Chapter 43 – World So Small

It was noon on New Year’s Day, and the Xi family was hosting their family banquet. Because they were soon to become in-laws, the Meng family also sent representatives.

Seating arrangements were significant; elders sat on one side while the younger generation took their places on the other. As soon as they were seated, Meng Lan couldn’t help but steal several glances at Xi Yufeng, eventually leaning in to whisper, “What’s wrong with you? You look terrible.”

Xi Yufeng seemed lost in thought, startled by her words, he replied, “Nothing’s wrong.”

Last night, after leaving the drinking party, he had eaten some food that wasn’t fully cooked, leading to an agonizing night of stomach pain.

Meng Lan studied him for a moment longer, noticing how pale his lips were. Already a somber man with few words, he now appeared utterly devoid of vitality. Turning her head, she called out to a waiter.

The waiter approached, and Meng Lan instructed, “Remove this wine and bring him a cup of warm water instead.”

Xi Yufeng said indifferently, “No need.”

Ignoring his protest, Meng Lan picked up the glass of wine in front of him and handed it to the waiter, saying, “Make sure the water is exactly 50 degrees Celsius — warm enough to drink but not too hot or cold.”

The waiter nodded and left the private room.

This was merely a small incident, but some observant guests seized the opportunity to make something of it.

“I see these two youngsters have quite the bond,” Xiao Yin said with a forced smile. “Why bother with those prenuptial agreements that clearly delineate boundaries? They can be so hurtful to feelings.”

Since it was a family gathering and there was no female head of the household present, Xiao Yin was allowed to sit beside Xi Chengli. However, having recently suffered a shock — the imprisonment of her biological son for kidnapping — she looked extremely haggard, and her words carried a sinister tone.

Everyone knew about the arranged marriage, but they still went through the motions, maintaining a facade of harmony and politeness rather than false flattery. Thus, when someone openly exposed the thin veneer of pretense, the faces of the elders immediately fell.

Xi Chengli hurriedly tried to smooth things over. “Who doesn’t sign a prenuptial agreement these days before getting married? Their precious daughter is joining our Xi family, and it’s only right we provide her with security.”

With these words, the expressions of Father Meng and Mother Meng softened slightly.

Xiao Yin, however, continued to smile. “Security? If you truly wish to offer her security, why not ask your good-for-nothing son if he actually likes women — ”

Before she could finish, Xi Chengli gestured for his assistant to come over. “My wife isn’t feeling well today; please escort her back to rest.”

Xiao Yin was virtually dragged away.

As she left, she hurled insults at Xi Yufeng — “pervert who likes men,” “little beast without a mother” — which infuriated Xi Chengli, asking if she was indirectly calling him an old beast.

The scene became unbearably ugly. Fortunately, there weren’t many people present, and the Meng parents remained calm. Xi Chengli turned the conversation to next year’s collaborations, and the matter was brushed aside.

In the middle of the banquet, Xi Yufeng was summoned outside by Xi Chengli for a discussion. Mother Meng took Meng Lan’s hand and asked, “Are you really not fond of Xiao Feng?”

Meng Lan was taken aback at first but then laughed. “Of course not. What would I see in such a boring person?”

Still worried, Mother Meng said, “I’m afraid that once this marriage becomes a reality, feelings might develop over time…”

“How easy do you think it is for feelings to grow?” Meng Lan was unconcerned. “Look at all my boyfriends; which one did I end up hopelessly attached to?”

Mother Meng sighed. “I don’t even know if agreeing to this sham marriage between you and Xiao Feng was right or wrong.”

“It was definitely the right choice. You know I’m a believer in lifelong celibacy. Since I’ve chosen to enter a sham marriage, why shouldn’t I find someone who benefits me?”

“And, he has already broken things off with that person he was keeping on the side.” As Meng Lan spoke, she glanced towards the door where Xi Yufeng was just entering. “I want both the appearance and the substance.”

By the end of the meal, both families had agreed on a specific wedding date.

Meng Lan didn’t want to wear a wedding dress in the cold, suggesting they wait until spring. Thus, the wedding was set for the sixth day of the third lunar month, corresponding to April in the Gregorian calendar — a time when everything was coming back to life.

With the date settled, preparations for various aspects of the wedding were initiated.

On the third day of the New Year, most malls had resumed normal operations. At half past two in the afternoon, prompted by his assistant, Xi Yufeng drove to a shopping center.

At the previous family banquet, Meng Lan had specifically requested to order her wedding dress from a store here, and today was the day they came to select the design and take measurements.

During the Spring Festival, the mall was bustling with activity. Lanterns hung from the doors downstairs, colorful balloons floated in the air, and upstairs, the cinema was packed with people, couples holding popcorn and drinks everywhere.

