Chapter 1: My Ex-Girlfriend's Wedding

June 6th, the 8th day of the fifth lunar month, an auspicious day.

Dream Paris Cafe.

"Lu Chuan, my mom said, 500,000 yuan for the bride price, not a cent less."

"Lu Chuan, you have to believe me, I love you. I don't care if you have money or not, but my mom wants to give me some security."

"And the house your parents left you, transfer it to my name today. It needs to be in both my name and my mom's..."

Lu Chuan was a bit stunned. He’d just started dating this girl, and she was already asking for a bride price?

"Lu Chuan, what’s with that expression?"

"In your eyes, is our love not even worth 500,000?"

Lu Chuan rubbed his throbbing temples and took a deep breath.

The woman sitting opposite him—wearing a miniskirt, black silk stockings, a low-cut top, and sporting charming almond-shaped eyes—was Zhuang Lulu, his new girlfriend.

The two had met at a bar.

Half a month ago, egged on by hormones, Lu Chuan had gone to a bar to experience life.

As someone who had just blossomed into his first romance and had never dated before, how could his original self resist the temptation of a girl in a miniskirt and black silk stockings selling drinks?

Two glasses of foreign liquor later, he had spilled every detail about his ancestors going back eighteen generations.

When Zhuang Lulu learned that Lu Chuan’s parents were both deceased but he had inherited a house, she was overjoyed. That very night, Lu Chuan was in a relationship.

Half a month later, today, they were already talking marriage, and Zhuang Lulu was demanding the bride price.

"I don't have 500,000. I only have the house."

Zhuang Lulu smiled, as if she had been waiting for exactly those words: "That’s easy to fix. You can take out a loan. I know a company that specializes in bride price loans..."

Lu Chuan looked at the sweetly smiling Zhuang Lulu. He was now certain that she wasn't just after his house; she was running a scam.

Specializing in bride price loans...

Did she think he was a "pig-butchering" scam victim?

She clearly thought he was young, inexperienced, and didn't know the depths of a woman's heart.

"Are you even listening to me?"

"I'm listening," Lu Chuan grabbed the slim cigarette from in front of Zhuang Lulu. "I'm having one."

She leaned in slightly, intentionally or otherwise showing off her impressive cleavage: "500,000 isn't much. Or are you saying you don't love me at all, and you're stingy even with this little bit of money?"

*This little bit of money?*

Lu Chuan almost laughed out of anger.

A woman with such a "deep" chest certainly had a large appetite.

500,000? He wasn't even worth 500,000 if he sold himself.

"Zhuang Lulu, let's break up."

Zhuang Lulu froze for a moment, unable to believe Lu Chuan would suggest breaking up: "What’s wrong with you?"

"If you think 500,000 is too much, 400,000 is fine, but the house must be transferred today, in my name and my mom's."

After a pause, Zhuang Lulu added, "That’s the bottom line!"

"Don't worry, I'll reward you well tonight. You've always wanted to..."

*A reward?*

Lu Chuan stubbed out the cigarette and looked at Zhuang Lulu with a calm gaze: "Zhuang Lulu, let's just call it quits. I'm not a mark for your scam. I paid for everything during our outings these past few days, so you haven't lost anything."

"Lu Chuan... I didn't think of you as a mark. I really love you."

Lu Chuan turned his head to look out the cafe window. The sun was warm. Then, an SUV grew larger and larger in his line of sight.

*Crash!*

*Damn it!*

...

Haizhou City, Platinum Hotel.

The wedding banquet hall was packed with guests. White spotlights focused on the wedding aisle as the newlyweds walked slowly to the sound of the wedding march.

The snow-white wedding dress was dazzling under the lights, making Lu Chuan’s eyes blur and lose focus.

"Old Lu, Yang Lin’s ex-girlfriend is the one getting married, why are you so sentimental?"

"I told you back then that this woman wasn't the type to settle down. She couldn't hook Old Lu, so she went after Old Yang, and now she’s found some fifty-something-year-old geezer. Who knows if that bird can even sing anymore."

"Exactly. I say we shouldn't have come. Attending an ex-girlfriend's wedding—what were we thinking?"

