June 6th, the eighth day of the fifth lunar month, an auspicious day.
Dream Paris Cafe.
"Lu Chuan, my mom said it, half a million as the bride price, not a penny 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 should have both mine and my mom's names on it…"
Lu Chuan was a bit bewildered. They just started dating, and they're already discussing bride prices?
"Lu Chuan, what's with that expression?"
"Is our love not even worth half a million in your eyes?"
Lu Chuan rubbed his throbbing temples and took a deep breath.
Across from him was a woman in a miniskirt, high heels, black stockings, and a low-cut top, with alluring almond-shaped eyes. Her name was Zhuang Lulu, Lu Chuan's newly found girlfriend.
They met in a bar.
Half a month ago, driven by hormones, Lu Chuan went to a bar to experience life.
Never having been in a relationship before, his original self had no resistance to the allure of short-skirted, black-stockinged ladies selling drinks.
After two glasses of foreign wine, he revealed everything about himself.
When Zhuang Lulu learned that Lu Chuan's parents had passed away but left a house, she was overjoyed. That very night, Lu Chuan fell in love.
Half a month later, they're already discussing marriage, with Zhuang Lulu preparing to demand bride price.
"I don't have half a million, just the house."
Zhuang Lulu smiled, as if waiting for this: "That's easy. You can get a loan. I know a company that specializes in bride price loans…"
Watching the beaming Zhuang Lulu, Lu Chuan could now be certain that she not only wanted his house but was also planning to scam him.
Specializing in bride price loans…
Did she think of him as an easy target?
Did they think he was too young and naive to understand women?
"Are you even listening to me?"
"I'm listening," Lu Chuan said, grabbing the slim cigarette in front of Zhuang Lulu: "Let me have one."
She moved slightly closer, intentionally or unintentionally showcasing her impressive cleavage: "Half a million isn't much. Or do you not love me at all, not willing to spend even that little money?"
That little money?
Lu Chuan almost laughed in anger.
A woman with such a figure surely has a big appetite.
Half a million, selling himself wouldn't be worth that.
"Zhuang Lulu, let's break up."
Zhuang Lulu was stunned, not believing Lu Chuan would break up with her: "What's gotten into you?"
"If you think half a million is too much, four hundred thousand would do, but the house must be transferred today, with both mine and my mom's names."
After a pause, Zhuang Lulu added: "That's the bottom line!"
"Don't worry, I'll properly reward you tonight. Haven't you always wanted…"
Reward?
Lu Chuan stubbed out the cigarette, looking calmly at Zhuang Lulu: "Zhuang Lulu, let's leave it at this. I'm not an easy target. The past few days it was my money we used for fun. You didn't lose out."
"Lu Chuan… I never thought of you as a target. I truly love you."
Lu Chuan turned his gaze outside the cafe window. The sunshine was warm, and then he saw a Jeep coming into view, getting bigger and bigger.
Bang!
Damn!
...
Platinum Han Grand Hotel in Haizhou City.
The wedding banquet hall was filled with guests. White spotlights focused on the wedding aisle as the couple slowly approached to the tune of a blissful wedding march.
The pure white wedding dress was dazzling under the lights, making Lu Chuan's vision blurry and unfocused.
"Old Lu, why are you so emotional about Yang Lin's ex-girlfriend getting married?"
"I always said that woman wasn't a hen that lays eggs quietly. She couldn't get Old Lu, then went for Old Yang, and now she's found some guy over fifty. Who knows if that turkey can still crow?"
"Exactly, we shouldn't have come at all. Attending an ex-girlfriend's wedding, what were we thinking?"
Lu Chuan seemed to not hear his friends' discussions at all, his expression dazed, looking somewhat sad indeed.
"Guys, let's drop it. Our school waived tuition and meal fees, and we wore uniforms every day. We saved on clothing costs. For four years, Old Yang spent all his money on this Song Yaoyao. Even a dog would become attached after four years, let alone a person?"
"I said we shouldn't have come to this damn wedding, wouldn't diving back into case files be more satisfying?"
