Sunshine and Rain in June

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In the rented room, on the narrow wooden bed, Lionel was rougher than ever.

He leaned close to my ear, his voice hoarse. Odette, I'm getting married.

My whole body flinched, and Lionel gripped my face. Don't move.

He chuckled softly. You want the truth? Her bride price is lower than yours, she's cleaner than you, and she's a college student who just graduated.

I stared at him and said nothing, and Lionel sighed.

"Fine. The truth is, I don't love you anymore."

I pushed him off me, not too hard, not too soft. "Do you really think this is the right time to say something like that?"

Interrupted, Lionel was displeased, and the mood was gone.

He rolled off the bed, turned, and went into the bathroom.

I felt around for my clothes and pulled them on carelessly. The phone on the bed lit up.

Honey, which should I wear to sign for the marriage license? A JK uniform or white stockings?

I was staring at it, lost, and before I knew it Lionel was behind me, dripping wet and wreathed in steam, pressing damp against my ear.

"Reply for me. Tell her to wear white stockings."

After he said it, Lionel kissed the side of my face.

"I may hate you, but your bodyI really like it. I was planning to keep you another two years, actually, but she asked for so little."

I straightened my slip dress, and when I got off the bed my legs were weak and shaky.

"How much bride price are you giving her?"

Lionel lit a cigarette. "Ten thousand. I've saved it up."

He'd saved it up.

I took a deep breath and yanked open the only small window in the room.

We'd been together six years. I'd asked him for ten thousand dollars in bride price, and to marry me we lived in a cramped basement.

Damp, with windows that were only half-height.

Last month he'd still been saying he'd almost saved up the ten thousand, that he could marry me soon.

"How long have the two of you known each other?"

I turned around, and Lionel looked down at his watch, counting down. "Five, four, three, two, one." He smiled and looked up. "Perfect. One day."

I gave a cold smile, said nothing, and took the lipstick out of my bag.

Lionel leaned against the edge of the bed, and the plank creaked.

"Isn't it strange? Why give the bride price money I saved to someone else?"

Our eyes met in the mirror, and he went on. "For the same price, would you rather buy something that's been used for six years, or something brand new?"

"A game consoleeven if the graphics card isn't worn out after six years, it's still dirty. Dirty and old. Why would anyone pay for that?"

Lionel raised an eyebrow. "You tell me why."

I finished my lipstick, turned around, and asked flatly, "I told you. I only wanted you to work hard. My family's giving three cars and a house as my dowry. I don't really care about your money."

Lionel laughed. "Do you even believe your own words? You don't care about money? Great. Then zero bride price, and I'll marry you."

Lionel took ten bundles of cash out of the nightstand and tossed them one by one at the foot of the bed. "Or you go cheaperthirty, fifty thousand, and I'll marry you."

As he spoke, cigarette in his mouth, he looked me up and down. "While I'm still interested in you, we can still negotiate."

I opened my mouth, but couldn't get out a single word.

I just felt something lodged in my chest, unable to rise, unable to sink.

Utterly disappointed, I took a deep breath and grabbed a handful of my hair. "It's over."

Lionel laughed out loud. "So high and mighty a second ago, but the moment I ask you to lower your price, you won't do it. Odette, you're not a little girl anymore. What makes you worth that much? You're just greedy for money, aren't you? My buddy Joseph Gilbert is loaded. Why don't you go ask him?"

"Fine."

I picked up my bag and headed out. I'd just pulled the door open when something hit me in the back.

"You bought these, and only one's been used. Take them with you. My wife just graduated. I won't use a secondhand one with her."

I picked up the empty box and threw it in the trash.

Then I turned and called Joseph Gilbert. "When you have time, let's meet up."

"Where are you?"

I stepped out of the musty basement, took a deep breath of the crisp air, and answered, "My rental place."

"I already told Lionel last time that I'd get you two a new place. You"

I cut him off. "The bride price negotiations fell through, and he told me to come find you."

"You two lost another game and you're pulling my leg again, aren't you?"

"I'm not joking with you."

There was a full minute of silence on the other end before he replied, "Where do you want to meet? I'm having drinks at the Ginza Lounge right now."

"I'll come to you."

After I hung up, I flagged down a taxi.

My phone kept lighting up, messages popping up one after another.

I opened them, and the whole screen was nothing but congratulations.

