The next morning, people were already busy preparing for the party. The catering crew was bustling around the big garden. Zhan decided to take Zhoucheng for a stroll.
"Zhan, this place is absolutely beautiful!" Zhoucheng said, looking around in wonder. His earlier frustration about not being able to talk with Ziyi faded away as he admired the scenery. He gestured towards the fields past the stream and the hills in the distance. Everything was so lush and green. "Look at this place, Zhan. Pulsing with beauty and promises of an undemanding life. Totally different from our life back in the US..." Then he shifted his gaze to the other side, where a bunch of coconut trees and colorful flowers were swaying in the breeze. "Why, I could live here all my life!" he added.
"Yes," Zhan nodded, following Zhoucheng's line of sight.
Zhoucheng sighed heavily, his face clouded with sadness. He paused beneath an ancient palm tree and leaned back against it. "I have never felt so insecure in my whole life, Zhan," Zhoucheng said. "Do you think Ziyi loves me enough to give all this up? Sooner or later, all this luxury and beauty will belong to her once she ties the knot with Yibo."
"Oh, Cheng." Zhan was so affected by the loneliness in Zhoucheng's voice that he reached out to Zhoucheng's and held his hand tightly, unknowingly bringing Zhoucheng's hand to his chest. That gesture gave Zhoucheng the courage to reach out and hug Zhan. Taking any comfort that he could get from a friend.
"Since you left the hotel and stayed here, there hasn't been a moment where I haven't thought about Ziyi, Zhan. The pain is unbearable knowing that I am going to lose her anytime soon."
Up on the second floor of the villa, two pairs of eyes were secretly watching the scene below. One of them couldn't quite figure out why a wave of anger washed over him at the sight. The other was overwhelmed with sadness, tears streaming down her face as she turned away from the window and collapsed onto the bed.
"Don't say that, Cheng. Yibo doesn't have a definite plan yet. And until there's no announcement about their engagement, don't lose hope. And don't worry, I'll find a way for you to talk to Ziyi privately."
Zhan wasn't really sure if the strength in his voice was meant for her cousin and Zhoucheng or if it was just for himself. Somewhere in his heart, he sensed a confusing desire for Yibo not to marry Ziyi, but somehow, for some personal reason.
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