In the end, the cheongsam remained intact, but the next day Si Hua slept until noon, her body aching so much that she could only curse He Ju while getting up to wash.

He Ju had already gone to the company early, and although it wasn’t officially open for business yet, the preparations before opening were indispensable. He Ju, who usually came home early every evening, started going in earlier each morning.

Bai Yan was not the type to meddle in affairs, declaring that he would only handle administrative matters before the company even opened. Fatty, on the other hand, expressed a desire to stay in the construction department, learning technical skills from the workers. Motor preferred to run projects outside, saying he just wanted to make money and also improve his ability to handle affairs.

Although Motor said this, as brothers, everyone knew that he simply didn’t want to stay in the heartache-inducing City A any longer. The wounds from his last relationship could only be healed by a new love and time. With no one else by his side, all he could do was slowly heal with time.

No one stopped Motor; as brothers, they all respected his choice.

Bai Yan even joked with Motor, “Now that you’ve broken up, you’re not planning to stay single for her forever, are you?”

Motor retorted, “Cut it out, how could that be? I just want to make money…”

The business they started together wasn’t funded much by him and Fatty, and he wasn’t being pretentious. He just… really wanted to carve out his own place in the world.

He Ju had met Si Hua, his sister-in-law, and was now very happy. After attending their wedding, he planned to leave, traveling far and wide to seek benefits for their company. He also hoped that on his journey forward, he could find a place where he belonged.

He Ju was married now, with a family, and would have children in the future, much more stable than the three of them. Therefore, everyone was willing to let He Ju take the helm of the company.

He Ju did not shirk this responsibility.

He just had to remember not to be ungrateful in the future.

From that day on, everyone became exceptionally busy, as there was less than half a month left until the wedding.

Bai Yan and Fatty were hiring decorators for their studio while considering the construction of various departments. Motor was constantly researching the real estate industry in City A, shuttling between different properties every day to observe the structure and business models of each company. He Ju, on the other hand, planned and summarized based on the data everyone fed back. The division of labor was clear.

After a brief meeting post-work, He Ju left, while Bai Yan and the others continued to toil into the night.

After work, He Ju would go with Si Hua to take wedding photos and select items for their newlywed life.

Their home was almost finished being decorated, and Si Hua truly enjoyed the process of setting up their new home.

There were also invitations to send to relatives and friends. Although both sets of parents were helping, the couple also needed to keep track.

Si Hua’s wedding dress was personally designed by He Ju. To congratulate them, Elder Jiang had the dress delivered personally, reportedly made overnight according to He Ju’s measurements.

He Ju, therefore, offered Elder Jiang several compliments.

Life was busy yet fulfilling, and a week before the wedding, Si Hua was taken back to the old Bai family home by Bai Yan.

According to pre-wedding traditions, now being observed, the couple was not allowed to meet, for good luck.

Thus, He Ju and Si Hua, though legally married, were now in a long-distance relationship.

This was actually for the best. Although Si Hua had bodyguards to escort her to and from the apartment every day, it was ultimately not safe.

But staying at the old Bai family home was different. The place was monitored everywhere, and the security guards were mostly vigilant ex-soldiers.

Moreover, Si Hua’s wedding was no ordinary affair for the Bai family. During this time, the people around Si Hua were replaced by those specially hired by Bai Yan. Although they were women, their skills were no less than those of the bodyguards outside.

Si Hua knew that as the wedding approached, the Bai family would become increasingly restless. To prevent them from acting out of desperation, she obediently stayed at the old house, preparing for the wedding with Si Hua and reminding He Ju to be careful when going out.

The wedding countdown was at three days.

At nine o’clock in the evening, Liu Jia’s plane landed on time at City A airport.

The evening breeze lifted Liu Jia’s long hair, and her eyes reddened slightly, but she quickly concealed it.

Dragging her suitcase, Liu Jia exited the airport and hailed a cab home.

Inside her suitcase was a carefully selected dress, neither flashy nor eye-catching, but she looked beautiful in it. She just wanted to wear what she felt was her best-looking dress to see him as a groom.

He Ju loved Si Hua, so she, by extension, cared about Si Hua’s feelings.

If all went as planned, Liu Jia wouldn’t let them know she was at the wedding. After all, the red envelope she prepared for them was anonymous.

Neon lights flickered on the streets, and Liu Jia quietly watched the bustling traffic. While waiting for the traffic light, she saw a family of three: a child sitting on the father’s shoulders, the father holding the mother’s hand, all three smiling happily.

Liu Jia smiled along, but as she smiled, her eyes reddened once more.

Her heart swelled with a bitter ache, but Liu Jia thought: As long as he is happy, her own hardship is nothing.

As the car passed the hotel where He Ju and Si Hua were to be married, Liu Jia asked the driver to stop.

Their wedding had created a buzz throughout the city, with their wedding photos being displayed on the big screens of City A’s malls a week in advance. Naturally, the hotel’s large screen also featured them.

Liu Jia stood there, gazing at the wedding photo for a full three hours.

She thought to herself: So… this wedding dress was designed just for her.

She had seen this dress at the Paris exhibition show, rumored to be one-of-a-kind, with the designer unwilling to sell it.

After a long look, Liu Jia simply smiled and said, “They really are a perfect match.”

More than once, Liu Jia wondered if things would have been different if she had been braver back then.

But… where in this world are there so many what-ifs?

“He Ju, you must be happy, to justify my many years of unrequited love.”

Afterward, Liu Jia left, walking alone on the streets in the early morning. The cold moonlight stretched her shadow long and lonely.

Behind Liu Jia, a police car silently followed.

This was the bustling city center, and Liu Jia’s unusual behavior had caught the attention of the traffic police. After reporting it, a patrol car was dispatched.

Seeing Liu Jia looking at the wedding photo, the police officer did not disturb her but silently followed her, escorting her home.