She looked a little nostalgically at the mango trees, feeling rueful.

Unexpectedly, all these years had passed by in such a hurry. It had been so quick that one had not even had the time to reminisce. It felt like the graduation ceremony had been just yesterday. Who could have imagined that the next ten years and more would have flown by just like that?

He looked up slightly and followed her gaze to inspect the trees on both sides. His face suddenly flashed with a faint smile as he said very calmly, "These trees were planted during my year, but now they've grown pretty tall. Still, everything here still feels quite familiar. It's not that different from how it was. The campus' reforestation just looks a little nicer now."

Xi Xiaye nodded, gladly agreeing. "It's the west side that seems to have had quite a few new blocks of school buildings..."

"Let's go take a look at the field."

Then, with his arm around her, they continued to walk ahead through the multi-purpose building and towards the little gate to the field. After passing a small area of withered peach blossom forest, the field lay ahead.

Under the lights on the side of the field, Xi Xiaye could see two very young and innocent students playing basketball on the field. Their lively figures and rare skills attracted her.

...

Mu Yuchen went to the sink at the side to wash his hands. When he returned, he noticed that she was already nowhere to be seen. He looked around and then noticed that she had somehow made her way to the field. At the moment, she was casually dribbling the ball and happily shooting hoops...

It was a rare sight to see her this relaxed. Her thin and slender figure traveled through the faint mist, completing one sweet move after another. With her flexible and practiced skill highlighted by her valiant posture, this was the first time he noticed that women looked pretty cool playing basketball.

When she realized he was looking, she stopped what she was doing. Holding onto the ball, she looked at him, her twinkling eyes still flickering with light. She thought about it, then tossed the ball in her hand to him. "Come over and shoot a few hoops."

Mu Yuchen reached out to catch the ball. He strolled over unhurriedly, and subconsciously looked down at her shoulder. She immediately said, "It's fine already. It was just a small injury. Come on, I'll block and you shoot."

Then, before he could say anything, she was already prepared in her stance.

When Mu Yuchen saw her little face brimming with radiance, he raised his handsome brows. "Are you that confident that you'll be able to block me?"

Xi Xiaye smiled. "We'll try and see. If you win then, tonight I'll treat you to dinner. Otherwise, you'll be treating me to dinner. Oh, tonight I want French..."

"Well then, for you to treat me, Missus, I'd have to win no matter what!"

Then, his long hands moved and the basketball in her hand fell to the ground. His tall figure jumped, his speed so quick that one failed to react, and then after dodging like a phantom, an accurate slam dunk was beautifully completed.

Xi Xiaye was stunned as she watched the empty space before. Dazed for a while, she suddenly turned around and only managed to see the scene where the ball fell into the basket while he already stood on the side and grinned at her.

She frowned. "This one doesn't count! This doesn't count! I wasn't even ready! Come again!"

Mu Yuchen caught the ball and did as she wished, yet after a few times, she still was not able to block him. In the end, she said angrily, "The ones before don't count. Let's change to me shooting and you blocking. I used to be the frontline shooter."

Mu Yuchen went with her wishes. He leaned forward slightly as both his eyes stared ahead vigilantly at Xi Xiaye who was skilled and ready to make her shot.

Xi Xiaye did not expect his defense to be so tight either. She paced back and forth, finding it hard to even find a path through, especially with the height difference. There seemed to be slight difficulties if she wanted to launch a surprise attack.

At this moment, little droplets started following slowly from the hazy horizon. The field that had not dried thoroughly yet gradually began to be soaking wet.

Amidst the mild rain, the husband and wife were in a game of pursuit. The misty rain engulfed their figures in a layer of tranquility and peace.

"Mr. Mu, aren't you planning to yield?" Xi Xiaye dribbled the ball skillfully as she looked at him, squinting.

Mu Yuchen chuckled. The vigilance in his eyes did not diminish at all. "Well, it's rare that you're in the mood to treat me, so I've decided to go all out for this candlelight dinner that's worth the anticipation."

Xi Xiaye smiled, her beautiful and elegant face akin to a blossoming orchid. Her eyes were brimming with a gentle light. Seeing her smile, he could not help but feel his cold heart waver as feelings of tenderness grew in his heart.

