For her engagement dress, Su Qingran chose a simple white wedding gown with a slim-fitting mermaid design. The fishtail hem fell just above her ankles, and she planned to take some wedding photos after the engagement ceremony.

After zipping up her dress, she felt a surge of nervousness as she prepared to open the dressing room door.

She had been with Jiang Chenlin for over three years, and since they had grown up as childhood playmates, they spent more time teasing each other than having serious moments. With the thought that in just two weeks, she would be marrying the person outside the door and spending the rest of her life with him, her heart fluttered. There was a mix of sweetness, anticipation, and an undeniable sense of anxiety.

But when she pulled open the curtain, the person outside seemed to be lost in thought.

Jiang Chenlin had already changed into a suit, which made him appear tall and upright, with a more composed and serious demeanor than his usual bright, easygoing self.

She couldn’t help but think how handsome he looked.

Su Qingran’s heart raced as she approached him, mischievously tickling his side from behind.

The man in front of the mirror snapped out of his daze. Instinctively, he grabbed Su Qingran’s hand, ready to “teach a lesson” to his playful girlfriend, but then he was momentarily distracted by their reflection in the mirror.

The girl wore a strapless mermaid gown that accentuated her delicate, graceful figure. Gone were her usual loose sportswear or the work clothes covered in dust and plaster. Standing before him, Su Qingran resembled a beautifully sculpted piece of jade, radiating elegance and beauty that struck straight at his heart.

“Hey, why aren’t you laughing?” she asked, her voice puzzled. “Isn’t your ticklish spot working anymore?”

Jiang Chenlin was still holding her hand, his voice a little hoarse. “It is.”

He tore his gaze away from the mirror, turning to face Su Qingran.

Feeling a wave of heat as he looked at her, Jiang Chenlin’s grip on her hand tightened involuntarily.

Su Qingran felt a bit of pain and noticed something strange about Jiang Chenlin’s behavior. “What’s wrong? Are you nervous?” she asked, frowning slightly from the pressure on her hand.

Realizing that he had been squeezing her hand too tightly, Jiang Chenlin quickly released her. The rush of thoughts in his mind receded like a tide, and he returned to his usual self. “Yeah, I’m really nervous.”

Su Qingran laughed. “Seeing you this nervous actually makes me feel a lot better.”

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, a black Bentley was stopped at a red light.

Inside the car, assistant Zhou Yu was reporting on work, but he noticed his boss, Pei Jingyan, had his eyes fixed on something outside, not paying attention.

Zhou Yu paused his report and followed Pei Jingyan’s gaze.

It was already past two in the afternoon, and the slanted sunlight streamed into the bridal shop’s floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a warm glow. Outside, the hustle and bustle of the city continued, while inside the bridal shop, young couples interacted with tenderness, a lively contrast to the cold atmosphere inside the car.

From Monday to Friday, and now even through Saturday, Zhou Yu had been working non-stop. Only now, seeing the lively scene outside, did he begin to relax, softening his stiff expression.

He recalled the personal phone call he had taken for Pei Jingyan a few days ago and asked, “By the way, Mr. Pei, do you need me to cancel the family dinner at the old house this afternoon?”

The traffic light turned green, and the driver slowly pulled the car forward. The two figures outside the bridal shop gradually shrank until they disappeared from view.

Pei Jingyan’s face remained expressionless as he replied indifferently, “No need.”

Zhou Yu was a bit surprised.

After all, this family dinner wasn’t really about Pei Jingyan. It was arranged by his mother to celebrate the engagement of her younger son, Jiang Chenlin, with his future bride.

Pei Jingyan’s parents had married for business reasons, but his father passed away in an accident when he was very young.

Two years later, his mother moved back to the Jiang family estate and remarried, giving birth to Jiang Chenlin. Even though Jiang Chenlin’s father didn’t have much influence, he was at least alive, and Jiang had both parents. This left Pei Jingyan in a somewhat awkward position in the family.

However, even though Jiang Chenlin’s father was subservient and his mother was more emotionally invested in her younger son, Pei Jingyan still retained control of the family’s business. After Pei Jingyan came of age, he inherited the shares that were held in trust for him after his father’s passing.

As for how his mother’s shares would be divided, that would likely be decided once Jiang Chenlin graduated.

The world of the wealthy was full of intrigue, driven by money. Pei Jingyan didn’t involve himself in his parents’ company, instead founding his own venture in a completely different field four years ago, cutting ties with those past entanglements.

As a result, in recent years, he rarely visited the Jiang or Pei families, except on major holidays.

Thinking back to the scene in the bridal shop, Zhou Yu couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for his boss. It wasn’t just that his mother prioritized her younger son, even when it came to something as important as marriage, leaving Pei Jingyan to fend for himself.

Just as Zhou Yu was about to suggest that he could help find a potential bride for Pei Jingyan, his boss interrupted his thoughts with a calm question, “What was the third demand from Hengxing Group again?”

Zhou Yu quickly gathered his wandering thoughts and refocused on his work.

The Bentley merged into the flow of traffic.

Meanwhile, inside the bridal shop, Su Qingran twirled around in front of the mirror, clearly pleased with herself. Her eyes sparkled as she said, “Chenlin, I just got to know a photographer who’s great at outdoor shoots. She’s currently abroad, but she said she’ll be back in a few days, right in time for our engagement. So I booked her for a shoot the day after the engagement party.”

Jiang Chenlin met Su Qingran’s gaze, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “The day after the engagement party?”

“What, are you in a hurry to take the pictures?” Su Qingran teased with a smile. “I can have her come straight to us after she lands. She should be able to make it to the engagement, and she can take plenty of candid shots!”

Jiang Chenlin nodded, pausing for a moment before replying softly, “Okay.”