Listening to Rong Yanqiao’s story, Tang Xi bit her lip hard.
She didn’t dare to imagine the pain her good friend had endured.
The kind of despair she had gone through.
She hugged Rong Yanqiao.
"It’s all in the past, everything is over!" Tang Xi held her tight.
There was much Rong Yanqiao wanted to say, but at that moment, all she could do was to hug Tang Xi tightly, resting her chin gently on her shoulder, whispering into Tang Xi’s ear, "Tang Xi, my best friend, you will definitely find happiness."
She had so much more to say, but.
"Yanqiao, we must be going—"
Rong Qingze stood three or four meters away from them, a faint smile hanging on his lips as he watched them.
Rong Yanqiao slowly let go of Tang Xi, "I have to go first."
Tang Xi clutched at her hand, reluctant to let go.
Rong Yanqiao smiled, tear tracks glittering at the corner of her eyes, "I’m just off to shoot a film, things are really hectic, my second uncle is taking me to Xiangshan... we’ll chat on WeChat."
As she watched Rong Yanqiao walk away, Tang Xi slowly stood up, her vision blurring once more.
She waited until Rong Yanqiao had vanished from sight, then, holding on to the wind chimes, she turned and entered a rest room, closing the door behind her.
Slowly, she bent over and crouched on the ground, beginning to cry.
She had finally, finally seen her friend.
Finally found Ruan Youqing.
She didn’t dare to think about the suffering Ruan Youqing had endured over the years. Looking at that unfamiliar but beautiful face, listening to the brief descriptions Rong Yanqiao provided about her last four years, Tang Xi’s emotions gradually started to collapse.
But fortunately, everything is moving towards a better direction.
She took out her phone and looked at the emoji that Rong Yanqiao had sent her.
She should have guessed it long ago.
That emoji was Ruan Youqing’s favorite one to send to her in the past.
When she first saw this emoji not too long ago, she was taken aback.
But she didn’t dare think in that direction.
Turns out, there were traces to follow all along.
She sent a message to Rong Yanqiao, "Take care on the road, be safe."
Rong Yanqiao promptly replied with a message, "Got it! My second uncle is taking me, don’t worry."
Tang Xi exited the chat and then pulled up Ruan Youqing’s WeChat.
This WeChat, with the familiar profile picture of Ruan Youqing.
She had sent countless messages to this WeChat, all of which had gone unanswered, like stones dropped into the ocean.
Opening Ruan Youqing’s Moments, Tang Xi scrolled down.
Ruan Youqing was someone who liked to post a lot on Moments.
Tang Xi scrolled through her Moments, going back six years, to the time when they had just started working at North City’s First Hospital.
A photo of the two of them in white coats together.
Their youthful and pure facial features.
And their innocent, unguarded smiles.
That was the Tang Xi and Ruan Youqing in their early twenties.
Tears once again welled up in Tang Xi’s eyes, finally rolling down her cheeks.
But thankfully, everything is just right.
In the evening, Fu Tingzhou was already very drunk.
Tang Xi, having taken a bath, rid herself of the exhaustion encasing her body.
Longshan Villa was beautifully decorated, entirely unlike its usual coldness. This place was their new home five years ago when she married Fu Tingzhou and now, five years later, it was their bridal room.
Five years ago, when she married him, he hadn’t seen her.
And for her, it was just that fleeting glimpse back in college.
That had planted a seed.
To marry him, to become his wife, a secret marriage, she had agreed.
She was excited and secretly delighted.
Because she had finally married the man she loved.
And now, her heart was joyful yet calm.
Fu Tingzhou held her tight as if he finally possessed her at this moment.
He was drunk, but his thoughts still held some sobriety.
Fu Tingzhou was happy, so today, when those friends were urging him to drink, he did.
Normally, he wasn’t a heavy drinker.
"Tang Xi." He murmured her name softly.
And Tang Xi, contentedly leaned in his embrace.
They were both tired from the long day, having barely rested since midnight until now.
"Tang Xi, are we really, really together now?"
The man asked in a hoarse voice.
Tang Xi responded seriously, calmly yet hoarsely affirming, "Yes, we are really together, truly married, we’ve truly held a wedding. I am your wife, and you are my husband."
As these two words fell, under the influence of the alcohol, Fu Tingzhou finally closed his eyes.
Tang Xi leaned in his embrace, feeling the strong heartbeat of the man.