"Good evening, neighbor." Shen Ling, the neighbor next door, was arranging the flowers on the balcony, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, forming a faint arc that revealed an indescribable sense of intimacy.

"Good evening."

"Do you think this is fate?" Shen Ling asked softly.

"Probably." Chu Zhi also stroked his chin, pondering for a few seconds.

In the vast city of Shanghai, the two met by chance a few times and even became neighbors, which can only be described as fate.

"Unfortunately, we were destined to be apart."

"Why?"

"I will be leaving Shanghai soon."

Where to?

"Your hometown."

"Chengdu?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

As Chen Ling trimmed the flower branches, she said, "Why do you have so many whys? Aren't you very smart? Guess what it is."

Chu Zhi also fell into deep thought. After a dozen seconds, he shook his head: "I can't guess."

Guessing is based on sufficient information, but he knew nothing about Shen Ling except her family background.

Shen Ling didn't make things difficult for him and replied, "I'll teach in a rural area."

Chu Zhi nodded: "Good."

"No, no, no, this isn't kindness." Shen Ling shook her index finger. "I'm running away, running away from the blind dates my parents are arranging for me."

"That is also good."

Shen Ling's bright eyes narrowed into slits: "Thank you."

Suddenly, Shen Ling cut off a tulip and handed it to Chu Zhiye, who took it instinctively. Shen Ling then said, "Can you do me a favor?"

Chu Zhi lowered her head to look at the tulips, then raised her head again, and was greeted by that delicate and pretty face, with a touch of playfulness, like a beautiful fox.

"I'll help if I can."

"Please look after the bookstore for me." A gentle breeze blew by, causing Shen Ling's hair to dance. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'll be staying in Chengdu for a long time. My bookstore will be left unattended, and the staff can't manage it. I'm worried that the bookstore will eventually go out of business and won't be able to provide a place for book lovers to read."

"no problem."

Thank you.

The two stood on the balcony, and Shen Ling told him a lot about the bookstore in order to help him manage it.

"Hey, beautiful, hello." Wei Haoran arrived at some point and greeted Shen Ling warmly. "I'm Chu Zhiye's friend. We've been living together for four years."

Upon hearing the words "cohabitation," Shen Ling pursed her lips and smiled brightly.

Wei Haoran continued, "Beautiful lady, I sincerely invite you to my wedding. Please give me a chance. A lady like you will surely add luster to my wedding."

Shen Ling didn't speak, but looked at Chu Zhiye. Wei Haoran immediately grabbed Chu Zhiye by the neck: "Say it, quickly invite this beautiful lady to my wedding. If you don't agree, I will never forgive you for the rest of my life. Our friendship ends here."

Chu Zhi didn't bother with his friend and turned to leave.

Shen Ling smiled and nodded, "Okay."

It was late at night.

Wei Haoran left the balcony, closed the door, hopped over to Chu Zhiye, craned his neck, and asked, "What is your relationship with Shen Ling?"

"I haven't had any successful blind dates."

"Why?"

There's no reason why.

"Is it because you're too picky? You can't even stand such a beautiful woman? Chu Zhiye, are you blind? Or do you really have a problem with your sexual orientation?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Haoran immediately moved away from him, tightening his clothes and adopting a defensive stance.

"I am male, I like women, and I have no interest in gay people."

"Hey, let's not talk in the bedroom, let's have a chat."

"I suspect there's something going on between you two."

"Open the door, buddy. I'll give you a few tips on how to quickly win over a woman."

“... ..."

In the days leading up to the wedding, Wei Haoran followed Chu Zhiye everywhere, from work to walks to reading, never leaving her side.

On one hand, it was to avoid his family, and on the other hand, it was to check the relationship between Chu Zhiye and Shen Ling.

To his dismay, Chu Zhiye and Shen Ling rarely contacted each other. They would only chat briefly on the balcony and nothing else.

He didn't leave Chu Zhiye's house until the day before his wedding.

The next day.

Chu Zhi also put on a simple outfit, ready to attend Wei Haoran's wedding.

As soon as I opened the door, I saw that the door next door opened as well.

Shen Ling was wearing a beige turtleneck sweater and dark brown skinny jeans, showing off her slender, long legs. She also wore a simple silver necklace with a small heart-shaped pendant.

Her outfit was simple yet exuded elegance.

Their eyes met.

Shen Ling's rosy lips curled up: "Want to go together?"

Chu Zhi nodded.

The two then headed together to Wei Haoran's wedding.

The wedding was held on the top floor of a five-star hotel, offering a panoramic view of Shanghai.

Upon arriving at the wedding venue, one finds many guests already there.

Everyone wandered around and chatted with familiar friends.

The wedding officially began at noon, accompanied by music.

Wei Haoran and his wife slowly entered. His wife had a delicate face and eyebrows that were as fine and curved as distant mountains, just like willow leaves swaying in the spring breeze. She seemed to be a gentle beauty who had stepped out of a painting of Jiangnan.

The couple both had smiles on their faces, looking very happy.

But as soon as the ceremony ended, Wei Haoran's face fell.

“Zhiye… ” Wei Haoran hugged Chu Zhiye.

"Wei Haoran, what do you mean by this?" Wei Haoran's wife's pretty face suddenly darkened. "Marrying me was hard for you, wasn't it? You were in pain, weren't you? You bastard, why weren't you in this pain when you slept with me? You're going to turn your back on me after you've done your thing, aren't you?"

Wei Haoran explained, "No, I'm just happy to see Zhiye."

"Then why aren't you smiling?"

Wei Haoran forced an embarrassed smile: "Hehe..."

Fuck you!

"That's your mother too."

"Go to hell, go to hell!" Wei Haoran's wife glared at him.

Wei Haoran's wife appears gentle, but she is actually a tyrant. She is very irritable in both her speech and actions, which is one of the reasons why Wei Haoran suffers.

Wei Haoran quickly changed the subject, saying, "This is Shen Ling, a friend of Zhiye."

Wei Haoran's wife put away her coldness and greeted him with a smile.

After a brief chat, Wei Haoran and his wife left, as the couple still had many guests to attend to.

“Your friend is quite something.” Wei Haoran’s wife took his arm. “With your carefree attitude, how can you make friends like that?”

"Zhiye?"

"nonsense!"

"What's so great about him? Aren't I a hundred times better than him?" Wei Haoran retorted.

Wei Haoran's wife rolled her eyes: "You're shameless. He's a hundred times better than you. Just standing there, he exudes an extraordinary aura, unlike you, who's a spendthrift."

"Girl, I just happened to meet you first. If I had met your friend first, we wouldn't be together today. I'm done with you for life."

"Wei Haoran, I'm warning you, after we get married you're not allowed to have any extramarital affairs, or I'll chop you up."

Upon hearing this, Wei Haoran shrank his neck.

He has already envisioned the rest of his life.

Pain, sorrow...

... ...

After the banquet, Chu Zhiye and Shen Ling left.

They walked slowly along the street.