Chapter 14 — The Wedding That Became a Goodbye

The comment section erupted in a frenzy once more.

Could that really be Shen Do, the star attorney from Heng Tai?

Wait a minute, is he actually unmarried?

To the person above, they clarified this ages ago. He is a genuine, 100 percent single bachelor.

So, is this what they call becoming acquainted through conflict? You hire a lawyer right on your wedding day, and three months later he becomes your boyfriend?

Real life is truly more fantastical than any novel.

When Lam Tran caught sight of this status update while sitting inside the bustling hotpot restaurant, the piece of beef tripe in her mouth almost shot out in sheer disbelief.

Miao Chu?! What are you doing here?

I was just passing by! Miao Chu boomed loudly as she pulled up a chair right at their table, her gaze darting up and down, scanning Shen Do from head to toe. Master Attorney Shen, exactly how long have you been pursuing our dear Tran?

Shen Do set down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and replied with absolute solemnity: Ever since the moment she splashed champagne on me.

So that was from three months ago?

To be precise, it has been three months and one day. Shen Do glanced at the calendar widget on his phone. September sixteenth, at two-fifty-eight in the afternoon. The very moment she hung up her call with Lu Huai Chu, I knew I was completely done for.

Miao Chu’s eyes widened in astonishment: Hold on a second, didn’t the two of you only meet in person the next day?

You can still fall head over heels through a phone call, Shen Do stated as if it were the most natural truth in the world.

Sitting right beside him, Lam Tran felt her face flush bright crimson. She reached out and pinched Shen Do fiercely on the thigh: Can you please refrain from uttering such remarks in front of my best friend?

Shen Do’s expression remained utterly unperturbed: I am merely speaking the facts.

Miao Chu laughed heartily, looking as if she had just won a grand prize, before suddenly remembering something. She pulled an envelope out of her bag and placed it squarely on the table: Oh, right, Tran, Wan Yi asked me to pass this along to you.

Lam Tran opened the envelope, sliding out the letter nestled inside. She was far too familiar with Su Wan Yi’s handwriting—through four long years of university, the two had been roommates, and Wan Yi had constantly relied on her to copy down lecture notes. The letter read:

Tran, I am so sorry. I know that no amount of apologies can undo the damage now. As for that sum of one million two hundred thousand, I will steadily transfer five thousand yuan into your account every single month until it is fully paid off in twenty years. I do not dare to beg for your forgiveness; I only hope that whenever you happen to think of me in the future, you will not believe that the past eight years were entirely a facade. I truly cherished our friendship; it is simply my own fault for being unworthy. I sincerely wish you and Attorney Shen everlasting happiness. —— Su Wan Yi.

Lam Tran finished reading, folded the paper neatly, and tucked it back into her handbag.

Miao Chu asked cautiously: Will you forgive her?

Lam Tran paused in thought for a brief moment, then picked up her mug of beer and took a small sip: Forgiving her is God’s domain. My sole task is to ensure she pays off every last cent of her debt.

Shen Do chuckled softly beside her.

Miao Chu rolled her eyes playfully: Well then, what about your relationship with Attorney Shen... do your parents know yet?

The moment those words left her mouth, Lam Tran’s phone began to ring persistently. The caller ID flashed: Empress Mother.

Lam Tran took a deep, steadying breath and pressed the accept button. Before she could even utter a single greeting, her mother’s voice pierced straight through the ambient noise of the crowded hotpot restaurant: Lam Tran! What is this nonsense about you having a lawyer boyfriend? Your father attended a business association event today and actually ran into the chairman of the Heng Tai law firm, who mentioned that the two of you are dating! Why didn’t you inform your family about this sooner?

Mom, I was planning to bring him home this weekend...

What weekend are you waiting for? Tomorrow! Bring him over tomorrow without fail! I am telling your father to dig out that bottle of Maotai he has been hoarding for all these years!

Lam Tran’s jaw dropped. Before she could even remind her mother that Shen Do would be driving and thus unable to drink, the line went dead with a sharp click. She turned her head slowly toward Shen Do: Tomorrow, at my family’s house, my father wants to get you drunk on Maotai.

Shen Do remained silent for a full two seconds before speaking at a leisurely pace: In that case, I suppose I will take a taxi tomorrow.

Miao Chu burst into hysterical laughter.

After finally bidding farewell to Miao Chu, Lam Tran and Shen Do walked shoulder to shoulder down the quiet alleyway outside the restaurant. The cool autumn night breeze carried a faint fragrance of osmanthus blossoms, while the street lamps cast two elongated shadows stretching far behind them.