Shine on Me

The emcee announced from the stage that the wedding was about to begin. After bidding farewell to the elderly, we headed toward Dr. Fang's table. Lin Yusen seemed somewhat downcast.

Suddenly being declared as "being pursued"—even though I knew it was just to comfort the elderly—left me feeling a bit awkward. But seeing Lin Yusen so dispirited, I couldn’t help but strike up a conversation with him.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s been over a year since I last visited my mentor,” Lin Yusen said. “He’s a leading authority in neurosurgery, with students everywhere, but only a few were truly nurtured by him. I was one of them—his last disciple. I’ve let him down.”

“That’s not your fault, and he doesn’t blame you either.” I couldn’t bear to see him so dejected and quickly cut in, “Besides, you’re still amazing now… At least your future boss appreciates you.”

“Future boss?” Lin Yusen suddenly chuckled. “You?”

“Yes, me!” I nodded emphatically.

“Then it’s settled?” His gaze deepened. “Don’t kick me out later.”

“It’s settled. Come on, it’s someone’s wedding—cheer up, will you? Considering you wasted my first-ever public confession, the least you could do is be happy.”

“Oh? Is your love life that bad?” He looked at me with sympathy.

Me: “…”

You recovered way too fast, didn’t you?

Attending someone else’s wedding as a man and woman together was indeed awkward. The moment we sat down at Dr. Fang’s table, we were teased again. His classmate immediately quipped, “Wow, Yusen, finally bringing your girlfriend out to meet people?”

This time, Lin Yusen’s response was extremely proper.

“This is Xiao Nie, my colleague. After Lu Sha’s scream scared her into falling downstairs, I felt guilty and brought her along to the wedding.”

Concise, clear, and respectable—I was satisfied.

But Dr. Fang nearly spat out his tea. Wiping his mouth under everyone’s surprised gazes, he egged him on, “Old rules, junior. Last one here drinks three cups.”

“No thanks. I’m driving back to Suzhou tonight.”

“Cut the excuses. Rules are rules. Who here isn’t driving? Just take a cab. Come on, fill it up.” Another classmate swiftly poured a full glass of red wine and handed it to him.

Lin Yusen thought for a moment and said, “I’ll find someone to drink for me.”

Then he shoved the glass toward me…

The entire table was stunned.

Including me…

Dr. Fang gaped for a long moment before exclaiming, “Junior, when it comes to shamelessness, this senior truly bows to you!”

I mentally added another point to his tally.

But as I looked at the wine he’d forced into my hand, the last trace of unease in my heart vanished completely…

This level of shamelessness couldn’t possibly be part of a courtship!

The entire wedding banquet was delightful.

Maybe it was birds of a feather, but his classmates were all witty. At first, I was a bit reserved, but sitting between Dr. Lin on my left and Dr. Fang on my right, staying stiff was practically impossible…

The only awkward moment was when the newlyweds came to toast.

In my hometown’s tradition, it’s customary to give red envelopes when the couple comes to toast. But in Shanghai, it seemed everyone handed them over upon entering the venue. So when the bride and groom arrived at our table, I was the only one pulling out a red envelope. ==The bride insisted on not accepting mine. "You came with Yusen, how could I take your red envelope? Yusen's gift was delivered to my home long ago."

Everyone at the table was smiling at me, and I felt extremely awkward. "His is his, I..."

"Take it," Lin Yusen said.

The bride hesitated. "Isn't this accepting double..."

Lin Yusen calmly replied, "You can just return her double later."

"Ah, no need..."

"Then that's fine." The bride immediately took the red envelope from my hand with a smile. After she left, I sat down and turned to Lin Yusen. "Why did you tell her to return me double? Even as a joke, it's too cold."

"I considered... inflation. Didn’t want my future boss to suffer losses."

Me: "...Thanks a lot!"

After the newlyweds finished toasting, the banquet was nearly over. His classmates began discussing where to go next, with Dr. Fang being the most enthusiastic. After much deliberation, they decided to go to KTV after the wedding pranks.

I quietly asked Lin Yusen, "We don’t have to go, right?"

"Don’t like it?"

I sighed helplessly. "Just look at my name, and you’ll know my attitude toward KTV."

Hearing this, he studied me intently.

I was speechless. "Why are you looking at my face? My name isn’t written there."

He smiled. "Hmm, let me think. Nie? Three ears—sharp hearing. There’s also the composer Nie Er, meaning you must be very talented in music?"

"...It means all my talent is in my ears—I can only listen."

"Is that so?" Lin Yusen expressed a not-so-sincere regret. "What about the wedding pranks? Going or not?"

Why was he so uninterested when everyone was discussing earlier, but now he seems even more eager than Dr. Fang?

"Of course not. Gotta accumulate good karma, or else when it’s your own wedding..."

"Fair point." Lin Yusen looked at me and nodded thoughtfully.

Dr. Fang leaned over and asked Lin Yusen, "So, are you going? Don’t you want to get married? Get some experience in advance with the wedding pranks."

Lin Yusen answered very honestly, "She told me to accumulate good karma, or else at my own wedding..."

Dr. Lin, you really are the ultimate teammate-seller!

Dr. Fang looked at me in utter shock. "Xiao Nie, you’re in such a hurry to get married? Worried about being pranked at your own wedding already?"

"...What? No!"

"Not in a hurry? Then come join the pranks!" Dr. Fang grinned mischievously.

And just like that, I was dragged into the wedding pranks.

I originally planned to leave after a quick look, but... I ended up not wanting to leave.

It was my first time seeing wedding pranks, and I never expected them to be so fun. Though I wouldn’t mess with the newlyweds myself, that didn’t stop me from cheering others on as they did.

In the end, it was Lin Yusen who pulled me out of the honeymoon suite.

Standing in the elevator, Lin Yusen said helplessly, "I can’t let you hang out with my senior anymore. You pick up bad habits too fast. Weren’t you the one talking about accumulating good karma earlier?"

"Oh, I thought about it. I’m still too young to get married, so no need to worry about karma yet."

"Hmm, not necessarily. It depends on the other person..."

I glanced at him, suddenly remembering Dr. Fang saying he wanted to get married, and said with a smile, "Don’t worry, I won’t use all these tricks at your wedding."He glanced at me. "I'm really glad you can attend my wedding, but I doubt you'll have time to play pranks at the bridal chamber."

If I'm attending the wedding, how could I not have time for the bridal chamber pranks?

I imagined in my mind how he'd look as a groom being mercilessly teased, and a wave of amusement washed over me. I immediately broke the promise I'd just made.

"Just wait until your wedding day!"

"I'll definitely wait."

He said with a full smile.

When we stepped out of the hotel, we realized snowflakes had begun to fall outside. Lin Yusen's car was parked in the opposite parking lot. He put on his overcoat. "Wait here for me, I'll bring the car over."

I stood alone on the steps, waiting for him to drive over. It was quite chilly outside, so I hugged my arms and watched the gently falling snowflakes, my thoughts gradually drifting away.

Faintly, I thought I heard someone call my name.

"Watermelon?"

Was I hallucinating? I felt like I'd heard my boss's voice.

I turned around and saw that long-missed, slender and upright figure.