Chapter 148: Met

He Chuan's agreement was entirely unexpected to Wen Liang. No matter how she looked at his behavior over the past few years, she simply did not expect him to agree so quickly.

She had once thought that He Chuan was the kind of person who would never get married.

She could not quite explain it, but that was simply her intuition.

Mr. Wen's trip had certainly not been in vain; he had finally settled Wen Liang's lifelong matter.

Wen Liang was indeed no longer very young—early thirties. Although she was well-preserved and a few years younger than He Chuan, those few years could not compete with the young women in their early twenties of today.

In recent years, He Chuan had never lacked young women around him, regardless of their background. It was no easy task for Wen Liang to hold onto her position by his side.

Her joy soon faded, because nothing was set in stone yet; only after they actually obtained their marriage certificate could she feel temporarily at ease.

...

Doctor Ye stayed in Yongcheng for a few days, which happened to coincide with Cheng Hui starting her new job at a company. Therefore, he could not play the gracious host and take her sightseeing everywhere. Besides, she had just started working, and taking leave after only a few days on the job would not look very good. Doctor Ye expressed his understanding and told her to focus on her work, promising to take her out for dinner once she got off work in the evening.

Cheng Hui still remembered Doctor Ye's suggestion that Xiao Manle should go for a check-up. Remembering this, she called Xin Gan, who told her that they had already been to the hospital. The doctor said the condition was not serious—it was merely a lack of a sense of security caused by external fright. Early detection and early treatment meant there was nothing to worry about.

Only then did Cheng Hui put her mind at rest and briefly explained the situation to Doctor Ye. Doctor Ye smiled and said, "That's good, nothing serious."

Cheng Hui felt that this matter was inextricably linked to Mrs. Cheng; if not for her screaming and shouting, little Manle would not have been so terrified.

After having dinner with Doctor Ye, Cheng Hui went home to sleep, as she had to work the next day.

Being an intern, the person guiding her was a warm-hearted older sister. She was very kind, spoke with a gentle expression, and maintained good relationships with everyone in the office. Mostly, she was also quite pretty.

The other intern with her was a young girl about her age—just graduated, with zero social experience. She also lived nearby, which was why she chose this company.

While the company was rather small, perhaps because the employer was decent and kind-hearted, the expected employee benefits were still provided. Without excessive exploitation, the internal office environment lacked the cutthroat intrigue of large corporations where anyone could become a rival.

After working there for a week, HR gathered the company staff for a team dinner, primarily to help the newcomers adapt to the company's atmosphere.

Team dinners were inevitable. Although Cheng Hui disliked participating in group activities, she went anyway.

Naturally, senior employees hung out with senior employees, while the newly hired staff sat together. Soon, a distinct boundary formed, with each group sitting on opposite sides, separated by the HR manager.

Cheng Hui and the other young intern, Xiao Yang, sat together drinking fruit juice and chatting casually. Cheng Hui soon discovered that Xiao Yang was even a year younger than her, so she playfully started calling Cheng Hui "older sister." The two girls quickly hit it off and made plans to go shopping at the mall over the weekend.

Having experienced betrayal by friends and subsequently enduring various hardships, Cheng Hui had gradually grown accustomed to being alone. Her friends were few, and Doctor Ye counted as one, though he was not the type of person she could go shopping or drink milk tea with.

After dinner, there was a second round of activities, and the boisterous group set off for karaoke.

Cheng Hui and Xiao Yang sat in a corner. Both found it extremely boring and unable to integrate into the scene, which inadvertently forged a "comrades-in-arms" bond between them as they shared the awkwardness of being ignored.

When young women gather, they inevitably enjoy asking about gossip. Xiao Yang was no exception. Having nothing better to do, she asked, "Do you have a boyfriend? Once this wraps up around midnight or one o'clock, how are you going to get back?"

"It's fine, I live nearby."

"Do you live with your boyfriend?"

"No, by myself."

"You don't have a boyfriend? You're so pretty, how could you not?"

Cheng Hui offered a faint smile. "We broke up. Just recently." She fabricated the lie; in truth, her previous relationship had ended over a year ago.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry."

"It's fine. I'm not sad at all—I actually couldn't wait for it."

Xiao Yang laughed. "You're so carefree. That's wonderful. If I could be like you, I wouldn't have to keep agonizing over things."

