On the day of the Beginning of Autumn, Qin Zhan organized everyone to go for a barbecue together after work.

A group of people gathered at a barbecue restaurant in the city that they often frequented, only missing Qin Lie and Yang Guan.

Qin Zhan was half-drunk and came over to Chen Xi’s side to fish for information.

“Sister Xi, is my brother heartbroken?”

Chen Xi was also a bit tipsy and looked at Qin Zhan with interest.

She said with a smile, “How would I know?”

Qin Zhan squeezed past Han Susu and sat down next to Chen Xi.

He pestered her relentlessly, asking, “What’s going on between you two? My brother hasn’t been coming to the shop lately.”

Chen Xi took a big gulp of beer and said with a smile, “You should worry about your own affairs first. Did you get the household registration book?”

Qin Zhan looked troubled, “I don’t know where my mom hid the household registration book. Fangfang won’t let me fight with them about it, so we’re at a standstill.”

Chen Xi: “There will be a way eventually.”

Qin Zhan brought the conversation back around, “So what’s going on between you and my brother?”

Chen Xi just drank and didn’t speak.

Qin Zhan: “Yesterday I went to my brother’s place and saw him drinking alone and feeling depressed.”

He shook the beer bottle in his hand thoughtfully, “My brother rarely drinks alone when he’s down.”

After worrying about his brother, he started worrying about Liu Boyang.

“Boyang, didn’t you say your girlfriend would come back after graduation? It’s already August. Why hasn’t she returned yet?”

Liu Boyang’s gaze suddenly became evasive, and he said casually, “Soon.”

He turned to ask Yang Shan, “Li Guangpeng and Song Ya are getting married. Does Brother Yang Guan know about this?”

When Han Susu heard Song Ya’s name, her ears immediately perked up.

She craned her neck to ask, “Which Song Ya are you talking about?”

Liu Boyang: “Which one could it be?”

With this diversion, no one pressed him further about his girlfriend.

Everyone unanimously began to feel indignant on Yang Guan’s behalf.

A complex expression flashed across Han Susu’s bright face.

She wanted to appear aloof, but after holding back for two minutes, she couldn’t help asking, “Are they getting married?”

Liu Boyang nodded, “My dad and his dad work at the same unit. They’ve already distributed wedding candy.”

Han Susu quickly looked at Yang Shan and asked, “Does Yang Guan know about this?”

Yang Shan had finally gotten past her morning sickness phase and now couldn’t get enough of any food.

She put down her chopsticks and said calmly, “He knows.”

Chen Xi’s attention was also drawn to this topic.

She asked Yang Shan, “When did Brother Yang Guan find out?”

Yang Shan: “Yesterday, Li Guangpeng went to the clinic to deliver the wedding invitation.”

Qin Zhan said indignantly, “How does he have the nerve to give Brother Yang Guan a wedding invitation?”

Yang Shan smiled, “He probably had no choice. We’re all neighbors, you see each other all the time. It would be awkward whether he sent it or not.”

Chen Xi understood Yang Shan’s words and explained, “Our three families have been neighbors for a long time. Yang Shan’s family and Li Guangpeng’s family are only separated by a courtyard wall. My grandmother’s house is a bit farther from theirs.”

“Brother Yang Guan and Li Guangpeng were childhood friends. Yang Shan and I often pestered them to play with us when we were little.”

The three families’ courtyards were next to each other.

The lively atmosphere of neighbors filled Chen Xi’s memories.

Later, Yang Guan’s family moved to an apartment building.

Li Guangpeng’s family also moved to a high-rise not long after, leaving only Chen Xi’s family to guard these single-story houses.

Han Susu said coldly from the side, “Being childhood friends and still doing such a despicable thing.”

Yang Shan smiled bitterly and said, “There’s no right or wrong in matters of the heart. Besides, given my brother’s situation, it’s normal for Song Ya to be unwilling.”

Liu Boyang: “He could have found anyone else, why did he have to go for Brother Yang Guan’s best buddy?”

Qin Zhan: “Exactly. Yang Guan, my brother, and Li Guangpeng used to have such a good relationship. You could call them an iron triangle without exaggeration.”

“After Song Ya got together with Li Guangpeng, my brother stopped associating with him too.”

Everyone at the table felt quite melancholy, except for Han Susu, whose mood was complicated.

She had envied Song Ya when she was little. Back then, Yang Guan was the school heartthrob, with good grades too. Who knows how many girls secretly liked him?

Song Ya had been Yang Guan’s deskmate since their first year of high school. She also had excellent grades and was very beautiful. The two gradually got together.

