Chapter 112 "I wish you happiness."
The venue of the engagement party was brightly lit, and the crystal chandeliers reflected brilliant light.
Lu Yu walked in slowly, one hand in his pocket. His navy blue, high-end suit outlined his tall figure, each tailored line fitting the perfect proportions of his broad shoulders and narrow waist. A low-key sapphire collar pin was pinned to the collar of his white shirt, gleaming with a deep luster under the light.
His black hair was meticulously styled, with a few strands casually falling across his forehead. He maintained a formal yet casual elegance. The buzz in the room rose noticeably the moment he appeared.
"Oh my god, is that Lu Yu?" A girl in a pink dress covered her mouth and exclaimed softly.
The man next to her immediately responded, "Zhou Xubai has such a good relationship with him, so of course he would come to his brother's wedding."
Lu Yu's attention was drawn to the floral arrangement in the center of the venue - large patches of red roses and white lilies intertwined, paired with tacky gold ribbons.
He frowned slightly, thinking that if it were his and Cheche's wedding, he would never choose such vulgar flowers. He would choose... probably white tulips and light blue hyacinths, just like Lin Che's eyes, pure and clear.
"Asumi."
Zhou Xubai's voice came from behind him. When Lu Yu turned around, the hem of his suit drew an elegant arc. He was not wearing a tie today, and the top two buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing the faint line of his collarbone.
"Damn, you're so handsome." Zhou Xubai looked him up and down and couldn't help but whistling.
Lu Yu curled his lips into a smile, raised his hand and punched Zhou Xubai in the chest, not too hard or too lightly: "Don't be so poor."
His cufflinks shimmered slightly as he moved. They were a pair of simple platinum square buttons, the same style as the ones Lin Che was wearing today, but in a different color.
Zhou Xubai covered his chest and pretended to be hurt, but his eyes glanced behind Lu Yu: "Where is your guy?"
"Something happened in the lab." Lu Yu took a glass of champagne from the waiter's tray and tapped the glass lightly with his fingertips. "I'll be there later."
His eyes swept across the venue and finally landed on the newlyweds who were entertaining guests not far away.
Zhou Xuran, dressed in a white suit, was listening to his fiancée with a proper smile on his face. When his eyes met Lu Yu's, he was visibly startled for a moment before nodding in greeting.
Lu Yu raised his glass in gesture, and tiny bubbles appeared in the champagne glass.
The sound of glasses colliding suddenly rang out in the air, incredibly crisp. Lu Yu raised his glass and turned to look at Zhou Xubai, who said with a forced smile, "I thought... you wouldn't come."
Lu Yu took a sip of champagne, the amber liquid leaving a faint shimmer on his thin lips. He lowered his eyes and smiled softly, a smile in his eyes as he asked, "Why don't you come?"
Zhou Xubai blinked mischievously, "You don't mind?"
Lu Yu raised his eyebrows and leaned close to Zhou Xubai's ear, saying slowly, "My wife is so beautiful. If everyone gets jealous... I might not be able to handle it."
Zhou Xubai rubbed his arms exaggeratedly: "Tsk, so corny."
He took a step closer and lowered his voice. "But seriously, when are you two going to do it? I've got the red envelope ready."
The light from the crystal chandelier shone on Lu Yu's sapphire lapel pin. His slender fingers stroked the rim of the cup and he slowly uttered two words: "Secret."
Zhou Xubai's champagne glass came closer, "Ding!" He tilted his head back and drank the last glass of wine. "I'll be over first. The ceremony is about to begin."
——
【Cat Lover Fish】： Have you arrived yet? How is it?
LY: (Video)
Lu Yu raised his hand and sent Lin Che a video of the engagement party. On the stage, Zhou Xuran, dressed in a white suit, was making a declaration of vows with his fiancée.
[Cat Lovers]: When will it end? (Cat touching belly JPG.)
【LY】: Maybe a little while. Are you hungry?
【Fish that loves to eat cats】：（a picture）
Lu Yu clicked on the photo sent by Lin Che. It should have been during the break time. Lin Che took a picture of his computer desk. The sunlight outside the window was just right. Lu Yu zoomed in and could just see the blurry figure of Lin Che reflected on the computer screen.
【LY】: I’ll pick you up later.
【Fish that loves to eat cats】: (Cat nodding JPG.)
Lu Yu put away his smile and just put his phone in his pocket, he turned around and saw Zhou Xuran who had been standing behind him without making a sound to disturb him.
"Congratulations."
"Congratulations."
The two raised their glasses.
Zhou Xuran didn't ask why Lin Che didn't come, but Lu Yu took the initiative to mention it, "Cheche has classes this morning."
Zhou Xuran smiled as he listened, "Mr. Lu, you don't look like such a generous person."
"I'm not a stingy person." Lu Yu raised the champagne glass in his hand and added, "That was said by Cheche."
Zhou Xuran placed the champagne glass on the waiter's tray and made an inviting gesture to Lu Yu: "Would you like to go outside and talk?"
Lu Yu raised his eyebrows slightly, but did not refuse, and followed him to the terrace outside the banquet hall.
The terrace was deserted, and the sunlight flickered on the distant lake. Zhou Xuran leaned against the railing, pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and handed one to Lu Yu: "Want a smoke?"
