Chapter 11: No One Would Dare Criticize Xie Chenzhou...

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 The wedding march played by the live band filled the air.  

Shen Shuyi held onto Xie Chenzhou’s arm and, guided by the officiant, walked step by step down the aisle to the rhythm of the music before stopping at the altar at the end.  

The officiant announced, “Please recite your vows.”  

Shen Shuyi took the script from the officiant, and together with Xie Chenzhou, they looked at the wedding vows printed in the center.  

They were the same as the ones they had recited when they registered their marriage the day before.  

Xie Chenzhou was a man of few words, so for Shen Shuyi, watching him solemnly recite such a long vow was a somewhat surreal experience. Yet, just like yesterday, Xie Chenzhou spoke each word with gravity.  

His voice was deep, cold yet clear, flowing smoothly as he read the lengthy vows. Somehow, his tone carried a hint of inexplicable tenderness, like a single flower swaying in the wind atop a snow-covered mountain in the dead of winter.  

But the intimidating aura around him remained. Shen Shuyi noticed that many guests seated along the aisle had already left early due to the overwhelming pressure of Xie Chenzhou’s pheromones.  

Xie Chenzhou’s pheromones were extraordinarily potent. Unfortunately, Shen Shuyi couldn’t smell a thing.  

"I vow to stand by you, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer… to cherish and remain faithful, for as long as we both shall live."  

Once the vows were completed, applause and congratulations rose from the guests.  

Shen Shuyi caught the scent of roses in the air, mixed with the faint aroma of incense clinging to Xie Chenzhou.  

“Congratulations!”  

“Wishing you happiness…!”  

Some guests attempted to approach for small talk but were quickly deterred by Xie Chenzhou’s imposing presence.  

In contrast, Shen Shuyi’s father, Shen Yihang, and his stepmother were all smiles, mingling enthusiastically with the attendees. After all, for the Shen family, this marriage alliance was undeniably a profitable deal.  

Once the ceremony concluded, everyone moved indoors.  

The banquet hall of the Dorford Hotel was lavishly decorated, with every detail arranged to the highest standard. Guests took their seats as waiters began serving the courses.  

Having been up since dawn for styling and rehearsals, Shen Shuyi had gone the entire day without eating. Now, as dish after sumptuous dish was brought out, his stomach growled loudly in protest.  

“Sit.” Xie Chenzhou seemed to notice and firmly guided Shen Shuyi to his seat at the main table.  

“Shouldn’t we toast the guests?”  

Shen Shuyi was aware of the basic etiquette. After the ceremony, the newlyweds were expected to greet each table, offering drinks to elders and guests.  

Today’s guest list wasn’t excessively large, but most were important figures: family elders, business associates, and close friends. Shen Shuyi disliked socializing, but as one of the day’s main figures, he couldn’t avoid it.  

Xie Chenzhou repeated, “Sit and eat.”  

Then, he picked up an empty wine glass from Shen Shuyi’s side and walked off alone.  

Xie Chenzhou first approached the family tables of the Shen and Xie families.  

The Xie family had almost no representatives present, leaving the seats mostly occupied by Shen Yihang, Shen Shuyi’s stepmother, his eldest brother Shen Jinsheng, and Shen Shuhan.  

Shen Shuhan had been absent earlier but returned leisurely with a glass in hand just as Xie Chenzhou arrived.  

Shen Jinsheng, the eldest, spoke first on behalf of their father. “Why didn’t you bring Shuyi along?”  

“Exactly!” Shen Yihang frowned. “Shuyi is being terribly rude. What kind of host behaves this way?”  

“‘Being the host’ means having the final say in one’s own affairs,” Xie Chenzhou replied coolly. “He hasn’t eaten all day. I told him to sit and eat.”  

His tone left no room for argument. Though he spoke of “having the final say,” it was clear that he was the one making decisions for Shen Shuyi.  

No one would dare criticize Xie Chenzhou.  

Shen Yihang immediately fell silent.  

Stepmother Ye Mingxi subtly tugged at her husband’s sleeve. “How does this look?” she whispered. “Since when does only one of the newlyweds toast at a wedding banquet? People will think our child was raised without manners!”  

Shen Yihang’s frown deepened.  

Xie Chenzhou glanced at Ye Mingxi.  

That single look sent a chill down her spine. As an SSS-rank Omega, she was usually unaffected by Alpha pheromones. After all, Alpha pheromones typically only aroused or enticed Omegas, rarely intimidating them. Yet for the first time, she felt genuine fear, submission, and dread under an Alpha’s gaze.  

Trembling, she didn’t dare speak another word.  

Shen Jinsheng, observing the exchange, studied Xie Chenzhou thoughtfully.  

True enough, apart from the family tables, no one dared question Xie Chenzhou. Most guests simply smiled and praised the couple’s affection upon hearing that he wanted Shen Shuyi to eat first. Some even agreed that filling one’s stomach was more important.  

