Chapter 4, The Joy of Reunion After Parting

"Well, I want to eat a bit of everything, but I can only eat so much each time! I prefer to eat smaller meals more frequently," Hui'an said shyly, feeling a bit embarrassed as she looked at the dishes on the table that remained untouched.

"Alright, let's sit for a while longer, and then we will go eat something." Zhang Linshan agreed with a smile

Five people stood up. Xu Yizhong paid the bill. Zhang Linshan also called him. Xu Yizhong initially thought he would not attend since it was his wife's class reunion. However, upon hearing that it was a wedding celebration, and considering that he would have to interact with Zhang Linshan, who works at the planning bureau, he smiled and agreed.

Yao Yu's eyes caught a glimpse of the exquisitely adorned jade-colored nails and delicate fingers of Hui An, along with the diamond ring, and she exclaimed: "It truly is different now"

The road of enemies is narrow; Xu Yizhong happened to be sitting at a table right behind her, seemingly waiting for someone as well. Yao Yu coldly stared at Xu Yizhong, who glanced up at her and then directly ignored her while drinking water.

Yao Yu was startled, thinking there was something on the bed that she almost sat down on and crushed. Little did she know, Hui An took out a small pillow towel and carefully spread it on the bed: "Sit down, but your bottom must not go beyond the area of this towel!"

Hui An gently pulled Yao Yu: "Lin Shan and I didn't hold it in City A, we held it in his hometown. So ... ... "

Yao Yu went directly to Liangmu Yuan after work. Hui An and Qian Chen had not yet arrived, so she ordered a mocha and sat down to wait for them. This place is still the same, it hasn't changed at all over the years

The sky had not yet darkened, and Yao Yu clearly saw that the arrangement, which appeared warm under the night lights, now revealed a sense of desolation. In the past, this place felt very romantic. Now, there was not the slightest feeling.

Since then, Hui'an privately referred to Yao Yu as her little husband. Qian Chen pouted and insisted on distinguishing their sizes, which made Yao Yu anxious. He then said that having a wife also requires a lover, and that lover could only be Qian Chen. Only then did Qian Chen feel pleased and proudly told Hui'an that generally speaking, husbands tend to love their lovers more.

Hui An chuckled and said: "Apart from having different living habits from you, I also have a good heart!"

Hui An smiled and said, "Yes, I ordered all my favorite dishes. Knowing that you are making some extra money, I won't be polite with you."

As he stepped out of Liangmu Garden, Xiao Yang arrived just in time. Dressed in a T-shirt and jeans, a faint smile adorned his handsome face. He walked over, took Qian Chen's hand, and smiled at Hui An, saying, "Long time no see, Chen Hui An"

the beginning of this year

Qian Chen laughed heartily: "As long as you can eat, I am not afraid of you eating!"

As a result, more than twenty dishes were served. Hui'an only took a chopstick's worth from each dish, ate it while it was hot, and then declared that she was full. Qianchen, feeling both amused and exasperated, stared at the dishes and asked Hui'an: "Is this really what you said you liked to eat? Is this how you consider a good meal?"

Qianchen and Yao Yu exchanged a glance and said in unison: "No way! Now that we know, we must make up for it! There's no time like the present, let's do it tonight, after all, we haven't had dinner."

At this moment, Yao Yu heard Hui An calling her "little husband" and couldn't help but smile at the amusing memories of the three of them playfully teasing each other at school. She didn't expect that Hui An would still introduce her so confidently like this. When her eyes caught sight of Xu Yi, who was smirking mischievously, she shot him a cold glance. Her thoughts then shifted back to Zhang Linshan, speculating that being called so affectionately by Hui An meant that he must be very close to her; could he be her boyfriend?

Five people sat down at two tables. Yao Yu and Qian Chen smiled mischievously as they observed Hui An. She was wearing a pink and white dress, with a light blush on her cheeks, exuding a delicate charm that seemed to emanate from her very bones. Yao Yu exchanged a knowing glance with Qian Chen, and the two of them shared a wicked smile, indicating that Hui An had dressed up especially for today's date.

One should be kind-hearted; I am content with embracing both sides, for I only have two hands! Yao Yu said this while pulling Hui An to join Qian Chen.

Recalling the past, Hui'an also chuckled. She turned to Zhang Linshan and asked, "Linshan, they want us to treat them again."

