Finale – Wedding

Of course, live streaming the wedding will be inconvenient, so Shang Lu and decided to upload the final recording online after discussing it with Chi Yan.

Wenren Yan, who has a hobby of photography, was entrusted this important task.

On the wedding day, Wenren Yan arrived at the venue with a team of photographers, rubbed his eyes after reaching the location, and asked, “Am I dreaming?”

He had seen all kinds of grand scenes before, but he had never seen a wedding held in an amusement park!

What’s more, this amusement park seemed a bit familiar. It looked like it belonged to his family.

Originally an adorable animal-themed amusement park, today it was decorated romantically and warmly, making the park’s value seem to have doubled instantly.

Since he arrived early, Wenren Yan sent the address to his father and called to confirm, “Is this our family’s?”

Wenren Yan’s father on the other end replied, “It used to be. The Chi family bought it quite early, and it’s said they spent a lot renovating the theme hotel inside. You should learn from them.”

Wenren Yan : “…”

Shang Lu and Chi Yan were indeed extraordinary people.

However, it was quite interesting.

At this moment, everyone had clear roles.

Jiang Jing memorized the emcee’s lines, Ye Lu was busy training Da Guai to bring the ring box on stage to ensure that segment went smoothly, Xu Ze accompanied Xiao Mi and Ruanruan, who were playing, and reluctantly switched to ‘babysitting mode.’ On the other side, Ou Yi and Lin Yanyan had changed into their bridesmaid and bestman attire.

The reason Ou Yi became the bestman for Shang Lu and Chi Yan’s wedding was simple : he had excellent alcohol tolerance.

Although Ou Yi himself didn’t usually like to drink, he had a magical constitution that could handle a thousand cups without getting drunk. None of the friends on both sides could outdrink him, making him the perfect choice to be the bestman for toasts.

Ou Yi was extremely proud of this, considering that fate had favored him, a divine intervention!

The wedding was about to officially begin, and everyone on-site was busy, heightening the tension.

Song Zeqian, dressed in a suit, walked down and asked, “Where’s Shang Lu? She’s not upstairs, and her phone is not reachable.”

Everyone : “?”

Could the last problem arise from Shanglu?

Lin Yanyan’s face was as round as a steamed bun as she said, “I vaguely remember Shang Lu saying she was afraid of starting a family.”

Ou Yi took over Lin Yanyan’s words and asked, “Could Shang Lu have run away from the wedding?”

Lin Yanyan’s expression turned serious, “We can’t rule out that possibility.”

Everyonev: “!”

Song Zeqian immediately said, “Stop everything you’re doing and search separately.”

Ye Lu somehow found a bunch of disposable slippers from somewhere and gave everyone a pair, saying, “Put them on! High heels won’t be convenient if Shang Lu is escaping!”

Jiang Jing said with a wry smile, “I think it’s unlikely.”

As it turned out, everyone had indeed overthought the situation.

When they found Shang Lu, they saw her sitting on a carousel in a wedding dress, with Chi Yan taking photos of her. Wenren Yan stared at the camera and said, “Gently, gently! Don’t damage my baby!”

Everyone : “…”

In the end, all those slippers naturally landed on Ye Lu.

What were they thinking!

The most suitable outdoor location for a wedding in the entire amusement park was naturally in front of the castle where they watched fireworks that day. The castle was actually the theme hotel of the amusement park, and the guests could go in for dinner later.

At this moment, the entire amusement park looked like a sea of roses.

Of course, everyone knew that Shang Lu was allergic to roses, so these roses were naturally fake.

Because every guest who received an invitation had to learn to make a handmade rose at the entrance as a blessing to the newlyweds before entering.

The roses on the main stage were made by Chi Yan himself, and the total number of roses needed for the decoration of the entire amusement park was more than ten thousand. Chi Yan specially hosted a live broadcast for the handmade tutorial, and the fan club was responsible for tallying the list and sending materials. Fans of Shang Lu from all over the country made and sent them, representing the blessings of each fan for their wedding.

This was an amusement park, but also a new rose manor.

Whether it was family love, friendship love, or the unconditional love of fans, each rose carried affection, and each expression of love was worthy of eternal preservation.

This was a special wedding, and also the best wedding.

Wang Rong and Xue Zishan each held one of Shang Lu’s hands, accompanying her down the red carpet to stand in front of Chi Yan.

Shang Lu couldn’t help but glance at the audience below.

Family and friends applauded and cheered, but there were some silent and somber figures in the crowd, seemingly out of place in such a lively atmosphere.

Shang Mu was also there.

She personally sent the invitation to Shang’s mansion.

Shang Lu withdrew her gaze, wiped the tears from Xue Zishan’s eyes next to her, and looked at her lover in front of her.

She had her own family now and was no longer alone.

Da Guai wagged his tail and climbed onto the stage with the ring box, successfully completing his mission.

Amidst everyone’s blessings, they exchanged rings.

They also invited the magician who distributed candies to the children on New Year’s to perform. However, this time, when he waved his hand, countless white doves were released, symbolizing happiness and hope.

Chi Yan lowered his head to kiss Shang Lu’s cheek and said, “From today, everything of mine belongs only to you.”

Shang Lu remembered the day when her relationship with Chi Yan truly started to change.

She exposed her own meanness and selfishness, but in return, he willingly became her ally, standing firmly behind her.

That day, he also said these words.

But at that time, she was too timid to admit this love, so she chose to deceive herself.

But now it’s different.

Shang Lu smiled and said, “Then I’ll gladly accept them all without hesitation.”

Someone in the audience shouted, “Let’s give our blessings to the new couple! Let’s sing a chorus of the wedding march together!”

Shang Lu : “?”

Isn’t that a piano piece? How do we sing it?

“Dang dang dang~”

Shang Lu figured it out. This rhythm was led by Ou Yi. It was his first time attending a friend’s wedding, and he was so moved that his voice was choked with emotion, and he sang horribly.

The others weren’t much better, following along singing while clapping the beat, and in the end, they all went off key together.

Still the same as before.

Only Ye Lu shouted with all his might, “This is a wedding! A wedding! Wake up, all of you!”

Of course, the groom and bride didn’t really care.

If it sounds bad, so be it. It’s not the first time.

At the end of the wedding.

Instead of throwing the bouquet, Shang Lu walked up to Shang Mu holding it.

Shang Lu handed the flowers to Shang Mu, who was a bit stunned but still accepted them.

Shang Lu smiled at him and said, “You should find happiness soon too.”

Not just Shang Mu.

Everyone on this journey has walked a difficult path, so everyone deserves to be happy.

—End of the story—

---

rokumi’s note : the journey of laughter with Lulu ends here! Honestly, the dog food was a bit lacking, but I’m glad Lulu found her happiness!

---

Finale – Wedding

Ou Yi’s words sounded absurd, and Shang Lu hadn’t taken them seriously at first. However, seeing Chi Yan’s somewhat unnatural expression, she instantly realized that there might be some truth to it and immediately asked, “You’re really hiding something from me?”

“It’s not a big deal,” said Chi Yan, reaching out to hold Shang Lu’s hand again. He continued, “Trust me, let’s go home first.”

As Shang Lu and Chi Yan left, Ou Yi shouted from behind, “Teacher Shang Lu! You must make this man speak the truth!”

Mother Chi looked at Ou Yi, suspicious, and asked, “What can you see?”

The reason she was willing to take Ou Yi as her disciple was simply because she felt he had a devout heart, knowing well that he didn’t have much ability.

The ability to rewind time requires sufficient talent, and even a witch with this ability would not succeed without performing any rituals.

She knew Ou Yi couldn’t see anything, but she chose to remain silent because of her son’s unusual reaction.

Ou Yi happily said, “I saw it, I really saw it. Three months ago, I passed by a jewelry store and saw Chi Yan buying a ring. There has been no movement since then. Shouldn’t we push him a bit?”

It was rare for Mother Chi to be speechless.

So, this was the kind of ‘seeing’ he meant—it was really seeing with his own eyes.

And Father Chi’s voice was very loud: “Wife! We’re going to be grandparents!”

Mother Chi : “…”

No, her son hadn’t even taken out the engagement ring. It hadn’t reached that point, right?

On the way home, Shang Lu deliberately looked out the window, completely ignoring whatever Chi Yan said.

Although Shang Lu believed that Chi Yan wouldn’t do anything to hurt her, he was keeping a secret from her, and that was not acceptable!

It continued until they arrived home.

Chi Yan took out a small box from the room, opened it, and handed it to Shang Lu. Inside was a ring.

A ring identical to the one Xiao Mi had made for her, but clearly much more expensive.

Shang Lu exclaimed, her hand on her lips for a few seconds before reacting with joy, “Is this specially made?”

“Yeah,” Chi Yan took the ring out of the box and tried to put it on Shang Lu’s finger, saying, “Since you were reluctant to wear that one, you can wear this one casually.”

“I really like it,” Shang Lu withdrew her hand, admiring the ring she was wearing. She took a picture to show Xiao Mi but accidentally sent it to the group.

Almost everyone replied instantly.