So she was also a woman nursing a broken heart.

Cheng Hui handed her a cup of juice. "It's fine. The old must make way for the new. Make a clean break; whatever needs to be cut off should be severed decisively."

Nowadays, advising people to break up rather than stay together was the reigning trend.

Cheng Hui's job had stabilized, and she had made a compatible, heartbroken female colleague. The two of them privately went shopping together, drank milk tea, and vented about the clueless straight men in the office.

However, soon enough, Cheng Hui heard that He Chuan was getting married.

Having been back for so long, she had prepared herself for the possibility of crossing paths with He Chuan, to some degree or another. She viewed things with detachment, and upon hearing that he was getting married, she felt it was a very good thing.

This thought—that it was very good—was entirely genuine. It meant she could finally move on completely, right?

No one could answer her.

She saw the news of He Chuan's upcoming marriage online. After browsing through the articles, she realized just how prominent he had become. His fiancée was his assistant, who was also exceptionally capable and reportedly his junior from back in their university days.

They made a well-matched pair; at least judging by their photographs together, they looked thoroughly compatible.

Cheng Hui closed the webpage and remembered that Doctor Ye had a flight back to London this evening. She had promised to see him off.

After getting off work, Cheng Hui hailed a cab to the airport. However, it was rush hour, and traffic halfway there came to a complete standstill. Her anxiety was of no use, and urging the driver was futile—every lane was jammed solid.

She would likely miss seeing Doctor Ye off.

Cheng Hui could only call Doctor Ye to inform him that she would not be able to make it.

Doctor Ye told her it didn't matter and added, "If you ever encounter any trouble, you can reach out to me at any time."

Over the past few years, Doctor Ye had been the one treating her. Without him, she would have struggled immensely to pull through, and she was deeply grateful to him.

Doctor Ye seemed to have something more to say. After a brief pause, he said, "Cheng Hui, I also welcome you to come find me in London anytime. Of course, not because of your illness, but because you have completely moved on."

Cheng Hui said, "He's getting married. I can finally move on completely."

...

To her, He Chuan's marriage was perhaps the opportunity she needed to let go entirely.

His wedding was a good thing for her.

It couldn't be better.

Doctor Ye had always known that she harbored deep feelings for someone, but because that person was older, her family opposed the relationship. Her going abroad was also due to her family's disapproval, forcibly sending her to London. She had not returned home for the past few years, regardless of major holidays.

To this day, Cheng Hui still held onto that memory nestled deep within the most hidden corner of her heart. Even if she dated other people and tried to use them to forget him, it was of no use.

After enduring so much turmoil, wasn't she still holding on in the end?

Doctor Ye asked, "Do you want him to get married?"

"Even if I don't, there's nothing I can do. He and I have no chance."

"Opportunities are created by oneself. If you still care, why not try again? If it still doesn't work out, then you can truly make a clean break. Cheng Hui, age is not a major issue as long as it's reasonable. You are in your twenties now, and the power of choice rests in your hands. Of course, I don't advocate betraying everything for the sake of romance, but since you are in so much pain, you can weigh whether this love is worth making sacrifices for once more."

Doctor Ye had no right to interfere; he could only offer his own perspective. He said, "I envy you. At your age, you still have the chance to make mistakes. Someone like me no longer does."

He added, "Cheng Hui, I'm heading through security now. Don't bother coming to see me off—it's not like we'll never see each other again."

Yet in the world of adults, time is far more precious than money, because all time is spent earning money.

On her way home, Cheng Hui was absent-minded, dwelling constantly on He Chuan's upcoming marriage. When he got married, he presumably wouldn't send her an invitation.

In reality, He Chuan and Wen Liang had first chosen a date to host a banquet for their engagement, while the wedding itself would take place at the end of the year.

Mrs. He had grown increasingly destitute, with very little money left on the books. He Wei had not split his assets with her, so she couldn't claim much, and she certainly wouldn't divorce He Wei. If she divorced him, given her past actions and He Chuan pulling a few strings, she would end up with absolutely nothing.

Staying married at least allowed her to maintain a facade of dignity.

Mrs. He wanted both face and money, but money was not so easily obtained.