Xu Yizhong thought irritably, I don't want to hear it either. He took out his phone and called Zhang Linshan: "Shanzi, where are you?"

Hui Anqi asked: "Where is that branch in your house?"

Hui An glanced back at Zhang Linshan, seeing him engaged in lively conversation with Xu Yizhong. She felt reassured and lowered her voice, saying: "He is a very nice person and knows how to take care of others"

Tong Sicheng does not like to drink coffee. In his words, drinking coffee is equivalent to taking medicine; it is much more satisfying to simply down two bottles of mineral water. He brought Yao Yu here because he believes that girls enjoy this kind of atmosphere, merely to cater to Yao Yu's mindset. Every time they come, he orders coffee for Yao Yu to drink alone, while he only has lemon water.

Qianchen also looked at the ring without saying a word

Yao Yu glanced at them and walked straight up to Xu Yizhong: "Mr. Xu, do you mind if I share your car?"

Hui An introduced Zhang Linshan: "Qianchen's boyfriend, who used to be our classmate in the Computer Science Department, Xiao Yang." She also introduced Xu Yizhong, and the three men shook hands and exchanged pleasantries

"Hui'an, it's been two years since graduation, why haven't we been in touch all this time?" Qiansha couldn't help but ask.

Hui An said: "Tong Sicheng has only been sent abroad for two years on a government scholarship. If a couple were to separate for two years, who knows how high the divorce rate would be!" In summary, she felt particularly astonished

When did you get married

Yao Yu originally intended for Qian Chen to meet Tong Si Cheng, but upon hearing Xiao Yang's words, she instantly lost interest in watching the movie. However, since the tickets had already been purchased, she had no choice but to let Xiao Yang benefit from it.

Yao Yu firmly believed in this reason, and Tong Si Cheng left in a hurry. After saying goodbye, the person vanished, leaving no trace, and the two could only accept this explanation. At that time, Qian Chen and Hui An were still worried that Yao Yu might be in a bad state of mind, so they kept a close watch on her. Unexpectedly, Yao Yu was eating well, sleeping well, and having fun, appearing as if nothing was wrong.

The two individuals were filled with curiosity about Hui'an's marriage. All discussions were directed towards Hui'an.

Xu Yi felt a surge of anger inside, secretly cursing Zhang Linshan for choosing this particular place, Liangmu Yuan, instead of somewhere else. Why not invite him to a tea house instead! He raised his head and smiled, saying: "There are no coincidences in life, it is fate!" Yao Yu shot him a glare, pulled Qian Chen to sit down, and deliberately spoke in a tone loud enough for Xu Yi to hear: "It’s not easy for the three of us to gather, and now he can eavesdrop on our conversation!"

Qian Chen approached Xiao Yang to inquire about their situation, and this was the reason behind it. She was quite puzzled and felt that Tong Sicheng had lost his mind. She said, "What’s the big deal about going abroad? Communication is so advanced now, and you two have such a good relationship. Tong Sicheng is not someone who won’t return to the country. Even if he doesn’t come back, can’t you go out as well?"

Her fingers unconsciously traced patterns on the deep green tablecloth. In the future, will she still have such emotions? Will she still share endless conversations with another man, feeling a sense of reluctance? ... Will she still ...? ... The deep affection was evident in her eyes. A tiny voice inside her told her, it is gone, never to return.

Xu Yizhong chuckled and changed the subject: "I never expected, Shan Zi, that you actually married such a beautiful wife. Yes, it's her. She came that day too, right? There were so many people at the banquet that I didn't get a good look."

Zhang Linshan laughed heartily on the phone: "It's right behind you!"

Her relationship with Tong Sicheng began before her involvement with Qian Chen and Xiao Yang. It was because of her that Xiao Yang came to know Qian Chen. After she started dating Tong Sicheng, she often visited his department, and since Xiao Yang was also in the Computer Science department, he naturally got acquainted with her. One time, when Tong Sicheng was unexpectedly called into the laboratory by a professor and could not make it to their appointment, he asked Xiao Yang to inform her. Yao Yu and Qian Chen waited at the entrance of the cinema, anxiously looking around, while Xiao Yang observed them with a smile for quite some time before walking over and saying: "Yao Yu, Tong Sicheng cannot come; I was sent to fill in for him."

