Chapter 1: Class Reunion

“Ranran, where are you?”

Zhuo Ting finished chatting enthusiastically with the person beside her and, while munching on sunflower seeds, called Lin Ran.

Lin Ran adjusted her trench coat and looked up, trying to spot the sign for Haosen Restaurant.

“I just got off the subway and am looking for the restaurant sign. I should be there in about five minutes.”

Zhuo Ting gave her a flurry of directions, but since Lin Ran was directionally challenged, terms like north, south, east, and west meant nothing to her. In the end, Zhuo Ting collapsed onto the table in despair. “Never mind, babe, we’ll wait for you. You’re the only one from Room 101 who isn’t here yet.”

Lin Ran awkwardly apologized and immediately started running. She soon spotted the sign for Haosen Restaurant.

Today marked the fifth-anniversary reunion of Classes 1 and 2 from the 2012 Financial Studies program at Xicheng University.

The event was said to include professors and advisors from the department, which was why they had chosen Xicheng’s most luxurious restaurant.

As she crossed the street, a black Cullinan SUV drove by slowly.

Lin Ran stopped to let the car pass. Though cars are supposed to yield to pedestrians, she felt there was no need to challenge steel with flesh.

To her surprise, the Cullinan stopped, clearly signaling for her to go first.

Without hesitation, Lin Ran sprinted across.

Once inside the restaurant, she glanced back to find that the Cullinan was headed to the underground parking garage of Haosen Restaurant.

What a coincidence.

When Lin Ran arrived at the third-floor private dining room, Zhuo Ting was chatting animatedly with other classmates.

Spotting Lin Ran, Zhuo Ting immediately jumped up and threw an arm around her shoulder. “Ah, you’re finally here! I told you, you need to get yourself a car.”

Their roommate Li Lin’s eyes lit up as she solemnly pulled out a business card. “Hey, buy a car from me! Any car, and I’ll give you a 5% discount as a fellow classmate.”

Everyone laughed. “Wow, you’ll use any opportunity to make money, won’t you?”

Li Lin grinned shamelessly. “Why let strangers profit when I can help out a friend?”

Lin Ran waved her hands. “Don’t listen to Zhuo Ting’s nonsense. With my salary, I can’t afford a car.”

But Li Lin was persistent. “There are plenty of affordable new energy vehicles now, with government subsidies—”

She was still rambling when an exclamation erupted from the next table.

“What?! You’re saying Fu Xingjian is coming today too?!”

“Are you serious? He just returned from the U.S. earlier this year. He’s the CEO of Yutou Group now, worth billions. Would he really lower himself to attend our class reunion?”

“Why not? No matter how successful he is, he can’t deny he graduated from Xicheng University. Besides, Xicheng is a top-tier 985 school. Don’t make it sound so low-class!”

Lin Ran listened with pricked ears, her grip on her glass of water tightening unconsciously.

When she set the glass down and looked up, she found everyone at her table staring at her.

Her best friend Zhuo Ting grabbed her hand and gritted her teeth. “That jerk! Didn’t he say he wouldn’t come? If we’d known, we wouldn’t have come either!”

The other roommates nodded sympathetically, looking at Lin Ran with pity. One of them whispered, “Yeah, we even double-checked beforehand. But still…”

Zhuo Ting suggested, “Should we leave? Find another restaurant and book a private room there?”

Lin Ran sighed, massaging her temple with a small smile. “It’s not that serious. Besides, it’s been so many years. I’ve moved on.”

The memories of her time at Xicheng had long settled into dust, nearly forgotten.