Just thinking about the look of disappointment on Ning Anmiao's face, Zhou Si inexplicably felt a bit deflated, as if revenge had become extremely boring.
He lowered his head, thought for a few seconds, and suddenly asked, "When is Ning Anmiao and that guy... getting married?"
Lin Chuluo gave him a strange look.
He always called the other guy "that guy", making it seem as if he didn't know Lu Yan.
Lin Chuluo said, "It's on March 1st next year. Why do you ask?"
Zhou Si felt for the cigarettes in his pocket, then reached for his phone instead. "I'm going to call her and tell her to remember to send me an invitation in advance."
He was naturally a free - spirited person. He had just been trying to dispel Old Master Lin's suspicion recently. Now, his flamboyant appearance was the real Zhou Si.
He didn't care that it was late at night and called without hesitation.
The call was quickly answered.
"Hey, Ning Anmiao." Zhou Si's voice was full of playfulness. "Are you asleep? I want to have a chat with you..."
"She's busy." Lu Yan's cold voice came through the phone. "I'm hanging up."
"Damn it!" Zhou Si's face changed. "Lu Yan! Do you understand the concept of privacy? How can you just answer someone else's phone call?"
"My wife is sleeping. Do you have something to say?" Lu Yan's voice was cold and deep. "Calling a married woman late at night. Do you know any manners?"
Zhou Si was immediately at a loss for words. "..."
He was just about to ask Lu Yan to send him an invitation when the other party hung up the phone without hesitation.
"… Such a jerk." Zhou Si put away his phone irritably, drained the wine in his glass in one gulp, then pushed Lin Chuluo. "Alright, I'm so pissed off. Let's just go home."
After leaving the bar, Zhou Si took a taxi back to his apartment.
Lin Chuluo watched his car leave. While waiting for his assistant to pick him up, he took out his phone and looked at the string of numbers in the text message.
It was the phone number his assistant had found before, the current number of Jiang Xixi.
There was a broad road outside the bar. It was already very late. There were few people passing by. It was empty, and from time to time, a cold wind blew by.
The wind in late autumn was already very cold. It felt like a knife on his face, a bit painful.
Lin Chuluo lowered his head and finally closed his eyes.
Riding on the impulse after getting drunk, he still dialed the number.
The phone rang for quite a while. Just when Lin Chuluo thought no one would answer, the call was suddenly connected.
"Hello, who is this?" Jiang Xixi's voice came through and fell into Lin Chuluo's ears.
That familiar female voice made all the drunkenness in him disappear instantly. He opened his mouth to say something, but was afraid that once she heard his voice, she would hang up immediately.
He couldn't bear it.
He just held the phone and stood silently on the road, listening.
The breathing sound on the other end was very even, and there was no more words. It seemed that she had already guessed who the caller was.
After a long time, Jiang Xixi slowly said two words.
"Goodbye."
For Lin Chuluo, all her love and hatred had already dissipated, leaving only unfamiliarity and estrangement.
...
Just as she put down the phone, Jiang Xixi's mother pushed the door open and came in, holding a glass of milk in her hand, with worry in her eyes. "Xixi, who were you talking to on the phone?"
Jiang Xixi turned her head. Her face was still a bit sickly pale, but her complexion was obviously better than before. "The caller dialed the wrong number."
Since Jiang Zhou brought Jiang Xixi back, the Jiang family had only then known how much suffering their daughter had endured during those days. Coupled with the discovery that she suffered from prenatal depression, they felt even more heart - broken.
Jiang Xixi seemed to have changed into a different person. She was no longer as lively and outgoing as before. Instead, she was often silent and hardly said a word all day long.
The Jiang couple was worried seeing this. They hated the Lin family even more.
Fortunately, the Lin family was finally punished in the end, which gave them some comfort. They postponed the divorce matter for a while. They planned to meet Lin Chuluo again after Jiang Xixi's mental state got better.
Jiang Xixi took the milk from her mother, drank it in small sips, then obediently got into bed and pulled the quilt over herself.
Looking at her daughter who had changed so much, Jiang's mother felt indescribably sad. She sat down on the edge of the bed and touched her forehead.
"Xixi, how do you feel recently? Do you feel better?"
"Yeah, I'm much better, Mom." Jiang Xixi sat on the bed, looked up at her mother and forced a smile, but there was a bit of strain in this smile.
She had really changed. She even started to hide things from her own parents when talking to them.
Jiang's mother pretended not to notice and smiled slightly. "Really? That's good. Miaomiao sent an invitation during the day. Her wedding is next March. She invited you."
Hearing this, Jiang Xixi was stunned.
Ning Anmiao invited her too?
She lowered her head, pinched her fingers, feeling a bit flattered. "Mom, did Miaomiao really invite me?"
"Yes. The invitation is still in the living room. I'll go get it for you now."
"No need." Jiang Xixi grabbed her mother's sleeve, still a bit surprised. "Why did she invite me?"
Jiang's mother gave her a look and said softly, "What do you mean why? You two have been good friends since childhood. Have you forgotten?"
Jiang Xixi tightened her fist under the quilt. Her heart suddenly felt sour, as if it was being filled with dampness little by little.
She had done so many things wrong to Ning Anmiao. How could she still be considered a good friend?
Jiang Xixi bit her lip, held back the tears that were about to pour out several times, but her throat started to get hoarse.
"Mom, I'm a bit sleepy."
Jiang's mother nodded and helped her tuck in the quilt. "It's going to get colder soon. Don't kick the quilt at night."
When she went out, Jiang's mother also turned off the light for her.
The bedroom was completely dark. Jiang Xixi stared at the ceiling with her eyes open. Tears slowly slid from the corners of her eyes and fell into the pillow.
She had done so many stupid things, and now all those stupid things had given her retribution.
But Ning Anmiao was still willing to recognize her as a friend.
She was flattered and extremely touched.
But she didn't think she was qualified to attend Ning Anmiao's wedding, nor was she qualified to be called a "friend" by her anymore.
——
The next day, Ning Anmiao got up early. She was in high spirits as she washed up, put on makeup, then changed her clothes in the bedroom and sat down at the dining table happily.
Taking this opportunity, Lu Yan prepared breakfast.
"Looking forward to it?" Lu Yan walked over, pushed the hot sandwich with eggs and ham in front of Ning Anmiao, and took off his apron.
Ning Anmiao nodded. "Didn't we make an appointment with the top perfumer? We can't keep the person waiting too long."
She had always been very punctual.
Lu Yan crossed his arms in front of his chest and ate his breakfast slowly. "Even if it's the top one, he's still my employee. He should wait if he has to."