Fu Xingci kept his promise—the truth-or-dare challenge he proposed was perfectly wholesome, without a single hint of anything inappropriate.
"Boring!" The groomsmen and bridesmaids, unaware of the underlying dynamics, collectively groaned in disappointment.
Making a man choose among three women was, in a way, quite a tricky question—after all, it was easy to offend someone. But given how wild the dare options were, the truth challenge paled in comparison, like "a gem beside a worthless stone."
"Truth or dare?" Fu Xingci twirled his wine glass leisurely, urging, "Hurry up."
Any sane person would choose truth.
Zhu Kaixuan glanced at Ni Dong.
Ni Dong had always been the jokester of the group, never shying away from playing the clown to entertain everyone. In this situation, he theatrically clutched his collar in mock horror: "Kaixuan, I’m warning you—don’t you dare! I’m a straight man!"
Amid the laughter, Zhu Kaixuan scoffed and made a gesture as if to grab Ni Dong.
The mental image of the dare was so absurd that Ni Dong shuddered, leaping back like a startled cat.
The atmosphere was electric. Haozi immediately seized Ni Dong and dragged him toward Zhu Kaixuan: "Where do you think you’re running, Donggua?"
Unable to break free, Ni Dong wailed, "Kaixuan, just pick a bridesmaid already! If it were me, I’d choose Fairy Wulai."
His tone made it sound like he wished he could take Zhu Kaixuan’s place as the one being punished.
History had a way of repeating itself.
A year ago, when Fu Xingci and Yan Sui reunited, Ni Dong—unaware of Yan Sui’s identity—had been eager to make a move on the stunning beauty. Fu Xingci had kept quiet, and if not for Zhu Kaixuan’s timely intervention, Ni Dong would’ve shamelessly tried to hit on the future Mrs. Fu.
Today, unaware of Yun Wulai’s identity, Ni Dong once again stumbled blindly into the right target.
Like some kind of human sister-in-law detector.
Fu Xingci remembered that incident too and smacked Ni Dong on the back of the head in retaliation, laughing, "Get lost. This has nothing to do with you."
"Go on, kiss me if you dare!" Ni Dong shoved his face toward Zhu Kaixuan, fully committed now. "Next time I lose, I want the same truth challenge."
Zhu Kaixuan pushed his face away in disgust and turned to Fu Xingci, blatantly trying to weasel out: "Change the question, or let the bridesmaids pick first."
Allowing changes would defeat the purpose of truth or dare, so Fu Xingci naturally refused.
Women, being more perceptive, quickly picked up on Zhu Kaixuan’s concern. Unlike men, who were more carefree, being left unchosen in a selection like this could bruise egos.
Every bridesmaid was Yan Sui’s close friend, there because of her, and she felt responsible for their feelings.
She walked over to Fu Xingci, wrapped her arms around his neck, and whispered an explanation in his ear.
Fu Xingci listened patiently.
Fine. As a man, he didn’t see the big deal, but he’d follow his wife’s lead and prepare a different question to torment Zhu Kaixuan.
Just then, Zhu Kaixuan spoke up: "Wulai, you pick first."
Oh, this was getting interesting. Fu Xingci settled in to enjoy the show, not bothering to point out the rule violation.
Yun Wulai had been laughing at Ni Dong’s antics and was caught off guard when Zhu Kaixuan called her name. She looked over in surprise.
This was the first time he’d ever called her "Wulai."
Most people referred to her as "Wulai." Fu Xingci, Yan Sui, and their circle called her "Yun Wu," treating the "Yun" and "Wu" in her name as a natural pair.
As for Zhu Kaixuan, he had always used her full name before.
Lovers had a way of imbuing ordinary names with unique meaning.
So his use of "Wulai" now felt colder than friendship—like the forced familiarity between strangers.
Anyone listening would think they’d just met today.
All eyes turned to Yun Wulai. Ni Dong and Haozi eagerly pointed at themselves, hoping to be chosen.
Zhu Kaixuan simply watched her, waiting for her answer.
Amid the laughter, an invisible barrier rose between them—narrow, suffocating.
One move could unravel everything.
Yun Wulai scoffed. Why push the decision onto her?
What did he want her to say? To pick him?
She held his gaze for a few seconds before turning slightly toward Ni Dong, who was frantically signaling her: "Then… Ni Dong."
Though Ni Dong had been enthusiastically volunteering, it was mostly for the sake of the fun atmosphere.
He was well aware that his looks couldn’t compete with Zhu Kaixuan’s. Most girls would naturally choose the most attractive option.
So when Yun Wulai said his name, he couldn’t believe his ears.
"You’re really picking me?" he asked, stunned.
"What, can’t I?" Yun Wulai countered.
Ni Dong nodded vigorously. "Of course you can!" He added honestly, "I just thought you’d pick Kaixuan."
Finally convinced of his luck, Ni Dong burst with excitement. "See? Not everyone’s shallow enough to judge by looks. Some people appreciate inner beauty!"
"Mm, I like lively, cute guys like you," Yun Wulai deadpanned. "My mom told me to stay away from men with peach-blossom eyes."
Fu Xingci and Yan Sui were practically wheezing with laughter.
Zhu Kaixuan’s lips twitched.
What a fickle woman.
She used to love his eyes the most.
With one pair of bridesmaid and groomsman settled, Fu Xingci had the remaining two bridesmaids pick their partners.
