Chapter 125: Chapter 87: If You Can Be Happier

Walking down the street in the dead of winter, Jiang Ning was bundled up warmly. She hadn’t worn this gray-and-white plaid coat with the fur collar for a few years, but when she pulled it out and put it on, it was still nice and warm.

Her hair billowed loosely, many of the strands curling as they rested on the fluffy collar, bouncing with every step she took.

The entire street was nearly deserted. Withered branches and dead leaves lay scattered across the red checkered flagstones.

Jiang Ning walked on peacefully. Her aura was a perfect match for the street—both possessed a cool detachment that sent a chill through the air.

Looking up at the clothing store’s sign, “Premium Grey,” she then lowered her head, feeling a little sad.

She’d been too busy with the New Year’s Gala to come by earlier, so she had just sent Chen Yuan’s measurements—shoulder width, waist size, inseam, and so on—to Lan. A suitable suit from the shop could be altered slightly without much trouble, ready for him to wear at the host auditions that afternoon.

She didn’t want Chen Yuan to go on stage looking anything less than handsome, or for things to be so rushed.

’Boys are so competitive, aren’t they? He might be sad if he loses to the others.’

With that thought, Jiang Ning pushed open the glass door of the clothing shop and stopped on the woolen mat just inside.

Incidentally, the coat she’d specifically chosen to wear today was one she had also gotten from Lan two years ago. She hadn’t worn it much, but pulling it from her closet and putting it on now, she realized she hadn’t gained much weight since then.

It didn’t feel tight around her waist.

’That’s good news, at least.’

“Ningning? You’re here!”

Just as she walked in, a woman behind the front counter, who was trimming tags with a small pair of scissors, looked up. Her face lit up with joy, even though her body was completely hidden by the clutter piled on the counter.

But when the woman stood on her tiptoes to wave, Jiang Ning could see Lan’s signature smooth forehead.

“Yeah, I’m here to pick up the suit.”

“It was ready last night. Oh, and you even remembered to wear the coat I made for you. Ningning, you’re always so thoughtful…” Lan beamed as she came over and affectionately took Jiang Ning’s hand. “Not like Yaoyao. The last time I messaged her to come try on some clothes, she complained that the styles in my shop were ugly.”

“She just speaks her mind.” Jiang Ning smiled gently, her lips pursed.

This custom clothing shop, located in a remote corner of Lanjing South City, was a place the two sisters visited often.

The owner, Alan, was a mutual friend of theirs.

They had eaten barbecue and hot pot together on the second-floor terrace more than a few times.

When Jiang Yao first arrived in Lanjing, she was terrified of going out. There were only a few special places where she didn’t feel afraid, where the atmosphere was relaxed and easy.

This clothing shop was one of them.

“So, who’s the suit for? Your boyfriend?”

Alan brought over an unboxed suit. The lapels were ironed crisp, the folded edges as sharp as a blade. Its solid black color gave it a unique and substantial feel.

A pure white shirt and tie lay nestled in the box, also radiating a distinctly masculine seriousness.

Jiang Ning reached out and stroked the fine fabric, lost in the moment. She didn’t seem to hear Alan’s question. A thousand emotions welled up in her eyes, yet her expression was tinged with sadness.

After a moment, she snapped out of it and said, “I’m not telling.”

“So I was right.”

“Say whatever you want. Just wrap it up for me. I have to go deliver it.”

“Alright, alright.”

Alan took the box and went to the front desk. She picked up her scissors with one hand and rummaged through a dozen perfume bottles in a bamboo basket with the other. “Want me to spray it with some cologne?”

Jiang Ning tilted her head in thought. “Go ahead.”

“Which scent?”

“The usual woody one is fine.”

“Just a little, then.”

Alan picked up the cologne bottle, cut a black silk ribbon, tied it around the understated gift box, and tucked it into Jiang Ning’s arms.

“Come hang out at the shop more when you have time. My employee is on leave, and I’m bored to death being here all by myself.”

“If I get the chance, I definitely will.”

Jiang Ning waved and walked to the door. She glanced back one last time before stepping out.

’On the day I leave Lanjing, I’ll probably have to say goodbye to all my friends here.’

’All good things must come to an end. Even though I’m so reluctant to leave this artistic city and all my experiences here, at least I’ll have the memories.’

’Maybe in a few years…’

’In a few more years, I’ll be in my thirties. That “girlish” feeling will be long gone. I should come back for a visit then, wearing flats and a simple dress. By that time, I’ll have let everything go.’

’If this shop is still here, maybe I can sit and drink tea with my friend and tell her why I left.’

’If that day really comes, maybe Chen Yuan and my sister will be married, maybe even have a child.’

’I can just imagine it, holding my niece or nephew, teasing them with a toy… My sister’s child would definitely be beautiful. Big, blinking eyes, so adorable.’

’And Chen Yuan would be my brother-in-law. He would probably never find out that Jiang Yao and I took turns pretending to be his girlfriend.’

’It would be a secret I could never tell, buried for the rest of my life.’

Jiang Ning set the box aside and slid into the driver’s seat of her Porsche. She started the engine, turned the steering wheel, and tapped the contacts icon on the screen to call her sister.

After crying her eyes out last night, her cold had unexpectedly gotten better. Her nose wasn’t stuffy anymore.

Different people react differently to grief and pain.

Where Jiang Yao would be dejected and sad…

…Jiang Ning, after suffering this blow and thinking it through, had somehow become exceptionally gentle. All her jealousy and possessiveness had vanished, replaced by a sincere desire to bless them. She hoped Chen Yuan and her sister would have a wonderful future together, the kind of marriage she herself had always dreamed of.

’Perfectly in sync, supporting each other through thick and thin. They would be busy with the necessities of life, always trying to find little moments of romance in their ordinary days.’

’I’ll watch quietly from the sidelines, just like always, and no matter what happens, I’ll still be there to gently stroke my sister’s hair.’

’Jiang Yao, you always used to tell me you were waiting for a special guy to come along—someone who would love you with all his heart, and you would love him back with all the passion you could give.’

’Now, he’s here. You have to cherish him.’

…

RING…

RING…

The call connected.

Jiang Yao’s voice came over the line.

“Hello, Sis?”

“Yaoyao, I’ve picked up the suit. I’m not planning on going to school today. If you’re free, could you take it to Chen Yuan?”

“What suit?”

“There’s a host competition this afternoon. Chen Yuan is going to be on stage giving a speech. I was planning to be in the audience, but why don’t you go in my place?”

“Huh!? Really? Can I?”

Jiang Yao sounded utterly shocked; she never expected her sister to say something like that.

“Of course. But you have to play your part well. Don’t let anyone find out.”

“I will! I’m an expert at pretending to be you.”

“Okay, I can tell you haven’t even gotten out of bed. Hurry up and get over here, you little lazybones,” Jiang Ning scolded, forcing a smile.

Then, the call ended.

Jiang Ning’s expression immediately fell. From the day she had signed Chen Yuan up for the host competition, she had been looking forward to seeing him on stage in that suit, giving his speech in front of all the other students.

But she wouldn’t get the chance to see it now.

Letting her sister go in her place wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

In the limited time she had left in Lanjing, she felt an obligation to help her sister even more.

After all, she had been spoiling Yaoyao their whole lives…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep