I didn’t really sleep that night. Deep down, I wanted to go back to the days when she still loved me, and we held hands in silence, filled with joy.
But I am living in the present, living in the shadow of her turning away from me, and I can’t help but think of her cruelly and mock her!
The night turned into morning, and sunlight seeped through the curtains into my room. It settled on the glass vase with flowers, creating a colorful halo, as if indicating that it was going to be a great morning.
Yes, even without the sunlight’s indication, it was still a great morning. Today, a couple will tie the knot, and I shouldn’t taint this morning and their wedding with anxious emotions. I told myself that I must have a sunny attitude.
I found the most handsome suit from the wardrobe, shaved off my beard, and used a hairdryer to style my hair energetically. I smiled at myself in the mirror, confirming that I looked sunny. Only then did I prepare to leave the room and give my blessings to Circle and Yan Yan on their wedding day.
…
It was almost noon, and I, along with other guests, waited outside the hotel for the wedding procession and for Jian Wei, who would be accompanying Yan Yan as the bridesmaid.
The wedding procession was taking longer than expected, as there was heavy traffic on the road. This was torture for me. At this point, I would rather see Jian Wei earlier. The agonizing wait before meeting her was unbearable. Since we couldn’t avoid seeing each other, it would be better if we treated each other as strangers without saying a word. That would be best!
I squeezed out of the crowd and sat on a stone bench across from the hotel. My emotions became even more anxious. It was hard to describe this anxiety in words. I felt that Circle and Yan Yan’s wedding, symbolizing completeness, was a cruel interrogation for me.
This interrogation was not only emotional but also material. Why did Circle and I graduate from the same school, start from the same starting point, and yet he achieved success in his career and found happiness with his loved one, while I was so destitute, living a life of uncertainty and borrowing money everywhere?
In my self-interrogation, my heart was filled with suffocating loneliness and despair. At this moment, I really wished there was a woman by my side, helping me conceal this loneliness and despair, allowing me to wear at least a seemingly happy smile to bless Circle and Yan Yan.
I lit a cigarette and finally took out my phone from my pocket. I dialed the number of my female tenant, Mi Cai.
After waiting for a while, Mi Cai answered the phone. I quickly asked, “Are you awake?”
“Why?” Mi Cai’s tone was somewhat cautious.
I smiled, trying to make her relax first before saying, “I actually wanted to invite you to have a meal…”
“No need. We’re not that close,” Mi Cai rejected without hesitation.
“There is a need. Think about it, you lent me money and let me stay with you. It’s a great favor to me. If I don’t treat you to a meal, I’ll become a scumbag in your eyes!” I emphasized, pretending to be “hurt.”
Mi Cai fell silent for a moment, then said to me, “Where are we eating?”
“Yaming Grand Hotel.”
“Yaming Grand Hotel? Did I hear it correctly?” Mi Cai asked, full of doubt.
“Of course, you heard it correctly. Only a five-star hotel can show my sincerity in inviting you to dinner. So… you must come. This meal is worth a week’s salary for me!” I emphasized with sincerity, pretending to be “hurt.”
“Got it. Wait for me for 20 minutes.” After a pause, she added, “Don’t be so extravagant in the future. It doesn’t matter where you sincerely invite me to eat.”
I didn’t expect Mi Cai to consider my financial situation. I was stunned before answering, “Got it. I’ll wait for you outside the hotel.” After that, Mi Cai and I hung up the phone. Finally, I felt relieved. I thought that if I could deceive Mi Cai into accompanying me, I wouldn’t feel so lonely and destitute later!
…
A quarter of an hour passed, and the wedding procession still hadn’t arrived. It seemed that they encountered an unprecedented traffic jam. But now, I wasn’t as anxious as before, which made me feel that calling Mi Cai was a wise decision.
After another 5 minutes, I saw the red Audi Q7. Mi Cai had really come as agreed. She parked the car in the open-air parking lot, and I immediately went to greet her.
We stood beside the fountain in the hotel square, and I spoke first, “I was a little worried that you wouldn’t come, but I didn’t expect you to be so punctual, exactly 20 minutes.”
“I’m not like someone who treats breaking promises as a common occurrence.” Mi Cai took the opportunity to tease me.
I laughed it off and said, “You’re referring to me, right? It’s okay, you can say it directly. I won’t get angry with you.”
“You’re not angry because you have thick skin!” Mi Cai retorted.
I laughed again but didn’t say anything more.
Mi Cai glanced at the hotel across the street and asked me, “Can we go eat now?”
“Of course, but we have to wait a little longer. We’re still waiting for a few more people.”
“Are there other people?”
As soon as Mi Cai finished speaking, the crowd that had been waiting started to get noisy. Then, eight cars decorated with “double happiness” characters and ribbons formed a straight line and drove into the hotel courtyard. They had finally arrived!
I didn’t have time to talk to Mi Cai beside me. My gaze uncontrollably fixed on the wedding car carrying the bride. I knew Jian Wei was also sitting in that car. My breathing became erratic in an instant.Circle, dressed in a groom’s suit, stepped out of the wedding car first. He then went to the other side of the car to open the door for Yan Yan, lifting her out of the car in a princess carry. This act elicited a round of applause and cheers from the crowd, their happiness overwhelming me in an instant.
Amidst the ebb and flow of the crowd, I finally saw Jian Wei stepping out of the car. She was holding a bouquet of flowers, dressed in a sapphire blue gown. The midday sun shone on her arms, making them glisten. Her face was as beautiful as ever, her eyes, like peach blossoms, seemed to ripple under her willow-leaf eyebrows. Among all the women I knew, her eyes were the most beautiful.
Jian Wei handed the flowers to Yan Yan, who was cradled in Circle’s arms. As the crowd cheered and clapped, she never once glanced in my direction. Perhaps she didn’t even realize I was there.
I remained silent for a long time, took a deep breath, and said to Mi Cai, who seemed a bit confused, “My friends are here… Let’s go in for the meal.”
Mi Cai’s face was cold. “You’re here to attend a friend’s wedding, not sincerely inviting me to dinner, right?”
“I am sincere, it’s just that there are a lot of people.”
“Scumbag!” Mi Cai cursed at me, took out her car keys from her bag, and turned to walk towards her car parked not far away.
I couldn’t let Mi Cai leave. Yes, I had tricked her, but this trickery didn’t harm her in any way. At least she could enjoy a wedding feast. Since she was already here, it made no sense to leave.
I reached out to hold Mi Cai back, my tone uncontrollably harsh, “Why do you always take things so seriously! What’s wrong with inviting you to a friend’s wedding feast? Just eat and drink to your heart’s content, it won’t cost you anything!”
Mi Cai hit me with her bag as she walked, repeating, “I’ll say it again, I don’t like being lied to… From now on, I don’t want to have anything to do with you, a liar, a scumbag. Please move out of my house as soon as you get back.”
Although I didn’t expect Mi Cai’s reaction to be so intense, I still held onto her, not letting her leave. In the midst of our struggle, a figure stood opposite us.
My hand was still tightly gripping Mi Cai’s arm, and I looked up at the person standing opposite us, my heart pounding… Standing opposite Mi Cai and me was Jian Wei!
Three years later, at this moment, we were finally standing face to face.