Chapter 11: A Good Friend’s Confusion

“Two glasses of lemonade, please.”

Just when things looked bad, help arrived at the perfect time!

At that important moment, a young couple walked in through the door and saved Cheng Fei from the awkward situation. She ran off like a rabbit escaping from a hawk.

“Coming!”

After watching her leave, Bai Xi and Zheng Qi looked at each other. Ever since they entered the shop, they had been busy arguing and teasing each other, so they had not paid much attention to Cheng Fei’s strange behavior.

“Qiqi, you came early today. Did you notice anything unusual about her?”

Zheng Qi casually shook her head. In her mind, skipping makeup once in a while was no big deal. Instead, she felt she needed some touch-up herself after getting caught in the rain. She took out her foundation and lipstick and started fixing her makeup.

“Oh please, what could be so serious? And even if something is wrong, so what? Feifei just got married. She’s probably just too happy.”

Bai Xi was so annoyed she did not know what to say. Sometimes she really could not communicate with this money-loving friend.

The phone rang twice, and Bai Xi finally stopped focusing all her attention on the person running around busily.

After one couple came another. Two couples entered one after another, acting all sweet and clingy. Seeing that made Cheng Fei feel uncomfortable.

Luckily, she still had two beautiful women keeping her company today. Otherwise, she might really have changed the shop music to a breakup song.

“Feifei, something came up at school. I have to leave first.”

Ah, she had been happy too early. One of them was already leaving... Fine, at least the sexy goddess was still here!

“The foolish thing has already begun. There’s no turning back now. All we can do is keep going down the wrong path. I truly hope he is a good man worthy of trust, and I hope the two of you can truly fall in love someday…”

That sigh seemed to drift straight into Cheng Fei’s heart. Bai Xi really was the kind of older sister who sincerely worried about others.

At this moment, Cheng Fei could finally understand why the original owner had hidden the truth from these two before.

From their point of view, a fake marriage meant divorce sooner or later. And marrying someone carelessly looked hopeless no matter how they saw it. At the very least, it seemed like someone trying to quietly settle down and live an ordinary life.

Compared to that, a fake marriage looked more like ruining one’s own life.

With Bai Xi’s views on love and marriage, and how much she cared about Cheng Fei, she would probably worry herself sick.

On the other hand, Cheng Fei had already decided to run away someday. The truth would definitely come out sooner or later…

Sigh… there was no other choice. She could only keep hiding it for now and deal with the consequences later when the secret could no longer stay hidden.

At worst, she could just use the excuse that their personalities did not match. That would still be better than telling the truth now.

“Don’t worry.”

Bai Xi gave a bitter smile and opened her arms to hug Cheng Fei. Then she turned around and left quickly.

At that moment, Cheng Fei was truly touched by this caring older sister’s kindness.

“When people get older, they become like this.”

Zheng Qi spoke as if she did not care, but her tone carried deep emotion.

As soon as she finished speaking, her phone rang too. The moment she saw the caller ID, her face bloomed with happiness. Covering the speaker with her hand, she hurried toward the restroom.

Just from the situation alone, anyone could guess it was her boyfriend calling.

Great… now Cheng Fei was alone again!

“Feifei…”

After finishing the call, Zheng Qi came back, acting shy and awkward.

Even if she did not want to leave, she could not exactly stay and become a third wheel.

“Go ahead,” Cheng Fei said dramatically, with a hint of sadness.

“I’ll come to your house for dinner another day.”

“Sure! Miss Zheng is welcome anytime!”

Cheng Fei grabbed her hand and rubbed it playfully. Just moments ago, she had been thinking that dinner alone would not be enough. At the very least, they should take a relaxing bath together too!

“Hey! Stop getting handsy with me.”

After saying goodbye to another goddess, the shop became quiet again. Thankfully, more customers soon entered, so it did not become too boring.

Being busy was, at the very least, a way to distract herself.

………………………

Meanwhile, on the upper floor of an office building.

Sunlight passed through the glass windows and shined onto several green plants, giving life to those silent little companions.

At a nearby desk, a man in a neat suit focused completely on the computer screen. He did not even notice someone opening the door beside him.

Dressed in a similar suit, the visitor quietly walked over and placed a folder on the desk.

“You came back without even telling me. What kind of friend you are.”

The visitor stopped walking and turned to look at him. It was not that he had failed to notice. He was simply angry about not being informed.

“And you got married without telling your friend either.”

The moment Gao Ming turned around, he let out a heavy sigh. He covered his face with both hands and rubbed his tired eyes.

He had managed to deal with his parents for now, but next came the wedding photos and the wedding ceremony itself.

Being close and acting lovey-dovey with someone who had a different soul from other women was truly giving him a headache.

“What’s wrong? You’re still newly married and haven’t even gone on your honeymoon yet. Already tired?”

Feeling provoked, Gao Ming glared at him.

“You sure have a lot of free time to worry about me. Things been too easy for you lately?”

“...I was just joking. Why are you taking it so seriously?”