Lin Yanyan : [ Ahhh! I’m the bridesmaid! No one is allowed to compete with me! ]

Ye Lu : [ ? ]

Xu Ze : [ Congratulations, congratulations 🎉 ]

Jiang Jing : [ Where is the wedding going to be held? ]

Song Zeqian : [ Notify in advance, or I won’t have time. ]

Ou Yi : [ Wow! @ChiYan, you’re quick! I didn’t misjudge you! A real man! Worthy of Teacher Shang Lu! ]

Shang Lu : “…?”

Wait, have they misunderstood something?

Or is it that she has underestimated things?

Chi Yan noticed Shang Lu’s dilemma and said, “It’s okay, next time I’ll explain it to them.”

Shang Lu breathed a sigh of relief.

Sure enough, Chi Yan had no intention of marrying her; they had misunderstood.

Why, after being together for so long, and practically living together, hasn’t Chi Yan proposed to her yet?

After being together for so long, there’s nothing to be shy about, that’s what Shang Lu thought, so she asked.

She looked at Chi Yan with a look of disdain, and Chi Yan, somewhat helpless, patted her head and said, ‘” remember you saying you didn’t want to get married.”

So, a long time ago, Chi Yan had prepared himself for just dating for a lifetime.

Shang Lu’s initial sense of grievance instantly turned somewhat awkward.

It seemed like she had indeed said such things before.

That was in the past…

After being with Chi Yan, she felt happy every day. Occasionally when passing by a bridal shop, she would find herself yearning for the pure wedding dresses in the window.

Originally sitting cross-legged on the sofa, Shang Lu now stood up, moved closer to Chi Yan, knelt on the sofa, and put her hands around his shoulders.

Chi Yan reached out to embrace her, concerned, “Why are you kneeling? Doesn’t your knees hurt?”

Shang Lu shook her head, just looking at him.

Chi Yan reached out to lift Shang Lu, adjusted their positions, letting her sit comfortably on his lap, and asked, “Okay, what’s wrong? Can you tell me now?”

With her face buried in his chest, Shang Lu took a while before saying softly, “Chi Yan, if it’s you, I’m willing.”

She lifted her head, expressing her thoughts more clearly, “If you’re the one who’s going to marry me, I want to give it a try.”

Chi Yan had never thought that his girlfriend would take the initiative in regards to marriage.

In just half a month, they prepared everything related to their wedding.

Because Mother Chi had prepared the most suitable wedding dates for them for the next ten years a long time ago.

The closest one this year was in twenty days, and the next one would have to wait for a whole year.

As the wedding invitations were about to be sent out, Shang Lu held Chi Yan’s hand. The other hand rested on her chest, feeling her own heartbeat, saying, “I’m a bit nervous.”

Because she’s about to get married.

So, after deciding on her thoughts the day after, she started preparing everything. Now, with everything arranged, in five days, they would really be having their wedding.

Chi Yan lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead, saying, “If you regret it, it’s okay.”

This was typical of Chi Yan; he respected all of Shang Lu’s choices, and she always had the power to be willful with him.

Whether she suddenly wanted to get married and prepared everything, or she was ready but hesitant to face it, it didn’t matter.

As long as she was happy, anything was acceptable.

Shang Lu’s initially wavering heart gradually calmed down under Chi Yan’s gentle words.

She asked herself, Am I willing to marry Chi Yan?

The answer is Yes; otherwise, she wouldn’t have brought it up proactively.

The current anxiety was just a normal physiological reaction before a big event. However, beyond that, there was a greater anticipation for the wedding and the future.

“I don’t regret it,” Shanglu replied, holding Chi Yan’s hand tighter. Her voice became more determined, “I want to have a family with you.”

Marriage, family.

With Chi Yan’s presence, these two words were no longer the source of her fear as they once were. Instead, they became new expectations.

Shang Lu and Chi Yan’s sudden announcement of their wedding day immediately became a hot topic.

Numerous media outlets approached them, seeking cooperation to obtain the live broadcasting rights for the wedding.

Initially, Shang Lu and Chi Yan declined the offers until Shang Lu saw the comments on their Weibo.

[Wah, is my baby girl really getting married?]

[Be happy! Chi Yan, you better take good care of my baby!]

[My CP is getting married! So happy!]

[I really want to see the wedding scene!]

[I’ll sign a blood contract for the wedding scene’s live broadcast!]

---

Finale – Wedding

In the third year of dating.

Early in the morning, Shang Lu was awakened by Da Guai pulling the corner of her blanket. Her hands were also a bit itchy, and when she opened her eyes, she saw Chi Yan squatting beside Da Guai, using a feather he found somewhere to tickle her palm.

Shang Lu picked up the nearby pillow to cover her face, feeling extremely sleepy. “Give you one minute, give me a reason to forgive you for disturbing my lazy sleep on a rest day.”

“Well, you rest well. I’ll go see my Mom’s boyfriend myself.” Chi Yan said as he walked away.

Shang Lu suddenly opened her eyes.

What? Chi Yan’s Mom’s boyfriend?

Shang Lu sat up abruptly, her eyes wide open. “What about your Dad?”

“I don’t know.” Chi Yan’s voice sounded relaxed as he explained the situation to Shang Lu. “My Dad just called and said my Mom has been acting strange lately. The day before yesterday, she even brought a young handsome guy home, and the two of them are inseparable, going early and coming back late. He asked me to come home and listen to his grievances. I wanted to invite you, but if you want to sleep, forget it.”

“No! I’ll go! I have to go!” Shang Lu immediately threw off the blanket, got out of bed, and hurriedly looked for clothes to wear. “Give me five minutes, and we’ll go back together to see the excitement… ah, I mean, to protect your family!”

Shang Lu followed Chi Yan back to Chi’s mansion.

In fact, this was not the first time Father and Mother Chi had quarreled, but Shang Lu never got tired of the drama.

The middle-aged man sat on the sofa as if he had lost his soul, tears streaming down his face. His eyes were lifeless as he stared at the ceiling, muttering, “What did I do wrong? Does your Mom no longer love me? Will she divorce me? I can’t bear to lose her, but I can’t stop her from choosing someone better than me.”

When Father Chi mentioned this, he suddenly looked at Chi Yan with a sense of urgency and asked, “If Mom and Dad are no longer together, will you stay with Dad or Mom? Do you like Dad more, or Mom more?”

Chi Yan : “?”

It hasn’t come to that point yet.

Shang Lu : “…”

—Can’t laugh, hold it in, absolutely can’t laugh.

Father Chi wasn’t really expecting Chi Yan’s answer with this question. The next moment, he continued to talk to himself, “You have to stay with Mom. It was too hard for her to endure ten months of pregnancy to give birth to you. You can’t not choose her. No, you have to stay with me. Only if you stay with me, your Mom will continue to tolerate me because she can’t bear to lose you! No… using a child to keep a wife is too selfish. I truly love her, and I should respect her. You should stay with your Mom…”

“Stop.” Chi Yan couldn’t listen anymore and interrupted his father’s ever-changing thoughts. He said, “I’m already an adult, you don’t have to worry about me if you get divorced.”

Shang Lu tugged at Chi Yan’s sleeve and said, “Shouldn’t we comfort him a little?”

“Don’t bother.” Chi Yan said, pulling Shang Lu’s hand and playing with it in his palm. He looked directly at his Dad and asked, “Are you done talking? When are we having lunch?”

Father Chi slapped the sofa directly, “Unfilial son! At a time like this, you’re still showing affection in front of a lonely old man about to be abandoned by his wife. How do I have a son like you!”

“What are you arguing about?” A lazy female voice sounded at the door. When she saw Shang Lu, her voice became cheerful again, “Lulu is here too.”

Father Chi stood up excitedly and asked, “Why did you bring him back again?”

Shang Lu and Chi Yan exchanged glances, and both saw the word ‘gossip’ in each other’s eyes.

Brought him back again?

It seems that the young handsome guy is here too!

Shang Lu curiously looked towards the door, only to find a tall and thin young man with his eyes covered by black cloth standing behind Mother Chi.

It was evident that he had recently dyed his hair light gray. He wore a strange black robe with a bunch of items that Shang Lu couldn’t understand hanging from his waist, all seemingly related to metaphysics.

But strangely, he was also wearing a pair of very expensive limited edition sneakers, which were very eye-catching in green colors.

Although the outfit was mismatched, even with his eyes covered, the young man’s handsome appearance was apparent…

Wait a minute, this person looks familiar.

Shang Lu tentatively called out, “Ou Yi?”

The young man didn’t even uncover the black cloth on his face; instinctively, he replied faster than his brain, “Teacher Shang Lu!”

The room fell into silence.

The young man instantly took off the black cloth and looked at Shang Lu in surprise, asking, “Why are you here?”

“This is his home.” Shang Lu pointed at Chi Yan, then looked at Ou Yi’s robe, asking, “Shouldn’t I be asking why you’re here?”

And he even became Chi Yan’s Mom’s… young boyfriend?

The relationships here are really complicated.

Shang Lu looked at Chi Yan and hesitated, “Shouldn’t you stop this? I’m afraid I’ll have to see you call Ou Yi ‘Dad’ in the future.”

Chi Yan also looked at her with an helpless expression, shrugging, “There’s nothing I can do. But you’ll have to join me in changing the way we address him.”

Shang Lu vigorously shook her head.

It’s really hard to believe that Ou Yi said sincerely, “I never thought that such a coincidental thing would happen in the world. My Teacher is Chi Yan’s Mother! Chi Yan, do you also understand metaphysics?”

