"Zhou Mian, it’s been ages," a voice exclaimed as she made her way through the thick crowd.
She turned to face whoever was calling her.
"Do I know you?" she asked, looking at the unfamiliar face.
"That’s fascinating. Did you perhaps forget me? ’My name is Tang Mo," he stated, introducing himself.
Wearing a look of confusion, she scrunched up her beautiful brows at him. She struggled to remember who he was, but it was futile.
"You don’t recognize me," he scoffed with a disheartened chuckle, the look of disappointment overshadowing the glimmer in his eyes.
"I apologize; I only recognize you as Li Qiang’s friend and the Young Master of the Tang family." With a confused look, Zhou Mian said, ’I have no memory of meeting you’.
She found it strange that he seemed to recognize her since she was certain they had never met before.
That’s fine, our meeting didn’t last long anyway," he said casually, waving his hand.
While it felt somewhat relieving that she had forgotten their uncomfortable interaction, his aggravation lingered because she couldn’t see past his wealth and recognize him.
"I need to apologize for not remembering you; was our meeting memorable for you?" Zhou Mian inquired.
Her demeanor remained calm and composed, a stark contrast to her typically loud and boisterous behavior with Xin Yan.
He vaguely replied that they could forget their initial encounter, prompting her to ignore him from then on.
As the night wore on, the banquet drew to a close. Neither the bride nor the groom arrived since Xin Yan was asleep throughout. The past few days’ activities left her utterly exhausted.
The guests took their leave when the banquet came to a close.
’Have you seen Cheng Luiying?’ asked a stranger as she stopped in front of Chen Wenling.
She furrowed her brows while trying to figure out who it was.
"I’m sorry, but I haven’t seen her. The garden was the last place I saw her," Chen Wenling admitted sincerely.
"That wretched girl," muttered the lady, intensifying Chen Wenling’s frown.
"Could you let me know why you’re looking for her?" Chen Wenling mentioned, ’I should be able to tell her after I find her.’
The lady shot a disgusted look at Chen Wenling before walking away.
"I was simply trying to help you, and you react like this?" She exclaimed before leaving.
She couldn’t stand seeking approval from selfish people anymore.
At the same time, Xin Yi kept an eye on the individual whom they were looking for, who rested calmly on a bed.
After she passed out, Xin Yi grabbed her quickly and took her to a vacant room. He called for a doctor who slipped in unnoticed to maintain secrecy.
What exactly have you been dealing with over these five years? He pondered as he observed the girl.
The doctor’s words came back to him: she had only fainted because of malnutrition, and her blood sugar was low.
He cast a worried glance at her. Five years ago, she entrenched herself deep in his heart. The wound from her betrayal hurt him deeply.
Events from history were happening all over again. He trusted he could overlook their past, although catching sight of her ignited his heart afresh.
’Mom, please stay with me! I swear I am going to break up with him. Please don’t leave me! While she slept restlessly, the girl pleaded, ’I’ll follow whatever you say.’
Lost in his own thoughts with closed eyes, Xin Yi abruptly looked up, staring at her with worry. It appeared that she was having a bad dream.
’I will do whatever you ask if you won’t leave me,’ softly pleaded Cheng Luiying in her dream. Tears flowed from her captivating closed eyes while she held on tightly to the bedspread with trembling hands.
Xin Yi didn’t hear her earlier words, but this time he caught everything clearly.
He gazed at her tear-stained face in shock.
’Is she referring to our breakup?’ he mentally questioned, unable to look away from her in astonishment.
Every clue made him think she discussed their breakup.
"Wake up, Luiying! ’Luiying, get up!’ He tapped her with urgency.
He felt so excited that his hands trembled next to him. Did she break up with him because she had no other option?
Cheng Luiying arose, still dazed and groggy. She instinctively touched her cheeks and realized she had cried in her sleep.
Realizing she wasn’t alone, she swiftly turned to her side. Exactly as she guessed before, she hadn’t been alone at all. Next to her, Xin Yi stared as if he was ready to devour her.
Instinctively, she put space between them because she feared him.
Xin Yi observed it and exhaled. The mistake wasn’t on her. For the last two days, he displayed an attitude towards her.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
’Luiying,’ he said tenderly, leaving her completely astounded. She honestly couldn’t recall the last time he referred to her as Luiying. It all seemed like a blur, and she would rather not dive into it for fear it would feel just like a dream.
"Luiying, I only require honesty from you. What led to our breakup five years ago? Why did you end things with me if there was no fiancé?" he questioned.
"We already broke up, so there’s no reason for you to ask," she calmly replied.
Why did he mention it out of the blue? Did she mutter something she wasn’t supposed to during her slumber? She knew that she had a habit of sleep-talking. She just wished she hadn’t spoken out of turn.
"Luiying enough with the lies. You were mumbling in your slumber, and I heard you confess to it all. Why aren’t you being truthful? Why won’t you tell me the truth?" Xin Yi continuously questioned, he just needed the truth, why was it so hard to get the truth from her?
"What do you need me to say? Do you want me to scream it to you? I broke up with you because my mom made me!" Cheng Luiying shouted, her chest rising and falling in frustration.