a complete loss why her husband and son had such severe and dull expression on their faces.

Shen held Serena’s hand. “Zhilan, dear. I think you should stay out of this bouquet toss.”

Liwei nodded and completely agreed.

Serena blinked her eyes. “Huh? Why?”

“You are too young to get married.” He frowned.

Huo Xiao Fan almost spit out the juice she was drinking. Her eyes were wide open as she stared at Huo Shen.

Serena’s mouth twitched.

Huo Xiao Fan cleared her throat. “Shen. Zhilan already has a child.”

Liwei said, “So, what? Having a child and getting married are two different things. She isn’t compelled to get married because she has Zixin.”

“No, I am not saying that. I mean…” she didn’t know how to explain herself. “Jianyu and Serena are living together too. It wouldn’t be a bad idea if they did get-“

“No!”

“No!”

Both of them protested at once. “That is our point. She already lives with him. Actually, she should be living with us since she isn’t married yet but…well anyway. I am not ready to get my daughter married so soon. So, Zhilan must refrain from taking part in the bouquet toss.”

Serena coughed. “Dad. It’s just a bouquet toss. I don’t even know if I will catch it.”

Liwei squinted his eyes. “But what if you do? That Chen boy will get all too excited. What if he proposes you taking it to be a good sign!”

“We cannot let that happen.”

Huo Shen turned even grimmer while Huo Xiao Fan was helpless.

“You two are over-reacting. Zhilan is right. It’s just a bouquet toss. She may not catch it though I hope she does.”

“Xiao Fan!”

“Mom!”

Serena was relieved that at least her mother was with her.

Huo Xiao Fan rolled her eyes. “So what? Zhilan is grown up now. She has a man she loves and lives with. He loves her too. She has a child with him. If she wants to get married, then we should give her our blessings.”

Huo Shen refused to budge. “Zhilan is only twenty-three.”

She looked at him dumbfounded. “Well, Nana is twenty-three, too, but we just attended her wedding ceremony. Why can’t Zhilan?”

“Mom. You are not understanding. She is still too young. And she should enjoy her singleton life at least until twenty-nine – no thirty.”

Serena and Huo Xiao Fan almost puked three liters of blood.

Thirty? So far?

Huo Xiao Fan was now really concerned. Not for Serena, though. “Liwei. I think you should be looking for a girlfriend too. Aren’t you the same age as Shin? Why isn’t your love lives going anywhere? You are at the peak of youth now.”

Liwei was speechless.

How did the topic turn in my direction?

Huo Shen nodded. “Xiao Fan is right. Liwei. You are almost twenty-nine. It’s high time you look for a girl.”

“Should I arrange some blind dates for you? I will select the best girls suitable for you.”

“That’s a great idea. Once we return to Beijing, we will start looking for girls for our Liwei.”

“Oh, you can look here too! There are so many young ladies from Natsukashi and Liu Corps. Has anybody caught your eye? We can talk to them if you want.”

“Woah, woah! Hold on right there.” Liwei was shocked. “We are talking about Zhilan. Why am I suddenly being set up with girls?”

Huo Xiao Fan frowned. “Why not? You should start thinking about giving Zixin a little brother or sister to play with too. How long do you want to wait?”

Serena burst into laughter. “Yes. Mom is absolutely right. Big bro. At least Jian and Nian have each other’s company, but Zixin is alone almost the whole time. Why not give him a sibling too?”

“Gaaaaaaaa…”

Suddenly, Zixin giggled as if giving his nod.

Everybody except Liwei laughed out loud. “Oh, dear. Zixin agrees too.”

“Now Liwei has to get married.”

“Majority wins.”

Liwei began to sweat.

I have to run away from here, or they will get me married right this instant!

“I think I had got a call. I will check it and just come back.”

And with that, he dashed away.

“Idiot, son. Come back! You cannot run away from this!” Huo Shen ran behind him too.

Huo Xiao Fan chuckled. “So cute they are. Anyway. Don’t worry about them, Zhilan. It’s a game, and everybody should have fun. So, take part in the bouquet toss. I will handle them.”

Serena smiled. “Thanks, Mom. You are the best!”

Then Huo Xiao Fan leaned and whispered. “Well, fun aside. Do your best to catch the bouquet, okay?”

Serena giggled. “I will.”

—

Liang Zou said, “Shin. My hopes are on you now to bring me a daughter-in-law. And this garter toss is a test of time.”

Liang Xiao Dan nodded. “You know. Technically, it should be you who should have gotten married first and given us a grandchild. You are the eldest, after all. It’s not a rule, but ‘technically’ you should have.”

“So, now, don’t disappoint us. After Nana, it’s your turn now.”

Shin –”…”

“Um….”

Liang Xiao Dan fiercely glared at him. “What ah..um..ugh? You have to beat all the men out there and catch the garter! And you should be especially cautious from Jianyu. Chen Liling seemed to be discussing something serious with him.”

Shin’s brow twitched. “Is catching a garter toss really a serious thing?”

“Idiot!” Liang Zou thundered. “You don’t understand the gravity of this situation.”

“Is there any gravity to this situation in the first place?” he dryly asked.

“You fool!” Both mother-father exclaimed. “You are hopeless! You are almost twenty-nine, and we want to see you get married. Didn’t you say you have a girlfriend before?”

He stiffened. Suddenly, a certain memory passed his mind.

“So, now we want you to introduce us to her and take things forward!” her eyes sparkled.

Liang Zou nodded.

“Well…”

“So, do anything but make sure to catch the toss!” Liang Xiao Dan didn’t let him speak and declared.

—

Xiang Qingge poked Huian’s arm. “So, so! You have to catch the bouquet of okay?”

Huian coughed. “Mom…”

“What, Mom? It might be a signal that you will meet the love of your life soon too!”

Xiang Wei protested. “Qingge…Huian is still…”

“Don’t interfere in ladies’ talk, Wei! Go away!” she dangerously eyed him.

“…”

He had no more courage to face his wife, so he promptly backed out.

Xiang Qingge said, “Look. All the women are hungrily watching at the bouquet. All want a shot at it. We have to win this! You got this, Huian.”

“Mom, I cannot participate.”

“Why not?”

“Umm…I…” she fidgeted with her fingers.

She turned solemn. “About marriage…are you not ready-“

“No, no, Mom!” Huian quickly denied it. “It’s not about that. I-I just…”

How can I say it? It’s a very different reason for not participating…

Xiang Wei quickly said, “It’s okay, dear. Your mom is just joking. There is no pressure. It’s just a fun event anyway.”

Xiang Qingge got the cue, and she helplessly stopped.

Huian felt really bad for them. But, if she could, then she would have surely taken part in it.

Sorry Mom, Dad.

Her gaze darted onto Shin, and she silently clutched her dress.

But I cannot do it.