Shang Lu : ?

Metaphysics? Oh, right, Ou Yi’s whole family is very superstitious.

There’s no strange relationships between Ou Yi and Chi Yan’s Mom, well… actually, it’s quite strange because Ou Yi is now Mother Chi’s direct disciple.

Therefore, Ou Yi moved into the Chi’s mansion, and every day, he followed Mother Chi in and out, dedicating himself to studying.

Upon learning that his marriage was not in crisis, Father Chi let out a sigh of relief.

Shang Lu, however, looked at Ou Yi with some surprise and asked, “Didn’t you inform anyone?”

“I pretended to be sick, and took a month off,” Ou Yi confidently replied. Then he looked at Shang Lu and asked her, “Do you want me to read your fortune?”

Shang Lu : “?”

Ou Yi had only just started learning, right? Could he really do it?

But looking at Ou Yi’s sincere eyes, Shang Lu didn’t want to undermine his confidence and nodded, “Go ahead, read it.”

Ou Yi took out a piece of talisman paper and had Shang Lu hold it in her hand. Closing his eyes, he extended his hand, as if performing a ritual, and said, “Something big is about to happen to you soon.”

Shang Lu, in accordance with his words, asked, “What big thing?”

“Significant changes in your emotional life are coming,” Ou Yi said, then looked at Chi Yan and added, “You too, reach out and hold it.”

Chi Yan did as instructed.

With closed eyes, Ou Yi muttered a few words that they couldn’t understand. Then he said, “You have a secret hidden from Shang Lu! A few months ago… about three months, did you go somewhere behind Shang Lu’s back? What happened there will change the status of your relationship! I have the ability to revisit the scene. Let me take a look… you were happily chatting with several beautiful ladies, and you even gave them money!”

---

IF Storyline • High School (Second Part) – I Like You

The anniversary celebration ended.

As they were leaving, Shang Lu collided with a boy wearing a baseball cap, and the cap fell to the ground.

Shang Lu bent down to pick up the cap for the boy. At the moment when their eyes met, she couldn’t help but exclaim, “Wow, you’re so handsome!”

The boy was stunned, took the baseball cap and hastily put it on, pushing the brim down. He said, “Don’t joke around.”

“I’m not joking.’ Shang Lu was about to say something when her attention was drawn to the conspicuous [ Leave of Absence Application ] in the boy’s arms. She asked, “Are you taking a leave of absence?”

“Yeah,” the boy responded and added, “I’m going to join SN’s trainee program.”

SN, the most famous idol agency, has produced numerous top idols both domestically and internationally.

Shang Lu immediately encouraged him, “Go for it, you will definitely debut!”

With his height and face, he was born to be an idol!

“Shang Lu, what are you doing here?” Chi Yan walked over, looking somewhat wary at the boy in front of her, and said to Shang Lu, “Your Brother has already met his friends; we should go back.”

“Nothing, just chatting with someone.” Shang Lu replied and waved goodbye to the boy, then followed Chi Yan out.

The boy with the baseball cap watched Shang Lu’s figure and silently repeated the name in his heart.

Her friend called her that.

She was incredibly good-looking, probably a student in the performing arts department.

If he had the chance to see her again.

He would tell her his name is Yu Su, thank her for today’s compliments and encouragement, and he would remember it forever.

After this visit to the school, Shang Lu’s determination to become a student here grew stronger.

As they left the school gate, they saw a middle school student in uniform running ahead, with his mother chasing after him.

The middle school student ran so fast, wailing as he ran, “Don’t chase me! I won’t go home! Let me go! Being an idol is my life and dream!”

His mother, holding a slipper, scolded, “Go abroad to be a trainee? Still going overseas. Have you ever left the province in your life? I think you’re about to be fooled!”

He ran, she chased, and they both were impossible to catch.

Originally, Shang Lu just wanted to watch the excitement, but she found a dropped name tag on the ground. Shang Lu could only hold up the name tag while shouting and chasing, “Ye Lu! Ye Lu, student from Grade 2, Class 17! You dropped your name tag!’

Of course, Shang Lu didn’t catch up in the end.

She thought she was running fast enough, but this mother and son were simply not at human speed.

If you asked her, what kind of idol should that child be? He should be an athlete representing the country.

Fortunately, the middle school was only a few minutes’ walk from here, and they left the name tag at the guardhouse before going home.

After a day of fun, everyone was exhausted.

After taking a bath, Shang Lu began to unwrap the gift from Chi Yan.

Inside the box was a large plush toy, almost identical to the one she had been cuddling in bed for the past few years, except for its size.

Could there be such a coincidence in the world?

Shang Lu took the huge plush toy out of the box and discovered that the pockets of its clothes were filled with an abundance of cookies, all of the same flavor, just like the ones the little boy had given her back then.

There was also a note.

[ Happy birthday, Shang Lu.

Hope you can live a happier life in the coming year, open your eyes wide, and stop mistaking others for me.

Shall we go to school together? Reply with ‘1’ if you agree, and I’ll pick you up. ]

Shang Lu lowered her head and tightly embraced the large plush toy.

After a while, she took out her phone and sent a message to Chi Yan.

The response was immediate.

[ Got it, see you in two days ]

---

Chi Yan calmly took Shang Lu’s school bag under the seemingly murderous gaze of Shang Mu and said, “Let’s go, let’s go.”

Shang Lu had slept too late the night before and was now extremely tired. After getting into the car, she tilted her head and fell asleep.

Chi Yan reached out, put his arm around Shang Lu’s shoulder, awkwardly adjusted her posture, allowing her to lean on his shoulder.

His lips were clearly smiling, but when the girl woke up a bit confused, he said, “My shoulder hurts from being pressed by you.”

Shang Lu thought she had fallen asleep and used someone as a pillow, but she was too tired to care, so she leaned back again.

Chi Yan was stunned, raised his hand, gently hugged her, and asked, “What are you doing?”

“Already leaning, let me sleep a little longer.”

After saying that, Shang Lu closed her eyes again.

---

Four months later, the college entrance examination was over.

Holding the admission letter from the Drama Academy, Shang Lu excitedly called Chi Yan to share her joy.

Chi Yan said, “Let’s have dinner together tonight and call Lin Yanyan.”

Shang Lu was a bit distressed and shook her head, “It’s not possible. Yanyan is currently on a diet and preparing to retake the exam. She said not to call her for dinner with more than 500 calories from now on.”

Lin Yanyan had been accepted to an ordinary university, but she was not satisfied with the result and decided to retake the exam.

Chi Yan was curious and asked her, “Why do you want to study acting?”

“I want to experience many different lives.” Shang Lu replied, supporting her cheek with one hand and already fantasizing about her beautiful future. “My dream is to become a great actress like Jiang Jing, to work with excellent directors like Song Zeqian.”

Chi Yan encouraged her along the lines of her dreams, “There will be such a day.”

Shang Lu suddenly expressed some dissatisfaction: “By the way, Jiang Yi came to see me again these past few days. He’s so annoying.”

“Got it, I’ll talk to him.” Chi Yan casually hooked his lips: “I can always beat him up again if necessary.”

“No!” Shang Lu immediately stopped, seriously saying: “Don’t use violence. You’ll get hurt too. I have a solution.”

“Oh?” Chi Yan squinted, showing some curiosity : “What solution?”

Shang Lu answered seriously : “Yanyan taught me that as long as I find a more outstanding boyfriend, Jiang Yi will feel ashamed and retreat willingly.”

“That is indeed a solution.” Chi Yan expressed his approval, asking her: “So, who do you want to find?”

The best candidate was far away on the horizon but close at hand.

However, Shang Lu said, “Yanyan mentioned that in the art institution she attended, many senior students from the Imperial Theatre Academy serve as teaching assistants. There’s one named Xu Ze from the year above us, extremely handsome! He’s the kind of aloof male god who doesn’t talk much, and many girls secretly admire him…’

Before Shang Lu could finish speaking, the video call was suddenly disconnected.

Chi Yan had never hung up on her before, to the point that Shang Lu began to check if her network was having issues.

Two minutes later, there was a knock at her door.

Shang Lu got up to open the door, and when she saw the person standing outside, she froze and asked, “Chi Yan, why are you here?”

The Chi family had bought a villa near the Shang’s mansion last month, and now they could barely be considered neighbors.

Before she could finish her sentence, she was suddenly embraced by the young man in front of her.

Summer was already hot, but perhaps because the indoor air conditioning was set a bit low, Shang Lu’s first reaction was not to push away, but rather to reciprocate the hug.

When she realized her thoughts, Shang Lu felt that her face was a bit warm.

Chi Yan lowered his head, hugging her even tighter : “If there’s something readily available, there’s no need to trouble others. Shang Lu, I like you.”

He was very straightforward, or perhaps he no longer wanted to conceal this emotion.

Shang Lu extended her hand to reciprocate Chi Yan’s hug, her voice soft : “Then, I’ll trouble you, boyfriend.”

At this moment, a furious roar sounded at the door.

“Chi Yan? You rascal! Let go! Let go of my sister!”

