No Substitutes for the Bigshots' Dream Girl Anymore!-Chapter 1792: Daily Life After Marriage (20)

The song had just started when Lucy handed the microphone to Hannah and gave her a light push toward the stage.

"Really? You want me to sing?" Hannah turned around to look at the crowd.

James was here tonight too, and this song—he’d written it back then and gifted it to Hannah.

Lucy, of course, nodded. "Go ahead, Hannah. We haven’t heard you sing in ages. I’ll record a video of you later."

And just like that, Hannah was pushed onto the stage.

It was a bit like those kids performing their talents during New Year celebrations.

Lucy stood beneath the stage, pulling out her phone, adjusting the angle, and then giving Hannah an "OK" gesture to signal she could start.

Singing that old song again after a year brought with it a different kind of feeling.

The same sweet, honey-like voice now carried a tinge of dreaminess under the dim and colorful lights.

It felt as though they had returned to that stage of yesteryears. Even if it wasn’t under the spotlight of countless eyes, the stars still sparkled brightly.

Meeting Hannah’s gaze, Jack curved his lips into a faint smile. Only after her eyes moved away did he let his smile quietly fade.

Hayes was off to the side, laughing foolishly while clutching a bottle of booze.

Back then, he’d been ridiculed for his tone-deafness, referred to as the "pretty face" of their group. But now, he was gradually making his mark in the film industry.

Everyone had carved out the best path for themselves.

And Hannah... as she had always said, she’d forever preserved the most beautiful version of herself in the eyes of her audience, frozen in time.

She wouldn’t wither, nor would she fade.

She was, and would always be, the confident and vibrant girl standing on that stage from back then.

The gathering lasted until late into the night, with half of them drunk.

Hannah stepped out to take a phone call. As soon as she hung up and turned around, she caught sight of Jack standing quietly in the corner, smoking.

Though she couldn’t clearly see his face, the height and build could only be his.

It was as if the once innocent and awkward boy had grown up overnight, now steady and mature, carrying hidden thoughts behind his calm demeanor.

"I remember—you never used to smoke."

Hearing the voice, Jack seemed to snap out of his thoughts. His hand naturally dropped, and he instinctively hid the cigarette behind him.

Hannah approached. Her brows and eyes carried a faint allure under the dim light; she’d had a couple of drinks but wasn’t drunk. "I saw it already. What’s the point of hiding?"

Jack paused for a moment and then let out a resigned chuckle. "Caught me."

The cigarette between his fingers glimmered faintly in the darkness, but most of it was soon stubbed out against the side of a nearby trash bin.

The rooftop.

Looking up, you could see the sky filled with dazzling stars, with the moon casting frost-like shadows across the ground.

Hannah gazed toward the distant, shimmering city lights, her voice faint and faraway. "I remember—you never used to smoke."

Jack leaned against the wall, his head tilted upward to look at the bright moon. His voice, once clear and melodious, now carried a roughness from the smoke. "Picked it up while traveling. Thought I’d give it a try."

"What does it taste like?"

"Huh?"

Hannah turned her head toward him, her eyes illuminated with the reflected city lights. "I mean, cigarettes."

On the ground, Jack’s shadow loomed over Hannah’s, much taller than hers.

"Nothing much." Worried she might try smoking herself, he added, "Tastes awful—choking and unpleasant."

Hannah chuckled softly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. "Then don’t smoke anymore."

Jack vaguely recalled Arnold Simmons had been a smoker too, but eventually quit.

He said, "Alright."

On the bridge, cars streamed endlessly, with howling gusts carrying the noise toward them, wave after wave of tumultuous clamor.

This was the hour when the nightlife began.

But Hannah, monitored by Arnold Simmons to ensure a regular sleep schedule, was already feeling drowsy.