The CEO's Substitute Wife Is A Genius-Chapter 375 What? A Ghost Marriage!?

Jiang Man hadn’t quite figured out Fang Yuheng’s motive for murder when the elder matriarch, Meng Lian, and Lu Xuemei hurried over.

Seeing Meng Lian, Wen Jingya finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She threw herself into Meng Lian’s embrace, sobbing uncontrollably.

The elder matriarch stood squarely in the midst, her aura fully unleashed, truly deserving the authority of a Family Head.

"Since the incident has occurred, let both parties negotiate a solution that satisfies everyone. Bickering and fighting won’t solve the problem."

"Yes, yes," Lu Xuemei nodded in agreement.

Seeing the elder matriarch so reasonable and understanding, the Zhang Family softened their stance appreciably.

"You must be Zhang Jianwen’s mother? And you are his father? Please state your terms; don’t hesitate," the elder matriarch said solemnly.

With her taking the lead, Lu Xingzhou naturally stepped back, aligning himself next to Jiang Man with the air of a spectator, yet ready at a moment’s notice to heed his grandmother’s word.

Zhang Jianwen’s parents were not locals, and spoke with a thick Eastern City accent.

"Any terms will do?" Zhang’s mother asked, testing the waters.

The elder matriarch nodded: "Any."

She was confident. With the Lu Family’s vast wealth and resources, it was likely the other party simply wanted money—even if they asked for an astronomical sum, the Lu Family could afford it.

"Mother, how could you promise them anything? What if they make outrageous demands..." Meng Lian whispered in concern to the elder matriarch, holding Wen Jingya’s hand.

Wen Jingya, filled with grievances and speaking with a pronounced nasal tone, said, "Grandma, their son did die on account of me, but they should take it up with Fang Yuheng, not cling to me like this. It’s a bit like they’re bullying the good and fearing the evil."

Initially, Zhang’s mother had calmed down quite a bit, thinking the Lu Family matriarch was a reasonable person.

But upon seeing the contemptible visages of Meng Lian and Wen Jingya, her inner turmoil rekindled, and she found herself unwilling to back down.

"I don’t want money!" she declared proudly. "My son died too unjustly; what’s the use, even if we demand tens of millions? Will he come back to life?"

"If you don’t want money, then what do you want?" Meng Lian asked, raising her voice slightly as she guarded her daughter.

The volume of Meng Lian’s voice had barely risen when the Zhang Family members immediately stepped forward with a fierce look.

On the other hand, Meng Lian had no one to provide cover.

She could only timidly pull Wen Jingya backward.

"I want her to marry my son!"

Zhang’s mother’s statement was explosive, stunning everyone into silence.

The hall went suddenly quiet because the people of the Lu Family hadn’t reacted yet.

"Marry your son? But he’s dead, how can she marry?"

"Right, he’s dead, so she can’t marry?" Zhang’s mother’s eyes were filled with a chilling light, her lips curving slightly—an unsettling sight.

"Do you mean... a ghost marriage?" Jiang Man, who hadn’t dared to utter a word, suddenly stammered.

"Yes, a ghost marriage! Our clan shrine has a rule that unmarried men cannot enter the family tomb. If she marries my son, he can rest in the family tomb in peace!"

Wen Jingya was going mad, not caring about the Lu Family’s dignity, and exploded on the spot, "What era is this to be carrying out a ghost marriage? I am the noble daughter of the Lu Family, you don’t reflect on your own status! Even when your son was alive, he wasn’t worthy of me, and even in death, he is less so!"

"Not worthy? Who was the one shamelessly inviting my son out? The girl here said it, you wanted to court my son!"

Zhang’s mother wasn’t provoked by Wen Jingya; instead, she remained clear-headed.

Her gaze was firm as she addressed the elder matriarch, "This boils down to how your family head views the situation. She committed an error and is unrepentant; marrying my son now would be her penance! If you don’t agree to my condition, fine, then we’ll see the media! There are quite a few journalists outside!"

As an observer, Jiang Man scoffed and shook her head.

It seemed the Zhang Family came prepared, having dug a pit for the Lu Family to fall into.

The killer wasn’t Wen Jingya, but if only she had been a bit more humble and won the sympathy of the Zhang Family, things wouldn’t have escalated to this point.

As for the Zhang Family, it was clear they were looking for a way to vent their anger.

"Those who bring ruin upon themselves cannot live," Jiang Man said indifferently.

"Lu Xingzhou, this isn’t our business to deal with."

"It’s not our concern," Lu Xingzhou replied, completely at ease with his hands in his pockets.

Both their attitudes were clear: Wen Jingya was already an adult, and the situation had arisen because of her. She should take responsibility and sort it out herself.

But there she was, like an unweaned child, hiding behind Meng Lian, waiting for an adult to step up for her.

"A ghost marriage? How could this be possible?" the elder matriarch immediately refused.

Even though Wen Jingya was just the Lu Family’s foster daughter, a ghost marriage would tarnish the Lu Family’s reputation even if she was not a direct descendant.

"You don’t agree? Well then, let’s blow this up!" Zhang’s mother declared.

At her words, a swarm of journalists uncontrollably barged in, regardless of the funeral home staff trying to block them.

Zhao Huai led security in an attempt to stop them, but seeing the BOSS had given no orders, they remained statue-like and immobile.

Instantly, the hall became unbearably hectic.

The Zhang Family covered Zhang Jianwen’s body with a white cloth and began to wail and sob, a mix of genuine despair and conscious performance.

Jiang Man genuinely admired the Zhang Family; even in the face of their son’s death, they pulled off such a move.

Looking again at Wen Jingya and Meng Lian—surrounded by journalists, they were already in disarray.

"Zhao Huai, protect the elder matriarch and escort her out," Lu Xingzhou finally gave the order.

Zhao Huai acted swiftly, leading several bodyguards to the elder matriarch.

When had the elder matriarch ever been surrounded like this?

Her ears were ringing, the reporters’ questions sharp and probing.

Thankfully, Zhao Huai arrived to rescue her, and she was ignominiously escorted out.

Stepping out of the funeral home, the elder matriarch was inwardly lamenting her situation.

Despite a lifetime of strong leadership, today she had ended up in such a sorry state.

And she couldn’t even complain.

After all, the other family had just lost someone. If she showed anger, wouldn’t she earn the label of a spiteful shrew?

"Grandma, let uncle and aunt handle this. We can’t be wiping their backsides for a lifetime," said Lu Xingzhou, following the chaotic crowd.

Holding Jiang Man’s hand, he commanded Zhao Huai to stay behind.

"You clean up this mess."

"Yes."

"Forget it, forget it," the elder matriarch finally let go, glancing back at the teeming crowd.

She was getting on in years and couldn’t handle some things.

Though she had considered entrusting Xingzhou with the matter, seeing that Xingzhou didn’t wish to be bothered, she decided to leave it to them.

Xingzhou was right: Yaobang was well into his years, not three anymore.

Their family should deal with their own affairs; it’s one thing for Xingzhou, the nephew, to occasionally help, but it’s quite another to expect it for a lifetime.

Seeing the elder matriarch and Lu Xingzhou—the two pillars—leaving, Meng Lian panicked: "Yaobang, what can we do?"

"I don’t know," responded Lu Yaobang, who had never faced such a confrontation.

Aside from pastimes like bird walking and cricket fighting, playing chess now and then, he had hardly ever managed any affairs.

His family always thought to leech off his nephew Lu Xingzhou; the thought of self-reliance had never crossed their minds.