Invitation

    Cheng Jing had been staying at a hotel near Mingzhou First Hospital for ten days.

    The high-speed train tickets to Yuecheng had sold out, leaving him no choice but to head to the nearby Mingzhou instead.

    During this time, Cheng Jing sent numerous messages to his parents, but none were answered—he figured they must be busy. His self-inflicted wounds still needed time to heal, and he didn’t want his parents to see them and worry. So, he planned to recover fully before returning to Yuecheng.

    Having been cooped up in a villa for too long, he couldn’t bear the thought of staying alone in a cramped room. Aside from his daily trips to the hospital to change his bandages, he wandered around the unfamiliar city streets.

    The hotel’s proximity to the hospital meant most people he encountered were patients, burdened by their illnesses. Cheng Jing, however, felt at ease there. In the hospital, no one stared at him because of his appearance—everyone had their own ailments to worry about. Hidden among them, he was almost invisible.

    “Cheng Jing?”

    At the escalator near the hospital’s south entrance, Cheng Jing heard his name and instinctively turned around, surprised.

    A tall, handsome man with neatly styled hair and silver-rimmed glasses stood there—a stranger.

    Cheng Jing didn’t recognize him at first and was about to step closer when the man approached him. “It’s me, Pei Xi! Don’t you remember?”

    Suddenly, memories flooded back. Cheng Jing’s expression showed a flicker of surprise. “Pei Xi, you’re…”

    They had been classmates in their first year of high school, and Pei Xi had been the class monitor. They had even shared a desk for a semester. Back then, Pei Xi had been a skinny guy with glasses; now, he was a confident, well-dressed professional. The coincidence was surreal—they met again in a random hospital in a city where their paths should never have crossed.

    This world was absurd and unpredictable. Cheng Jing had come to a place he’d never set foot in, hoping to forget the past. Yet, here was someone whose every look and smile brought those memories rushing back.

    Despite the reluctance in his heart, Cheng Jing smiled graciously. “It’s been so many years!”

    “Not since high school graduation. What a coincidence.” Pei Xi fell into step beside him. “What brings you to Mingzhou?”

    It was just a chance encounter, a fleeting moment. Cheng Jing had no intention of telling the truth.

    “I just got here a few days ago, taking some annual leave for a trip.” He pointed to the bandage on his forehead. “Took a bad fall the other day, so I came to see a doctor. What about you? Why are you in Mingzhou?”

    “I’ve been working here since I graduated,” Pei Xi replied, mentioning a well-known tech company. “My dad’s been unwell and is in the hospital here. I just brought him some food. How about you? Where are you working now?”

    “I’m in Xijing,” Cheng Jing answered briefly, clearly signaling he was ready to leave. Something about Pei Xi’s gaze made him uneasy, bringing Liang Jingmin to mind.

    “When are you heading back?” Pei Xi seemed genuinely enthusiastic. “We haven’t seen each other in ages—we should have a meal together!”

    He asked a lot of questions, but in a way that didn’t feel intrusive. His tone was warm, like an old classmate’s excitement, without being overbearing.

    This easygoing manner made it hard for Cheng Jing to refuse.

    Back in high school, he and Pei Xi had been quite close. After they ended up in different classes, they only exchanged occasional greetings in the hallways. After graduation, they lost touch entirely.

    Cheng Jing nodded silently, unable to voice a rejection. “I came here with some colleagues. They went back early because of work, so I’m free. How about today?”

    It was a weekday, and Pei Xi didn’t seem like he had a lot of free time. Cheng Jing expected him to decline. Surprisingly, Pei Xi agreed readily. “Sounds great! Let’s go for some hometown food. My treat.”

    They left the hospital together, walking side by side.

    This whole period felt surreal. First, Cheng Jing had encountered Lin Shuheng right after returning to Yuecheng; now, he was running into Pei Xi. It was as if his high school memories had wrapped around him, refusing to let go. Reflecting on these coincidences, he smiled. “You’ve all changed so much. I barely recognized you at first glance.”

    “Spotting you, though, is way too easy, Cheng Jing,” Pei Xi replied with a warm smile. “Even in a crowd, you’d be the first I’d notice.” There was a brightness in his eyes, as if talking to Cheng Jing brought him genuine joy.

    Old classmates usually carried a sense of distance after years apart. But talking to Pei Xi didn’t feel that way at all. Aside from those initial rapid-fire questions, he hadn’t pried into Cheng Jing’s life. Instead, he calmly shared updates about his own.

    His job was steady, life was smooth, and his family was doing well. He had peacefully broken up with his girlfriend two years ago, even though they had been close to getting married—a bit of a pity, he admitted, and he was still single now.

    Pei Xi’s demeanor hadn’t changed since their school days. Cheng Jing remembered how, even back then, Pei Xi stood out from other boys. He was always composed and mature, the kind of student teachers favored.

    Cheng Jing playfully teased, “How could someone like you still be single? If there were a hundred of you in the dating market, they’d all be snatched up in minutes.”

    Pei Xi laughed out loud. “Thanks for that.”