Lu Chuan seemed not to hear his brothers' discussion at all. His expression was dull, and he did look a little bit sad.

"Don't say that, guys. Our school covers tuition and food, and we wear uniforms every day, so we save money on clothes. In four years of college, Old Yang gave all his money to this Song Yaoyao. Even if you raise a dog for four years, you’d have feelings for it, let alone a person."

"I told you we shouldn't have come to this bullshit wedding. Wouldn't it be better to go back and read case files?"

The voices of his brothers gradually became clear, and Lu Chuan’s thoughts returned to reality.

Turning his somewhat stiff neck, the light in Lu Chuan’s eyes gradually converged.

*I... I’ve actually transmigrated.*

A moment ago, Lu Chuan’s memory was still in the Dream Paris Cafe, and with a *bang*, his consciousness had awakened in this strange wedding scene.

Just now, his two lifetimes of memories were merging, which was why he had been in a daze.

Now that the memory fusion was complete, Lu Chuan understood the situation.

He was attending the wedding of his roommate’s ex-girlfriend.

Looking at the bride and groom drinking nuptial wine on stage, ten thousand "grass mud horses" galloped through Lu Chuan’s heart.

Having merged the memories of two lives, Lu Chuan was very clear about the entanglement between Yang Lin and Song Yaoyao.

The bride on stage was dignified and beautiful; she was the ex-girlfriend of his roommate, Yang Lin.

This woman was definitely a piece of work. She had broken up with Yang Lin just last week, was getting married today, and had even sent invitations to Yang Lin’s entire dorm, asking them to attend.

Lu Chuan and the others were students at the Police University. Song Yaoyao was from the neighboring Art Academy, and they had met during a mixer in their freshman year.

To be specific, Song Yaoyao had tried to pursue Lu Chuan but failed, so she settled for his roommate, Yang Lin.

Actually, Yang Lin was a good catch—he was handsome, and there were plenty of police academy girls chasing him.

But a group of female students studying criminal investigation and autopsies couldn't compete with a dance student from the Art Academy when it came to chasing men.

Song Yaoyao majored in dance and had many performances during college, occasionally working as a part-time model.

A year ago, while working as a car show model, she met the groom on stage—Wang Dahu, the manager of this very Platinum Hotel.

Having accepted the reality of his transmigration, Lu Chuan looked at Yang Lin beside him and shook his head: "Old Yang, I have a suggestion for you."

"A suggestion?"

Yang Lin downed a glass of white liquor: "What suggestion?"

"We each chip in 3,000 yuan to make a 10,000 yuan gift. Consider it your blessing to that woman."

"A 10,000 yuan gift?"

Yang Lin stared at Lu Chuan in astonishment: "Old Lu, are you crazy? That old man snatched my girlfriend, and I’m supposed to give them a 10,000 yuan red envelope?"

Lu Chuan looked at the grinning groom on stage and shook his head: "This groom isn't having it easy either. Getting married at his age because of a pregnancy—who knows whose child it is? As the bride's ex-boyfriend, giving a 10,000 yuan gift is also a hope that the old man will treat the child well in the future."

The other two brothers heard Lu Chuan and widened their eyes: "Damn, Old Lu, that’s a killer move!"

"Holy crap, the bride is getting married, and the ex-boyfriend gives a 10,000 yuan gift? What’s the motive?"

"Old Yang, Old Lu’s move is brilliant. If I were you, I’d give another 100,000 yuan red envelope when the baby turns one month old!"

As they joked, Yang Lin’s mood gradually lifted.

Of course, the 10,000 yuan gift was just talk. If they really had 10,000 yuan, they’d rather feed it to a dog and watch it wag its tail.

As they chatted, they planned to leave, but were blocked by the newlyweds, who had just changed into their toasting outfits.

"Little Yang, right?"

Wang Dahu was over fifty, his Mediterranean hairstyle consisting of only three hairs plastered to his scalp. He grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth that were somewhat nauseating, while the beautiful bride snuggled up to him: "I heard from Yaoyao that you took good care of her during college. I’ll thank you on her behalf. Come, come, have a drink of our wedding wine."

"Also, here is 100,000 yuan. Consider it Yaoyao paying you back for these past few years."

