MC - Chapter 3

Cheng Yi tugged Zhang Rufan into the hotel, showed the digital invitation, and, under the guidance of a hotel attendant, took the elevator upstairs.

There was a dedicated elevator for the banquet hall. Everyone in the elevator with them—men, women, young, old—was headed to Xie Yiwei’s wedding. Judging from this small group, it looked like the wedding was a grand affair with many guests.

As soon as they stepped out onto the banquet floor, they were greeted by an arched floral gate. In the welcome area stood a framed photo of the bride and groom in wedding attire. Bridesmaids and groomsmen flanked the entrance, warmly ushering guests inside as they arrived.

Zhang Rufan’s eyes swept across the faces of the groomsmen, one by one. Shen Mingjin wasn’t among them.

The wedding venue was done up predominantly in shades of white, elegant and dreamlike. Zhang Rufan followed Cheng Yi into the hall, handed over the red envelope with her gift, and let herself be pulled along to the tables on the right side of the long stage.

“Someone in the group chat said our high school classmates are at the first three tables on the right,” Cheng Yi explained.

The first and second tables were already full, so they took seats at the third. The classmates who had arrived earlier were already chatting. As more people joined, heads naturally turned their way.

Someone recognized Cheng Yi, exchanged a few words, then looked at Zhang Rufan with a puzzled expression. “Cheng Yi, the person with you... she’s from our class too?”

“Yeah, that’s Rufan.”

“Wait—Zhang Rufan?” the person said, surprised.

“Hello... Liu Ziyue.”

“Yes, yes, you still remember me.”

Zhang Rufan glanced around the table, recognizing many faces from high school, though she struggled to match them to names. She hadn’t been close to most of her classmates, but after deciding last night to attend the wedding, she’d pulled out the graduation photo to brush up on who was who.

Several years had passed—everyone looked a little more grown-up, but not so much that they were unrecognizable. Relying on her memory from the night before, she could more or less identify people and avoid awkward encounters.

She remembered Liu Ziyue more clearly than most—they’d sat close to each other for a semester, with Liu Ziyue in the seat in front.

Now, aside from Cheng Yi, everyone at the table was staring at her with a shared expression: astonishment.

“Rufan, you’ve... changed a lot,” Liu Ziyue said. Several classmates quickly chimed in agreement.

“Right?” Cheng Yi raised her chin, looking a little smug. “Hasn’t she become much prettier?”

“Mhm,” Liu Ziyue said, studying Zhang Rufan. She clicked her tongue. “You’re like a completely different person. I remember your hair used to be the shortest of all the girls. One time, the teacher doing the dress code checks even mistook you for a boy and said your hair was too long to meet the boys' standards.”

“And also, you’ve gotten so much fairer.” Liu Ziyue leaned closer, lowering her voice. “Did you do cosmetic treatments? Which clinic? Can you recommend it?”

Zhang Rufan felt Liu Ziyue was putting it rather politely and being tactful. She figured what she really wanted to ask was whether she’d had plastic surgery.

“Oh please, look at Xiao Fan’s hands—they’re just as fair as her face. What kind of cosmetic procedure can whiten your whole body?” Cheng Yi held up Zhang Rufan’s hand for Liu Ziyue to see and added, “She’s just naturally got fair skin. She was tanned in high school from being out in the sun. But these past few years, she’s been living in Qingcheng—the southern climate is nurturing, so she became fairer.”

“Now she just grew her hair out and got fairer—that’s why you all think she’s changed so much. Honestly, she hasn’t changed that much. If you looked at her old photos, her face is the same as before... maybe a bit fuller.”

Hearing Cheng Yi go to such lengths to explain, Zhang Rufan’s lips curved into a faint smile.

When she smiled, her features came alive, and a unique light shone in her eyes, instantly softening her entire demeanor.

Liu Ziyue paused, then murmured, “Actually, it's not just the longer hair and fairer skin... her aura has changed too.”

