In a series of photos capturing various elegant poses, Bo Ranying wore a dreamlike wedding gown that seemed to be bathed in a holy glow, her beauty so radiant that it felt untouchable.
Nan Qi spotted three distinct wedding dresses in the pictures, each one a flawless, cloud-like shade of white, brimming with clever design touches.
One featured a top half inspired by a suit jacket, with a belt at the third button that flowed into pleated edges adorned with a bow, paired with a subtly flared white train—simple yet elegant.
The two dresses in the later photos were equally exquisite.
One was an off-the-shoulder gown with a clean, refined neckline that dipped into a small V at the center. The graceful lines of the neckline paired beautifully with black silk fabric in an afternoon dress style, exuding a sensual allure.
The other was made of romantic layered tulle, with fluffy layers stacked over the skirt. Its backless design gave way below the waist to a voluminous, full white skirt body. The tulle’s charm shone through here, its brightness and transparency perfectly balanced, creating a fresh and lively vibe. Overall, this gown was ideal for someone romantic and cute.
The finishing touch was the black velvet sleeves on Bo Ranying’s arms, the dark accents making the white dress gleam even brighter.
Bo Ranying wore the gown, gently lifting the hem as she paused at the turn of a wooden staircase. She held a bouquet of Valley White Lilies, a small jeweled hat perched on her head, and a long veil cascading down to the skirt’s train, faintly veiling the beautiful lines of her bare back. Bo Ranying gazed down at the flowers in her hands, her long, curled lashes casting lovely shadows on the wall, a soft, incredibly sweet smile blooming on her lips. Her beauty was otherworldly.
Nan Qi held her breath. She stared at Bo Ranying in the photos for a long, long time, a bitter taste suddenly filling her mouth.
She zoned out a little.
Bo Ranying dressed like this was a scene straight out of her dreams.
In countless tender, lingering dreams, romantic piano music played around them as Bo Ranying walked toward her in a wedding gown. Nan Qi waited on the other side of a red carpet strewn with fallen petals. Bo Mama solemnly placed her daughter’s hand in Nan Qi’s palm, instructing her to take care of each other from then on, never to bully Bo Ranying…
The moment Nan Qi took Bo Ranying’s soft little hand, tears welled up in her eyes. She gripped it tightly, cherishing it like the happiness of a lifetime.
But at the same time, this photo was like a thorny vine wrapping around her, yanking her brutally awake. Bo Ranying wasn’t walking toward her—she was walking toward Qiao Xiuyu.
That was the happiness Bo Ranying could reach out and grasp. How could Nan Qi stand in the way of her friend’s joy?
She really shouldn’t try to win Bo Ranying over with her true feelings or disrupt her life any longer…
Besides, things between her and Bo Ranying could never go back to how they were.
During the trip to accompany Bo Ranying to her art school entrance exams, unable to contain their emotions, they had explored each other’s bodies. After that, Nan Qi could no longer suppress her feelings for Bo Ranying. Finally, on an utterly ordinary afternoon in Bo Ranying’s room, she confessed.
Just when Nan Qi thought everything would fall into place naturally, Bo Ranying’s response was rejection. With no spark of romantic interest shown, they could never return to the way things were.
The later tolerance of the loss, the choice to reconcile and slip back into their old dynamic—it was all just self-deception.
After tangling like this for so many years, it was all like a mirage or a reflection in water, flowers wilting with unrequited longing while the stream flowed on indifferently. It was time for her to wake up.
Nan Qi drew in a sharp breath, her gaze hardening as she ignored the dull ache instinctively throbbing in her heart.
In Bo Ranying’s Moments comments, she carefully typed out her thoughts. Speaking objectively, based on years of knowing Bo Ranying, she evaluated which gown looked prettiest and suited her best.
【Ranran, I think the suit-jacket style with the trailing skirt is the most beautiful—it matches your sweet, cute vibe perfectly. Wearing it, you’d be the most dazzling girl in the room, every eye drawn to you…】
After posting the comment, she immediately quit Moments without looking at anything else.
