79: If Lu Chen was still around...

Soon, the driver steadily parked the car on a roadside by the Riverside and said, "There are too many people ahead, so I'll drop you off here. You can walk the rest of the way."

Zhao Jiaqi paid the fare, then pulled Gu Xiaoxiao and quickly got out of the car.

As soon as she got out, she was stunned by the sight before her.

There was a sea of people, a dense crowd surging like a tide. The clamor and shouts intertwined, as if to drown the entire world.

Numerous security personnel, maintaining order, moved through the crowd, trying their best to keep things organized.

Not far away, fire trucks and medical vehicles were quietly parked nearby, their bodies reflecting a cool light in the night, on standby at all times.

Not far from there was the famous Chang'an River in Yanjing City.

The river water flowed leisurely, shimmering with ripples under the night sky, like a winding jade belt embedded within the city.

The lights on both banks of the river were brilliant, and the neon lights on the tall buildings flickered with colorful light, reflecting the shadows on the river surface, creating a dreamy, illusionary scene.

And today, the light show performance by the Riverside attracted countless citizens and tourists. The road was jammed, and the Riverside was even more packed with people.

People laughed and chatted happily, children excitedly ran around, couples walked hand-in-hand, whispering sweetly, and girls leaned on their boyfriends' shoulders, their faces beaming with happy smiles.

Three or five friends gathered together, occasionally bursting into hearty laughter, and the air was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

Zhao Jiaqi held Gu Xiaoxiao's hand, her face beaming with a brilliant smile, her eyes sparkling as she said, "Look, it's so lively here!"

Gu Xiaoxiao looked up and scanned her surroundings.

The boisterous human voices and lively atmosphere actually somewhat diluted the melancholy in her heart.

She slightly curved her lips, revealing a faint smile, and a hint of vivacity appeared in her eyes. "Yes, it is indeed very lively here."

Zhao Jiaqi saw that Gu Xiaoxiao's mood had clearly improved a little, and she also smiled happily.

Then she pulled Gu Xiaoxiao and squeezed into the crowd.

As she struggled to push through, she introduced to Gu Xiaoxiao:

"Later, the light show performance will be held in the center of this river. After the light show, a cruise ship will arrive, and there will be a 'hitting iron flowers' performance on it, which is especially beautiful."

Gu Xiaoxiao gently nodded, a hint of anticipation in her eyes, and she smiled softly, a small dimple appearing at the corner of her mouth.

Although there were more people than imagined, Zhao Jiaqi, relying on her tenacious perseverance and nimble movements, led Gu Xiaoxiao through the crowd with difficulty.

She was like a nimble little fish, weaving through the gaps in the crowd, sometimes turning sideways, sometimes stepping back, and continuously saying, "Excuse me, pardon me."

Finally, they squeezed to the railing by the riverbank.

Gu Xiaoxiao stood there, looking at the crowded people before her, but her thoughts drifted away involuntarily.

Her eyes gradually became somewhat hollow, staring blankly at the river surface, and Lu Chen's figure inexplicably began to appear in her mind again.

If Lu Chen were by her side, she would certainly not be in this crowded and noisy place... He would definitely use his identity and status to arrange a distinguished VIP seat, allowing her to comfortably enjoy the performance from the best viewing position.

A hint of loss appeared in Gu Xiaoxiao's eyes, her brows furrowed slightly, her lips gently pursed, and the smile on her face gradually disappeared, replaced by a faint sadness.

When she was at the company, Lu Chen always took her to concerts or other attractions, and she always enjoyed the best treatment.

At that time, she naively blamed Lu Chen for being too extravagant and only knowing how to indulge in luxury.

Now, looking back, how childish and ridiculous she was.

Gu Xiaoxiao's eyes reddened slightly, and she sighed softly, her shoulders slumping a little.

Zhao Jiaqi noticed that Gu Xiaoxiao was lost in thought again, shook her head helplessly, and gently patted her shoulder, saying:

"Don't think about it, the show is about to start. After we watch it, I'll take you for a late-night snack."

Gu Xiaoxiao gently nodded, forcing a small smile, and replied, "Okay."

Subsequently, she turned her gaze towards the river water.

The river water under the night sky was like a huge piece of dark silk, gently undulating with the caress of the breeze.

The brilliant lights from both banks were reflected on the river surface, those lights broken into countless twinkling points, swaying gracefully with the water waves, as if the stars from the sky had fallen to earth, playing in the river water.

The distant river water merged with the night, deep and mysterious, only occasionally when a boat passed by, breaking the calm surface, creating layers of silver ripples, which then gradually disappeared into the endless darkness.

At this moment, Gu Xiaoxiao suddenly saw a cruise ship slowly approaching from the Riverside.

She frowned slightly and asked in confusion, "Jiaqi, didn't you say that the cruise ship would only come to perform the 'hitting iron flowers' after the light show? Why is it coming now?"

Zhao Jiaqi also looked over there, frowned slightly, scratched her head, and was equally curious:

"Yes, what's going on? I remember the performance schedule said that. Did I remember it wrong?"

Gu Xiaoxiao suddenly froze, her gaze fixed on the three figures on the cruise ship's deck.

When her gaze met the tall, upright figure in the middle, her pupils instantly contracted.

First, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, as if she had suddenly seen a ray of light in the darkness.

But this surprise was fleeting, immediately replaced by panic.

Her fingers involuntarily trembled slightly, and she subconsciously wanted to raise her hand to wave, but then she seemed to suddenly realize something. Her hand froze in mid-air, then slowly lowered.

Her gaze then shifted to the two figures next to that person, one large and one small.

Among them, the graceful woman, with a figure as delicate as a willow in the wind, yet possessing a unique charm.

She wore a magnificent long dress, its hem gently swaying in the night breeze, like a blooming, delicate flower, exuding an enchanting fragrance.

Her complexion was fair as snow, glowing with a soft halo under the intertwining lights and night, as if meticulously carved from mutton-fat jade.

Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, with a subtly upward curve that was just right. Her bright and deep eyes were like the most brilliant stars in the night sky, and as they moved, her gaze was captivating.

Her nose was delicate and straight, her lips rosy and tender, and the slight upward curve of her mouth carried a faint, almost imperceptible smile, adding a touch of allure.

Her long, dark, lustrous hair cascaded like a waterfall, and as the river breeze blew, a few strands gently brushed her cheeks, beautiful as a dream. Such a face, at first glance, was clearly that of a peerless beauty, capable of captivating nations, and no one who saw her could easily look away.

Gu Xiaoxiao's face instantly became extremely complex, her lips slightly parted, as if she wanted to say something but didn't know where to start.

Her eyes were intertwined with pain, loss, surprise, and unwillingness. Her brows were tightly furrowed, and the light in her eyes became dim.

Her already pale cheeks were now even more bloodless, as if she had lost all Life Qi in an instant.

Zhao Jiaqi looked at Gu Xiaoxiao curiously and asked, "What's wrong?"

Then, following Gu Xiaoxiao's gaze, she instantly gasped in surprise, exclaiming,

"Isn't that Lu Chen?"

...PS: I went to the hospital today, so the update was a bit late, sorry, sorry.

Fortunately, I managed to finish two chapters. Please give me small gifts, urge me to update, leave comments, recommend books, and give me all the data. Please, please, dear readers and patrons.

orz