Xie Chenzhou didn’t ask for help, toasting several tables alone before Zhao Jian stepped in to shield him from further drinks, though few guests dared pressure him anyway, most settling for tea or soft drinks.  

Shen Shuyi couldn’t let Xie Chenzhou handle everything alone. After forcing down a few bites to regain some energy, he grabbed an empty glass and hurried after him.  

By the time he caught up, Xie Chenzhou had reached Sheng Hengye’s table.  

This table was mostly peers. Sheng Hengye, with his social butterfly tendencies, preferred sitting with friends rather than family.  

He was here as Shen Shuyi’s friend, so his seating didn’t matter much.  

Earlier, during the ceremony, he had openly disapproved of Xie Chenzhou, convinced that Shen Shuyi had been forced into this marriage, imagining some dramatic scenario where Xie Chenzhou and the Shen family had threatened him with homelessness if he refused. In his mind, he and Shen Shuyi were “allies against a common enemy.” So when Xie Chenzhou and Shen Shuyi approached, unlike the others, he didn’t stand to greet them.  

A few of Shen Shuhan’s friends, who also knew Shen Shuyi, some even having watched him grow up, were more polite. “Ah, President Xie! How should we address the younger Shen’s spouse? Brother-in-law? Congratulations!”  

Xie Chenzhou gave a slight nod. Shen Shuyi inexplicably sensed a flicker of satisfaction in his demeanor.  

The group then turned to Shen Shuyi. “Who would’ve thought Fourth Brother would marry before Shuhan? Oh no, Shuhan’s standards are so high. He’ll never find anyone now!”  

Luckily, Shen Shuhan wasn’t at the table, or he’d have exploded at that remark.  

“I heard Aunt Ye originally wanted to match Fifth Brother with President Xie?” one of Shen Shuhan’s friends added.  

“You mean Shen Xingyao? Tsk tsk!”  

They knew Shen Shuhan disliked Shen Xingyao, and so did Shen Shuyi. Among the five Shen siblings, the eldest brother and second sister were full siblings, but both were aloof and rarely interacted with the younger three. Shen Shuhan might be sharp-tongued, but he was still Shen Shuyi’s blood brother. If push came to shove, he’d help. Shen Xingyao, however, was Ye Mingxi’s only child. From birth, family resources had been subtly funneled to him, making him spoiled and arrogant. He looked down on everyone, especially Shen Shuhan and Shen Shuyi.  

Growing up, Shen Shuyi had lost count of how many fights Shen Xingyao had picked with Shen Shuhan. Despite the six-year age gap, they bickered like children.  

Shen Shuyi had often tried mediating, only to be blamed by all sides. Ye Mingxi scolded him for not stopping the fights, Shen Xingyao accused him of siding with Shen Shuhan, and Shen Shuhan berated him for not joining in.  

Eventually, Shen Shuyi stopped bothering.  

Now, in the Shen family, Shen Xingyao’s most hated person was Shen Shuhan, and vice versa.  

Naturally, Shen Xingyao looked down on Shen Shuyi too.  

Since Shen Shuhan disliked Shen Xingyao, his friends followed suit. “He’s not even as good as Shuhan. How could he be worthy of President Xie?”  

Earlier, when Xie Chenzhou had toasted the family tables, Shen Xingyao had been in the restroom and missed it. Upon returning and hearing about it, he hastily poured himself juice, hoping to exchange a few words with Xie Chenzhou. But before he could approach, he overheard Shen Shuhan’s friends mocking him.  

Furious, Shen Xingyao clenched his fists. Were they saying he wasn’t as good as Shen Shuhan, or even Shen Shuyi?  

Shen Shuhan was at least an Omega, but what was Shen Shuyi?  

Just a plain, ordinary Beta!  

He hated the Shen Shuhan-Shen Shuyi duo. If not for Shen Shuyi, with his mother’s efforts, Xie Chenzhou might have waited two years. Then he could have married him!  

He was the best candidate for the Shen-Xie alliance!  

Xie Chenzhou was only twenty-five, young enough to rely on suppressants for his ruts until Shen Xingyao came of age…  

No. Shen Shuyi was a Beta. Xie Chenzhou couldn’t even mark him!  

That meant Xie Chenzhou would have to depend on suppressants for life unless he divorced Shen Shuyi.  

Why should he?  

The thought made Shen Xingyao detest Shen Shuyi even more.  

Xie Chenzhou was a rare SSS+-rank Alpha, the head of the Xie family. How many SSS+-rank Alphas of his caliber existed in the world?  

He was Shen Xingyao’s ideal partner.  

What Omega wouldn’t want to marry such an Alpha?  

Too young to recognize the toxicity of his own mindset, Shen Xingyao had shackled himself to gender expectations, convinced that Shen Shuyi had stolen his dream.  

Blind with rage, he snatched a half-full bottle of strong liquor from a nearby table and stormed over before splashing it directly into Shen Shuyi’s face.  

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Translator note: 📌

I will be posting 2 chapters everyday at 9:30 PM ~ Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) zone.

Thank you for reading 💖 see you again in the next chapter~ cherries 😘