May, Lanqiao City

The clouds hung low, and the weather was stiflingly hot. A typhoon had just passed, leaving the air heavy with damp mist, carried into the room by a gentle breeze through the window.

The clock ticked, slowly pointing to eight o’clock sharp.

Right on cue, a soft sound came from outside the door. After receiving Ruan Zhiyin’s reply, Kang Yu, dressed in a crisp professional suit, walked into the presidential suite of the hotel.

She worked at Merbeil, the most reputable wedding planning company in the industry, specializing in high-end clientele. Naturally, their services were meticulous and considerate, well worth the million-yuan fee.

Two months earlier, Merbeil had accepted a commission for a grand wedding. After internal competition, Kang Yu had stood out and officially secured the role of planner for this high-profile event.

The presidential suite at the top of Simo Hotel carried a simple yet elegant style, its understated luxury hidden in every detail. Even the casually placed water glasses on the coffee table were custom-made by Queen-W.

Upon entering the room, Kang Yu saw the bride, Ruan Zhiyin, standing silently by the window.

She put on a polite smile and asked considerately, “Miss Ruan, it’s still early. Would you like to rest a little first?”

At her voice, Ruan Zhiyin turned around. Her bright phoenix eyes were clear and moving, luminous like flowing water. With chestnut hair, red lips, delicate features on a palm-sized oval face, graceful shoulders and neck like a swan, and skin as fair as jade and snow, her beauty was striking yet untainted by worldliness.

Even wearing only a loose robe, she was breathtaking enough to make Kang Yu, as a fellow woman, nearly unable to look away.

The beauty’s gaze lingered on the wall clock that kept ticking forward. Then she smiled faintly and asked in a soft voice, “Still early?”

Her tone was low, as if speaking to Kang Yu, yet also as if murmuring to herself, leaving Kang Yu a little confused.

After all, it was just past 8:00 a.m., and according to the wedding schedule, there were still two hours before CEO Qin was expected to arrive.

As the head planner, Kang Yu naturally knew something about both bride and groom.

The Qin family was among the most prestigious names, and the groom, Qin Jue, was the current head of the Qin Group.

This renowned CEO Qin was the very image of a favored son of heaven. He was born with a silver spoon and educated in elite schools. He founded a startup that went public while studying abroad, and later inherited the family business to complete the largest medical merger in the industry.

Yet what people gossiped about most was not his accomplishments, but a scandal.

Rumor has it that this elegant CEO Qin was romantically entangled with Lin Jingfei, a rising actress in the entertainment industry. Kang Yu had been curious herself.

But after spending time around the bride and groom, she felt that Qin Jue’s care for his fiancée was far from an act.

Ruan Zhiyin’s beauty and demeanor were extraordinary, not in the least inferior to Lin Jingfei’s much-publicized allure.

It was said that years ago, she had entered A University with the second-highest marks in liberal arts for the entire city of Lanqiao, later pursuing further studies at Lawton Business School abroad— a true academic prodigy.

This young lady of a distinguished family not only had an impeccable résumé but was also approachable and unpretentious. After two months of working together, Kang Yu had become a loyal admirer of Ruan Zhiyin.

Lin Jingfei, though backed by a powerful background with all her scandals neatly erased, was still rumored among screenwriters to be arrogant on set.

Kang Yu thought, unless Qin Jue had gone blind, why would he abandon a fairy-like fiancée for someone like Lin Jingfei, who only marketed her looks?

Most likely, the scandal was nothing but baseless gossip, the product of idle speculation online.

Ruan Zhiyin, unaware of Kang Yu’s musings, lowered her gaze at her phone, shut the window, and moved to sit on the sofa.

“Kang Yu, I remember you’re from Beiyao. Have you ever calculated how long it takes to get here from Beiyao?”

“By plane, less than two hours. Mmm…… but today’s an exception. I have a friend who planned to come here, but I just saw on his Moments that many flights from Beiyao were canceled.”

Lanqiao and Beiyao were both coastal cities, often troubled by typhoons in this season, so flights were sometimes delayed by weather.

Just as Kang Yu finished speaking, two of her colleagues pushed in a clothing rack draped with the wedding dress.

Ruan Zhiyin leaned lazily against the sofa, nodding casually without further comment.

……

The suite had its own dressing room, where Ruan Zhiyin went to change.

The wedding dress was specially tailored from her friend Gu Linlang’s own brand.

Layers of white gauze cascaded down, embedded with hundreds of pearls and diamonds that shimmered faintly. The off-shoulder design accentuated Ruan Zhiyin’s delicate collarbones and graceful figure.

It had to be said that the dress was a perfect match for Ruan Zhiyin. Everyone exclaimed at how stunning she looked.

At that moment, Zhao He, an assistant from the wedding team, walked over to help arrange the hem.

Although the Ruan family was not as influential as the Qin family in recent years, they were still one of Lanqiao’s notable families. More importantly, Ruan Zhiyin was about to marry into the Qin family and become Mrs. Qin.

Zhao He, eager to flatter, fussed over the dress while making small talk.

“Miss Ruan, I’ve worked with many clients, but this is my first time seeing such a handsome groom as CEO Qin. He said you’ve known each other since you were sixteen. I’d say, first love is always the purest.”

Zhao He’s tone was teasing and ingratiating, but Ruan Zhiyin merely drifted into thought. Finally, she curved her lips politely without responding.