---

rokumi’s note : Father Shang is really the root of all evils. When he is gone, everything turned for the better (except for the sc*mb*g, of course). We’re going back to the main storyline in the next chapter, though. (I kinda want to see the battle between Chi Yan and Shang Mu who seemed to have turned into a siscon, though 🫣)

By the way, poor Ou Yi, only he didn’t appear 🤭

---

IF Storyline • High School (Second Part) – I Like You

After applying ointment to the wound on Shang Mu’s face, Shang Lu whispered, “Thank you, Brother.”

Shang Mu reached out his large, somewhat unfamiliar hand and gently stroked Shang Lu’s head, saying, “If anyone dares to bully you in the future, tell me right away.”

Ruan Yin walked over with two bowls of sweet soup, saying, “Quick, taste my latest creation.”

Shang Lu cheered and immediately sat down with a spoon, praising Ruan Yin’s cooking while chatting happily with her.

Shang Mu’s lips on one side slightly curled, saying, “You two seem quite close.”

“Of course, I like Little Sister, and Little Sister likes me.” Ruan Yin’s voice was gentle with a hint of indulgence. She wiped the corner of Shang Lu’s lips with affection, then looked at Shang Mu, giving a ‘warning,’ saying, “If one day you don’t like me or Little Sister anymore, we’ll kick you out together. Remember that, okay?”

Shang Mu obediently replied, “Yes, I’m very scared. I won’t dare.”

*Pfft—*

Shang Lu burst into laughter, feeling a bit embarrassed when both Shang Mu and Ruan Yin looked at her.

Shang Mu asked her, “What are you laughing at?”

Shang Lu stirred the sweet soup in her bowl, saying, “Suddenly, love, marriage, and family don’t seem so scary anymore.”

If it’s like with her Brother and Sister Ah Yin, it should be very happy.

Shang Mu immediately became serious, advising her, “You’re a high school student; don’t think about these things. Focus on your studies, understand? I heard you’re going to take some acting academy exam. Have you passed the exam?”

Shang Lu replied, “I’ve passed the provincial exam, but I still need to take the school exam. It will start after the Lunar New Year.”

Provincial exam? School exam? What are these?

These two terms puzzled Shang Mu because he didn’t understand at all.

Fortunately, Ruan Yin had done some research in advance and explained it to Shang Mu.

Then Shang Mu said, “I see you did well in your end-of-term cultural courses exams. The arts teacher at your school should be average. Tomorrow, I’ll invite two professional acting teachers to come.”

“Okay.” Shang Lu naturally agreed, raising her head to exchange a smile with Ruan Yin.

This year’s Lunar New Year came unusually early, and Shang Lu, Shang Mu, and Ruan Yin spent a warm Lunar New Year together.

Shang Lu was already a third-year high school student and started school again in early February.

On the first day of the new semester, Shang Lu encountered something very unpleasant.

A very cute girl confessed to another ordinary boy, but not only did the boy reject her, but his friends also mocked the girl together, saying, “The toad wants to eat swan meat” and “Our Bro likes the school flower.”

Seeing the girl crouched by the back door hearing these hurtful words and quietly crying, it was obvious that these boys were intentionally saying such harsh words to hurt the girl. Shang Lu, who usually kept a distance from others, couldn’t bear it. She coldly asked, “Oh? Your Bro likes which school flower?”

The person involuntarily answered, “Shang Lu, that girl is so beautiful! She has slim waist…”

The boy realized halfway that something was wrong. Several people looked at Shang Lu in unison.

Shang Lu covered her face with both hands, seemingly shy as she looked at the boy through her fingers, asking, “Do you like me?”

Several boys instantly swallowed hard, and the leader couldn’t control himself, thinking he had hit the jackpot today. Grinning widely, he pretended to be indifferent and said, “Shang Lu, I want to be friends with you.”

Shang Lu put down his hand and said, “Tsk, if we’re going to be friends, don’t you have a mirror at home? Standing next to someone like you, will anyone still think I’m the school flower? It’s like a toad wanting to eat swan meat, do you think you’re worthy?”

The boy had initially imagined being envied by everyone when he and Shang Lu were together, but in just a few seconds, Shang Lu brought him back to reality with just two sentences.

He was annoyed but also knew that Shang Lu came from a good family. Even now, she wasn’t someone he could offend, so he could only leave angrily after throwing a couple of harsh words.

Shang Lu turned to look at the girl in the classroom, handed a packet of tissues to one of them, and said, “Don’t cry. I think you’re very pretty. He’s not worthy of you.”

The girl reached out to take the tissues, tears in her eyes as she looked at Shang LU.

The girl was a bit plump, and when she cried, her eyes seemed even smaller.

At that moment of locking eyes with Shang Lu, she instantly lowered her head to continue wiping away her tears.

Shang Lu : “!”

Such cute small eyes! And single eyelids too! Absolutely perfect!

Damn it! She couldn’t look anymore! She was afraid she might lose her composure.

So Shang Lu turned and left. It’s better to let her be alone at a time like this.

The girl cried for a while, feeling that her emotions had calmed down. She lifted her head and said, “Thank you…”

Where did the person go!

But people fated to meet will always meet again.

On Valentine’s Day, Shang Lu was getting the last serving of sweet and sour pork in the cafeteria. As she took the small bowl, a girl next to her called out, “Shang Lu, I… you…”

The girl stuttered for a while, but could not say a complete sentence, so she could only awkwardly lower her head.

Shang Lu recognized the girl from that day and generously placed the bowl of sweet and sour pork she was holding into the girl’s tray, saying, “I understand. It’s for you.”

When she couldn’t get the sweet and sour pork before, she even wished she could snatch some from someone else’s bowl.

After saying this, Shang Lu turned and walked towards her already chosen seat.

Apart from Chi Yan occasionally joining her, Shang Lu mostly ate alone.

However, this time, there was a tray on the table in front of Shang Lu.

The girl from earlier sat down, gathered courage to look at Shang Lu, and asked, “Can I… be friends with you?”

SHang Lu was a bit surprised but replied, “Sure.”

This girl was super cute and pretty, just her type.

So Shang Lu reached out her hand proactively and said, “I’m Shang Lu.”

The girl also extended her soft hand, shook hands with Shang Lu, and said, “My name is Lin Yanyan.”

---

In the blink of an eye, it was Shang Lu’s birthday, also the first time she celebrated her birthday in her life.

Ruan Yin and Shang Mu worked together to personally decorate the house, filled with balloons and dolls.

Shang Lu invited two friends, namely Lin Yanyan and Chi Yan.

Lin Yanyan arrived early at Shang Lu’s house, bringing a very gorgeous and beautiful princess dress as a birthday gift.

Shang Mu directly gave her a set of apartments next to the Imperial Capital Drama Academy, saying, “You won’t need to stay in the dormitory once you pass the exam next year.”

Ruan Yin prepared a complete set of cosmetics for Shang Lu, ensuring preparedness for the art exam.

Soon, Chi Yan also arrived.

His birthday gift was very mysterious, a huge box wrapped in countless layers of tape. He said Shanglu could only open it when he go home later.

Shang Lu felt helpless but agreed, warning, “If there’s anything scary inside, you better be prepared.”

Chi Yan lazily said, “Come on, Miss, can’t you have a bit of basic trust in my character?”

Shang Lu shook her head, “It’s hard to say.”

Ruan Yin and Shang Mu brought out the last two dishes and said, “Let’s start the meal.”

Everyone happily finished lunch together.

Then Shang Mu said, “I heard today happens to be the anniversary celebration of the Imperial Capital Drama Academy. Do you want to go see it?”

Shang Lu jumped up from her chair happily and asked, “Can we really go?”

After getting a positive answer from Shang Mu, the group changed into the school uniforms of the Imperial Capital Drama Academy and sneaked into the auditorium in the evening, securing front-row seats.

First, the school leaders gave official speeches, and then outstanding students from various majors took the stage to perform.

One of the plays gave Shang Lu goosebumps; her eyes were full of longing, strengthening her determination to study acting.

Lin Yanyan had heard Shanglu talk about her dreams and the university life she fantasized about.

This made Lin Yanyan feel very happy. If she could continue to be with Shang Lu in college, that would be great.

---

IF Storyline • High School (Second Part) – I Like You

Shang Lu breathed a sigh of relief, and her gaze still habitually followed Jiang Yi’s figure.

“Hey.” Chi Yan placed one hand on Shang Lu’s shoulder, also staring at Jiang Yi’s figure, puzzled. “I’m asking you, what do you like about him?”

And where did he lose to Jiang Yi?

Shang Lu replied, “You wouldn’t understand.”

Chi Yan raised his eyebrows high, “How do you know I wouldn’t understand if you don’t tell me?”

Seeing that Chi Yan seemed really curious, Shang Lu thought for a moment and decided it wasn’t something he couldn’t say, so he said, “Alright, I’ll tell you.”

Shang Lu picked up a cup of hot tea, sipped it slowly, and then began recounting the past.

She talked about the time when she was confined, about the milk and cookies Jiang Yi brought her, the notes they wrote to each other, and how she had to hug the doll he gave to fall asleep every night.

In the end, Shang Lu said, “It was from that time that I wanted to be closer to him, even closer. But now that I’ve grown up, I understand. Gratitude doesn’t necessarily mean love, so it ends here.”

For a long time, Shang Lu didn’t get Chi Yan’s response. She looked up in confusion.

The young man had no expression, or perhaps he was desperately suppressing some emotion.

