"Yun Wulai, will you be my bridesmaid?"
Yun Wulai received this WeChat message while she was bustling backstage at the July haute couture show of Quennell Cooper.
On the runway, the final collection—My Bride—was making its grand appearance.
As the name suggested, My Bride was a bridal series. The fact that it was chosen as the closing act spoke volumes about its importance to QC, a luxury brand with over a century of history.
But the truth was, three years ago, My Bride had been on the verge of discontinuation, awaiting its final notice to fade into obscurity in QC’s long legacy.
That was until Kerr, QC’s CEO, brought in an unknown rookie designer as a last-ditch effort to salvage the series.
Against all odds, that rookie designer single-handedly turned the tide. That year, My Bride dazzled the fashion world, leaving the industry in awe.
After its stunning comeback, My Bride was no longer the underdog teetering on the edge of cancellation. By the January haute couture show, it had already secured the penultimate slot, and now, it was the grand finale.
QC had many iconic, evergreen collections, any of which could have carried the weight of the closing act. But Kerr, known for his bold and unconventional decisions, had pushed for My Bride to take center stage—a testament to his unwavering faith in the rookie designer.
That rookie designer was Yun Wulai. As My Bride soared in popularity, her standing in QC rose with it. Now, she was Kerr’s most trusted and influential protégé.
The closing model returned from the runway, draped in an exquisite wedding gown that had captivated the audience.
Though months of hard work had culminated in this triumphant moment, Yun Wulai couldn’t bring herself to relax. Her attention was entirely consumed by the message on her phone.
"Yun Wulai, will you be my bridesmaid?"
The sender was Yan Sui, a close friend from high school. Back then, they had been girlfriends to a pair of best friends, making their relationship more like sisters-in-law.
Both 25 now, Yun Wulai had started school early, graduating two years ahead of Yan Sui and their respective boyfriends. Later, Yan Sui’s relationship ended prematurely, and over time, their contact dwindled to occasional holiday greetings.
But in the past six months, their bond had rekindled because Yun Wulai had personally designed Yan Sui’s wedding dress. Without the dress, truth be told, their friendship might not have been close enough to warrant a bridesmaid invitation.
Yan Sui was marrying her high school sweetheart. After years of twists and turns, they had found their way back to each other. They had tied the knot half a year ago and were now planning a wedding to coincide with Yan Sui’s birthday.
And as for the groomsmen? Naturally, Yun Wulai’s ex-boyfriend—the groom’s best friend—would be among them.
By the time Yun Wulai snapped out of her thoughts, the designer’s curtain call was nearly over.
Though My Bride had flourished under her direction, Yun Wulai had never made a public appearance. The fashion world was brimming with curiosity about her. Kerr agreed that she should focus on her craft first, honing her skills without the distraction of external attention.
This time was no exception. She skipped the curtain call, retreating to a quiet corner where she sat down, idly playing with her phone, lost in thought.
"Yun Wulai, will you be my bridesmaid?"
"Okay."
Yun Wulai returned to Jincheng two days early.
Born and raised in Jincheng, this was where her roots lay—where her family and friends were. Yet, she hadn’t set foot here in three long years.
From the airplane window, the city’s nightscape sprawled beneath her, transformed beyond recognition. A vast, glittering network of golden lights stretched across the dark horizon.
Jincheng was more prosperous than she remembered.
Yan Sui had insisted on picking her up personally with her husband: "You’ve flown all this way—how could we let you take a taxi?"
Before takeoff, Yun Wulai had informed Yan Sui about the flight delay, telling her to come later.
The plane had departed half an hour late, yet somehow arrived half an hour ahead of schedule. A passenger in front stood up, exclaiming in disbelief, "Holy crap, was the pilot from the Russian Air Force? Late takeoff, early landing—is he in a hurry to reincarnate? Safety first, damn it!"
Many of the passengers were Chinese, familiar with the "Russian pilot" stereotype, and laughter erupted throughout the cabin.
In any case, Yun Wulai landed an hour and a half earlier than Yan Sui expected.
As she leisurely made her way to baggage claim, she sent Yan Sui another message: "I’ve arrived early. No need to pick me up—I’ll just take a taxi."
Assuming Yan Sui was swamped with wedding preparations, Yun Wulai didn’t expect an immediate reply.
Jincheng Airport, at least, looked exactly as she remembered.
Ahead, a crowd suddenly erupted into excited screams, swarming around a woman for autographs and photos. Only then did Yun Wulai realize she was a celebrity—and a popular one at that.
Having been abroad for over five years, including two for grad school, it was no surprise she didn’t recognize recent stars. She quickened her pace, detouring around the commotion.
At the exit, a sea of people pressed against the barriers, all craning their necks in anticipation.
None of this concerned her.
Yun Wulai lowered her head, ready to speed past, but the image burned into her retinas triggered an alarm in her mind. Her body stiffened, and she jerked her gaze back up in disbelief.
Amid the crowd, a strikingly handsome man leaned lazily against the railing, dressed in a black T-shirt and cargo pants. Even hunched over his phone, his height made him stand out like a beacon, his eyes reflecting the glow of the screen.
Three years had passed, yet he hadn’t changed at all.
His hairstyle, his fashion sense, his body language—even the subtle expressions on his face were identical to how she remembered.
To her, it felt like a lifetime ago.
Yun Wulai quickly steadied herself. She’d had two months to prepare for this moment, ever since she’d decided to return for the wedding.
When Yan Sui had impulsively asked her to be a bridesmaid, it wasn’t just because she’d designed the wedding dress. There was likely another motive—playing matchmaker, hoping Yun Wulai and her ex might rekindle what they’d lost.
So it wasn’t surprising that Yan Sui and her husband had sent him to pick her up.
The greatest relief was that she hadn’t been lazy when the plane was about to land—she had meticulously applied a full face of makeup.
What woman wouldn’t want to face an old flame while looking her absolute best?
Yun Wulai was no exception.
She turned her head slightly, checking her reflection in the pale green glass wall to ensure her appearance was flawless before walking slowly toward him.
She stopped in front of him, separated by a railing.
Someone suddenly halted before Zhu Kaixuan. His gaze first landed on slender legs wrapped in a smoky-gray fitted dress, then trailed down to a pair of elegant, minimalist silver heels that arched her fair feet into a graceful curve. The skin on her instep was so delicate that the faint blue veins and the contours of her bones were clearly visible.
As he looked up, he chuckled, "Why are you dressed like—"
But the words died in his throat the moment he saw her face. The amusement in his peach-blossom eyes froze, replaced by shock.
The sight stung Yun Wulai somehow. She tugged the sunglasses hanging from her V-neck and swiftly slid them onto the bridge of her nose.
It was nighttime, and she was hardly a celebrity—wearing sunglasses now might come across as pretentious. But thanks to the shades, she could finally look at him directly in the muted light, her confidence swelling like a balloon.
With a slight tilt of her chin, she delivered her opening line with effortless composure: "Let’s go."
Zhu Kaixuan didn’t respond immediately. He straightened up slowly, the emotions in his eyes fading into calm. Yet his gaze remained fixed on her face, unwavering—lingering over the faint outline of her composed brows behind the sunglasses, then tracing the rich hue of her lips, as if confirming something.
Wait… something felt off. A fleeting thought, too quick to grasp, flashed through Yun Wulai’s usually sharp mind.
Before she could dwell on it, he reached for her suitcase.
"Hold on," he said. "I still have to pick up someone else."
