Chapter 161: Would You Be Willing to Attend Our Wedding?

Jiang Yao’s cheeks flushed slightly as she casually remarked, "I only knew you were talented in singing and acting. I had no idea you were so good at this too."

He Yunqing set her down gently. "Nana needs someone to look after her."

Jiang Yao nodded.

During their time abroad, He Yunqing and Jin Nana had practically depended on each other for survival.

He must have cared for Jin Nana like this, with his own hands, countless times—perhaps even more intimately...

"Nana... how is her recovery?"

At the mention of Jin Nana, He Yunqing smiled faintly, a gentle warmth lighting up his eyes. "She has recovered remarkably well. Now, almost no one can tell she is wearing a prosthesis. She has also become much more cheerful."

Jiang Yao had thought she was fully prepared mentally.

Yet, meeting He Yunqing’s gaze, she had to admit that she was still pricked by the radiance in his eyes.

It was such a strikingly handsome look.

"I’m fine now. You should head back quickly," Jiang Yao urged him hastily.

On a rainy midnight like this, a man and a woman alone together was hardly proper.

"Ye Yiyi will be back soon. I’ll wait until she returns before I leave," He Yunqing replied with absolute candor.

With no reason to reject such openness, Jiang Yao could only nod in silent acquiescence.

Outside the window, the heavy rain continued to pour down relentlessly.

Inside the room, neither of them spoke another word, the quiet so profound that the dropping of a pin could be heard...

Downstairs, a Lamborghini was parked amidst the sheets of rain.

In the back seat, Jin Nana stared blankly through the car window at the lit-up window above.

"Miss, shall we head back?" the driver in the front seat asked softly.

Jin Nana lowered her head slowly. "What do you suppose they are talking about up there?"

The driver hesitated for a moment, wondering how best to comfort her. "Miss, they are considered friends now. It’s probably just casual conversation and catching up between friends. You know Mr. He—his character is beyond reproach, or you wouldn't have chosen him to be your future husband, would you?"

Jin Nana smiled faintly.

Precisely because she knew He Yunqing too well, her heart felt uneasy.

For two years, she had once foolishly believed she could walk into He Yunqing’s heart and replace Jiang Yao’s place, but facts had proven her wrong.

He Yunqing was a well-educated gentleman who, in his treatment of her, was forever capable of being gentle, considerate, and meticulously attentive.

He Yunqing was also a wonderful actor, capable of smiling at her with eyes full of tenderness.

Yet, amid that warmth that was the envy of everyone around them, she was the only one who knew that his gaze held no love.

He was willing to play the part of a good husband, yet he could never truly be a loving partner.

For two years, he had rigidly guarded the boundaries between them, never stepping even half a step beyond the line...

Ye Yiyi did not return until past two in the morning.

He Yunqing soon departed from Jiang Yao’s apartment.

"Oh dear, I was scared to death! How could going to a birthday banquet stir up so much trouble?" Seeing Jiang Yao’s condition, Ye Yiyi quickly fetched some clothes and helped her change. "I can't let you go out alone next time. Wherever you go, I'm coming with you."

Jiang Yao rubbed her temples. "Look who's talking. Why did you give all my information to He Yunqing?"

"Was I supposed to keep it from him? Is dodging him more important than your life?" Ye Yiyi looped her arm around Jiang Yao’s neck, a gossipy look on her face. "Still, you two talked for so long! Did you happen to..."

"No!" Jiang Yao said decisively. "Stop making jokes like that. He already has a fiancée."

"That Jin Nana?" Ye Yiyi sounded somewhat disappointed. "So he ended up with Jin Nana after all. Rich people always end up marrying other rich people."

What kind of people rich people ended up marrying was beyond Jiang Yao's concern.

A person with no future had no qualification to ponder such matters.

She let out a yawn. "I'm a bit sleepy. Let's go to bed."

"Don't go to sleep just yet, there's something I need to tell you," Ye Yiyi leaned in closer. "Just tonight, on my way back, I received a call. They want me to play the female lead in a drama. Guess who the male lead is?"

"Who?" Jiang Yao asked indifferently, figuring it was just one of the usual popular young actors.

With an air of mystery, Ye Yiyi whispered, "He Yunqing."

"He... he's returning to acting just like that?"

"Exactly," Ye Yiyi sighed. "I heard it's invested by the Jin family. I reckon they backed the project specifically for He Yunqing as their prospective son-in-law. After all, He Yunqing has practically vanished from the entertainment industry for the past two years."

Jiang Yao recalled the three wishes she had asked of Elder Jin two years ago.

"What is the drama called?"

"Name?" Ye Yiyi thought for a moment. "It seems to be called *The Secret of Time*, a modern drama. A-yao, do you think I should take the role?"

*The Secret of Time*—a script Jiang Yao had written in a forgotten corner two years ago.

"Take it. Why pass up such a wonderful opportunity?"

With the Jin family’s backing, it was bound to be a lavish, sparing-no-expense production.

"Well then, I'm taking it."

Early the next morning, as Ye Yiyi didn't have work until evening, she was still tucked under the covers catching up on sleep.

Jiang Yao took her wheelchair outside to buy breakfast for her.

On her way back, a Lamborghini blocked her path.

The car door opened, and Jin Nana stepped out.

She looked Jiang Yao up and down, her gaze finally coming to rest on Jiang Yao’s legs.

"How unpredictable life is. Two years ago, your legs were completely fine while I was the one in a wheelchair. Who would have thought that two years later, it would be your turn to sit in the wheelchair."

Looking at Jin Nana’s glowing, ruddy complexion, Jiang Yao could not help but smile. "Who would have thought that after two years, your tongue is still as sharp as ever."

Jin Nana smiled as well, walking over to push Jiang Yao’s wheelchair.

"Mine is electric. It doesn't need to be pushed."

"I know. Nobody understands wheelchairs better than I do," Jin Nana said softly, pushing Jiang Yao forward. "I just wanted to push you for a little bit, just like you used to push me back then."

Jiang Yao looked up at Jin Nana.

"Don't look at me like that. I didn't come here to pick a fight today," Jin Nana said with a faint smile.

"Your leg..."

Jin Nana even raised a hand and tapped twice against her prosthetic limb. "Does it sound good? You truly can't tell it's artificial, right? A-yao, I don't know how you ended up like this, but I can introduce you to the place where I got my prosthesis. Once you have it fitted, you'll be able to walk again too."

Jiang Yao smiled and shook her head. She had no use for it anymore.

"I'm truly happy to see you looking so well now," Jiang Yao said sincerely.

Jin Nana arched an eyebrow. "A-yao, to be honest, I am deeply grateful to you. Thankful for the care you showed me during my darkest moments, and grateful that you were willing to let go of Yunqing."

"He Yunqing was never mine to begin with. How could there be any question of letting go?"

"No, I know very well that if it weren't for you, Yunqing would never have come to my side. A-yao, I am truly grateful to you," Jin Nana said earnestly. "Yunqing and I are getting married. You already knew that, didn't you? Would you be willing to attend our wedding?"