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Best Friend Is Engaged to My Boyfriend
墨書 Inktalez
My name is Lin Yue, and I am 26 years old, living what seems to be a perfect life in the Magic City, a place filled with opportunities and challenges.
I work at a well-established advertising company, where my talent and hard work have allowed me to become a project manager at a young age. I lead a group of enthusiastic young people, working on exciting creative projects that ignite our passion, and my salary reflects my efforts.
In my spare time, I have a group of like-minded friends with whom I occasionally gather to chat and share the little joys of life.
The two most important people in my life are my boyfriend, Shu Wenbin, with whom I have shared three wonderful years, and my best friend, who has grown up alongside me since childhood.
My bond with Shu Wenbin began on the very first day of elementary school.
Back then, two little girls with ponytails looked at each other with innocent curiosity and exchanged smiles in the classroom, from that moment on, we held each other's hands tightly.
Whether it was sharing an eraser during recess or chasing each other under the sunset after school, our childhood shone brightly because of our companionship.
Later, when it came time for college, we intuitively chose the same city. Although we attended different schools, we would always meet on weekends—either studying together in the library for exams or wandering through the streets of the city in search of hidden culinary gems.
After graduation, it was no surprise that we both stayed in Magic City, renting an apartment together and supporting each other as we navigated our careers.
Speaking of Shu Wenbin, I must mention her meticulously planned "matchmaking."
It was a particularly sunny afternoon; the sky was as blue as a sapphire, and clouds floated like cotton candy. A gentle breeze brushed against my cheeks, bringing with it a sense of comfort.
Shu Wenbin pulled me along mysteriously, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she kept repeating, "Xiao Ya, today I'm going to introduce you to someone super special. You're going to love him."
Her enthusiasm made me chuckle as I skeptically allowed her to drag me to a café filled with artistic vibes.
As we approached the entrance, the rich aroma of coffee wafted through the air, mingling with a hint of milkiness that instantly lifted my spirits.
Pushing open the door, I was greeted by soothing jazz music playing softly inside. The warm yellow lighting created a cozy and romantic atmosphere. Wooden tables and chairs were neatly arranged, while green plants adorned every corner, giving the place a vibrant feel.
Shu Wenbin pulled me to a seat by the window, his eyes occasionally glancing toward the door as if he were waiting for someone important.
Before long, Shu Wenbin appeared.
He stood tall and straight, like a proud pine tree. His well-tailored suit accentuated his physique perfectly, with every line just right, as if he had stepped out of a fashion magazine.
His handsome face featured sharp brows and bright eyes, deep and mysterious like a tranquil pool, seemingly hiding endless stories. Beneath his high nose bridge, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, carrying a hint of a smile that made one want to draw closer and explore.
Upon seeing him, Shu Wenbin immediately jumped up excitedly and waved, “Shu Wenbin, over here!” Then she took my hand and walked over, smiling as she introduced us. “Xiao Ya, this is Shu Wenbin, the friend I mentioned who is a university classmate of mine. He’s quite accomplished in the finance field and incredibly capable.”
“Shu Wenbin, this is my best friend Lin Yue, a rising star in advertising with endless creativity and beauty.” I felt a bit shy and lowered my head slightly, my cheeks flushing. Meanwhile, Shu Wenbin smiled and extended his hand, his voice deep and magnetic. “Lin Yue, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I often hear Shu Wenbin speak of you. Meeting you today truly lives up to the reputation.”
The moment his hand grasped mine, I felt an electric current surge through my fingertips, causing my heart to race uncontrollably.
At that moment, I half-jokingly said to Shu Wenbin, “Why are you introducing such an outstanding person to me? Shouldn’t you keep him for yourself?”
Shu Wenbin paused for a moment before a shy smile crept onto her face. She gently patted my shoulder and replied, “Oh come on, Xiao Ya, what are you talking about? He’s just an ordinary friend to me. Although he has great qualities, I’ve always seen him as an older brother; there’s nothing romantic about it.
