Chapter 13: The Graduation Party

While Jiang Qin was out gallivanting and snacking with Feng Nanshu, over at the midsection of Chengzhongcheng, in the Scholar's Hall of the Longwei Hotel:

The students of Class 2, Year 3 trickled in and took their seats.

This reunion was organized by Qin Ziang, who'd booked the best private room and ordered the finest banquet.

Back in those days, teenagers with still-developing worldviews mimicked their parents' ways. Qin Ziang's dad was a real estate developer, so young Qin already carried the air of a "high-quality male"—slicked-back hair, powdered face, decked out in a suit, a gold watch gleaming on his wrist.

"Everyone, three years of high school—short yet long. It's been an honor to share a class with you all.

"Starting today, we're adults. So I propose a toast—nobody drinks soda, it's alcohol only. Because today, we're not just drinking booze; we're drinking maturity.

"I once wrote this in my QQ Space: 'Swallow my half-life of wandering and hardship, swallow my lifetime of loneliness and solitude.' This one's on me—cheers!"

Qin Ziang raised his glass, chugging the beer in one go.

Then, mimicking his dad's business-table flair, he flipped the glass upside down to show not a drop remained.

The Scholar's Hall erupted in thunderous applause.

"Brother Qin, you don't even seem like a student—every move screams maturity."

"Seriously, next to you, we look like total kids."

"Ziang's the type who'll step into society and dominate. So cool."

"Swallow my half-life of wandering and hardship, swallow my lifetime of loneliness and solitude—that's the most badass signature I've ever seen."

Qin Ziang waved modestly, claiming it was just a spur-of-the-moment thing, while sneaking a glance at Chu Siqi across the table.

Peacocks spread their tails to attract mates; high schoolers act mature for the same reason.

It was 2008, the peak of the non-mainstream era, and edgy quotes were all the rage. Qin Ziang felt he oozed kingly charisma, his lips perpetually curved upward.

But Chu Siqi's expression was flat, her interest visibly low.

She was staring at her phone. Jiang Qin wasn't here, and his QQ avatar was grayed out, leaving her wondering if he even knew about the reunion.

Just then, the door swung open, pushed by a chubby hand. Guo Zihang rushed in, muttering apologies.

"Got lost—took me forever to find this place."

"Hey, Guo Zihang, why're you alone? Didn't Jiang Qin come with you?"

"Oh, he's off doing business. Been too busy lately, so he's skipping this one."

Guo Zihang nearly spilled that Jiang Qin was out with a girl, but for some reason, the words twisted at the last second.

Hearing this, Chu Siqi bit her lip, her fist clenching under the table.

Since their last encounter on Center Street, she'd been waiting for Jiang Qin to regret it, to come crawling back, begging for another chance.

But a week had flown by. Not only had he shown no remorse, he hadn't even sent her a single QQ message.

She felt he'd really changed—become so patient. The old Jiang Qin couldn't go half a day without chatting her up; now he could hold out a whole week.

It irritated her to no end.

How could the once-obedient Jiang Qin turn out like this?

She'd been so good to him, so considerate, even encouraging him…

She hadn't wanted to come to this reunion—Chu Siqi didn't vibe with this scene—but she'd shown up just to see if Jiang Qin was as carefree as he claimed.

In her mind, he must be suffering, holding it all in. The moment he saw her, he'd cave and apologize.

But she hadn't expected him to know about the reunion and still not show.

"Jiang Qin's doing business?" Qin Ziang glanced at Guo Zihang, surprised.

"Yep."

"What kind? Opening a shop?"

Chu Siqi snapped out of it and let out a light laugh. "Him? No way he's got that kind of skill. He's just selling boxed meals on Center Street. Huiru and I ran into him last time we were shopping."

"Ha! Selling boxed meals counts as 'business' now?" Qin Ziang chuckled. He didn't say much more, but his expression dripped with disdain.

The other classmates couldn't help snickering, thinking Jiang Qin was lucky he didn't come—showing up would've been mortifying.

Sure, all jobs were equal in theory, but even Kong Yiji couldn't shed his scholar's robe. These high schoolers, soon-to-be college students, saw themselves as society's elite, the nation's pillars. Selling boxed meals? Humiliating.

Guo Zihang wanted to curse them out.

My Jiang Bro dropped 650,000 today—did you know that?

My Jiang Bro's a regular at the foot massage joint—can you say the same?

But he held back. Jiang Qin had told him two days ago: "Some people laugh at you not because of what you did, but because they were always gonna laugh."

Damn, was Jiang Bro hinting at this?

He's practically a prophet!

Holy crap.

Worthy of being my godfather!

Still, Guo Zihang glanced at Chu Siqi across the table. He'd always seen her as a white-moonlight goddess, but today, that filter cracked. Even goddesses trash-talk behind backs? Was she still a goddess?

Guess Jiang Bro had a reason for bailing that day on Center Street.

Guo Zihang wanted to let it slide, but the others weren't ready to drop Jiang Qin as a punching bag.

Besides Wang Huiru, Chu Siqi had another bestie, Yu Shasha, who loved stirring the pot with snarky jabs. Hearing Jiang Qin's name, she pounced.

"Oh right, Siqi, didn't Jiang Qin confess to you on the last day of the exams?"

Chu Siqi's face soured at the memory. "Don't bring that up—I get mad just thinking about it. He failed, took back his love letter, and said he didn't really like me. Made it look like I was the one delusional. What a jerk!"

Yu Shasha pursed her lips. "He probably knew he couldn't win you, didn't want to lose face and get mocked, so he played tough."

"Yeah, Huiru said the same thing."

"Maybe it's the same today."

"What do you mean?" Confusion flickered in Chu Siqi's eyes.

"He knows he'd get laughed at, so he's too scared to show up." Yu Shasha poured herself more water as she spoke.

Chu Siqi's furrowed brow smoothed out.

Right—why hadn't she thought of that? Jiang Qin wasn't carefree at all. He wasn't avoiding her because he didn't care; he was just terrified of being ridiculed!

Hmph, serves him right.

That's what he gets for treating her like that. A little suffering would do him good—let's see who'd be crying with regret later.

Her pride kicked in, and she clenched her little silver teeth tight.

Just then, the door swung open again. Wang Huiru rushed in, breathless, apologizing like Guo Zihang had.

"Got held up on the way—sorry! What were you guys talking about?"

"Jiang Qin. He's too embarrassed to show, apparently. Funny, right?"

Wang Huiru's expression froze, her move to sit down halting mid-motion.

She'd arrived late because she'd run into Jiang Qin outside.

And it wasn't just Jiang Qin she'd seen…