“I never saw you smile back then. You gave off this... not cold exactly, just...”

“Withdrawn?” Zhang Rufan offered tentatively.

“Yes!” Liu Ziyue nodded, as if something clicked. “So you knew!”

“...” It wasn’t that Zhang Rufan was particularly self-aware. She’d just heard comments like that all her life.

“To be honest, you didn’t seem easy to approach in high school. You were always a bit distant, like you weren’t interested in talking to people. I sat in front of you in second year, tried chatting with you, but it was always me asking and you answering. Never got beyond a few lines. You didn’t join in class stuff, never really played around... always kept to yourself.”

“Back then, even going to the bathroom, girls would go in pairs. But you always went alone. In school, it seemed like only Cheng Yi was close to you.” Liu Ziyue turned to her. “Were you two in the same middle school? Or same class in high school?”

“Neither," Cheng Yi said with a grin. "Xiao Fan was actually my guardian angel. In high school, a few boys from Tenth Middle kept harassing me, and she was the one who dealt with them for me.”

“Actually, once you become her friend, you realize... she’s actually kind of boring,” Cheng Yi added, glancing at Zhang Rufan and rubbing her nose. “But Xiao Fan’s not hard to get along with. Once you get to know her, you see she’s a very straightforward person.”

Zhang Rufan listened quietly as they talked about her. She didn’t interrupt, and didn’t seem displeased. In truth, she was curious too—curious to know how people had seen her back then.

Her aunt had once described her as “wooden to the point of stiffness, dull to the point of harshness.” In hindsight, it wasn’t far off. At least through the eyes of her high school classmates, she truly hadn’t been a likable girl.

So why had Shen Mingjin written that letter to her?

Zhang Rufan glanced around the room but didn’t see him—or maybe he’d changed so much that she simply didn’t recognize him.

The ceremony hadn’t started yet. Guests continued arriving in waves, and before long, their table was full. The three tables of former classmates mingled freely, chatter quickly filling the space.

Many classmates, surprised by Zhang Rufan's transformation, took the initiative to speak a few words to her. But since they hadn't been close before in high school and years had only widened the gap, the conversations remained superficial and ended abruptly.

Unaccustomed to such social situations, Zhang Rufan felt uncomfortable. She took advantage of the lively chatter to slip away to the restroom. When she returned, the attendants at the arched floral gate had changed.

Caught off guard by the sight of Shen Mingjin, Zhang Rufan froze momentarily, her steps involuntarily slowing

He hadn't changed much—still just as tall, the same groomsman suit looking especially sharp and well-fitted on him. His features were just as bright, having shed the naivety of youth but not its essence. When he spoke to others, he still smiled brilliantly, his laughter hearty, as if he had the greatest news to share—infectious at just a glance.

The attendants were focused on greeting guests coming from the elevators, and since Zhang Rufan approached from a different direction, he hadn’t noticed her yet.

"You'll be toasting with the groom later. All you've been drinking these years is coffee—can you still hold your liquor?" Someone patted Shen Mingjin's shoulder.

“We'll see about that. Just don't embarrass yourselves. Don’t let me be the only one holding the line,” Shen Mingjin joked back, laughing.

“Sure, sure. Keep pretending. Don't pass out after three glasses and make us carry you back.”

“Wait and see.”

Shen Mingjin was bantering with the other groomsmen when he caught a figure in his peripheral vision. Smiling, he turned to usher the person inside, his hand already lifting—but when he focused and saw who it was, he froze.

After a brief pause, he composed himself and gestured as if nothing had happened. “Please, this way,” he said in a neutral tone.

Their eyes met. Zhang Rufan’s heart tensed, her nerves tightening with sudden anxiety. She quickly lowered her gaze and hurried past him into the banquet hall.

Shen Mingjin turned slightly, his eyes following her until she sat down.

“Hey,” someone nudged him, “you were checking out that girl just now, huh?”

Shen Mingjin gave him a sidelong glance. “Can’t I?”

