When I returned to my country, my local friends prepared a grand reception banquet for me.

To my surprise, Meng Jinxia was also there.

Seven years ago, she insisted on breaking off our engagement for Song Zhiran, and in front of all the elders said: "If I can't marry Song Zhiran, I'd rather marry a dog than marry you."

Those words were such an insult, disregarding the years of friendship between our two families.

That day, I finally had enough and talked to my parents for an hour.

I said I didn't want Meng Jinxia anymore; I didn't want to marry her.

In the end, my parents had another lengthy talk with the Meng family.

Things had escalated to the point where our engagement was called off. Although the relationship between our families didn’t completely break down, it gradually cooled.

Later, I went to study in Paris.

Until today, when I came back.

I looked at Meng Jinxia. Compared to seven years ago, she had become much more beautiful, her exquisite face carrying a noble coldness, and her dark eyes were fixed on me.

Nobody told me Meng Jinxia would come; I turned to look at the friend who hosted today's event.

My friend quickly distanced himself, explaining, "It's not me who invited her, Wen Zhou. Jinxia somehow heard about your return and volunteered to host this reception banquet for you."

Then he nervously and unconvincingly added, "It's none of my business."

I said nothing, but Meng Jinxia smiled, her tone playful, as if nothing had happened between us: "Wen Zhou, it's been so many years. When we were younger, I spoke without thinking and hurt you, so today I boldly host this event to apologize."

Pausing for a moment, she looked into my eyes and continued, "Do you still hold a grudge over the past?"

Look at how she put it—as if admitting that I still hold a grudge would make me seem petty.

And I didn't want to bicker with a girl.

So I smiled gently at her: "As you said, it's all in the past."

After all, we are part of the same circle, and indeed, so many years have passed; she is now insignificant to me.

So let's let bygones be bygones—at least on the surface.

I picked up a glass of wine beside me, smiling calmly: "I heard you and Song Zhiran got married over a year ago. I haven't congratulated you yet, so here's a toast to you."

Her face turned indifferent. Logically, having fulfilled her wish to marry her beloved, she shouldn't be so indifferent, no matter how cold her nature.

Before I could wonder, she picked up a glass of wine and drank it.

It didn’t seem like she was being congratulated; it felt more like she was drinking in despondence.

But I didn't bother to figure it out.

Old friends and childhood companions, naturally, couldn’t stop chatting. As the protagonist of today's event, everyone indulged me, and the conversation revolved around me.

Someone asked how many girlfriends I'd had in France.

Someone mentioned my global art exhibition tour.

And someone half-complained, "Really, Wen Zhou, why are you so outstanding? Your art exhibitions are always sold out, and you’ve opened so many galleries worldwide. My dad always scolds me, saying why can't I be more like you, instead of just hanging out and buying sports cars all the time."

I laughed, "It's just a hobby."

Standing silently beside us, Meng Jinxia laughed: "These years, although we haven’t seen each other, you've become more humble."

Her tone… how to describe it? It was as natural as if speaking to an old friend, tinged with teasing intimacy, as if we never fought, as if she never said or did those hurtful things to me for Song Zhiran.

I didn't know how to respond. I couldn’t tell if it was my illusion, but her tone seemed… somewhat ambiguous.

As I was still pondering how to reply, she added, "I watched your 'Dream of Boruosa,' it was amazing."

This time, not only I, even my friends noticed something was off.

They fell silent, their gazes subtly shifting between me and Meng Jinxia.

Keeping my face composed, I politely said, "Oh, thank you."

Pausing, I jokingly reminded her: "Did you watch it with Song Zhiran? Speaking of which, why didn't he come today? I haven't seen him in years; after all, we were old classmates."

Her expression turned indifferent again, her tone casual: "Oh, he had something to do at home."

It sounded like she was talking about an unrelated person.

I didn't understand why she mentioned the person she once loved so passionately, now with such a detached tone and attitude, but I didn't want to get involved.

So I laughed twice and changed the topic.

Until the end of the gathering, we saw Song Zhiran sitting on the sofa in the hall at the clubhouse entrance.

His eyes were fixed on the private VIP elevator, looking anxious and uneasy. When the elevator doors opened, he suddenly stood up from the sofa.

It seemed he had been sitting here waiting for us to come out.

Everyone was stunned.

He tried hard to smile, his eyes scanning the room, until his gaze landed on me beside Meng Jinxia, his face instantly turning pale.

He gazed at me dazedly, looking lost and devastated, as if facing a great enemy.

I was baffled.