Mismatched Hearts: The Substitute Groom's Tale

Chapter 3: Please Advise

Jiang Liu, leaning against a column in the room with a nonchalant expression, stated, “It’s simple, I don’t appreciate being kissed out of the blue, taken advantage of, and then left without any responsibility.”

Hua Sheng blushed slightly; after all, that kiss was her first as well. But under those circumstances, with the priest’s prodding and so many eyes watching, could she have possibly fled?

Who knew this man would be so vindictive? A kiss, and he demands responsibility?

“Young Master Jiang, that was a move of desperation. If you feel wronged, you are welcome to kiss me back,” Hua Sheng said, holding back her anger.

“Kiss you back? You wish,” he retorted.

Hua Sheng was left speechless. How could there be such a shameless man in this world? A typical case of taking advantage and still acting wronged, but his logic was sound, leaving her no room to argue. She had no choice but to swallow her pride…

Seeing the little wild cat get angry again, Jiang Liu continued, “I know your Hua family is currently facing a financial crisis and urgently needs a large sum of money, which is why you were so eager to marry into the Xie family. Since the Xie family can provide, so can we, the Jiangs. Marrying me won’t be a loss for you, Hua Sheng. I can’t claim to be outstanding, but I am definitely better than that Xie scoundrel.”

“You would help my Hua family out of this predicament?”

This surprised Hua Sheng; she had been distant from her family since she was young. However, she had a strong bond with her grandmother, who was now distressed over the family's crisis. The elderly Madame Hua had even fallen ill and been hospitalized. Otherwise, Hua Sheng wouldn't have sacrificed her marriage to benefit the family; she wasn’t that noble.

Jiang Liu nodded.

“What are your conditions?” Hua Sheng asked.

“Become my wife, solidify this farce, turn the mistake into reality, make the fake marriage true,” Jiang Liu said decisively.

“For how long?” Hua Sheng's question took Jiang Liu by surprise.

He hadn't really thought about the duration. But to reassure Hua Sheng, he set a term, “At most three years. If after three years you don’t wish to stay with the Jiang family, I will grant you a divorce and your freedom.”

“Words are wind,” Hua Sheng was relentless.

“We can draw up a contract, but it must remain a secret, unknown to a third party,” Jiang Liu added a condition.

After five seconds of silence, Hua Sheng compromised, “Deal.”

Seeing Hua Sheng finally agree, Jiang Liu felt an unexpected emotion.

That was, this young woman would be an interesting person, fearing that after three years, their entanglement might deepen.

“So... please advise for the rest of my life,” Jiang Liu said this half-jokingly.

Hua Sheng stood up, then slowly turned her face towards him, correcting him seriously, “It’s three years.”

Her meaning was clear, reminding him that their marriage was only for three years, so he should not mention 'the rest of my life'.

But all of this was irrelevant. What mattered was, this was the first time Jiang Liu truly saw Hua Sheng’s face.

During the kiss, it was too quick; he hadn’t had the time to see properly as she had pulled down her veil immediately afterward. And she had been turning aside while speaking. But now, looking directly into each other's eyes was genuinely surprising.

Her appearance, her beauty... if described in four words, would be — breathtakingly beautiful.

Rumors had it that Miss Wu stuttered, but she spoke clearly and eloquently. Rumors had it Miss Wu was unattractive, but she was stunningly beautiful.

Hence, rumors are not to be believed…

Jiang Liu was not a lecher, but at the sight of Hua Sheng, he found himself mesmerized, unable to look away.

Three hours later, a piece of news exploded in the quiet city, overshadowing the scandal of Xie's second young master lingering in the company of a lover on his wedding day.

The news was that a substitute groom was grabbed at a wedding ceremony. What made it even more intriguing was the identity of the groom – none other than the crown prince of the Jiang city’s leading financial consortium, the foremost among the four major families.

Who exactly is this crown prince of the Jiang family? Not only is he a prized single lineage of five generations, but he is also reputed to be extraordinarily handsome with high IQ and EQ. A distinguished alumnus of Cambridge, he returned home at 23 to take over the family business and tripled its profits in just three and a half years, marking him as one of the few young entrepreneurs in the country destined to inherit the massive family empire.

And such a man had suddenly gotten married in a flash marriage? To the bride left by the infamous second son of the Xie family?

This was utterly unbelievable.

The crown prince of the Jiang family, who should be levels above the Xie’s second son, agreed to marry a woman not even deemed suitable by the latter? This was decidedly unscientific.

But in today's world, who cares about what’s scientific?

So, three hours later, this news dominated all major headlines, and the hot searches exploded with the title — Jiang Liu and Hua Xiaowu.

The Hua family, with its noble heritage, had seen its glory days. However, this generation seemed to be experiencing a decline in male heirs. Mr. Hua Zhenyue and Mrs. Xu Lihua had four daughters in a row. They were overjoyed at the birth of twins in the last pregnancy, hoping for a male heir, but the boy did not survive due to health issues, leaving behind the frail Xiaowu.

Miss Wu was inevitably considered an omen of misfortune. Shortly after birth, she was taken to Zhongcui Mountain by her grandmother.

Having not descended from the mountain for years, her relationship with her parents was somewhat strained.

Now, with the elderly Madame Hua seriously ill and the Hua family deep in financial crisis, a marriage alliance was seen as the only solution.

Upon hearing that they were to be married off to the notorious second son of the Xie family, the third and fourth Hua sisters immediately frowned and refused.

Then, everyone remembered the unnoticeable Xiaowu, who was deeply attached to her grandmother.

The elderly Madame Hua’s health had deteriorated, especially this year at the age of eighty-four. She worried about her granddaughter’s future without someone to care for her after her passing.

Hua Sheng remembered the words her grandmother had said to her in the hospital.

“Ah Sheng, grandma can’t look after you forever. This is also a good opportunity. I’ve had people check; although Xie’s second son has some flaws, the Xie family is prestigious. If you marry into their family, you will be well provided for your whole life. The lady of the Xie family is kind-hearted. If you could bear children for them, surely the Xie elders will not treat you poorly.”

Hua Sheng agreed to the arranged marriage partly out of selfishness, wanting to bring joy to her grandmother.

Even if it didn’t end well, she could at least fulfill her grandmother’s wish to see her married and repay her for years of care.

And partly because, despite her grandmother’s life of piety, she greatly valued the family's heritage and did not wish to see it decline.

So, she was willing to sacrifice her own happiness for the marriage.

Only, she hadn’t expected such a humiliating incident to occur on her wedding day.

Luckily, she caught a substitute... but why did this substitute seem so troublesome?

“Madam, Young Master Jiang has sent me to take you back to the Jiang residence,” Jiang Liu’s driver said, pulling up in a sleek black Bentley, snapping Hua Sheng back to reality.