“Oho, so it’s true.” The guy craned his neck toward the hall. “Aren’t those all your high school classmates over there?”

“Yeah.”

“Then how come she didn’t even say hi?”

“Maybe she’s forgotten who I am," Shen Mingjin said with a self-deprecating smile.

“She might not remember you, but you clearly remember her.” The guy raised an eyebrow. “We’ve had a few classmates arrive already, and whether they recognized you or not, you went over and said hi. But the moment this beauty walks in, you go mute? Spill it—do you two have history?”

Shen Mingjin neither confirmed nor denied it. After a pause, he said, "It’s all in the past."

.

.

Even after taking her seat, Zhang Rufan hadn’t fully recovered. She clutched her phone, took a couple deep breaths, then turned her head toward the entrance. Shen Mingjin had his back to her, still chatting with someone nearby—probably about the toasting arrangements.

Had he recognized her?

She wasn’t sure. From how he reacted, probably not. None of the other classmates today had recognized her—some didn’t even remember she’d been in their class. Why would he be any different?

Even if that letter had been a confession, how deep could teenage affection really be? After all these years, whatever feelings he’d had must have long faded

Zhang Rufan didn’t feel particularly disappointed—just vaguely lost. Suddenly, she couldn’t quite understand why she’d come to this wedding at all, or why she’d wanted to see Shen Mingjin. Now that she had—what was supposed to come next?

Did she want confirmation of something? Or was she pointlessly chasing the past, clutching an expired love letter to give him a belated reply? Did she have expectations—hoping he’d truly liked her back then, hoping he still remembered her?

Lost in her thoughts, Zhang Rufan didn’t notice the shift around her until Cheng Yi nudged her.

“What’re you thinking about? Look—the ceremony’s starting.”

Zhang Rufan blinked, pulled back to the present. On the long stage in the center of the hall, the lights had dimmed. A single spotlight illuminated the bride as she walked down the aisle on her father’s arm. The groom stepped forward to take her hand. His father gave him a few earnest, heartfelt words.

“Xie Yiwei looks like he’s put on a bit of weight since high school,” Cheng Yi remarked.

Zhang Rufan wasn’t paying attention to Xie Yiwei’s physique. Her focus wasn’t on the center of attention but on the corner of the stage—where Shen Mingjin stood.

Weddings happen every day under the sun. The rituals are nearly identical. But to every couple, happiness is one of a kind.

Onstage, the bride and groom exchanged rings at the officiant’s cue, then embraced and kissed, drawing thunderous applause.

Cheng Yi gestured to Zhang Rufan. "Look at the table in front—Sun Xiaoxiao, the one in pink. She’s crying.”

Zhang Rufan followed her gaze. Sure enough, under the glow of the stage lights, she spotted a girl wiping her eyes.

“She and Xie Yiwei were a couple in high school.”

“Huh?”

“I knew you didn’t know.” Cheng Yi sighed, a little wistful. “They were really sweet back then—always together, even went to college in the same city. I thought for sure they’d make it. Who would’ve guessed—one ends up someone’s groom, and the other sits alone at a wedding, quietly heartbroken.”

Cheng Yi clicked her tongue. “Just goes to show—school romance really are fragile.”

Zhang Rufan paused, then instinctively glanced back toward the corner of the stage. Shen Mingjin was gone.

After the ceremony ended, the entertainment began—songs and dances by the bride and groom, and eventually, the bridesmaids and groomsmen were dragged up as well. The crowd wouldn’t let them leave without a performance.

Under the crowd’s gaze, the bridesmaids grew flustered, jostling and shrinking back. Finally, Shen Mingjin stepped forward to save the situation. Taking the host’s mic, he said, "The bridesmaids have been busy all morning. How about letting them go eat while I put on a show for you all? Sound good?"”

“Still as charming as ever,” Cheng Yi chuckled. “His personality hasn’t changed at all. Still that bold, easygoing guy who could light up any room. Honestly, he’s what people say has ‘social fearlessness.’ Our teacher used to joke he was good at everything… except studying.”