Years ago, she had hired people to write exposé posts online and leaked Cheng Hui's personal information. Although He Chuan discovered it early and had it deleted, she remained relentless, even harassing Wen Liang to help her meddle. That was what truly enraged He Chuan, prompting him to sue her directly. It didn't matter that she was Mrs. He; he sued her just the same.

The outcome was predictable: Mrs. He lost the lawsuit, had to pay damages, and was left penniless.

She had also accumulated a mountain of debt. When she borrowed until no one else was willing to lend, and creditors demanded repayment which she couldn't afford, she asked He Cheng to help pay off her debts. Unwilling to clean up Mrs. He's mess, He Cheng simply ignored her and went off to live his own life.

By now, Mrs. He had failed to gain anything anywhere and had retreated to her old rural hometown.

He Cheng made no waves, and He Chuan didn't care what schemes he had attempted; there was no way for him to bounce back now.

The ultimate winner was He Chuan.

...

While tidying up odds and ends in He Chuan's home, Wen Liang discovered several old photographs tucked inside a book—a book he frequently read.

She picked them up to look. It was a group photo featuring a young little girl right in the center, whom she found somewhat familiar. Looking closer and putting the pieces together, she realized it was Cheng Hui.

That Cheng Hui.

Life had been too comfortable these past few years, causing her to forget such an important matter.

Years ago, Mrs. He had spoken to her about He Chuan and a certain girl, but Mrs. He had not revealed that girl's identity or name. Wen Liang had inquired later, but He Chuan's friends all claimed ignorance and advised her not to dwell on the past, warning her how displeased He Chuan would be if he found out.

After all, men loomed over women who fussed and kept score of the past.

Wen Liang was unwilling, yet afraid of displeasing He Chuan, so she dropped the matter.

Yet at this moment, she sensed that this Cheng Hui was no ordinary person.

She immediately went online to search for the posts from back then, but too much time had passed, and they were virtually impossible to find.

Gazing at the photograph, she bit down hard on her molars.

A woman in her thirties could no longer afford to waste time. She chose to turn a blind eye; as long as He Chuan ultimately married her, she was willing to let bygones be bygones.

At that moment, He Chuan finished his shower and entered the study. Wen Liang had already returned the photograph to its place. She had come over specially today; as his girlfriend and fiancée, she had every right to visit his residence whenever she pleased without issue.

And tonight, Wen Liang had no intention of leaving.

After He Chuan finished dealing with official matters, she was still there. He said, "It's getting late. I'll have someone take you back."

Instead, Wen Liang actively pressed against his body, speaking in a soft, gentle voice, "He Chuan, can I stay over tonight?" She was dressed scantily, her fair skin dazzlingly bright. Already feeling the stirrings of desire, she bit her lip, discarding her restraint and acting very proactively.

He Chuan took in her reaction, yet his eyes remained devoid of lust—calm and tranquil. He did not push her away, which meant he was not refusing.

This undoubtedly implied tacit consent.

Wen Liang said, "We've been together for so long, and you've never... He Chuan, this makes me doubt whether I'm attractive enough to you."

She was speaking her true thoughts.

He Chuan raised a hand, patted her shoulder, and said, "It's not your fault. Don't overthink it."

"Then why do you..."

He Chuan said, "It's my problem. I'm sorry."

Yet he did not specify what the problem actually was.

Naturally, Wen Liang could not fathom what aspect of the problem he was referring to.

She persisted, "He Chuan, we're getting engaged soon. I hope you can be honest with me and not lie to me."

"What have I lied to you about?"

...

Superficially, he showed no interest in that sort of thing; in truth, he simply had no desire to be intimate with Wen Liang, a fact he was well aware of. However, having agreed to marriage, that matter would have to happen sooner or later.

When discussing the guest list, Wen Liang sent invitations to her college roommates, hoping they would attend. Although it wasn't the wedding yet, an engagement banquet was also of great importance.

Very few He family relatives still maintained ties with He Chuan—more accurately, He Chuan had cut ties with that bunch of relatives. As for Mrs. He and He Cheng, even if he cast aside past grievances and sent invitations, the two of them would not show up anyway.

The pool of people he could invite was quite small.

Meanwhile, Cheng Jiu had received He Chuan's invitation, notified by He Chuan through a phone call.

Cheng Jiu said nothing. The matter between him and Cheng Hui had passed long ago and was now history, so there was no need to keep dwelling on it.