When Meng Lan emerged from trying on a wedding dress, she saw Xi Yufeng standing in the corridor outside the store. His arm was propped against the glass railing, and he held an unlit cigarette in his other hand, facing sideways, looking up.

His gaze had a melancholic tranquility, as if he was detached from the surrounding festivities.

Meng Lan walked over and followed his line of sight upward. “Thinking about watching a movie?”

Xi Yufeng slightly lowered his head, his gaze returning to her. “No.”

Male wedding attire typically followed a fixed set of styles, and within five minutes of entering the store, Xi Yufeng had made his selection.

Thus, the remaining time was spent on Meng Lan trying on wedding dresses. She first chose a puffy white lace dress, twirling around in front of Xi Yufeng to show it off, asking him what he thought.

Assuming Meng Lan wanted to look stunning even for a formality, Xi Yufeng glanced at her and said, “Very nice.”

Meng Lan was in high spirits and quickly changed into a mermaid-style dress that accentuated her figure.

This time, Xi Yufeng didn’t have a chance to look. He received a phone call and said he had to leave because of an urgent matter.

Holding the hem of her dress, Meng Lan couldn’t force a smile, nodding reluctantly. “Then go take care of your business; I’ll choose slowly by myself.”

Watching the man’s back as he departed, Meng Lan suddenly felt it was meaningless. She turned back inside and saw the tea and refreshments brought by the staff. Just as she was about to sit down to rest, she heard footsteps approaching from behind.

Xi Yufeng had returned, and Meng Lan’s eyes instantly brightened, her lips curling into a smile.

However, Xi Yufeng asked her, “Do you still have that bottle of wine I gave you last time?”

Her smile froze on her face as Meng Lan inquired, “What?”

“The wine from Christmas Eve, at Jin Garden, the one you took from me.”

“Oh, that one… Wasn’t it a birthday gift for me?”

“I later gave you other gifts. If you still have that bottle of wine, could you please return it to me?”

Seeing Meng Lan hesitate, Xi Yufeng added, “Or I can buy it back from you; name your price.”

Meanwhile, Jiang Ruo, summoned by Tang Jiani’s phone call, was aimlessly wandering around the mall since he had arrived half an hour early.

Thus, when he happened to pass by this bridal boutique and witnessed a lady dressed in a wedding gown splashing her beverage onto the man standing before her, he was just as surprised as the surrounding bystanders.

Once he recognized the identities of the parties involved, especially Xi Yufeng’s unforgettable face, Jiang Ruo’s heart raced, and he hastily turned to run.

Hiding around the corner of the staircase, Jiang Ruo slowly stuck out half his head, confirming that no one had noticed him before heaved a sigh of relief, placing a hand on his chest.

Since he was already here, he might as well take the stairs down.

Suddenly recalling the words he had said to Xi Yufeng — that he would go somewhere where he wouldn’t see him — Jiang Ruo thought that Feng City was indeed a small place, for him to encounter this situation.

Arriving downstairs, he pulled his mask up higher. Looking up, Jiang Ruo saw that the couple was no longer in the corridor, leaving only the sign of the bridal gown boutique shining alone.

He couldn’t help but laugh at himself, thinking, how small could Feng City possibly be for the probability of bumping into an ex-lover and his fiancée trying on wedding gowns to be so low?

When meeting up with Tang Jiani, Jiang Ruo shared his thoughts about how small Feng City was, receiving her complete agreement.

“Well, yeah,” Tang Jiani said. “Before the New Year, I ran into Su Yi at a dinner party on the set.”

Jiang Ruo hadn’t told Tang Jiani about the rich woman Su Yi was cheating with being Xi Yufeng’s fiancée, fearing it might shatter the girl’s worldview. Now, he felt that decision was incredibly wise; otherwise, the current awkwardness would also be partly his fault.

After agreeing with her, Jiang Ruo asked, “So, how are things between you and him now…?”

“We’re basically strangers, pretending not to know each other,” Tang Jiani answered. “In the same circle, you often see each other whether you want to or not. There’s nothing we can do about it. But…”

She leaned in closer, whispering gossipingly, “I heard that wealthy woman dumped him.”

Jiang Ruo remembered the intimate scene of Meng Lan and Su Yi kissing and was momentarily stunned. “Ah?”

“With those rich kids, do they ever have lasting relationships?” Tang Jiani was surprisingly philosophical. “I’ve come to realize that only by working hard to climb higher and reaching a position where you can look down upon everyone else can you avoid being toyed with, either physically or emotionally.”

Jiang Ruo chuckled, amused and perplexed. “With what you’re saying, if headlining actors get played with, us supporting actors are left to be trampled underfoot?”

