Cecilia Gu watched as Rona Muir strode over, her deep purple strapless gown with a high slit accentuating her curves, high heels clicking with every elegant step.
"You came too?" Cecilia asked in surprise.
"What's so surprising? How could I not come? Didn't Charles Yin tell you that he, my boss, and Joe Qi are old friends?" Rona Muir rolled her eyes. "Seriously, are you even one of us? The whole world knows this, and you don't?"
Cecilia looked a little embarrassed. "Honestly, I had no idea."
"Forget it, forget it. You're a society wife who never steps outside, you wouldn't understand the struggles of us ordinary folks." Rona waved her hand dismissively.
Ha... society wife... ordinary folks...
Rona, can we not make a scene?
Rona affectionately hooked her arm through Cecilia's. "I was going to hitch a ride with you guys, but my boss wouldn't allow it. He insisted on driving! It's torture! Have you ever seen a vice president treated like a chauffeur? That's my life!"
Cecilia couldn't help but be curious about Rona's boss. This guy was definitely one of a kind!
"Look, that's my boss!" Rona pointed at a refined, slender man.
Cecilia followed Rona's finger. The man seemed to sense her gaze and looked over, smiling and nodding at her.
Cecilia smiled and nodded back in greeting.
She never expected Rona's boss to look so... frail.
Rona puffed out her G-cup chest and complained, "Cecilia, don't you think my boss is heartless? I mean, I'm the Vice President of Odyssey Corporation, but every time something comes up, I have to pretend to be his date! I'm the VP, I should be able to bring a guy if I want!"
Cecilia glanced at the quirky-looking president of Odyssey Corporation, then at Rona, and started to get the picture.
"I'm even more surprised that your boss is so skinny," Cecilia couldn't help but say.
"What do you mean?" Rona was stunned.
"If you two got into a fight, he'd lose to you, right?" Cecilia replied.
Rona quickly caught on and poked Cecilia's cheek. "Hey! Haven't seen you in a few days, and you've gotten even better at roasting people!"
Cecilia burst out laughing.
"By the way, what's your boss's name?" Cecilia asked curiously. "You always call him 'boss,' but I don't even know what he's called."
"Sean Kerr," Rona replied weakly. "He's the same age as Charles Yin—twenty-eight."
Cecilia had a look of sudden realization.
Sean Kerr stood with Charles Yin and Joe Qi. The three men, each with their own distinct style, quickly drew most of the attention in the room.
While Cecilia and Rona chatted, the men were also talking—about women.
Joe Qi gave Sean Kerr a half-smile. "You still look so delicate. When are you going to tame that wild horse?"
After saying that, Joe Qi glanced over at Rona Muir in the distance.
Sean Kerr chuckled softly. "Don't be ridiculous, she's just my deputy."
"Well, a president who always brings his deputy to every event is pretty rare," Joe Qi teased.
"You're boring," Sean Kerr raised an eyebrow. "Let's talk about Charles. What are you planning to do?"
"Do what?" Charles Yin shrugged. "We're here to cheer for Joe Qi's wedding today. I've already given my gift, so I'm not worrying about anything else."
"Cut it out!" Sean Kerr shot Charles a sideways glance. "Did Joe Qi tell you yet?"
Charles suddenly fell silent. After a long pause, he spoke softly, "Do you two really think I should see her?"
Joe Qi and Sean Kerr both went quiet.
After a while, Sean Kerr finally said, "We did grow up together, after all."
Joe Qi patted Sean Kerr on the shoulder. "I didn't grow up with you three, so I'm staying out of this."
Just then, a gentle voice with a hint of surprise called out from behind, "You're all here... Sean! Charles... you're here too..."
Charles Yin's body stiffened the moment he heard that voice!
His fingers instinctively clenched.
A waft of perfume drifted by as a tall woman with fair skin and long legs, dressed in a flowing white gown, walked gracefully toward them.
A breeze swept through, stirring her long hair and chiffon gown, instantly capturing everyone's attention.
Of course, Cecilia noticed her too.
For some reason, Cecilia felt that Charles Yin suddenly seemed tense when this woman appeared.
Rona Muir stared blankly at the woman as she stood before Sean Kerr, Charles Yin, and Joe Qi.
Since when could a stranger join their tight-knit trio?
Or maybe... they actually knew her all along?
