The five-star hotel breakfast was quite ordinary, though the small wontons were surprisingly delicious. Unfortunately, the portion was too small, which led me to eat two bowls and still want another.

The man across from me had already finished his meal, looking energetic as if he hadn’t nearly stayed up all night. With one hand holding coffee and the other browsing electronic news, he still had the leisure to question me, “If you eat so much now, will you have room for the wedding banquet?”

Eating more gives you energy, what do you know?

I waved my hand at him, “You’ll see my capabilities then… Oh, are you not eating your bread? Can I help you finish it?”

I reached over with my fork directly.

Taking a bite, I realized there was no reaction from across the table. Looking up, Lin Yusen was watching me with a somewhat speechless expression.

“What?” I said unclearly, “You weren’t going to eat it anyway, we can’t waste food, Mr. Lin.”

“Nothing.” He put down his coffee cup, “I was calculating the cost of… hmm, expenses, seems like they might increase a bit.”

“Can’t you stop being such a workaholic?” Talk of costs makes my head hurt. I finished the bread in a few bites, adding, “It’s dry and not very tasty. Do you prefer Western breakfasts?”

“Living alone, Western style is more convenient. I’m not particular about it though, can adjust.”

“Uh, oh.” I nodded, “Adjusting would be good, more variety is more nutritionally balanced.”

As soon as I said it, I remembered I was sitting across from a genuine medical doctor. I felt foolish giving such amateur advice but then heard Lin Yusen make a sound of agreement.

“Noted.”

He was looking at the electronic news, seeming to casually acknowledge my comment. “Finish your soy milk and let’s go. Eating too much hurts the stomach.”

“Oh, okay.”

The snow outside had stopped. We sat by the window, the morning sunlight streaming in warmly. He read the news while I held my cup, unconsciously slowing down my soy milk-drinking pace.

After I finished the soy milk, we went to the hotel front desk to check out, then headed to the underground parking garage to get the car.

Looking at the unfamiliar car before me, I was surprised: “You changed cars?”

Lin Yusen usually drove an ordinary BMW, but this one… “I don’t think I’ve seen you drive this before.”

“Sent it back to the factory for repairs last year, haven’t driven it much since getting it back. But since your requirements were too high for me to meet, I had to work on other aspects.”

“What requirements?” I was confused.

“Forgot?” He sighed, “‘More handsome,’ remember?”

Pfft! I burst out laughing.

Can’t be more handsome…

Mr. Lin, just how narcissistic are you!

“Alright, I’m glad I amused you. Get in.”

“Mm!”

I ran to the passenger side and opened the door, but stopped and looked up at him across the car. I said seriously, “Actually, today you…”

I had intended to straightforwardly compliment him, but when the words reached my lips, I suddenly felt shy about saying them.

He stood on the other side of the car, looking at me intently, “Actually what?”

Actually…

Though he usually dressed meticulously, his aura was typically understated. Today, however, it seemed completely unleashed, dazzling to behold. Earlier when I came down from upstairs and saw him standing in the lobby, that distinguished and outstanding bearing of his caught me off guard at first glance. Walking toward him under everyone’s gaze, I felt an almost vain pleasure.

“You are more handsome today!”

I finally said it, though my face felt hot.

He gazed at me, finally breaking into a slow smile.

“Worth trying on several ties then. Get in, Miss Nie. I’m happy to be your driver.”

Mr. Lin’s “more handsome” car held no advantage against Shanghai’s mighty traffic conditions. The drive from Pudong to Puxi was congested the whole way, but fortunately, we’d left early. When we arrived at the hotel, Lao Da and her husband were standing at the entrance greeting guests.

As usual, Lin Yusen dropped me off at the entrance before driving off to find parking.

Lao Da saw me and ran over in her dress, throwing propriety to the wind as she punched my arm. “Hey, what’s the meaning of this, dressing up so beautifully for my wedding? And what car was your boyfriend just driving?”

“…Lao Da, can you be less violent on your wedding day? Of course, I had to dress up to attend your wedding.”

“And~” I winked at her, smiling as I turned my gaze to Zhuang Xu and Rong Rong. “With such a beautiful bridesmaid and handsome best man, I thought you weren’t afraid of being upstaged!”

