Chapter One: Is He Still the Same Person?

It was utterly unexpected.

Xiaoxiao Ni felt she must not have accumulated enough good karma in her past life to run into Lin Shuo again in such a chaotic moment.

Across the Mediterranean-style floral arrangements, he stood right beside the groom, Ziyu Zeng. The groomsman’s suit fit him perfectly, so much so that he outshone the striking groom, making him seem almost a mere backdrop. At a glance, Lin Shuo still looked as refined and upright as she remembered.

Now, Lin Shuo was standing on the other side of the flowerbeds, his gaze fixed on her, and all she felt was overwhelming embarrassment.

She held up the hem of her long dress, exposing high heels caked with dirt beyond recognition. Strands of hair, blown loose from her hairpin, fell across her shoulders, and the makeup she had applied in the morning had long since smudged from rushing about.

The wedding was held on the lawn of Seaside Park, and due to unexpected events and certain peculiar circumstances, she, a bridesmaid, had been relegated to stagehand and overseer.

Compared to Lin Shuo, her disheveled state was simply a disaster.

Her mind was consumed by two thoughts: one, to turn invisible; two, to demand of the bride why the groomsman wasn’t the one they’d confirmed beforehand. The first was obviously impossible—she was already exposed.

Lin Shuo was regarding her as though studying and pondering. She couldn’t help but admit, if she had a mirror, she might not even recognize herself, perhaps only by the scar on her left ring finger, shaped like a ring, could she be sure of her own identity.

“Xiaoxiao?” Lin Shuo’s tone was as if seeking confirmation.

Still that familiar, intimate way of speaking—she almost couldn’t withstand it. So much time had passed, she felt a little dazed.

Thinking back, it had already been four years.

She forced a smile and said, “Long time no see.” Her hands hid behind her back, fingers twisting together unconsciously, as tangled as her feelings at that moment.

Lin Shuo slid his hands into his pockets, eyebrows raised, a trace of mockery playing at his lips. “Didn’t expect to see you again,” he said, sounding a bit surprised. It was his usual expression—she hadn’t liked it in the past, finding it unbearably sarcastic, but since their split, no one had spoken to her quite like that again. She wasn’t sure whether it was a blessing or a curse.

“Yes, it was unexpected.” She couldn’t help but feel wistful. On the day they broke up, she’d said every harsh word she could, leaving no room for turning back; he was in such pain, he’d almost wanted to tear her apart. Yet now, here they were, exchanging pleasantries with a smile—how fate toys with people.

“Xiaoxiao, Xiaoxiao…” The walkie-talkie suddenly blared. She pulled herself from her thoughts, pressed the button, and asked, “What’s going on?”

“The bride’s lost her earring, and the sound engineer’s ranting about a burned-out circuit.”

Everything that could go wrong was happening at once! She didn’t hesitate: “You handle the sound engineer, I’ll check on the bride. Stop wasting time, get it done quickly.”

Lin Shuo witnessed it all, the corner of his mouth lifting in a smile. Behind her, the rows of ceremonial chairs on the lawn looked like a vast army, yet she was still the same daring Xiaoxiao Ni, charging ahead without hesitation.

She shrugged at Lin Shuo. “Sorry.” He understood, extending his right hand in a gesture of invitation.

She turned and strode across the grass, her chest rising and falling with a deep breath. It wasn’t as awkward as she’d imagined; there was no need to ignore him or turn hostile—those were tricks for romance dramas, not real life, which needed no ratings. Meeting again, she could be calm about it; after all, they had once been in love.

Sometimes, she even wondered if perhaps she hadn’t wronged him at all, that everything was nothing but a sudden illusion—so real that both of them had believed in it.

Lonely Moments, Never Talk of Love—Chapter One: Is He Still the Same Person? (End of update)