First, then, love.

The meal is finished; clear the plates.

The waitresses, dressed in matching pale white cheongsams, moved swiftly and quietly, clearing away the leftover food from the table.

They replaced the towels with fragrant hot towels and served a set of purple clay teaware.

The freshly brewed top-grade Da Hong Pao tea has a dark red and clear liquor, and its aroma is irresistible.

It instantly dispelled the strong smell of scallions, ginger, and seafood in the private room.

Shen Minghua leaned back in the rosewood chair, took out a makeup mirror from the Hermes bag next to her, looked at herself in the mirror, and touched up her lipstick.

This woman exuded an air of domineering confidence.

That's the source of their confidence.

This comes not only from her title as chairperson of Shengshi Real Estate, but also from her family background.

Shen family.

They are a genuine old-money family in the province.

He Zheng's maternal grandfather.

He started his business in the 1970s and 80s with textiles and ocean freight, and back then he drove his Mercedes-Benz W14 around the city with impunity.

The antiques and calligraphy passed down through generations in the family alone could support a small to medium-sized private museum.

Shen Minghua was the late-life daughter of Mr. Shen.

A true heiress, born with a silver spoon in her mouth, she folded banknotes like paper from a young age.

Later, he went into business and developed a keen eye for opportunity.

They capitalized on the golden age of real estate profits, and their assets multiplied dozens of times over.

In her eyes.

Money is just a number that can be filled in arbitrarily.

A road that can be paved with money isn't a road at all.

"Smack."

Shen Minghua closed the makeup mirror and tossed it back into her bag.

She picked up the small teacup and blew away the foam.

His sharp gaze swept over He Zheng across from him, finally settling on Shu Yao.

"We've almost finished eating, let's get down to business."

Shen Minghua spoke, his voice clear and crisp, displaying the decisive and efficient style of someone in the business world.

No beating around the bush at all.

Shu Yao quickly put down the hot towel she was using to wipe her hands and straightened her back.

"We've got the marriage certificate, so we need to hurry up and hold the wedding." Shen Minghua tapped his fingers on the mahogany table, making a clattering sound. "Our He family can't let Yao Yao suffer when she gets married."

She glanced at He Zheng beside her, her face full of disdain.

"This kid's a real quiet type. Hopefully he'll be romantic in the next life. I'll take care of everything."

Shu Yao's heart raced.

The wealthy mother-in-law is about to start throwing money around.

"Mom, it's actually fine to just do it simply..." Shu Yao said politely.

He skillfully maintained the new bride's composure.

"Simplify it? That won't work."

Shen Minghua refused outright.

The tone was domineering.

"How can you treat my daughter-in-law, Shen Minghua's daughter-in-law, so simply?"

With a wave of her hand, she outlined her vision and began to draw up a blueprint.

"Tahiti, or the Maldives, just book a private island."

Shen Minghua speaks very fast and is very wealthy.

"I own two private jets and charter a large passenger plane to transport all our relatives and friends over here. I'll cover all their food, drink, and other expenses."

Shu Yao gasped, her throat going dry.

Charter an entire island, charter an entire plane.

"I'll order the wedding dress in Paris, a Vera Wang haute couture handmade piece. I'll have my team fly over tomorrow to take your measurements. All the flowers at the event will be roses air-freighted from Ecuador, covering the entire beach."

Shen Minghua became more and more excited as he spoke, his eyes shining.

It seems like she wants to fulfill all her unfulfilled wedding wishes at their wedding.

"I'll hire the top wedding planning team in the country, film and record everything. Then I'll have someone pull some strings and get it featured in a top-tier magazine, so all those gossipy rich ladies in the industry can see how beautiful my daughter-in-law is and make them envious."

Shu Yao felt a chill run down her spine and her mind went blank.

This doesn't look like a wedding.

This is practically a money-burning personal exhibition showcasing wealth.

Beside him, He Zheng was slowly peeling a tangerine.

He peeled the orange, and a sweet and sour aroma wafted out. He broke off a segment and popped it into his mouth.

He listened to his mother spouting nonsense without showing the slightest change in expression.

He didn't even lift his eyelids, as if the conversation wasn't about his wedding.

After peeling it, he casually stuffed the remaining half of the orange into Shu Yao's hand.

"Nonsense!"

A low shout suddenly exploded, interrupting Shen Minghua's grand plan.

Father He slammed the purple clay cup heavily on the table, the lid and body colliding with a sharp, jarring sound.

The atmosphere in the private room instantly plummeted to freezing point.

Father He's brows were tightly furrowed, and his nasolabial folds were so deep they could trap a fly. His kind face was gone, replaced by the coldness and authority of someone who had long held a high position.

"Do you think this is a vegetable market? You can't just buy an entire island whenever you want!"

He's father stared at Shen Minghua, his tone stern, like someone reprimanding a subordinate during a meeting.