The voices of his friends gradually became clearer, and Lu Chuan's thoughts returned to reality.
Turning his stiff neck, the light in Lu Chuan's eyes gradually focused.
I've… time-traveled, damn it.
A moment ago, Lu Chuan's memories were still at Dream Paris Cafe. But with a bang, when his consciousness woke up again, he was at this unfamiliar wedding scene.
And just now, was the moment when Lu Chuan's memories from two lifetimes merged, causing his dazed expression.
Now, with the memory fusion complete, Lu Chuan understood the situation.
He was attending a wedding of his dormmate's ex-girlfriend.
Watching the bride and groom on stage drinking their ceremonial wine, Lu Chuan could mentally picture a thousand WTFs flying through his mind.
With the fused memories, Lu Chuan was very clear about the romantic entanglements between Yang Lin and Song Yaoyao.
The bride on stage was elegant and pretty, Yang Lin's ex-girlfriend from Lu Chuan's dormitory.
This woman was quite something; she broke up with Yang Lin last week, and today she was getting married, even inviting Yang Lin's whole dorm to the wedding.
Lu Chuan and his friends were students at the Public Security University, and Song Yaoyao was from the neighboring School of Art. They met during a freshman mixer.
Specifically, Song Yaoyao pursued Lu Chuan unsuccessfully, and later ended up with Lu Chuan's roommate, Yang Lin.
Actually, Yang Lin is quite eligible. He's good-looking, and he had plenty of female police academy students chasing him in college.
But how could a bunch of criminal investigation and forensic students compete with dance students from the School of Art when it comes to pursuing men?
Song Yaoyao studied dance. During college, she had several performances and occasionally worked part-time as a model.
A year ago, Song Yaoyao met the groom, who is the manager of this Platinum Han Hotel, Wang Dahua, while working as a part-time car show model.
Having integrated his memories, Lu Chuan had come to terms with the reality of his time-travel, and he looked at Yang Lin beside him and shook his head: "Old Yang, let me give you some advice."
Advice?
Yang Lin downed a glass of white wine: "What advice?"
"Let's each contribute three thousand bucks, making a total of ten thousand as our gift money, as your blessing to that woman."
Ten thousand in gift money?
Yang Lin stared at Lu Chuan in shock: "Old Lu, are you crazy? That old man stole my girlfriend, and I'm supposed to give him a ten thousand buck red envelope?"
Lu Chuan shook his head as he looked at the groom on the stage who was grinning: "This groom doesn't have it easy either, getting married because of a pregnancy at such an age. Who knows whose kid it is? As the ex-boyfriend of the bride, offering ten thousand in gift money is also a hope that the old man will treat the child better in the future."
The other two friends, upon hearing Lu Chuan, widened their eyes: "Damn, Old Lu, this move really hits where it hurts!"
"Holy crap, the ex-boyfriend gives a ten thousand gift at the wedding? What's the intention?"
"Old Yang, Old Lu's move is brilliant. If I were you, I'd give a hundred thousand red envelope when the child is born!"
While joking around, Yang Lin's mood gradually lifted from his slump.
Of course, the idea of giving a ten thousand gift was just talk. If they actually had ten thousand bucks, they'd rather feed it to a dog and watch it wag its tail.
As they chatted, the group was about to leave the scene but was stopped by the newly changed bride and groom.
"You're Yang, right?"
Wang Dahua was already over fifty, sporting a Mediterranean hairstyle with only three strands of hair sticking to his scalp. His grin revealed a mouthful of yellow teeth, which was quite nauseating, yet he was accompanied by a beautifully charming bride: "Yaoyao told me how you took care of her during your years in college. I thank you on her behalf, come, have a glass of our wedding wine."
"And, here's a hundred thousand, consider it as Yaoyao repaying you for the past few years."
Yang Lin's family wasn't wealthy, but Public Security University waived all his tuition and fees. On top of that, he received stipend subsidies.
The pocket money his parents gave him, plus the money he earned from work-study programs, which was around two thousand a month, all went to Song Yaoyao.