How was he to say that he actually did not want to probe the increasing effect she had on him?

He heard that happiness was not about how much whoever invested, but about tolerance and understanding, and bickering less...

She suddenly lowered her body, and in the midst of his puzzlement, she gently planted a kiss on his lips. He was suddenly distracted for a moment. However, Xi Xiaye had also seized this very moment. Her slender figure made a swift spin and passed him almost phantom-like, leaving only a faint, elegant fragrance...

When he realized he had been tricked, Mu Yuchen quickly reacted and abruptly turned around to look. However, she had long passed him and with a swift and cool movement, she tossed the basketball into the basket.

The ball had very accurately fallen into the basket and bounced on the ground. He looked up slightly towards her in the rain to see her looking smug with herself. His eyes revealed a hint of that had not faded as if what she had just broken through earlier was not just his defense against her, but maybe a little bit of something else too...

He snapped back after quite a while. His expression quickly returned to normal as he looked up at the drizzle that was becoming increasingly heavy, reaching out a hand to her. "Come here!"

She raised her brows and looked up at the sky too. Then, she abided and went over.

"The rain's getting heavy. Let's go home, but tonight it's your treat... Mmm!"

Before she could finish, he had already lowered his head and shut her up with a kiss, pushing back all the words she wanted to say.

Xi Xiaye was stunned for a moment. She only felt his breath fill the air, and before she had time to really indulge in it, he had already backed away. Flirting and then stopping...

"I approve of you using more of such tricks against me the next time." He lowered his head and stared at her confused face, smiling. Before she could respond, he pulled away and walked to the side.

After a long while, Xi Xiaye realized what he meant and she instantly grinned. "Well then, Mr. Mu, you're saying that with my good looks, I can sugar-coat the bullets that attack you. Is that so?"

"Do you understand the meaning of 'good looks'?" He turned to her and looked at her disapprovingly.

Xi Xiaye...

The next day, the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, was Su Nan and Ruan Heng's wedding day.

She knew that there were many things to work on, so Xi Xiaye woke up bright and early and made the makeup artist bring along the gown straight to the Su residence first. Then, she called the hotel as well to instruct them about what they needed to take note of.

She worked busily the whole morning. After lunch, she went to the Shen residence with Mu Ycuhen.

At the Shen residence, Shen Wenna had long been waiting for Xi Xiaye. Initially, they were going to make a trip to the beauty salon, but seeing that time was pretty tight, the moment Xi Xiaye reached the entrance of the Shen residence, Shen Wenna had already brought her handbag out with her.

"You accompany Grandpa. Tonight, I still have to send Mother back, so you can tell Driver Wang to pick you up," said Xi Xiaye as she handed him his handphone.

Mu Yuchen nodded, pushing the door open. "Call me if there's anything."

"Mmm," Xi Xiaye responded. Across them, Shen Wenna had already walked over to greet Mu Yuchen, and then she got into the car. After confirming that she had buckled up, Xi Xiaye started the car.

Shen Wenna wore an elegant and fashionable hand-embroidered dress in a Western style with crane motifs. It matched a light blue scarf around her neck. She looked simple yet graceful and carried good taste. Her manner was elegant and moving.

Even Xi Xiaye could not help but be stunned when she saw this.

She had always been taken pride in Shen Wenna's elegant and gentle aura. Although she was clearly already 50 years old, she still looked so bright and attractive. She recalled how her father's eyes would always shift when her mother was mentioned. In fact...

When she remembered what had happened yesterday, Xi Xiaye's eyes suddenly dimmed. She hesitated for a moment before slowly saying, "Mother, yesterday Grandfather came looking for me... He knows about Mu Yuchen and me..."

"Mmm?" When Shen Wenna heard her, she looked up at Xi Xiaye. "And then?"

"Mu Yuchen said when Father returns tomorrow, the two families should have a meal together. From the other side, it might only just be Grandfather and Father, so I wanted to ask if you and Grandpa would like to come along too," Xi Xiaye said in a low voice.

Shen Wenna was startled and she lowered her gaze. She wanted to speak up after quite a while, but Xi Xiaye's voice came through once again.

"I hope that you can come too. Yesterday, at Yueying's general shareholders' meeting, it was announced that 20% of shares still in your name. Mu Yuchen said that that was something from Father, so... He kept feeling like it might be better to inform Father. What do you think?"

