As the wedding rapidly approached, Sun Lixia, Li Yanyan, and Mu Lingling tirelessly orchestrated the preparations to ensure that Li Chen and Zhang Mei’s special day would be unforgettable. With the date drawing near, Zhang Mei and Mu Lingling had already settled into their new villa, a gift from Li Chen as part of their betrothal.

Mu Lingling gently urged Zhang Mei to sit down, her voice soothing. "Sit down, Mei. We’ll find another dress."

Zhang Mei nervously bit her fingers, frustration evident on her face. "But Mom, I loved that dress. Why would they sell a dress I had already paid for?"

"It’s okay, sweetie," Mu Lingling reassured her daughter, her tone comforting. "Tomorrow, we’ll go and search for another dress. Perhaps you’ll find something even more beautiful than the one before."

Zhang Mei let out a heavy sigh, the disappointment lingering in her expression. "Have you told Li Chen about this?" Mu Lingling inquired.

Zhang Mei shook her head. "No, Aunt Lixia and Aunt Yanyan are already busy finalizing things for the wedding. I don’t want to stress them with this."

Mu Lingling nodded understandingly, her maternal instincts kicking in as she sought to shield her daughter from unnecessary worries during such a momentous time. With determination in her heart, she resolved to make sure that Zhang Mei’s wedding day would be nothing short of perfect, even if it meant navigating unexpected challenges along the way.

Zhang Mei stood up, a sense of urgency in her demeanor. "I have to go, Mom," she declared.

Mu Lingling immediately offered her support. "Let me come with you," she insisted, concern evident in her voice.

Zhang Mei nodded gratefully. "Sure."

Together, they left the villa, accompanied by their driver and guard, arrangements made by Zhu Fengrui. Li Chen had taken every precaution to ensure Zhang Mei’s safety, especially in light of the ongoing threat posed by assassins targeting his family and the mysterious transmigrators. Despite the recent encounter with one such transmigrator, who had since retreated, Li Chen remained vigilant, wary of any potential threat that could endanger Zhang Mei.

As Mu Lingling patiently waited, Zhang Mei tried on gown after gown, her hope slowly waning with each disappointment. But just as she was about to give up, a glimmer of possibility emerged.

"We have a wedding gown, once worn by a princess in Japan, but the price is very high," the shop assistant mentioned.

Zhang Mei’s interest piqued. "Can I see it?" she requested eagerly.

The shop assistant disappeared momentarily and returned with the gown in hand. As Zhang Mei laid eyes on it, her heart skipped a beat. "The gown comes with this tiara, which I think will look very good on you. You will be a princess," the shop assistant remarked.

Zhang Mei was instantly enamored with the ensemble. "How much for both?" she inquired, her excitement tinged with apprehension.

"2.5 million yuan," the shop assistant replied matter-of-factly.

Zhang Mei’s eyes widened in shock. "What?" she exclaimed, her dreams suddenly feeling out of reach.

The shop assistant’s expression softened. "Can’t afford it," Zhang Mei apologized, her disappointment evident.

But just as she finished speaking, a male voice interjected confidently, "She will take it." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Startled, Zhang Mei turned around to see Sun Fang standing there, his presence unexpected yet strangely comforting in that moment of uncertainty. With a mixture of surprise and gratitude, she couldn’t help but wonder what had prompted him to intervene in such a generous manner.

Zhang Mei hesitated, touched by Sun Fang’s unexpected gesture. "Sun Fang... It’s okay, I will get a cheaper dress," she insisted, feeling a sense of unease at the thought of such an extravagant purchase.

Sun Fang’s smile remained unwavering as he gently countered, "How can a Sun daughter-in-law wear a cheap dress? That would be embarrassing, now wouldn’t it?"

Zhang Mei’s brows furrowed in concern. "But the dress is 2.5 million?" she pointed out, feeling overwhelmed by the exorbitant cost.

Sun Fang simply shrugged, his confidence unwavering. "So? Besides, Grandpa has been talking non-stop about how this will be the wedding of the century. It needs this dress to be one," he reasoned.

Gratitude welled up within Zhang Mei as she looked at Sun Fang with renewed appreciation. "Thank you," she murmured sincerely.

Sun Fang waved off her thanks with a casual gesture. "No need for thanks. We are family now. You are my sister-in-law," he declared warmly.

