Chapter 117: A Sudden Interlude (Bonus Chapter for the Alliance Leader's Contribution)

Country M, Black Island, outdoor dining area of a seaside guesthouse.

Eight guests took their seats according to their former couple pairings, while the large screen in front remained dark.

Unsure of what the production team was up to this time, everyone—hungry and distracted—began to focus solely on the sumptuous feast before them.

Just as everyone was enjoying their meal, the large screen suddenly lit up.

“Hm? It’s starting,” Qi Jiajia observed, pointing at the screen.

“What are they planning now?” Xu Junze asked curiously, biting into a piece of meat on his fork as he glanced toward the screen.

No sooner had he spoken than a video began to play.

Everyone froze in surprise: “???”

Taking a closer look, they realized it was the opening of a movie.

The volume was turned quite high, the surrounding lights dimmed slightly, yet the food on the tables was still visible. The glow from the screen created a distinct atmosphere reminiscent of an outdoor cinema.

Realizing the setup, the guests understood the production’s intent: they were to enjoy their meal while watching a movie.

The film was titled *How Are You, Ex*.

Upon hearing the title, the guests couldn’t help but pause in mild surprise.

The production team truly went to great lengths.

Having been without their phones for three days while traveling, they felt content to watch a movie upon returning—even if it was a story about exes.

So, the guests quietly savored their food while watching *How Are You, Ex*.

The film primarily told the love stories of three women and their ex-boyfriends.

These three women were childhood friends who had grown up together, studied and worked alongside each other, sharing a close sisterly bond, yet ultimately leading very different lives.

Woman A met her first love in college. They were deeply in love for many years, and he doted on her greatly. Yet, the more he pampered her, the more boundaryless and demanding she became.

Eventually, they broke up over trivial daily matters. Woman A believed she could find someone who would love and treat her better, so when her first love sought reconciliation, she refused.

In the end, she never found a man who loved her more than her first love.

Years later, when they met again, he was already married with a child.

The family of three appeared so happy. Woman A was suddenly overwhelmed with regret. If only she hadn’t been so difficult back then, if only she had been as mature as she was now, could she have been the one living a happy life with him?

As the film portrayed their relationship, some intimate moments touched the hearts of Chu Yao and Xu Junze deeply, both moved to tears.

Zhang Chen, sitting nearby, noticed this and glanced at them several times with amused curiosity. They were quite sentimental, weren’t they? Both moved to tears?

He then looked over at Ye Fangfei, who was engrossed in watching while eating, paying little attention to the surrounding commotion.

Seeing her so absorbed, he assumed she was touched by the story, but a closer look revealed no trace of emotion on her face—no more expression than a stone.

When he watched scenes between couples, he too occasionally recalled past relationships. Though not nostalgic, those memories were part of his youth and stirred some feelings.

Ye Fangfei’s calmness puzzled him—had she never been in a relationship before? Not a flicker of emotion at all?

The story continued passionately—

Woman A, unable to bear seeing her ex happier than herself, sought comfort from her two close friends, B and C, sharing her sorrows over drinks.

Friend B, moved by A’s honesty, was reminded of a recent chance encounter with her own ex.

B’s breakup stemmed from a serious betrayal by her ex, something she couldn’t forgive, leading to a painful split.

Yet their deep love left an indelible mark, often haunting her dreams of their warm past.

Years later, upon meeting again as mature adults, B realized she still loved him and decided to forgive his past mistake. They reunited.

They eventually married, but B could not shake her insecurities, frequently checking his phone. Their relationship deteriorated again, and within two years, they divorced.

This part of the film made Qi Jiajia find it hard to swallow her food, especially when the infidelity was revealed. She clenched her fists under the table in anger.

Wen Yiming noticed her unusual demeanor, occasionally stealing glances at her, worried she might lose control and forget they were filming, and suddenly punch him in the face.

Qi Jiajia’s discomfort was also caught by Zhang Chen, who, as if discovering new territory, lit up with interest.

“Oh? So Wen Yiming might have been the one cheating? No wonder Qi Jiajia has always been cold towards him.”

