Ning Qiuxiu had to wait for Zhan Qingyue for about 15 minutes, so she returned to her seat.

She turned up the volume on her phone, hoping to hear from him soon.

As the party grew livelier, with everyone drinking and toasting, the male classmates moved from table to table, toasting and celebrating.

Unlike a boss who might remain stationary at a company gathering, the standout figures at a class reunion often go from table to table, showing off their success and feeling proud.

The boys were no longer the shy teenagers from high school.

They were now confident and more open, even joking about things they used to keep to themselves.

One guy said, “Qiuxiu, you probably don’t know, but I had a crush on you for over two years in high school and even learned to play the guitar for you.”

Ning Qiuxiu looked at him.

He was the same classmate who had spoken in the group chat.

She vaguely remembered him as a shy boy, but he didn’t seem to match that description now.

Ning Qiuxiu smiled and said, “I’m really honored.”

Another classmate added, “Unfortunately, he learned guitar for two years but never confessed. Is he trying to make up for it now?”

The others laughed and teased.

Among the laughter, Feng Ting said with a smile, “If you missed tonight, as the class monitor said, you won’t get another chance like this in ten years.”

“Stop teasing,” the guy said, feeling a bit embarrassed. “I didn’t mean anything, just wanted to thank Qiuxiu. I worked as a part-time guitarist in a bar during college and saved up my first pot of gold. Now I have my own business.”

“Wow,” the other classmates, who were still struggling in their jobs, envied him.

After he left, Guan Nanpei began making his rounds to toast each table.

He was the center of attention, just like in high school, and his recent overseas studies made him even more refined.

He was praised and admired at every table.

Although Ning Qiuxiu wasn’t interested in him, she was curious.

Guan Nanpei seemed to deliberately delay coming to their table, spending almost ten minutes before arriving.

Feng Ting, who pretended not to care, actually seemed nervous and excited.

Ning Qiuxiu remembered that Feng Ting had mentioned Guan Nanpei and her breakup.

Their relationship had ended during college, and Guan Nanpei had gone to a top university, while Feng Ting had stayed behind.

Their relationship lost its spark due to the distance.

Finally, Guan Nanpei reached their table and toasted them.

After finishing his round, Ning Wanwan was about to speak, but Ning Qiuxiu quickly silenced her.

Ning Wanwan’s mouth opened but no words came out.

Ning Qiuxiu gave her a calm smile.

Despite Ning Wanwan’s silence, someone spoke up, “Guan, there’s someone at this table you need to give special attention to. She came here just to see you.”

Ning Qiuxiu wished she could strangle that classmate.

Feng Ting’s expression darkened momentarily, but she quickly composed herself and whispered to a nearby classmate, pretending not to care.

Guan Nanpei looked around the table and smiled, “Oh, I’m honored. May I know which classmate has taken notice of me?”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Ning Qiuxiu.

Guan Nanpei then said, “Ah, Qiuxiu, long time no see.”

Ning Qiuxiu tried to suppress her urge to look indifferent.

She didn’t want to give him any more reasons to create stories.

With a neutral tone, she replied, “Long time no see.”

The table fell silent, but everyone seemed to be watching with interest.

Guan Nanpei filled his glass with red wine and asked, “What would you like to drink?”

“Anything is fine,” Ning Qiuxiu said.

Guan Nanpei poured a little red wine into her glass, just enough to barely cover the bottom.

He didn’t make the usual comments about women not drinking or insist that she fill her glass like some others might.

He raised his glass and said, “So, this toast is for you. I wish you a bright future and a stellar career.”

Guan Nanpei’s words and attitude were flawless, leaving Ning Qiuxiu with no room to argue or make excuses.

Trying to explain would only make things worse.

She raised her glass and responded, “Thank you. I wish you the same—career success and smooth progress.”

After finishing her drink, Ning Qiuqiu gave Guan Nanpei a polite smile and sat down without saying much.

The excited crowd stared, bewildered: “……That’s it?”

Wasn’t there supposed to be something more exciting?

This wasn’t quite what they had expected.

Guan Nanpei seemed surprised by Ning Qiuqiu’s indifferent attitude.

At that moment, Feng Ting stood up and said, “Guan Nanpei has returned with great achievements, let’s all… have a toast?”

Ning Qiuxiu glanced at her phone.

It had been eighteen minutes, and Zhan Qingyue still hadn’t arrived.

Worried that something might have happened, she was anxious.

Meanwhile, Feng Ting was still chatting with Guan Nanpei as if they were old friends.

“I heard you joined Zhuosen? Your future is bright!”

Ning Qiuxiu was stunned.

Was she talking about that Zhuosen, the top company?

Ning Wanwan, the gossip expert, had failed to mention this important detail.

Talking about his career, Guan Nanpei’s aura grew even stronger, though he remained modest: “Actually, I’m still just an employee. We’ll see if I get promoted after the New Year.”

“Wow.” The crowd was amazed.

He had just returned a few months ago and already joined such a prestigious company, with promotions possibly coming soon.

It seemed like he would be a manager in no time.

For most people, getting into a top company right after graduation was rare, let alone getting promoted so quickly. It was almost unbelievable.

The admiration was palpable.

At that moment, Ning Qiuxiu’s phone dinged with a new message.

Zhan Qingyue: “I’m almost at the door.”

Ning Qiuxiu: “Okay, I’m coming out now.”

Just then, as Guan Nanpei and Feng Ting finished their chat, Ning Qiuxiu lifted the mute on Ning Wanwan’s phone and said, “You all continue. My friend is here to pick me up, so I’ll be leaving now.”

A friend picking her up?

The crowd’s curiosity was piqued—what kind of friend?

“So soon?” Class monitor Ding Hui said. “Let your friend come in and join us. There’s still room.”