Lu Yu shook his head: "Cheche doesn't like the smell of smoke."
Zhou Xuran smiled, but didn't light it himself. He just played with the cigarette between his fingers: "Lin Che... probably never told you about what happened between us."
"On the contrary." Lu Yu turned his head and looked directly at Zhou Xuran and said frankly.
Zhou Xuran looked at the calm look in Lu Yu's eyes, curled his lips with a wry smile, tapped the railing lightly with his fingers, and his eyes fell on the lake view in the distance.
"That study-abroad quota was arranged by my father," he said calmly, as if recounting someone else's story. "I was... so afraid of losing him."
Lu Yu did not interrupt him, but just listened quietly.
"You know what? Lin Che actually wanted to study abroad back then. To save up for his plane ticket, he only ate one meal a day for three months." Zhou Xuran smiled bitterly. "I paid his heating bill anonymously and secretly slipped nutritional supplements into his lab drawer... like a coward afraid to show his face."
The wind ruffled his hair, and he smoothed it back with his hand before continuing, "Later, when his spot was revoked, he said nothing and simply worked even harder. I watched him get thinner day by day, but he didn't even have the courage to apologize."
Lu Yu's eyes darkened a little, and his fingers unconsciously stroked the edge of the wine glass.
Zhou Xuran raised his head and drank the rest of the wine in his glass. "That day I stood outside the laboratory building all night, watching his back as he worked on the experiment all night..."
His voice choked for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. "That was the last time I saw him. It wasn't until the news of you two being together came out that I realized that with some people, missing them can mean a lifetime."
Lu Yu stood on the edge of the terrace with his hands in his pockets. The night wind blew through the hair on his forehead, and a deep light flashed in his eyes.
"Without these things, Lin Che wouldn't have accepted you," he said calmly. "He may seem easy to talk to, but deep down he's more stubborn than anyone else. If he had considered giving you a chance from the beginning, you would have had an infinite number of resurrection cards."
Lu Yu was deeply aware of this. He relied on the infinite resurrection card given by Lin Che to walk step by step to his side.
Zhou Xuran was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly: "You're right... He is indeed that kind of person."
Lu Yu turned sideways, his gaze fixed on the distant city lights: "He once told me that some people are missed and that not all mistakes can be forgiven."
"I know." Zhou Xuran took a deep breath, "I just..."
"Just unwilling to accept it?" Lu Yu raised his eyebrows slightly.
Zhou Xuran shook his head: "No. I just hope he can be happy."
Lu Yu looked at him for a while, then suddenly smiled: "We have reached a consensus on this point."
Zhou Xuran seemed to have unloaded a heavy burden and breathed a long sigh of relief: "Actually, I should thank you. If you hadn't appeared, I might never have realized what it means to truly love someone."
Lu Yu raised the corner of his lips slightly: "I will convey this to Che Che."
Zhou Xuran was stunned for a moment, then laughed out loud: "Mr. Lu, you are even more..."
"What else?"
"It also has to suit him." Zhou Xuran said sincerely.
Lu Yu sneered, but his true emotions were still unclear. "Give me a cigarette."
Zhou Xuran was stunned for a moment, then he pulled out a cigarette from his pocket, took out a cigarette and handed it to Lu Yu. The silver lighter clicked and lit up. The two men lowered their heads slightly, their cigarette butts flickering in the flames.
Lu Yu took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, the white smoke swirling and dispersing before his eyes. He held the cigarette between his slender fingers, his gaze gazing into the distance. "I'm here today... as Lin Che's husband, to solemnly thank you."
Zhou Xuran's fingers paused slightly.
"Thank you for helping Cheche...when he was at the critical moment of life and death." Lu Yu's voice was soft, but every word was clear.
"Similarly," Lu Yu turned his head and looked directly at Zhou Xuran, "As Lin Che's husband, I'm telling you this one last time. From now on, the two of you will say goodbye."
A breeze blew past, dispersing the smoke between the two. Zhou Xuran looked at Lu Yu's determined eyes and suddenly smiled: "Okay."
He leaned against the railing with the remaining half of his cigarette between his legs, stood up straight, and extended his hand to Lu Yu: "I wish you happiness."
Lu Yu looked at the hand that was extended to him, and after a moment he also extended his hand and shook his: "Thank you."
Their hands touched briefly in the air before separating. At that moment, it seemed as if all the past had vanished with this simple gesture.
Lu Yu put out the remaining half of his cigarette and turned to leave.
Zhou Xuran suddenly said, "Lu Yu."
Lu Yu stopped and didn't look back.
"Treat him well." Zhou Xuran's voice was filled with relief. "He deserves the best."
Lu Yu nodded slightly: "I will."
After saying this, he strode towards the terrace exit, and his slender figure quickly disappeared in the bright lights of the banquet hall.
Zhou Xuran stood alone on the terrace, watching the cigarette in his hand slowly burn out.
He suddenly remembered that snowy night many years ago, Lin Che's red cheeks from the cold, and those clear eyes.
"Goodbye, Lin Che." He said softly, threw the cigarette butt into the trash can, turned around and walked back to the bustling banquet hall.
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