World-Encompassing Star.
"Hey, why aren't you coming over for a drink? Graduation was hard enough to come by. It's time to start families after this. Who knew whether we'd have so many chances to get together again?"
A large hand landed on Wei Heng's shoulder. It was Shu Meng, a good friend from his class.
Wei Heng pulled his gaze back from the night sky and smiled. Turning around, he looked at the classmates gathered around the bonfire, making music and barbecuing.
Their class monitor, Alice Rogge, was holding up skewers of grilled meat and handing them out one by one.
She had once loved wearing twin ponytails, but now she had changed to a proper shoulder-length bob. She wore the blouse and casual black slacks favored by working women.
She felt much more mature than before.
It was not just her. Everyone else had long since stopped dressing as they used to. Taller now and clad in adult clothes,
at a glance, they had all shed some of their youthful student immaturity.
"Where's Reno?" Wei Heng swept his eyes around but did not spot his friend. Back in school, he, Shu Meng, and Reno had been inseparable friends.
Marys had even introduced girls to the two of them from time to time, trying to play matchmaker.
Though she had never succeeded to this day.
"He went home." Shu Meng let out a breath. "There was a transfer at home, and something happened. He had no choice but to go back."
"What happened?" Wei Heng asked in surprise.
"His dad got implicated in a case and was taken in. His mom kept it from him so he could finish school and take his exams properly. Now that the exams are over, more than half their family assets have been confiscated