Chapter 22: A Silent Reunion

Xiao Yufan watched from a distance, while Cheng Ying didn’t even glance in his direction—whether out of obliviousness or deliberate avoidance, he couldn’t tell.

After calming his turbulent emotions, Xiao Yufan turned his head and looked at Yu Yihan, who was clearly angry, and said, “My friend has arrived. Let’s go inside!”

“So you brought me here to attend your friend’s wedding, not for dinner as you said?” Yu Yihan showed no intention of moving. Her eyes turned cold. Nothing angered her more than being deceived—it was her biggest pet peeve.

“Well, it’s still a meal, just with more people,” Xiao Yufan tried to explain. He was afraid that if Yu Yihan stormed off, he would once again be left completely alone. He didn’t want Cheng Ying to see him standing there, lonely and forlorn.

“What a scumbag! If you want to eat, go by yourself. I have absolutely no interest in your friend’s wedding. Please also do me a favor and don’t bother me again in the future!” Yu Yihan gripped the car keys in her hand and turned to leave. Her mood was terrible. If it weren’t for the crowd around them, she would’ve already exploded in fury. She was barely holding herself back.

“I was wrong to lie to you, I admit. But I really did want to invite you out for a meal!” Xiao Yufan naturally couldn’t reveal the truth—it would only make things worse. Without hesitation, he grabbed Yu Yihan’s arm tightly…

Just as the two were tugging back and forth, a figure suddenly appeared in front of them. Xiao Yufan still hadn’t let go of Yu Yihan, but his heart skipped a beat. Yu Yihan also sensed something and stopped resisting so fiercely.

Feeling like it was hard to breathe, Xiao Yufan’s heart twisted in pain. The lover of five years, now a stranger since their breakup, stood right in front of him.

“Hey, Yufan…” Cheng Ying broke the silence. Standing beside the flowerbed, the situation felt awkward for the three of them. After glancing at Xiao Yufan, Cheng Ying turned her gaze toward Yu Yihan and continued, “Are you his girlfriend?”

Caught off guard by Cheng Ying’s question, Xiao Yufan was deeply worried that Yu Yihan would immediately deny it. That would leave him completely humiliated in front of Cheng Ying. To his surprise, however, Yu Yihan remained silent, effectively accepting the implication.

“I’ll go inside first. You can chat with your friend for a bit,” Yu Yihan said gently. Gone was her earlier fury. Surprised, Xiao Yufan finally released her hand and watched her walk into the hotel.

“You haven’t changed—you’re still as beautiful as ever.” That sense of loneliness suddenly vanished. To his surprise, Xiao Yufan found himself feeling unexpectedly calm. Had Yu Yihan given him this confidence? He wasn’t sure.

Xiao Yufan watched from a distance, while Cheng Ying didn’t even glance in his direction. It was unclear whether she hadn’t noticed him or was deliberately avoiding him.

After steadying his fluctuating emotions, Xiao Yufan turned to look at the angry Yu Yihan and said, “My friend is here, let’s go in!”

“You came to attend a friend’s wedding, not to invite me to dinner, right?” Yu Yihan showed no intention of moving, her eyes turning cold. She hated being deceived the most, and it was something she couldn’t tolerate.

“It’s just a meal, but with more people!” Xiao Yufan explained, fearing that Yu Yihan might turn and leave, leaving him alone again. He didn’t want Cheng Ying to see his lonely figure.

“Scumbag, go eat by yourself. I have no interest in your friend’s wedding, and please don’t bother me anymore!” Yu Yihan clutched her car keys, ready to leave, feeling extremely upset. If it weren’t for the many people around, her temper would have exploded. She was trying hard to control her anger.

“I lied to you, and that was wrong, but I really wanted to invite you to dinner!” Xiao Yufan naturally wouldn’t reveal the truth, as it would only make things worse. Without any hesitation, he grabbed Yu Yihan’s arm…

As the two struggled, a figure appeared before them. Xiao Yufan still held onto Yu Yihan tightly, but his heart suddenly raced. Yu Yihan also sensed something and her reaction became less intense.

Feeling as if breathing had become difficult, Xiao Yufan’s heart ached. The lover he had been with for five years, now a stranger he hadn’t contacted since their breakup, stood before him at this moment.

“Hello, Yufan…” Cheng Ying broke the silence. The three of them stood awkwardly by the flower bed. After glancing at Xiao Yufan, Cheng Ying turned her gaze to Yu Yihan and continued, “This must be your girlfriend, right?”

Caught off guard by Cheng Ying’s question, Xiao Yufan was worried that Yu Yihan would refute it, leaving him completely defeated in front of Cheng Ying. To his surprise, Yu Yihan remained quiet, seemingly accepting Cheng Ying’s words.

“I’ll go in first, you stay and chat with your friend,” Yu Yihan said softly, her earlier fierceness completely gone. Surprised, Xiao Yufan let go of her hand and watched her enter the hotel.

“You haven’t changed, still so beautiful!” The loneliness in his heart suddenly vanished. Xiao Yufan found himself much calmer upon seeing her again. Was it Yu Yihan who gave him this confidence? He wasn’t sure.

Cheng Ying smiled, her dimples still as beautiful as ever, but all of this no longer belonged to him. He shouldn’t have had any illusions in the first place. Perhaps it was the unwillingness in his heart, after all, it was five years of his youth…

“But you’ve changed. The old Yufan wouldn’t hide his true feelings,” Cheng Ying observed Xiao Yufan and said meaningfully after a while.