Congratulations, Odette! Congratulations, Lionel! Wishing you both a happy marriage in advance!

After all these years, we've finally heard your wedding news. Congratulations!

Lionel had posted to his feeda shot of his hand wearing a matching wedding ring, with the caption: Wedding date, August 17.

In an instant, the group chat exploded. It was full of Lionel's friends.

No one suspected that Lionel's bride had been swapped out; the moment they saw the wedding date, everyone tagged me.

Where's Odette? Why hasn't she come on to say something about news this big? @Odette

I stared at the messages in the group chat, my finger resting on the text box for a long time.

Where's Odette?

She's not just being shy, is she?

Six years of dating and they're finally getting marriedOdette has to send out a big red packet!

I typed a few words, looked at them for a few seconds, then deleted them one character at a time.

I typed another line, then wiped it clean again.

I didn't know how to explain to so many people how my six-year relationship with Lionel had ended in a single day.

Just then, Lionel replied first.

I've received everyone's well wishes. Melanie and I have set things up at the Ginza Lounge tonight, eight o'clock. Everyone has to come.

The group chat instantly buzzed to life again. Nice, Lionel, the Ginza Lounge, all arrangedyou're really spending big.

After all these years you're finally getting married. We've got to drink our fill tonight!

Where's Odette? Why hasn't she come on to say anything?

Someone tagged me again, and just as I was about to turn off my phone, a message suddenly popped up.

Wait, who's Melanie?

After that line, the messages that had been refreshing nonstop came to a dead stop.

A few seconds later, the system announced that Lionel had invited Melanie Harding to join the group chat.

Melanie quickly sent a message: Hi everyone, I'm Melanie Harding, Lionel's fiance. I hope you'll all look out for me from now on.

No one replied.

One minute, two minutes, until almost ten minutes later, someone finally sent: Hello, ma'am.

Right after that, as if they'd all finally caught on, the others chimed in with their blessings one by one.

Nothing extra, just the same stiff congratulations.

Looking at those messages, I suddenly found the whole thing rather amusing.

I left the group chat, and when I looked up, the car had already stopped.

The driver turned around to remind me, "Miss, we're at the Ginza Lounge. That'll be thirty-five."

He held out a QR code, and I paid the fare and got out.

A row of luxury cars was parked outside the Ginza Lounge, all sorts of wealthy people milling about.

The moment I got out, someone called to me, "Odette?"

I looked up. It was a few of Lionel's friends.

They must have just arrived too, standing outside waiting for Lionel. One of them saw me, still smiling, and said without thinking, "Odette, which private room are we in today? This place must be pretty pricey. Lionel really went all out this timewell, of course, you two are getting married, so he's happy."

The words were barely out when the guy beside him yanked hard on his arm and whispered urgently, "Haven't you seen the group messages?"

He froze for a second, then immediately looked down and scrolled through his phone, and the smile on his face went stiff.

He looked up at me, opened his mouth, but couldn't get a word out for a long moment.

I paid it no mind and walked on inside.

I'd only taken a few steps when hushed muttering came from behind me.

"Why is she here too?"

"She's not here to cause a scene, is she?"

"Six years, and he just swaps her out like that. Who could stand that?"

"I honestly thought she was the bridethen out of nowhere there's this Melanie."

"Stop it, what if she hears you?"

I heard it, but I didn't turn around.

They all thought I'd come for Lionel.

And I couldn't blame them for thinking that. Even I never imagined that one day I'd sit down and talk marriage with Joseph Gilbert.

Seaport City's most famous playboy, a regular on the third floor of the Ginza Lounge.

The moment I walked into the lobby, a man in a black suit came to greet me. "Miss Winfield."

I nodded, and the man turned to the side and said respectfully, "Miss Winfield, Mr. Gilbert sent me to bring you up."

I followed him upstairs. The Ginza Lounge was full of the sound of clinking glasses, men and women crowded togetherlively, and chaotic.

When I pushed open the door to the private room, it was even livelier inside than downstairs.

Joseph sat in the very middle, a drink in his hand, surrounded by several young, pretty girls.

One was rubbing his shoulders, another was pouring his drink.

Seeing me come in, Joseph lifted his hand. "You're here?"

One of the girls beside him was clearly unhappy, pouting and cooing, "Joseph, exactly how many more people are you planning to invite tonight?"

Joseph blanked for a moment, then laughed. "Hey, you can't go saying things like that! They don't know, so don't be upset with them."