Qi Yuanyuan, one of the bridesmaids, was already engaged. Since she couldn’t pursue the handsome ones, she left them for the others and pointed at Haozi first: "Then I’ll pick you."
Like Ni Dong, Haozi was shocked.
Who’d have thought the bridesmaids would skip Zhu Kaixuan one after another? Either their taste was questionable, or they simply weren’t interested.
Fu Xingci was equally baffled. He could understand Yun Wulai’s choice—she was just saving face by not picking her ex. But what was Qi Yuanyuan’s excuse?
He pinched Zhu Kaixuan’s face, turning it side to side. "Is my friendship bias too strong?"
The last remaining pair was Luo Jingjing and Zhu Kaixuan, automatically matched by default.
A year ago, when Yan Sui and Fu Xingci had just reunited, Luo Jingjing had once been interested in Zhu Kaixuan. But after his gentle rejection, her one-sided crush faded quietly into nothing.
Though she no longer had feelings for Zhu Kaixuan, and though pairing up as groomsmen and bridesmaids wasn’t a big deal, Luo Jingjing still felt uncomfortably out of place.
She stole a glance at Zhu Kaixuan, who sat not far away. Men, after all, had thicker skin—even when left unchosen, he seemed entirely unbothered. She had no idea what he was saying to Fu Xingci with that easy smile, showing no objections to the pairing outcome.
Luo Jingjing scolded herself inwardly for overthinking. Something others had long moved on from, something they’d never even dwelled on—why was she making such a fuss in her own head?
With that thought, she averted her gaze.
Just then, she sensed an oddly hostile stare fixed on her. Following the direction of that gaze, she quickly found its source—Yan Sui’s bridesmaid, Yun Wulai, who had traveled from afar.
The moment their eyes met, Yun Wulai gave her a polite smile, betraying nothing unusual.
Luo Jingjing hurriedly returned a friendly smile of her own.
The awkward, fleeting exchange typical of two strangers accidentally locking eyes.
Then Yun Wulai looked away.
The unsettling pressure vanished without a trace.
Luo Jingjing relaxed. It must have been her imagination—why would someone she’d never crossed paths with harbor some inexplicable grudge against her?
The pairings settled, the games continued.
Fu Xingci knew his limits and didn’t keep targeting Zhu Kaixuan for teasing.
Truth be told, Yan Sui hadn’t initially considered Yun Wulai as a bridesmaid. It was Fu Xingci who persuaded her to invite Yun Wulai. Not for any grand reason—just because of Zhu Kaixuan’s unchanged social media handle, “Kaixuan Returns,” and the fact that he’d remained single all these years.
Getting these two into the same room was mission accomplished for Fu Xingci. The rest was up to them—he couldn’t force their heads together.
The rest of the evening passed peacefully between Zhu Kaixuan and Yun Wulai.
By ten o’clock, Yan Sui whispered something to Yun Wulai, and the two stood up together.
Yan Sui walked over to Fu Xingci, giving his shoulder an affectionate squeeze. “I’m heading back.”
“This early?” Fu Xingci asked. “Is Yun Wulai leaving too?”
“It’s not early. I have to be up at five tomorrow for makeup, and Yun Wulai’s jet-lagged—she hasn’t slept well these past few days.” Yan Sui waved at the group. “Have fun, guys. We’re off.”
Yun Wulai bid everyone farewell as well.
Ex-lovers, in moments like these, always maintained impeccable tacit understanding—both effortlessly ignoring the other’s presence.
Once the two women disappeared through the door, Fu Xingci, frustrated that his well-intentioned scheming had yielded zero results, couldn’t resist taunting Zhu Kaixuan: “Pathetic.”
“You’re worse,” Zhu Kaixuan shot back.
“Example?” Fu Xingci raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious where he’d supposedly failed.
Zhu Kaixuan fell silent for a beat before snapping, “Just focus on your own damn wedding, will you? Stop meddling.”
“Now you know how annoying you were last year?” Fu Xingci scoffed.
Zhu Kaixuan seized the opening: “So you’re saying you found it annoying when I helped you and your wife get together?”
Just then, Yan Sui returned to the room for something she’d forgotten and casually asked, “What are you two talking about?”
Zhu Kaixuan immediately threw Fu Xingci under the bus: “He thinks I shouldn’t have helped you two reconcile back then.”
Yan Sui arched a brow at Fu Xingci. “Oh?”
Fu Xingci: “…”
After sweet-talking Yan Sui out of the room again, Fu Xingci turned to Zhu Kaixuan, torn between laughter and exasperation. “What’s wrong with you, Zhu Kaixuan? Repaying kindness with betrayal now?”
Zhu Kaixuan didn’t answer, idly swirling his half-full glass. The amber liquid refracted dimly against the thick crystal.
Who was repaying kindness with betrayal, really?
There was an unspoken rule among brothers: hands off each other’s women—past, present, or even those who’d once had feelings for them.
The boundaries were broad, but that’s just how irrational possessiveness worked.
Last year, when Ni Dong had taken a liking to Yan Sui and Fu Xingci couldn’t openly stake his claim, it was Zhu Kaixuan who’d stepped in to stop the oblivious fool.
And how did Fu Xingci repay him? When Yun Wulai picked Ni Dong earlier, he’d been the one laughing the loudest in the room.
