Translator: _Min_ Editor: Rundi
Rather than a church, it was more like a museum.
The church had religious text that could be read, but it had no souvenirs. Perhaps indicating it was a sacred place rather than a tourist attraction. But because today was not worship day, there was no one praying in the church.
Inscriptions on shrines told the vicissitudes history of the Catholic Church. Jiang Chen held Ayeshaâs hand while he briefly glanced around.
âIs this a gothic style building?â Ayesha with one finger on her lips looked up at the magnificent dome.
âShould be, I donât really know. Why?â Jiang Chen asked.
âBecause⊠I often see gothic style clothing in the magazines,â With the tip of her lips forming a curvature. âI think itâs cute.â
âHaha, but this building doesnât resemble cuteness.â Jiang Chen forced a laugh and scanned his surrounding.
A priest stood under the altar with a couple standing in front of him. The white-haired priest drew a cross in front of his chest and blessed the two. Ayesha noticed that the couples had a joyous smile on their faces when they left.
âWhat are they doing?â
âReceiving the blessing of the holy light? The couple should be praying or marrying or something.â Jiang Chen made something up.
The priest seemed to have noticed the two looking at him. He kindly smiled and walked to them.
âDo you need help with something?â
Considering Ayeshaâs religion, Jiang Chen wanted to refuse, but the girl blinked her eyes and looked at the elderly father with white hair.
âEven as a pagan, is the blessing effective?â
The question was blatant, but the priest only paused for a moment before he spoke with an earnest expression.
âOf course. It all depends if you love him or not.â
Ayeshaâs cold expression bloomed into a joyful smile.
âMhmm. I love him dearly.â
Jiang Chen felt teary.
Ayeshaâs honest but innocent confession made him feel a different emotion.
He never admitted that he was a good man. Not because he was greedy, he just never had a strong mental fortitude.
The priest looked at Jiang Chen, his eyes seemed to possess the ability to observe everything.
âThen, do you love her?â
âI love her,â Jiang Chen said affirmatively.
Ayeshaâs eyes welled up with tears. She hugged Jiang Chenâs arm and rubbed her face against it.
If he had one positive trait, it would be that he never lied about his emotions. Although there was the suspicion of being a quibble, Jiang Chen didnât plan to explain anything.
A smile appeared on the priestâs face.
âMay the Lord bless you, and you will be happy.â
He drew the cross and blessed them.
âŠ
When they came out of the church, Ayesha dangled her entire body weight on Jiang Chenâs arm, and her expression was exuberant.
Among the trees, white roses blossomed along the path, but in front of her perfect smile, it paled in comparison.
It was rare for her to display such intimacy in public.
With how happy she looked, Jiang Chen couldnât resist kissing her tender face.
The face gradually turned red as he a spoiled smile surfaced on his face.
When night began to fall, Jiang Chen prepared to take Ayesha back to the hotel.
They still needed to catch tomorrowâs plane, so they should sleep early.
Thatâs right, sleep early.
But at the same moment, Jiang Chen heard a familiar voice in surprise.
âFeifei, marry me?â A man with roses kneeled in front of a gorgeous looking girl as he said with deep affection.
But the proposal in front of the church didnât seem to move the girl.
âDidnât we agree that once you settle, weâll then talk about marriage?â
Yang Yuan?
Jiang Chen followed the voice as he looked at the man beside the bench.
He didnât expect to encounter his university roommate here?!
After graduation, the four roommates all chose different paths. While they contacted each other initially for the few months, with the formulation of their new circles, the four rarely contacted each other. Even if Jiang Chen had made a name for himself, the three people still didnât contact him.
As to why, Jiang Chen made sense of it quickly; most likely because they didnât want to lose face.
Not speaking with people when they are down, and flattering them once they are successful, it didnât sound good. Especially since their relationship was not deep, to begin with, in addition to the lack of contact two years after graduation. Since the three all valued their face, they didnât contact Jiang Chen.
Without contact, at least they could brag to their friends and coworkers âThat guy, we lived in the same dorm. I was tight with him.â
Jiang Chen still remembered Yang Yuan. Although they were not in the same major, they had a surprisingly good relationship. He was the study god of their dorm and had a good family background. Jiang Chen faintly recalled that after graduated he headed to a renowned university in Australia for a master program. Before he left, he told Jiang Chen to find him if he ever visited Australia and that he would treat him.
Of course, Jiang Chen knew it was just out of courtesy.
Now thinking back, two years passed by and his master should be completed. Since they didnât contact each other after he left, their relationship obviously began to fade. While it was not the first time Jiang Chen was in Australia, he didnât remember to go find him.
But todayâs encounter, the feeling of meeting an old friend in a different part of the world, was indescribable.
Jiang Chen just wasnât sure if it would be appropriate to say hi.
âGive me some more time, I will definitely find a jobâŠâ Yang Yuan was a bit anxious as he didnât know what to do.
âDid you consider my feelings? You said you were already settled here, so I quit my job in China to find you, but what now?â The girl said accusingly with her eyes turning red.
When he saw his old friend was in a tough situation, Jiang Chen let out a sigh and walked toward him in an attempt to make the situation less awkward.
âYang Yuan?â
When he heard someone call his name, Yang Yuan first paused for a moment. When he saw who it was, he shouted in surprise.
â⊠Brother Chen! Havenât seen you in a while.â
Due to astonishment, his voice cracked.
âHavenât seen you for a while.â Jiang Chen smiled.
âThis is⊠your significant other?â Yang Yuan looked at Ayesha.
âMhmm.â
âAyesha,â she briefly introduced herself.
âYou⊠you still recognize me.â The smile on Yang Yuan was a mixture of bitterness, excitement, and joy.
The person they didnât believe in now became a big boss and the person everyone thought highly upon now couldnât even find a job. The discrepancy made him feel a bit bitter, but the joyful news was, his old friend still recognized him.