While Jiang Qin was taking Feng Nanshu around the city, in the middle of the city, in the Eminent Hall of the Dragon Power Hotel.
Students from Class 3-2 gradually arrived and took their seats.
This gathering was initiated by Qin Ziang, and he aimed for the best private room and the finest banquet.
In this day and age, young people whose values weren't fully developed tended to learn how to live and act from their parents. Qin Ziang's father was a real estate developer, so at a young age, Qin Ziang already exuded the qualities of a high-quality man: slicked-back hair, a well-fitted suit, and a gold wristwatch.
"Everyone, high school is neither too short nor too long, but having the chance to be in the same class with all of you makes me feel honored."
"Starting today, we are all adults, so I suggest we raise our glasses together, but no one is allowed to drink soft drinks. We must drink alcohol because what we're drinking today isn't just alcohol; it's maturity."
"I once wrote a line in my QQ space: 'I drink to the hardships and wanderings of half my life, I drink to the loneliness and solitude of a lifetime.' Here's to you all."
Qin Ziang lifted his glass and downed the beer in one gulp.
Then, imitating his father's manner of discussing business at the dinner table, he turned the glass upside down to show everyone that not a drop was left.
Upon witnessing this, applause erupted in the Eminent Hall.
"Qin Bro, you really don't look like a student at all. Every move you make is so mature."
"That's right, compared to you, we seem exceptionally immature."
"A person like Ziang is bound to become an elite once he enters society. He's so handsome."
"'I drink to the hardships and wanderings of half my life, I drink to the loneliness and solitude of a lifetime.' This is the most domineering personal signature I've ever seen."
Qin Ziang modestly waved his hand, claiming that he was just speaking from the heart, and he discreetly glanced at Chu Siqi sitting across from him.
Peacocks display their feathers to attract the opposite sex, and high school students feign maturity for the same reason.
In 2008, it was the peak era of non-mainstream culture, and non-mainstream quotes were also in vogue. Qin Ziang felt that he truly possessed an air of dominance, so he always maintained a smile on his lips.
However, Chu Siqi's expression remained indifferent, and she appeared uninterested.
She was looking at her phone because Jiang Qin hadn't arrived, and his QQ profile picture was gray. This made her worried about whether Jiang Qin was aware of the gathering.
done.me
Just then, the door of the private room was suddenly pushed open by a chubby hand, and Guo Zihang rushed in, muttering apologies.
"I went to the wrong place earlier and took forever to find my way here."
"Hey, Guo Zihang, why did you come alone? Didn't Jiang Qin come with you?"
"Oh, he's busy with business lately, so he couldn't make it."
Guo Zihang originally wanted to mention that Jiang Qin was taking a girl out, but for some reason, his words took a different turn.
Upon hearing this, Chu Siqi sitting across from them suddenly bit her lip, and her fist under the table clenched.
Ever since their last encounter on Central Street, she had been waiting for Jiang Qin to regret his actions, to come and apologize, to ask for another chance from her. But in the blink of an eye, a week had passed, and not only did he not regret anything, but he hadn't even sent her a single QQ message.
She felt that Jiang Qin had truly changed, become incredibly patient. The old him would feel uncomfortable if they didn't chat for half a day, but now he could endure a whole week.
Just thinking about it made her annoyed. How could Jiang Qin, who used to be so obedient, change like this? She had always been looking out for him and encouraging him.
She hadn't wanted to attend this gathering, as Chu Siqi didn't particularly enjoy this kind of atmosphere. But she came just to see if Jiang Qin was really as carefree as he seemed.
In Chu Siqi's eyes, Jiang Qin must be enduring a lot of pain, and the moment he saw her, he would surely apologize.
But what she didn't expect was that Jiang Qin, who clearly knew about the gathering, didn't show up at all.
"Jiang Qin is doing business?" Qin Ziang looked at Guo Zihang, his expression somewhat surprised.
"Yeah."
"What kind of business is he into, opening a store?"
Chu Siqi regained her composure and chuckled, "He doesn't have that capability. He's just selling boxed lunches on the side of Central Street. My friend Huiru and I ran into him last time."
"Huh? Selling boxed lunches counts as doing business now?" Qin Ziang laughed, and though he didn't say much, his expression clearly showed some disdain.
The other classmates around them couldn't help but stifle their laughter, thinking that Jiang Qin was lucky not to have come to the party; otherwise, he would have been embarrassed.
Although they say there's no distinction between high and low in professions, even Kong Yiji couldn't shed his long gown. These high school students naturally looked down on those low-end jobs. In their eyes, as aspiring university students, they were the talents of society, the pillars of the nation. Selling boxed lunches was just too embarrassing.
Guo Zihang felt like swearing after hearing this.
Do you guys even know that my brother Jiang just spent 650,000 today?
My brother Jiang is a regular at the Foot Bath City, can you compete with that?
But he didn't say any of these things because Jiang Qin had told him the day before that some people laugh at you not because of what you've done, but because they wanted to laugh at you in the first place.
Damn, could Jiang Brother be implying something?
If so, isn't he quite perceptive?
Wow, truly deserving of being my adoptive father!
But thinking about it, Guo Zihang suddenly glanced at Chu Siqi sitting across from him. He had always seen Chu Goddess as a pure and untouchable figure, but today, he suddenly felt like the filter had been shattered. Could she really be a goddess if she talks badly about others behind their backs?
It seems that Jiang Brother had a reason to walk away that day.
However, Guo Zihang wanted to change the subject, but other people weren't so easy to let Jiang Qin off the hook.
Besides Wang Huiru, Chu Siqi had another close friend named Yu Shasha, who always had a strange way of talking. So when she heard Jiang Qin's name, she immediately piped up.
"By the way, Siqi, didn't Jiang Qin confess to you on the last day of the college entrance exam?"
Chu Siqi remembered that day and couldn't help getting angry. "Don't mention that day, it makes me furious. He failed in his confession and asked for the love letter back, saying he didn't really like me. What kind of person does that!"
Yu Shasha pouted. "He probably couldn't catch up with himself and was afraid of losing face and being ridiculed, so he pretended to be tough."
"Yeah, Huiru said the same."
"Maybe it's the same today."
"What do you mean?" Chu Siqi's eyes flashed with confusion.
"He knows he'll be ridiculed, so that's why he didn't dare to come today," Yu Shasha said as she refilled her glass of water.
Upon hearing these words, Chu Siqi's tightly furrowed brow suddenly relaxed.
Right, why hadn't she thought of this possibility? Jiang Qin wasn't as carefree as she had assumed. He didn't really not want to see her; he was just afraid of being ridiculed!
Hmph, he deserves it.
Who told him to treat her that way? It's good for him to taste some bitterness. Let's see who ends up regretting it in the future.
Chu Siqi's prideful spirit surged, and she tightly clenched her little silver teeth together.
Just at this moment, the door of the private room was once again pushed open, and Wang Huiru hurriedly rushed in, also apologizing like Guo Zihang.
"Sorry for the delay; I had a little issue on the way. What were you guys talking about just now?"
"We were talking about Jiang Qin. He's afraid of embarrassment, so he didn't dare to come. Isn't it funny?"
Upon hearing these words, Wang Huiru's facial expression froze for a moment, and even her movement of sitting down paused for a few moments.
The reason she arrived so late was because she had encountered Jiang Qin outside.
And it wasn't just Jiang Qin she had run into...