Early on Saturday morning, Lu Yanbei left while Su He was still fast asleep. If it hadn't been for Jiang Xiaoxiao calling to remind her about a classmate's wedding, she might have slept until noon.
"What time is it already, still sleeping?" Jiang Xiaoxiao had the call on speakerphone, not wanting to interrupt her makeup routine.
Su He rolled over and yawned, covering her mouth. "I was working until three in the morning yesterday..."
"Can't you change your sleep schedule? Must you work in the middle of the night?" Jiang Xiaoxiao couldn't help but roll her eyes.
"It's too noisy during the day, and I get more inspiration at night," Su He said. "The wedding isn't until noon, I'll sleep for another two hours."
"No, you have to come shopping with me to buy clothes," Jiang Xiaoxiao wouldn't let her hang up. "Today, I'm going to outshine everyone."
"It's someone else's wedding, what are you trying to outshine?" Su He didn't quite understand.
Jiang Xiaoxiao snorted. "Don't you remember how they used to mock me behind our backs back in school?"
Su He froze for two seconds, vaguely recalling something.
"They used to call me ugly and a short winter melon!" Jiang Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth with anger, recalling the past. "Back then, my skin was sallow because I was sick, and instead of sympathizing, they mocked me. I've kept track of that debt!"
"Today, I'm going to make a dazzling entrance and shock those snobs!" Jiang Xiaoxiao declared, applying lipstick in front of the mirror.
"If you're a true friend, come with me!"
Helpless, Su He had to go out with dark circles under her eyes.
As the saying goes, clothes make the man. To attend the wedding, Jiang Xiaoxiao had spared no expense, spending half a month's salary on an outfit. Paired with her big waves and high heels, she looked quite beautiful.
Jiang Xiaoxiao was a classic ugly duckling turned swan, growing more beautiful with age.
Su He's appearance hadn't changed much since childhood. She was petite and slender, with an oval face and a slight baby fat. Her features were regular and delicate, and when she smiled, the small dimples at the corners of her mouth would subtly appear, making her look incredibly sweet.
After Jiang Xiaoxiao had sorted out her attire, she turned around and found Su He asleep on the sofa in the lounge area.
"She's asleep even now! Aren't you afraid someone will snatch you away if you're not careful!" Jiang Xiaoxiao, torn between laughter and exasperation, went over and draped her discarded jacket over Su He.
Su He dozed on the sofa for half an hour. When she woke up, Jiang Xiaoxiao was at the door taking a call.
"Don't rush me, we'll be there soon."
"Okay, see you at the hotel entrance later."
After ending the call, Jiang Xiaoxiao turned and saw Su He rubbing her eyes. "You're finally awake."
"Let's go." Su He stood up, ready to leave.
"You're planning to go like that?" Jiang Xiaoxiao stopped her.
Su He looked at her outfit.
It was just a banquet, did she need to dress up so extravagantly?
"How can the best friend of Jiang Xiaoxiao be dressed so casually!" Jiang Xiaoxiao hooked her arm around Su He's neck and pulled her back. Then, she thrust an orchid-colored dress into her arms. "Go change quickly."
Su He looked at the dress in her hand. The fabric was nice, and the style was sophisticated, but she was used to casual wear and felt uncomfortable switching to such a glamorous look.
"If you're my friend, don't hesitate anymore, or I'll disown you," Jiang Xiaoxiao widened her eyes, looking fierce.
Su He couldn't resist her and slowly entered the fitting room.
Su He had good taste and chose the right size, so the dress fit Su He perfectly. Jiang Xiaoxiao happily swiped her card and then dragged her to the shoe store next door, where they picked out a pair of silver high heels with rhinestones.
Su He knew that the items here were expensive, and when she offered to transfer money to Jiang Xiaoxiao, she was refused.
"Consider it your wedding gift," Jiang Xiaoxiao said, looking at her masterpiece with a satisfied smile.
*
Su He and Jiang Xiaoxiao arrived at the hotel just in time.
The bride and groom had already gone inside to prepare for the wedding ceremony. Only a few male classmates who were smoking were left at the entrance.
When they saw Jiang Xiaoxiao and Su He approaching, they didn't recognize them at first.
It was Jiang Xiaoxiao who took the initiative to greet them. "Long time no see, old classmates."
"You are..."
"Jiang Xiaoxiao."
"Ah, it's you. My, how a woman changes with age! I almost didn't recognize you."
"The person next to you, is that Su He?"
"What, has it only been a few years since graduation, and you don't recognize your old classmates anymore?"
"Oh dear, forgive my poor eyesight."
The group stood at the entrance, exchanging pleasantries.
Jiang Xiaoxiao was lively and good at socializing, quickly becoming familiar with them. Su He, however, looked listless due to lack of rest.
Fortunately, after a brief chat, the wedding march began inside, and they all quickly ended their conversation and returned to their seats.
The wedding banquet seating was arranged in advance, and the table for the bride's classmates had two empty seats.
Su He and Jiang Xiaoxiao fumbled in the dark to find their seats.
"Hey, is that Su He in the white dress? Who is that next to her?"
"Su He is a loner, besides Jiang Xiaoxiao, who else could she be close to!"
"In my memory, Jiang Xiaoxiao didn't look like this. Did she have plastic surgery?"
Hearing the whispers around her, Jiang Xiaoxiao was speechless. She had only grown a bit taller and her skin had gotten lighter; how could she be mistaken for having had plastic surgery?
"Don't get worked up, let's fill our stomachs first," Su He hadn't had breakfast and was starving. If they caused a scene and overturned the table, wouldn't her gift money be wasted?
Jiang Xiaoxiao snorted and whispered in Su He's ear, "These people are still so annoying! They can't stand to see others do well!"
"You can look at it from a different perspective. Precisely because you are more beautiful and doing better than them, they are jealous of you," Su He calmly picked a shrimp for her.
This seemed to placate Jiang Xiaoxiao, and she felt much better.
"Jiang Xiaoxiao, I can't believe you've changed so much after a few years! Where are you working now?" a girl sitting opposite them asked with a forced smile.
Jiang Xiaoxiao took a sip of her drink to rinse her mouth. "It's not a high position, just a small sales manager."
"Oh, what industry?" the girl asked again.
"The automotive industry," she replied casually.
"I heard you studied fashion design in college, why did you suddenly change careers?"
Jiang Xiaoxiao raised an eyebrow and glanced at the other person. "I like it, can't I?"
The smile on the girl's face stiffened. "I was just asking, don't get angry. I didn't say being a car saleswoman was bad, though it's a bit tough. But some jobs just need to be done by someone, right? Unlike me, my husband insisted I be a stay-at-home wife after we got married and wouldn't let me work. I'm so envious of you all."
Anyone with a bit of sense could tell she was trying to elevate herself by belittling Jiang Xiaoxiao.
Hearing this, Jiang Xiaoxiao was furious.
Su He held her hand and spoke first, "Then congratulations on finding such a good man."
"Of course! My husband treats me so well!" The girl raised her chin proudly and couldn't help but show off her gold bracelet and rings.
Su He nodded repeatedly. "I can see that. Just your whole outfit today must be worth over two thousand."
"Su He, what do you mean?" The girl paused for a moment, then immediately realized Su He was mocking her.
"Nothing, I just think your jewelry is pretty," Su He replied, feigning innocence.