He spoke with a somewhat hoarse voice, “Are you sure that little boy was him?”

Shang Lu answered without hesitation, “During that time, only he came to my house, and I asked him. He didn’t deny it.”

That day, guests discussed two strange incidents after Shang An’s funeral.

The Young Masters of the Chi and Jiang families, the two sons of heavens, had a fierce fight in the yard.

This was also thanks to Father Chi, as he noticed his son was absolutely winning in the fight, so he stopped others from intervening, saying sternly, “The Jiang family is not here. It’s not right for us elders to get involved in the younger generation’s affairs and bully a junior.”

In the end, Jiang Yi had a swollen face, almost unrecognizable. However, Chi Yan only had his knuckle scratched by a stone when he missed a punch when punching Jiang Yi. Apart from that, nothing else happened.

As all the guests thought the ‘commotion’ was over, suddenly cries of agony echoed from upstairs.

Immediately, two men in their twenties ran down, covering their faces, shouting as they ran, “Shang Mu! Shang Mu has gone mad!”

After two minutes, Shang Mu came down with another young man, who also had visible injuries on his face and limped. Of course, Shang Mu himself looked quite disheveled.

At the entrance, injured Jiang Yi and expressionless Chi Yan stood, and inside the house, there were others who also seemed to have been beaten. The scene suddenly became eerie, and the guests didn’t know whether to leave or stay.

Ruan Yin walked over, holding Shang Lu’s hand, and told her, “Don’t be afraid, trust your Brother.”

Some people also noticed that the three victims of this brawl inside the house seemed to be distant relatives of the Shang family.

The youngest one among them, standing by Shang Mu’s side, staggered towards his father, seeking help, “Dad! He hit me! He even hit my brothers!”

Shang Mu seemed like a madman, showing no restraint when he started using his hands. The three of them were scared and didn’t dare to fight back, only trying to evade as much as possible.

The one being sought for help was Shang Mu’s uncle, who frowned and asked, “Xiao Mu, what’s going on? They are your cousins; what do you want to do?”

Other guests ignored the commotion between Jiang Yi and Chi Yan in the yard, after all, that was a 1v1, but inside, it seemed to be a 1v3, and it looked like Shang Mu was winning?

Even Chi Yan didn’t pay attention to Jiang Yi; he just peered in through the window to watch the excitement.

Shang Mu took out a shattered pocket watch from his pocket and said, “I originally just kindly invited my three cousins upstairs for a cup of tea. I didn’t expect that in two minutes, they would destroy my father’s most important heirloom. But none of them is willing to admit it, so…”

He didn’t need to finish his sentence; the guests could fill in the blanks themselves.

“Destroying a heirloom at someone else’s father’s funeral, that’s too much.”

“Don’t blame this kid; I would have done the same in his place.”

“These siblings are pitiful; whose family raises such troublemakers? This is too much.”

The three beaten young men naturally felt wronged, each clamoring to explain, shouting, “He’s lying! We didn’t even touch that watch; he’s doing this on purpose! He’s retaliating against us!”

“Is that so?” Shang Mu looked at them and asked, “I’m retaliating against you, did you do something wrong to my sister?”

Under Shang Mu’s scrutinizing gaze, the three instantly seemed at a loss for words.

What could they say?

Before Shang Mu struck them, he only said, “You bullied my sister.” They had already taken a beating, and digging deeper into this matter wouldn’t favor them. It was better to end it here.

The eldest among them sighed and said, “Perhaps none of us noticed; it wasn’t intentional.”

All three were forced by their parents to apologize to Shang Mu, and then they left in embarrassment.

Shang Lu’s gaze lingered on the watch in Shang Mu’s hand as she pursed her lips.

Their father didn’t have that watch; it belonged to Shang Mu himself.

Shang Mu did this intentionally.

At that moment, Ruan Yin looked at Shang Mu and asked, “Don’t you have anything to say to your sister?”

Shang Mu walked over, lowered his head to look at Shang Lu, and said, “That night when you had a fever, you told me everything. I’m sorry, I haven’t been a good brother, and you suffered because of me.”

As Shang Mu spoke, Shang Lu’s initial suspicions were confirmed.

Indeed, Shang Mu was teaching those cousins a lesson.

A warm feeling surged in Shang Lu’s heart.

Shang Lu raised her hand and gently touched the red swelling on Shang Mu’s forehead, asking, “Does it hurt?”

Shang Mu shook his head.

Ruan Yin’s gentle voice sounded as she grabbed Shang Lu and Shang Mu’s hands and held them together, saying, “Alright, let’s tidy up and go home. I’m tired today and want to rest early. Can I rely on Lulu to bandage Brother’s wounds?”

Shang Lu nodded obediently.

Meanwhile, in the courtyard.

Chi Yan leaned on the windowsill, looked down at the bloodstains on his fist, and chuckled.

The next moment, Chi Yan’s collar was grabbed.

Father Chi’s voice sounded amusedly, “Haha! I just called your Mom to complain. She’ll be back tonight, so get ready to get a beating for fighting with others!”

Chi Yan : “…Can’t you stop tattling?”

---

IF Storyline • High School (Second Part) – I Like You

However, Shang Lu just smiled, obviously not very concerned, and could understand: “The engagement has been canceled, and the Jiang family was eager to distance themselves from us. It would be strange if they came.”

Chi Yan learned about this when having dinner at the Shang’s a few days before, but at this moment, he still find it a bit hard to believe: “Aren’t you sad? Didn’t you like him a lot?”

“I don’t know… can’t say for sure.” Shang Lu was actually not very certain about her past feelings. She continued, “I don’t know if I liked him before, but I don’t like him now.”

After saying this, Shang Lu felt something was not right.

Even if she didn’t have friends… she was still a girl, so why was Chi Yan always discussing emotional issues with her?

Originally, she didn’t think much about it, but now it suddenly felt awkward.

Shang Lu looked at Chi Yan, and her expression suddenly became complicated. She asked, “Are you very concerned about the relationship between me and Jiang Yi?”

Chi Yan didn’t know why he suddenly avoided her gaze and replied, “You two are my friends, it’s normal for me to ask, right?”

“Lies.” Shang Lu looked at Chi Yan, reached out to turn his head, and said, “If it’s the truth, why can’t you look at me?”

After being caught lying, Chi Yan felt a bit guilty, so he didn’t resist and met Shang Lu’s gaze directly.

Looking at the somewhat strange expression on his face, Shang Lu’s initial speculation, which was one or two points, now rose to three or four points. She asked tentatively, “Could it be that you like…”

At this moment, Chi Yan felt so nervous that he seemed to have forgotten to breathe.

She figured it out?

Should he admit it?

When Shang Lu mentioned the crucial point, she saw Chi Yan’s expression, which could be described as ‘stiff.’ Her speculation that she was only 30-40% confident of, now had a certainty of 70-80%. She slowly said, “Well, if it’s not because of liking, you wouldn’t always help him clean up the mess and take care of me.”

Chi Yan lowered his head, desperately suppressing the urge to smile.

He didn’t expect Shang Lu to perceive his feelings so early.

She seemed surprised but not rejecting.

Thinking of the messages Jiang Yi sent him these days, Chi Yan felt a vague unease; he could see that Jiang Yi’s attitude toward Shang Lu had changed.

Chi Yan looked at Shang Lu, reached out, held her hand, and spoke with a gentle yet restrained and uneasy tone, asking, “So, what do you think?”

Shang Lu looked at Chi Yan holding her hand, and his palm was warm, seemingly a bit sweaty.

Shang Lu understood; he must be nervous.

After all, it’s not easy to talk about such things.

Although she felt shocked and a bit of incomprehensible loss, she would still support Chi Yan!

So, Shang Lu held Chi Yan’s hand even tighter, wanting to give him encouragement and support. She said, “Don’t worry, I don’t like Jiang Yi anymore. Seeing that you’ve been good to me, I will bless you two.”

Chi Yan : “?”

Chi Yan’s expression stiffened. His brain, which could rightfully be called a genius, stopped working at this moment. Even the simple act of speaking suddenly became difficult. He could only ask, word by word, “Bless us?”

“Yes.” Shang Lu nodded, raised Chi Yan’s hand, and waved it in the air, saying seriously, “Go for it!”

The next moment, Shang Lu felt Chi Yan’s hand slip away from hers, and both of his hands grabbed her face.

Chi Yan smiled, but it was obvious that he was angry.

His hands held Shang Lu’s face, pulling it to both sides, gritting his teeth, he said, “I don’t like men.”

“I know, I know.” Shang Lu quickly responded, then looked at him somewhat aggrieved, “…it hurts.”

However, Chi Yan didn’t let go, only saying, “I didn’t use much force.”

He knew how much force he applied.

Sure enough, Shang Lu stopped complaining about the pain. She admitted her mistake honestly, “Sorry, I was just guessing. Your shy appearance made me think too much.”

This was Chi Yan’s response to Shang Lu.

Although the girl was slender, there was still some soft flesh on her face, and her skin was extremely delicate. The feeling of fingertips touching was exceptionally good.

Chi Yan originally just wanted to teach her a lesson, but he couldn’t help but pinch her for a while. When he released his hand and saw the faint red marks on the girl’s fair face, he felt a bit regretful and asked, “Does it hurt?”

