After spending the entire afternoon, Yu Xiaoyao called for Qin Na, who was sitting nearby, yawning repeatedly.
“Done,” she smiled at the drowsy Qin Na.
“Oh!
“Qin Na lifted her face in surprise, ‘Ah! Our Yu Xiaoyao is back!’
Feeling everyone’s gaze in the shop, Yu Xiaoyao quickly dragged her out, saying, ‘Aren’t we going to buy clothes? We’ll be too late.’
‘Oh, right! Minsheng might not be closed yet, let’s hurry!’
…Weekend.
The engagement banquet of Xuebuki Zhizi had finally arrived.
Geng Yaoyang frowned at Yu Xiaoyao and Xilang’s all-black outfits. Xilang laughed, putting his arm around Yu Xiaoyao’s shoulder, and winked at Geng Yaoyang, ‘Don’t we look good together?’
‘I’m not familiar with funeral home staff,’ Geng Yaoyang muttered, pulling Yu Xiaoyao to a deserted corner and examining her new hairstyle.
Uncomfortable under his gaze, Yu Xiaoyao touched her face, wondering if something was wrong.
Geng Yaoyang suddenly pulled her into his embrace, kissing her slightly parted lips.
‘Mmm…’ Regaining her senses and realizing she’d been ambushed, Yu Xiaoyao instinctively raised her hand, not caring if her almost-newlywed friend’s face would bear her mark.
Just as Yu Xiaoyao’s fingers were about to reach Geng Yaoyang’s face, Xuebuki’s voice interrupted.
‘Xiaoyao, Yaoyang! So you’re here.’
Yu Xiaoyao didn’t dare look up and could only stare at her own toes.”
Ge Yaoyang straightened his clothes and smiled slightly at Yu Xiaoying, whose face was red, before walking away with Yukifuki Tomoko.
“It’s okay,” Xi Lang comforted her. “Yao has always been so enthusiastic!”
Yu Xiaoying followed Xi Lang back to the main hall, feeling confused about why the bride-to-be was calm seeing her groom with another woman.
“Xiaoying,” called out Song Chu and Lin Yichen.
“Hello,” she greeted them.
Seeing Yu Xiaoying’s straight hair, Song Chu’s eyes showed fleeting surprise but quickly concealed it.
“Xiaoying,” Lin Yichen approached, “I should personally thank you…”
“If you insist on thanking me, then I can only accept,” she replied with a smile.
Lin Yichen was taken aback but then laughed.
Yukifuki Tomoko rushed over and pulled Yu Xiaoying to a corner.
“Uh, Tomoko,” Yu Xiaoying said awkwardly.
“Xiaoying, I want you to be my bridesmaid,” Yukifuki Tomoko smiled sweetly.
Yu Xiaoying was almost moved to tears. How could Yukifuki Tomoko be so kind, not blaming her for the groom’s actions and asking her to be a bridesmaid?
“Tomoko,” Yu Xiaoying grabbed Yukifuki Tomoko’s hand, “I sincerely wish you and Ge Yaoyang happiness, just now… just now…”
“What??!!” Yukifuki Tomoko stared at her wide-eyed.
“Really! Really!” Yu Xiaoying considered swearing to show her sincerity.
Yukifuki frowned, “What are you talking about? Xiaoying, I’m engaged to Brother Qian Yu, not Yao.”
Yu Xiaoying was stunned. Qian Yu? Not Ge Yaoyang? What is going on here?
“Time’s up, so I’ll take your agreement as a yes,” Yukifuki said before running back to the main hall.
Confused, Yu Xiaoying stood still when Qin Na ran over and pulled her back.
“Nana!” Yu Xiaoying held her hand, “Who is getting engaged today?”
“Yukifuki and Ge Qian Yu, of course!” Qin Na rolled her eyes.
Yu Xiaoying mechanically offered her blessings to the new couple. When was she set up?
Just as she remained baffled, Song Chu approached her.
“Xiaoying, can you wait for me after it ends? I have something for you.”
Looking at Song Chu’s expectant eyes, Yu Xiaoying smiled faintly, “You can say what you want now.”
Song Chu dimmed and lowered his head, realizing he would never hold a place in her heart.