It wasn’t surprising—Zhang Chen had long suspected Wen Yiming wasn’t the faithful type. As a fitness trainer, with a hormone level naturally high and constantly surrounded by attractive women, plus his good looks, it would be strange if he were truly loyal.

Zhang Chen leisurely chewed on his steak, thoroughly entertained by both the movie and observing the reactions around him.

The story of B’s reunion and subsequent breakup with her ex was heartrending.

Chu Yao sighed softly.

Qi Jiajia calmed down afterward, the story’s ending reinforcing her belief in the mantra “once you break up, don’t look back!”

The film was not yet over; the story went on—

Friend C had secretly dated her first love for five years, their relationship strong. But when the time came to discuss marriage, her parents refused to accept her marrying far away and forced the couple to break up using threats.

Her heart died; she later married a man from a similar background close to her parents, living a lukewarm, passionless life.

By chance, she later encountered her first love, now settled in her city, more mature, successful, with a family of his own.

They met at a café, ordered coffee, and briefly caught up.

“Have you been well all these years?” Woman C asked, her eyes moist as she looked into her ex’s.

“Not bad, not good,” his eyes reddened too. “And you?”

She took a sip of coffee, suddenly choked up and broke down.

Her first love handed her a tissue. She smiled as she wiped away tears. “I’ve missed you so much all these years.”

A tear rolled down his cheek. He smiled softly. “Me too.”

“If I had met you later, do you think things would have turned out differently?” she asked.

“Maybe,” he replied.

After finishing their coffee, they shared a long-overdue embrace before parting ways.

...

During this scene, Li Jiayan, deeply immersed in the film, began to cry uncontrollably.

She had projected the story of Woman C and her first love onto herself. Though her relationship with Lu Zhou lasted only six months, it had been beautiful. Yet her parents’ disapproval—though less severe than in the film—had forced an end to their rushed happiness.

She once believed that life was little different no matter who you were with, that happiness was something to fight for, and that future loves would be just as beautiful. But it never came to be—the women in the story lost their loves, and so had she.

Thinking of this, Li Jiayan wept bitterly, tears flowing without end.

The other guests were stunned.

Suddenly, the film became irrelevant; everyone’s attention turned to Li Jiayan.

Xu Junze, seeing her emotional state, felt uneasy but reasoned her tears must be because of the man beside her. Everyone carries a past that’s hard to forget.

Qi Jiajia and Chu Yao, moved by Li Jiayan’s intense sorrow, couldn’t help but shed tears too. This show was truly emotionally taxing.

Zhang Chen was dumbfounded. It seemed Li Jiayan and Lu Zhou’s story was quite deep.

Wen Yiming sat next to Li Jiayan, watching her shoulders tremble with sobs, wishing he could hold her to comfort her. But in public, it was inappropriate, leaving him feeling helpless.

Lu Zhou understood Li Jiayan’s emotional connection but was somewhat puzzled. They had been apart for six or seven years; such deep longing was unexpected. Was she crying for their past love, or for the youth she had lost?

Sighing quietly, he silently slid the tissue box toward her, gently patted her shoulder, and comforted, “If you keep crying, your eyes will swell up like bubble eyes. What about your beauty?”

Li Jiayan covered her eyes with a tissue, suddenly turned and rested her forehead against his arm, letting out a low sob. “I can’t hold back my tears. What should I do?”

Lu Zhou suddenly stiffened.

Meanwhile, in the live broadcast chat—

[???]

[Wow, first love couples forever!]

[Help! My heart’s racing from excitement!]

[No way! Don’t treat Lu Zhou like that!]

[Who could possibly stand it!!]

[Get back together already!]

[Breaking apart]

...

Ye Fangfei glanced remotely at the scene of Li Jiayan leaning on Lu Zhou’s arm, her lips tightening unconsciously before she withdrew her gaze and returned to watching the movie expressionlessly.

“Can’t hold it in? Then go to the restroom and freshen up,” Lu Zhou withdrew his arm, handing her several tissues, speaking softly.

Li Jiayan was momentarily stunned but accepted the tissues, nodding. She then rose and hurried to the restroom.

The film was not yet fully finished, but the sudden emotional outburst left most of the guests unable to continue watching quietly.