At the beginning of the year, the order data for Jiang Jianhuan's personal fashion show was also tallied, and the final commission was very considerable. Combined with the balance in her bank account, it was a very large number.
Jiang Jianhuan had already seen the dawn of final victory. Her plan was to return all her savings to Su Mo once they reached a certain amount.
The shackles that bind her life will one day be completely removed.
Winter has quietly passed, and spring warmth and blooming flowers are gradually enveloping the city. Along the way to work, the trees are sprouting new branches, and countless wildflowers are in bloom—yellow, red, and purple—swaying in the wind, a truly beautiful sight.
In April, Jiang Jianhuan and Su Mo received Jian Ziming's wedding invitation. The small, bright red card with gold lettering bore the names of the newlyweds, namely him and Tong Xin.
After a seven-year courtship, the two finally tied the knot.
The wedding was held on a weekend at a hotel in the city. The sun was shining brightly, a gentle breeze was blowing, pink balloons floated on the green lawn, and countless lace and colorful tulle were laid out along the way with bouquets of roses.
The guests were all sitting at outdoor tables and chairs, the music was light and warm, and colorful bubbles seemed to float down from somewhere in the sky.
Jiang Jianhuan sat at the same table as Zhou You and his group. He also brought Lili along. It was said that she had been very naughty lately, and would sneak out to play with others whenever he wasn't looking. Zhou You had to keep a close eye on her at all times.
The two bickered and argued, with Jiang Jianhuan occasionally chiming in. Su Mo watched with a faint smile, while Bai Qiu ignored them, focusing intently on sending messages.
"Hey, I heard Bai Qiu recently started an online relationship? Is it true?" Zhou You has always loved gossip and watching the drama unfold, especially when it involves his circle of friends, he is particularly perceptive.
Jiang Jianhuan asked in surprise, "Really? Who told you that?"
Bai Qiu's online dating...?
It doesn't seem impossible. He doesn't show his emotions much, which makes him seem unpredictable. Moreover, he often does things unpredictably.
"Is that so?" Zhou You didn't answer her question. Instead, he stared at Bai Qiu with deep interest. The latter quickly typed on the keyboard, clicked send, then stopped typing and looked up at him coldly.
"What's it to you?" Bai Qiu uttered a single, expressionless sentence. Zhou You remained completely unaffected, even becoming more interested. She sat up straight in her chair, rested her elbows on the table, and leaned forward slightly.
"No, I'm not just concerned about you as a good brother. It's a once-in-a-millennium event that an iron tree can bloom."
Bai Qiu was too lazy to listen to his rambling and was about to say something when her phone vibrated slightly, probably because a new message had come in. Zhou You's eyes lit up, and she reached out first to snatch the phone from his palm.
Bai Qiu was caught off guard and was taken advantage of. He probably didn't expect Zhou You to be so audacious and shameless.
"Doctor, I'm already under the covers..."
"Zhou You!—"
Zhou You had just glanced at the message and hadn't even finished reading it when Bai Qiu stood up and snatched the phone back, while also giving him a cold glare.
"Have you been living too comfortably lately? Do you need to come to the hospital for a brain checkup?"
"..." Faced with Bai Qiu's sharp tongue, no one dared to utter a sound. Zhou You touched his nose, lowered his eyes dejectedly, and avoided his anger.
After a while, Zhou You's quiet demeanor softened Bai Qiu's expression slightly. He replied to the other person's message, his expression gradually softening. Upon seeing this, Zhou You felt a surge of urge to be sarcastic again.
"Tsk tsk tsk, which little girl is this, calling me 'doctor' so sweetly... and she's already snuggled under the covers? What's with that? Bai Qiu, are your conversations this explicit???"
Bai Qiu ignored him this time. As Jiang Jianhuan listened, a familiar tone suddenly flashed through his mind, and he couldn't believe it.
She turned to stare at Su Mo, her eyes widening slightly, as if he understood what she was thinking.
"I don't know." He first distanced himself from the matter, then looked at Bai Qiu and asked casually.
Are you still in contact with Zhao Zhao?
"Zhao Zhao?! Ah—" Before Bai Qiu could speak, Zhou You reacted first, opening his mouth wide. Then his gaze fell on Bai Qiu, revealing a knowing interest.
"So it was that little girl...tsk tsk tsk, who would have thought..."
"So, our doctor has entered into a transnational romance?"
"Shut up." Bai Qiu could no longer bear it. Looking at Zhou You's winking and gesturing, her tone was flat and slightly cold.
"Instead of gossiping about me here, you should worry more about yourself. I heard that your aunt introduced you to three more 'well-matched' ladies last week. So, have you found a suitable marriage partner yet?"
Zhou You immediately shut her mouth, her face turning ashen.
"Fine! You...you're ruthless!" His finger trembled as he pointed at Bai Qiu, looking as if he had suffered a tremendous blow. After all, being pressured to get married by one's family at just over twenty-seven years old was not a pleasant thing.
Moreover, it was a business marriage.
Su Duan picked up the red wine on the table, leisurely poured a glass for Jiang Jianhuan, and then watched the flowers bloom on the wall.
Bai Qiu snorted softly, a smile playing on her lips, having won back a point.
Zhou You dared not cause any more trouble.
Fortunately, the emcee on stage began to speak, announcing the official start of the wedding.
Jian Ziming and Tong Xin are both free-spirited people, so the whole process was very simple, and they even skipped the bridesmaids and groomsmen.
As the music began, Tong Xin, led by her father, walked in step by step, crossed the flower archway, and, amidst the gazes and blessings of the crowd, placed her hand in the hand of Jian Ziming, who was waiting in front of her.
Both of them were dressed exceptionally formally and elegantly today.
The groom, dressed in a white wedding gown and a pure black suit, was dashing and spirited, exuding confidence and charm. The bride was beautiful and radiant, with exquisite makeup and a lovely bouquet in her hand.
Standing together, they looked like a match made in heaven.
After the emcee finished reciting the vows, the two looked at each other and answered with "I do." Their faces and eyes were filled with genuine happiness and emotion, their gazes lingering on each other for a long time, and a faint smile played on their lips.
Jiang Jianhuan watched this scene from below, and for some reason, she felt a sudden urge to cry.
Perhaps it's because everyone yearns for a better future, and therefore, at this moment, there's a shared sense of happiness.
The ceremony ended with enthusiastic applause. During the final bouquet toss, the single women participated enthusiastically, stretching out their arms and playfully shoving each other.