Sensing something was wrong, I took her to the parking garage.
As I buckled her seatbelt, she pulled me close, her body pressed against mine, eyes serious. “Let’s give it a try,” she said.
I blushed. “Try what?”
“Marriage,” she replied.
I hesitated, but she kissed me—awkward, but passionate. When she finally collapsed in my arms, breathless, I was still reeling.
She said she thought she’d fallen in love with me.
After confirming her feelings, we told our families. Everyone was thrilled, and the wedding preparations began.
My parents had already bought us an apartment. Everything went smoothly—engagement, wedding photos, the works. She seemed committed.
But on the wedding day, she vanished, leaving me a public spectacle.
After twenty-eight years of loyalty, I thought I was different. I thought I’d finally won her heart.
But her impulsiveness left both our families to pick up the pieces.
The day after the wedding, she came back with her so-called “true love” to return the betrothal gift.
“Jiayi, let’s go finalize the divorce,” she said.
I looked at her coldly. “If you’re in such a hurry, let’s go today.”
She flinched, hurt in her eyes. “We can still be friends, right?”
I snorted, grabbed my documents, and said, “Let’s get this over with so you can marry your prince.”
She hesitated, eyes red, but followed me out. Her new boyfriend was waiting outside.
He put his arm around her. “All done, babe?”
She nodded absently, still watching me. “Just need to finalize the divorce.”
At the civil affairs office, we learned about the one-month cooling-off period. Both her boyfriend and I were annoyed, but Lixue seemed almost relieved.
“One month, then,” she said, turning to leave.
I had no interest in analyzing her feelings. I drove off, wandering the city filled with memories of us.
Looking back, I realized I’d been too greedy. If she’d really loved me, she wouldn’t have waited so long to say it.
Chen Tao, Xu Sen, and me—we’d all been through the same thing.
At least I’d had the title, if only for a while.
Before I knew it, I’d driven to the gates of our old university.
I got out, staring at the tree where we’d carved our names.
A familiar voice called out behind me. “Lin Jiayi?”
I turned. It was Guan Xianyin—Chen Tao’s first love, and my last blind date
Suddenly, I remembered—after graduation, she’d stayed on at the university and was now the youngest professor in the music department.
As I stood by the old maple tree, Guan Xianyin leaned in, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. She read aloud the words carved into the bark:
“Lin Jiayi loves Yao Lixue.”
“Yao Lixue must marry Lin Jiayi.”
I felt a wave of embarrassment. I’d carved those words during my freshman year, believing the old campus legend that wishes made on these ancient maples had a better chance of coming true. Back then, I’d been a hopeless romantic, and my fingers still bore faint scars from the day I’d pressed the knife too hard, blood dotting the grooves of my wish. I shifted, trying to block her view of the tree.
“Professor Guan, long time no see,” I said, forcing a smile.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her voice gentle. “Not that long. I was at your wedding, remember?”
My smile faltered. “Oh, right… you were.”
Counting today, we’d only met four times, but each time she left a different impression.
The first was with Chen Tao—she’d been shy, quiet, the picture of a well-behaved neighbor’s daughter.
The second was our blind date—she wore a simple white dress, her long hair flowing, gentle and composed, the kind of woman who made you feel at ease.
The third was our first real date—she was in a pink tweed suit, hair curled, a blend of sweetness and allure. For a moment, I’d mistaken her for Yao Lixue, who always dressed that way.
Today, she wore a crisp white blouse and a traditional navy skirt, half her hair pinned up with a wooden hairpin, the rest cascading down. The breeze played with the ends, giving her an elegant, almost ethereal air.
I realized then that a woman’s aura could truly transform with her mood and style.
She looked at me, concern in her eyes. “So… what happened with you and Yao Lixue in the end?”
I lowered my gaze. “We divorced. She found her ‘true love.’ What was I supposed to do, stick around as the third wheel?”
The air grew heavy. After a pause, she asked, “Are your parents still pushing you to go on blind dates?”
I met her gaze. She really did resemble Yao Lixue, except for her eyes. Both had almond-shaped eyes, but while Lixue’s gaze was always smoldering—making everyone feel special—Xianyin’s were clear, calm, with a gentle softness that made you feel safe.
Almost without thinking, I asked, “What about you? Is your family still setting you up?”
She sighed, a hint of resignation on her face. “They are. But I never meet anyone right. And when I finally did, someone else cut in line.”
She shot me a playful, accusing look. I knew she meant me.
I chuckled awkwardly. Glancing at the darkening sky, I remembered how I’d let her down on our last date. “Do you have plans tonight? How about dinner together?”
Her lips curved into a smile, her eyes lighting up. “Sure.”
Her smile was nothing like Lixue’s, but I found myself mesmerized.
We went to my favorite bistro. And, as fate would have it, just as the waiter served our food, Yao Lixue walked by with her “true love,” Bai Jiachang.
She stopped, surprise in her voice. “Jiayi? You and her?”
Without looking up, I calmly sliced my steak and pushed the plate toward Xianyin. “Is there a problem? If not, please don’t disturb us. If there is, keep it to yourself.”
Xianyin blinked in surprise, then smiled, picking up her fork. “Hmm, tastes great.”
Suddenly, Lixue slapped the fork from her hand, her voice rising. “You can’t eat steak he cut for you!”
She leaned over the table, glaring at me. “Lin Jiayi, we’re not even divorced yet. How can you eat with another woman? You used to only cut steak for me!”
Her voice was so loud that people at nearby tables started staring. I’d wanted to use Xianyin to get a rise out of her, but I didn’t want to make a scene or embarrass Xianyin.
“Yao Lixue, are we even married? You’re free, I’m free. My dinner with Xianyin is none of your business.”
She clenched her fists, her voice trembling. “I don’t care. I won’t let you eat with her. Get up, come with me.”
She tried to pull me away, but I shook her off, my voice icy. “What right do you have to control me?”
She stared at her hand, tears welling up. “I’m your wife!”
I snorted. “The man next to you is your true love.”
Her tone softened, and she reached for me again. “Jiayi, I’m so confused right now. Seeing you with her makes me miserable. Can you take me home?”
I brushed her hand away, picking up a napkin to wipe where she’d touched me. She looked even more hurt, but I didn’t care.
“Waiter, check please.”
As I paid, she glanced at Xianyin with a challenging look. Afterward, I stood and said, “Xianyin, let’s go—there’s something dirty here, let’s eat somewhere else.”
She smiled, taking my arm. “Good idea. I lost my appetite.”
Lixue’s expression changed. She grabbed my other hand, desperate. “Jiayi, how can you treat me like this?”
Then, as if realizing something, she turned on Xianyin. “You’ve loved him all along, haven’t you? You just look a little like me. Why would he choose you over the real thing?”
Before I could respond, Bai Jiachang finally spoke up, frustrated. “Lixue, what am I to you?”
She let go of me to console him. I shook my head, took Xianyin’s hand, and left.
Outside, a cold wind cleared my head.
“I know that man,” Xianyin said suddenly.
I glanced at her in surprise. “Yeah?”
“He’s the son of one of my dad’s business partners. But his family’s a mess…”
She explained: Bai Jiachang was the illegitimate son of a famous entrepreneur, only recently acknowledged. Before that, he’d worked in nightclubs, doing whatever paid.
I understood the implication. Looking back through the window, I saw Lixue still trying to calm him down.
“True love, huh?” I muttered.
Xianyin shook her head, amused. “Lixue’s taste is… unique.”
I caught her wry expression and couldn’t help but laugh. “Come on, let’s find a better place.”
Chapter 03
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