It took us about an hour to choose the wedding dress and suits. Mi Cai drove along the bustling streets while the outside world remained busy. I saw the brightly lit office buildings, as if all the city’s office workers were striving to catch up on work missed during the holiday, launching a strong offensive into this brand new year. I was infected by this atmosphere and finally stopped thinking about troubling matters, once again contemplating future development plans in my mind.
After a series of stop-and-go traffic, the car finally entered a wide six-lane road. Mi Cai relaxed a bit and said to me, “Zhaoyang, I think the white-trimmed suit with a red bowtie looked very natural. Why don’t we go back and buy it?”
I smiled and said, “You’re still thinking about this!”
“Of course! A wedding is one of the most important events in life. I want to get every detail right!”
I tried to persuade her, “The traffic is so heavy now, going back would waste another hour or so. Actually, we really don’t need to be so particular. We both thought the black suit we just bought was great too!”
“Trust my sense of aesthetics. Let’s keep the black suit as a backup… If you don’t want to go back now, I’ll go myself tomorrow at noon after work. Anyway, my company is close to that place.”
Her serious expression indicated this was something she was determined to do. I no longer opposed her and nodded immediately to show I would follow her wishes. At this moment, I finally felt that the once distant wedding was gradually approaching. My life was about to bid farewell to the past and embark on a new journey!
…
The next day, I went to the coffee shop as usual, drank a small cup of hot tea, enjoyed the morning sunshine, and soon entered a working state. I had preliminarily completed the business plan, including an investment feasibility study report. This report was prepared for Zhou Zhaokun. According to my plan, I would discuss this entrepreneurial project with Zhou Zhaokun after the wedding.
After a brief rest with my eyes closed, I emailed the investment feasibility analysis report to Tongzi, who is studying abroad. Compared to me, he is more professional in the field of game development. I hoped he could give me some valuable suggestions.
Soon, Tongzi called me with an international call. After I answered, I asked in confusion, “Did you finish reading my dozens of pages of analysis report so quickly?”
“No, I’ll read the report later. I just wanted to call and chat with you…” After a brief silence, Tongzi asked in a low tone, “Yang Ge, are you really planning to marry Mi Cai Jie?”
“Do you have any reservations?”
“I… I just finished talking with Xiao Yun. She said: She feels very sad for Jian Wei Jie. She will never forget the night when, in her flower shop, Jian Wei Jie poured gasoline on herself with you. The scene was so shocking, and at that time, your hands were tightly holding each other…!”
I understood what Tongzi meant. My mood became complicated. After a long time, I asked, “Then what?”
Tongzi carefully replied, “Yang Ge, please don’t get angry with me for saying this… Xiao Yun and I believe that maybe… maybe you and Jian Wei Jie were destined to be together. Moreover… Jian Wei Jie has helped you so much. Now, she is experiencing the biggest crisis in her life, yet you are hurting her deeply by getting married. Isn’t that really unfair?… You should know, sometimes women don’t say much, they appear very broad-minded, but that doesn’t mean they are equally open-hearted. Especially for a woman like Jian Wei Jie with such a strong personality, the calmer she appears on the surface, the more painful she might be inside…”
I tried my best to stay calm. After a long time, I said, “Do you think saying these things now can still change anything?… You should also understand that sometimes a man’s and a woman’s feelings are just a matter of a fleeting thought. Thinking too much will only end up hurting everyone…”
After saying this, I sighed lightly and fell silent. The silence was because nothing would change anymore.
In my silence, Tongzi spoke again, “Yang Ge, I know nothing will change, but those words are from the bottom of my heart and Xiao Yun’s… Perhaps, you might think Xiao Yun and I hold this view because Jian Wei Jie changed our lives. Without her, we wouldn’t have achieved what we have today. But I really want to say: There will never be another woman in this world who cares for you as much as Jian Wei Jie does…”
“Enough!”
Tongzi was stunned by my shout. He didn’t say anything else and quietly hung up the phone. After a while, he sent me a text message, telling me that he wouldn’t have time to return for my wedding with Mi Cai and that Xiao Yun would send our blessings and gifts.
…
After ending the call with Tongzi, I sat still without moving, without thinking about anything else. I felt empty inside, staring blankly at the sunlight and distant fields outside the window. But when my gaze swept over the endless power lines hanging in the air, I felt my soul being lashed. In an instant, the emptiness vanished, and real pain tore at my nerves. I quickly picked up the already cooled tea and took a sip, limiting my gaze to the table in front of me, no longer daring to look out the window.
At this moment, another minivan approached the coffee shop. I recognized it as the work vehicle of Dai Wenshan. Sure enough, after the car stopped, Dai Wenshan got out with his photography assistant and several customers. Xiao Nuo, as usual, opened the door to greet them. I still felt displeased because of the wedding suit incident last night, but I didn’t show it on my face. After a brief hesitation, I also stood up to welcome them.
Dai Wenshan came to me, nodded with a smile, and then signaled his photography assistant to take the customers to choose the shooting scenes first. He wanted to chat with me for a while.
We still sat by the window with the best view. He lit a cigarette for me, somewhat apologetically saying, “About yesterday’s incident, the salesperson already told me. I was going to call you, but thought it better to talk in person… At least, I truly consider you both as friends… So, I also hope you can consider me a friend and forgive my unintentional mistake yesterday!”