"Sylvia..." Joe Qi frowned slightly, unable to figure out why Sylvia Ran would show up on her own.
Back then, when she left without a word, she broke so many hearts.
And now she suddenly reappeared—what was she really after?
Sean Kerr seemed more welcoming than Joe Qi; as soon as he saw Sylvia Ran, he smiled. "Sylvia, you're here."
Sylvia Ran softly responded, then her gentle, beautiful eyes locked onto Charles Yin—and never looked away.
"Charles, I'm back," Sylvia said softly.
Charles Yin looked up at the woman standing before him, his heart a tangled mess of emotions.
Sean Kerr pulled Joe Qi aside, giving Charles and Sylvia space.
Instinctively, Joe Qi glanced over at Cecilia.
Sure enough, Cecilia was watching Charles and Sylvia too.
Joe Qi sighed inwardly: Charles, my friend, you're on your own now. Good luck!
Once Joe Qi and Sean Kerr left, Sylvia Ran smiled with a soft, fragile expression. "Charles, why are you looking at me like that? Is it because I've gotten older, or less pretty?"
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Charles blurted out, "No! You look just as beautiful as ever."
Sylvia Ran broke into a happy smile.
"To me, you're still just as perfect as when we were kids," Sylvia said softly, her cheeks tinged with pink, leaving the onlookers mesmerized.
Charles Yin just stared at Sylvia, his expression complicated, without answering.
Cecilia just stood there, watching everything unfold before her.
The two groups weren't far apart, so most of the conversation could be overheard.
Even if they couldn't catch every word, their expressions made it easy to guess what was going on.
Cecilia's heart, which had felt light just moments ago, slowly sank.
If she still didn't get it after seeing this, she'd have to be an idiot.
The real deal had come back; it was time for the impostor to...
Rona seemed to sense Cecilia's worries and squeezed her hand. "Don't worry! Even if that woman has history with Charles, you're still the real Mrs. Yin."
Cecilia forced a bitter smile. She suddenly didn't want to watch the reunion of old flames anymore. "Rona, I'm feeling a bit tired. I'm not familiar with this place—will you come find somewhere to rest with me?" she whispered.
Rona glanced thoughtfully at Charles and Sylvia, then helped Cecilia turn and leave.
Cecilia had been holding it together until now; as she turned away, the sadness in her eyes was impossible to hide.
She really was too greedy again.
Charles Yin was so perfect, so wonderful—how could his past be a blank slate?
That woman... she must be special to Charles.
The way he looked at her was so gentle.
He'd never looked at me like that.
Wasn't the answer already obvious?
Why did her heart hurt so much?
What am I really hoping for?
Charles Yin never promised me anything, never even said he liked me.
Turns out, it was all just wishful thinking on my part...
He never liked me, but I convinced myself he did.
Why is it that I can help anyone else, but can't fix my own heart?
Why, even knowing everything, can't I just let go?
What am I still clinging to?
Everything from before was just an illusion—his kindness, his affection, all just a mirage.
In the end, I'm nobody to him...
Charles Yin stared at Cecilia's retreating figure, his heart aching.
Why didn't she ask about my relationship with Sylvia Ran?
Does she really not care?
Does she really not care at all? Not even a little bit?
Cecilia, why can you turn away so calmly?
Why won't you even give me a chance to explain?
Is it because your heart still won't open to me?
Or is your heart just that cold—no matter how good I am to you, you won't let me in?
Sylvia Ran noticed Charles's gaze following the pregnant woman's back, so she looked too.
"Who is she? Is she your wife?" Sylvia's eyes filled with hurt. "Charles, you've changed."
Charles pulled his gaze back and said softly, "We're not the people we used to be, Sylvia. For the sake of our childhood together, I truly wish you happiness."
"But how can I be happy without you?" Sylvia gave a bitter smile. "All these years, I've been reflecting on myself. I suddenly realized—I can't let you go! Charles, if you waited so many years, why not wait one more? Why not wait for me to come back?"
"Back then, you left without a word. All I got was silence." Charles smiled faintly. "That was your choice, wasn't it?"
Tears welled up in Sylvia's eyes as she looked pitifully at Charles.
Charles fought the urge to wipe her tears, then suddenly turned away. "That's enough. You've seen it now—I'm married. Sylvia, go pursue your own happiness. I wish you all the best!"