Classmates

After parting ways with Sheng Hai, Chen Chuan went looking for his classmates. He had only taken a few steps when he suddenly heard someone shout from behind, "Chen Chuan!"

The shout was so loud that even students dozens of meters away turned to look.

He turned around and saw a tall, solidly built boy running toward him. He wore a casual blue-green tracksuit with the zipper undone. It was Ding Jiao, his middle school deskmate and close friend.

Ding Jiao came up and threw an arm around his shoulders, laughing heartily. "I knew you'd get here early."

Chen Chuan suddenly said, "Your zipper's open." Ding Jiao jumped and looked down.

Chen Chuan said expressionlessly, "I meant your clothes." Ding Jiao cursed. "You messing with me, bro?" Laughing, he put him in a playful headlock.

Then Ding Jiao suddenly looked surprised. He stepped back a few paces and held a hand over both their heads. "Whoa, it's only been a month, and you've gotten a lot taller again, brother. We'll compare again in a couple months. Can't let you leave me behind."

Chen Chuan smiled. "How have you been lately?"

Ding Jiao said carelessly, "You know me. Same as always. I spend every day messing around with those Two-Wheeled Vehicles with my old man. Even my meals smell like algae oil. It's pretty interesting, and sometimes I get to take one out for a ride, but that's about it. I can already picture myself twenty years from now, turning out exactly like my old man. Still, there's money in it, so it's not bad. Anyway, enough about me. What about you?"

Chen Chuan said, "I've found somewhere to go, but getting established there won't be easy. I'll probably have to put all my effort into it for the next few months. I'll tell you once things are settled."

Ding Jiao knew that Chen Chuan's Uncle worked at the Patrol Bureau. He guessed Chen Chuan was trying to find a way in there, and it was not something easy to discuss, especially since Chen Chuan had a Younger Male Cousin. He patted Chen Chuan sympathetically. "Same as always—if you need anything, come to me. If I can help, I absolutely will."

Chen Chuan nodded. He glanced around and asked, "Did you see anyone from our class when you came in?"

"I did. Come on, everyone from our class is over there... ah, damn it..." Ding Jiao grabbed Chen Chuan and stepped forward, but failed to pull him along. His foot slid out, and he nearly fell over.

Chen Chuan caught him with one hand and said calmly, "Take it easy." He had been sparring with Lu Ke lately, and to avoid being thrown or grabbed, he constantly controlled his center of gravity. It had practically become instinct. When Ding Jiao pulled him just now, he naturally resisted.

Ding Jiao did not think much of it. "It's not that I'm weak, bro. These tiles are just too slippery. Come on, come on..."

The two headed toward the area assigned to their class. After walking for several minutes, they found a covered shelter toward the east. Inside were two rows of desks, one arranged along the edge of the terrace railing, with the other separated by an aisle wide enough for three people to walk through.

It could seat around sixty people, while their class had only thirty-nine students, so there was more than enough room.

When Chen Chuan and Ding Jiao entered, several classmates had already arrived. Seeing them, they happily came over to greet them.

After more than a month apart, the classmates were all enthusiastic upon meeting again. After talking about what had happened since graduation, they soon turned to discussing other classmates. The topic mainly centered on several people who had landed especially good positions after graduating. Aside from envy, these students also spoke of them with pride.

Chen Chuan's relationship with these classmates had been fairly ordinary—not good, not bad. Everyone had their own circles, so after exchanging a few words, they went their separate ways and sat down.

Since they had arrived early, empty seats were everywhere. Chen Chuan and Ding Jiao chose a desk by the terrace railing with a good view.

After sitting down, Ding Jiao picked up a bottle of Shazhen Soda from the desk and shook it vigorously. He expertly opened the cap, then, amid the fizzing foam, poured a cup each for himself and Chen Chuan. He eagerly took a gulp, let out a burp, and shouted, "Refreshing!"

Chen Chuan also took a sip. The flavor reminded him of a carbonated drink from his previous life, though this one was crisper. He asked, "Will everyone in the class come this time?"

