Little Sweetheart

At Tian Bar.

Lu Jiaye and Su Han sat face to face, drinking.

Without Zheng Peipei present, the two could interact more genuinely.

"You've hurt her once. Are you planning to do it again?"

Faced with Lu Jiaye's sharp question, a flicker of guilt crossed Su Han's eyes.

But his expression remained calm. "I was wrong last time. I've spent these past few years reflecting on myself, adjusting my pace. I'll personally mend the damage I caused."

Lu Jiaye suddenly laughed, a hearty, unrestrained laugh.

Su Han sat quietly by his side.

When Lu Jiaye finally stopped laughing, he said with a mocking expression, "Have you been a celebrity for so long that your ego has inflated? Do you really think everyone is eternally devoted to you? That aside from being graced by your attention again, their lives are destined to be spent in pain?"

"…" Su Han, despite being thoroughly ridiculed, maintained a relatively calm demeanor. "Perhaps she no longer cares, but I still love her and want to win her back."

"Oh." Lu Jiaye still wore that mocking smile.

Su Han asked, "What about you? Do you plan to pursue her?"

Lu Jiaye chuckled. "It's good that you have such lofty ambitions. No worries, take your time. She's single, after all."

"I'm a bit tired. I'll go up and rest." Lu Jiaye set down his glass and left gracefully.

Su Han sat there, savoring the remaining alcohol in his glass, unable to describe the complex mix of emotions he was feeling.

Lu Jiaye's mocking expression made him question himself. Could he do it? Could what was lost be regained?

.

The next day, Xia Zhijun and Gu Siyi's wedding took place in a romantic seaside chapel.

Xiang Li, Zhang Xinyi, Zheng Peipei, and a few of Gu Siyi's close university friends made up the bridesmaids.

Xia Zhijun's groomsmen included Zhou Xiao, Su Han, Lu Jiaye, and several of his business partners.

When someone posted the lineup of bridesmaids and groomsmen on Weibo, it immediately sparked heated discussion. The groomsmen, in particular, were an impressive group!

There was the popular star Su Han and the "nation's husband," Lu Jiaye. The other less-known men also looked handsome.

Everyone exclaimed, wondering whose grand wedding this was.

Later, when photos of the bride and groom were released, everyone realized the bride was the beautiful and low-key host, Gu Siyi.

Wait a minute…

Wasn't her husband supposed to be a balding, beer-bellied man? Weren't they saying he was too unattractive to show his face? Wasn't the narrative that researchers lose their hair due to stress? And that Siyi only cared about substance, not looks?

So, the gossip was all lies?!

This researcher is incredibly handsome?!

This wedding was a feast for the gossip-loving masses.

While Gu Siyi was immersed in a sea of happiness, her Weibo was flooded with well-wishes from netizens.

At the wedding ceremony, Xia Zhijun lifted Gu Siyi's veil, and they shared a sweet kiss, surrounded by thunderous applause.

Watching them, Zheng Peipei recalled their high school days and suddenly teared up.

Lu Jiaye, standing beside her, handed her a tissue. "It's not your wedding. How embarrassing would it be to ruin your makeup with tears?"

Zheng Peipei took the tissue, dabbed at the corners of her eyes, and steadied her emotions. Her voice was slightly hoarse. "How many couples can go through ten years and still be the same as they were at the beginning? Siyi is so lucky… Really… I'm so happy for her…"

Not being able to have that herself, she was happy to see her good friend have it.

"There are plenty of couples like that…" Lu Jiaye said, seemingly calmly as he watched the newlyweds. "Maybe there's one right beside you, and you just don't know it."

Ten years? Counting from the day he fell in love with her, hadn't he kept her in his heart for ten years as well?

How many decades are there in a lifetime? From sixteen to twenty-six, the most vibrant ten years.

Perhaps he would never have her in the end, but there would never be another person he could care for so deeply and unrequitedly for a decade.

"No, I hope there aren't too many situations like that." Zheng Peipei said with a wry smile. "If everyone's like that, and I'm the only one suffering, how unbalanced would I feel?"

Lu Jiaye clicked his tongue. "That's a narrow-minded way of thinking. A bit petty, don't you think?"

"You're the petty one!" Zheng Peipei glared at him.

Lu Jiaye smiled. "What if your first love came back to pursue you? Would you consider that a happy ending?"

"Happy ending my ass!" Zheng Peipei retorted. "There's a saying, 'A good horse doesn't return to old pastures.' Haven't you heard of it? I'm so rich, why would I hang myself on the same tree?"

Lu Jiaye applauded. "Sister Peipei is mighty! Sister Peipei is the best!"

Su Han, separated from them by a few people, could see them talking but couldn't hear what they were saying.

But watching Zheng Peipei's sometimes smiling, sometimes pouting expressions, he felt a pang of inexplicable discomfort.

Since high school, she had always joked and bantered with Lu Jiaye. It seemed she was particularly relaxed around him.

After the wedding, Gu Siyi and Xia Zhijun embarked on a week-long honeymoon.