Shang Lu shook her head and asked him back, “Didn’t you see that I was lying to you?”

It’s not like she’s a porcelain doll. Pinching like this didn’t hurt at all, she couldn’t feel anything.

Seeing that Chi Yan was still staring at her face, Shang Lu took out her phone and looked at it. When she saw the red marks, she said, “It’s okay, my skin is like this. It’ll be gone in a minute or two.”

“Oh.” Chi Yan responded like that, feeling a bit uneasy in the not-so-spacious room.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

The voice of the maid sounded respectful, “Miss, Young Master Jiang is here and wants to see you.”

Shang Lu was a bit surprised, unable to understand Jiang Yi.

She also knew Jiang’s parents. Since the engagement had been called off, there was no way they would let Jiang Yi come over.

There was only one possibility, and that was Jiang Yi wanting to come on his own.

After all, it was a funeral, and if he wanted to offer condolences, the Shang family couldn’t stop him.

Shang Lu replied to the maid, “I know, you can go out first.”

The door was closed.

Chi Yan looked at her and asked, “Are you going to see him?”

“Anyway, I can’t avoid it.” Shang Lu got up and walked outside. At the moment when her hand gripped the door handle, she couldn’t help but look back at Chi Yan and asked, “Aren’t you going? Your relationship seems pretty good.”

Chi Yan didn’t need to think and directly replied, “My relationship with Jiang Yi is not as good as you think.”

The words ‘gossip’ were written all over Shang Lu’s face.

Chi Yan casually found a reason, “We don’t have much in common, and we haven’t been close recently. We’re not as familiar as you think.”

This made Shang Lu’s eyes widen a bit, and she blurted out, asking, “Really?”

“Why would I lie to you?” Chi Yan also stood up, with a reluctant tone, “Well, since I have nothing else to do, I’ll accompany you.”

When Jiang Yi saw Chi Yan appearing behind Shang Lu, the hand hanging at his side involuntarily clenched.

Other guests around were chatting, and no one noticed this corner.

Shang Lu directly asked, “Just say it if you have something.”

This question left Jiang Yi unable to answer; he didn’t have anything to talk to Shang Lu about.

He couldn’t directly ask, “Why haven’t you come to see me lately?” Saying that would make Jiang Yi feel pathetic.

But when he saw Chi Yan, he couldn’t control his emotions and asked, “Why are you two together?”

The topic was successfully diverted.

“What’s it to you?” Chi Yan retorted directly, mocking, “Do we need to submit an application to you when we meet?”

Jiang Yi immediately felt embarrassed, but he couldn’t offend Chi Yan.

Shang Lu tugged at Chi Yan’s sleeve and said, “Don’t speak like that.”

Shang Lu looked at Jiang Yi, showing a gentle smile, “Jiang Yi, thank you for attending my father’s funeral. You’ll probably be scolded when you go back, right?”

Seeing that Shang Lu still spoke to him so gently, Jiang Yi’s attitude softened a bit, and he replied, “Just a few reprimands, nothing major.”

“That’s good.” Shang Lu seemed relieved, then continued to ask, “Your parents should have told you, our engagement has been canceled. From now on, you are you, and I am me. I won’t bother you anymore.”

Jiang Yi frowned.

He asked, “Are you sure?”

Shang Lu thought he didn’t believe it and sincerely bowed to Jiang Yi, saying, “I know you don’t like me. I don’t know how I’ve been obsessed with you like a demon these years, causing you a lot of trouble. I’m really sorry. Please rest assured, it won’t happen again in the future.”

Jiang Yi’s gaze fell on Shang Lu and scrutinized her several times. His expression changed, but in the end, it returned to indifference, saying, “Alright, as you said.”

He was somewhat angry and didn’t linger here. He turned and walked in another direction.

Since he was already here, leaving midway would be disrespectful. Therefore, Jiang Yi didn’t leave but prepared to go outside for some fresh air and return when the formal proceedings began.

---

IF Storyline • High School (Second Part) – I Like You

Jiang Yi naturally didn’t believe it, feeling it absurd, “Did she say this herself?”

The servant replied, “Of course.”

Jiang Yi was accustomed to Shang Lu following him, but this was the first time he was shut out by her like this.

Whether it was unwillingness or some other emotion dominating Jiang Yi, he didn’t leave. Instead, he said again, “Tell Shang Lu that I have something to say to her; ask her to come out.”

The servant looked hesitant.

Because of his careful nature, he was hired by Shang Mu to take care of Miss Shang. He was well aware that Miss Shang didn’t want to meet this Young Master Jiang, and conveying the message would only annoy her.

Jiang Yi noticed the hesitation, but before he could get angry, he heard a voice behind him, slightly cold, “Jiang Yi, what are you doing here?”

It was Shang Mu who came back.

Although Shang Mu was a few years older than Jiang Yi, they had met several times at various events and could be considered acquaintances.

Jiang Yi recounted what had happened, with a tone of reproach towards the servant.

Shang Mu, however, only looked at the servant and said, “You can go down first.”

The servant lowered his head and left directly.

Shang Mu’s actions made Jiang Yi couldn’t help but sneer and asked, “What do you mean by this?”

“I just think my sister is right. There’s no need for you to meet anymore,” Shang Mu said directly. “I don’t understand what you’re thinking, but since the engagement has been canceled, the Shang family doesn’t welcome you at this time.”

Shang Mu directly issued an order to expel the guest, and Jiang Yi knew that staying here any longer would only make him appear stubborn.

So, with a disdainful remark, Jiang Yi left directly after getting on the car.

Watching Jiang Yi’s departing car, Shang Mu rubbed his temples and walked into the house.

Upon entering, Shang Mu saw that the notorious and willful devil of the Chi family had actually pushed a carefully prepared plate of fish in front of his sister. He instantly understood why Jiang Yi, who usually showed no interest in his sister, had taken the initiative to visit.

It was just being possessive.

Not cherishing when one has it, and unwilling to let go when there’s competitor.

As someone who’s in love himself, Shang Mu naturally understood Chi Yan’s little scheme.

And when Shang Lu saw Chi Yan handing the bowl with fish to her, sensing Sister Ah Yin’s curious gaze, she instinctively refused, “I don’t want it!”

She had hands and a mouth, why should Chi Yan pick the fish bones for her?

“Didn’t I help you pick the fish bones in the cafeteria before?” Chi Yan was indifferent, still holding the small bowl towards Shang Lu, saying, “It’s not the first time, just eat.”

Shang Lu hesitated but took the small bowl, lowered her head, and delicately ate the fish with chopsticks.

Yeah, it’s not the first time.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t the first time.

The relationship between her and Chi Yan seemed closer than she had imagined. However, she had never thought about it before Chi Yan brought it up.

In Shang Lu’s mind, there were also countless moments spent with Chi Yan, and the time he spent with her seemed more than she had thought.

Clearly, these were not trivial matters easily forgotten, but in the past two years, she rarely remembered them. Yet, because of Chi Yan’s words, memories rushed into her mind like a tide.

It was as if, for most of these years, she had been ignoring Chi Yan, forgetting many things related to him.

Shang Lu glanced at Chi Yan and inexplicably felt her heart beating faster.

Maybe she didn’t sleep well last night.

At this moment, Ruan Yin also noticed Shang Mu standing not far away. She exclaimed, “Ah Mu, you’re back? Come and have a meal.”

“No,” Shang Mu declined, feeling apologetic to his girlfriend. “I’ll go upstairs first. There are still things to be dealt with.”

“Okay,” Ruan Yin didn’t insist. Instead, she said, “I’ll make you a sweet soup and bring it up later, alright?”

Shang Mu agreed, and his gaze met Chi Yan’s. They nodded at each other, a silent acknowledgment, without saying much.

Three days later was Shang An’s funeral.

There were still many things to handle, countless people to deal with, and many preparations to make.

He made the arrangements for the day and then… there was another important thing to do.

Three days passed quickly.

Shang Lu changed into the black suit prepared by Ruan Yin and sat beside her. Together, they took a car to the destination.

Shang An’s funeral was quite lively, with everyone who should and shouldn’t be there.

According to the customs of the Imperial Capital, Shang Lu and Shang Mu, as children, had to stand at the door to express gratitude to every guest arriving.

Sighs and condolences filled the air. Countless people shook hands with them, offering words of comfort.

In fact, there might not be a single person present today who genuinely felt sad about Shang An’s departure; everyone was just putting on a show.

Shang Lu felt a bit tired standing there. Taking advantage of a quiet moment, she subtly moved her legs.

Shang Mu looked at her. “Go and rest.”

Shang Lu shook her head. “It’s not appropriate.”

It’s just one day; endure it, and it will pass.

If she went to rest now, it would only lead to others mocking Shang Mu for having an ill-mannered sister who didn’t even care about her Father’s funeral.

And at this moment, Chi Yan arrived, following behind his father.

Chi Yan’s father obviously wasn’t accustomed to such occasions, with a happy smile on his face. He even praised, “Xiao Mu looks more handsome!”

However, Chi Yan, standing behind him, twitched his lips and shouted, “Dad!”

He deliberately prolonged the tone, clearly warning his father.

Father Chi’s face changed instantly. Only with his son’s reminder did he remember why they were here. He immediately put on an expression as if he was about to cry and said, “Oh, Brother Shang¹!”