Shen Wenna's eyes clouded over while she seemed a little distracted, and she fell silent for a long time without answering Xi Xiaye. She just turned to look out the car window, looking faintly lonely.

"Mother, whatever happened between you and Father is the past. Now, Father... Why should you care about him so much? No matter what, life goes on. I really don't wish to see you get upset every time Father is mentioned. Otherwise, you should work hard to fight and get Father back..."

Shen Wenna was slightly shocked. There was a rueful coldness across her expression. "With all those things between your father and I, how could we start over just like that? Even though some things have passed, it doesn't mean that they have really ended. Otherwise, Yue Lingsi and the rest wouldn't have come knocking on our door."

As Xi Xiaye listened, she turned slightly stiff and breathed in. "Mother, don't worry. I won't let them be so arrogant next time. If they still dare to come to bother us, I'll destroy Yueying right away... But you and Father..."

"Xiaye, just think for yourself. You don't have to care about me," Shen Wenna plainly answered. "Back then, your father and I were very in love. I thought we could be together forever. He doted on me like I was a rare gem. Then, because of your grandpa's objections, I was stubborn and would rather run away from home and sever ties with my parents just to be with him..."

"While you should know the Xi family, I joined the family with nothing. Finally, I paid a disastrous price for my unruliness. I... I didn't want to believe that your father would actually cheat on me, and it was even with... I couldn't forget the moment when your grandpa and grandma begged me to let go. Your father was in a crucial phase at that point too."

"But, if you put it like that, with such a piece of obvious evidence like Xi Xinyi, if the higher-ups found out, they could topple Father anytime." Xi Xiaye could not help but be suspicious.

"Back then, Yue Lingsi ran away abroad after realizing she was pregnant, and she only returned to the country after Xi Xinyi was all grown up. Xi Xinyi didn't return to the Xi family as your father's biological daughter. Instead, she joined the family with Yue Lingsi. From a legal perspective, your father is rightfully her stepfather," Shen Wenna answered.

Xi Xiaye fell silent for a moment. She could not help but ask, "Well then, Mother, is Xi Xinyi really Father's biological daughter?"

"Mmm... By the time Yue Lingsi had been pregnant for two months, she had already done a DNA test. You and Xi Xinyi's birthdays are pretty close. Back then, you... Mother almost couldn't keep you. When I gave birth to you, it was tormenting. Your father was so worried back then..."

As if realizing that this topic was a little heavy, Shen Wenna suddenly changed the topic.

Xi Xiaye understood Shen Wenna too, so she did not ask further.

...

After the mother and daughter duo were done at the salon, they went straight to the Imperial Sky Hotel. When they reached, it was already the evening. At the wedding reception hall on the seventh floor, they could see from afar that Su Nan and Ruan Heng were standing underneath the floral arch and welcoming guests.

Su Nan wore a beautiful, snow-white wedding gown, looking absolutely charming. Ruan Heng wore a swallow-tailed suit and appeared extraordinarily dashing. Their faces were brimming with happiness and smiles that infected Xi Xiaye.

Xi Xiaye shot a look at Shen Wenna who was also smiling by her side. Then, she gently clung onto her arm and walked towards Su Nan and the rest.

"Xiaye, Aunty Shen! You're finally here. We've waited for you for a long time! You didn't answer your phone either!"

Xi Xiaye was not even close when Su Nan had already walked right up, glaring at Xi Xiaye. Then, she smiled at Shen Wenna. "Aunty Shen, you look really young and beautiful today!"

Shen Wenna gave a rare smile. "Oh, you, you're still so sweet with your words. I just love listening to what you have to say, but you're even more beautiful as the bride! I wish the two of you everlasting happiness!"

Then, she took out a huge red packet from her handbag to hand it to Su Nan.

Su Nan accepted it gratefully. "Thank you, Aunty Shen! Very soon, Xi Xiaye will have such a day too. She's probably the world's most beautiful bride. Even just thinking about it makes me proud. Haha..."

"Thank you, Aunty Shen!"

On the side, Ruan Heng smiled and thanked her too.

