It's just The Sims, how did it become my ideal love story?

Chapter 193 I'm sorry, thank you (Second update!)

The wedding was held at a well-known hotel in the provincial capital.

It mainly caters to wedding banquets.

Cai Yan and I quickly arrived at the location and then went up to the eighth floor.

When Cai Yan and I arrived, there were already quite a few people on the eighth floor. We found the banquet hall by looking at the wedding photos displayed at the entrance.

When I arrived, I happened to see Lulu and her husband taking pictures in their wedding attire.

Gu Huai also saw Lin Jiang, who was actually wearing a bridesmaid dress, helping to hold up the long train of her wedding dress.

"Hey, is she a bridesmaid?"

Cai Yan glared at Gu Huai, "You didn't even know you two spent so much time alone together last night?"

How could I know? I was too busy kissing.

"Of course I can't say that," he shook his head. "She didn't tell me, and I wasn't thinking of asking. You and Lulu are such good friends, why weren't you her bridesmaid?"

Cai Yan shook her head. "She asked me to be her bridesmaid, but I had to work and was afraid I wouldn't have time, so I didn't agree."

"That's it"

While waiting for them to take photos, I also ran into more high school classmates than I did last night. I could still remember who some of them were, while others seemed to have only a slight sense of familiarity left.

Gu Huai wasn't face-blind. How should I put it? In his long-held belief, it was a matter of politeness not to make eye contact with others, which meant he rarely saw faces clearly. So it was really hard for him to remember what people he didn't know well looked like.

During this period of simulation, since there was not much interaction, Gu Huai naturally did not deliberately look at it.

However, at this age, they still follow basic social rules. Even if they don't remember each other's names, they can still greet each other politely, as if they are really familiar with each other.

Gu Huai discovered that when he met normal people, he didn't actually dislike socializing as much. He used to hate meaningless socializing simply because there were too many fake people; you never knew what strange things they might do next to appear familiar with you.

Of course, these people were obviously more enthusiastic when they were with Cai Yan, but today Cai Yan was very 'well-behaved' and stayed firmly by his side without wandering around.

As a result, many people mistakenly thought the two had become a couple, and some even asked when they would be attending their wedding. Cai Yan didn't seem too angry about these misunderstandings, and simply explained their relationship in a normal and reasonable way.

Until the photos over there were finally taken.

Lin Jiang, Lulu, and her husband walked over together.

"This is my husband, Qin Zixiao. These are my high school classmates and good friends, Cai Yan and Gu Huai."

"Hello everyone, thank you for coming to our wedding."

The man named Qin Zixiao is quite good-looking. He is tall but slightly overweight, though not in a big-bellied way; he just has a large frame.

What's rare is that he has a face that looks honest and kind, and he's not bad-looking either; in fact, he's quite pleasant to look at.

He greeted the two people politely.

Gu Huai and Cai Yan sincerely wished the newlyweds a happy marriage. After chatting for a while, they went to prepare for the ceremony that was about to begin, and specifically told the three of them.

"We've arranged seats for you classmates, very close to the stage. Please help create some atmosphere for us. We're going to get ready now."

So the three of them were left at the door.

Looking at Lin Jiang in her bridesmaid dress, Gu Huai felt a little awkward for the first time today, not because of Cai Yan standing next to him.

It's because of what happened last night.

After all, Lin Jiang is someone who likes to do things unconventionally, and although she looks like a well-behaved girl, she is really not afraid of doing anything outrageous.

Gu Huai was afraid that this woman would suddenly open her collar and say, "You bit me too hard yesterday, the mark hasn't faded yet~"

Fortunately, the bridesmaids wore dresses that weren't revealing; they were traditional Chinese cheongsams that covered their collarbones.

However, while Gu Huai was still pondering how to start the conversation and set the tone for the strange atmosphere among the three, he never expected that Cai Yan would take the initiative to speak first.

"Did you give the wedding gift money?"

Lin Jiang blinked her bright eyes. She had specially put on light makeup and styled her hair today. She looked absolutely stunning, especially in the Chinese-style cheongsam that accentuated her slender figure and highlighted her long legs. Gu Huai was even worried that she might steal the bride's thunder.

"Yes, I gave it to them."

"How much are you giving?"

"two thousand."

Gu Huai's eyes widened. "So many?"

Cai Yan nodded and looked away. "Yes, I'll give about two thousand as well."

"I only prepared 500, what should I do?"

Gu Huai suddenly felt uneasy.

Lin Jiang looked at Gu Huai with amusement, "We've been good friends with her since high school, so we should definitely give her more. You're not her friend, so five hundred is fine."

"Oh, right, I didn't expect you to be a bridesmaid."

Lin Jiang even turned slightly in front of Gu Huai, asking, "Does it look good?"

"It's quite beautiful."

A cold gaze shot over from the side. Gu Huai felt helpless. This praise was perfectly normal. Was he supposed to say something malicious? That would be too fake.

However, what quickly put Gu Huai at ease was that Lin Jiang didn't chat with the two of them for long. She said, "I have to play the piano for them later, so I need to go prepare. Could you please save me a spot?"

Cai Yan glanced at the woman with the affected voice, "Your bridesmaid wants to sit at the same table as us? That's a bit much."

Lin Jiang smiled and looked at Cai Yan, "We could have sat at the head table, but I thought it would be better to leave it for their relatives. What, Miss Cai, do you mind if I sit at the same table as you?"

Cai Yan scoffed, "Why would I mind? I didn't decide the location, and I'm not getting married. It's fine."

Lin Jiang nodded. "Yes, Miss Cai will probably invite me to her wedding, right?"

"Of course, I also need you to play the piano."