    And just like that, they became friends again.

    They did the usual things friends do: played games, booked badminton courts, shared meals, and visited the hospital together—Pei Xi to see his father, and Cheng Jing to get his bandages changed.

    Pei Xi was always composed and respectful, never prying into why Cheng Jing hadn’t returned to Xijing. Cheng Jing, in turn, never offered an explanation. He had no job, lived in a hotel, and his bills kept piling up as he spent money lavishly. Pei Xi never questioned it or crossed any boundaries.

    Ever since Pei Xi noticed Cheng Jing’s reluctance to discuss the past, he had avoided mentioning their high school days. Despite this, they never ran out of things to talk about. Pei Xi was the perfect friend.

    By the time Cheng Jing’s wounds had fully healed and several heavy snowfalls had already blanketed Xijing, the ice on the Mingzhou River had started to melt. One day, Pei Xi received a wedding invitation.

    Cheng Jing was more talkative now than when he first arrived in Mingzhou. Sitting casually across from Pei Xi at the table, he joked, “Your company really does finish work early. You even beat me here today.”

    Pei Xi smiled. “Yeah, didn’t you know? I was drowning in overtime just a while ago.”

    After a bit of small talk, Pei Xi suddenly asked, “Cheng Jing, do you remember Liang Jingmin?”

    Cheng Jing visibly tensed, his breath catching. Trying to stay calm, he replied in a low voice, “I remember. We were in the same class later. Why?”

    “We were both in the physics group back then. We’ve had each other on WeChat but never really talked. Can you believe it? He sent me a wedding invitation this morning.” Pei Xi’s tone was casual; he had no idea about the history between Cheng Jing and Liang Jingmin. To him, it was just an interesting coincidence.

    Cheng Jing didn’t respond. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, but no words came out.

    “Did he send it to you too?” Pei Xi continued, unaware of Cheng Jing’s reaction. “It’s strange. Does he want a wedding gift or something? I haven’t even replied yet.”

    Cheng Jing shook his head, his eyes darting. “No. We don’t have each other on WeChat.”

    Just then, Cheng Jing’s phone vibrated. A message from Lin Shuheng.

    There was no text—just a screenshot. The contact name read “Liang Jingmin,” and the chat window was empty except for a single message: a wedding invitation.

    Liang Jingmin had apparently sent the invitation to their entire high school circle. It was almost laughable. Cheng Jing’s mind felt muddled, his voice coming out before he could think. “Are you going to go?”

    “Of course not,” Pei Xi replied with a chuckle. “I’m already trying to think of a polite excuse. I don’t have time to go to Xijing, and we haven’t spoken in years.”

    “Can I see it?” Cheng Jing asked calmly, taking Pei Xi’s phone.

    The message was simple—a copy-paste invitation, identical to the one Lin Shuheng had received.

    There was also a link to a mini-program. When he opened it, soft music played, and a professionally shot photo appeared. The bride and groom stood apart, almost like strangers. The event details were listed there. Cheng Jing glanced at it once and committed the date and location to memory.

    Cheng Jing handed the phone back, his reaction perfectly composed. “They look good together. The bride is beautiful.”

    Pei Xi frowned in genuine concern. “Are you alright, Cheng Jing? You look really pale.”

    He reached out to feel Cheng Jing’s forehead, but Cheng Jing dodged his hand.

    Earlier in the month, Cheng Jing had caught a severe cold and was stuck in his hotel room with a high fever, unable to get out of bed. It was only after Pei Xi insisted that he finally went to the hospital. Cheng Jing had stayed at Pei Xi’s place to recover and had only recently gotten better.

    Despite his intense work schedule, Pei Xi had taken care of Cheng Jing, making sure he drank water and took his medicine. Cheng Jing was grateful but also felt a deep sense of guilt.

    “I’m fine,” Cheng Jing replied. “Do I really look that bad?”

    After spending the past few months together, Cheng Jing wasn’t oblivious to Pei Xi’s feelings anymore.

    He had always been a bit slow to notice things like this, but he had grown more perceptive over the years. Pei Xi’s care and attention went beyond what one might expect from a friend—so much so that even Cheng Jing, usually dense about these things, had picked up on it.

    All his life, Cheng Jing had felt like an outsider among his peers, unprepared to handle this kind of affection. He believed that pretending not to notice was the safest way to keep things peaceful.

    Trying to push certain emotions out of his mind, Cheng Jing hurriedly changed the subject, though his unease was clear. “I’ve recovered now; it’s time for me to move out.” He didn’t mention returning to Xijing. There was no point continuing the flimsy lie he had told when they first met.

    Pei Xi’s frown deepened slightly, though he kept his emotions well hidden. “Alright. But if you’re worried about being a burden, please don’t feel that way.”

    Cheng Jing forced a weak smile. “You’ve really gone out of your way for me these past few days.”

    Before Pei Xi could respond, Cheng Jing’s phone buzzed. It was a message from Lin Shuheng:

    “Cheng Jing, whatever you do, don’t go back to Xijing.”

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