The Meeting After Three Years

I didn't sleep much that night. I asked myself if I wanted to go back to the past, to the days when she still loved me. Then, we held hands and rejoiced in silence.

However, I was still living in the present, living with the back view of her leaving. Then, I thought of her fierceness and laughed at her for being heartless!

The night turned into the morning, and the sun shone into my room through the gap in the curtains. Finally, it stopped on the glass bottle with flowers, creating a seven-colored halo, as if it was another great morning.

Yes, even without the sun, this was still a very good morning, because a couple would be getting married today. I shouldn't use my anxiety to pollute this morning and their wedding. I told myself that I had to have a sunny attitude.

I found the most handsome suit in the closet and shaved my beard. I found a hairdryer to blow dry my hair and smiled at the mirror. After confirming that it was very sunny, I prepared to leave the room and send my wedding wishes to Fang Yuan and Yan Yan.

...

It was almost noon. The guests and I were waiting outside the hotel for the bridal procession. I was also waiting for Jian Wei, who was accompanying Yan Yan as her bridesmaid.

The convoy of bridal escorts had yet to arrive. I heard that there was a traffic jam on the road. This was simply torture for me. At this time, I would rather see Jian Wei earlier. What was difficult was precisely this kind of anxious waiting before meeting her. Anyway, it was inevitable to meet. It was better to be straightforward. Perhaps after the meeting, we would just tacitly treat each other as strangers. This was the best!

I squeezed out of the crowd and sat on the stone bench opposite the hotel. I was even more anxious. This anxiety was difficult to describe with words. I felt that Yan Yan and Fang Yuan's wedding was cruel torture to me.

This kind of torture was not only emotional but also material. Why did Fang Yuan and I graduate from the same school and start from the same starting point? Now, his career had just begun and he had finally married the person he loved, I was so down and out, living alone without a fixed residence and borrowing money everywhere.

As I torture myself, my heart was filled with a sense of loneliness and loss that I couldn't breathe. At this moment, I really hoped that a woman would be by my side to help me hide my loneliness and loss. At least, I would be able to bring a happy smile to give Fang Yuan and Yan Yan my blessings.

After smoking a cigarette, I finally took out my phone from my pocket and dialed Mi Cai's number.

After waiting for a while, the call connected. I quickly asked, "Are you up?"

"What?" Mi Cai's tone was a little vigilant.

I smiled and tried to make her lower her guard before saying, "Actually, I wanted to treat you to a meal…"

"There's no need for that. We're not that close." Mi Cai seemed to have rejected it without even considering it.

"There's a need for that. Think about it. You lent me money and took me in. It's simply a big favor for me. If I don't treat you to a meal, wouldn't I really become the scum in your mouth?"

Mi Cai was silent for a moment. I struck while the iron was hot and said, "Come on, I've already chosen a place. I sincerely hope that you can give me a chance to completely get rid of the lowly title of scum."

Mi Cai fell silent again and said to me, "Where is the place?"

"Yaming Hotel."

"Yaming Hotel? Did I hear wrongly?" Mi Cai asked in confusion.

"Of course not. Only a five-star hotel can show my sincerity in treating you to a meal, so... You must come. This meal is equivalent to a week's salary!"

I emphasized my sincerity and pretended to be in pain. "Got it. Give me 20 minutes."

After a pause, she added, "Don't be so extravagant in the future. It's the same no matter where you treat me to a meal."

"I didn't expect Mi Cai to take into account my financial situation. After a moment of shock, I replied, "Got it. I'll wait for you outside the hotel." After saying that, Mi Cai and I hung up the phone. I finally heaved a sigh of relief. If I tricked Mi Cai into accompanying me, I wouldn't seem so lonely and down and out later!

...

Fifteen minutes passed, but the bridal convoy still hadn't arrived. It seemed they had encountered an unprecedented traffic jam. At this moment, I wasn't as anxious as before. This made me feel that calling Mi Cai over was a very wise decision.

After another five minutes, I saw the red Audi Q7. Mi Cai really came as promised. She parked the car in the open-air parking lot and I immediately went over to welcome her.

The two of them stood beside the fountain in the hotel square. I spoke first, "I was a little worried you wouldn't come. I didn't expect you to be so punctual. It's exactly 20 minutes."

"I'm not like some people who don't keep their promises as usual." Mi Cai took the opportunity to say something.

I smiled nonchalantly, "The 'someone' you're talking about is me, right? If there's nothing else, you can just say it. I won't be angry with you."

"You're not angry because you're thick-skinned!" Mi Cai choked me again.

I smiled again but didn't say anything else.

Mi Cai looked at the hotel opposite and asked me, "Can we go eat now?"

"Of course, but please wait for a while."

"Is there anyone else?" As soon as Mi Cai finished speaking, the crowd that had been waiting for them started to clamor. Then, eight cars with the word "happy" and ribbons on them drove into the hotel courtyard in a straight line. They had finally arrived!

I couldn't care less about talking to Mi Cai beside me. I couldn't help but stare at the wedding car carrying the bride. I knew that Jian Wei was also sitting in the wedding car. My breathing instantly became chaotic.

Fang Yuan, who was dressed like a groom, walked out of the wedding car and went to the other side of the car to help Yan Yan open the door. He carried her out of the car with a princess hug. This hug caused the crowd to burst into applause and cheers. It was filled with happiness and instantly drowned me.

Amidst the rising and falling of the crowd, I finally saw Jian Wei getting off the car. She was holding a bouquet of flowers in her hand and was wearing a sapphire blue dress. The noon sun shone on her arm, making it crystal clear. Her face was still so beautiful. Under her willow-shaped eyebrows, her peach-blossom-like eyes seemed to be moving. Among all the women I knew, her eyes were the most beautiful.

Jian Wei handed the flowers in her hand to Yan Yan, who was in Fang Yuan's arms. Then, she followed the crowd's applause and cheers. From the beginning to the end, she did not even look at me. Perhaps she did not even care that I was also present at the scene.

I was silent for a long time. I took a deep breath and said to Mi Cai, who was a little confused, "My friends are here… Let's go in and eat."

"You're here to attend a friend's wedding. You're not inviting me to dinner at all, right?" Mi Cai's expression was cold.

"I'm very sincere, just that there are a bit more people."

"Scum!" Mi Cai scolded me and took out her car keys from her handbag. She turned around and walked towards the car parked not far away.

I can't let Mi Cai go, yes! I did trick her, but this kind of trick didn't hurt her at all. At least she could eat a wedding banquet. Since she was already here, there was no reason for her to leave.

I raised my hand to stop her, and my tone became heavier, "Why do you like to be so serious? What's wrong with me inviting you to a friend's wedding banquet? You just have to eat and drink to your heart's content. It's not like you'll lose anything!"

Mi Cai patted me with her bag and said as she walked, "I'll emphasize it again. I don't like people lying to me… From now on, I don't want to have anything to do with you, a liar and scum. Please move out of my house immediately after you go back."

Even though I didn't expect Mi Cai's reaction to be so intense, I still raised my hand and pulled her to prevent her from leaving. As the two of them pulled, a figure stood opposite us.

My hand was still holding Mi Cai's arm tightly. At the same time, I raised my head to look at the person opposite me. My heart trembled violently… The one standing opposite us is Jian Wei!

Three years later, we finally stood face to face.