“Wei Wei, come out! You won’t believe who I ran into!”
Unfortunately, Hao Yi called for me.
Bracing myself, I forced a smile and stepped out of the dressing room. “Long time no see,” I said to her.
“Wei Wei! Oh my gosh, so you and Hao Yi got together after graduation? Wow, you look amazing in that sleeveless gown!” Gao Zi Yuan twirled me around with excitement, her voice bright and cheerful. “Congratulations! When’s the wedding?”
“We’re just comparing prices for now—we haven’t set a date yet.” I smiled awkwardly. “You’ll probably tie the knot before me. So, what does your fiancé do for work?”
“You’ve got a terrible memory! She’s been with her boyfriend for ages—the one in finance. What’s his name again? I can’t seem to remember...” Hao Yi, who hadn’t been part of any business or social circles in college, had met Gao Zi Yuan through a shared course. Since our social circles had no overlap, it was natural for him not to remember Chu Ke Huan’s name.
“Chu Ke Huan,” Gao Zi Yuan replied with a shy smile. “Wei Wei, you probably know him too, right?”
“Oh! Right, Chu Ke Huan! You two have been together forever—getting married, huh? Congratulations!” My voice came out sharp and unnatural, so strange even I barely recognized it.
“How could you forget someone as well-known as Chu Ke Huan?” Hao Yi teased me tenderly, completely unaware of the hypocrisy swirling within his fiancée.
“Well, you know how work makes you dull...” I didn’t need a mirror to know that my forced smile was hideous. Yet I pushed myself to continue the act, determined to see it through.
I was terrified—terrified that if Gao Zi Yuan realized I remembered Chu Ke Huan, she’d suspect some connection between us; terrified that if Hao Yi noticed I recognized the name, I’d be labeled unfaithful. I knew these fears were irrational and unfounded, but I couldn’t stop them. Every awkward reaction stemmed from the simple fact that I had a guilty conscience.
The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on me—I was wearing a white wedding gown, the ultimate symbol of purity, yet beneath it lay a soul tainted with guilt. It was as though a vile, unfamiliar version of myself had crawled up from hell.
“Where’s your fiancé? Didn’t he come with you?” Hao Yi continued the small talk, oblivious to my growing unease.
“He’s busy with work. Besides, we’re practically like an old married couple already—we live together, so there’s no need to be attached at the hip,” Gao Zi Yuan replied with complete confidence in Chu Ke Huan.
“True.” I responded absentmindedly, thinking that if I weren’t draped in a wedding dress, I’d grab Hao Yi’s hand and bolt out of there. Compared to the things Chu Ke Huan had said recently, Gao Zi Yuan’s unwavering trust felt like a cruel joke, absurd enough to make me want to flee.
“By the way, where are you working now? Taking the day off today?” Hao Yi kept the conversation going, which only made me more anxious. I silently prayed for Mandy to return and rescue me.
“Oh, it’s a long story...” A fleeting, awkward expression crossed Gao Zi Yuan’s face before she abruptly prepared to leave. “I should head home now! I just came to confirm the sizing for my dress. We’re taking our wedding photos the day after tomorrow. Congratulations again! Bye!”
“Bye.” Unexpectedly, it was Gao Zi Yuan who saved me. I breathed a sigh of relief as she walked away.
“What a coincidence! I didn’t expect them to be getting married too,” Hao Yi remarked. “I envy them—they’ve been together so long and still seem so happy.”
“Who knows?” I snapped, my suppressed frustration spilling out. “You don’t even know them well—how can you say their relationship is perfect?”
“You know them even less! You couldn’t even remember that Chu Ke Huan is her boyfriend...” Hao Yi teased back lightly. “It’s rare for you to forget a classmate.”
“Hao Yi, I think I want to check out the bridal shop across the street...” I needed to escape, to find another bridal shop, another beginning. Or maybe getting completely drunk tonight would be even better.
But Hao Yi wasn’t ready to let it go. “By the way, why was Gao Zi Yuan in casual clothes? I heard she quit her civil servant job...”
“I don’t. Want. To. Hear. It. Anymore!” I shouted, raising my voice sharply, unable to contain my rejection of the topic any longer.
Both Hao Yi and I were startled by my outburst. As I scrambled to collect myself and return to normal, I heard a faint vibration coming from my purse.
I pulled out my phone and sucked in a sharp breath.
Why was I not surprised that the message was from Chu Ke Huan?
0 Comments