Chapter 149 The Wedding
Early October in Shanghai was already a bit chilly, the leaves of the plane trees were beginning to turn yellow, and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the blinds, casting dappled shadows on Lin Yu's desk.
She was looking through the new season's operations reports when her phone screen suddenly lit up. A WeChat message popped up; it was from Zheng Qi, whom she hadn't contacted in a long time, inviting her to Shenzhen to attend his wedding with his first love.
The two chatted briefly on WeChat, and she was able to roughly piece together his experiences over the years.
It turns out that after graduating from university, Zheng Qi chased his girlfriend all the way to Hong Kong and pursued her relentlessly for a whole year before finally winning her back and getting back together with him.
After that, his girlfriend successfully completed her studies, and they both got into the same company and worked hard in Hong Kong for many years.
Until last year, my girlfriend was unfortunately diagnosed with lung cancer. Although she eventually received effective treatment, her body could no longer withstand high-intensity work.
When talking about his change in mindset in recent years, Zheng Qi said that the pandemic and illness made them think about many things. He also gradually persuaded his girlfriend to let go of her obsession with realizing her self-worth through hard work.
So the two of them resolutely resigned from their high-paying jobs, used their savings accumulated over the years and the support of their parents to settle down in Shenzhen, and opened a small noodle shop near their neighborhood.
Two years later, business was surprisingly good. Although they didn't earn as much as before, they now had plenty of time for themselves. They would close the shop for a few months every year to travel and relax, and their lives were much more carefree than before.
Zheng Qi's writing is calm, yet it reveals a sense of serenity after weathering storms and a contentment and appreciation for the present moment.
"Congratulations! You've finally tied the knot!" Lin Yu opened the wedding photos sent by Zheng Qi. In the photos, the bride was leaning sweetly on his shoulder, her smile gentle and bright.
Surprisingly, this girl, who has endured the torment of illness, looks even more beautiful than when Lin Yu glimpsed her from the dormitory building many years ago.
Time seemed to turn back at that moment, making her feel as if she had returned to the university campus.
This time, however, Lin Yu is no longer the little girl who only dared to secretly admire someone from the window; she has grown into an adult nourished by love and with a peaceful heart.
"You absolutely have to come!" Zheng Qi's message quickly popped up again, full of sincerity. "If it weren't for your encouragement back then, I might still be single now."
While replying to messages, Lin Yu checked the schedule on his computer and casually asked, "Who else from our school will be going?"
“Not many will come,” Zheng Qi replied. “After so many years since graduation, many classmates have lost contact and our relationships have faded.”
After a while, he added, "The only people you know who would come are probably Chen Guang and Cheng Yuan."
Recently, because of Cheng Shi, Lin Yu and Cheng Yuan have been running into each other quite often. But when it comes to Chen Guang, she did the math and realized that she hadn't heard from him for more than half a year.
The only connection they had was when he returned from western Sichuan after the New Year and sent her the videos and photos of his journey.
Later, I learned from Yao Fangfang that after Chen Guang returned to Linjiang, he used the money he had saved over the years to open a car dealership. Although he was doing a job that didn't guarantee a stable income, his life was more relaxed and comfortable than ever before.
Lin Yu didn't rush to reply to Zheng Qi. Since Chen Guang was involved, she felt it was necessary to inform Jiang Chuan. Even if he didn't care at all, she wanted to give him enough respect and didn't want him to hear about this from others.
So, during the time when Jiang Chuan came to the company to pick her up for dinner that evening, Lin Yu briefly told him about what had happened during the day and asked for his opinion at the end.
They sat by the window, overlooking the night view of the Huangpu River. Jiang Chuan listened quietly as he cut the food on his plate and served it to Lin Yu.
He didn't look up until she finished speaking, his expression calm. "Do you want to go?"
“Zheng Qi was a very important friend of mine in college.” Lin Yu carefully chose her words. “And I think this is a good farewell.”
Jiang Chuan nodded slightly, took out his phone, booked a first-class flight to Shenzhen for her, and then instructed, "Your boyfriend isn't around, so take good care of yourself. Remember to let me know when you arrive safely."
"Aren't you coming with me?" Lin Yu put a piece of winter melon into Jiang Chuan's bowl, his eyes carrying a hint of probing.
"I have a court hearing in Hangzhou next week, and the schedule is too tight." Jiang Chuan looked up at her, meeting Lin Yu's anxious eyes, and merely raised an eyebrow. "What are you worried about, Banban?"
After being swept over by his direct and frank gaze twice, Lin Yu quickly lowered his head guiltily and started picking at the rice in his bowl. "I'm just afraid you can't live without me!"
Jiang Chuan reached across the dining table and gently pinched her burning earlobe with his fingertips, his voice laced with laughter. "I really can't leave, so remember to come back early."
Having weathered so many storms together, he was now completely confident in their relationship. He was no longer afraid of being compared or replaced. He also knew that for Lin Yu, her past with Chen Guang was a thing of the past.
He trusted Lin Yu's character and respected her sense of propriety. He understood that she was attending the wedding simply to send blessings to her old friend, and certainly not to rekindle their old flame.
