Everyone continued to wait.
Another five minutes passed.
Two or three more classmates arrived, both male and female.
Cao Yu was the last to arrive.
Once he arrived, He Yu arranged for the waiter to start serving the food.
It had been a long time since they last saw Cao Yu, and his appearance hadn't changed much, but his style had changed significantly.
He was no longer dressed in branded T-shirts, shorts, and sneakers like in high school.
Today, his hair was slicked back, shiny with gel, and he was dressed in a black suit with a white shirt underneath.
Today, he looked like a successful man.
The classmates were quite surprised by his transformation, and many of the girls were talking about his change in style.
Before the food was fully served, He Yu took the initiative to speak, saying things about how everyone had been classmates and it wasn't easy to have studied together for three years. He emphasized the importance of unity and kindness, and suggested that any past wrongs should be forgiven.
The classmates could obviously read between the lines.
Cao Yu followed up on He Yu's words, first explaining the reason for his outburst at the last farewell dinner, then apologizing to everyone, and promising to cover the cost of tonight's gathering, hoping for their forgiveness.
With the class monitor He Yu vouching for him and Cao Yu's seemingly sincere apology, many classmates forgave him.
Cao Yu finally turned to Xu Xiuwen and said, "Xu Xiuwen, I was too impulsive last time. I hope you can forgive me."
He wore a smile and his tone sounded sincere.
Xu Xiuwen had never really taken him seriously, so there was no issue of forgiveness.
But not wanting to ruin the atmosphere, he just nodded.
Cao Yu immediately said, "Thank you, it's great to have a magnanimous classmate like you."
Xu Xiuwen smiled and said nothing.
Soon, the waiters finished serving the dishes, and the gathering officially began.
At the dining table, the classmates who hadn't seen each other for half a year shared their university experiences, and everyone was more relaxed than before, drinking more freely.
Initially, they had four bottles of red wine, with everyone getting a little.
After the red wine was finished, they ordered several bottles of white wine.
Before the white wine was finished, the class monitor organized a few boys to buy three cases of beer from a nearby shop.
Not only the boys drank heavily, but the girls also drank quite a bit.
Some of the more outgoing girls even matched the boys drink for drink.
Amidst cheers and toasts, the dinner proceeded joyfully.
Xiao Youran was one of the girls who drank relatively little, and so did the girl next to her, Yang Xiaoxiao.
Yang Xiaoxiao leaned over and asked softly, "Youran, how are things between you and Xu Xiuwen now?"
Xiao Youran hesitated for a moment before telling her about being rejected after confessing to Xu Xiuwen and her thoughts on the matter.
Yang Xiaoxiao's face turned red with anger after hearing this.
She frowned, feeling indignant, "Just because you rejected him, he has to reject you? How is that fair? Has he forgotten he was the one who kissed you first?"
She almost couldn't help but stand up and question Xu Xiuwen.
Xiao Youran gently held her hand and shook it slightly, whispering, "It's okay, Xiao Xu being upset is normal. I'll work hard to win him back."
Hearing this, Yang Xiaoxiao suppressed her anger, but still gave Xu Xiuwen a glare.
In the second half of the dinner, several girls suddenly approached Xu Xiuwen.
The girl leading the group was Chen Ying, who had short hair and was wearing a black down jacket.
Chen Ying had been quite outgoing since high school and got along well with many of the boys.
Chen Ying came over and asked, "Xu Xiuwen, I have a question for you."
"Go ahead."
"Are you the one who played Daoming Si?"
After asking, the girls, including Chen Ying, waited quietly for Xu Xiuwen's answer.
Xu Xiuwen responded with a question, "What do you think?"
"Oh, come on, just tell us, is it you or not?"
Xu Xiuwen chuckled and nodded, "Yes, it's me."
"Really?!" Chen Ying was both surprised and delighted.
The other three girls had similar reactions.
Class monitor He Yu noticed the commotion and asked, "What are you all talking about?"
Chen Ying immediately said loudly, "Class monitor, we have a big star in our class!"
Her words made the originally lively room fall silent.
"What big star? What are you talking about?"
Chen Ying pointed at Xu Xiuwen, "Haven't you seen it? The TV series on Jiangsu TV at 7 PM, Xu Xiuwen is the male lead."
"No way!"
"How could it be!"
"Chen Ying, are you drunk?"
The room was filled with voices of doubt.
Aside from a few girls who had watched the TV series, no one else believed Chen Ying.
