The lights at the engagement party made my eyes ache.
I stood at the side door of the banquet hall and looked at the middle-aged woman with a hypocritical smile in front of me - my nominal aunt, Mrs. Shen. She held my hand and her tone was as gentle as coaxing a three-year-old child: "Zhiyi, if Ruoruo is not feeling well at the moment, please take her place during today's engagement party."
Not feeling well?
I almost laughed out loud. Three days ago, I saw Shen Ruoruo posting her flight ticket to the Maldives in her circle of friends with the caption, "Escape from family marriage, sister wants freedom." Are you telling me you don't feel well now? This excuse is even more perfunctory than "the dog ate my homework" when I was in elementary school.
But I didn't expose her.
Because I know my position in the Shen family very well. The legitimate daughter of the second wife of the Shen family? Well said. My father, Shen Mingyuan, had married into a large house a long time ago. My mother and I were the two extra people in the Shen family. Dafang needed a marriage tool to please the Gu Group. If Shen Ruoruo ran away, I, the "spare tire," would naturally be pulled out to take over.
"Auntie, isn't this appropriate?" I deliberately showed a embarrassed expression, "Mr. Gu's side..."
"I have already made an agreement with the Gu family that if something happens at the last minute, I will replace you." Mrs. Shen smiled more and more kindly, but the smile did not reach her eyes at all. "You just have to stand on the stage obediently, sign your name, and go through the motions. The Gu family will not embarrass you as a substitute."
Stand-in.
These two words are like a thorn in my heart. But I just smiled and nodded: "Okay, I will follow Auntie's arrangements."