Even she, who loved saving Bo Ranying’s photos, had no desire to keep these stunning, breathtaking shots.
She couldn’t forget Bo Ranying’s soft smile in the wedding photos—that smile was for the upcoming engagement party, for an incredibly lucky man. It had nothing to do with her.
Nan Qi closed her eyes briefly, her lips pressing into a tight line. She opened her phone’s photo album.
Over the years, she’d switched phones many times, but not a single photo of Bo Ranying had been lost. She always backed them up to the cloud and transferred them to the new device, so she could pull them up anytime.
Bo Ranying had run a personal public Weibo account for years, posting dance practice videos, outfit shares, and more.
Before meeting Nan Qi, she handled it all herself or with family.
Once they became close friends, Nan Qi took over the photography.
At first, it was just simple videos. But Nan Qi soon felt her shots didn’t capture Bo Ranying’s beauty well enough. Using prize money from competitions, she bought a camera and taught herself tutorials on shooting, editing, and clipping. She showcased Bo Ranying’s beauty perfectly for the lens, spreading it across the web.
Bo Ranying always had quirky ideas. She dug out an old point-and-shoot camera the adults had discarded for the kids to play with and handed it to Nan Qi, asking her to snap behind-the-scenes shots during main sessions. They could edit fun ones to post on Weibo too.
Later, fans learned that ballet vlogger Bo Ranying had a dedicated photographer behind all her stunning photos. The photographer was mysterious—years of voiceovers but no face. The only thing fans knew was the photographer’s gender.
Nan Qi flipped through the old photos of Bo Ranying in her album. She could vividly recall the circumstances of nearly every shot—what they did together afterward. It all felt as fresh as yesterday.
She didn’t want to sink into this pointless, laughable nostalgia anymore.
The next second, she resolutely selected “delete all.”
Deleting tens of thousands of photos took a moment.
During that time, Nan Qi did nothing. She just silently watched the progress bar on the delete icon.
【Deleting (37/98366)】
The front number climbed higher as photos vanished one by one from the album.
Years of memories cleared away in just over ten minutes.
The heavy album was now blank and new, as if those memories had never existed.
Nan Qi stared at the “0 photos” prompt in her album, taking a deep breath. Her heart felt empty yet strangely relieved—a profoundly complex emotion.
It was like shedding a long-borne burden from her body. The gloom lifted, skies clear and boundless, just like the brilliant sunny weather today, leaving her utterly relaxed.
Nan Qi grabbed the remote and opened the closed blinds. The dim office flooded with bright, clear light. Warm sunlight bathed her, filling her with cozy warmth.
She dialed Wenwen’s extension. “Come to my office.”
Wenwen’s desk was nearby, less than five meters away in a straight line. Soon, she knocked and entered.
Wenwen flashed a highly professional smile as she approached. “Nan Par, is there something you need?”
Nan Qi wondered if it was her imagination, but the usually icy, rigorous Nan Qi now carried a hint of serenity.
The stark contrast made her unconsciously straighten up, determined to show the utmost professionalism as Nan Par’s assistant.
“It’s not work-related. I just want to ask about something personal.”
Wenwen thought she’d misheard. “Huh?”
This partner never concerned herself with subordinates’ private lives.
Nan Qi ignored her surprise and continued, seeking the info she wanted. “I remember you and your boyfriend rent nearby, right?”
Wenwen blinked dumbly. “Uh-huh.”
“Could you tell me about your rental situation? And maybe recommend some listings from your agent’s sources?” Nan Qi’s tone was gentle, without any pressure, fully respecting her employee’s wishes.
Nan Qi had decided: the first step in not disturbing Bo Ranying was to move out. She couldn’t keep living with her anymore.
Nan Qi’s presence was overwhelmingly commanding. Without thinking, Wenwen spilled all the details of her own setup.