It was time for the newlyweds to be alone, and the guests gradually departed.

A few close friends were invited to stay and enjoy the island for a few more days.

In their hotel room, Zhang Xinyi said to Xiang Li, "You have to seize this opportunity and confess to Lu Jiaye. Once we go back, he'll be flying all over the world again. It'll be hard to see him, and you'll have even less courage to ask him out."

Xiang Li fiddled with her phone, her face flushed, shy and timid. "There's no hope… If I confess and get rejected, we won't even be friends anymore. What then?"

"How do you know there's no hope? Lu Jiaye has been rumored to be with so many people. You should at least try! I don't think you're any worse than those internet celebrities. We're old friends; strike while the iron is hot."

"But…" Xiang Li still hesitated.

"Xiao Jiuwo is married now, and Zhou Xiao and I are planning our wedding. What are you waiting for? You used to think Lu Jiaye liked Peipei, but it's been three years since Peipei and Su Han broke up, and Lu Jiaye hasn't gotten together with her. He's even been rumored to be with several unrelated people… He definitely doesn't have feelings for Peipei anymore."

To encourage her, Zhang Xinyi added, "When I first confessed to Zhou Xiao, he was stunned. But I persevered for three years, and we're together now! You have to fight for your own happiness; it won't just fall into your lap!"

Xiang Li looked up, and in her friend's fiery eyes, she seemed to see her own soul ignite.

Try it… a voice in her heart urged.

How would she know if she didn't try…

A clean break would be better than keeping it bottled up inside forever, right?

Take advantage of this opportunity…

Xiang Li made up her mind. She took a shower, carefully applied her makeup, and changed into the dress she had brought specifically for this occasion. Looking at herself in the mirror, she saw nothing amiss. Taking a deep breath, she set off.

Night fell, and the wind picked up on the island, creating waves. The night sky was tranquil and enchanting.

Xiang Li arrived at a deserted viewing platform outside the resort hotel, took a photo, and sent it to Lu Jiaye with the location.

"I have something for you. Waiting for you here."

After sending the message, her heart pounded. She took deep breaths, reminding herself there was no turning back. Don't be a coward.

Everyone had to be brave at least once in their life. This was her time.

Twenty minutes later, Lu Jiaye appeared.

He walked over casually and asked with a smile, "Little Li, what do you have for me?"

Xiang Li looked at him and said softly, "I just wanted to pull you aside for a chat. I do have a handmade ceramic mug for you. If you want it, I'll get it for you when we go back."

Lu Jiaye stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Is my persona now that of a caring older brother? I thought I was the dashing, unrestrained, heartthrob of the nation."

Xiang Li giggled, covering her mouth with her hand, her cheeks flushed.

"Tell me, what's troubling you? If Lu-ge can help, I'll definitely solve it for Little Li." Lu Jiaye sat down on a nearby bench, his hands clasped behind his head, looking relaxed and casual.

Looking at him, the thousand words Xiang Li had prepared seemed to get stuck in her throat.

How should she say it? How could she express herself naturally and ensure a smooth ending?

"Um… I… We've known each other for many years…"

"Yes, we have." Lu Jiaye watched her hesitant manner, his expression turning suspicious.

He carefully observed her expression and noticed a hint of nervousness and shyness.

A bad premonition arose in his heart…

After all, he wasn't the naive young man he once was. Over the years, he had encountered all sorts of people throwing themselves at him…

He had learned to decipher what certain expressions meant in certain situations…

"I want to tell you…"

"Wow! Look!" Lu Jiaye suddenly interrupted her.

Xiang Li followed his gaze towards the night sky. Lu Jiaye exclaimed, "The night sky is so beautiful!"

Xiang Li nodded dumbly. "Yes, it is beautiful!"

Lu Jiaye turned to her and said, "Such a beautiful night, such a beautiful night sky, it's not suitable for sadness."

Xiang Li looked at him, somewhat bewildered.

Lu Jiaye continued, "But I still can't help but feel sad!"

"Why?"

"A-Jun is married to Xiao Jiuwo, but why am I still so far from the one I love?"

Xiang Li's heart lurched, sinking slowly…

She asked softly, "The one you love is…"

Lu Jiaye gave a helpless, wry smile. "Besides that little tigress, who else could it be?"

"…" Xiang Li knew the "little tigress" was Zheng Peipei. It was his nickname for her.

At first glance, it seemed unkind and teasing, but after hearing him use it for so long, one could detect a unique intimacy in it.

Xiang Li asked, puzzled, "If you like her, why don't you pursue her?"

Lu Jiaye looked at her. "Because I know she doesn't have me in her heart. A wounded heart doesn't heal so quickly. I'll take it slow."

"Then what about those rumors with other people… Were they to help you forget her?"

"No." Lu Jiaye shook his head. "I did that so she wouldn't think I was waiting for her."

Xiang Li had never seen such an expression on Lu Jiaye's face. His emotions were laid bare, not in his usual playful manner, but with a profound and unwavering depth.

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