Besides, you know me—I’m focused on my work and not thinking about dating right now.
I’ve always hoped you would find someone who truly cares for you and understands you. The first time I saw Shu Wenbin, I thought he might be your Mr. Right. In terms of personality, interests, and careers, it seems like you could understand and support each other well.
You’re always so busy with work and under so much pressure; what you need is someone who can help share the load and keep you company. I figured Shu Wenbin would be perfect for that, so I couldn’t wait to introduce him to you.”
Looking into Shu Wenbin's sincere eyes filled me with warmth. I decided to stop teasing her and began chatting warmly with Shu Wenbin.
As we talked more, I increasingly realized just how remarkable he was.
He was not only handsome and charming, but his eloquence was remarkable as well. He had unique and profound insights into the current financial landscape and market dynamics, and every word he spoke captivated those around him.
When I mentioned some creative projects at work, he quickly grasped the concepts and offered sharp and innovative suggestions that made me see him in a new light.
From that moment on, Shu Wenbin began to frequently invite me out.
We went to see those indie films together; in the dark theater, our shoulders would occasionally brush against each other, sending my heart racing. We strolled through art exhibitions, where he would pause in front of each painting, patiently explaining the artistic stories behind them. His gaze was focused and deep, and in that moment, I felt that the light shining in his eyes was not just a love for art but also a passion for life.
We also dined at upscale restaurants, where he always remembered my favorite dishes. Each time we ordered, without needing to say much, he would select a feast that filled my heart with joy.
When I was exhausted from work, overwhelmed by project pressures, he appeared like a guardian angel, bringing my favorite latte right on time to the company entrance. That warm cup of coffee not only dispelled my physical fatigue but also comforted my soul.
Whenever I was troubled about a project and couldn't find direction despite racking my brain, he would quietly sit beside me, patiently listening to all my worries. Then, with his clear and calm thinking, he would offer just the right advice to help me see through the fog.
Gradually, we established a romantic relationship. Over the past three years, our feelings deepened. When our parents met, they were both pleased with each other and had already begun planning for a wedding at the end of the year. We had even chosen a wedding dress and venue; we were just waiting for an auspicious day to step into the hall of marriage.
However, fate played an incredibly cruel joke on me on my 26th birthday.
That day, Shu Wenbin messaged me early on, saying he had an unforgettable surprise planned for me and insisted that I go to our favorite Western restaurant after work.
I spent the entire day immersed in joy and anticipation; my work efficiency was significantly higher than usual.
After work, I carefully touched up my makeup and put on the red dress that Shu Wenbin had once praised. Wearing high heels and filled with happiness, I walked towards the restaurant.
The moment I pushed open the door, I saw a scene I never wanted to witness again—Shu Wenbin standing hand in hand with another woman in the center of the restaurant, surrounded by romantic flowers and flickering candles. They wore matching rings on their fingers.
At that moment, it felt as if the entire world fell silent. Everything around me became blurry; all I could see were their tightly clasped hands and their deeply affectionate gazes—so painfully bright.
"What... what are you doing?" I asked, my voice trembling, feeling as if something was blocking my throat.
Shu Wenbin looked up, a flicker of panic crossing his eyes before it was quickly replaced by indifference. "Xiao Ya, let's... let's break up."
"Break up?" I repeated the words in disbelief. "Why? Today is my birthday! You promised to give me a surprise!" My voice grew louder, nearly turning into a shout.
"I'm sorry, Xiao Ya," Shu Wenbin said through tears. "I... I don't want to hurt you, but I really can't control my feelings..."
"Feelings?" I laughed hysterically. "How long have you been together behind my back? Huh? How long!" Tears streamed down my face like pearls from a broken string, unstoppable.
Shu Wenbin looked at me coldly, his tone icy. "Xiao Ya, you should have realized by now that the looks between us can't lie."
I rushed forward and slapped Shu Wenbin hard. "We were best friends! How could you do this to me? This person was introduced to me by you; how could you treat me like this!"
