#56: “It’s me who’s dating Wanyue.”

On the wedding day, not only the bride but also the bridesmaids were exhausted. However, Cheng Wanyue was excited.

Before the ceremony began, a video of Cheng Yuzhou’s proposal played on the screen.

On November 2, 2019, Jay Chou held a concert in Nanjing. Knowing Zhou Yu disliked public proposals, Cheng Yuzhou planned to propose at home during Christmas but started documenting everything from the concert day.

Cheng Wanyue appeared multiple times in the footage. Qing Hang saw her from 2019 in the video.

Back then, her hair was shorter than now, and her style was cool. She only had one ear piercing, and the French phrase tattooed on her collarbone was likely a temporary sticker. She wore black-and-white headphones around her neck, strolling through streets with casual ease.

The scene shifted to old videos Cheng Yuzhou had filmed years ago. During their senior year of high school, every time he walked Zhou Yu home, he would stand under the streetlamp watching her figure recede into the distance.

There was a sign reading “Zhoujiawan.” Raindrops fell on it, followed by a thin layer of snow, transitioning from sunset to nightfall.

“She’s going to turn around.”

Every time, Cheng Yuzhou was certain.

And indeed, Zhou Yu always turned back before disappearing around the corner.

A group photo of six people taken on New Year’s Eve appeared on the screen. Only Yan Ci held a bright orange tangerine. Cheng Wanyue and Zhou Yu stood in front, followed by Cheng Yanqing and Yan Ci, while Qing Hang and Cheng Yuzhou stood on either side. The only thing they had in common was that neither looked at the camera.

Cheng Yuzhou’s obvious favoritism toward Zhou Yu had finally paid off.

Zhou Yu handed her bouquet to Cheng Wanyue, who held it briefly before it ended up in Qing Hang’s hands.

Yan Ci stood next to Qing Hang. He had brought an expensive gift, likely the most special among all the presents.

After running around in heels all morning, Cheng Wanyue rested her feet on a towel Qing Hang had placed on the ground. She hid her bare feet under her dress so no one could see.

While talking to Qing Hang, she noticed Yan Ci had been lost in thought for a long time. Following his gaze, she saw it landed on Zhou Yu.

The letter “Y” tattooed on his waist was still visible.

Cheng Wanyue whispered, “Yan Ci, have you really moved on?”

Startled, Yan Ci snapped back to reality. The sunlight was blinding, and his expression remained dazed.

Had he moved on?

He didn’t know.

All he knew was that when Zhou Yu walked down the long gravel path in her wedding gown, he imagined himself standing at the end of the road.

Once, he believed he had almost possessed her—but in truth, he never truly had.

Cheng Wanyue clinked the champagne glass Qing Hang had drunk from against Yan Ci’s. “Yan Ci, you should fall in love too. With such a handsome face, it’s a shame not to experience young love.”

Yan Ci smiled. “It’s not that I don’t want to—it’s just that I haven’t met someone I like.”

“You’ll definitely meet someone you adore, and they’ll love you deeply.”

“Let nature take its course.”

Yan Ci stood up to help Cheng Yuzhou fend off drinks. Before Qing Hang was pulled away, he switched Cheng Wanyue’s drink to warm water with two red dates steeped inside.

Cheng Yuzhou’s classmates and childhood friends were heavy drinkers, vowing to get him drunk that night. Unable to leave, Cheng Yanqing took charge of escorting relatives from Baicheng to their hotel.

Chi Yue added to the wedding’s lively atmosphere. Cheng Wanyue certainly wouldn’t have time to treat him to dinner that day, but he wasn’t in a rush.

There were far too many flowers at the venue, and a rash broke out on his arm. Feeling guilty, Cheng Wanyue arranged a car to take him away.

As Qing Hang turned around, he saw the two of them talking by the roadside. Not paying attention to the band’s performance, he hadn’t noticed Chi Yue.

Had she invited him?

Did they communicate privately often?

Though Qing Hang tried to convince himself to be magnanimous, his legs betrayed him.

He strode over to Cheng Wanyue, holding her hand while greeting Chi Yue. “Hello. Allergies aren’t trivial—better to go to the hospital soon.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Chi Yue glanced at their clasped hands. Despite wearing a black mask and a baseball cap covering half his face, revealing only his eyes, Qing Hang could tell he was smiling.