“No, he doesn’t like crowds. Wanwan, I’ll leave the car keys with you. You can drive home.”

Ning Qiuxiu handed the car keys to Ning Wanwan, who deliberately placed them on the table for everyone to see.

She also gave Ning Qiuxiu a knowing look, suggesting she hadn’t even spoken to Guan Nanpei yet.

Ning Qiuxiu patted Wanwan’s shoulder and stood up.

At that moment, the door to the private room was knocked on.

The service staff opened the door, and Ning Qiuqiu saw Zhan Qingyue’s tall and handsome figure.

“???” Wasn’t he supposed to be just arriving at the door?

Clearly, Zhan Qingyue’s entrance and Ning Qiuxiu’s exit were at different doors.

The fact that he knew exactly which room she was in was a testament to her mother’s influence.

“!!!” The crowd was stunned.

Who was this handsome guy?

“Sorry for the interruption,” Zhan Qingyue said, giving a slight nod to the stunned crowd. “I’m here to pick up Qiuxiu.”

Pick up Qiuxiu… So, he was Ning Qiuxiu’s friend?

Zhan Qingyue’s appearance and demeanor were a step above Guan Nanpei’s, making it clear he was not an ordinary person.

Given Ning Qiuxiu’s calm attitude towards Guan Nanpei, people began to doubt if she had come for Guan Nanpei at all.

And Guan Nanpei… he was left dumbfounded.

He had seen Zhan Qingyue at last year’s company event and recognized him immediately as Zhuosen’s current CEO.

Guan Nanpei had been proud of his potential promotion to middle management at Zhuosen, but now, seeing the top CEO himself, he felt a sting of jealousy.

The scene was exceptionally awkward.

“Handsome guy, come in and have a drink, or else we won’t let Qiuqiu leave!” one of the classmates joked.

Zhan Qingyue replied, “Qiuxiu won’t let me drink.”

The crowd was shocked: “!!!”

As they wondered if this was some sort of public relationship announcement, Zhan Qingyue added, “Drinking and driving is not good.”

So, was it or wasn’t it? They were quite eager to know.

Ning Qiuxiu, already holding her coat and bag, didn’t give them a chance to ask. “I’m leaving now. You all continue.”

With that, she quickly walked to the door.

Zhan Qingyue took her bag and coat, and she didn’t hesitate to let him help her in front of everyone.

They both left together, with Zhan Qingyue giving a polite nod to the room before exiting.

The people in the room had mixed feelings, as if they had been served a dose of dog food for no reason.

They had thought Ning Qiuxiu came for Guan Nanpei, but it seemed she was… showing off her boyfriend?

Well, he wasn’t exactly her boyfriend, but their relationship seemed even more intimate.

“I remember who he is!” Ning Wanwan, who had been silent since Zhan Qingyue’s arrival, suddenly exclaimed.

Everyone looked at her expectantly. Ning Wanwan said, “He’s the CEO of Zhuosen. I remember because he had some issues a couple of years ago. He’s actually with Qiuxiu…”

This news had explosive effects.

Though they didn’t know much about Zhuosen before, they had learned a lot since Guan Nanpei joined the company.

Everyone now knew how prestigious Zhuosen was.

And Ning Qiuxiu seemed to be involved with its CEO.

“Wow, so Qiuxiu is…” the CEO’s… wife?

Someone noticed this but, seeing Guan Nanpei’s sour expression, decided not to bring it up.

“Oh my God, I thought all big company CEOs were bald and beer-bellied. The CEO of Zhuosen is so handsome. I’m feeling envious.”

“People in the entertainment industry have complicated relationships,” Feng Ting said with a tone of insider knowledge, implying something. “There are all sorts of rules and it’s not as simple and beautiful as it seems.”

Feng Ting’s suggestion was that Ning Qiuxiu might be supported by the CEO.

This angered Ning Wanwan: “Watch your mouth. Qiuxiu’s company is a major shareholder in her own company. She is the boss herself. Not everyone is dirty and corrupt. Besides, the Ning family helped the Zhan family when they were down. Are you toxic or something?”

Seeing Ning Wanwan getting angry, others rushed to calm her down.

Feng Ting’s face alternated between red and pale.

At that moment, a waiter knocked and said, “These two bottles of Château Margaux are courtesy of Miss Ning’s friend. Please enjoy.”

Some people didn’t know what Château Margaux was and checked their phones, then fell silent.

Zhan Qingyue not only bought the wine but also paid the bill.

Ning Qiuxiu, seeing the amount he spent, snorted, “It’s too good for some people.”

It wasn’t worth drinking such fine wine or having them pick up the tab!

Zhan Qingyue responded, “Just spending a little extra to make a big impression. It’s worth it.”

“……” Look at how extravagant the rich can be.

They walked to the door, where Zhan Qingyue’s car was waiting.

Ning Qiuxiu saw that the person opening the door was not a restaurant valet but a driver from the Zhan family…

Ning Qiuxiu glared at him.

She was supposed to drive herself. “You liar! You said you weren’t bringing a driver!”

Zhan Qingyue remained calm. “I never said I wasn’t bringing a driver.”

“……” Why is he so infuriating?

Ning Qiuxiu got into the car and told the driver, “Take me to Ning’s house.”

“Go straight to the Zhan house,” Zhan Qingyue said. “I’ll have your things sent back tomorrow. It’s the same.”

“No, I want to go to Ning’s house!” She insisted. “Let me go, I won’t go!”

The driver looked at them awkwardly.

The other cars were honking, and he was caught in the middle of their argument.

Zhan Qingyue said, “Who pays your salary?”

Driver: “……”

He immediately understood, started the car, and drove towards the Zhan house.

Ning Qiuxiu: “……”

Damn it, she was stuck in a car with him.