“What do you mean?” Xiao Yufan’s heart skipped a beat. He was afraid Cheng Ying had seen through him, exposing all his little tricks and impacting his last bit of self-respect.

Before Cheng Ying could respond, another bridesmaid came out and waved at her, signaling her to enter the wedding venue.

With a slightly apologetic nod, Cheng Ying looked at Xiao Yufan and said, “I’m going in, what about you?”

“I’ll stay outside for a smoke…”

Watching Cheng Ying’s retreating figure, Xiao Yufan felt a deep sense of loss. He had indeed changed, becoming someone who hid his true feelings. He had to admit he still thought about those happy times, never forgetting them.

Lost in the memories of the past, Xiao Yufan really wanted to rush up to Cheng Ying, hold her tightly, and tell her his deepest feelings, that he still loved her! But all of this seemed too pale. Perhaps everything was as Mu Qing had said, once a woman’s heart changes, it’s hard to go back, no matter how much effort you put in.

The dialogue after the breakup seemed so pale and tasteless, not even like that of ordinary friends. Xiao Yufan knew this relationship had come to a complete end, but he still didn’t understand why Cheng Ying had chosen to leave.

If Xiao Yufan’s heart were a city at this moment, the entire city would be crying uncontrollably. After collecting his sorrowful emotions, he knew it was time to go back. After all, he was still the best man and had many things to do.

The wedding banquet began, and everyone took their seats according to the seating arrangement. Xiao Yufan and Cheng Ying, as the best man and bridesmaid, sat together, but neither looked at the other, like strangers, yet the most familiar strangers.

People around Xiao Yufan kept talking to him, but he responded absentmindedly, always trying to find a reason to look at Cheng Ying again. But he still lacked the courage. Letting go would make it easier to face her openly. Just as he shifted his gaze to another direction, he met Yu Yihan’s still angry eyes. It seemed Xiao Yufan had really angered her this time.

The emcee on stage encouraged the newlyweds to perform very intimate actions, and the crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Xiao Yufan also smiled happily, but a strange bitterness flowed in his heart. Silence didn’t mean he didn’t think about it.

Marriage seemed so sacred, but for Xiao Yufan, it was getting further and further away. Only he hid in the corner, unwilling to let others see his miserable life.

The wedding march filled the hall with a peaceful atmosphere. Xiao Yufan also offered his most sincere blessings and gave all his remaining money as a red envelope to the couple. Compared to Ma Teng’s help, this was far from enough, but it represented his gratitude. He would remember everyone who had helped him in his heart.

“But you have changed. The Yufan I knew before never hid his true feelings,” Cheng Ying observed him for a while before saying meaningfully.

“What do you mean?” Xiao Yufan’s heart sank. He feared Cheng Ying had seen through something. If she had, all his little tricks would be exposed, and what little pride he had left would be shattered.

Before Cheng Ying could respond, another bridesmaid stepped out and gestured for her to go inside, indicating that the wedding ceremony was about to begin.

Nodding slightly with an apologetic expression, Cheng Ying looked at Xiao Yufan and asked, “I have to go in now. What about you?”

“I’ll have a cigarette outside first…”

Watching Cheng Ying’s retreating figure, Xiao Yufan felt a deep sense of loss. Indeed, he had changed—he had become someone who hides his true feelings. He had to admit that he still missed those happy days, and had never truly forgotten them.

Lost in memories of the past, Xiao Yufan longed to rush to Cheng Ying and hold her tightly, telling her everything deep in his heart, confessing that he still loved her! But all of this seemed so futile. Perhaps, just as Mu Qing had said, once a woman’s heart changes, it’s nearly impossible to return to what was. No matter how hard he tried.

After a breakup, every word exchanged felt hollow and meaningless, not even enough to qualify as small talk between ordinary friends. Xiao Yufan knew this relationship had definitively ended. Yet he still couldn’t understand why Cheng Ying had chosen to leave.

If his heart were a city, then the entire city would be weeping. Composing his sorrow, he knew it was time to move on. After all, he was still the best man, and had many things to attend to.

The wedding banquet began, and everyone took their seats according to the seating arrangement. Due to their roles as best man and bridesmaid, Xiao Yufan and Cheng Ying sat side by side. But neither looked at the other, like strangers—yet strangers who knew each other better than anyone else.

People around Xiao Yufan kept chatting with him, but he barely responded. He kept trying to find an excuse to glance at Cheng Ying again, yet still lacked the courage. Letting go would allow him to face everything more calmly. But just as he shifted his gaze elsewhere, he met Yu Yihan’s still-angry eyes. It seemed Xiao Yufan had truly enraged her this time.

On stage, the host encouraged the newlyweds to perform affectionate acts, drawing cheers and applause from the crowd. Xiao Yufan smiled joyfully too, though inside he felt a bitter ache. Silence doesn’t mean absence of feeling.

Marriage seemed so sacred, yet to Xiao Yufan, it now felt increasingly distant. He was alone in a corner, hiding from others the messiness of his life.

The wedding march filled the hall with a warm, harmonious atmosphere. Xiao Yufan offered his most sincere wishes, and handed the couple all the money he had left as a wedding gift. It was far from enough to repay the help Ma Teng had given him, but it represented his heartfelt gratitude. True friendship lies in the heart. He would always remember everyone who had ever helped him.