Yang Guan’s mother particularly liked Song Ya and didn’t oppose their teenage romance at all, almost treating Song Ya like her own daughter.

This made Han Susu incredibly envious, and she secretly resented Song Ya for many years.

Later, when Yang Guan lost his sight and Song Ya was studying at an out-of-province university, she gradually stopped contacting Yang Guan.

After graduating from university, she passed the civil service exam in their city and got together with Li Guangpeng.

Han Susu both hated her for betraying Brother Yang Guan and thanked her for making way for herself.

Lost in thought, she heard Qin Zhan ask, “Are you all going to the wedding?”

Yang Shan was eating garlic vermicelli and nodded, “My brother already agreed to go, so I have to go too.”

Liu Boyang clicked his tongue in admiration, “Brother Yang Guan has such a broad heart.”

Han Susu couldn’t help but say, “Why give them face? Why make things difficult for yourself?”

Yang Shan: “I think my brother didn’t react much. He doesn’t care at all.”

Chen Xi glanced at Han Susu and said meaningfully, “Brother Yang Guan doesn’t care about Song Ya anyway.”

Everyone at the table smiled knowingly at Han Susu. Her feelings for Yang Guan were something everyone knew, sooner or later.

Han Susu wasn’t coy about it and said openly, “Then I’ll go too. I’ll help Yang Guan save face.”

A few days later was Li Guangpeng and Song Ya’s wedding was.

Although it was in Dunhuang city, Guangpeng’s parents didn’t choose the hotel’s all-inclusive service.

They felt that weddings should be held at home to be truly lively.

So when the flowing banquet was set up and big red double happiness characters filled the entire courtyard, the neighbors also got excited.

Chen Xi’s grandmother’s house was very close to Li Guangpeng’s. She only brought Sensen over near noon.

Guangpeng’s parents wore flowers on their chests and stood at the entrance, greeting guests.

Behind them in the courtyard, there were already many people gathered together, cracking sunflower seeds and peanuts while chatting, waiting to see the bride.

A group of children ran around between the tables, making noise. As soon as Sensen entered the courtyard, he was surrounded by Ruirui and Guoguo, and the three children disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Qin Zhan came with Fangfang and waved at Chen Xi from a distance.

Chen Xi waved back at them and pointed toward the courtyard of Yang Shan’s house next door.

Chen Xi walked to Yang Shan’s small courtyard. Han Susu had already arrived and was sitting in the courtyard with Yang Shan, playing with a puppy.

Chen Xi could tell from Han Susu’s outfit that this girl was planning to cause a stir today.

“Dressed like that, what are you planning?”

She squatted down and reached out to pet the puppy’s fluffy head.

Han Susu also bent down to pet the puppy, saying calmly, “To cause trouble, of course.”

She was a dance teacher with a figure like a 2D mature woman.

Today she wore a body-hugging wrap dress that showed off her figure, with magnificent curves up front but a tiny waist, and two slender arms that were dazzlingly white in the sunlight.

Han Susu’s figure had already been extremely eye-catching in high school.

Back then, Chen Xi was still like a tomboy, constantly helping Han Susu fend off endless harassment from boys.

Yang Shan asked with some concern, “If your parents find out about your feelings for my brother, won’t they beat you to death?”

Han Susu made a face at Yang Shan.

“They’re already so old, even if they beat me to death, it would be too late to have another child. They definitely wouldn’t be able to bring themselves to kill me.”

Yang Shan looked speechless.

As they were talking, Yang Guan pushed the door open and came out.

He wore a simple T-shirt and long pants, but his broad shoulders and long legs made him look very handsome.

Han Susu’s eyes lit up as soon as she saw Yang Guan, but she held back from talking to him.

After hearing Yang Guan personally admit he liked her that night, Han Susu hadn’t sought him out.

She was still angry with him and wanted to give him the cold shoulder a bit longer.

The four of them walked out together. Guangpeng’s parents seemed to be waiting for Yang Guan specifically, immediately coming up to greet them and leading them into the courtyard.

Han Susu suddenly quickened her pace, walking alongside Yang Guan and grabbing his hand.

Yang Guan was startled and instinctively tried to pull away, but Han Susu held on firmly.

As a blind man, he could somehow feel gazes directed at them from all directions.

“What are you doing?”

His voice was low and hoarse, with a trace of helplessness.

Han Susu had put on full makeup and looked stunningly beautiful.

Today, she wanted everyone to see that she was the one persistently pursuing Yang Guan.

