5 A Festival To Remember

Feeling energized, she decided to unpack the rest of her things and cook a meal to celebrate. When night had fallen, she had successfully unpacked half of her things and gone out to get groceries.

Just as she was about to cook, the doorbell rang.

'Who could it be?'

She only had a few friends in the city, but even then they were just acquaintances. Out of her close friends, one's a soldier and the other a therapist.

But to her surprise, when she opened the door, two familiar faces appeared.

"What are you guys doing here?"

"Wow, way to dampen the mood. Of course, why else would we be here if not for you?"

Bai Jian and Min Liling had been friends with Jiang Yue for the past decade. They stuck with her even after her amnesia and kept contact during college.

"Okay, coming through."

Both of them walked inside and removed their shoes, carrying several bags of beer and a box of what she suspected to be cake.

"That cake… You do remember I'm lactose intolerant, right?"

Min Liling waved her hand dismissively. "Who cares if you are? We're at home so we wouldn't mind even if you drop a bomb mid celebration."

"Yeah, we'll even clean up the house for you." Bai Jian chuckled.

"Hahaha, very funny."

"Glad you agree." Min Liling blew a kiss.

"It was sarcasm."

The former only shrugged her shoulders.

Jiang Yue closed the door and walked into the kitchen.

"So… what's for dinner?" Bai Jian rubbed his hands together, licking his lips.

He had only recently been discharged and hadn't had a proper meal prior to their journey from the province.

"Hotpot," Jiang Yue replied as she washed the vegetables. "You guys are lucky I bought a lot."

Initially she thought she bought too much, but now that her two friends have arrived, it might even be not enough.

"Why are you guys here anyway? What about the military? And the hospital?"

After graduating from college, Min Liling decided to work at a local hospital back in their hometown. It wasn't a large hospital, but it wasn't small either. She had a good salary and provided for her family of 5 with her father.

Meanwhile, Bai Jian is the youngest out of 3 siblings. After enlisting in the military at the age of 18, he's been on active service since then.

"Didn't you know? My term ended. I don't plan on registering for the reserves," Bai Jian replied in a matter of fact.

"What about you?"

"I transferred to a hospital here." Min Liling cheekily smiled. "My parents said it would be best since my salary would be higher and I can live with dad."

Her father is a driver for some big shot, which meant he was hardly ever home. Min Liling thought it'd be nice to live with her dad for a change.

"Then why did you guys not tell me?" Jiang Yue pouted.

Really, what was the meaning of friendship to them? If that was so, then it was great news! The three of them in the same city meant more time spent together.

"What are your plans, Jian?"

Opening a can of beer, he downed it and said, "I was thinking of finding work as a bodyguard, but he didn't exactly know where to start."

"How about applying to FEV?"

"Your company?" Bai Jian swirled his drink. "Isn't that only available to elites like you?"

Jiang Yue laughed. " What're you talking about? Anyone can apply there, you idiot."

"Hahaha, she called you an idiot," Min Liling giggled.

"Quiet, you!"

"Shhhh! Stop being rowdy and help me prepare the hotpot."

"Yes, ma'am!" the two saluted and helped her.

The rest of night was spent practically devouring the meat and beer while catching up with each other for lost time.

The next morning, Jiang Yue woke up with a pounding headache and her feet dangling on the sofa. The living room had been cleaned and the two people had left.

She slowly sat up and massaged her temples.

'I am never drinking with you guys again,' she mentally promised herself as she went to get a glass of water.

Then, she saw a bowl with a note on the countertop.

The note said, 'Hey! We forgot you were a lightweight so you passed out sooner than we thought. We left early this morning after cleaning up and bought you congee. It might get cold so heat it in the microwave, okay? Love ya and take care of yourself ;)'

Jiang Yue smiled.

The bowl was still warm and she ate it without reserve. After taking a painkiller, she decided to go out. Today was thursday, which meant she had no work today.

Since she was going out, she might as well eat out too!

At this rate, the money set aside might be gone sooner than she thought. Just thinking about it hurt her pockets.

After taking a shower and changing into a cute outfit, Jiang Yue locked her apartment and headed into the streets.

She saw a poster on a lamppost last week that there was supposed to be a festival today. The downtown plaza would be filled with amusing things and lots of food stalls so she headed there.

Today is going to be fun.

Jade Village is a small community of well-off families living off of their riches.

Qing Shan is currently in a discussion with his mother and sister.

"You don't have work today, right? I know because it's a holiday," His mother said while feeding their dog.

He stayed quiet.

This time, her sister spoke up. "You understand what we're saying, right?"

Qing Shan looked up and blankly said, "I have to work."

"No!" Fei Hua, his mother rejected.

"Mother!" Qing Ming supported her mother. She looked at her brother and suggested, "Isn't there a festival downtown? Go and enjoy it."

"You know I have work."

"Even if you do, I already texted Jing Liu and told him you won't be coming."

Qing Shan frowned. This mother and daughter pair loved to meddle with his life. He had a stable job, a high salary, and bought a house for them, but they never seem to be content about it.

Which could be justified in the manner that the only reason they meddled could contribute to the fact that he had already made them happy, now it was his turn.

Fei Hua didn't want his son to end up alone. If he didn't want a partner, then at least she didn't want him to end up a workaholic. It worried her and her husband a lot.

Qing Shan sighed. "If I go, will you stop pestering me about blind dates?"

"No-"

"Sure!" Qing Ming interjected. "Go change into something casual and go downtown."

"Right now?"

"Duh, of course." she rolled her eyes. "If you don't go now then when? Do I have to drive you there too?"

Qing Shan could only concede. He sighed. "Fine..."

He got up and went upstairs to change his clothes.

Meanwhile, Fei Hua looked at her daughter and said, "Why did you say yes?"

"Look at it this way, mom. If we say no, then he'll think there'll be no point to agreeing to our request, but if we said yes, then maybe there's a chance he'll meet his true love in that festival, do you get me?"

"Oh, I see!"

"Yes, so the main concern right now is to let him go. We'll schedule him blind dates if all goes wrong."

"Good idea, my daughter. Smart, just like her father." She patted her head.

Qing Shan had been kicked out of the house as soon as he got down. He pondered whether or not to skip the festival all together, but his sister asked him for proof that he went.

Sometimes he cursed his sister's intelligence.

He arrived in downtown by car, parking it by the side of the road. The festival was already in full swing by the time he arrived, judging by the bustling crowd.