After Breaking Off the Engagement, The Young Lady Deeply Regretted It - Chapter 61

The indoor music festival felt a little underwhelming. This venue was entirely modernized, with dark red lights flashing above, blurring the faces of the people around them.

Jing Xiao hooked her hand with Fan Qingyu’s and skillfully avoided the crowd. These people were waving light sticks for their idols, their screams nearly deafening. Jing Xiao couldn’t take it and covered one ear. “Do you like it here?”

Fan Qingyu stood slightly away from the crowd, her senses much less overwhelmed. She looked up at the pale neon lights on the stage and the European and American rappers she had seen online. She couldn’t look away. “Honestly, I don’t like it, but I want to experience it.”

She had always been dutiful for decades and had never really experienced rebellion.

“All right, then I’ll accompany you.” Jing Xiao, already overwhelmed by the noise, thought about paying extra for a private booth. She asked Fan Qingyu, got her consent, and immediately went to speak with the staff.

Meanwhile, Fan Qingyu felt a faint string of emotion spreading through her mind. Once Jing Xiao had handled everything, she carried her glass of wine to their seat.

The booth offered a view and sensory experience far superior to the stage. Jing Xiao rubbed her aching ears from earlier and downed half a glass of wine in one go.

The festival had spared no expense. Many tourists had come to the water town for it. There was still some warm-up time before the main performances. Fan Qingyu said, “Coming to Europe has given me a lot of inspiration.”

Jing Xiao smiled. “What kind of inspiration?”

Fan Qingyu quickly recorded every new idea sparking in her mind: “Lots of inspiration—for packaging, color schemes, promotional slogans, and so on.”

Jing Xiao set down her glass, her fingertips cold and damp from the wine. She casually wiped them. “This city is famous for romance. I brought you here for more than just tourism.”

Fan Qingyu teased back lightly, “I used to think I had reached a level where I didn’t need to broaden my horizons, since these things were always handled by the R&D department before.”

“By the way, recently… the Fan family’s reputation doesn’t seem very good.” Jing Xiao quickly adjusted, taking care to protect Fan Qingyu’s pride. “Sales have dropped, and some of the key influencers have been causing trouble.”

Fan Qingyu, having long become indifferent to fame, said calmly, “After all, I once led the Fan family to prosperity. The core is still in my hands.”

The beauty industry was already saturated. Beyond reputation, factors like packaging, color, texture, cost-performance ratio, and promotion played a larger role. When it came to the family business, Fan Qingyu felt a pang—her industry was like her child, and letting go entirely was impossible for her.

Jing Xiao held her hand. “It’ll get better.”

At least for now, she still wanted to fight for it.

“By the way, you said the influencers are causing trouble?” Fan Qingyu keenly seized on the topic. The Fan family’s main sales relied on e-commerce, and the influencers often formed factions, constantly competing.

“I asked around a bit. Your previous decisions were correct,” Jing Xiao said, resting her chin on her hand. “Gao Qiao is trying to get you back. She hasn’t forgotten your past kindness.”

Fan Qingyu’s heart fluttered. She hadn’t expected that in times of crisis, it would be Gao Qiao—someone she hadn’t seen in a long time—quietly supporting her.

Jing Xiao clapped her hands, remembering something more important to discuss. “What about this product? Are you going to hand it over to the Fan family?”

“I contacted a private factory. A while ago, the product was already made, though it still needs some improvements. I’ll discuss it with them when I return,” Fan Qingyu replied.

Jing Xiao nodded. “Exactly. You need to keep control of it yourself. Your ability and authority make it possible. Leaving the Fan family isn’t impossible.”

Fan Qingyu sighed. “I just didn’t expect that the person who supported me the most would be Gao Qiao.”

She had indeed been neglectful recently, failing to check on company matters. Those she once trusted openly and secretly had not supported her like Gao Qiao, who had only seen her when the company was starting out.

“The two young secretaries are also waiting for you.”

Fan Qingyu felt comforted. “I know. I talked to them on the phone a few days ago. But they didn’t mention Gao Qiao’s support.”

“Perhaps they didn’t want to trouble you.”

Fan Qingyu felt a pang of nostalgia. Jing Xiao also thought of Ouyang Fei, an old friend who had helped her through her lowest points.

“I wonder how Ouyang Fei has been recently.”

“Why did you suddenly think of her? Want to video call her?”

“No, I’ll just send a message.”

She opened their chat and noticed Ouyang Fei had changed her avatar to a childish little puppy, with part of the image cut off, clearly paired with another half.