"Okay, remember to seat me at the same table as Gu Huai. I'm heading over now~"

Gu Huai's eye twitched more and more violently, but thankfully he didn't say too much. Wait, why is she clenching her fist?

Turning my head, I saw Cai Yan's clenched fist at the cuff of her sleeve.

Looking up again, I saw her sharp gaze. "What are you looking at me for? Go and offer your gifts!"

"Why are you being so fierce?"

Gu Huai went to offer his greetings with a feeling of grievance, followed closely by Cai Yan.

Enter the banquet hall and find a seat.

Looking at the surrounding decor and the current setup, I thought, "There are way too many people. There must be at least thirty tables here."

The wedding stage was very long, and it was probably the most grand and luxurious wedding Gu Huai had ever attended. In particular, the size of the banquet hall was unknown; it was either thirty or forty tables, but the number of people kept increasing, and it was almost full in no time.

Cai Yan was also a little surprised, "Do these two have so many relatives and friends? I didn't expect so many people."

Gu Huai said with emotion, "I'd be lucky if I could get three tables at my wedding."

Cai Yan glared at Gu Huai with annoyance, "You should pray that you'll get married someday."

"That makes sense. But I haven't really thought about getting married. Oh well, let's not talk about this when people are getting married."

I was thinking of letting my thoughts wander and talking about how I don't even want to get married, but the occasion isn't right.

"You saw that Miss Lin was going to play the piano, so you couldn't be bothered to tell me, right?"

"Huh? Really? I didn't even notice."

Gu Huai looked up and, fortunately, his position was good, very close to the ceremony stage, and he saw Lin Jiang sitting behind the piano on the right side of the stage.

When the time was almost up, the emcee slowly stepped onto the stage, and Lin Jiang began to play softly.

He didn't even pay attention to the emcee's opening remarks, but instead noticed the changes in Lin Jiang's piano playing. Her technique hadn't become rusty over time; instead, it had become even more refined.

Previously, she exuded a certain caution and prudence, but now Lin Jiang is completely relaxed and at ease.

The lights flickered on.

Even though the lighting wasn't specifically for this woman, and there was no spotlight shining on her—it was a perfectly adequate backdrop—her inherent charm was so striking that Gu Huai even saw someone secretly filming Lin Jiang playing the zither.

"Do you want to go up on stage and watch?"

Cai Yan rested her chin on her hand, tilted her head slightly, and looked at me with a smile that sent chills down my spine.

Gu Huai quickly looked away, "What are you talking about? I'm not the groom, why would I go up on stage?"

"Your eyes are practically glued to his collar. If you're not the groom, you could hide in the piano; there's plenty of space in the back."

Gu Huai was almost amused by Cai Yan's sarcastic remarks.

Is that a place for hiding people? It's more like a place for hiding corpses, but people on their wedding night shouldn't say such unlucky things.

And just right.

"Let's welcome the groom to the stage!"

The ceremony began, and the two of them stopped bickering and looked over.

Actually, the process is pretty much the same for everyone. The groom goes on stage first, and then throws out a few red envelopes as he goes up to create a lively atmosphere.

Then the emcee will say a few words, followed by the bride's entrance.

Lin Jiang was in charge of the music throughout the entire process, and she even handled the changes in the music very well.

Even Cai Yan didn't realize that, under this atmosphere, watching her former best friend, dressed in a wedding gown, finally walk down the aisle, holding flowers with a happy smile, and being helped onto the stage by her father, was a moment of pure bliss.

There was a glint of tears in her eyes.

It's a natural empathy, an unconscious feeling of being moved as if you're seeing a once incredibly close friend fulfill a part of their life and move on to the next stage.

Watching her father hand Lulu's hand to the groom.

Listening to the groom's sincere wedding vows.

Watching the two exchange rings under that solitary spotlight.

The entire venue erupted in enthusiastic cheers and deafening applause.

Gu Huai noticed that several women at the table were in tears, especially Cai Yan next to him.

I have almost never seen her cry, especially when she is smiling while her eyes are red.

He gently handed me a piece of paper. "Wipe it off."

Cai Yan glanced at him, wiped away her tears, and then said softly.

"Actually, when I heard that she was getting married, I didn't feel much. I just felt that it was about time for her to get married. I just didn't expect that seeing her hold her wedding in person would make me unable to hold back my emotions."

Gu Huai wore a gentle smile, without any hint of sarcasm.

"It's normal. Even I, who haven't really thought about getting married, feel a bit emotional watching weddings. I guess that's the meaning of weddings—to let everyone who sees one truly believe that marriage can bring happiness."

Suddenly, Cai Yan asked a question she hadn't expected.

"If I got married, would you be moved?"

Looking at her slightly reddened eyes.

Listen to the music that surrounds the entire banquet hall.

Even though it was someone else's wedding, I inexplicably felt a sense of being swept up in happiness.

He said something he had never thought of.

"That depends on where I'm standing."

She stopped crying and started laughing, but his heart was in turmoil.

Standing on the stage.

Or sit in the audience.

With tears in my eyes.

Or perhaps you're left with regrets.

Those would be two completely different worlds. Even now, just thinking about it makes Gu Huai feel suffocated; it's a difference comparable to life and death.

What kind of regret, what kind of pain of missing out, must one carry to arrive at the scene and watch helplessly as another person puts a ring on her finger?

He felt that he could never accept it, nor would he accept it, in his entire life.

Her happiness will be given by others.

Just like he felt that the lyrics of Eason Chan's song that made him the most upset were not the heart-wrenching ones in "Ah Niu".

On the contrary, it's that understated line in "Sorry, Thank You":
"Excuse me, thank you. (Put the ring on your finger.)"

……

(End of this chapter)