After saying that, a man in black beside Wang Dahua handed over ten stacks of hundred-yuan bills and deliberately dropped them on the floor in front of Yang Lin.
"You old bastard, you…"
Faced with this provocation, Yang Lin's eyes turned red. It was one thing to steal someone, but to boast like this—how could Yang Lin tolerate it?
He was about to charge forward.
Lu Chuan, too, was filled with anger. Separating from Song Yaoyao was not a bad thing for Yang Lin.
But now, at this wedding, with so many people watching, if Yang Lin really made a move, regardless of the outcome, if a fight broke out, he'd have to take off the police uniform he just put on.
Getting into a fight during the internship would mean Yang Lin might never get his permanent assignment in this lifetime.
Seeing the smirk in Wang Dahua's eyes, Lu Chuan felt a chill in his heart. The old man was doing it on purpose!
He intended to provoke Yang Lin, wanting him to make the first move, to ruin his life!
Humph!
"Old Yang! Stay calm!"
Seeing through Wang Dahua's intention, Lu Chuan certainly wouldn't let him succeed.
"Old Lu! Don't stop me. Today, I really need to teach him a lesson!"
Yang Lin, who was already somewhat hot-tempered, was now dealing with the sudden marriage of his four-year girlfriend to an old man and being publicly humiliated. Not giving this old man a beating, he couldn't quell the anger in his heart!
Lu Chuan understood Yang Lin's feelings, but now was really not the time to act. Wang Dahua's people were already filming them with a phone.
"Yang Lin! Stop pestering me!"
Nestled against Wang Dahua, Song Yaoyao lifted her head slightly, looking at Yang Lin with a contemptuous expression: "When I was in college, you pursued me and gave me money each month. When I refused, you transferred it to me."
"Two thousand a month for four years only amounts to ten thousand. I'm getting married now. Please don't disturb me anymore."
Gah?
Lu Chuan and the others widened their eyes at Song Yaoyao. Was Yang Lin spending money to chase you?
My God!
Who was it back then who shamelessly pursued the boy to his school, dancing on the playground at night, acting all pitiful with a sprained ankle to get Yang Lin to stay overnight?
Is there really such a shameless woman in the world?
"Ah!" Yang Lin's eyes widened in anger: "You two are just a pair of dogs. I swear I'll beat you up!"
Yang Lin struggled to break free as Lu Chuan held him: "Old Yang, calm down!"
"Old Lu, how can I calm down? They…"
"Old Yang, they want to provoke you into making the first move. If you take the bait, you won't make it as a cop!"
Hearing Lu Chuan mention the police, Yang Lin's struggles weakened. Coming from the countryside, if he were to ruin a secure job over this woman, how would he face his parents?
"Old Yang, trust me, I'll handle this!"
Looking into Lu Chuan's firm and powerful gaze, and recalling Lu Chuan's family background, Yang Lin instinctively nodded.
"Song Yaoyao, you and Old Yang had four years of relationship. Do you really have to be like this?"
Lu Chuan released Yang Lin and solemnly looked at Song Yaoyao. To be honest, she was indeed beautiful, with a pointed chin, long legs, and a tear mole at the corner of her eye.
Song Yaoyao covered her mouth and sneered: "Feelings? Lu Chuan, I was never part of his world. Inviting you all to my wedding today was just to let you poor cops have a good meal. It's your first time eating such big lobsters and abalone, right?"
"Don't worry, if you think ten thousand isn't enough…" Song Yaoyao looked at Wang Dahua, acting spoilt: "Honey, these small cops only make three to four thousand a month. For my sake, give him another twenty thousand."
"Haha, alright, alright, alright. My darling spoke—whether it's twenty thousand, two hundred thousand, or two million, I'd give it!"
Wang Dahua laughed, turning to his sidekick: "Give this poor fellow another twenty thousand!"
Bang!
This time, two stacks of cash were directly thrown at Yang Lin's chest, the scattered bills mocking silently, highlighting their feeble poverty.