Chapter 3

The restaurant was enveloped in roses.

Upon entering the private room, it was surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a view of the adjacent small room and the vast expanse of French roses outside.

“Qi!”

As I stepped in, a large group of people had already gathered.

My bestie waved at me with a smile, signaling me to come over and sit.

I glanced around at the people, then lowered my head and asked softly, “What’s the occasion today, with so many people here?”

My bestie pointed at an empty seat, winked at me, and said, “You’ll find out soon enough.”

I had just set down my bag.

A name made me freeze.

“Come on, Ying Chen, see who this is?”

How long has it been since I last heard that name?

One year, two years, three years…

The last time we met was through a long-distance international video call on the phone.

The black-haired boy was far across the ocean, looking helplessly at me:

“Qi, there’s nothing I can do.”

And now.

The boy had matured into a gentleman, confidently reaching out his hand to me with a smile:

“Long time no see, Qi.”

I paused for a moment.

It took just a second to compose myself, and I smiled, shaking his hand, “Long time no see.”

This was the restaurant Ying Chen had chosen.

As the dishes were served, he smiled and asked everyone to look at the roses outside the window, saying, “A month ago, this area was planted with gardenias. This year, when I returned to the country, I had them replaced with roses. Someone might like them.”

Everyone then looked at me with meaningful glances.

Indeed, Yun Qi and Ying Chen, names always tied together during high school, still seemed intertwined in everyone’s eyes.

I remained silent, merely smiling and saying, “Yes, my husband likes them too; the backyard at home is full of them.”

Ying Chen’s expression turned slightly cool.

At that moment, someone chuckled and said, “Qi, who doesn’t know your husband is blind? Planting so many roses, isn’t it like casting pearls before swine?”

Everyone burst into laughter.

I said nothing, merely restrained my smile and turned my head away.

From here, I could see the adjacent private room.

There, in the entire room, was only one man.

Wearing a hat and a mask, he was completely covered, exuding a sense of… coolness.

Yet, he gave me a strange feeling of familiarity.