The event was scheduled for 1:30 in the afternoon, but it was delayed until 2:40 before Xu Meiyuan finally arrived.
As soon as Xu Meiyuan stood on the stage, before she could even start speaking, the audience immediately erupted into a frenzy. Everyone was screaming wildly, and the first two rows of temporary security guards hired for the event struggled to hold back the crazed fans desperately trying to get closer to the stage to admire their idol up close.
The scene was chaotic, but Xu Meiyuan remained quite calm, clearly having grown accustomed to such situations. Holding the microphone, she delivered a long official speech thanking fans and enthusiastic attendees, and earnestly promoted the maternity store’s products, expressing her fondness for the brand.
The atmosphere was so infectious that even Zhao Meimei, after listening to Xu Meiyuan and the host’s recommendations, felt that everything in the maternity store seemed absolutely perfect, non-toxic, harmless, healthy, and practical, not to mention everyone else.
Worried about getting separated, Zhao Meimei held onto Peng Hui with one hand and tightly grasped Qian Simeng, who was already in a frenzied state, with the other.
Suddenly, she felt her arm jolt. Zhao Meimei glanced at the backpack resting on her arm and quickly reminded, "Peng Hui, your phone is ringing!"
Peng Hui responded, "Huh? What did you say? I can’t hear you!!"
Zhao Meimei leaned in and said, "Your phone is ringing!"
Peng Hui was startled, quickly took out her phone, answered the call, but couldn’t hear the other person at all. She just shouted, "Sis, I’m not done here yet! It’s too noisy here, I can’t hear what you’re saying. I’ll call you once I’m out!"
After saying this, Peng Hui hung up the phone directly.
Peng Hui was able to answer the call thanks to Zhao Meimei’s reminder. But when Zhao Meimei’s phone rang, there was no one to notice because she had put it in her handbag, which was being held in her hand, dangling in the air.
Shi Yang called Zhao Meimei several times, but no one answered. He was a bit worried, so he leaned on the gap in the backstage railing to look outside. The event site was packed densely with people, and he couldn’t spot Zhao Meimei at all.
Qu Chaozong, busy and sweating, turned around to see Shi Yang stretching his neck to watch the commotion, and quickly came over, saying, "What are you doing? Didn’t you see enough in the office just now?!"
Shi Yang cursed with a smile, "Get lost, why would I be interested in watching Xu Meiyuan when I have nothing better to do? I’ve never paid attention to her."
Qu Chaozong teased, "Then why are you craning your neck over there?"
Shi Yang said, "I’m worried there are too many people and Meimei might get squeezed. She’s watching the excitement with her classmates in the front, and I’m concerned."
Qu Chaozong replied, "Just give her a call, and that’s that!"
Shi Yang complained, "It’s too noisy, I’ve called several times, and she hasn’t picked up."
Qu Chaozong reassured him, "There are security guards watching up front. If anything really happens, we’d know right away, don’t worry."
Shi Yang, a bit regretful, said, "I shouldn’t have agreed to let her come over, what’s there to watch!"
While the two were talking, a staff member from the scene ran in, headed toward Shi Yang to report, "Mr. Shi, the police from the sub-bureau have arrived. They said they’re worried about accidents and came specifically to help maintain order. You should come out and take a look!"
"Really!" Shi Yang was taken aback. The backstage area couldn’t be left unattended as he was responsible for getting Xu Meiyuan to the airport to return to the filming set.
Qu Chaozong said, "I’ll go, you stay here and watch."
Shi Yang agreed, "Okay, you go then!"
Before leaving, Qu Chaozong asked, "Didn’t Mu Guangping say Xu Meiyuan could only stay for a little over ten minutes? It’s been over half an hour and she hasn’t come down yet!"
Shi Yang said, "We couldn’t get the 3 o’clock flight, so there’s a little more time, and she’s helping to stay on stage a bit longer."
Qu Chaozong nodded and followed the staff outside.
The sub-bureau hadn’t paid much attention to this matter before. When Shi Yang went to file for record, the police indifferently stamped the document to get it over with. Now, they suddenly sent a large number of people over, obviously not expecting the event to be so grand. Fortunately, Mu Guangping had given a heads-up in advance, allowing them to hire over a dozen temporary bodyguards to maintain order, preventing any last-minute panic.
The sub-bureau leaders eagerly engaged in cordial communication when they saw the person in charge, and Qu Chaozong was naturally thrilled to have free security helping with the scene, enthusiastically assigning people to guide the police inside.
After everything was arranged, Qu Chaozong turned to head backstage. Just as he turned, he heard someone call him, "Chaozi!" The voice was particularly familiar.
Qu Chaozong’s back stiffened slightly, and he turned around to see Peng Rui with a hesitant expression. Both were stunned. Peng Rui said in surprise, "It is you! I thought the back looked familiar." Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on noᴠelfire.net
Peng Rui had gained some weight since college, cut her hair short, remained fair-skinned, wore a brand-name dress, and carried a designer handbag. Next to her stood a man Qu Chaozong had seen once years ago, shortly after catching Peng Rui’s affair, when he had watched from a distance.
The man wore a casual tracksuit, likely living a pretty good life, with a round belly that had once been flat. Besides becoming more portly, he hadn’t changed much.
Suddenly encountering his ex-girlfriend and the person she cheated with, Qu Chaozong didn’t know how others would feel, but he was momentarily dazed. Regardless of the turbulent thoughts and emotions swirling inside him, his expression was composed and indifferent as water.
Qu Chaozong politely nodded and said, "So it’s you. How did you gain so much weight in these years?"
Peng Rui’s smile froze instantly, but she wasn’t angry. She asked, "What are you doing here?"
Qu Chaozong replied, "Just passing by."
Peng Rui’s man squinted with a mocking expression, looking at Qu Chaozong.
For today’s event, Qu Chaozong specifically wore the business-casual outfit Zhang Xin had picked out. He had taken off the outerwear halfway through due to being busy and hot, revealing the branded but low-key short-sleeved shirt underneath, devoid of any logos. After sending the police into the venue, he rolled the sleeves up to his shoulders because it was so hot, making him appear like a typical casual stroller on the street.
When compared to the stylishly dressed couple in front of him, especially under the other man’s clearly slightly contemptuous gaze, it felt as if they were on the same street, basking in the blazing sun, amidst the noisy clamor, but utterly belonging to two different worlds, highlighting an unmistakable sense of rich and poor disparity.
Peng Rui looked at Qu Chaozong with a complex expression. After all, they had truly loved each other at one point, being each other’s unforgettable and beautiful first love. She didn’t wish to see Qu Chaozong doing too well or too poorly.