“Niannian, stay here tonight.” Jiang Mianmian took her hand. “Tomorrow I’ll take you to see my parents in Jiangzhou. They’re very nice people. My younger brother is studying at Yangcheng University; he’s a really handsome guy…”
"Niannian, let me take you upstairs first. Which room do you like?"
Jiang Mianmian was quite talkative when she was happy. Pei Nian let her hold his hand and followed behind her, not listening to a single word she said.
Before going upstairs, she turned and glanced at Lu Lishan one last time, and smiled softly.
She envied her sister's home.
My sister has loving biological parents who dote on her, adoptive parents who have spoiled her for twenty years, and a fiancé who cherishes her like a treasure.
This kind of good fortune is not something everyone can have.
However, Pei Nian was not jealous at all. On the contrary, she was willing to do everything she could to protect this happiness.
She had endured too much hardship, and she cherished all that was beautiful, unable to bear seeing anyone destroy it.
And she herself must not be the destroyer.
It was late at night, and she was still awake. This was her first time staying overnight at the Lu family's house, and the thought that her father was only a few rooms away from her made her too excited to sleep.
She took out Pei Hong's diary, turned to the back, and wrote down what she wanted to say to her mother:
"Mom, I saw Dad today. I really wanted to call him 'Dad,' but I held back... Actually, I'm very happy to be able to see Dad up close like this."
"My sister is getting married, and her fiancé is very loving towards her. I'm so happy for her! But I'm also thinking, what if he treats her badly in the future? I once read a line in your diary: 'Men are all unreliable.' Hmm, if my fiancé dares to bully my sister in the future, I'll shoot him and eliminate this menace!"
"By the way, Mom, my brother-in-law has a sniper with him. His gun is much more powerful than your little pistol... What if my brother-in-law bullies my sister in the future, but I can't beat them both?"
As Pei Nian wrote, a scene of her confronting that sniper in the future suddenly appeared in her mind, and she couldn't help but laugh.
After a while, she continued writing in her diary: "Mom, I was just kidding. I can tell that my brother-in-law is a reliable person, and my sister will be happy."
"As long as my sister is happy, Dad and Aunt Yuqing will be happy."
"So, I will be happy too. Right?"
"Okay, I need to go to bed early. My sister has to try on wedding dresses tomorrow, and I have to go with her!"
Pei Nian closed the notebook and sat at the table for a while longer.
The large desk faced the window, and she could see the moon, as round as a jade plate, just by looking up. She took a deep breath; the night air was filled with the fresh scent of dew and earth.
The world was quiet, and so was her smile.
The next morning, Pei Nian overslept for the first time in her life, waking up to find it was already ten o'clock.
She hurriedly got up and went downstairs, where the maid told her that the designer was already having Jiang Mianmian try on the last two outfits.
Pei Nian rushed to the dressing room without even eating. There were quite a few people there today; besides the stylist team, Lu Lishan and Lin Yuqing were also sitting on the sofa.
By this time, Jiang Mianmian's measurements had been taken, and it was time to style the bridesmaids.
As soon as Jiang Mianmian saw Pei Nian, she excitedly beckoned her over.
Pei Nian moved slowly, keeping her head down the whole way.
Jiang Mianmian knew that she had severe social anxiety, so she smiled and took her arm to ease her unease.
“Ranran and Junyang are about to start preparing for their wedding,” Lin Yuqing said with a light laugh, “so Ranran can’t be a bridesmaid.”
"You Huan, she's a big star. Your dad and I both think that if she were to be a bridesmaid, she might steal the show."
“So,” Lu Lishan turned his gaze to Pei Nian, “how about you be Xiao Youzi’s bridesmaid?”
Pei Nian opened her eyes wide, her hands gripping the hem of her clothes tightly, too nervous to speak.
She wanted to look at Lu Lishan, but she didn't dare to. She lowered her head slightly, beads of sweat appeared on her nose, and her heart was pounding.
"Niannian, what's wrong?" Lin Yuqing hurried over. "Are you feeling unwell?"
Pei Nian shook her head.
She doesn't allow anyone to call her Niannian except Jiang Mianmian, but she's willing to accept Lin Yuqing's call.
"Um... Niannian." Lu Lishan also walked over and stood in front of her, saying softly, "Was my request just now too abrupt?"
"Of course!" Lin Yuqing gave him a reproachful look. "Can't you change that gruff voice of yours? Is that asking for my opinion? I've told you before to watch your tone and manner of speaking!"
Lu Lishan was stunned by his wife's scolding and lowered his head to play with his fingers.
Pei Nian smiled gently and took Lin Yuqing's hand.
"I can do it."
Lin Yuqing was stunned for a moment, "Really?"
“Yes.” Pei Nian nodded vigorously. “I’m willing to be Mianmian’s bridesmaid. I’ll do anything she needs.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Lishan slapped his thigh and laughed loudly, "Hahaha! That's wonderful! You kid... hehe, you're young, but you're quite righteous! Not bad, you've got the makings of a江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry)!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Yuqing glared at him and made him behave.
Jiang Mianmian and Pei Nian were laughing happily on the side, a scene that happened to be seen by Huo Jingnan, who had just come out of the fitting room.
He stared blankly, especially at the one who "was never one to smile."
But when she smiled, she looked just like the mimosa flowers by the stream that day, swaying gracefully in the sunlight.
"Hey, Jingnan's out!"
Lu Lishan turned around and said to Pei Nian with great interest, "You've met him before, haven't you? Huo Jingnan! You're the bridesmaid and he's the best man at Junyu and Xiaoyouzi's wedding this time!"
Huo Jingnan stood there, stunned, his mind blank.
Pei Nian's name was also left blank.
The two of them had the same surprised expression.
"How is it, Nian Nian? Isn't Jing Nan quite handsome?" Lu Lishan said with a smile. "Hmm, this suit is nice! But I think the shoulders could be altered a bit..."
"What do you know?" Lin Yuqing tugged at him. "Young people dress like this now! Do you think it's as outdated as it was back then?"
"Honey, stop undermining me!"
Lin Yuqing smiled, rolled her eyes at him, and looked Pei Nian up and down. "Hmm... Nian Nian's skin tone should be more suitable for light purple or light pink. That off-shoulder dress is very well cut. You should change into it first, and then stand next to Jing Nan!"
"ah?"
Jiang Mianmian agreed: "Yes, let's try it on!"
Pei Nian froze, caught in a dilemma. Huo Jingnan couldn't help but laugh at her awkward expression.
"It's just a set of clothes," he said in a low voice. "You can even handle a gun, why would you be afraid to change clothes?"
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