Chapter 47 A Belated Apology

"...Alright, I got it. Seven o'clock, right? I'll be there." Qin Haoran's voice lowered, as if the previous sharpness and dissatisfaction had been removed, leaving only a complex mix of weariness and resignation.

He hung up the phone without waiting for the other person to say anything more.

He tossed his phone onto the passenger seat, leaned back, rubbed his temples, and let out a long sigh.

Outside the car window, the afterglow of the setting sun painted the sky a warm orange. The city's hustle and bustle remained, yet it seemed as if an invisible barrier separated him from it.

Zhao Liming didn't say anything, but silently started the car and smoothly merged into the traffic.

The atmosphere inside the car became somewhat dull and oppressive.

As night falls and the city lights come on, the neon lights add a touch of prosperity and mystery to the night sky.

On the other side, Su Xiaonuan stood in front of the wardrobe, unusually suffering from decision paralysis.

In the end, she chose a simple but well-tailored off-white dress, paired with a light brown trench coat and low-heeled leather shoes.

It's not particularly grand or luxurious, but it's appropriate enough not to look out of place in a high-end restaurant.

Looking at herself in the mirror, so different from how she usually was when she was setting up her stall, she took a deep breath and suppressed the subtle ripples that arose from the thought of facing an old friend.

Following the address sent by Anran, she arrived at the famous "Blooming Flowers" restaurant.

The restaurant's facade is understated yet luxurious, while its interior design cleverly blends the elegance of classical Chinese style with the modern simplicity of Western style.

Soft lighting, soothing jazz music, and the subtle fragrance and aroma of food create a tranquil and sophisticated atmosphere.

The waiter politely led her to the second floor.

Walking down the soft carpeted corridor, Su Xiaonuan's heart involuntarily quickened.

She stopped at the door of private room 0213, took another deep breath, and then gently knocked on the door.

The door was pulled open from the inside almost immediately.

However, the person standing behind the door stunned Su Xiaonuan instantly.

Qin Haoran?!

How did he end up here?

Qin Haoran, who was inside the door, was clearly not expected to see Su Xiaonuan either. His expression was also full of astonishment and surprise, and his usually smiling peach blossom eyes widened a bit.

The two stared at each other, and for a few seconds the air seemed to freeze.

Su Xiaonuan subconsciously glanced down at the private room number An Ran had sent her on her phone—0213. That's right.

She looked up at the house number again; it was indeed 0213.

Did... they go to the wrong place? Or did Anran send the message to the wrong person?

She muttered to herself, without giving it much thought, and directly opened Anran's WeChat and made a voice call.

Almost the instant the call connected, the familiar ringtone came clearly from the private room in front of us!

Su Xiaonuan's body stiffened abruptly, and her fingers quickly hung up the phone as if they had been burned.

The ringing in the private room also stopped abruptly.

At this moment, what is there that is not understood?

The "last friend" that An Ran mentioned is Su Xiaonuan.

Qin Haoran was clearly one of the invitees.

Qin Haoran reacted instantly, and the surprise on his face was quickly replaced by an extremely complicated and strange expression.

He stepped aside to make way, his tone somewhat dry: "...Come in."

Su Xiaonuan was so embarrassed she felt like she was digging her toes out of the three-bedroom apartment, but she forced herself to go inside.

The private room was small, but it was decorated very elegantly.

A square dining table for four, with two people already seated by the window.

Her gaze immediately fell on the woman facing the door, dressed in a pearl-white silk shirt and a black long skirt.

safely.

She didn't seem to have changed much in the years I hadn't seen her.

She still had long, straight, smooth black hair, fair skin, and delicate features that resembled meticulously painted porcelain. She exuded a cool yet gentle aura.

Compared to his youthful naiveté in college, he now possesses a more mature and serene air about him.

She was frowning slightly as she looked at her phone, seemingly puzzled by the call that had only rang once and then ended.

When she looked up from her phone screen and saw Su Xiaonuan standing at the door, looking somewhat uneasy, her clear eyes widened instantly.

Immediately afterwards, Su Xiaonuan clearly saw that An Ran's usually calm and even eyes quickly turned red and became misty.

An Ran stood up almost immediately, her movements even a little hurried, causing the chair behind her to make a slight noise.

She walked up to Su Xiaonuan in a few steps, and without any hesitation, opened her arms and hugged her tightly!

The hug came suddenly and forcefully, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.

“Xiao Nuan…” An Ran’s voice choked with sobs, and the guilt and remorse that had been suppressed for many years surged out like a flood breaking through a dam.

She buried her face in Su Xiaonuan's shoulder, her voice low and hoarse yet incredibly clear as she repeated, "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... What happened back then was my fault... I shouldn't have kept it from you, I shouldn't have left you that way... I'm sorry..."

Feeling the real warmth of the person in her arms and hearing their tearful apology, Su Xiaonuan's carefully constructed facade of calm shattered instantly.

My nose stung, my eyes welled up with tears, and my vision blurred quickly.

The grievances and sadness of being kept in the dark, "betrayed," and forced to be estranged in those years seemed to find an outlet at this moment.

She reached out, trembling, and hugged Anran back, her fingers gripping Anran's clothes tightly.

Two best friends, reunited after a long separation, embraced tightly at the entrance of the beautifully decorated private room, oblivious to the stares of others.

Silent tears slid down, soaking each other's clothes.

There were no many words, but this long-overdue hug and apology seemed to instantly melt away the ice wall that had stood between the two for years.

Time seemed to stand still for them at that moment.

Standing to the side, Qin Haoran watched this scene with an even stranger expression, his eyes darting back and forth between Su Xiaonuan and his older brother, as if trying to sort out the complicated relationships between the characters.

The man who had been sitting by the window, watching quietly ever since Su Xiaonuan entered, slowly stood up.

He is Qin Haochu.

Unlike Qin Haoran's sunny, handsome, and slightly roguish charm, Qin Haochu has a completely different style.

He wore a well-tailored dark gray suit, without a tie, and the top button of his shirt collar was casually undone, making him look both formal and relaxed.

His facial features were somewhat similar to Qin Haoran's, but more profound and mature. He had a high nose bridge, thin lips, and wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. Behind the lenses, his eyes were calm yet sharp, exuding the composure and restraint unique to business elites.

The years have imbued him with a gentle, refined, yet aloof and indifferent temperament.