She whispered in Yang Guan’s ear, “With so many people watching, don’t embarrass me.”

Yang Guan could only let her hold his hand.

Han Susu pushed her luck, threading her fingers through his and intertwining their hands completely.

Chen Xi wordlessly followed behind the two, enjoying the attention from all directions.

Qin Zhan had saved them seats. When Chen Xi sat down, she suddenly saw Qin Lie sitting next to Qin Zhan.

He was wearing a black T-shirt today, his muscular arms making him look like a genuine Northwest tough guy.

But his aura was completely out of place with his surroundings.

When their eyes met, Qin Lie was talking to Qin Zhan, but suddenly paused mid-sentence.

Chen Xi looked away and took a sip of the orange juice Lin Fang had poured for her.

The table was full of undercurrents when firecrackers suddenly went off at the entrance, crackling loudly and festively.

Amid the commotion, Li Guangpeng entered the courtyard carrying his bride in her bright red wedding gown.

The emcee’s voice came from inside the house, “The bride and groom bow once.”

Chen Xi looked around but didn’t see Sensen and the others.

She told Yang Shan and got up to look for them.

The main room was packed with people watching the excitement, and the groom was lifting the bride’s red veil.

Chen Xi searched through a pile of children on the ground for Sensen but couldn’t find him after looking around.

She then went to the back courtyard, where cooking was in full swing under temporarily erected tents.

Sensen, Ruirui, and Guoguo were standing in front of a large table watching someone knead yellow noodles.

The Li family had hired an authentic yellow noodle master to show off in front of relatives and friends.

Chen Xi also walked over and watched as a ball of yellow dough was repeatedly kneaded and stretched in the master’s hands.

Finally, she saw the master run a few quick steps, stretching the noodles in his hands to four or five meters long, then smoothly tossing them into a large pot of boiling water.

Someone came over shouting, “After the hot dishes are served, bring out the yellow noodles.”

Chen Xi pulled Sensen and the others back to the front for the banquet.

Just as they rounded the side of the main room, she ran into a familiar face.

Both stopped at the same time. Chen Xi called out “Auntie” to the other person, then patted Sensen’s small shoulder.

She said to him, “Take your little sister to eat in front.”

Sensen nodded and ran to the front with his two little followers.

Bai Yuning’s mother smiled and looked Chen Xi over for a while before asking, “How’s business at your auto repair shop?”

Chen Xi nodded, “Pretty good.”

Bai Yuning’s mother laughed twice and said, “Good business is fine, otherwise what was the point of giving up your job, giving up such a good opportunity in Beijing, and even giving up our Yuning? What was all that for?”

Chen Xi smiled but didn’t respond.

She knew Bai Yuning’s mother was very dissatisfied about their breakup, thinking she was too stubborn and had wronged Bai Yuning.

After a moment of relative silence, Chen Xi pointed toward the front courtyard, “Auntie, I’ll head over there first.”

Bai Yuning’s mother continued to study Chen Xi and stepped aside to make way.

Chen Xi had only taken a few steps when she heard Bai Yuning’s mother’s voice behind her.

“Chen Xi, did Yuning tell you?”

Chen Xi stopped and turned back to ask, “Tell me what?”

Bai Yuning’s mother looked at Chen Xi and said coolly, “Yuning is dating someone, a doctor from their hospital, a graduate student from Beijing.”

Chen Xi stood frozen in place, her lips moving but unable to speak.

Bai Yuning’s mother wanted to record the expression on Chen Xi’s face to enjoy at home later.

She smiled, turned around, and walked away unhurriedly.

Chen Xi stood there, stunned for a long while, then suddenly pulled out a pack of cigarettes from her bag.

She put the cigarette in her mouth but couldn’t find her lighter.

As she was searching through her bag with her head down, a flame appeared in front of her.

Chen Xi looked up to see Qin Lie standing in front of her, holding a lighter.

Chen Xi tugged at the corner of her mouth toward him, leaned in to light her cigarette, and took a deep drag.

The two walked to the base of a wall and silently smoked.

Qin Lie asked casually, “Jealous?”

Chen Xi snorted with laughter and blew out smoke.

She had long since let go, but hearing this news suddenly, her heart still couldn’t remain completely calm.

All the little moments from their time together flooded into her mind instantly.

His embrace, his warmth, his meticulous care – all of it would belong to someone else now.

Qin Lie said nothing more and silently accompanied Chen Xi as she finished her cigarette.

“Let’s go.”

Chen Xi stubbed out her cigarette and walked toward the lively front courtyard.

She had chosen this path herself – there was no such thing as regret.