The shop assistant, beaming with delight, chimed in, "Mr. Sun, so you will be paying?"

Sun Fang nodded, retrieving his card and handing it to the shop assistant, who quickly processed the transaction. As Zhang Mei watched, a sense of awe and gratitude washed over her, realizing that she had found not only a generous brother-in-law but also a supportive family willing to go to great lengths to ensure her happiness on this special day.

After the transaction was completed, Zhang Mei introduced Sun Fang to her mother. "Mom, this is Sun Fang, Li Chen’s cousin," she explained.

Mu Lingling nodded warmly. "Nice to meet you, young man, and thank you," she said gratefully.

Sun Fang returned the gesture with a polite smile. "Don’t mention it, Aunty," he replied.

Curious, Zhang Mei inquired, "Were you here to get something?"

Sun Fang shrugged casually. "Came here looking for a suit, actually. I saw you entering and decided to say hello, then I saw that scene," he explained.

Zhang Mei’s expression softened with appreciation. "Oh, thank you again," she said sincerely.

"It’s okay. I have to go now," Sun Fang announced, bidding them farewell as he continued on his way.

With a sense of relief and gratitude, Zhang Mei carefully held onto her wedding gown, not willing to take any chances of leaving it behind like last time. As they headed home, both Zhang Mei and Mu Lingling wore smiles, the worry about the wedding gown now a thing of the past, replaced by anticipation and excitement for the upcoming wedding.

In a secluded corner of the mall, a man dressed in a black suit observed the scene unfolding before him. With a sense of urgency, he retrieved his phone and dialed a number. After a moment, Jiang Xiaolin answered the call. "Yes?" he said curtly.

"She got a new dress," the man reported.

Jiang Xiaolin’s voice boomed with frustration. "What? And why didn’t you stop it?" he demanded.

The man responded quickly, "Second Young Master Sun was at the scene. I couldn’t do anything, and she has a guard with her."

Jiang Xiaolin sighed heavily, his irritation evident. "Fine, keep monitoring her," he instructed before ending the call. With a sense of determination, he knew that their plans had to adapt to this unexpected development, and he was prepared to do whatever it took to ensure their success.

*****************************

In her room, Jiang Xiaolin’s scream echoed through the walls as she received the unsettling call. Fuming with rage, she flung items across the room, causing alarm. Hearing the commotion, her mother rushed into the room, her face etched with concern.

"What’s wrong? Why are you so worked up?" Madame Jiang inquired anxiously.

Jiang Xiaolin’s voice trembled with frustration as she spoke. "She bought a new dress, Mom. I can’t allow it. I can’t allow this wedding to happen," she exclaimed vehemently.

Madame Jiang regarded her daughter with a mixture of sympathy and exasperation. "You really are hell-bent on marrying Li Chen?" she remarked, her tone tinged with resignation.

Jiang Xiaolin’s eyes flashed with determination. "I can never play with something like this. A man like him belongs with a woman like me, not some peasant like that girl," she declared vehemently.

Madame Jiang sighed deeply, contemplating her daughter’s predicament. "Well, you can do things differently," she suggested cryptically.

Jiang Xiaolin’s curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?" she inquired eagerly.

Madame Jiang leaned in and whispered something into Jiang Xiaolin’s ear. As the plan unfolded in her mind, Jiang Xiaolin’s smirk grew wider. This was a perfect plan, one that had the potential to change everything. Why hadn’t she thought of it from the beginning?

With a newfound determination fueled by her mother’s whispered plan, Jiang Xiaolin plotted her next move. As she envisioned the unfolding scheme, a devious smirk played upon her lips. This revelation marked a turning point, one that promised to disrupt the impending wedding between Li Chen and Zhang Mei. With her resolve strengthened and a cunning strategy in mind, Jiang Xiaolin prepared to execute her plan with precision. Little did anyone suspect the depths of her ambition or the lengths to which she would go to achieve her goals. The stage was set for a game of manipulation and deceit, and Jiang Xiaolin was ready to play.

As Jiang Xiaolin laid out her intricate scheme, a sense of satisfaction washed over her. She knew that her next move would be crucial in altering the course of events. With determination burning in her eyes, she vowed to stop at nothing to ensure that her desires would be realized, no matter the cost.