“Just this once, okay?” he pleaded, unable to meet her gaze.
Hearing the pleading tone, Yu Xiaoying couldn’t refuse and slightly nodded.
The banquet was almost over. Sneaking away unnoticed, Yu Xiaoying slipped to the small garden behind Ge Yaoyang’s house.
A tall figure waited by the stone bench.
“Xiaoying, you’re here?” His gentle voice carried intense passion as he looked at her with sparkling eyes.
“Something wrong?” Yu Xiaoying didn’t dare meet his gaze; that warm sunlight now belonged to someone else.
Song Chu stepped closer to her. “The new hairstyle suits you.”
“Are you here to discuss my hairstyle?” she retorted coldly, frustrated by his lack of sincerity.
“Song Chu hadn’t expected her to still be so ‘beautifully cold’ when they were alone. For a moment, his heart raced as he stared at her blankly.
‘I’m leaving.’ Yu Xiaoying turned to walk away.
‘Xiaoying!’ Song Chu anxiously reached out to grab her, pulling Yu Xiaoying stumbling into his embrace.
Their eyes met.
He looked at her deeply. She looked back at him. The moonlight was beautiful. The embrace felt right, but…
Yu Xiaoying gently pushed him away, no longer speaking.
‘Xiaoying,’ after a long pause, Song Chu spoke softly, ‘Did you abandon Ji Ran?’
Yu Xiaoying looked at him in shock, her eyes quickly filling with pain. ‘I don’t want to continue this topic!’ she said, fearing it would lead to losing control.
Seeing her about to leave again, Song Chu slowly pulled out a photo from his pocket.
Yu Xiaoying looked at the photo in his hand. Under the dim moonlight, his pale, slightly trembling hand held a photo of other student council members smiling, including Yu Xiaoying and Ji Ran from their second year of high school.”
They have stern expressions in the photo, their eyes revealing impatience towards the camera.
“This, for you,” Song Chu’s voice was soft, with a hint of sadness.
Ji Ran and Yu Xiaoyan dislike taking photos, resulting in very few pictures of them.
Yu Xiaoyan knew this photo had accompanied Song Chu for many years, and now…
She stood there, unable to take her eyes off it. She no longer had the courage to look into those gentle, spring-like eyes.
Song Chu was still Song Chu; even if he no longer worried about her or accompanied her, he was still the one who understood her best and remained that special existence.
“Gone silly with happiness?” Seeing her expression, Song Chu gently stroked her hair.
“Chu,” Yu Xiaoyan could no longer hold back and threw herself into his embrace.
Probably Song Chu and Qin Na understood Ji Ran and his relationship best. Qin Na had always been oblivious, while Song Chu saw everything clearly, even if it was painful.
“Thank you.” Was a single thank you really enough?
Steadfast companionship and gentle comfort, even if he chose another woman, all he had done for her was indelible.
Why assume he had wronged her when she hadn’t even figured out if she had truly loved him? She had simply enjoyed his sunshine.
“I’m sorry, Chu.”
Song Chu gently held her, knowing her emotions had stabilized.
”We’re still friends, right?”
”Mm.” Yu Xiaoyan looked up at him, feeling he was the best.
He gently placed a photo in her hand.
”Let’s go back,” he said, pulling her.
”Okay.” They had been gone for some time.
The low pine near the stone bench moved slightly.
”Damn!” Geng Youyang crouched motionless. “He actually hugged her twice!”
Lin Yichen looked at his dark expression. “Fortunately, I held you back; otherwise, everything would have been ruined.”
”Hmph!”
Lin Yichen stood up and stretched.
”Hey!” Geng Youyang looked at her. “How did you know they would be here?”
Lin Yichen blushed slightly. “I saw Chu say something to Xiaoyan.” Whenever he approached Xiaoyan, her intuition tensed up.
”You don’t trust your man!” Geng Youyang said bluntly.
Lin Yichen shot him a look that conveyed the same sentiment.
”Okay! Let’s go back.”
The two sneaked back to the hall, where Song Chu and Yu Xiaoyan were chatting with others.
Upon seeing them, Yu Xiaoyan asked, “Geng Youyang, do you have mice at home?”
”Mice?”
”I just saw something by the pine tree…”