Su Nan looked excitedly at Xi Xiaye, while she just smiled calmly at her. She took out the red packet that Mu Yuchen had prepared and handed it to Su Nan. "Nan Nan, Ruan Heng, congratulations. You must be happy forever!"

When she reached out to take over the red packet, Su Nan suddenly asked softly, "Why didn't your man come with you?"

"I came with my mother. He won't be coming to join the fun, but he did prepare this red packet!" Xi Xiaye laughed softly.

"Master Mu prepared it?" Su Nan widened her eyes. She did not care for anything and immediately ripped the red packet open to gape at the cheque and greeting card. She immediately cried out, "Six nines! How generous! Xiaye, when you go back, please tell Master Mu that my respect for him is as endless as uninterrupted torrential rivers!"

As she said this, she hugged the red packet and said softly, "Xiaye, I think I'm getting rich from organizing this wedding. You and Master Mu should quickly have yours. With Master Mu's influence, there'll be so many cash gifts for sure. Keep all of them to yourself and have it as pocket money... Just thinking about it makes me shiver. I'm telling you, for today's wedding, Ruan Heng and I've already discussed that all of the cash gifts will go to me. His salary will be managed by me too, haha..."

Su Nan seemed to be a pretty jovial mood today. The smile on her face was extremely radiant. On the side, Ruan Heng looked at her dotingly too. Xi Xiaye was genuinely happy for them from the bottom of her heart, yet she could not help but think, if she and Mu Yuchen would really organize their wedding in October, how would their wedding be like?

Every girl would have their own dreams of a beautiful wedding dress, and she was no different. She did not have reasons to fantasize back then, but now, had everything changed? Could she start looking forward to it again?

When they walked into the banquet hall, it was already almost fully seated. Xi Xiaye was Su Nan's best friend. In fact, because of her and Shen Wenna's status, they were guests of honor and their seats were arranged right beside Su Nan's table.

The wedding started soon. As she watched Ruan Heng put the ring on Su Nan's finger, and how Su Nan looked so happy that tears fell from her face, Xi Xiaye seemed to empathize with the same feelings. There was an indescribable feeling in her heart.

She stood up to hold the teacup up and wanted to sip her tea when she noticed the faintly flickering splendor on her hand too. Suddenly, a warmth crossed her heart.

After the wedding reception ended, the banquet began.

Many guests attended the wedding. Most of them were teachers from University A. Earlier, they had just sat down when Shen Wenna started chatting away with some teachers beside her, and when they found out that Xi Xiaye was Shen Wenna's daughter, everyone was in the same disbelief.

"No way! Professor Shen looks just slightly over 30! How unexpected of your daughter to be this grown!"

"Exactly! I've never seen Professor Shen talk about her family. I thought she wasn't married!"

"I heard that her daughter is a director at Glory World. That's pretty amazing!"

One by one, voices of envy were heard. Shen Wenna only smiled in response while Xi Xiaye did not say much either. She just drank a sip or two of wine once in a while as she watched Shen Wenna chat away with them.

A while after, when Su Nan had changed out of her wedding dress and returned to the hall with Ruan Heng, Su Nan dragged her alone to drink.

Su Nan and Ruan Heng had invited quite a lot of old classmates as well. Just like the previous gathering, Wang Zilou and Sun Mei had come as well.

"Xiaye, let's go over. The old classmates are there, and so are several university mates. Previously, I've said I'll go greet them. Let's go!" Su Nan pointed at the table near the balcony and smiled.

Before Xi Xiaye could answer, she was already dragged over to that table.

"Oh, our bride and groom are coming over!"

They had just gone closer when the sounds of teasing were heard. The table full of people instantly stood up. Even the classmates and friends from the neighboring table all swarmed up to them too.

It was Wang Ziluo and Sun Mei. However, what shocked Xi Xiaye was the fact that Xi Xinyi was unexpectedly there too! She was sitting right beside Wang Ziluo!

"Oh my God! Why is she here? Did we invite her?" When Su Nan saw Xi Xinyi's face, she instantly looked pissed off and turned to glare at Ruan Heng!

Ruan Heng shrugged innocently as he said gloomily, "I did follow your orders and only invited Wang Ziluo, but who would've thought that Sun Mei and the rest would've come too? Earlier, I didn't even see them at the entrance!"