Wang Xiaoling's home was located in the old southeastern district of Hangzhou.
Most of the residential blocks here had been built in the 80s and 90s, mostly dormitory housing for workers from local state-owned enterprises. Conditions were outdated, residents had been demanding redevelopment for years, and there was hope the old district would finally be renovated within a few years.
But even if the neighborhood was torn down and replaced with new apartments, it wouldn't benefit Gao He and Wang Xiaoling much, because Xiaoling had two younger twin brothers!
It was precisely because the living conditions were poor that her family had initially opposed their relationship. You can't rent forever, what about after marriage? What about having kids?
The old neighborhood had narrow roads. Zhou Rui parked outside on the main street, where three wedding cars were already waiting under the blazing sun, suffering in the heat. Bits of colorful spray-foam littered the ground.
Zhou Rui sighed helplessly. "Xiaoling's cousins and girlfriends are all tough characters. We brothers, groomsmen, have already handed out thousands in red envelopes, and we haven't even passed the first door. No idea how it's going now."
The Wang family had never been satisfied with this marriage to begin with. Xiaoling was a Hangzhou local; the fact that Gao He, an outsider, wanted to marry her meant passing three trials was inevitable.
Even Xiaoling herself couldn't stop her friends and bridesmaids from giving the groom a hard time. According to tradition, this was a form of pressure on the groom, so that after she married into his family, she would still have some authority.
Anything too easily obtained would never be treasured.
As a Hangzhou native, Zhou Rui understood the unspoken rules perfectly. To complete the mission, he had no choice but to use his ultimate weapon.
"Old Third, it's all up to you now!" Lu Chen didn't think much of such customs, but it was a joyful day, he couldn't tell the brothers to call everything off and go grab a random bride off the street. So he nodded. "I'll give it a try."
"Here!" Zhou Rui grabbed a large bag from the back seat and handed it to Lu Chen.
Lu Chen blinked. "What's this?"
Zhou Rui grinned. "Groomsman outfit! We rented it just for you. Hurry up and change."
Lu Chen was speechless, but he still changed clothes inside the car.
Once he was dressed, the two got out and followed Zhou Rui to the fifth floor of an old walk-up building.
The corridor was packed with people, mostly neighbors who had come to watch the excitement. In front of one door stood four or five sharply dressed young men. Among them, the tall and muscular groom, Gao He, stood out immediately.
His expression was full of despair.
The neighbors whispered among themselves, some even gloating.
"It's been two hours, right? Still haven't gotten the bride out? The Wang family really can't bear to part with their daughter?"
"Even if they're already legally married, the ceremony still has to be done. But the family has to vent their anger first!"
"Exactly! If they hand over their daughter without getting enough red envelopes, that's unacceptable."
"If you ask me---"
"Move aside, move aside! Everyone, make way!" Zhou Rui shouted loudly, "Boss, Old Third is here!"
"Old Third!" Gao He reacted like a disaster victim seeing a rescue team. "We've been waiting for you!"
Everyone turned to look at Lu Chen.
"Huh? This young man is handsome, handsomer than the groom!"
"Yeah! And he looks familiar, I feel like I've seen him somewhere."
"Go ask him if he has a girlfriend, hehe."
"That's Lu Chen! He's Lu Chen!"
"Who's Lu Chen?"
"The one who played Yoon Junxi! He's a big star!"
"A big star? For real?"
Lu Chen wasn't wearing sunglasses after putting on the groomsman outfit. With his frequent appearances in the media, he was recognized almost immediately, causing an uproar.
No one expected the Wang family's new son-in-law to have a celebrity friend, one of the hottest stars in the country, come personally to act as groomsman.
Everyone automatically made way, and some began taking out their phones to snap photos.
"Thank you."
Lu Chen politely thanked the people who stepped aside for him, then walked forward and gave Gao He a firm, heartfelt hug.
"Boss, congratulations!"
Gao He was overwhelmed. "Old Third!"
No matter who Lu Chen was now, their friendship had never changed.
Lu Chen grinned. "Still stuck outside? Let me talk to the people inside, see if they'll give me some face."
The three trials of picking up the bride: the front door was the first trial, the living room the second, and the bridal bedroom the third. Usually, the first and last were the hardest. Running into tough bridesmaids could mean hours of stalling.
Lu Chen stepped up to the door and, through the iron security gate, asked:
"Ladies, could you please open the door?"
The girls inside were all Xiaoling's cousins and friends. They had heard the commotion earlier but hadn't understood what was happening, until Lu Chen showed up.
"Ahhhh!" Someone immediately screamed. "It really is Lu Chen! Yoon Junxi!"
The inside erupted like an explosion. One girl instantly turned the lock. "Hurry, come in!"
Lu Chen turned back and flashed Gao He a victory gesture.
Gao He returned a big thumbs-up.
A handsome guy is already unstoppable, but a handsome celebrity is basically a walking nuclear bomb. The fact that these girls didn't immediately faint was already a miracle. The previously "impenetrable fortress" of a front door was blown open without even needing red envelopes.
Once the door opened, the groomsmen surged in with the groom.
The girls inside were so excited their faces turned red, some bold ones came right up to Lu Chen with shining eyes, while others hid shyly, clearly wanting to approach but too nervous to try. The groomsmen who had suffered earlier secretly rolled their eyes.
With the first trial cleared, the second was easy. Gao He handed out the prepared red envelopes to Xiaoling's elders, and it passed smoothly.
As for the normally difficult final trial? It simply didn't exist today.
All the bridesmaids who were supposed to guard the bride's bedroom rushed out to see Lu Chen, taking selfies, asking for photos, begging for autographs, completely abandoning the bride inside.
Having a superstar groomsman might be their one and only chance in life.
Lu Chen cheerfully fulfilled the bridesmaids' requests, while Gao He seized the opportunity to dash into the bedroom and carry out his bride.
"Fetching the bride!"
With a loud bang, countless streamers shot toward the ceiling and fluttered down like colorful rain.
Carrying Xiaoling in his arms, Gao He strode out of the home. Under the blessings of everyone present, he carried her all the way to the main wedding car.
Then the bride, groom, groomsmen, and bridesmaids all headed to the hotel in the wedding convoy.
Because Gao He and Xiaoling were currently renting, their wedding night was arranged at the banquet hotel, using a hotel room as a temporary bridal chamber.
And after holding their wedding in Hangzhou, they would still have to travel to Gao He's hometown, Jicheng, for another ceremony.
After all the chaos and excitement, everything fortunately went smoothly. People settled into the hotel in small groups, waiting for the evening banquet to begin.
Lu Chen finally found a moment to chat privately with the bride and groom.
(End of Chapter.)
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