"Probably..." Ding Jiao said casually, then realized what he meant and wiped his mouth. "You mean those few? They hardly ever show up normally. I doubt they'll make an appearance this time either."

Chen Chuan gave a quiet acknowledgment. Their class normally had thirty-nine students, but there were actually forty-two names on the roster.

The extra three hardly ever came to school because they had private tutors. They were enrolled at Municipal No. 1 High School because the school had annual quotas for recommending students to higher institutions in Central City, and those quotas were reserved for them.

They had been set apart from ordinary students from the very beginning. In fact, Yangzhi City's middle schools had operated this way for decades, so no one thought anything was wrong with it.

"Oh, right." Ding Jiao waggled his eyebrows at him. "Since you came today, that girl of yours might come too."

Chen Chuan shook his head. "There's nothing between her and me." He knew who Ding Jiao meant, but even if his former self had had some dealings with her, it was not the sort of relationship outsiders imagined.

Ding Jiao wore an expression that said he did not believe a word of it.

As the two chatted, more and more classmates arrived. They greeted one another, exchanged news, and occasionally clinked opened drink bottles together. The atmosphere gradually became livelier.

By then, Ding Jiao had already finished one bottle of soda. Apparently still unsatisfied, he grabbed another, removed the cap, and chugged down half the bottle in one go. Then he asked, "By the way, is Gao Ming coming today?"

Chen Chuan thought for a moment. "He seems to be out of town. He probably won't make it back."

Gao Ming was in their class, but his mother and Chen Chuan's mother were cousins. Gao Ming and Chen Chuan were not only classmates, but also relatives, and they were quite close.

The Gao family had all come from a line of legal advocates. Gao Ming himself had been noticed early on by a senior legal advocate and accepted as his student. He had studied under him throughout middle school, and after graduation had continued learning at that legal advocate's side. He was one of those who had found a path early on.

Ding Jiao let out an "oh," then thought for a moment and lowered his voice. "Did you hear? Guan Xiaohui from Class Three—supposedly her dad racked up a huge gambling debt and used her as collateral to a gang. Her stepmother ran off with her younger sister too. Now gang members harass her place every day, so she had no choice but to hide out with relatives in the countryside. What a damn mess."

Chen Chuan recalled that she was a girl with a gentle smile and a rather introverted personality. Ding Jiao seemed to have had a crush on her once. But the reason Chen Chuan remembered her so clearly was apparently because she had practiced martial arts too.

As Ding Jiao spoke, his eyes suddenly flicked to the side. He slapped the desk several times and called outside, "Hey, hey! Look over there, Han Lao San! He's gotten all high and mighty after getting into Mo Lan Company. I heard his dad at the Water Affairs Bureau pulled some strings for him this time."

Chen Chuan turned to look. A boy was walking over with his hair parted down the middle, dressed in an imported black formal outfit. He looked decent enough, but the way he walked and spoke was excessively affected, as if he were putting on airs.

Several students surrounded him. They were not from the same class, but it was obvious that they were currying favor with him. Some of their classmates under the shelter also immediately stood upon seeing him and went over to greet him, asking for his contact information.

The boy seemed to enjoy the attention. He lingered outside for a full ten minutes before finally being ushered in by the crowd. As he walked, he raised a hand to greet the seated students. "Sorry I'm late, sorry I'm late. Something came up at the company and held me back. My apologies, everyone. My apologies."

Ding Jiao said sourly, "Look at him showing off. He's not even an official Mo Lan employee yet. He's only there for training."

From his former self's memories, Chen Chuan knew that this boy was named Han Shu. Since his grades had always been kept below Chen Chuan's former self and another girl's, leaving him in third place year after year, Ding Jiao jokingly called him Han Lao San.

Perhaps due to their personalities, Han Shu, Ding Jiao, and Chen Chuan's former self had always rubbed one another the wrong way in school. Their relationship as classmates had never been very harmonious.

Han Shu noticed Chen Chuan and Ding Jiao as well. His steps paused. He tugged his sleeve up slightly to reveal the silver-cased watch on his wrist, then walked toward them.