Cheng Jiu agreed to attend, but did not mention whether he would bring Cheng Hui.

Cheng Hui had no desire whatsoever to receive He Chuan's invitation. Why on earth should an ex-girlfriend go meddle in her deeply unforgettable ex's engagement banquet? She wouldn't go.

Cheng Jiu did not pressure Cheng Hui; after urging her to take care of her health, there was nothing more to say.

To lift her spirits, Cheng Hui deliberately went shopping at the mall over the weekend. While her living expenses were secured, it didn't mean she could spend lavishly. Not daring to recklessly buy the pretty clothes in the shops, she bought a cup of milk tea and strolled around aimlessly, seeing if any stores were having clearance sales where she might hunt down a few cheap items.

As she wandered casually, she never expected such a coincidence as running into He Chuan's fiancée.

That fiancée was pretty indeed, but she was no longer young; fine lines lingered at the corners of her eyes, impossible to cover up even with makeup.

Holding her milk tea, Cheng Hui walked into a clothing store and spotted a jacket, inspecting it closely. Wen Liang, who had previously been in a boutique shop diagonally across, walked out, entered the exact same clothing store, and ended up eyeing the very same jacket.

Cheng Hui wanted to slip away, but it was too late. Taking a sip of her milk tea, she prepared to switch to another shop when someone's fiancée called out to her, saying, "Miss Cheng."

That "Miss Cheng" made Cheng Hui's skin crawl.

She had no choice but to turn around and point to herself, confirming whether she was the one being addressed.

Wen Liang smiled and confirmed it, saying, "I've seen you before, Miss Cheng. I think you should recognize me."

Dropping all pretense, Cheng Hui couldn't be bothered to pretend either.

Wen Liang had clearly come prepared.

The two of them chose a quiet spot to talk.

Wen Liang said, "Why don't I just call you younger sister? You're much younger than me, and calling you Miss Cheng always feels too distant."

"Actually, you and I aren't that close," Cheng Hui said. "Still, call me whatever you like; I don't mind."

Wen Liang smiled. "You're very direct."

"Fairly so."

"Have you found a job?"

"I have."

"I apologize for the intrusion. I happened to see your resume when you came to our company for an interview earlier, which is how I knew who you were."

Cheng Hui showed no reaction and asked, "Then what did you want to see me for?"

"I wasn't deliberately looking for you; we just happened to bump into each other coincidentally, and I thought we could chat—just a casual chat, so don't feel uncomfortable." Wen Liang reached out to smooth her hair, the ring on her ring finger catching the eye brilliantly.

Seeing that ring worn firmly on the ring finger, Cheng Hui linked it to the recent joyous news of her and He Chuan. With the ring on, things were probably truly settled.

Cheng Hui replied, "Sure, let's chat. What do you want to talk about?"

"Nothing much." Wen Liang hesitated for a moment. "Seeing you in person is better than hearing about you; you're even younger than I imagined."

"It's fine, I'm not that young anymore."

A woman in her thirties could find no confidence in her appearance when standing before a woman in her twenties. Wen Liang was attractive too, but her age was a factor, and in many ways she could not compare to a young girl. Yet the girl before her was He Chuan's ex—someone he had genuinely loved with all his heart. Wen Liang cared about this deeply, extraordinarily so.

She could not pretend the matter was in the past; if it were truly in the past, He Chuan would not have kept Cheng Hui's photograph.

With the engagement banquet fast approaching, Wen Liang wanted no accidents, which was why she had so abruptly stopped Cheng Hui.

Wen Liang said, "I also know your brother, Cheng Jiu. Since you're his sister, will you be coming to our engagement banquet?"

Unsurprised, Cheng Hui smiled and asked, "Does my going or not going make a huge difference?"

"Actually, it makes a bit of a difference. Personally, I hope you won't come; but since you're Cheng Jiu's sister, I have no reason to bar you from coming either. Sister, the two of us have met before, haven't we?"

Cheng Hui's smile faded slightly. Tugging at the corner of her lips, she said, "I don't remember. Where?"

"I don't recall clearly either. It's possible I remembered incorrectly."

Cheng Hui's smile remained purely superficial. Whether Wen Liang had truly met her before, she didn't know; she only knew that she remembered Wen Liang all too clearly.