Shu Wenbin covered his face, crying without saying a word. He pushed me away and stood protectively in front of him. "Xiao Ya, calm down!"
In that moment, my heart felt like ashes.
I turned and ran out, letting my tears blur my vision as strangers cast curious glances at me.
Back home, I locked myself in my room. My phone rang incessantly, but I had no desire to answer it. I collapsed onto my bed, covering my head with the blanket, refusing to eat or drink for three whole days.
During those three days, memories of the past with them flooded my mind—those once warm recollections had now turned into daggers that pierced my heart mercilessly.
I hated them for their betrayal; I also hated myself for being so foolish, for not noticing the signs between them for so long while naively immersing myself in a fantasy of happiness.
Days passed in a haze until, in my darkest moment, I received an email. It contained only one photo—Shu Wenbin and the person he betrayed me with in a hospital together.
I trembled as I opened the email. In the photo, Shu Wenbin's face was as pale as paper, devoid of color, her frail body lying on a hospital bed, connected to various medical devices. Beside her sat another Shu Wenbin, tightly holding her hand, a look of sorrow on his face, his eyes red and swollen, as if he hadn't slept in a long time.
I clicked on the image details and discovered it was from a Tumor Hospital… I repeatedly confirmed the name of the hospital and the department: Oncology… late stage… My heart felt like it was gripped by an invisible hand, making it nearly impossible to breathe.
Could it be that Shu Wenbin had a terminal illness? Was that why she left me to return to her side?
After much hesitation, I decided to visit the hospital to find out the truth. The weight of my emotions was unbearable as I pondered various possibilities along the way.
Upon arriving at the hospital, the sharp smell of disinfectant hit me, further agitating my already chaotic thoughts. Following the clues from the email, I found Shu Wenbin's ward.
Standing at the door, my hand hovered in mid-air, unsure whether to push it open.
So it turned out that Shu Wenbin was ill, which is why they… But even so, could they so easily trample on my feelings? My heart was filled with conflict and struggle.
Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open.
As I entered the ward, I saw Shu Wenbin lying on the bed, barely alive. Her face was pale and gaunt, her breathing weak; if not for the slight rise and fall of her chest, I would have thought she was already…
Both of them froze upon seeing me. A flicker of panic crossed Shu Wenbin's eyes as she instinctively tried to pull her hand away from the other Shu Wenbin's grasp. He reacted more quickly, instinctively tucking her hand under the blanket as if trying to hide something precious.
Seeing me, a tear slipped down Shu Wenbin's cheek. She weakly extended her hand toward me. I took her hand in mine and felt how cold it was—like a block of ice.
“Xiao Ya…” she said with all her strength, her voice barely above a whisper. “I'm sorry…”
“Don't say you're sorry…” Tears streamed down my face. “You don't need to explain. I'm just here to understand what’s going on.” I tried to keep my voice calm, but the slight tremor betrayed my inner turmoil.
Shu Wenbin shook her head with difficulty. “No… I can’t go on… I just want… to be with him in these final days…”
I looked at Shu Wenbin, whose eyes were red and who was tightly holding the other hand of Shu Wenbin.
Before entering, I had heard faint sobs and low conversations coming from inside.
“Shu Wenbin, I don’t want to drag you down. My illness can’t be cured; please don’t stay with me…” It was the weak voice of Shu Wenbin, as if it could break at any moment.
“Don’t say such foolish things. How could I possibly not care about you? Ever since we met as children, I’ve known that I could never let you go in this lifetime.”
Shu Wenbin’s voice was filled with deep fatigue and affection, carrying an undeniable determination.
At that moment, Shu Wenbin cried as she grasped my hand; her touch was icy, as if it held no warmth at all.
She choked out, “I’m sorry. It’s my fault.”
Half a year ago, I found out I had a serious illness—one that was very rare. The doctor said the treatment would be expensive and that the chances of recovery were slim.
