Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Actually, I’d known Qiao Xia for a very long time.

Five years ago, my cousin got married and sent an invitation to our family.

I called him my cousin, but he was really one of those distant relatives we barely kept in touch with.

My mom knew him well. I didn’t.

I’d finally gotten a day off, and I’d already made plans with a few buddies: basketball in the afternoon, barbecue at night, then gaming until dawn.

So I had no intention of staying at that wedding for long. No-at that point, I didn’t want to stay there for another second.

At the banquet, relatives I knew and didn’t know kept asking my mom:

“Is this your son? He’s already this grown-up?”

“What’s his zodiac sign?”

“What does he do for work?”

“Is he seeing anyone?”

“How much does he make a month?”

“Oh, right, my nephew got detained yesterday. Could Little Lou put in a word for him? Pull some strings and get him released?”

…

I didn’t even think before saying, “No.”

The lively table instantly fell awkwardly silent.

The auntie who’d just asked me to pull strings turned visibly red.

My mom jabbed me with her elbow. “Louzi, I think Mom’s brooch fell off outside. Go help me look for it.”

I understood what my mom meant.

So I took the rose brooch off my mom’s collar and clenched it in my hand.

I said, “Sure, Mom. I’ll go look right now.”

My mom: “…Ah, haha, go on.”

The air felt much fresher once I walked out of the banquet hall packed with people.

I found a sofa, sat down, took out my phone, and sent a message in our small group chat.

“Get online. PUBG.”

Buddy 1: “Coming, coming.”

Buddy 2: “Wait a sec, bathroom break.”

Buddy 3: “Louzi, weren’t you at a wedding banquet today? You done eating already?”

Me: “Boring. Not eating.”

I sent my mom a WeChat message: “Something urgent came up at work, I’m heading out first. Let me make this clear: I’m not dating, don’t let them introduce anyone to me, I’m not pulling illegal strings, and don’t promise anyone anything on my behalf.”

My mom: “Get lost, get lost.”

After sending that, I stood up and headed out while messaging the group chat: “Wait for me, I’ll be home soon.”

I was in a rush to play, so I walked fast and mashed the elevator button like crazy.

Ding-

The elevator doors opened.

A girl walked out. She was wearing a pink bridesmaid dress, so pretty she looked like a doll.

She was on the phone, seemingly dealing with work. “Sister Lin, I gathered this data from twenty stores myself. It’s absolutely accurate. If you don’t believe me, I can show you the videos.”

She glanced at me, then looked back at the elevator and asked, “Aren’t you getting in?”

For some reason, my heart started pounding.

I shoved my hand into my pocket and tightened my grip on my mom’s brooch. “No. My mom’s brooch fell off. I’m looking for it.”

She smiled. “Okay.”

With that, she headed toward the VIP lounge.

I watched her from behind, then silently took out my phone, opened the group chat, and sent a message: “The banquet’s starting. I thought about it, and I actually do kind of want to eat. You three play without me.”