Zhang Rufan smiled softly.

With the bridesmaids freed, Shen Mingjin stayed onstage alone. As if prepared, he pulled a deck of cards from his suit pocket..

Rolling up his sleeves, he grinned. “I’ll do a little magic for you all. Let’s liven things up.”

"Shen Mingjin, not the card trick again! We saw that in high school—give us something new!" someone from the first table shouted.

The comment struck something in Zhang Rufan. A memory rose, vivid and sudden.

In their second year of high school, the class held a New Year’s Eve party. The homeroom teacher had students organize performances, and Shen Mingjin prepared a magic act. That night, he’d taken the stage with a deck of cards. Like Liu Qian needing Dong Qing’s assistance, he’d said he needed a partner.

The four card suits—hearts, spades, diamonds, and clubs—each represented a group. Shen Mingjin randomly drew the ten of clubs, and Zhang Rufan happened to be the tenth person in the fourth group..

She remembered being mortified. She’d never liked being the center of attention and hadn’t signed up for any performances—yet by sheer misfortune, she’d been picked to go onstage with him..

The trick itself was simple. No assistants, no gimmicks. She didn’t even need to do much—just draw a card, show it to the class, and return it to the deck. After shuffling and some theatrical flourishes, he’d correctly identified her chosen card..

The Ace of Hearts. Zhang Rufan still remembered the card she’d drawn..

She remembered it because afterward, Shen Mingjin told her it was the first time he’d pulled it off in front of an audience. That he’d practiced and failed dozens of times, and her cooperation made it work.

He told her she was his lucky star.

He said from that day forward—she was his Ace of Hearts.

1. 傧相 (bīn xiàng) – Bridesmaids and groomsmen; wedding attendants.

2. 礼金 (lǐ jīn) – Gift money (traditionally given in red envelopes at weddings).

3. 班对儿 (bān duìr) – Class couple; a romantic pair within a school class.

4. 社交牛逼症 (shè jiāo niú bī zhèng) – "Social fearlessness" (slang); describes someone extremely outgoing and confident in social situations.

5. 医美 (yī měi) – Cosmetic treatments/medical aesthetics (e.g., laser treatments, fillers).

6. 孤僻 (gū pì) – Reclusive; socially withdrawn.

7. 木讷得古板 (mù nè dé gǔ bǎn) – "Wooden to the point of rigidity" (describes someone overly reserved or unexpressive).

8. 无趣得刻薄 (wú qù dé kè bó) – "Dull to the point of harshness" (implies someone so boring it feels almost rude).

9. 刻舟求剑 (kè zhōu qiú jiàn) – "Carving a mark on a moving boat to find a lost sword" (idiom for futile efforts clinging to the past).

10. 红桃A (hóng táo A) – Ace of Hearts 

Characters

章入凡 (Zhāng Rùfán) – The protagonist.

章胜义 (Zhāng Shèngyì) – Zhang Rufan’s father. 

李惠淑 (Lǐ Huìshū) – Zhang Rufan’s stepmother ("惠姨 Huìyí").

章梓橦 (Zhāng Zǐtóng) – Rufan’s much younger half-sister (~18 years age gap). 

章胜嫔 (Zhāng Shèngpín) – Rufan’s aunt (father’s sister). 

程怡 (Chéng Yí) – Rufan’s close friend from middle school. 

谢易韦 (Xiè Yìwéi) – High school class monitor who is getting married, prompting the reunion.

沈明津 (Shěn Míngjīn) – Mystery person who left a love letter for Rufan in her copy of Anne of Green Gables.

Sevyn here ~~~

All links should be good now. This was supposed to be a side project, but the more I read ahead, the more I liked it lol. It's such a cute novel. I looooove Shen Mingjin 😍. 

I was complaining how the first chapter was so long, but now it just feels so short. As a translator, I like that it's shorter to translate, as a reader, I want more 😭