“Too lazy to waste words with you. The plan was for one month, but you came back before even half the time passed. What happened?”

Ye Dong tapped on his phone a few times and sent a video to Gao Ming.

What exactly was this guy planning?

Looking at Ye Dong’s half-smiling face, Gao Ming really wanted to punch him, but he still picked up the phone first to see what was going on.

The video started with loud noise and chaos. There were so many people that it made his eyes dizzy. The place looked like an office.

Soon, the door was forced open, and a group of people rushed in from outside. The scene became completely chaotic for a while…

A few minutes later, a smile also appeared on Gao Ming’s face.

“They completely blew themselves up on the spot! This time Tengyu, Moqin, and Zhihui are probably laughing even in their dreams.”

“I seriously still can’t understand what kind of crazy move that was.”

Gao Ming glanced again at the things he had written earlier and casually threw them into the recycle bin.

“Plans can’t keep up with changes. They already delivered the meat straight to our mouths. There’s no reason not to eat it.”

The two looked at each other and smiled.

The meeting started right after that and did not end until late at night.

There was excitement about the future and their plans ahead, but also deep tiredness after using so much energy and brainpower. Casual joking between them became the best way to relax.

Without noticing, the topic slowly changed from business and strategy to something else, all because of the iced coffee in their hands.

“So, compared to your wife’s cooking, which coffee tastes better?”

The air instantly froze.

Then it shattered like glass hit by heavy force.

Gao Ming placed a hand on Ye Dong’s shoulder. It looked normal, but the pressure made Ye Dong grit his teeth in pain.

Gao Ming had many relatives, but very few real friends. The man in front of him was one of those few.

How could Ye Dong not know that the so-called romance during overseas study was just a lie made up to fool his parents?

And this was the result of knowingly teasing him about it…

“How about coming to my house tonight and tasting it yourself?”

“I wouldn’t dare disturb you two while you’re resting—ah! Alright, alright, I was wrong! Let go, my shoulder’s about to break!”

Gao Ming quickly finished the rest of his drink, threw the paper cup into the trash can, and tossed the car keys backward.

Ye Dong caught them, but what he saw was a lonely-looking back.

He quickly followed behind him. Originally, he did not want to ask about it, but in the end he could not stop himself.

“What exactly is going on between you two? Can’t you at least tell me the truth?”

Gao Ming gave a bitter smile. To avoid being overheard, he only opened up after they got into the car.

He explained things very honestly, without hiding anything from his friend. He almost even revealed Cheng Fei’s real situation.

“She also has…”

“Damn!”

At the traffic light ahead, several reckless teenagers on motorcycles ignored the rules because there were no traffic police nearby and no license plates on their bikes. They rushed right past the front of the car.

Ye Dong quickly stepped on the brakes.

“These stupid kids!”

After cursing a few times, Ye Dong held the steering wheel and continued driving.

Following the interrupted topic, he asked again, “You said she also has what…”

Gao Ming believed himself to be someone who kept his promises.

Since he had agreed to keep the secret as part of the condition for her honestly staying by his side, then he should protect that secret to the end.

He was simply too used to speaking openly with Ye Dong, and he had almost ruined his own credibility.

“Nothing… She has an ex-boyfriend.”

“You already told me that.”

“Oh. Then pretend I said nothing.”

The conversation stopped there.

Gao Ming simply stared blankly at the neon lights outside the window, thinking about why he had chosen this path and why he could not be as bold and fearless as he was at work.

The one being delayed and hurt by all this was probably not only himself.

However, there were too many family ties and matters of reputation involved. Since he had already stepped onto this road, there was no turning back anymore.

“Heh.” Ye Dong looked at him through the rearview mirror and smiled. “Actually, I’ve been to that shop before. Her looks are seriously goddess-level. I think you might as well try accepting her.”

Accept her… or rather, him.

A woman with a man’s soul inside.

Bang!

Right after Ye Dong finished speaking, a dull sound came from the back seat.

Ye Dong looked back curiously and saw Gao Ming rubbing his forehead with an ugly expression on his face.

That single sentence had shocked him enough to make him hit his head. Was it really that serious?

Ye Dong honestly felt his description had not even fully done her beauty justice. With that heaven-given face, she would still stand out even in today’s entertainment industry full of beautiful people.

But because she had such a perfect appearance, Gao Ming could not stop his imagination from running wild after hearing those words.

The moment he pictured it, goosebumps instantly covered his whole body.

If he did not know the truth, maybe he could have tried.

But after knowing it…

He truly could not accept it.

After that, Gao Ming stopped talking completely.

Ye Dong understood what was weighing on his mind, so he stopped asking further questions.

This was the first time he had ever been the best man for a marriage like this.

After dropping Gao Ming off at home, Ye Dong drove back.

Since he had taken the role of driver, bringing the car back meant he would have to come pick him up for work again tomorrow.

It was already late, and he needed to hurry home and rest for tomorrow morning.

Going upstairs, Gao Ming knocked on the door, but nobody was home.