When Lai Yang heard about the matchmaking event, her eyes shone with anticipation as she excitedly dragged Ning Guiwan to the mall to try on evening dresses. All the unmarried young masters and misses from Shencheng’s elite circles would be there.
Ning Guiwan felt as if she had fallen into a trap, one the trapper themself hadn’t even realized they’d set.
Seated on the sofa, Ning Guiwan flipped through the store’s magazine. Her gaze followed the bustling Lai Yang, who tirelessly picked out and tried on dresses. Lai Yang’s face brimmed with joyful anticipation, as if she were about to meet her heart’s desire.
She wasn’t even sure if her beloved would attend.
As Ning Guiwan watched, distant memories suddenly stirred, unearthing themselves from deep within her heart.
She first met Quan Xiangru when she was twelve. At that time, amidst the cheerful laughter, she had only noticed a boy sitting alone in a corner, strikingly handsome and exceedingly quiet. For a long time afterward, her impression of Quan Xiangru was limited to that of a quiet, handsome older boy.
They truly got to know each other after she began high school.
By then, Quan Xiangru had already been admitted to the country’s top university. Ning Guiwan, however, was entering her rebellious phase; her grades were poor, and she spent her days thinking only of hanging out with Lai Yang and Zhang Ziyan.
Chi Tingshuang held high hopes for her daughter, wishing for her to be admitted to a prestigious university in Britain. She had even arranged accommodation for her there while Ning Guiwan was still in junior high.
That winter vacation, her mother hired the top scorer from that year’s college entrance exams to tutor Ning Guiwan.
When she saw Quan Xiangru again, the handsome, quiet boy had grown into a gentle and refined young man, his demeanor charming and confident. That evening, under the lamplight, he patiently explained the problems to her. Ning Guiwan, however, barely registered his words; her peripheral vision was filled with his profile bathed in light and shadow, and the only sound she could hear was her own racing heartbeat.
From then on, the girl who disliked studying most looked forward to those evening tutorials.
She would always try on countless outfits from her wardrobe, wanting to wear the prettiest one for him.
"Xiaowan, how about this one?"
Lai Yang, wearing a long, black, off-the-shoulder, backless dress, stood before the full-length mirror. She twirled for Ning Guiwan, her eyes full of expectation.
Her exotic features made her naturally arresting in such attire.
The wall sconces in the boutique cast a glow on the dresses, making each one appear luxurious and expensive. Ning Guiwan watched Lai Yang and smiled. "It looks good."
Lai Yang looked down at herself, then back at the mirror, a rare hint of girlish shyness in her demeanor. "Then this one it is."
"What about you? Which one do you like?"
Ning Guiwan, lacking enthusiasm, casually pointed to a red dress with spaghetti straps and an asymmetrical hem to Lai Yang’s left.
She’d forgotten how she had come to love such a color—gaudy, yet fiery.
Maybe it was because the color looked festive.
「At seven in the evening」
Ning Guiwan and Lai Yang arrived at the Shencheng Cruise Home Port by car.
The organizers of this matchmaking banquet had truly spared no expense, chartering an entire cruise ship.
Carrying their suitcases, they presented their invitations, and a staff member handed each of them an itinerary.
The cruise would sail for five days: Shencheng — International Waters — Osaka — International Waters — Shencheng.
Matchmaking sessions were scheduled from seven to midnight each night, starting the following evening. The remaining time would be filled with various programs and activities.
As they followed a staff member to their assigned rooms, Lai Yang glanced around. The cruise ship was crowded, filled with many familiar and unfamiliar faces.
But the person she hoped to see was nowhere in sight.
She couldn’t help but feel a little dejected.
But she soon rallied her spirits. Maybe he hasn’t arrived yet, or perhaps he’s already here, just somewhere I can’t see him.
They were assigned a first-class cabin. Lai Yang tossed her suitcase onto the floor and flopped onto the immaculately made bed, which didn’t have a single wrinkle.
With a sigh of resignation, Ning Guiwan placed Lai Yang’s suitcase neatly in the corner. Then, she opened her own and began taking out her clothes, hanging them one by one in the wardrobe.
After finishing with her own, she started to hang Lai Yang’s clothes as well.
Lai Yang, still sprawled on the bed with her chin propped in her hands, grinned at Ning Guiwan’s diligent efforts. "Thanks, dear."
Ning Guiwan ignored her.
Lai Yang seemed to recall something, her expression suddenly turning grave. "Grand-aunt said my second cousin is coming too. You don’t think he’ll actually show up, do you?"
Ning Guiwan’s movements, as she smoothed out a dress, faltered for a moment. Without turning around, she replied, "Who knows."