Ceremony

"I cannot go any further. Please proceed on your own," Yula told Ning as he stayed behind right before the stage prepared for the ceremony. 

There were a few people on the stage already, so Ning walked up. 

'Oh, there are quite a few more than I had assumed,' he thought. There were at least 20 people, men, and women he didn't recognize at all. 

Except for 2.

"Brother Ning," Kindley called him. Seeing that he was the only person there that he was remotely familiar with and not wanting to socialize with the others, Ning walked next to Kindley and sat on the empty seat.

"I didn't expect to see you here, brother Kindley," Ning said. 

"Haha, I told you I would see you later, didn't I?" Kindley said with a smile. 

The other people turned around to look at Ning. Some even tried to extend their greetings.