I didn’t want to burden you. You’ve always worked so hard to pursue your own happiness; I didn’t want to become a weight on your shoulders.
But I couldn’t let go of the feelings I had for Shu Wenbin over the years. I had liked him since we were young, but I never dared to speak it aloud.
When I learned about my illness, my fear only grew—fear that I would never have the chance to be with him in this lifetime. That’s why I kept it from you and chose to be with him, wanting to spend my final moments with the one I loved.
Shu Wenbin stood by with his head lowered, gripping his hands tightly until his knuckles turned white from the strain. He softly added, “I only found out about Shu Wenbin’s condition later on.
That day, I stumbled upon her medical records and was completely stunned.
From that moment on, I resolved to accompany her through this journey, no matter what it would cost me.
In order to treat her illness, I scoured everywhere for money, reaching out to all the friends and relatives I could find, even taking out the savings we had set aside for our wedding.
"I know I’ve let you down, but in this situation, I couldn’t just stand by and watch Shu Wenbin face this alone."
After hearing this, my heart was filled with mixed emotions.
Looking at Shu Wenbin lying on the hospital bed, once a lively and cheerful girl who laughed and played with me, now tormented by illness to this state, I found it hard to feel anger; glancing at the guilt-ridden face beside me, I knew he was under immense pressure as well, and I couldn’t blame him either.
But how could three years of love simply be put aside?
I quietly walked out of the ward and stood in the hospital corridor, gazing out at the bustling traffic outside, feeling lost.
The crowd moved back and forth—some hurried, some smiling—each person following their own life path, while I felt like a lonely boat cast adrift by fate, lost in a vast sea.
I had lost love, and now my best friend was about to leave me too. Who should I blame for all this suffering? Perhaps life is inherently filled with helplessness; it’s just that this lesson cuts too deep…
In the days that followed, I continued to go to work as usual. On the surface, everything seemed the same as before; I threw myself into my tasks, but only I knew that my heart was already riddled with wounds.
Every time I returned to that once lively apartment now filled only with emptiness and loneliness, memories of happier times flooded back, and I couldn’t help but burst into tears.
One time, our company landed a major project that required us to work overtime continuously.
My team and I fought late into the night in the conference room. Everyone was exhausted, but their eyes shone with a desire for success. Just as we were about to finalize our proposal, a sudden wave of dizziness hit me; everything went black and I lost consciousness.
When I woke up again, I found myself lying in a hospital bed with colleagues gathered around me, their faces filled with concern.
"Lin Yue, you’re finally awake! You scared us to death," said my colleague Xiaomei, gripping my hand tightly with tears glistening in her eyes.
"Yes, you've been too tired lately; your body can't take it anymore," another colleague, Xiao Li, chimed in.
The doctor then entered, looking serious as he addressed me. "What you're experiencing is due to long-term fatigue combined with excessive mental stress. Your body is sending you a warning; you must rest properly and adjust your mindset. You can't keep pushing yourself like this."
Lying in bed, I stared at the white ceiling, my heart heavy with bitterness.
How I wished I could truly rest! But every time I closed my eyes, the figures of Shu Wenbin and Shu Wenbin would flash before me, and those painful memories surged like a tide, preventing me from sleeping.
During my days in the hospital, Shu Wenbin visited once. He stood hesitantly at the door of my room, looking worn and guilt-ridden.
"Lin Yue, how are you?" he asked softly.
I turned my head away, not wanting to look at him. Coldly, I replied, "No need to worry; I'm not dying."
He stepped into the room and sat down beside my bed. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke up. "I know that whatever I say now, you won't forgive me. But I still hope you can take care of yourself. Shu Wenbin's condition has worsened again..."
"Enough! Don't mention her in front of me," I interrupted, my anger flaring once more.
He lowered his head and sat in silence for a while before getting up to leave. Watching his retreating figure, a mix of emotions swirled within me, and tears blurred my vision again.
After being discharged from the hospital, I decided to move out of that apartment filled with memories and start anew.
