Chapter Thirty-Six: Making a Wish

"That's right, it's so hard for everyone to gather together, and if we spend all our time on formalities, we'll waste the evening," Lu Ke'er chimed in, just as in their high school days, always in sync with Lin Yuxin.

Liu Qian didn't push for the handshake anymore; she waved her hand and said, "Alright, I'll let you off for Yuxin's sake," before turning back to another woman by her side.

"Everyone's here now. Let's stop standing around in the wind—whatever you want to say, let's sit inside and talk over dinner," Chen Feiyang suggested, and naturally, no one objected. They all agreed that, as the birthday person, Feiyang should have the final say.

The interior of the club was lavishly decorated, with thick carpets covering the floors. Every item in the grand hall, from tiny decorative flower pots to entire sets of sofas in the business area, was done in a European vintage style. Along the corridors, crystal chandeliers lined up in rows, each boasting no fewer than three hundred bulbs, casting a soft glow in every corner. Every twenty steps or so, a Western portrait in oil hung on the wall, making one feel as though they had stepped into an eighteenth-century European palace.

Chen Feiyang had booked a super-sized private room, almost two hundred square meters. A long Western dining table was draped in a snowy white cloth, with fresh flowers surrounding three bronze candle holders, each bearing five lit white candles.

"I always thought the most upscale hotel in Qing City was Yarai Pavilion, but compared to this place, it really falls short. Feiyang, you know how to enjoy life," Shi Jie remarked as the group entered the room. Chen Feiyang, as the birthday star and host, was unanimously invited to take the main seat, while the others found their places. Shi Jie played with a set of pure silver cutlery, surveying the surroundings with a whistle of admiration.

Chen Feiyang explained, "This private club originally belonged to the Xu family, but now it's been acquired by Hongcheng Group. Maoding Building Materials partners with Hongcheng, and the deputy manager in charge gave me a membership card here."

Li Chen inquired, "Feiyang, I heard Maoding Building Materials signed a big contract with Hongcheng Group?"

Feiyang nodded modestly, "The exact amount is a business secret."

Li Chen pressed on, "My family deals in office supplies. We're also negotiating with Hongcheng, though it's not a huge amount—about three or four million. Feiyang, could you introduce me to the key people?"

Such a direct request did not faze Chen Feiyang. He considered it and replied, "I can ask around for you. Don’t worry, we’re classmates—I won’t brush you off. But let's not discuss it tonight; we’ll arrange another time."

Li Chen nodded earnestly, thanking him repeatedly.

"Yuxin, aren't you also pursuing a partnership with Hongcheng Group? You could ask Feiyang for a recommendation. I came early, and saw Feiyang meet Hongcheng’s Deputy General Manager in the hall—they seemed close, and Feiyang called him 'uncle'," Lu Ke'er whispered to Lin Yuxin after overhearing the exchange between Feiyang and Li Chen. Lin Yuxin’s gaze flickered; refusing private contact with Feiyang didn’t mean she couldn’t work with him in business. If Feiyang had close connections with Hongcheng’s deputy, this was a network she was tempted by.

After a brief consideration, Lin Yuxin nodded lightly. "I'll talk to him about it later."

The banquet was Western-style, with dishes pre-ordered. Soon, appetizers and red wine were served. Everyone poured themselves half a glass, and Chen Feiyang said a few words, then they raised their glasses together, sipped, and the evening officially began.

Throughout the meal, conversation revolved around work, travel, shopping, with frequent interludes of high school anecdotes, maintaining a cheerful atmosphere. Only Hong Chen did not join in—he wasn’t familiar with the group, nor interested in their topics. He ate and played on his phone, and the others seemed to forget he was there.

"I left the champagne in the car, brought all the way from abroad. Yuxin, would you mind lending your husband as a helper?" Lu Ke'er suddenly remembered, half-way through dessert, and turned to Lin Yuxin with a mischievous smile.

"If you ask, and I refuse, you’d probably stop being friends with me," Lin Yuxin teased, giving her a sideways glance before nudging Hong Chen, who was absorbed in his phone. "Give Ke'er a hand and fetch the champagne from the car."

Hong Chen replied with a brief "okay."