So they were the best man and bridesmaid after all…

Rong Rong was greeting other guests nearby, acting as if she hadn’t seen me. Zhuang Xu stood quietly behind the groom, and when I met his calm gaze, I surprisingly maintained my smile.

Lao Da gritted her teeth and called out my name: “Nie! Xi! Gua!”

I laughed and dodged her reaching claws, secretly giving myself full marks.

Lao Da’s husband came over to greet me briefly before returning to attend to other guests.

Lao Da pulled me to stand a bit farther away.

“It’s all my husband’s fault. He said that during a drinking session in the dorm at graduation, Zhuang Xu got drunk and said he didn’t know how many years he’d have to work before he could get married, that he’d be the last, and promised to be his best man… And on my side, Rong Rong was so enthusiastic… You think I wanted such a handsome guy and beautiful girl?”

She whispered a long string of explanations in my ear, then made another attempt to punch me.

“Don’t bully her.”

An amused voice rang out, and I was suddenly pulled away, dodging Lao Da’s pink fist. Looking up, Lin Yusen had returned, my coat draped over his arm.

He handed me the coat: “So careless, you left your coat in the car.”

“Ah, I left it on purpose. It’s not cold in the hotel, and it would be troublesome to carry.”

Lin Yusen nodded, “You’ll still need to put it on when we go out later, I’ll hold it for you.”

He then turned to the newlyweds with a smile, presenting the red envelope: “Congratulations on your marriage.”

Oh! Did he prepare a red envelope too?

I protested from the side: “Why are you giving her a red envelope? Didn’t I say I was bringing you free food and drinks? This makes it double!”

Lao Da’s death glare immediately shot my way.

Lin Yusen smiled and said, “It’s not double. Shouldn’t I be the one giving the red envelope?”

“…That one’s too thick though. Lao Da, count this for your future baby’s red envelope too, may you have a son soon!”

Seeing that Lao Da was going to hit me this time, I quickly pulled out my prepared red envelope and handed it to her: “His gift is his business, not mine, Lao Da. This is from me. I wish you happiness.”

“Xigua…” Lao Da seemed to have become somewhat sentimental from the wedding, looking like she might tear up as she gave me a bear hug. “You need to grab hold of your happiness too, don’t be foolish.”

The last sentence was whispered in my ear.

I patted her back and made a sound of agreement.

Lao Da let go of me and ran back to grab her husband. “Honey, tell someone to put this eye-blindingly flashy couple in a corner, I don’t want to see them.”

Of course, we weren’t seated in a corner. The seating had been arranged long ago, with university classmates occupying two tables in total.

Naturally, I was seated at the same table as Xiao Feng and Si Liang. After sitting down, there were still two empty seats beside me, which remained vacant even after the banquet began. Si Liang said they were reserved for the bridesmaid and best man since the main table was full.

I paused for a moment, then continued chatting with them.

The bridesmaid and best man probably wouldn’t have a chance to sit down and eat anyway.

The wedding ceremony started soon after.

Though Lao Da had said everything would be simple, it was still quite grand.

The bride and groom, accompanied by their bridesmaid and best man, walked into the banquet hall to the wedding march, passing through several flower arches before ascending the stage.

I heard people at the next table commenting.

“The bride and groom make a good match.”

“Wow, that best man is so handsome.”

Indeed.

Zhuang Xu…

At this moment, with so many people watching the stage together, I finally dared to look at him so carefully.

He…

Was different now.

He seemed thinner than in university, with a sharp edge about him. In his well-fitted suit, from his expression to his bearing, he was like an unsheathed sword…

What had he experienced to become like this?

How regrettable that I hadn’t witnessed his gradual transformation to this point.

In the joyous, noisy atmosphere, my gaze must have been too unguarded. His eyes, which had been fixed on space, suddenly shot directly at me.

I hurriedly turned away.

For a moment I was unsettled, my heart nearly leaping from my chest. Just as I was regaining my composure, I started to regret it – turning away so hastily just now, wasn’t that too obvious?

Lin Yusen suddenly placed some food in my bowl with his chopsticks, accompanied by an extremely gentle tone: “Xiguang, have some to calm your nerves.”

“Oh, thanks.” I lowered my head distractedly, then was shocked.

Where did he find such a large piece of fatty meat to give me?

This wasn’t calming my nerves, this was giving me a shock!

