Chapter 32

Chapter 32

The drive from the city to the nearby farmstead usually took around an hour when traffic was good. Today being the weekend and coinciding with summer vacation, the roads were congested, adding an extra half-hour to their journey.

When Wen Mochuan and his wife arrived at the farmstead, it was already six in the evening.

Although it wasn't dark yet, most of the guests seemed to have gathered.

Jiang Yiyan had been resting her eyes in silence during the car ride. The moment the vehicle stopped, she opened her eyes. After Xiao Chen opened the door for her, she stepped out of the car carrying a small bag.

Unlike her previous efforts to pose at home, she now paid close attention to her behavior, but naturally so. She walked with her head held high and chest out, her steps slightly smaller than usual, and her smile perfectly measured.

As Wen Mochuan approached from the other side of the car, Jiang Yiyan took the initiative to link arms with him.

Wen Mochuan seemed accustomed to this and showed no surprise.

There was a large banquet hall within the farmstead where the dinner party was naturally held. At this time, the guests, all dressed in their finest, mingled and chatted while waiting for the late arrivals.

Suddenly, someone rushed in and announced, "Wen Mochuan has arrived. There's someone with him, probably his wife." They used "probably" because they had never met Wen Mochuan's legendary wife before.

Naturally, Wen Mochuan was the center of attention today, along with Shu Yao.

Thanks to Wen Mochuan and Shu Yao, Wen Mochuan's wife also became a focal point.

Everyone was here today for two reasons: First, they saw this as an opportunity to potentially find business collaborations. Second, their curiosity was piqued by the past "battle for a husband," which ended with Shu Yao stepping back. Many classmates hadn't even understood what happened when the golden couple of the class broke up.

Today, the former lovers would meet again. Even if they couldn't rekindle their romance, wouldn't there be some sparks?

Moreover, everyone had heard about Wen Mochuan's wife. Rumor had it that she was a wealthy heiress and Shu Yao's step-sister. They grew up under the same roof, yet their personalities seemed worlds apart.

Everyone eagerly awaited Jiang Yiyan's arrival, but when she finally appeared, they were stunned.

They couldn't believe that the woman standing before them, exquisitely dressed in a cheongsam with every gesture perfect, was Wen Mochuan's wife.

The hall fell silent. Everyone's thoughts converged, and their gazes eventually landed on Shu Yao, curious about her reaction.

To everyone's surprise, Shu Yao was gracious and greeted them with a smile.

"Mochuan, Yiyan, you're here. Everyone's here, just waiting for you. Please, take a seat over here."

Jiang Yiyan released Wen Mochuan's arm and linked hers with Shu Yao's instead.

"I was going to ask you before we left if you needed a ride. But Mochuan said you came early?" Jiang Yiyan was equally poised and graceful. If anything, she outshone Shu Yao's magnanimity.

Shu Yao nodded. "I was bored at home, so I came with Xu Yan and the others. By the way, let me introduce you to our class president." Xu Yan happened to approach them at that moment.

"This is our class president, Xu Yan." Then she introduced Jiang Yiyan, simply saying, "This is Yiyan." She didn't mention their relationship, not wanting to risk offending anyone.

After all, since she joined the family, Yiyan hadn't been particularly welcoming.

Though Yiyan had become more reasonable and easier to get along with, to avoid unnecessary complications, Shu Yao thought it best not to bring up their connection.

But while Shu Yao didn't mention it, Jiang Yiyan did. She extended her hand to Xu Yan in a friendly gesture and introduced herself, "Hello, I'm Shu Yao's sister. She's older than me, so she's my elder sister."

No one slaps a smiling face, especially someone like Xu Yan, who was both intelligent and emotionally intelligent. In response to Jiang Yiyan's friendly overture, Xu Yan warmly greeted her.

"Hello, Miss Jiang. I'm Xu Yan. Yao Yao mentioned you before, but you're even more beautiful than she described."

Jiang Yiyan smiled modestly. "Yao Yao is the real beauty. You flatter me too much, Miss Xu."

Shu Yao was indeed beautiful, the class flower. Even among the entire grade, she was considered one of the most beautiful.

However, beauty comes in different forms, and even beauties can be ranked. Shu Yao's beauty was fresh and natural, like a lotus emerging unsoiled from mud. Jiang Yiyan, on the other hand, was striking and radiant, like a flower of wealth blooming in the world.