The silence left Zhao He a little awkward, but fortunately, Ruan Zhiyin’s phone rang, giving her a chance to change the subject. With a bright smile, she teased, “CEO Qin is so thoughtful, calling even now.”

Seeing Ruan Zhiyin frown slightly, Kang Yu assumed she disliked Zhao He’s manner and quickly interjected, “Alright, don’t bother Miss Ruan. Let’s go over the wedding procedures again.”

As the chief planner, Kang Yu’s words carried authority. Though Zhao He had connections, she dared not openly defy her and could only bite her lip in resentment.

They soon left, and the room fell quiet.

Ruan Zhiyin walked to the window and answered Qin Jue’s call.

His voice was calm and gentle, “Zhiyin, I’m sorry. My flight was canceled. I can’t make it back in time.”

Ruan Zhiyin pressed her fingers against her brow, as if she had already expected this. Her tone was even, “Mm, I know.”

Her voice was as soft as ever, enough to ease Qin Jue’s worry on the other end.

Then his tone grew steady, his words firm, like he was handling another merger, “There’s still time. The wedding can be moved to tomorrow. I’ve already called Zhai Xu. He’ll inform the guests shortly, so don’t worry.”

Don’t worry?

Hearing his words, Ruan Zhiyin almost laughed.

Just yesterday, Qin Jue had said he was leaving for Beiyao on urgent business. At the time, too, he had spoken in this same calm voice, assuring her not to worry and that he would return in time for the wedding.

“Ah Jue, I know Lin Jingfei was admitted to the hospital last night. Are you at the hospital now?”

Qin Jue clearly had not expected her to know the real reason for his trip to Beiyao. There was silence for a moment.

Ruan Zhiyin’s gaze dimmed. There was a hint of self-mockery in her eyes as she spoke with certainty, “Then you must be at Lin Jingfei’s apartment.”

After a pause, he said quietly, “I’m sorry, Zhiyin. I didn’t tell you yesterday because I didn’t want you to misunderstand.”

“Didn’t want me to misunderstand? But look, you knew I might misunderstand, and you still went.”

Her tone betrayed no emotion, yet carried a subtle irony.

Qin Jue’s voice grew colder, “Zhiyin, I know you’re prejudiced against Jingfei, but she’s your cousin. She’s hurt. Neither of us can just ignore it.”

His obvious defense of Lin Jingfei made Ruan Zhiyin’s fingers tighten slightly.

She exhaled slowly, her eyes lowered. “Yes, Lin Jingfei is my cousin.”

And Qin Jue’s ex-girlfriend, his first love.

The Ruan and Qin families had long been close. When Lin Jingfei moved to the Ruan family at six years old with her mother, she and Qin Jue had been true childhood sweethearts.

Earlier, when Zhao He had tried to tease her, Ruan Zhiyin had not responded, because she knew she wasn’t his first love.

“How is she now?”

The two of them had quarreled countless times over Lin Jingfei. Qin Jue clearly didn’t want to argue again, replying simply, “She’s already discharged. Nothing serious.”

“Is that so?” Though she had already expected as much, Ruan Zhiyin still felt a slight relief.

Her grandfather’s health had been fragile these past two years. If Lin Jingfei had pretended too far, he might not have been able to withstand the shock.

But when Ruan Zhiyin had received those photos earlier, she had already known that Lin Jingfei was likely never truly in danger.

Qin Jue softened his tone, “Zhiyin, coming to Beiyao before the wedding was my mistake. But right now, we need to focus on arranging tomorrow’s wedding properly, alright?”

Because Lin Jingfei was ‘injured’, he had broken his promise and now wanted to postpone the wedding.

At that moment, Ruan Zhiyin saw clearly. Ever since Qin Jue had proposed, the weight of this marriage had never been the same in their hearts.

Her face remained calm as she gazed silently out the window.

The city was noisy and prosperous, skyscrapers towering in the distance.

Perhaps the air-conditioning was too cold. Standing before the floor-to-ceiling window with her arms folded, she looked down at the surging traffic, yet felt no sense of reality.

It was as if she had gone back to when she was sixteen.

After a long while, she spoke again, “Ah Jue, do you remember, when I first returned to the Ruan family, I lost the jade Buddha Director Chen gave me? I searched everywhere but couldn’t find it, and cried alone in the attic. Later, you discovered me there and, without telling anyone, secretly helped me find it.”

Her voice was soft and distant, pulling Qin Jue into memory. His heart softened, and he chuckled. “At the time, I thought, how could you cry so hard just for losing something? But seeing you cry so seriously, I had no choice but to help you find it.”

Ruan Zhiyin smiled faintly.

She knew very well that Qin Jue had never found the jade Buddha. His upbringing simply would not allow him to watch a girl cry without comfort, so he had bought another one that looked the same and given it to her.

“Why bring that up all of a sudden?” Qin Jue asked.

“I just suddenly realized…… losing that jade Buddha wasn’t worth crying over.”

After those words, much of the heaviness in her heart eased.

Back then, she had cried not only for the jade Buddha but also because of the countless gazes cast on her as she returned to the Ruan family and all the pent-up emotions pressing down on her.

Later, when she was admitted to A University and then studied abroad, she grew used to praise and admiration. Even when the jade Buddha Qin Jue had given her disappeared, she had barely felt anything.

Time eventually healed everything. Nothing was unchangeable. So all these years, what had she really been holding onto?

It was like a thought she had pondered for far too long, and only now did she make a decision.

“Ah Jue, let’s end our wedding here.

Let’s break up.”