The wedding ceremony on stage had ended, and the newlyweds began making their rounds to toast each table. Rong Rong, wearing her bridesmaid’s cocktail dress, returned to the banquet tables. Of course, she didn’t sit next to me, leaving an empty seat between us.

As soon as she sat down, without greeting anyone, she smiled and looked directly at Lin Yusen.

“I know you.”

Everyone except Lin Yusen looked at her in surprise. Rong Rong tilted her chin slightly, wearing a proud expression: “Yesterday I thought Mr. Lin’s name sounded familiar, then I remembered – Mr. Lin, aren’t you our company chairman’s grandson?”

Lin Yusen smiled slightly, “You work at Sheng Yuan?”

Before Rong Rong could answer, Xiao Feng had already exclaimed excitedly, “Wow, Xiguang, no way, your boyfriend is from a legendary wealthy family?”

I didn’t answer her, looking straight at Rong Rong instead. Rong Rong’s smile was strange, her eyes showing obvious disdain as if she found Xiao Feng’s words ridiculous.

Without waiting for others to ask how she knew Lin Yusen, Rong Rong volunteered: “I’m Manager Sheng’s second secretary in the marketing department, I’ve heard him mention you.”

“Xing Jie?”

Rong Rong nodded gracefully.

Lin Yusen smiled and said, “So you’re Xing Jie’s secretary,” and said nothing more.

Rong Rong continued somewhat reluctantly: “It’s a pity I never saw Mr. Lin at headquarters before. I’d only been at the company a few months when I heard Mr. Lin had been assigned to a subsidiary.”

Whether it was my imagination or not, I felt she particularly emphasized the words “subsidiary,” her expression carrying some indescribable undertone.

“Oh, so it was Suzhou. And at the same company as Xiguang. By the way, Xiguang, why did you go to Suzhou? Although Suzhou is developing well, the opportunities still can’t compare to Shanghai.”

What exactly was she trying to express? Tell everyone that Lin Yusen had been pushed out of Sheng Yuan’s core. Imply that he had no status at Sheng Yuan and wasn’t worth mentioning?

What business is it of yours?

A surge of anger rose in my heart. Looking at Ye Rong, I deliberately said in a light tone: “Suzhou is great! That company is a joint venture between my family and Sheng Yuan, so it’s more relaxed to work there. Shanghai’s opportunities are good, but those opportunities you mentioned, I probably couldn’t use them anyway.”

“Oh right, the Sheng family and my family are quite close. Rong Rong, since you work at Sheng Yuan, if you encounter any problems, you can come to me. Don’t be shy – university friendships are the most precious, I’ll help if I can.”

Ye Rong’s face suddenly darkened.

Lin Yusen glanced at me. He typically didn’t show obvious emotions in public, so I couldn’t tell what that glance meant, and leaned over anxiously to whisper: “Too arrogant?”

Lin Yusen smiled.

I felt dejected: “What are you smiling at?”

Lin Yusen leaned close to whisper back: “I’m smiling at someone wearing a paper tiger’s skin to show off, while the real little tiger beside me only dares to show kitten claws, and is still carefully afraid they’re too sharp and might hurt someone.”

…What does that mean?

That’s no way to mock someone!

Si Liang probably sensed the strange atmosphere and habitually started smoothing things over: “Rong Rong, how do you have time to eat as the bridesmaid, shouldn’t you be helping collect red envelopes?”

It took Rong Rong a while to answer: “Lao Da’s mother is collecting them, I came to rest for a bit.”

“You must be tired, hurry and eat.” After saying this, Si Liang seemed to remember something and asked me: “Xigua, I heard from Lao Da that you have gifts for us, how come I didn’t see you bring them?”

“Oh, I was planning to bring them today, but I didn’t go back to Suzhou yesterday, next time I’ll…”

Before I could finish speaking, the chair beside me was suddenly pulled out. In my peripheral vision, I first saw black suit sleeves, then sensed that familiar presence… so close.

The best man who had just been on stage was suddenly sitting beside me.

I immediately froze.

Si Liang was already teasing me, “Oh, what’s this I hear, you didn’t return to Suzhou last night? Did you stay in Shanghai? Where did you stay?”

Her suggestive gaze swept between Lin Yusen and me. “Mr. Lin must have a house in Shanghai, right?”

Lin Yusen glanced at her and said coolly: “My place is very close to Xiguang’s hotel, it was convenient to pick her up this morning.”