Shang Lu : “…”

Hold it in, don’t laugh.

Shang Mu’s lips also twitched a bit. He didn’t expect that at his own father’s funeral, he would have to comfort Father Chi. He said, “I heard that Young Master Chi and my sister are classmates. Could you please accompany her inside to rest? These days, she’s almost breaking down because of her father’s situation.”

Immediately, people around them looked at them, with eyes carrying sympathy, whether genuine or not.

“Of course.” Chi Yan reached out his arm toward Shang Lu, smiling, “Let’s go.”

Shang Lu understood that Shang Mu was giving her an excuse to go inside and rest, so she didn’t refuse. She held Chi Yan’s arm for support and walked into the house.

Shang Mu still stood at the door, welcoming other guests. Inside the house, everyone had serious expressions. If you listened carefully, you could discern that they were mostly discussing business matters. However, few genuinely cared about Shang An.

For businessmen, today was not just Shang An’s funeral; it was also a great opportunity to gather all the wealthy businessmen in the capital. It provided a convenient place for work-related conversations.

Shang Lu entered a small room inside to rest.

Chi Yan stood in front of her, holding a Rubik’s Cube he found somewhere and flipping it. In a short time, he had solved all six faces.

Shang Lu, on the other hand, lowered her head, kicking the cabinet in front of her with the black leather shoes on her feet, seeming a bit bored.

Chi Yan put down the Rubik’s Cube and asked her, “Feeling bored? I observed around before coming in; we can go to the backyard. Want to go out and play?”

“No.” Shang Lu still refused Chi Yan. One hand supported her chin as she said, “After all, life is only once.”

Skipping classes and school is heard of, but skipping a funeral seems a bit strange.

“True.” Chi Yan nodded in agreement, remained silent for a while, and then said, “I heard that neither Jiang Yi nor the Jiang family sent anyone over.”

After saying that, he deliberately observed Shang Lu’s expression, prepared to offer tissues if she started crying.

---

1. this is calling Shang An in regret ↩︎

---

IF Storyline • High School (First Part) – If Shang An died earlier

Jiang Yi’s parents came to the Shang family, ostensibly concerned about Shang Lu’s situation, saying, “Poor child, with both parents gone, you can’t find anyone to make decisions about important matters like marriage. You’re not young anymore; you should choose carefully in the future.”

Ruan Yin immediately understood that the Jiang’s wanted to dissolve the engagement. She had heard from Shang Mu about how much Shang Lu liked Jiang Yi. The usually gentle woman was a bit impatient at the moment and said, “Mr. Shang hasn’t been buried yet, are you in such a hurry to sever the relationship?”

“That’s what I said.” Jiang’s father directly sneered and said, “The engagement was just a casual remark. In this day and age, marriage is a matter of personal choice. We elders cannot control the affairs of the younger generation, and forcing marriage is illegal.”

For Father Jiang, the fate of Shang family was uncertain, and the siblings who had lost their parents wouldn’t inherit much.

He had to flatter Shang An for so many years, and now he could finally take a breath.

Ruan Yin wanted to say something, but she was stopped by Shang Lu.

Shang Lu asked, “Just what Uncle said. It was just a joke to begin with, just kids playing house. I didn’t take it seriously.”

Seeing Shang Lu being ‘sensible,’ Father Jiang naturally wouldn’t bully a junior here. After exchanging a few polite words, he left with a smile.

Ruan Yin looked a bit anxious as she glanced at Shang Lu, but she still comforted Shang Lu, saying, “Actually, what they said makes sense. In this era, marriage is a matter of personal choice. As long as you love each other, it doesn’t matter if your family disagrees.”

“No,” Shang Lu shook her head. This time she was sure of her feelings and said, “I’m grateful to Jiang Yi, and I do like him a little before, but now I feel nothing.”

Shang Lu found it strange.

Since recovering from her illness, the obsession with Jiang Yi seemed to have disappeared completely.

But she felt that it was a good thing. She just wanted to live for herself.

After confirming that Shang Lu wasn’t pretending to be strong, Ruan Yin sighed in relief and said, “You like sweets, right? I’m good at making desserts. Just let me know what you want.”

Shang Lu had many things she wanted to eat, but for some reason, she ended up asking for a box of cookies.

In the WeChat chat box, some unfamiliar classmates had sent her words of encouragement or comfort in these past few days.

Chi Yan also messaged her, but his messages were different from others.

It was just at the beginning of the winter vacation, but he asked if she had finished her homework.

Shang Lu found it strange but casually replied.

Soon, Chi Yan started chatting with her following her lead.

Before Shang Lu realized it, she had been chatting with Chi Yan for almost an hour.

Then Chi Yan sent her a message.

[ My family had a bookstore. Do you want to come and do homework together? ]

Shang Lu : “…?”

In her memory, Chi Yan wasn’t this studious, right?

But when Ruan Yin learned that a classmate had invited Shang Lu out, she supported the idea, saying, “Lulu, can you buy me boba tea when you come back?”

Shang Lu was initially hesitant, but since Sister Ah Yin had said so, she decided to go, even if it was just to buy boba tea!

So Shang Lu replied to Chi Yan.

[ What time? ]

The next morning, at the bookstore.

A steaming cup of milk tea and desserts were placed on the table, and Shang Lu couldn’t help but swallow her saliva.

“Didn’t we agree to do homework? Why is there delicious food and drinks?”

Chi Yan lazily leaned back in the chair, saying, “It’s early in the morning; eating something will give us energy to study.”

Shang Lu thought it made sense, mainly unable to resist the temptation of delicious food. So, she said, “Let’s wait for another half an hour before we start doing the homework.”

Half an hour later.

Chi Yan patted his head, “The manager has a Corgi. Do you like dogs? Want to go see?”

Shang Lu’s eyes instantly lit up, but she looked hesitantly at the exercise books on the table.

Chi Yan grinned, “We’ll definitely do it after half an hour.”

Convinced, Shang Lu rushed downstairs to find the dog and had a great time.

Half an hour later.

Reluctantly, Shang Lu returned upstairs and picked up the pen.

Chi Yan suddenly looked at passing staff and asked, “What are you doing?”

The staff had boxes filled with the latest and most popular romance novels for girls.

Shang Lu covered her mouth, “These are hard to come by!”

Chi Yan said, “Do you like them? Pick any you want.”

The staff added, “These sell really well. If you want them, take them now; they’ll sell out downstairs soon.”

Shang Lu exclaimed, “Really?” She wanted them!

Several novels she liked were placed nearby. Shang Lu glanced at the exercise book but couldn’t resist looking at the novels again.

Unable to resist any longer, Shang Lu put down the pen, “How about… waiting for another half an hour?”

Chi Yan was supportive, “Sure.”

In the end, Shang Lu spent the whole day there reading novels.

Oh, it’s so good!

Shang Lu felt satisfied, indulging in many different flavors of cakes throughout the day.

At the same time, Shang Lu also understood one thing. She looked directly at Chi Yan and said, “You didn’t come to do homework with me, did you?”

Chi Yan didn’t lie to Shang Lu, holding his face with one hand, “Just figured that out? I just wanted to make you happy.”

Shang Lu understood and sincerely said, “Chi Yan, you’re really a good person, a great person.”

Chi Yan chuckled, “Stop it. I don’t buy into the ‘good person’ label.”

Shang Lu took out a box of cookies from her backpack and handed it to him, “Then take this.”

Chi Yan took it, opened it, and ate a piece, praising, “It’s even better than last time.”

His mood seemed to have improved a lot.

Hearing Chi Yan say this, Shang Lu also became proud, “That’s right, Sister Ah Yin’s craftsmanship is the best.”

The unfamiliar name confused Chi Yan, “Who is Sister Ah Yin?”

Shang Lu held her face with both hands, “My Brother’s girlfriend, the most gentle and beautiful lady in the world!”

“Oh,” Chi Yan responded casually, throwing a cookie into his mouth.

Chi Yan’s attitude instantly displeased Shang Lu, and she questioned him, “What’s with your ‘Oh’? Don’t you believe it?”

Chi Yan locked eyes with her, “Of course, I haven’t seen her.”

To prove that Sister Ah Yin is the most gentle and beautiful lady in the world, that evening—

Chi Yan followed Shang Lu, slightly lowering his head, “Excuse me.”

Shang Lu handed boba tea to Ruan Yin, holding her hand, “This is my classmate. He… well, forget it. We’re doing homework together, and I wanted to invite him for dinner at home. Is it okay?”

After hesitating for a while, Shang Lu could only say this. She couldn’t admit that it was because Chi Yan didn’t believe her, so she brought him home to broaden his horizons, right?

“Of course, welcome,” Ruan Yin said. She asked about Chi Yan’s food preferences and then went to instruct the kitchen aunt to cook.

Shang Lu looked smugly at Chi Yan and asked, “Is it exactly as I said? But you must not have any inappropriate thoughts; this is my future sister-in-law.”

Chi Yan, however, looked at Shang Lu, smiled after a while, and said one word, “Idiot.”

Who cares if her Brother’s girlfriend is gentle and beautiful? It has nothing to do with him.

Shang Lu : “?”

No, what’s wrong with Chi Yan? Why is he so annoyed?

But Shang Lu quickly figured it out; Chi Yan must be envious and jealous.

Dinner time came.

