Chapter 290: Chapter 290: The Engagement Ceremony is Cancelled_1
Jian Yufei and the others waited in the hotel for a long time, he did not return. It was soon time for the engagement ceremony, but the groom was absent. Only the bride was anxiously waiting in the lounge.

“Madam, where has the boss gone? The guests are getting impatient,” someone said.

“Really, what is the boss thinking, disappearing at a time like this.”

Jian Yufei pulled out her cellphone and dialed Xiao Lang’s number, but the call went to voicemail. Her face turned pale; she clutched her phone tightly in her hand.

“Let’s all split up and search. We can’t just sit around and do nothing,” one of the female staff suggested to the rest. Everyone nodded in agreement and scattered to look for Xiao Lang.

Jian Yufei sat alone in the lounge, feeling lost and helpless.

She had no idea why Xiao Lang had disappeared, but she had a sinking feeling that the engagement party might not go as planned.

She picked up the train of her long dress and walked to the banquet hall. There were only a few guests remaining. Many had lost patience and left.

The master of ceremonies approached her, questioning, “Shall we continue with the engagement banquet?”

“Let’s wait a little longer,” Jian Yufei replied with difficulty.

The master of ceremonies nodded and walked away.

Ignoring the perplexed looks of those around her, Jian Yufei picked up her dress and quickly exited the hotel.

Xiao Lang, where on earth have you gone? Why would you leave me all alone here?

She arrived at the hotel entrance, ran down the steps, but didn’t know where to go to find him.

Staring blankly at the wide road, Jian Yufei stood for a while, then slowly sat down on the steps. She would wait for him here. If he returned, she would see him right away.

After an indeterminable period of time, her cell phone rang.

It was a call from Xiao Lang!

She immediately perked up and hastily answered the call.

“Hello, Xiao Lang, where are you?!”

“Yufei, I’m sorry. My father is seriously ill. I have no choice but to leave,” Xiao Lang apologized with a painful undertone. His voice held both remorse and sorrow and profound regret towards her.

Jian Yufei’s heart skipped a beat. Was he implying that the engagement ceremony couldn’t happen today?

“Where are you now? I’ll come find you.”

“Don’t bother. I’ll contact you if anything comes up.” With that, Xiao Lang hung up. Startled, Jian Yufei immediately redialed his number but the call went to voicemail.

Suddenly, she felt devoid of energy, as if she had been thrown from heaven into hell.

Jian Yufei sat down despondently. Her eyes were slightly red, tears threatening to spill over. Even though it was early spring, the weather was freezing cold, indistinguishable from winter.

She sat in front of the hotel in her dress, being blasted by the chilly wind while her body stiffened from the cold.

Truthfully, she should have realized it from the start. A relationship with Xiao Lang was never possible. She was the one who didn’t give up, wanting to embrace happiness. She believed that stretching her hands out meant she could get everything she wanted.

After experiencing Ruan Tianling, she was foolish enough not to see through the illusion of happiness. Now experiencing Xiao Lang, she doubted she would ever believe in love again in her lifetime.

Jian Yufei bent down, tears falling one by one on the ground.

She told herself that she would cry only this once. After crying, she would never shed tears over a man again.

Just at that moment, the sound of hurried footsteps approached her. The steps were steady and strong, unmistakenly a man’s.

Jian Yufei looked up in surprise, but her eyes dimmed instantly when she saw Ruan Tianling, not Xiao Lang, striding towards her with a coat in hand.

It wasn’t Xiao Lang who had come but Ruan Tianling!