Chapter 83 Part 2

Xu Dan squeezed herself into the bridesmaid dress and was very dissatisfied with the effect in the mirror.

“What’s up with you lately? Gained so much weight?” Du Min teased her.

Xu Dan: “Nightly snacks—try it and see if you don’t gain weight.”

Du Min: “Why would I try that, hahaha. —How do I look in this wedding dress?”

“Shouldn’t you ask your groom that?” Xu Dan tugged the dress up above her chest and checked herself left and right in the mirror. “All fat goes to my belly, no change in the chest. Infuriating.”

“…Hahahahaha!” Du Min clutched the mirror, laughing so hard she couldn’t straighten up. Xu Dan looked at her baffled. “What are you laughing at? Is my look that funny?”

Chi Nuan and Xue Wen also emerged in their bridesmaid dresses one after another. Du Min wiped away her tears of laughter and pointed at Xu Dan, telling them, “Do you remember that year, the summer before senior year? A-Wen invited us to the premiere of Seizing the Dragon, right? Xu Dan insisted on wearing a dress but couldn’t manage heels, so she paired it with sneakers, hahahaha.”

Hearing Du Min bring up that memory, Xu Dan couldn’t help but laugh too. Looking back, the scene had indeed been silly and comical. “…No, you only remember my embarrassments?”

Of course it wasn’t just embarrassments. Everyone naturally thought of Xiting Island and the brilliant fireworks there.

Though time had passed, Chi Nuan still worried that continuing the topic would make Xue Wen uncomfortable, so she changed the subject. “In the blink of an eye, so many years gone. Minmin’s getting married.”

Xu Dan chimed in without thinking, “To Zhou Damao, no less. Tsk.”

Du Min sighed emotionally, “Yeah, really in the blink of an eye. We’ve all grown up. …Hey! I’m so glad I met you all.”

When they first met, they were all little girls. Now they were at the age of marriage talks.

Zhou Damao came striding over in his groom’s suit, full of vigor. Still at a distance, he suddenly shielded his eyes with his hand. “Oh heavens, you all are dazzling!”

His acting was so exaggerated that everyone was speechless.

Du Min leaned in and sniffed near Zhou Damao’s neck. “…You smoked?”

Zhou Damao: “…”

Zhou Damao: “Hey hey hey, I swear, just two puffs to satisfy the craving.”

Du Min rolled her eyes. “Whatever, I know you too well.”

Zhou Damao laughed. “Quitting smoking isn’t that easy. I’ve been trying hard. Don’t believe me? —Ask Xue Wen.”

Xue Wen had smoked for years too and just smiled faintly at that.

The bridesmaid dresses were settled quickly. Xue Wen had to leave early for something and patted Chi Nuan’s shoulder on her way out. Chi Nuan followed her to the door. “What’s up?”

The bright lights of the hall chased away the night. Xue Wen looked at Chi Nuan and said, “…Nothing, just that mentioning the Seizing the Dragon premiere reminded me of the fireworks on Xiting Island.”

Chi Nuan hadn’t expected Xue Wen to bring it up herself. Now, no response felt right.

Xue Wen continued, “Back then, I really liked you.”

Xue Wen’s smile was vivid and warm. Before Chi Nuan could respond, she stepped forward and hugged her. “That’s all in the past. See you, Chi Nuan.”

Chi Nuan: “…See you.”

As Chi Nuan went upstairs, she was still wondering what was up with Xue Wen when her hand was suddenly gripped. Someone had taken it from behind.

Chi Nuan turned around. Gu Ningzi was looking up at her slightly, her gaze soft as water.

Gu Ningzi had gone to the Gu Residence earlier. They had agreed to meet here and head back to He Nan Shan together. Gu Ningzi had a video conference that evening.

The sudden joy of seeing her made Chi Nuan happy. “You’re here.”

Gu Ningzi: “Mm.”

After greeting Du Min and the others upstairs, the two headed to He Nan Shan. Gu Ningzi drove, so Chi Nuan tidied up the scattered silk scarf, sunglasses, and other small items on the seat. She spotted an exquisite hard-shell envelope.

The envelope was printed with “Four Seasons Flowers Bloom.”

She remembered Gu Miaoyan casually mentioning a fashion show with the theme “Four Seasons Flowers Bloom”?

“…What’s this?” Chi Nuan asked Gu Ningzi.

Gu Ningzi glanced at it. “Fashion show tickets inside.”

“Are you going?” Chi Nuan turned it over in her hands. Gu Ningzi had meant to say no, but seeing Chi Nuan’s interest, the words changed to, “Mm.”

By the time they reached He Nan Shan, the video conference had already started. Gu Ningzi took the documents handed over by He Zhen. There was a lot on the agenda; she skimmed a few lines and said to Chi Nuan, “You head back first.”

Chi Nuan asked them, “Will it be very late again today?”

He Zhen let out a very long sigh. “Yeeep~ Super late.”

Chi Nuan got back in the car. She turned on the headlights, checked the rearview mirror to reverse, when a gentle knock sounded on the window.

Chi Nuan turned her head. “Huh?”

It was Gu Ningzi. Hadn’t the meeting started? Wasn’t she going into the conference room?

Chi Nuan lowered the window, thinking Gu Ningzi had something to say. Instead, Gu Ningzi stepped back a couple paces. Chi Nuan opened the door and got out. “What—”

Gu Ningzi pulled Chi Nuan into her embrace.

“…”

Gu Ningzi lifted her wrist to check the time.

“The previous hug was 3 seconds,” she said. “I want 3 minutes.”

Chi Nuan: “…………”

Gu Ningzi had seen Xue Wen’s farewell hug???

Chi Nuan buried herself in Gu Ningzi’s arms. The ear hearing her voice burned, and her cheeks followed suit.

How could Gu Ningzi, so boldly making such a childish demand, be this lovable…

As she wanted to laugh, her heart swelled with bittersweet ache. Though Gu Ningzi hadn’t spelled it out, she had returned to her side, hadn’t she?

…

He Zhen, who had chased after Gu Ningzi’s sudden departure from the meeting, turned away in stunned silence.