Because what she said sounded too far-fetched.
Xu Xiuwen, an ordinary university student, might be somewhat good-looking, but he had nothing in common with the male lead of a TV series.
Chen Ying felt helpless. She turned to Xu Xiuwen and said, "Xu Xiuwen, tell everyone that what I'm saying is true."
Since Xu Xiuwen had agreed to come to the dinner, he was prepared for his classmates to recognize him.
Besides, it wasn't something to be ashamed of, so there was nothing to hide.
He nodded and said, "Chen Ying is telling the truth. I did act in a TV series, and it's currently airing on Jiangsu TV."
The room erupted in exclamations!
He Yu, regaining his composure, said, "Xu Xiuwen acting in a TV series is a good thing. Our class has produced a star, haha..."
He Yu laughed for a while and then asked, "Xu Xiuwen, could you tell us how you ended up acting in a TV series? I'm sure we're all just as curious."
Xu Xiuwen, sensing the curious gazes of his classmates, paused and said, "It was just a coincidence that I met the director. The director thought I was suitable for the male lead, so he cast me. Nothing special."
He left out many details, such as funding the TV series and writing the novel it was based on.
There was no need to tell his classmates about these things.
After hearing Xu Xiuwen's explanation, He Yu raised his glass and said, "Xu Xiuwen, I'll drink to you. I hope your TV series becomes a hit."
Xu Xiuwen followed suit, raising his glass and taking a sip of baijiu.
With He Yu leading the way, the rest of the boys and girls in the class began to approach Xu Xiuwen for toasts.
Yang Xiaoxiao quietly asked Xiao Youran, "Youran, did you know about Xu Xiuwen acting in a TV series?"
Xiao Youran nodded.
She had heard everything Xu Xiuwen had said earlier.
He had omitted many details, and Xiao Youran naturally wouldn't reveal them either.
Yang Xiaoxiao was quite surprised, "Xu Xiuwen really amazes me. Back in high school, he was always goofing around. Who would've thought that he'd be acting in a TV series as soon as he started university."
Xiao Youran quietly watched Xu Xiuwen.
He was drinking with his classmates, his face beaming with smiles.
Even Yang Xiaoxiao, let alone her, would find it unbelievable to see Xu Xiuwen's transformation with her own eyes.
In the past half year, Xiao Xu has changed too much.
Former high school classmates took turns toasting Xu Xiuwen.
After a round, even the strongest among them couldn't hold up to such drinking.
When Xu Xiuwen saw his classmates in front of him swaying, he knew he was getting drunk.
He knew he couldn't drink anymore, so he made an excuse and decided to go to the restroom to avoid another round of toasts.
Xu Xiuwen pushed his chair and stood up, then staggered towards the door of the private room.
In the restroom, there were three urinals and two stalls.
Xu Xiuwen walked to the last urinal and began to relieve himself.
Just as he was pulling down his pants, He Yu walked in.
With a smile on his face, He Yu walked up to Xu Xiuwen and started undoing his belt.
Halfway through, two more male classmates walked in.
Xu Xiuwen glanced over and saw two classmates from high school with whom he had a good relationship.
One was Liu Yang, the other was Wan Wei.
They used to hang out together a lot in high school.
But after graduation, the two went to the north, so they didn't keep in touch much.
Xu Xiuwen jokingly scolded, "You two were the most aggressive in toasting just now, and now your bladders can't hold up? Aren't you guys hurting yourselves more than the enemy?"
Liu Yang laughed heartily, "Who told you to shoot a TV series without telling us? If it weren't for the girls seeing it, we wouldn't have known."
Wan Wei also said, "Yeah, Xu Xiuwen, you're really not considerate enough. You didn't tell us such an important thing. Do you still consider us as brothers?"
He Yu heard their words and said with a smile, "You guys all know, Xiuwen has always been low-key."
Xu Xiuwen explained, "I was worried that I wouldn't do well and would become a laughingstock."
Liu Yang, standing in the middle, reached out and patted Xu Xiuwen's shoulder, "We're so close, how could we possibly laugh at you? You're overthinking it."
Wan Wei also said, "Your saying that hurts my heart."
"It's my fault, I won't do it next time."
Class monitor He Yu suddenly asked, "Xiuwen, are you with Xiao Youran now?"
Xu Xiuwen shook his head, "No."
Liu Yang and Wan Wei were very surprised.
Liu Yang: "You kissed last time, and you're still not together?"
