CHAPTER 287: CHAPTER 268 1921

Upon seeing the gigantic poster, Mickey suddenly recalled, "Yishu’s reminder jogged my memory. Yesterday, I saw on the entertainment news that Xingdong Media’s reality show, which they have been promoting, has invited a female guest. Seems like her name is Zhou Xiaoyu. It appears Xingdong is intentionally boosting her fame. First, let her gain popularity by appearing on the reality show, and then they can formally launch her career. I’m confident that Zhou Xiaoyu will get cast in big-budget films or TV dramas in the future."

Gu Qili wasn’t as deeply familiar with the entertainment industry as Mickey, but she did know of Xingdong Media. It was Bai Chengxi’s company, the largest star-making hub in Asia.

"Qiqi," said Mickey, scrutinizing Gu Qili carefully before turning to seek Chen Yishu’s opinion.

Chen Yishu also took a careful look between the two, and finally concluded, "There is a resemblance indeed."

It really was somewhat similar. It appeared that Mu Shuoqian hadn’t lied, she must be the one tangled in it. Everyone knew she resembled Zhou Xiaoyu, yet she couldn’t see even a hint of it herself.

"I’m going over there to take a look." Gu Qili spoke and headed towards the cookware section.

She walked briskly because she feared that lingering any longer might make her unable to control her tears. Now, whenever she saw anything related to him, she would involuntarily reminisce about that past, which was both sweet and sad for her.

Indeed, the feelings between them had become a thing of the past.

After purchasing all the necessary things, Chen Yishu and Mickey helped her make her new house feel like a home. That evening, Gu Qili cooked a rich meal both to celebrate her housewarming and to mark the beginning of her life as a single person.

After dinner, the three of them played a few rounds of the card game Landlord, only leaving late at night when Chen Yishu escorted Mickey home.

As soon as they left, the liveliness seemed to have been taken away with them. Sitting on the sofa, Gu Qili stared at the deck of cards still scattered on the coffee table, her memories once again drifting back to Jingshan.

It was lively that time. Nan Zhan and the others were there, playing cards until the early morning.

Some things, the more you try to forget them, the more vividly they are etched into memory. Even a single playing card could evoke a flood of past events for her.

The WeChat notification sounded twice. Chen Yishu and Mickey had sent messages confirming their safe arrival home. After replying to them, Gu Qili naturally opened her photo album. She wasn’t a selfie fanatic; the album had few pictures. Her favorite two had been framed with an app, and they stood out at first glance.

Those were photos of her and him in Provence. He, rarely seen smiling, had a grin on his face, while hers was nearly pressed against his, both of them smiling happily at the camera.

It turned out that those times you can’t return to are indeed the most beautiful.

As Gu Qili kept looking, a teardrop gently fell on the screen, followed by another, and then another.

On the sofa, the frail girl buried her face in her phone, clutching it tightly with both hands, as if trying to grasp something, crying inconsolably.

Mu Shuoqian gazed at the photo on his phone, remembering that despite being together for so long, they hadn’t really taken many pictures. This one was taken after she cajoled and pestered him, and although he appeared somewhat aloof, the slightly upturned corner of his lips betrayed his joy at the time.

After setting up WeChat for her, he’d quietly used her phone to send the picture to himself, and these were the only two images on his phone, reviewed over and over countless times.

Aside from the wedding certificate photo, this was their first photo together. He was as excited and nervous as a young boy at the time when their heads were leaning together.

Thinking of the marriage certificate, Mu Shuoqian hastened to open a drawer, from which he retrieved a small red box containing a quiet little red book.

He still remembered the scene when they went to get the certificate. Despite feeling overjoyed, he had to pretend to be reluctant, as if marrying her was the most disagreeable of affairs.

In their wedding photo, he looked very serious, but deep in his eyes lay happiness and contentment so dense they couldn’t be dispersed.

The time she gave him turned out to be the most dazzling and beautiful moments of their years.

Even though their story ended in sadness, he was immensely grateful to the heavens for their blessing.

~

After leaving Jingshan, Gu Qili went back to commuting by public transportation for work. She had considered quitting, but her original intention was to learn and gain experience. Passing up such a good opportunity would make it difficult to find another suitable place.

Moreover, Mu Shuoqian wouldn’t come to a French Restaurant for inspections on a whim. Even if she stayed, she wouldn’t see him.