She couldn’t believe Ouyang Fei had chosen such an avatar, completely out of character.

Fan Qingyu picked up some snacks and passed one to Jing Xiao, who, leaning close, saw the image. “Is this a couple avatar?”

She was with someone? And hadn’t told her.

Jing Xiao confirmed, “It’s a couple avatar. But I don’t know who it is with.”

“Maybe…,” Fan Qingyu said, taking out Pei Lu’s contact card. The avatar paired perfectly with Ouyang Fei’s.

So, they really were together.

Jing Xiao’s eyelashes trembled slightly. She felt a surge of envy from the bottom of her heart and carefully said, “Xiao Yu, should we change our avatars too?”

Without hesitation, Fan Qingyu replied, “Sure, send it to me.”

Jing Xiao was taken aback. She had thought Fan Qingyu might hesitate or consider it first, but she agreed immediately.

Fan Qingyu was ready to save and change it. Seeing Jing Xiao hesitate, she tapped her arm: “Send it to me.”

Jing Xiao’s throat tightened. “I haven’t found it yet. I thought you’d refuse… maybe I wanted something a little childish.”

Fan Qingyu patiently explained, “It’s fine. If it’s something you want to do, it’s important. I can’t think of anything more important than your happiness.”

At this music festival, Jing Xiao’s heart raced. She frantically searched for avatars on social media. Finally, she took two cartoon lamb images and triple-checked. “Is this really okay?”

By the time she spoke, Fan Qingyu had already changed hers.

In their ordinary days, the usually reserved Jing Xiao silently changed to a pink lamb avatar.

They were so absorbed in conversation that they didn’t notice the performance had started. The rapper was singing a love song with widely circulated, ambiguously intimate lyrics.

The modern, passionate melody filled the air. Fan Qingyu was about to speak when two cool, icy lips pressed against hers.

The rich aroma of wine filled the narrow space. Fan Qingyu’s head spun; she had never felt alcohol hit like this. Jing Xiao’s hair brushed her shoulder as she slowed her breath, ready to enjoy the kiss.

Jing Xiao pulled away almost immediately—a soft, fluttering kiss, teasing the heart.

“How so fast?” Fan Qingyu complained, holding her by the back of her head, kissing her again.

The kiss after a long separation was precious, lips intertwined, scent lingering, inch by inch like discovering a rare treasure.

Soft and moist, they entwined, reluctant to part, as if the world contained only each other.

The scent of wine faded, leaving only the fresh fragrance of grapes. Fan Qingyu, unusually assertive, said, “Do you know your left ear is connected to your heart?”

“I know.”

“Next time, can we get our ears pierced together? On the left ear, same spot.”

“Okay.”

“Why did you kiss me after drinking wine?”

Jing Xiao, panting, stammered, “I want you to think of me whenever you drink wine in the future.”

Previously, it had been strawberry candy. Fan Qingyu smiled behind her hand. “Why are you suddenly so innocent?”

Jing Xiao lowered her eyes, looking like a proper little wife. “Because I also want to give you something to remember me by.”

The overhead light reflected in her eyes. Fan Qingyu looked resolute. “I will. Even without a special scent, I’ll remember you. Forever. For a lifetime. Until I die.”

Jing Xiao covered her mouth. “Don’t say that. Death is unlucky.”

“I just want to show my loyalty,” Fan Qingyu lightly tapped her own mouth. “I misspoke, take it back.”

Only with someone she fully trusted could she be childish. Jing Xiao tapped her forehead: “You’re an idiot.”

Fan Qingyu held her fingers. “No, you are.”

The atmosphere was intimate. Fan Qingyu linked her arm with Jing Xiao’s. Overcome with heat, she blurted, “Let’s get our marriage certificate as soon as we return to the country.”

“Get a marriage certificate when we return?” Jing Xiao paused, thinking about the logistics. “Then we’ll have to steal our household registration books. We can’t have a wedding now.”

Fan Qingyu couldn’t help laughing. “We’re like two schoolkids.”

“Yeah, we really are.”

The idea of stealing the household registration books was absurd. Jing Xiao was delighted. “We’ll wait for the right time.”

“I don’t want to. I’ll steal it when we return. I’m afraid you won’t want to marry me.” Jing Xiao leaned on her shoulder, stubborn.

Fan Qingyu said, “But I already proposed to you today.”

Jing Xiao held her hand tighter. “But I want to keep you firmly in my hands.”

Instantly, it was as if some energy flowed through Fan Qingyu. “All right.”

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