"Do you even know what you're saying?!"

Shen Minghua was publicly reprimanded, which made him lose his temper.

"What did I say? I'm spending my own money! Money I earned cleanly! To pay for my son's wedding! What law did I break?"

She raised her chin, refusing to budge an inch.

The powerful businesswoman is going head-to-head with high-ranking government officials.

Father He was so angry that his breathing became heavy and his chest heaved violently.

"You're a businessman, so you think it's only natural to spend money to save face. What about me? I sit in that position in the provincial party committee! So many eyes are watching me!"

Father He pointed to himself, then to He Zheng, who was eating an orange.

"He, the captain of the city's special police unit, represents the face of the public security force!"

He twirled his finger around and finally pointed at the stunned Shu Yao.

Mr. He softened his tone, but remained extremely serious.

"And there's Yao Yao's father, Comrade Shu Jianguo, the deputy director of the Cultural Bureau. He was honest and upright his whole life, and never accepted a needle from anyone."

"Our two families are linked by marriage, and both of us have sensitive identities within the system."

Father He slammed his index finger on the table, raising his voice.

"What kind of private island did you go to, chartering a private jet, throwing such a lavish and wasteful party! Do you believe that before the wedding is even over, the provincial discipline inspection commission's investigation team will be inviting Shu Jianguo and me for tea the next day!"

His words hit the nail on the head.

This is a red line that must never be crossed within the system.

Whoever touches it will die.

Shen Minghua choked for a moment, and his expression changed.

Having spent so many years in the business world, she is well aware of the treacherous nature of officialdom.

Lao He is right.

Is it really necessary to flaunt wealth so ostentatiously?

That would be openly handing a knife to your political enemies, and could potentially drag your entire family down with you.

But she couldn't swallow her anger; she felt incredibly frustrated.

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

Shen Minghua let out a cold laugh, his tone sarcastic.

"Find a run-down roadside inn, set up two tables of big pot dishes, and put up two tattered red paper-cut 'double happiness' characters. Is that all it takes to marry a young, unmarried woman?"

She looked at Shu Yao, her face full of heartache.

"I can't bear to let my daughter-in-law suffer such a huge injustice. If word gets out, where will I, Shen Minghua, put my face? People in the industry will laugh their heads off, thinking that our He family has gone bankrupt."

Speechless after being rebuked, Mr. He picked up his teacup and gulped down a mouthful of water.

The two froze.

A clash of titans.

Neither side was willing to back down.

The air in the private room felt like solidified cement, making it hard to breathe.

Shu Yao sat next to her, still holding half of the tangerine that He Zheng had given her.

Orange juice clung to my fingertips, making them wet.

Her eyelids were lowered, her long eyelashes casting shadows in her eye sockets, and her mind was racing.

A wedding of the century held on a private island?

It sounds pretty cool, and it can greatly satisfy a woman's vanity.

But upon closer reflection...

That was a physically demanding job that was a real ordeal.

She hates being tired, she hates trouble, and she hates sweating the most.

Go to the beach? You'll get so sunburned you'll peel.

Wearing a haute couture wedding dress weighing dozens of kilograms, she walked along the soft sand, her steps uneven.

They also have to fake a smile for over ten hours in front of hundreds of business tycoons and political relatives they don't even know.

A sea breeze blows, and carefully styled hair becomes a mess, like a bird's nest.

Sweat soaked through her clothes, ruining her expensive makeup.

They also had to pose in all sorts of contorted and stiff ways for the photographer, and be stared at and photographed like monkeys.

Just imagine that chaotic scene.

Shu Yao felt suffocated.

She doesn't want to suffer that foreign torment.

Moreover... everything He's father said made perfect sense.

Shu Jianguo is a vain and cowardly intellectual who always refuses to accept holiday benefits from the bureau.

They really want to make such a big fuss as chartering a plane for their wedding.

Shu Jianguo estimated that he would have a heart attack on the spot from fright.

This matter must be resolved, and resolved beautifully.

Now that she has taken Shen Minghua's shop worth tens of millions, she also has He Zheng's credit card with a limit of one million in her bag.

You have to demonstrate your value.

You need to demonstrate skills worthy of this dowry.

A wealthy family's daughter-in-law.

It's not enough to just be pretty to secure a position.

You need to be smart, know how to resolve things, and have a voice in this family.

Shu Yao pulled out a high-quality wet wipe from the table and slowly wiped the orange juice off her fingertips.

I took a deep breath.

She stood up, gently smoothing out the wrinkles at the hem of her white suit, and walked around her chair.

He walked over to Father He, picked up the purple clay teapot on the table, and tilted his wrist slightly.

The dark red tea flowed from the spout and landed steadily in Father He's cup.

The sound of the water was crisp and pleasant.

"Dad, have some tea and calm down."

Shu Yao spoke, her voice gentle and clear.

Like jade striking each other, they showed no fear whatsoever.