Chapter 22: He Shone Through the Whole Summer

On August 20th, Class 2 of Senior Year 3 organized another class reunion, this time at Jindingxuan.

Aside from those who failed and were repeating the year, almost everyone showed up.

Of course, there was one exception—someone who neither failed nor cared to save face: Jiang Qin.

But this time, whether it was Qin Ziang, Yu Shasha, or anyone else, no one brought up Jiang Qin. They even deliberately avoided mentioning him in conversation.

Joking aside, why bring him up?

He wasn't the same guy who got rejected and humiliated anymore!

Now he had hundreds of thousands in his pocket, ran a bar, and was making all sorts of investments. Bringing him up now would just give Guo Zihang another chance to flex on behalf of his "godfather," right?

"Huiru, I heard Jiang Qin deleted Siqi from his QQ?"

Wang Huiru sighed. "I asked Siqi about it. It's true."

Yu Shasha stole a glance at Chu Siqi. "She still doesn't know about Feng Nanshu?"

"She doesn't. But don't go blabbing. If Siqi finds out, with her temper, she'd probably start a fight with Jiang Qin. She's convinced he still likes her—there's no way she'd let him like someone else!"

"But this can't go on forever. She'll find out eventually."

Wang Huiru lowered her voice. "I asked Siqi—she only has a slight fondness for Jiang Qin, not real love. So I think Jiang Qin's right. That little bit of feeling won't last long; it'll fade soon. Then they can both move on, maybe even turn hostility into peace."

Yu Shasha stared at Wang Huiru in shock. "Huiru, you've never dated, right? How are you sounding like a relationship guru?"

"I haven't eaten pork, but I've seen pigs run, haven't I?"

"Then I'll come to you for love advice from now on."

Wang Huiru's cheeks flushed, and she sighed again. "Do you think Siqi and Jiang Qin still have a shot? Honestly, I think Jiang Qin's pretty great."

Yu Shasha regretted bringing it up. "I used to think he was just a nerd. Who knew he was this high-level? Remember that day at the bar? All the staff called him 'Bro Jiang,' bowing and scraping. I swear, he almost charmed me to death. Standing next to him, I couldn't help but want to squeal."

"How about we try playing matchmaker for them again?"

"No point."

"Why not?"

"You're not up against just anyone—it's Feng Nanshu!"

Wang Huiru wasn't convinced. "Jiang Qin said they're just friends."

Yu Shasha pursed her lips. "In three years of high school, has Feng Nanshu ever had a friend? It's not about labels—it's that Jiang Qin is her only one. Do you get how much weight 'only one' carries?"

"You're right…"

"But we don't need to worry too much. College is starting soon. Maybe Siqi will find a guy even better than Jiang Qin right away!"

Yu Shasha paused after saying that, locking eyes with Wang Huiru. Then both fell silent.

Would there really be a guy better than Jiang Qin in college?

The moment high school ended, most guys started spending all night in internet cafes, blabbing about game cards, bunny hops, and glitching through stairs.

And Jiang Qin?

From day one, he'd been doing business, quietly raking in hundreds of thousands and winning over the aloof moonlight countless guys dreamed of.

Yu Shasha and Wang Huiru suddenly realized something. They weren't just fretting over Chu Siqi's future anymore—Jiang Qin's existence had shifted their own standards for guys.

In the future, when they stepped into college, they'd inevitably compare every guy they met to Jiang Qin.

When a guy bragged about his summer, they'd recall a boy who silently shone through the whole season.

When a guy took them to a movie, they'd think back to watching the Olympics with everyone, with every bartender in the bar calling that boy "Bro."

Even a stroll down a pedestrian street would remind them of a guy who flipped deals and made 200 bucks off a single address.

Girls are detail-oriented and prone to comparison—but those comparisons almost always ended in disappointment.

"Crap, I don't think I'll find a boyfriend in college."

"Yeah, they all feel so immature."

Yu Shasha suddenly remembered something. "Huiru, didn't you apply to Linchuan University too?"

Wang Huiru nodded. "My grades are about the same as Siqi's, so we figured we'd keep each other company."

"Jiang Qin's at Linchuan too. Your whole college life's doomed—you'll never find a boyfriend. No comparison, no disappointment!"

"Please, I'm at the East Campus. Jiang Qin's Finance School is at the main campus. It's a long walk past the overpass—we'll barely ever run into each other."

Chatting aimlessly, the reunion neared its end.

Then someone brought up old memories, and the mood in the private room turned somber.

Deep down, they all knew that after this summer, chances to gather like this would dwindle.

They'd make new friends, meet new classmates, start new lives.

Even the closest buddies would drift apart after going their separate ways. It was a necessary part of growing up—sad, but unstoppable.

"Chen Xiuxiu!"

"I…"

"I like you! I've liked you for a long, long time!"

"I know it's not the best time to confess, but I still want you to be my girlfriend!"

Yang Taisong, the sports committee member, downed his drink in one gulp and finally let out the words he'd held back for ages. His booming voice startled everyone in the room.

Across from him, Chen Xiuxiu's face turned beet red, flustered and at a loss. But in the end, she mustered the courage to say, "I'm sorry."

Hearing this exchange, everyone let out a collective sigh.

They'd hoped the class might gain a new couple, but it ended up going nowhere. Still, that's youth—precious precisely because of its fearlessness.

After the reunion ended, the class split into smaller groups. Some planned to hit the internet cafes, others to wander around.

Chu Siqi hadn't spoken all night. It wasn't until she was alone with Wang Huiru and Yu Shasha that she finally opened up.

"Why didn't Chen Xiuxiu say yes to Yang Taisong? People used to gossip about them all the time."

"Isn't it obvious? She doesn't like him."

"Yeah, if you don't like someone, you reject them. They can still be friends."

"What about Jiang Qin, then? What's wrong with him? He's ignored me the entire summer."

"Siqi, listen to me—forget Jiang Qin. You don't even like him anyway."