I took a deep puff of the cigarette but didn’t speak immediately because I wasn’t sure if I had made a small issue into something bigger.
My expression made Dai Wenshan smile. He said to me very openly, “Brother Zhaoyang, I actually understand you very well. After all, with such a girlfriend, anyone would become sensitive, suspicious, and anxious… But life itself involves gains and losses. You’ve gained such an excellent woman, so you have to endure the corresponding insecurity. Facing a woman like Mi Cai, if a man says he’s not tempted, it’s hard… However, I’m not a man who can’t tell the situation clearly. I really didn’t mean anything else yesterday, but I still want to apologize. It was my oversight that caused you such trouble!”
“I’ve already treated it as something in the past, so you don’t need to mention it anymore… Like you said, many times, it’s my own sensitivity that makes me exaggerate small matters, which aren’t actually as bad as I imagine!”
Dai Wenshan nodded in agreement. He patted my shoulder and said sincerely, “As a friend, I have to advise you. The key issue here isn’t you, but Mi Cai. Not to mention, in her current social circle, there are probably many superiors and colleagues at her workplace who have intentions towards her. Some are restrained by morality and keep their thoughts to themselves, while others might take action. She can resist temptations and will definitely refuse… But time has the power to change everything. Suppose one day she feels wronged by you and doubts your shared life, and at that time, some pursuers who have genuinely fallen for her might offer her something you can’t provide. Would she still be so determined then?… It’s really hard to say!… Therefore, the general societal belief that marriage requires an ordinary woman makes a lot of sense, because their own limitations often mean they don’t have the opportunity to cheat!”
“I understand what you mean… However, since we have chosen to be together, we naturally have our own way of life. We will both strive for the integrity of our relationship and family!… I won’t misjudge her. She is more rational than an average woman and knows better how to resist temptations… If you knew her past, you wouldn’t worry about these things for me!”
Dai Wenshan smiled again and said, “Since you have such confidence in her, you shouldn’t dwell on yesterday’s matter anymore!… By the way, I have to tell you something else. Actually, I have a girlfriend. She’s a stage actress who often performs around the country. We rarely get to see each other…!” He paused and then added helplessly, “That’s why I said I can understand you!… Because I have the same concerns as you. Sometimes, I really hate those bastards who know she has a boyfriend but still try to flatter her!”
I finally smiled with Dai Wenshan and replied, “Didn’t expect us to be in the same boat!”
Dai Wenshan lit a cigarette, took a deep puff, and sighed, “You’re still better off. At least Mi Cai knows how to refuse, and you two are really getting married. But my case isn’t so reassuring… Sometimes, I also question love. Why do movies, TV shows, and novels always depict it as so steadfast, but in reality, there’s hardly any love that lasts through life and death?”
“How can you say there isn’t! I’ll tell you the story of the West of Old City sometime!… You must believe that there are always some people in this world who won’t drift along with the tide of society. They have their own persistence and principles in love. In their hearts, they must have reserved a clean place, waiting to accommodate the Sky City floating in the sky, which will eventually return to the depths of their hearts!”
…
After Dai Wenshan left with his customers, I fell into contemplation again. Although I had told him many idealistic truths, I couldn’t calm myself down. It seemed I had developed pre-wedding anxiety. I saw too many unresolved hidden dangers behind this seemingly mutual wedding… I didn’t know when or how these hidden dangers would erupt, subsequently destroying everything between Mi Cai and me.
This morning seemed to pass very slowly. Mi Cai didn’t come to the coffee shop for lunch because she was helping me buy the suit she liked. Thus, I felt somewhat empty as time slowly passed. However, the coffee shop’s business was good, not packed but with a steady stream of customers…
At this moment, a black Mercedes-Benz car appeared in my sight. Almost as soon as I recognized the license plate, the car stopped. The driver professionally opened the door for the person inside… and once again, I saw Mi Zhongde, the middle-aged man who always brought me trouble and annoyance! But his uninvited arrival didn’t surprise me, because in my subconscious, as the interest representative of Yan Zhuomei, he would definitely appear once before my wedding with Mi Cai.
Mi Zhongde didn’t enter the coffee shop. He had his hands in his pants pockets, standing tall, exuding an air of authority. Yet even so, in front of Yan Zhuomei, he was still a humble and somewhat subservient man.
Mi Zhongde looked around the coffee shop from outside, finally fixing his gaze on me. He nodded at me, signaling me to come out… I put down my teacup. Although I was curious about his purpose, I wasn’t nervous. I walked steadily outside…
…
I stood in front of Mi Zhongde. He smiled without apparent malice and asked, “This is your coffee shop?”
“If it weren’t your coffee shop, you wouldn’t have found your way here, would you, Mr. Mi?”
“I did some inquiries before I found this place… It took quite a bit of effort. This place is a bit out of the way!”
“You can speak directly. There’s no need for us to beat around the bush… Or, if you have the time, I can treat you to a cup of coffee.”
“You’re about to marry Xiaocai. At least I’m your senior, and you shouldn’t speak to me in this manner… Besides, I’m just passing by. Mainly, I’m here to attend a business conference in Xuzhou… Unless something unexpected happens, Zhuomei’s mall in Xuzhou will start construction this time next year.”
I looked at him in surprise because according to his previous strategic plan, Zhuomei’s main market focus was on first- and second-tier cities. Entering Xuzhou, a third-tier city, was beyond the plan and didn’t align with the overall development direction.
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