Class Reunion (1)

It was just past noon on the third day of the Lunar New Year.

At the entrance of the newly opened "Gathering Worthies Pavilion in the county town, there weren't many cars or people—after all, it was still the Spring Festival, and most people were still visiting relatives and friends. The antique-style signboard and facade looked somewhat contrived in the winter sun, and festive window decorations and "Wishing you prosperity" stickers were pasted on the glass doors.

Lin Feng parked the car in a spot a little further away on the side of the road and turned off the engine. Lü Yi, sitting in the passenger seat, was unusually quiet, just staring longingly at the restaurant entrance. "Boss, can't I really come in for a free meal with you? I promise I won't say a word!"

"No." Lin Feng unbuckled his seatbelt, his tone leaving no room for argument. Bringing Lü Yi to this kind of occasion was too risky. "You just wait for me in the car, or find somewhere nearby to get something to eat." He pointed to the center console storage compartment, "The money's in there."

"Oh..." Lü Yi drawled, her face full of disappointment, but she didn't insist any further, only muttering under her breath, "Eating alone is so boring..."

Lin Feng ignored him, pushed open the door and got out of the car. A cold wind immediately swept over him, and he tightened the zipper of his black down jacket. Underneath was a dark gray sweater that his mother had insisted he change into, which looked slightly more "energetic". He looked up at the three characters "Gathering Worthies Pavilion" and felt no expectations, only that it was a task he had to deal with.

Pushing open the heavy glass door, the aroma of warm food and drinks wafted out, along with the lively chatter of people. Several banquet tables were set up in the hall, clearly for a family gathering. A waitress in a red cheongsam greeted him, "Sir, do you have a reservation?"

"It was a high school reunion, arranged by Liu Hao," Lin Feng said.

"Oh, the ' Top Scholar's Success ' private room on the second floor, this way please." The waiter led him up the red-carpeted stairs.

The second-floor corridor was quieter. As Lin Feng approached the "Top Scholar's Success" private room, the noisy laughter and chatter inside could already be faintly heard. Lin Feng paused for a second at the door before pushing it open.

The private room was large, with two large round tables covered with white tablecloths, and it was already more than half full. The air was filled with smoke, mixed with the greasy smells of perfume, hairspray, and food that had been served early. Several familiar yet unfamiliar faces turned around at the same time, and their voices seemed to pause for a moment because of his arrival.

"Hey! Lin Feng! You've finally arrived!" A slightly overweight man wearing black-rimmed Glasses and an ill-fitting suit immediately stood up, beaming as he greeted him. It was none other than class monitor Liu Hao. He was even fatter than before, and his face had gained a touch of worldly shrewdness. "You're the only one missing! Come on, sit here!"

Liu Hao led Lin Feng to the table by the window, and people kept greeting him along the way.

Lin Feng! Long time no see!

"Brother Feng! You're still so handsome!"

"I heard you're studying law in the provincial capital? That's awesome!"

Have you found a job yet?

Amidst the noise, Lin Feng merely nodded indifferently, occasionally responding with a "hmm" or "not bad." His gaze quickly swept across the crowd. The changes in most of his classmates were etched on their faces: some had gained weight, some looked weathered, some were dressed smartly, and some remained simple. The marks of time and the initial erosion of society were clearly visible.

He was seated at the back, next to a male classmate who was already balding and worked in a public institution in the county town. The classmate was enthusiastically pouring him tea. Across from him sat several female classmates, chatting and laughing in hushed tones, their eyes occasionally glancing in his direction with curiosity and scrutiny.

The topics were nothing more than work, income, house, car, and children. Who made a fortune, who passed the civil service exam, who married well, and who was still drifting. Boasting and comparison, sighs and flattery flowed silently amidst the clinking of glasses.

Lin Feng sipped his tea quietly, rarely speaking. When asked, he would simply reply, "Still studying," or "Interning with a lawyer," and then fall silent. His aloofness seemed out of place amidst the warmth around him, but no one seemed to care. Perhaps they thought he had been in the provincial capital for too long and had become too sophisticated, or perhaps it was just his personality.

About ten minutes later, the door to the private room was pushed open again.

This time, the entrance was much more commotion. First, a strong, somewhat cloying scent of perfume wafted in, followed by a woman wearing a bright pink cashmere coat, high-heeled boots, and excessively elaborate makeup, who was arm in arm with a Tingting, gracefully walking in.

The woman had fashionable, wavy hair and a deliberately condescending smile on her face. As soon as she entered, her gaze swept around the private room like a searchlight, finally landing precisely on Lin Feng. She paused for two seconds, and a complex, ambiguous smile curved her lips.

It was Zhao Yali. The girl who sat diagonally behind Lin Feng in high school. In his memory, she always wore a faded school uniform, her hair tied in a simple ponytail, her head down, and she was not very noticeable. The only thing that stood out was a letter Lin Feng found in his desk drawer after a PE class, with neat handwriting and a shy tone. He didn't reply, and afterwards, whenever Zhao Yali saw him, she would lower her head and walk quickly past without saying another word.

The Zhao Yali before me was completely different from the simple and introverted girl I remembered. She exuded an air of sophistication and ostentation built on wealth. However, her eyes lacked the shyness of a young girl, replaced by worldly calculation and a hint of resentment, jealousy, or smugness that was hard to pinpoint.

The man she was arm in arm with looked quite old. His hair was neatly combed, but sparse and gray, and his face was deeply wrinkled. He wore a finely made dark gray Zhongshan suit and leaned on a boxwood cane. Despite his age, he stood upright, had sharp eyes, and possessed a composed demeanor befitting someone who had long held a position of power. He smiled and nodded to everyone, his attitude warm and friendly.

"Oh! Yali! You've finally arrived! And who is this?" Liu Hao immediately went to greet them, his gaze shifting between Zhao Yali and the old man.

"Class Monitor Liu, long time no see!" Zhao Yali's voice was sweet and coquettish, with a deliberate touch of cloying sweetness. "Let me introduce you, this is my husband, his surname is Ma. Husband, and these are all my high school classmates." She deliberately emphasized the words "husband" and "sir."

"Hello Mr. Ma! Welcome, welcome! Please have a seat!" Liu Hao hurriedly greeted him, a knowing glint and a subtle, almost imperceptible glint in his eyes. The other classmates also cast glances their way, their expressions a mixture of curiosity, surprise, envy, and disdain... all hidden beneath their smiles.

Old Mr. Ma smiled and nodded, his voice calm. "I'm sorry to bother you young people. Yali has been thinking about her old classmates, and when she heard there was a gathering, she insisted that I come." His words were tactful, giving Zhao Yali face while also downplaying the awkwardness of his sudden appearance.

Zhao Yali was seated at Lin Feng's table, directly opposite him. Old Mr. Ma sat next to her. As she sat down, Zhao Yali glanced at Lin Feng again, her smile deepening.