Autumn brought clear, cool weather, making the air feel exceptionally fresh and airy. Under a high sky, the waters of rivers and lakes turned crystal clear, and beneath the bright sunlight, countless flowers strove to bloom, eager to catch the tail end of summer.
Autumn is also considered the wedding season, typically beginning in the fall and lasting until the end of the following spring.
The wedding ceremony of Chu Lu and Zheng Hao was officially held with great solemnity at the church.
Chu Lu was the pampered heiress of the Chu family and also Qin Yue's best friend.
Zheng Hao was the head of the Zheng Group.
She didn't quite understand how the two of them had met, but she knew for certain that Zheng Hao's feelings for her friend were genuine.
Witnessed by billions of people around the world, the wedding drew countless admiring glances and heartfelt blessings to this very place.
After exchanging the wedding rings, Zheng Hao couldn't wait any longer. With a touch of dominant passion, he pulled Chu Lu into his arms and lost himself in a blissful kiss...
Standing below the altar, bridesmaid Qin Yue clapped along with the other guests to congratulate the couple of the hour. A hint of envy flickered in her eyes; her best friend had found such a wonderful husband, and she couldn't help but wonder when she would finally meet her own prince charming.
By evening, for the wedding banquet, Qin Yue had changed into a form-fitting red dress that accentuated her alluring curves.
Although she wasn't the star of the night, she refused to look any less than stunning.
The banquet hall was packed with guests, all of whom belonged to high society.
Qin Yue helped Chu Lu entertain the guests, using the opportunity to network with several influential figures and major investors for potential collaborations with the Qin Group.
Qin Yue was no lightweight when it came to drinking, but because she was in an exceptionally good mood today, she ended up having a bit too much.
Feeling a bit lightheaded, she accidentally bumped into Chu Qin.
Feeling the impact, Chu Qin turned around. Seeing Qin Yue, she asked with concern,
"Yueyue, what's wrong? Did you drink too much? Let me take you to get some rest."
Chu Qin was Chu Lu's mother.
Since childhood, the Qin and Chu families had shared an exceptionally close relationship. Qin Yue had visited their home so often that Chu Qin treated her like one of her own, showing her just as much love and affection as she did Chu Lu.
"Auntie, I'm fine. I can still drink a few more glasses, I'm just a little dizzy."
Chu Qin supported her unsteady frame and gently coaxed her,
"Let me take you up to a room to rest."
"Come on."
Qin Yue gently held her back and smiled softly,
"Don't worry about me, Auntie. I can walk by myself. You should stay and look after the guests."
Looking around the bustling banquet hall, Qin Yue knew there were still too many guests. If Chu Qin left now, who would be there to host them?
Chu Qin walked Qin Yue to the door, still asking with concern,
"Are you sure you'll be alright on your own?"
Fearing that something might happen to her, Chu Qin wouldn't know how to face President Qin if anything went wrong.
Qin Yue nodded.
"I'll be fine, Auntie. Don't worry."
With that, she turned and walked away.
As she stood waiting for the elevator, Qin Yue's head spun. Furrowing her brow, she leaned a hand against the wall for support, the glowing red numbers of the elevator display blurring before her eyes.
*Ding...*
The elevator doors slid open, and Qin Yue dragged her exhausted body inside.
Unsteadily, her face collided with a solid wall of flesh. The alcohol had dulled her reflexes, and the slight impact sent her stumbling backward.
Fortunately, the man she had just bumped into reacted quickly, catching her limp body before she could fall.
Rubbing her slightly sore nose, she looked up to see who she had run into...
He was exceptionally tall; Qin Yue barely reached his shoulder.
Caught off guard, Song Jinze had instinctively reached out to support her soft, yielding body.
The faint fragrance emanating from the girl's body gave him a sense of comfort.
Pushing the stranger away, Qin Yue glared at him in irritation, her small mouth parting to scold him.
"You bastard, how dare you bump into me! Do you have a death wish?"
As she spoke, she yanked down on his tie.
He was too tall, and with her vision blurred and the harsh elevator lights glaring down, Qin Yue couldn't make out his face clearly.
Suddenly yanked forward, Song Jinze bent down, staring straight at this audacious girl who clearly didn't know the meaning of fear.
Nearly choked by her grip, he grabbed her hand and pried it off.
"Let go of me! You bastard, what do you think you're doing holding my hand?"
His face darkened as he looked down at this insolent girl.
His gaze lingered on Qin Yue's face. A flicker of surprise crossed Song Jinze's eyes; her face bore a striking resemblance to someone from his past, but her eye color was different, and that person would never have been this bold.
Dazzled by the handsome face before her, Qin Yue froze, staring at him in a daze.
Feeling slightly self-conscious under her intense gaze, he averted his eyes, though he still offered a dry warning:
"There's no need to drool over me."
Ignoring his mocking words, Qin Yue remained in her starstruck daze.
Song Jinze nudged her aside. He had to attend a celebration for his close friend and had no time to waste on this young woman.
Only when the elevator doors slid shut did Song Jinze realize he had already wasted quite a bit of time tangling with her.
He would just have to wait a little longer.
"Hey! You bastard, how dare you push me? You've got a lot of nerve!"
Propping herself up against the elevator wall, Qin Yue stumbled over to him and reached out to touch his face.
"Trying so hard to get my attention... you clearly just want to sleep with me! You men are all the same."
Song Jinze was a whole head taller than Qin Yue. To reach his face, she had to stand on her tiptoes, but the alcohol had compromised her balance, and she ended up falling straight into his arms.