Then he raised his hand and pointed at me, introducing me. "This is my fiance."

The private room went silent all at once; the girls were plainly panicked.

The ones who had been draped over him a moment ago all sat up straight, and even the one closest to him flustered her way half a meter off.

Joseph chuckled. "What's all this? Don't be nervous."

The smile disappeared completely from the girl's face. "Joseph..."

Then they looked at me, uneasy, and kept apologizing.

I raised my hand. "There's no need to be nervous. He only just got a fiance himself."

Joseph glanced at the time. "Right."

The girl shot him a glare, picked up her bag, and left. The rest exchanged looks and, knowing better than to linger, left too.

I watched them go, and honestly felt nothing about it.

Anyone in Seaport City with even a bit of a social circle knows who Joseph is.

A notorious playboy, a thorough libertine, running wild since he was a kid.

He poured me a drink and gestured for me to sit. "Don't look at me like that. Before the wedding, I'm singleit's normal socializing."

I laughed and tugged at his collar, marked with lipstick. "This socializing of yours looks pretty enjoyable."

Joseph laughed once, then dropped the devil-may-care act. "All right, let's talk business."

The phone he'd set on the low table flickered and lit up.

He was in that group chat too, and the messages there were still scrolling nonstop.

"I saw the messages in the group chat. Is Lionel really getting married?"

I looked up at him. "Mm."

"How long have you known each other?"

I took a sip of my drink. "One day."

Joseph nearly choked on his drink. "How long did you say?"

"One day."

He was silent for a few seconds, then finally gave me a thumbs-up. "Yeah. Impressive."

I couldn't be bothered to say anything else ugly about it, so I just told him plainly that the bride price talks had broken down, that Lionel wanted to give the ten thousand dollars he'd saved to Melanie, and that in the end he'd told me to come find Joseph.

When he'd heard it, the smile on Joseph's face dimmed a good deal. "He told you to come find me?"

"Mm."

"His exact words?"

I took a sip of water. "He said you have money, and told me to come ask you."

Joseph looked me up and down. "Does he know what the relationship is between our two families?"

"No."

Joseph stared at me for two seconds, then suddenly laughed. "Fine. Since he's so generous, then I really won't hold back."

I looked up at him. "I didn't come to you to spite him."

Joseph set down his glass. "Of course I know that."

"My dad tried to bring us together a while back. When he was about to go talk about a marriage alliance, you'd started dating someone."

The Gilberts and the Winfields have stood as Seaport City's two great powers for years, partners and rivals both across many fields.

The Winfields and the Gilberts, and the two of us both only childrenfor both our families, a marriage alliance is the safest choice, no matter who you ask.

I understand that, and so does Joseph.

He took out several documents and pushed them in front of me one by one.

Shares the Gilberts were transferring to me, several properties, and a project the two companies were about to launch together.

The last one was the marriage agreement.

I skimmed through it.

It was thorough down to the last detail, and didn't look like a day's work. The contract laid out both parties' interests after the marriage very clearly.

I closed the agreement. "You put this together too fast."

Joseph leaned back on the sofa. "It's not that I was fast. Before I came, I asked my dad. He knew about it, and laughed for three minutes on the phone."

As he said it, Joseph held up three fingers. "Really, no exaggerationthree minutes."

That got a laugh out of me too. I flipped through the agreement to the last page, and then something occurred to me and I looked up suddenly. "Uh, I haven't told my family yet, and I don't even know how much of a dowry my parents are planning."

Joseph swirled his glass idly. "Doesn't matter."

He handed me the pen. "Sign first, lock it in, and we'll deal with the rest afterward."

I didn't take it. "That trusting?"

"What's there not to trust? Odette, a marriage alliance between our families was never about who comes out ahead. Us getting married is good for everyone."

I gave a bitter smile. Just a few hours ago, Lionel had been asking me, with ten thousand dollars, whether I'd be willing to marry him for a little less.

The contracts laid out in front of us now cost more than ten thousand dollars in drafting fees alone.

Joseph glanced at his watch. "And judging by the time, my dad should already be at your place by now."

I picked up the pen and signed my name on the last page.

Joseph took it, signed it as well, and then handed the agreement to the bodyguard behind him. "Keep this safe. Once we register the marriage, put together a copy for her."

"Yes, young master."

After signing, Joseph's mood had clearly improved.