Young and brash, completely unskilled at concealing his emotions.

“Hello,” Chi Yue looked up and locked eyes with Qing Hang. “Doctor?”

Cheng Wanyue’s feet hurt from standing, so she leaned her other arm around Qing Hang’s and rested against him for support. “Mm-hmm, he’s a professional. Listen to him—you’ll be fine. Go to the hospital to get medicine, and I’ll reimburse you when you return to Beijing.”

“Don’t welsh on me.”

“Rest assured—I’m not that kind of person.”

After seeing Chi Yue off, Cheng Wanyue was so tired she wanted to lie down right there, but they still had to head to the hotel. She and Qing Hang shared a car.

Chen Huan hadn’t changed out of her bridesmaid dress yet. Her strapless gown had been accidentally stepped on, nearly causing a wardrobe malfunction. It was embarrassing for any woman, but luckily, Yan Ci was nearby and lent her his jacket, sparing Cheng Wanyue from having to intervene.

Even Qing Hang sensed something unusual in the atmosphere. “Do they know each other?”

“Chen Huan is Zhou Yu’s college roommate. She chased Yan Ci during freshman year but didn’t succeed.” Cheng Wanyue instructed the driver to drive. “Fate decides these things—I won’t meddle. Guess where I hid Zhou Yu’s high heels this morning?”

Without waiting for Qing Hang to guess, she lifted her skirt slightly. “I hid them under my dress. Cheng Yuzhou went crazy looking for them and bribed me with a big red envelope. That trick won’t work again at Cheng Yanqing and Zhi Zhi’s wedding—it’s not fresh anymore.”

“Are you going to be Zhi Zhi’s bridesmaid too?”

“Not necessarily—it depends.”

Seizing the opportunity, Qing Hang asked, “Why did Chi Yue come?”

“He happened to be in Nanjing, and I asked him for help.” Cheng Wanyue leaned on his shoulder, closing her eyes to rest. “Drink less tonight, and come home with me to meet my parents.”

That one sentence dispelled the gloom in Qing Hang’s heart. Though he had formally visited the Cheng family years ago, this time his identity was different.

“Nervous? Don’t be. Cheng Yanqing will speak on your behalf. If I agree, my parents won’t interfere—they’ll just nag a little. Just listen.”

“Mm-hmm, I’ll behave.”

The banquet filled two floors that evening. For the first time, Qing Hang played tricks while drinking—only consuming half and leaving the rest. His tolerance wasn’t great to begin with.

Cheng Wanyue took him to Cheng Yuzhou’s house. Everyone else hadn’t returned yet.

The daytime temperature had been high, and after crying and laughing throughout the day, Cheng Wanyue went straight to shower and remove her makeup upon arriving home. Qing Hang placed the tea he had prepared in advance on the table, intending to check if she was done upstairs when a commotion erupted outside.

Cheng Yuzhou was drunk, and Cheng Yanqing helped Zhou Yu carry him upstairs.

Cheng Guo’an had also had quite a bit to drink. After Yang Huimin prepared some hangover tea, she sat on the sofa. Having been busy all day, they finally had a moment to relax, and she took the opportunity to ask Qing Hang about his life and work.

“Are you dating anyone?” Cheng Guo’an hadn’t seen Qing Hang in a long time.

Qing Hang replied, “Yes.”

“How time flies—all of you are settling down,” Yang Huimin sighed. “Tomorrow, Wanyue is bringing her boyfriend home. I met him today. He’s two years younger than her and still hasn’t graduated.”

Qing Hang froze mid-sip of his tea.

Yang Huimin sighed again when she thought of Chi Yue—so young, immature, and hot-tempered.

“They met in Beijing. Wanyue just returned two or three days ago, but they’re already inseparable, constantly calling each other. Qing Hang, Auntie Yang has always treated you like a son. When you and your girlfriend’s relationship stabilizes, bring her over so Uncle Cheng and I can meet her too.”

After finishing her shower, Cheng Wanyue hummed a tune as she came downstairs.

Hearing her footsteps, Qing Hang set down his teacup and stood up.

“Uncle Cheng, Auntie Yang—it’s me who’s dating Wanyue.”