Therefore, he doesn't need to show his concern by obstructing or feeling uneasy; that would only make him seem petty.
Perhaps true love is never about keeping someone by your side, but about hoping that the other person can live a free and fulfilling life, even if that fulfillment requires them to clean up some fragments of the past.
He knew the special significance of this wedding for Lin Yu, so he was willing to support her in making it happen.
Looking at Jiang Chuan at this moment, Lin Yu suddenly recalled those moments filled with suspicion and pain when they broke up.
The contrast between past distrust and present complete support created a huge emotional impact, allowing her to deeply feel his tolerance and transformation.
This feeling of being completely understood and fully accepted was like the sunshine that suddenly arrives after a long winter night, making her heart feel both warm and tender.
......
The plane landed at Bao'an Airport. Shenzhen in October was still hot, and the sunlight shone golden through the porthole.
The track was still steaming with the lingering heat of early autumn, and the humid wind, carrying warmth, was quite different from the cool autumn air in Shanghai.
The wedding venue was a high-end hotel in Futian, with huge floor-to-ceiling windows that stretched from the ground to the ceiling, and the infinity pool outside the windows merging with the distant sea.
The lobby was well-air-conditioned, and the smooth marble floor made the crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling clearly visible. An elegant and warm fragrance filled the air.
In the hotel garden, wedding signs were neatly arranged, and white display boards featured wedding photos of Zheng Qi and his wife, who smiled at each other in the photos, radiating happiness and sweetness.
Lin Yu arrived an hour earlier than the agreed time, wrote his name at the registration desk, and gave a gift.
"Lin Yu!" A familiar voice came from behind her. She turned around and saw Zheng Qi walking towards her.
He wore a well-tailored custom-made suit, and his hair was carefully styled. He had a more mature charm than he did in college, but his smile remained the same.
"You've finally arrived!" Zheng Qi smiled and stepped forward, giving her a light hug. "I heard you're your own boss now? Should I call you President Lin then?"
"You're being too polite, Mr. Zheng!" Lin Yu retorted with a smile, then asked, "Where's the bride?"
"In the dressing room, you'll see her when the ceremony starts." As soon as she finished speaking, Zheng Qi's gaze suddenly swept past Lin Yu's shoulder to behind her, and she waved in that direction. "This way."
Lin Yu turned around following his gaze and saw Chen Guang walking in through the door. He was a bit darker than before and thinner, but his eyes had regained their long-lost clarity.
He was dressed in the simplest jeans and white T-shirt, as if he had instantly transformed back into the boy he was on the college campus. Their eyes met in the air, and Chen Guang naturally grinned and nodded slightly to them.
"Come on, let's go say hello." Zheng Qi gently nudged Lin Yu's shoulder and led her toward Chen Guang.
"Congratulations, groom!" Chen Guang quickly came forward, his gaze lingering briefly on Lin Yu before he put his arm around Zheng Qi's shoulder and patted him hard on the back.
"So you actually came after all..." Zheng Qi released Chen Guang, punched him lightly in the chest, and then changed the subject. "Where's Cheng Yuan?"
“His child is sick and he can’t leave right away, so he specifically asked me to bring you this red envelope,” Chen Guang said, patting the inner pocket of his chest.
"Are you alright?" Zheng Qi asked worriedly.
"It's nothing, just a minor illness."
"Haha, okay! You'd better stay tonight and have a few drinks with me! Make up for all the drinks he had."
"Sure, as long as your partner is willing to release them," Chen Guang joked with a smile.
“Why wouldn’t I agree? Can’t I make a decision about this at home?” Zheng Qi retorted stubbornly.
No sooner had he finished speaking than his phone rang. The instant he answered the call, Zheng Qi's expression changed, and his tone immediately softened.
"Yes, yes, I'm coming right now. Don't be angry, baby. You won't be pretty if you're angry." After saying that, she waved to Lin Yu and Chen Guang and walked quickly towards the venue. Her demeanor was completely different from her tough attitude just now.
Watching Zheng Qi's hurried departure, Lin Yu suddenly remembered the grudges between him and Chen Guang that had arisen because of her.
She understood that friendships between men sometimes involved a subtle power struggle. Zheng Qi's concern for Lin Yu was interpreted by Chen Guang at the time as a probing and inappropriate attempt to cross a line.
He was completely immersed in this fictional emotional battle, only seeing his own emotions, neither truly seeing Lin Yu's feelings nor considering things from Zheng Qi's perspective.
So many years have passed in the blink of an eye. After experiencing the trials of society and the setbacks in his relationship with Lin Yu, Chen Guang gradually realized that what he once thought were huge things were now just a slightly bittersweet interlude in his youth.
Time has diluted the intense emotions of those years, leaving only a reinterpretation and acceptance of the past.
Now, Chen Guang no longer needs to prove himself by having Lin Yu or surpassing Zheng Qi; instead, he begins to regret the friendship he has lost.
Zheng Qi's wedding provided an excellent opportunity for reconciliation, marking a new beginning for an old friendship in an occasion symbolizing rebirth and happiness.
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