Just then his phone rang. Joseph glanced at it and smiled. "My dad's already at your place."

I looked at my phone; there wasn't a single message. "That fast?"

"He's happy." Joseph tossed his phone onto the table. "He even said he'd give me a yacht next month."

I was about to say what did that have to do with me, but he read my mind and shot me a glance. "I'll split it with you then."

I sipped my drink and laughed. "Mr. Gilbert's this generous about getting married?"

He said it with complete conviction. "My love life has been very full, but marriage really is a first. If you need anything else, just say the word."

I couldn't help but laugh. "There's really nothing."

Joseph was in a great mood. He called the manager over on the spot, and with a sweep of his hand, booked out the entire Ginza Lounge.

That was when my mom called too.

The private room was too noisy, so I stepped out to find a quiet spot to take the call.

The moment it connected, her first words were, "Well, look at you, sweetheartpulling off something this big without a peep."

I leaned against the wall. "Mom, stop teasing me."

Her voice was full of joy she couldn't hold back. "Sweetheart, you should have seen it. When your dad found out you broke up with Lionel Henson and were going to marry into the Gilbert family, he was so happy he stomped his footcracked one of my handmade floor tiles clean through. And that thirty-million-dollar project meeting? He pushed it aside right in the middle and went straight off to see old Mr. Gilbert."

"Is all that really necessary?"

"How is it not necessary?" my mom huffed. "Your dad and I have been waiting for this day for six years."

Then her tone grew heavier. "We never could stand that social climberleaving him was the right call, and the sooner the better. Your parents would never do you harm, and the Gilberts certainly wouldn't either. Oh, your finally seeing it clearly settles one of the biggest things weighing on your father's heart."

"I guess so."

We talked a little more and then hung up.

I headed back the way I'd come, but after circling around twice, I couldn't find my way.

Which way was it again? I looked around, but nothing looked familiar.

Just as I was about to find a server to ask for directions, a burst of cheering came from not far off, and I turned toward the sound.

It was Lionel Henson and his group.

They were seated toward the back of the hall, surrounded by friends.

Word that Joseph had booked out the whole Ginza Lounge tonight had already spread, and everyone in the hall was marveling at how lavish Mr. Gilbert was.

Someone slung an arm around Lionel's shoulder and joked, "Lionel, your luck is unrealyou get married and Mr. Gilbert happens to book the whole place. You saved yourself a fortune this time."

The man beside him jumped in right away. "What are you talking about? What do you mean, 'happens to'? Do you know how tight Mr. Gilbert and Lionel are? This is clearly Mr. Gilbert hearing his buddy's getting married and putting on a show for him!"

Lionel leaned back on the sofa, basking in his friends' flattery. He smiled and took a sip of his drink. "Maybe."

The people around him got even more worked up. "You two are really close, and Mr. Gilbert really does stand by his friendsa place this expensive, and he books it just like that."

Melanie leaned against him, her eyes lighting up. "Honey, are you and Mr. Gilbert really that close?"

Lionel chuckled. "Pretty close. We've known each other for years. When he comes down in a bit, I'll introduce you."

"Sure."

Just then the manager personally led some people over with three bottles of whiskey. The manager walked up to Lionel with a broad smile. "Mr. Henson, Mr. Gilbert had these sent over for you."

Lionel was pleasantly surprised too. "Joseph sent these?"

The manager smiled and confirmed, "Yes. Mr. Gilbert heard your happy occasion is coming up and asked me to wish the two of you a happy marriage."

The crowd immediately broke into another round of cheering, and Lionel's expression grew even more confident. "See, I told you Joseph stands by his friends."

Lionel looked the bottle over carefully, then flashed it to the buddy next to him and said quietly, "This stuff runs thirty thousand a bottle."

He had someone open it and asked offhandedly, "Where's Joseph? How come he isn't here?"

The manager answered honestly, "Mr. Gilbert is getting engaged today. He should be down once he's finished."

The cup in Lionel's hand paused. "Engaged?"

"Yes."

Lionel frowned. "When did that happen?"

"Just tonight."

Lionel turned to his friends. "Joseph's getting engageddid any of you know?"

Everyone shook their heads, and someone even joked, "Mr. Gilbert really keeps things close to the vestnot a word to anyone about something this big."

Lionel was silent for a few seconds, then pressed the manager further. "Who is Joseph engaged to?"