“So we must strive harder; lagging behind means getting beaten!”

It was evident that after experiencing a breakup, Tang Jiani’s mindset had matured significantly compared to before.

Inviting Jiang Ruo to dinner this time was also to thank him for the earlier “heads-up.”

After all, anyone with a bit of common sense would know that, in Jiang Ruo’s position at the time, the safest course of action would have been to pretend he hadn’t seen anything and remain silent. But Jiang Ruo took a risk by telling her, indicating that he genuinely considered her a friend.

Tang Jiani, with her straightforward and hearty personality, immediately pounded her chest and declared, “From now on, for anything where I, Tang Jiani, can be of assistance, I will do so without hesitation!”

Jiang Ruo was amused by her enthusiasm. “Was your last drama a costume piece? Were you playing a brave female warrior roaming the rivers and lakes?”

“How did you know?!”

After eating, Tang Jiani dragged Jiang Ruo to a beauty salon for a facial treatment.

Initially, Jiang Ruo didn’t want to go, but he really didn’t want to accompany Tang Jiani on another mall excursion, fearing another terrifying accidental encounter. After some deliberation, he concluded that there was one place a certain someone would never step foot in — a beauty salon.

Once he lay down, allowing the beautician to pat and knead his face, soothing music flowing into his ears, and the faint aroma of essential oils wafting through his nostrils, Jiang Ruo closed his eyes, understanding why female celebrities frequented such establishments.

But when female celebrities visited these places, relaxation was likely not their sole purpose.

Lying on the bed next to him, Tang Jiani chattered on, educating him about medical aesthetic treatments like ultrasound knives and Thermage, urging him to start anti-aging measures early.

Jiang Ruo didn’t take it seriously, believing that male actors didn’t have such stringent requirements. Tang Jiani gave examples, “Take the movie ‘Skin,’ for instance. They chose you as the lead actor precisely because you’re young and good-looking.”

‘Skin’ was the edgy art film Jiang Ruo had auditioned for before the New Year. According to Zheng Yiting, he had landed the role entirely based on his own abilities, without anyone pulling strings behind the scenes.

Jiang Ruo believed this, replying, “True. But I was born this way. Changing anything might disrupt the harmony.”

Tang Jiani was slightly envious of his casual attitude. “You’re insufferable. After ‘When Orioles Take Flight’ aired, there were so many comments saying the second male lead was more beautiful than the female lead. Watch out, I might get jealous and assassinate you.”

Jiang Ruo laughed. “That sounds like the drama industry’s cutthroat competition for screen time.”

By the time they left the mall, it was already evening.

Tang Jiani had driven herself and was still fresh on her license, insisting on giving Jiang Ruo a ride home. Unable to refuse her kindness, Jiang Ruo had her drop him off near the main road in the old city district, fearful that she might drive into the alley where she couldn’t turn around.

Getting out of the car, he walked to the driver’s side to thank Tang Jiani for the ride. She glanced behind him and asked, “You and Xi… that guy, you really broke up?”

Jiang Ruo noticed that everyone was trying to avoid mentioning Xi Yufeng’s name in front of him, assuming that as long as they didn’t say it, he wouldn’t feel sad.

He played along, feigning indifference. “Yeah, he’s almost getting married. Why would we stay together for the New Year?”

Tang Jiani took out her phone and forwarded him a link on WeChat, describing it as “tried and tested.” Opening it, he found an article titled — How to Quickly Get Over Heartbreak.

Jiang Ruo laughed as he read it. “We never even dated; what shadow is there to overcome?”

Tang Jiani stared at him for a moment, then sighed sagely. “I hope it’s not an act.”

There was still a distance to walk from the intersection to the building.

Reaching the open space before the alleyway, Jiang Ruo inexplicably stopped, turning his head to look.

A black SUV was parked by the short wall, but it wasn’t the familiar one. Nor was there a tall, slender man in white shirt and black pants getting out of the car, leaning against the door to light a cigarette, the sparks flickering as if waiting for someone.

Xi Yufeng.

Jiang Ruo repeated the name silently in his heart, Xi Yufeng.

He thought that if he repeated it more times, he would become desensitized, that it would cease to hurt.

One day, Jiang Ruo would be able to encounter Xi Yufeng calmly, even greeting him casually, addressing him as “President Xi.”

Instead of acting like a defeated soldier, turning and running, then hiding in a corner, covering his aching heart, and lamenting how small the world was.

But at that moment, he couldn’t do it.

His phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket. Pulling it out, he saw the name on the screen, and Jiang Ruo’s hand trembled violently, his breath catching.

It was a WeChat message from the person he had labeled as “Wind,” containing only one line —

“You left something behind.”