Wan Wei: "Isn't it obvious? They didn't come together, so they're definitely not together."
Liu Yang: "I really didn't expect that."
Wan Wei: "What's so unexpected about this? Xiao Youran got into Jiaotong University, that's Jiaotong University, while Xiuwen went to a third-tier university. Which girl wouldn't want someone better? She definitely doesn't fancy Xiuwen."
Xu Xiuwen remained silent.
Liu Yang nodded in agreement, saying, "Xiuwen, I think Wan Wei makes a lot of sense. Since Xiao Youran doesn't appreciate you, you shouldn't like her anymore."
Wan Wei also added, "Xiuwen, you can definitely find another girlfriend. She strung you along for three years in high school. Don't waste your time on her in college."
"Yeah, Xiuwen, there are plenty of other fish in the sea. Don't dwell on it. Plus, now that you're acting in TV dramas, once you become popular, you'll have no trouble finding a girlfriend. Xiao Youran might already regret it knowing you're pursuing acting."
"A good horse doesn't go back to eat old grass. She didn't choose you initially, isn't it too late for regrets now? Xiuwen, you mustn't be soft-hearted."
Xu Xiuwen remained silent.
The class monitor then said, "I agree with Liu Yang and Wan Wei. If Xiao Youran liked you, she would've been with you after the farewell dinner. Since she didn't choose you, it means she doesn't like you. Now that you're into acting, maybe she regrets it, but a good horse doesn't go back to old grass. With your talents, are you afraid you won't find another girlfriend?"
After saying this, He Yu glanced towards the restroom door, then continued, "Xiuwen, it's just us here. No one will spread it around. Are you still into Xiao Youran?"
Xu Xiuwen wasn't caught off guard by their question.
The reason he didn't speak was that the scene before him felt familiar, like déjà vu.
Though his head was spinning a bit, his mind was unusually clear.
He suddenly recalled his past life.
In his past life, he confessed his feelings, and Xiao Youran rejected him but gave him false hope.
Then he ended up repeating a year.
Tonight's class reunion was the same as in his past life, with three people joining him in the restroom and saying similar things.
Xu Xiuwen found it amusing that despite the many butterfly effects of his rebirth, many things remained unchanged.
He couldn't quite remember what was said in his past life.
But it didn't matter anymore.
He smiled and said, "You guys are overthinking it. I don't like her anymore. I have someone else I like now."
Liu Yang chuckled, "That's more like it."
Wan Wei asked, "Xiuwen, you have someone else you like? Who is it? Do we know her?"
Xu Xiuwen shook his head, "It's not convenient to say."
Liu Yang complained, "Xiuwen, you're being secretive. You're hiding this from us."
"Yeah, we won't tell anyone."
He Yu adjusted his glasses and smiled, "I'm curious too."
Xu Xiuwen sighed, "Don't be so nosy."
After hesitating for a moment, Xu Xiuwen still didn't reveal Cheng Lu's name to them.
After using the restroom, Xu Xiuwen gave up his spot to Wan Wei.
As Wan Wei was about to urinate, he called out, "Wait for me, I haven't gone yet."
Back in the private room, as soon as Xu Xiuwen entered, he felt Xiao Youran's gaze on him.
Their eyes met briefly before quickly looking away.
Xu Xiuwen also noticed Cao Yu glancing over but then quickly averting his gaze.
The dinner was nearing its end, with over half of the classmates already showing signs of drunkenness.
He Yu clapped his hands and said, "Everyone's eaten and drunk enough. Let's call it a night. Everyone, hurry back and don't linger outside. I'll go settle the bill now."
With He Yu's announcement, the dinner officially ended.
The sober classmates began bustling around, putting on their coats, but no one left first.
Because there were too many intoxicated people.
You couldn't just leave the drunken classmates unattended.
Vice monitor Yang Xiaoxiao took the initiative to arrange for those who were close to the drunk classmates to contact their parents to pick them up.
After several post-high school graduation dinners, everyone was familiar with the post-dinner routine whenever someone got drunk.
Those with phones started making calls.
While Yang Xiaoxiao was busy organizing classmates to make calls, Xiao Youran quietly approached.
She walked up to Xu Xiuwen, furrowing her brows slightly, and asked with concern, "Xiao Xu, are you okay? Shall I support you?"
This was the first interaction between them since that day.
Xu Xiuwen was surprised.
Xiao Youran's expression and demeanor were normal, as if nothing had happened that day.
But precisely because it was normal, something felt off.