I found a small apartment closer to work. After a quick tidy-up, I settled in. The new environment made me feel slightly better; at least I wouldn't be constantly stung by reminders of the past every single moment.
However, life did not let me off the hook just because I was trying to escape.
One day, while walking down the street, I unexpectedly ran into Shu Wenbin's mother.
Aunt Li had always treated me like her own daughter, showering me with affection.
The moment I saw her, a wave of panic washed over me. I wanted to turn and escape, but it was too late.
"Xiao Ya, it's been so long!" Aunt Li exclaimed warmly as she stepped forward and took my hand.
I forced a smile. "Hello, Aunt Li."
"Xiao Ya, what happened between you and Shu Wenbin? I've been sensing something's off with him lately, but he won't tell me," Aunt Li asked with genuine concern etched on her face.
I lowered my head, unsure of how to respond. I didn't want to hurt Aunt Li, yet I also didn't want to hide the truth.
"Auntie, Shu Wenbin and I have broken up," I said softly.
"What? Why? You two were always so good together! Weren't you supposed to get married by the end of the year?" Aunt Li's eyes widened in surprise.
I bit my lip, tears welling up in my eyes. "Auntie, there are some things it's better for you not to know. In short, we can't go back."
With that, I hurriedly said goodbye to Aunt Li and turned to leave. Tears streamed down my face as I walked away, feeling as though my heart had been torn open once more.
As time passed, Shu Wenbin's condition worsened.
Though I still harbored resentment, the bond we had built over the years compelled me to visit him in the hospital.
Each time I went, I would find Shu Wenbin by his bedside, caring for him with unwavering dedication.
Whenever he saw me, a flicker of guilt and gratitude would flash in his eyes.
"Xiao Ya, you’re here," she said weakly.
I walked to the bedside and sat down. "Yes, I came to see you."
Our conversations were always brief, yet filled with complex emotions.
I knew she had many things to say but didn’t know where to start; I felt the same way, my resentment and reluctance intertwining, leaving me unable to let go.
In the final moments of Shu Wenbin's life, she called us to her bedside.
Her hands trembled as she held ours tightly, using her last bit of strength to say, "Xiao Ya, I'm sorry for what I owe you in this life. I hope in the next life we can be best friends again, and I can make it up to you."
"Shu Wenbin, thank you for being with me during this time. I'm leaving now; you both must live well..." After saying this, her hand slowly slipped away, and her eyes gently closed.
In that moment, both Shu Wenbin and I were stunned. Then, a heart-wrenching cry echoed through the hospital room.
I looked at Shu Wenbin's peaceful face, and my resentment finally dissipated completely, leaving only endless sorrow.
Shu Wenbin held onto Shu Wenbin's lifeless body tightly, crying like a child while I stood by, tears streaming down my face.
After Shu Wenbin's funeral, I met with Shu Wenbin again.
We stood in the cemetery, staring at Shu Wenbin's gravestone in silence for a long time.
"Lin Yue, thank you for coming to see Shu Wenbin off on her final journey," Shu Wenbin broke the silence.
"Yes, after all, we used to be such good friends," I replied softly.
"What are your plans for the future?" he asked.
"I want to live well and let go of everything from the past." I lifted my head, gazing into the distance with determination in my eyes.
"Me too. I hope you find happiness in the future," Shu Wenbin said.
We exchanged a glance, then turned and walked in opposite directions.
In that moment, I knew our life paths had completely diverged. All the love and hatred we once shared were buried in this land with Shu Wenbin's departure.
Now, I continue to live diligently in Magic City.
At work, I pushed myself harder, successfully securing several important projects and gaining recognition and a promotion from the company.
In life, I made new friends, occasionally going on trips or working out together, enjoying the pleasures of life.
Although memories sometimes flooded back to me, I no longer allowed them to affect my life.
I understood that life must go on, even if it comes with pain; I could only move forward step by step.
Yet that scar, I'm afraid, will never truly fade away...
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