The slender figure illuminated by the streetlight was one of the most profound images that Yao Yu had of Tong Sicheng, bringing her joy and happiness, as well as a sense of security. At that time, Yao Yu never doubted that if she turned back once, she would not see Tong Sicheng.

Qian Chen remained silent, rolling up his sleeves and preparing to feast heartily. After returning, he suffered from two days of stomach issues and angrily declared: "Chen Huian, I will never invite you to eat hot pot again; if we eat, it will be at a buffet!"

Indeed, I left early that day. Today you invited me, her classmate invited her, and Hui'an also wants to introduce her classmate to me, so I decided to set the location here. We will sit down and discuss matters while waiting for them to gather!

He is at the Urban Planning Office, and I am at the Economic Commission, introduced by colleagues from our respective units. Hui'an answers every question with a gentle and refined smile on his face

A couple of days after the party, Qian Chen called Yao Yu: "Xiao Yu, I have contacted Hui An. Let's meet at Liang Mu Yuan next to the South Gate of C University after work."

Hui An took Zhang Linshan's hand and pulled him forward, getting closer. Hui An smiled at Xu Yizhong and said, "Mr. Xu!" Before Xu Yizhong could respond, she beamed at Zhang Linshan and said, "Linshan, this is my university classmate, Tao Qianchen, and Yao Yu! Linshan, this is my little husband!"

Yao Yu's lips curled slightly, forming a faintly bitter smile. She took a sip of coffee, her brow furrowing slightly; the barista's skills were off today. It had a hint of sourness, unlike the usual flavor of mocha.

Hui'an is a person with a chronic good temper, who places great importance on the quality of life and has a slight tendency towards cleanliness. Qianchen remembers that when they lived together, Hui'an used her first paycheck from her job to treat Qianchen to hot pot. Qianchen naturally let Hui'an order the dishes. Hui'an was not modest at all and quickly ordered a large number of items.

"Great! I haven't seen Xiao Yang in a long time," Yao Yu smiled as she understood the meaning in Hui An's eyes, feeling very grateful for Hui An's thoughtfulness

But Hui'an, let's set aside everything else; why didn't you contact us about such a significant matter as your marriage? If you truly wanted to find someone, would it have been that difficult?

Yao Yu laughed so hard that she almost fell over upon hearing this. She found Hui An to be very adorable, and the three of them grew even closer.

As Xu Yizhong turned around, he saw Zhang Lingshan approaching him with a beautiful young girl who had long, flowing hair. He momentarily lost his train of thought and wondered to himself, why is he bringing a woman along when we need to discuss matters?

Just as he was thinking, the beautiful girl beside Zhang Linshan let out a sharp scream: "Qianchen, Xiaoyu!"

Ah? Qianchen and Yao Yu were both taken aback. Hui An got married? It was as if she had thrown a bomb upon their first meeting, leaving both of them dizzy. After a moment of shock, they began to scrutinize Zhang Linshan carefully. He was in his early thirties, with the build of a Northerner, thick eyebrows and big eyes, resembling the rugged man Xiao Feng from "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils"! They exchanged glances, both thinking the same thing: how could Hui An have gotten married without a word?

After taking a sip of water, Yao Yu noticed that Qian Chen was already on the phone with Xiao Yang, and quietly asked Hui An: "How much older is he than you? Is he good to you?"

Qianchen curiously asked Huian: "You have such a good appetite? Just order what you want to eat, don't mind me!"

I just want you to meet him; if he is not good, then urge him to change.

No one can escape their own sorrow. Once a rift occurs between two people, no matter how one tries to remedy it, the original state cannot be restored

Yao Yu and Qian Chen turned their heads to take a look, and were also taken aback

Zhang Linshan and Xu Yizhong finished their discussion and turned around with a smile: "Hui'an, call your classmates, let's go eat something, aren't we all hungry?"

It was at that time that I fell in love with coffee, Yaoyu slowly recalled. Was it the love for coffee as a beverage or the longing for Tong Sicheng? She could not remember. Ever since she developed the habit of drinking coffee, the impression of Tong Sicheng had almost simultaneously taken root. Yaoyu let out a soft sigh. Why was there still nostalgia? A sense of sadness rippled through her heart.