They walked out to the parking lot, stopping beside a BMW. Lu Ke'er didn't immediately unlock the car, but turned to Hong Chen, her gentle expression replaced by a cold one. She said icily, "How much longer do you intend to delay Yuxin?"

Hong Chen was caught off guard by the sudden change, pausing for a few seconds. "What do you mean?"

Lu Ke'er’s demeanor was indifferent. "Yuxin told me you two have a contractual marriage, three years in term, and there's eleven months left. Yuxin values the contract, so she won't initiate an early divorce, but I hope you will. Don't keep delaying her life any further."

Hong Chen lit a cigarette, inhaled deeply, and lowered his head as if thinking. After a moment, he asked quietly, "Is this Yuxin’s idea, or yours?"

Lu Ke'er spoke righteously, "I'm Yuxin’s best friend—we’re inseparable. You know your own circumstances: no background, no education, no job. You're clinging to her just to live off her. If you agree to initiate the divorce, I’ll cover your losses for the remaining eleven months—double the compensation, even."

Hong Chen cast her a meaningful look. Clearly, this was not Lin Yuxin’s idea. For a friend to interfere to this extent—at best, it was well-intentioned; at worst, she was overstepping her bounds. Matters between husband and wife might be influenced by parents or children, but for anyone else, even the closest relatives, their role was advisory at most; when had an outsider ever had the right to make decisions?

Moreover, Lin Yuxin had told him it had been over three years since she’d seen Lu Ke'er. Even with the closest kin, such a long separation inevitably created distance—let alone a friend. Claiming they were inseparable was laughable.

From Hong Chen’s perspective, it was likely that Lu Ke'er was acting on someone else’s behalf, and that someone was not Lin Yuxin, but a person with designs on her. Lu Ke'er had specifically said Hong Chen was delaying Yuxin’s life, implying that only by divorcing and making Yuxin single again could someone else have a chance to pursue her openly.

After a brief silence, Hong Chen suddenly asked, "Is it Chen Feiyang?"

Tonight's reunion had been arranged by Chen Feiyang, who was the center of attention and admiration. Considering Feiyang’s interest in Lin Yuxin, it was nearly certain he was behind this.

Lu Ke'er was visibly startled, then quickly denied it. "What does Chen Feiyang have to do with this?"

After denying it, she hesitated, then amended, "Yuxin is such a catch—it’s natural for Feiyang to be infatuated. Personally, I think the two of them would make a fine couple."

Hong Chen smiled quietly and pointed at the BMW. "Such a major decision—I need to think it over. Let’s grab the champagne first; they're waiting inside."

"Before tonight's gathering ends, there must be a resolution. The divorce has to happen, and I can even sweeten the deal. If you agree, I'll transfer the money immediately—I don’t like dragging things out." Lu Ke'er’s expression shifted several times, clearly unable to find a rebuttal. She snorted in annoyance, pressed the key fob, and walked around to the trunk to lift the lid...

Meanwhile, in the private room.

The lights dimmed, and the candles on the dining table were extinguished. The birthday song began to play as a trolley was wheeled in, bearing an eighteen-inch cake studded with over twenty candles arranged in a heart shape. Beside the cake was a bouquet of ninety-nine fire-red roses.

Everyone rose, clapping and humming along with the music.

The trolley stopped before Chen Feiyang, who clasped his hands, closed his eyes, and silently made a wish. After a long moment, he slowly opened his eyes.

Liu Qian asked curiously, "Feiyang, what did you wish for?"

Chen Feiyang smiled without replying. His gaze shifted, fixing on Lin Yuxin, studying her deeply, his eyes brimming with oceanic affection.

His action caused the group to hold their breath. Lin Yuxin unconsciously furrowed her brows.

Apart from the cheerful birthday song playing in the background, the room was utterly silent.

The silence stretched for ten seconds. Just as Lin Yuxin, unnerved by Chen Feiyang’s gaze, was about to urge him to blow out the candles, Chen Feiyang lowered his eyes, reached for the bouquet of roses, and strode steadily to Lin Yuxin’s side. He knelt on one knee, looked up at her, and declared with heartfelt sincerity, "Yuxin, the wish I just made was to guard you for a lifetime. Please give me this chance—will you?"

The crowd nearly gasped aloud, but restrained themselves. Liu Qian and another woman covered their mouths, their hearts pounding as if they would leap from their chests.