The Wedding Bet - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The moment I got into the taxi, a message popped up on my phone.

Jiang Yingying had sent me a video.

In a dim private room, a crowd sat in a circle playing a game where a slice of watermelon was passed from mouth to mouth.

When it came to Jiang Yingying’s turn, only a thumbnail-sized scrap of watermelon was left.

She held that bright red scrap between her lips and leaned toward Chu Huai’an.

Her face was redder than the fruit itself.

He smiled, did not dodge, and opened his mouth to bite into that blush of red.

The watermelon vanished between their lips and teeth at once, and the room erupted in suggestive screams.

“It’s got to be Yingying, huh? Look at that doting look in Brother Chu’s eyes — it’s practically dripping. Who else ever got that treatment?”

That was Chu Huai’an’s childhood friend.

Last week at dinner, he had been calling me “sister-in-law” so warmly.

“Of course! My brother and Sister Yingying are the couple I always felt should have ended up together. They’re the ones made for each other!”

That was Chu Huai’an’s younger cousin.

When a scumbag cheated on her, it was I who dropped my work and stormed his company to teach him a lesson.

Back then, she had clung to me sobbing and said she would never acknowledge anyone but me as her sister-in-law.

“Honestly, Brother Chu — Yiyi’s a slum girl. She really isn’t good enough for you. Are you actually going to marry her?”

The room fell silent. Every head turned toward Chu Huai’an.

Mine too.

He spun the cigarette lazily between his fingers and parted his thin lips.

“Getting married — it’s the same with anyone.”

The video ended right there.

But that one sentence of his would not leave my ears.

Chu Huai’an and I had met at a programming contest. I beat him and took first place.

From then on, he pursued me relentlessly.

At first, I did not believe that a golden boy like Chu Huai’an could really like a slum girl like me.

Until one time, when some thugs from outside campus came after me.

Chu Huai’an saved me and got two ribs broken for it.

I asked him, my expression complicated: “Was it worth it? It’s just a relationship — is it any different with anyone else?”

He only laughed and said:

“It’s different. You’re the only one I like. You’re the only one I want to spend my whole life with. Anyone else — no.”

The promise was heavy, and I carried it for ten years.

But ten years later, he said it was the same with anyone.

I calmly saved the video.

A second later, Jiang Yingying’s clumsy probing popped up.

“Yiyi, I sent the last message by mistake. You didn’t see it, did you?”

I curled my cold fingertips and typed.

“What did you send?”

The chat box showed “typing” for a long while. Only when I got out of the car did the reply arrive.

“Nothing. Huai’an’s drunk, so I won’t send him home tonight — save you the trouble.”

I stared at it for a long time, then answered, “Whatever.”

Then I opened the confirmation letter my company had sent about the posting to Ireland.

I tapped accept.

I had received that posting order half a year ago. Three years abroad, and on my return I would be promoted to Technical Director.

But Chu Huai’an had not wanted me to go.

He had hugged my waist and whined, saying he couldn’t bear to have me so far away, saying he would take care of me for life.

I did not need anyone to take care of me, but I was touched by the sentiment.

This trip to Ireland for the wedding had also been meant as a chance to visit the branch office there and close an old regret.

Now, there was no regret left to close.