Although Yang Lin’s family wasn't wealthy, all tuition and miscellaneous fees at the Police University were waived, and there were even stipends.

With the pocket money his parents gave him and the money he earned from work-study, he had given Song Yaoyao about 2,000 yuan a month.

After speaking, a man in black beside Wang Dahu handed over ten stacks of hundred-yuan bills, then deliberately dropped them on the ground after extending them toward Yang Lin.

"Old man, you..."

Facing such provocation, Yang Lin’s eyes turned red. It was one thing to steal his girlfriend, but to come over and flaunt it? How could Yang Lin stand for that?

He was about to rush forward.

Lu Chuan’s eyes were also filled with anger. Song Yaoyao was no good, and it was for the best that she and Yang Lin had broken up.

But now, at the wedding, with so many people watching, if Yang Lin really made a move, not to mention whether he could gain the upper hand, if a fight broke out, he would lose the police uniform he had just put on.

Fighting during his internship would mean Yang Lin would never have a chance to become a full-time officer.

Seeing the smile in Wang Dahu’s eyes, Lu Chuan felt a chill. This old man was doing it on purpose!

He was deliberately provoking Yang Lin, wanting him to strike first so he could ruin his life!

*Hmph!*

"Old Yang! Calm down!"

Since he saw through Wang Dahu’s intentions, Lu Chuan naturally wouldn't let him succeed.

"Old Lu! Don't stop me! I have to teach him a lesson today!"

Yang Lin, who was already hot-tempered, couldn't suppress his rage after his girlfriend of four years married an old man and then was humiliated with money.

Lu Chuan understood Yang Lin’s feelings, but he couldn't let him fight. The person behind Wang Dahu was already holding a phone and filming them.

"Yang Lin! Stop pestering me."

Song Yaoyao, snuggled against Wang Dahu, looked up slightly and looked at Yang Lin with contempt: "When I was in college, you sent me money every month to pursue me. I wouldn't accept it, so you just transferred it to me."

"Two thousand yuan a month, that’s 100,000 yuan over four years. I’m married now, so please don't harass me in the future."

*What?*

Lu Chuan and the others stared at Song Yaoyao. Yang Lin spent money to pursue you?

*Holy crap!*

Who was the one who shamelessly chased him to school, danced on the playground at night, and pretended to twist her ankle in the middle of the night to make Yang Lin stay with her?

Was there a more shameless woman in the world?

"Ah!" Yang Lin’s eyes widened in fury: "You pair of dogs, I’m going to kill you!"

Held back by Lu Chuan, Yang Lin struggled hard: "Old Yang, calm down!"

"Old Lu, calm down my ass, they..."

"Old Yang, they just want to provoke you into striking first. If you fall for it, you’ll never be a police officer!"

Hearing Lu Chuan mention the police, Yang Lin’s struggle finally weakened. He was from the countryside; if he really ruined his career for this woman, how could he face his parents?

"Old Yang, trust me, I’ll handle this!"

Yang Lin looked at Lu Chuan’s firm, powerful gaze, and remembering Lu Chuan’s family background, he subconsciously nodded.

"Song Yaoyao, you and Old Yang had four years of history. Do you really have to be like this?"

Lu Chuan let go of Yang Lin and looked solemnly at Song Yaoyao. Honestly, she was indeed beautiful—a pointed chin, long legs, and a tear mole at the corner of her eye.

Song Yaoyao covered her mouth and sneered: "History? Lu Chuan, he and I were never from the same world. Inviting you all to my wedding today was just to let you poor cops have a good meal. You’ve probably never eaten lobster and abalone this big, right?"

"Don't worry, if you think 100,000 isn't enough," Song Yaoyao looked at Wang Dahu, acting coquettish: "Honey, these little cops only make three or four thousand a month. For my sake, give him another 20,000."

"Haha, alright, alright, my baby has spoken. Forget 20,000, I’d give 200,000 or 2 million!"

Wang Dahu laughed and turned to his henchman: "Give this poor kid another 20,000!"

*Slap!*

This time, two stacks of cash were thrown directly onto Yang Lin’s chest. The scattered bills seemed like a clown, silently mocking his weakness and poverty.