While each had their own charm, when they stood together, Shu Yao seemed understated and almost bland in comparison.

Standing side by side, anyone with eyes could see who outshone the other.

Despite knowing each other for over a decade, this was the first time Shu Yao felt truly overshadowed by Jiang Yiyan. She always knew her stepsister was beautiful, but perhaps due to her previously unlikable personality, she had never truly appreciated her.

From now on, however, Jiang Yiyan would be an existence she could no longer ignore.

Watching people approach Jiang Yiyan to greet her, Shu Yao suddenly felt a sense of loss and sadness.

It was as if everything that should have belonged to her was gradually shifting towards Jiang Yiyan—first Wen Mochuan, and now these classmates.

She had spent five years trying to move on, believing she had succeeded. But now, she wasn't sure if she had truly let go. She feared losing control and unleashing years of pent-up emotions.

As the crowd surrounded Jiang Yiyan, Shu Yao quietly slipped away.

Xu Yan noticed and followed her.

Behind the villa where the banquet hall was located was a small garden. The flowers and plants were clearly well-tended. Stepping outside into the fresh air, Shu Yao felt a sense of relief.

Xu Yan followed closely behind. Both remained silent as they walked.

After a while, Shu Yao asked Xu Yan, "Do you think I'm being petty?"

Xu Yan immediately shook her head. "Of course not. Your reaction is completely understandable."

Shu Yao then said, "It's been five years. I thought I had moved on, but now I'm not so sure. I know there's no chance between Mochuan and me anymore, but thinking about our past still makes me sad. Sometimes, I regret being too weak back then, giving up so easily. If I had been braver and fought harder, maybe things would be different today."

Xu Yan was Shu Yao's closest friend during college and knew the details of her relationship with Wen Mochuan better than anyone. Over the past five years, despite being abroad, Shu Yao had maintained contact with Xu Yan.

Compared to Wu Jingmeng's boisterousness, Xu Yan was calm and steady, making her the preferred confidant for Shu Yao's innermost thoughts.

So, Xu Yan has a deep understanding of Shu Yao's emotional journey.

Xu Yan knows about her past struggles and pain, and understands her current disappointment and regret.

But Xu Yan is a rational person, and as an outsider, she can see things more clearly. What's done is done, and what's past is past. There's no use in regretting not having persisted back then.

It's better to break free from self-pity and start anew, embarking on a new chapter of life.

So Xu Yan advises Shu Yao, "Love is just a part of life, not all of it. Without love, we still have so much else. Family, friendship, even career... which one isn't more fulfilling than love?"

"Yao, think about it. Back then, you turned misfortune into blessing. If not for that incident, how could you have resolved to study abroad? If not for the despair and disillusionment from that ambiguous relationship, how could you have devoted yourself to your studies over these five years and achieved what you have now? In everything, there are gains and losses. Smart people don't waste their time on impossibilities. Don't be foolish."

Xu Yan is clear-headed, and she hopes Shu Yao can be too. To distance herself from Wen Mochuan and focus on finding a good job—these are what she should be doing now.

Whether the couple's relationship is good or not has nothing to do with her. If she were to act out of line, she would be making a grave mistake.

Shu Yao knows what Xu Yan is implying, and she smiles helplessly. "How could I? How could I do such a thing. It's just that..." before, she had always stood on the moral high ground. Even if she didn't criticize Jiang Yiyan, others would do it for her.

But now, Jiang Yiyan is no longer the Jiang Yiyan of the past. It seems that by simply changing a little and being slightly kinder, she can change how others perceive her, even erasing the things she once did.

Why should it be so?

She lost her love and her place on the moral high ground. This leaves her feeling deeply aggrieved.

She knows that such thoughts are wrong, unkind, and somewhat dark. But who says she must be kind?

Why must she always be the one to back down whenever she and Jiang Yiyan clash? Why can Jiang Yiyan transform into a completely virtuous person by merely making slight changes after doing so many wrongs?

And why, when she has never done anything morally reprehensible, would she face public condemnation if she ever crossed the moral line?

The reason Xu Yan is advising and hinting at her today is because she believes Shu Yao shouldn't take that step.

Reason tells her not to do it. But people can be impulsive, and she can't predict what she might do in a moment of impulsiveness.

It's unfair, truly unfair.