The weekend in the Capital City was wrapped in a faint hint of autumn. Sunlight filtered through thin clouds and spilled across the bustling commercial street. Xia Ruowei arrived at the café ten minutes early, choosing a window seat. As a freelance illustrator, her schedule was relatively flexible, but the projects she had taken on recently had left her somewhat exhausted. Today, she had specifically asked Su Wanning out—not just to relax, but more importantly, to check on how her best friend had been lately.
She gently stirred the latte in front of her, her gaze drifting to the constant stream of people outside. Thinking back to their last meeting, when Su Wanning had been evasive and hesitant, Xia Ruowei couldn’t help but frown slightly. Having grown up together, she knew her too well. Something had clearly been off with Su Wanning recently.
“Ruowei!”
The crisp voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She looked up to see Su Wanning walking in from the entrance. She wore a beige long coat over a light coffee-colored knit dress, paired with camel ankle boots. She looked refined and fashionable. However, upon closer inspection, Xia Ruowei noticed the faint dark circles under her eyes, something even her careful makeup couldn’t fully conceal.
“Have you been waiting long?” Su Wanning sat down across from her, placing her bag aside. “Traffic was a bit heavy. At this hour, the Capital City is impossible to get through.”
Xia Ruowei shook her head, but her eyes unconsciously fell on Su Wanning’s neck. There hung a necklace she had never seen before—a delicate silver chain with a small star-shaped pendant. With her knowledge of jewelry, she could tell at a glance that it was made of ordinary alloy, the craftsmanship slightly rough. It stood in stark contrast to the diamond jewelry worth tens of thousands that Su Wanning usually wore.
“New necklace?” Xia Ruowei asked casually, lifting her coffee for a sip. “I’ve never seen you wear it before.”
Su Wanning’s fingers paused slightly as she adjusted her collar, then she smiled as if nothing was wrong. “Oh, this? Just something I bought online, for fun.”
For a fleeting moment, her eyes flickered. Though it vanished quickly, Xia Ruowei caught it. She noted the detail silently, but doubt began to stir within her. Ever since Su Wanning married Fu Sinian, everything she used or wore had been top-tier brands. Why would she suddenly wear something so obviously cheap?
“Let’s go, we can walk around,” Su Wanning said, clearly not wanting to continue the topic. She stood up first. “I heard some new stores opened upstairs. Let’s take a look.”
They walked side by side through the mall. The weekend crowd filled the place with energy, promotions happening at every counter. Xia Ruowei noticed that Su Wanning seemed especially distracted today. When they passed a luxury store they often visited, the latest seasonal collection was displayed in the window. Normally, Su Wanning would excitedly drag her inside to try things on, but today she merely glanced at it and kept walking.
What bothered Xia Ruowei even more was how Su Wanning checked her phone every few minutes. Sometimes, when the screen lit up, a soft, sweet smile would unconsciously appear on her lips. That smile was all too familiar—it was the kind only someone in love would show.
“Wanning,” Xia Ruowei finally said as they passed a jewelry store, “is something going on with you lately?”
Su Wanning suddenly lifted her head, startled, nearly dropping her phone. “What? No, nothing. Why would you ask that?”
Su Wanning’s expression turned unnatural instantly. She touched the necklace at her neck unconsciously, her tone stiff. “Why would you ask that? We’re doing perfectly fine.”
“Then this necklace…” Xia Ruowei’s gaze fell on it again. “Is it really just something you bought online?”
Su Wanning’s fingers tightened around the fabric of her clothes, irritation evident in her voice. “Ruowei, what’s wrong with you today? Why do you keep staring at my necklace? Can’t I buy something for myself to wear?”
Xia Ruowei took a deep breath and decided to voice her suspicion directly. She pulled Su Wanning into a quieter corner and lowered her voice. “Was it Gu Jingchen who gave it to you?”
Su Wanning’s face turned pale instantly, panic flashing in her eyes. But she quickly forced herself to calm down. “Xia Ruowei, what do you mean?”
“You know exactly what I mean.” Xia Ruowei stared straight into her eyes. “I’ve heard Gu Jingchen has been coming to your company often lately. You two…”
“We’re just ordinary friends!” Su Wanning cut her off, her voice rising unconsciously. “Can you stop being so suspicious all the time?”
The curious gazes of nearby shoppers made her realize she had lost control. She lowered her voice with difficulty. “Ruowei, I know you mean well, but you’re overthinking this. Jingchen and I are just old classmates catching up over a meal.”
“Old classmates?” Xia Ruowei let out a cold laugh. “Would an old classmate give you a necklace? Would an old classmate make you abandon your husband on your birthday to be with him?”
Su Wanning’s eyes widened, her face turning even paler. “You… how do you know?”
“If you don’t want others to know, don’t do it in the first place.” Xia Ruowei looked at her flustered expression, feeling both angry and heartbroken. “Wanning, wake up! Fu Sinian treats you so well. Why would you do something so foolish?”
Su Wanning bit her lower lip, a flicker of struggle passing through her eyes before it hardened into resolve. “Sinian treats me well, but he doesn’t understand me at all. All he cares about is work. He doesn’t even have time to eat a meal with me. Jingchen is different. He understands me, cares about me, knows what I want…”
“Of course he knows what you want!” Xia Ruowei interrupted sharply. “What he wants is what Fu Sinian gives you! Think about it—how can someone running a small company compare to Fu Sinian?”
Looking at her friend so stubbornly lost, Xia Ruowei felt a deep sense of helplessness. She knew that Su Wanning was already blinded by what she believed was love. Nothing she said would get through.
The atmosphere between them grew tense and awkward. What was supposed to be a pleasant shopping trip was now shrouded in gloom. They forced themselves to browse a few more stores, but neither had the mood for it anymore. Su Wanning kept her head lowered, checking her phone from time to time, while Xia Ruowei watched her with concern, wanting to speak yet holding back.
Inside a clothing store, Su Wanning tried on a dress and spun lightly before the mirror. It was a pale yellow dress that made her complexion appear even fairer.
“Does it look good?” she asked, her eyes filled with anticipation.
Xia Ruowei nodded, about to respond, when she saw Su Wanning take out her phone, snap a photo in the mirror, and quickly type on the screen, clearly sending it to someone. That focused expression, that eagerness to share—Xia Ruowei’s heart sank completely.
By the time they left the store, evening had fallen. The fading glow of the sunset stretched across the marble floor of the mall, elongating their shadows.
At the entrance, Xia Ruowei made one last attempt to persuade her. “Wanning, think carefully. Don’t ruin your real happiness for a moment of impulse.”
Su Wanning didn’t reply. She simply looked at her deeply, her expression complicated—guilt, struggle, but even more so a stubborn determination. She murmured something softly, then turned and disappeared into the crowd, quickly vanishing at the street corner.
Xia Ruowei stood there, watching her friend’s retreating figure, unease filling her heart. She took out her phone and scrolled to Fu Sinian’s number, her finger hovering over the call button for a long time.
In the end, however, she put the phone away.
The evening breeze carried a hint of early autumn chill. She pulled her coat tighter and walked alone in the opposite direction. The setting sun cast her shadow long and thin, making her look especially lonely.
She knew that once certain paths were taken, there was no turning back.
And now, Su Wanning was already walking down such a path.