Chi Yan was a chatty person. While eating, Shang Lu and Chi Yan occasionally teased each other, and the atmosphere was quite good.

Until the maid approached with great respect and asked, “Miss, Young Master Jiang is here. Should I let him in?”

---

Jiang Yi’s face was gloomy.

He knew that a huge change had occurred in the Shang family. His parents told him the engagement was canceled and asked him to cut off all ties with Shang Lu.

Jiang Yi thought he would be happy. After all, this had been his wish for a long time. But now that it was a reality, he felt an inexplicable annoyance.

Thinking that Shang Lu had deliberately not spoken to him for a long time, this displeasure peaked when he saw a servant send him a picture of Shang Lu and Chi Yan ‘dating’ in a bookstore.

What made Jiang Yi even more unacceptable was that he used to come and go freely in the Shang’s mansion, but now a strange servant dared to stop him at the door. It was truly outrageous.

However, Jiang Yi waited and waited but didn’t get to meet Shang Lu. Instead, he received the message from the servant, “Miss said she has no relationship with you anymore, Young Master Jiang, please leave.”

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IF Storyline • High School (First Part) – If Shang An died earlier

A sudden accident occurred.

As in previous years, her Father, before the anniversary of her Mother’s death, would go in advance to spend time at the place where they once loved each other.

However, this time, the private plane he was on had an accident just before reaching the destination, leaving only a corpse.

In simple terms, he died.

On the day the news came back, the servants of the Shang family were all in tears.

Shang Lu sat on the sofa, looking strangely at them crying. She vaguely remembered hearing them talking behind her Father’s back a few days ago. Now, why were they all so sad, so hypocritical?

Shang Mu also rushed back from school, accompanied by Ruan Yin.

Shang Lu looked at them, blinked her eyes, tears falling down, and shouted, “Brother, Sister Ah Yin.”

Ruan Yin hurriedly wiped away the tears for Shang Lu, sitting beside her and gently embracing her, comforting her, “Don’t be afraid, don’t be sad. Both your Brother and I are here.”

Ruan Yin’s embrace was warm, giving a reassuring feeling.

So much so that Shang Lu found it hard to express herself. Her tears were not because of sadness; rather, she felt happy.

Perhaps she was the most malicious daughter in the world, as she was constantly hoping that her Father would die sooner.

Miraculously, her wish was granted.

---

That night.

Shang Lu’s high fever wouldn’t subside. After the private doctor prescribed medicine and left, it was Ruan Yin who took care of Shang Lu.

Naturally, Shang Mu felt distressed for his girlfriend. After handling company documents, he came to persuade Ruan Yin to rest, but she didn’t agree.

Ruan Yin wiped Shang Lu’s arm with a towel, saying helplessly, “I don’t trust your household servants to take care of Little Sister. I can’t relax if they are the ones looking after her.”

Shang Mu walked over and said, “You go rest. I… I’ll take care of her.”

Hearing this, Ruan Yin finished wiping Shang Lu’s arm, placed Shang Lu’s hand under the blanket, and said, “If you say so, you must follow through. Someone must be with Little Sister at all times.”

“I understand.” Shang Mu picked up another towel and began wiping Shang Lu’s face and neck, saying, “Are you reassured now? I’ve taken care of you when you were sick before.”

“I’m reassured.” Ruan Yin smiled and said, “Little Sister will be very happy when she opens her eyes and sees you.”

Ruan Yin soon went to rest in Shang Mu’s room, not wanting to disturb the siblings’ time together.

Shang Mu sat at Shang Lu’s bedside, his gaze falling on the girl whose face was reddened by illness.

In fact, he was somewhat lost.

His Father’s sudden death was too abrupt. He had already arranged to suspend his studies, and the news wouldn’t stay hidden for long. When he went to the company, he would have to face countless cunning foxes eager to divide the Shang family’s wealth.

Could he handle it?

Could he really preserve the family’s properties?

On the way back, his girlfriend held his hand and told him not to be afraid. His sister was still underage, and now, he was the only one she could rely on.

He was the older brother, and he had to protect his sister.

Just as Shang Mu was lost in his thoughts, the girl lying on the bed, delirious from the fever, suddenly burst into tears.

She alternately called out “Mom” and “Brother.”

Tears continuously flowed from Shang Lu’s tightly closed eyes as she murmured, “Brother… I’m scared, Brother… save me…”

Shang Mu felt a pang of discomfort.

He had never seen Shang Lu cry so sadly, let alone that she was still ill at the moment, looking extremely uncomfortable.

Shang Mu asked her, “What are you afraid of?”

Upon hearing a response, the drowsy Shang Lu opened her eyes.

Shang Mu sat at her bedside, she thought that she must be dreaming.

She can’t worry about that now.

The grievances that had accumulated earlier found an outbreak point at this moment. Shang Lu cried until she choked, “I’m afraid of the cousins. They always bully me. I’m scared to watch horror movies, but they force me to watch. I’m also afraid of Dad. He locks me in a room where I can’t see anything. It’s so dark, and I’m so scared…”

Next, Shang Lu’s speech lost its logic. She cried for a while in a daze and then fell into a deep sleep again.

Shang Mu stared blankly at the person in front of him.

He suddenly remembered that before their cousins came to their home, Shang Lu seemed to want to tell him something.

But because he was scolded by his Father for not learning the piano piece, he rushed to his lesson with the teacher and didn’t have the patience to listen to her.

So… was she asking for his help back then?

His girlfriend taught him to protect his sister, yet he was completely unaware when outsiders bullied her at home.

He had done so poorly.

Shang Mu wiped away the tears on Shang Lu’s face with a towel and murmured, “I’m sorry.”

Shang Lu had a long dream, but upon waking up, she didn’t remember anything. She just felt relaxed, as if many restraints had suddenly disappeared.

The sun had been up for a long time, warm rays shining through the window, making Shang Lu squint comfortably.

The door was pushed open.

Seeing that Shang Lu was awake, Ruan Yin held a bowl of porridge and said, “Do you have the strength to sit up? Do you want to eat something?”

“Um.” Shang Lu obediently replied and sat up from the bed.

Ruan Yin sat on the chair beside the bed, feeding Shang Lu spoon by spoon.

As Shang Lu ate, Ruan Yin helped wipe her mouth. Finally, Shang Lu whispered, “Sister Ah Yin, you’re really kind.”

“Am I?” Ruan Yin placed the empty bowl aside and smiled, “Your Brother stayed with you all night yesterday and left only half an hour ago for some work at the company. I persuaded him to take a break, but he said he couldn’t leave you alone and insisted on staying here.”

Shang Lu was slightly stunned.

Ruan Yin measured Shang Lu’s temperature again, sighed in relief, and said, “The fever has finally gone, but you still need to rest well. Lie down quickly.”

Shang Lu obediently lay down, looking at Ruan Yin, she asked, “Is Sister leaving?”

Ruan Yin touched her face and said, “Your Brother has been busy with the company these days. Sister is bored alone, so I’ll stay here these days. Can you accompany Sister?”

Shang Lu smiled and said, “Today, I’ll accompany Sister to watch a movie. I’ve seen a lot of movies, so I can recommend something similar to whatever Sister likes.”

Ruan Yin naturally agreed and said, “You need more rest. Just obediently go to sleep. I’ll bring lunch to your Brother at noon, and in the afternoon, we can watch a movie, okay?”

When Ruan Yin returned in the afternoon, she brought popcorn and cola for Shang Lu, saying, “Movies and popcorn are the perfect match. I didn’t know your taste, so I bought a mixed flavor, a bit of everything.”

Shang Lu had a very happy day.

She and Ruan Yin laughed heartily while watching a comedy, sharing a large bucket of popcorn.

Until the evening, when the maid looked at them with an ‘uncomprehending’ expression, Shang Lu still avoided her gaze.

Ruan Yin noticed Shang Lu’s change in mood, held her hand, and asked with concern, “What’s wrong?”

Summoning her courage, Shang Lu asked, “Sister Ah Yin, I’m not sad at all. Do you think I’m scary?”

The moment she said it, Shang Lu regretted it. A normal person wouldn’t understand how a daughter could laugh heartily at a comedy the day after her Father’s death.

“I know our Lulu is warm and kind. It’s just that some people aren’t worth our sadness, right?” Ruan Yin said, pinching Shang Lu’s cheek and pulling her up, “Okay, no crying, come with me.”

Upstairs, in Shang Mu’s room.

Shang Lu saw a bag containing various fireworks, even firecrackers.

Ruan Yin told Shang Lu, “I know your situation. I understand, and Shang Mu does too. He even joked this morning that he wanted to set off fireworks to celebrate.”

Because of Shang Mu’s joke, Ruan Yin bought these fireworks and firecrackers, then sent the maid away, holding the beautiful fireworks with Shang Lu in the courtyard.

Ruan Yin lit a match, ignited the fireworks, and held the match in the air. The fireworks sparkled in the wind.

Shang Lu looked at the fireworks in her hand and chose to ignite them.

The fireworks soared into the sky, leaving behind beautiful traces.

Ruan Yin clapped her hands, “Congratulations, Little Sister. You don’t need to be afraid anymore. A new life is coming.”

“Okay.” Shang Lu nodded vigorously, raising the fireworks higher, looking up at the sky.

A new life was indeed coming.

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