Of course! Even if Xu Yizhong is unwilling, he does not show the slightest hint on his face. Today, Yao Yu has been relatively sensible and did not crowd onto Zhang Linshan's car; otherwise, I would have also suggested that Tao Qianchen and his boyfriend sit in my car.

"Let's have hot pot!" Qian Chen added with a laugh.

Yao Yu then sat carefully, shifting her body slightly, when Hui An's eyes, sharp as knives, shot over. Yao Yu could no longer bear it and jumped up: "Hui An, I really don't understand why Qian Chen and I have made a friend like you!"

"Qianchen, you should call Xiaoyang!" Hui'an reminded, and after she finished speaking, she glanced at Yao Yu, her eyes reflecting a sense of guilt for not having considered things thoroughly.

Zhang Linshan affectionately patted Hui'an; she is usually very quiet, so to be able to scream in such a public setting indicates her genuine excitement. He glanced at Qianchen and Yao Yu, greeting them politely: "Hello!"

Yao Yu naturally stood up and looked towards the door. Her eyes brightened instantly as she saw Qian Chen, along with another person who had just been added to the blacklist.

Hui An revealed a happy smile on her face and softly said: "Ten years older, he treats me very well. I have now realized that finding someone older than myself not only means they will take care of you, but they will also be accommodating, which feels quite nice"

If it weren't for Xiaoyu spotting you at the party, I wouldn't have known where to find you

After finishing a movie, Xiao Yang began to pursue Qian Chen. In Yao Yu's eyes, Xiao Yang is intelligent, sweet-tongued, articulate, loyal to friends, and very warm-hearted, but she always feels he is somewhat superficial. What she likes is the kind of cultured man like Tong Si Cheng.

Yao Yu never expected that Qian Chen would fall in love with Xiao Yang, and their entanglement has lasted for six years until now. On the other hand, Tong Sicheng and she have been separated for three years, which, in the words of Qian Chen and Hui An at that time, can be described as yet another tragedy that shatters the fairy tale of love, all because of the clichéd reason that Tong Sicheng is going abroad.

How did you get to know each other

The two of them completely failed to understand the situation, only responding with a smile. Hui'an had already walked over and grabbed Qianchen, saying: "He is my husband! His name is Zhang Linshan"

Yao Yu's smile was one of mockery: "Tsk tsk, it's not because I have taken a liking to you, this beauty. In the Chinese department, there are three flowers, and I have plucked two of them, that should be enough!"

Xu Yizhong was taken aback, let out a scoff, coughed twice, and turned his face away

She has visited Liangmu Yuan several times, always brought by Tong Sicheng. In the early stages of their romance, the two would chatter endlessly here about trivial matters. A small cup of coffee could last for several hours; when there was nothing to say, they would gaze at each other, seemingly unable to get enough, their eyes filled with abundant joy that they could not hide.

Qianchen began to doubt whether they had broken up. By the time she and Huian finally believed it, they both felt that Yao Yu was frighteningly calm. Their exact words were: "Xiaoyu, you are not Xiaoyu; you are the few drops of water spilled from Guanyin's pure vase, extinguishing an entire Flame Mountain in the blink of an eye"

"White moonlight, in a certain place in my heart. So bright, yet so cold..." The phone suddenly rang, and Yao Yu was taken aback for a moment before answering, "Where are you? I'm on my way!" The voice of Qian Chen came through.

One time, Yao Yu went to play at Qian Chen's house. Hui An's bed was the lower bunk. Yao Yu naturally intended to sit down. Hearing Hui An urgently call out, "Wait, Xiao Yu! Don't sit!"

Qian Chen walked over with a smile. As she got closer, she noticed that Yao Yu's expression was off. Following her gaze, Qian Chen also let out a cold laugh: "Isn't this President Xu? What a coincidence! Right behind us, too?"

Hui An smiled gently and said, "After I graduated, I was assigned to study in another city for six months right after joining the company. I lost my phone again, and I no longer have your two numbers, nor did I keep any at home"

Every time, I feel that time passes too quickly; in the blink of an eye, the day is over. The two of them always timed their return, holding hands as they rushed back before the dormitory lights went out. If they arrived at the dormitory building and the door was still open, they would stand outside, engaging in casual conversation. At that time, Tong Sicheng would always stand by the streetlight downstairs, looking up, waiting for Yao Yu to lean out of the fourth-floor window to wave goodbye before leaving