Class Reunion

The man paused briefly, then smiled softly, a gentle warmth flickering in his eyes. "Yes, don’t be afraid."

Wait for him to come back.

By noon, the sunlight was no longer as harsh as in the morning; instead, it seeped into the thick clouds, never breaking through again.

Ye Haisheng had finished preparing lunch and called Ye Mian, urging her to come home to eat.

Only then did Ye Mian leave the small inn courtyard.

Walking hurriedly along the windy riverside street, it took her a long while before a faint memory stirred in her mind.

Time had passed so long.

So long that memories stretched thin and blurred.

By next year, Jiang Chen would begin leveraging his accumulated capital to collaborate with foreign banks, investing in cutting-edge projects across various fields.

After enduring so many hardships,

he was truly on the path to becoming a respected and powerful figure.

Jiang Chen said he would leave the country in a little over a month.

But he could only stay in Qiao Town for three days.

On the fourth day of the lunar new year, Qiao Town was hit by a rain-snow mix.

Jiang Chen was about to leave.

Wearing a long coat, he folded his umbrella and got into a black Rolls-Royce. Rolling down the rear window, he deliberately passed by Grandma Ye’s small courtyard.

Grandma Ye was sitting in front of the gate, picking vegetables, while Ye Mian gazed absentmindedly toward the inn.

Silently, she watched the car pass by at a slow pace.

The man lightly waved to her.

She smiled back.

Without a word, they completed this farewell, understanding each other perfectly.

She watched him leave without a trace of resistance.

Ye Mian silently counted on her fingers how many times she and Jiang Chen had parted.

Gazing at the gray, overcast sky, she predicted how many more times they might separate.

Grandma Ye coughed twice and looked after the car’s retreating figure, admiring, “That car is quite handsome.”

Ye Mian nodded slightly, feeling a bit guilty. “Yes, it is very handsome.”

—

On the eighth day of the lunar new year, Ye Haisheng’s annual leave came to an end.

Ye Mian, aware of his work schedule, had long since packed her bags, but to her surprise, her father sat with fingers intertwined on a chair, watching the Spring Festival Gala replay.

He said he was preparing to resign.

His previous promise to stay by Ye Mian’s side was not empty words.

Ye Mian was stunned for a long moment before asking if he disliked his job and wanted to retire.

His expression wavered for a moment.

And Ye Mian understood.

She walked to the window, lowering her eyes, and sighed deeply within her heart.

Time truly flies.

She had somehow relived the journey from adolescence to adulthood once again.

But she knew clearly that no matter how many times one could start over, the confusion of youth only happens once.

When she was young, she longed above all for a family member to be there often.

Now, however, though Ye Haisheng said he wanted to quit to be with her, she felt no joy.

She never blamed her father; he had worked hard enough for life’s sake.

If he was resigning for rest, she fully supported that.

But if it was for companionship—

Perhaps it was wrong to say—

But she no longer needed it.

She had grown up and could support herself.

There was no need for her father to sacrifice his life for her.

She wanted her father to be happy above all.

…

Ye Mian gently expressed her thoughts to Ye Haisheng.

He hesitated to decide.

So Ye Mian turned to Grandma Ye.

Having lived a long life, Grandma Ye understood things at once.

That night, she explained the matter clearly to Ye Haisheng.

One sentence struck a chord deep within him.

“Your daughter’s confidence comes from you, doesn’t it? If you miss the chance, it’s missed—are you going to save up a dowry for her too? Mian Mian is wonderful in every way. She has many choices. Don’t hold her back. She sincerely supports you pursuing your own career.”

The next day, Grandma Ye gently but firmly ushered the father and daughter out.

But this time, the “sending off” was not harsh in words, instead flowing with quiet tenderness beneath the surface.

Ye Mian looked at Grandma Ye’s graying hair and wiped her tears silently.

The new year in Qiao Town felt like a brief dream.

She truly loved this place and the grandmother there. Luckily, she kept Grandma Ye’s landline number to stay in touch.

Back in Jiang City,

Ye Mian was not in a rush to depart for Wen City.

Instead, she stayed two more days at Jiang Yuan’s request.

Jiang Yuan said there would be a reunion for Jiang City No.1 High School that evening, attended by all the classmates from their year.

Ye Mian had heard of it before.

The large reunion was an old tradition at Jiang City No.1, combining all class gatherings into one, making it lively and sparing the teachers from running around.

She was very familiar with the venue—it was the same hotel where she once ran into Jiang City.

Jiang Yuan wanted to see their teachers and hoped Ye Mian would accompany her.

Ye Mian gladly agreed.

Since it was a reunion,

Ye Mian put on light makeup, while Jiang Yuan wore a beautiful dress.

The two young women were remarkably determined in this regard, sharing the same idea.

They spent two hours restoring their best appearances.

After all, no one wanted to face long-absent old classmates looking disheveled and worn.

But the cold was biting.

Wearing thin clothes, they shivered as soon as they got out of the car.

Seeing Ye Mian’s face turn pale from the cold, Jiang Yuan hurried her inside the hotel, cupping her hands to warm her tenderly, her concern almost unbearable.

“If I’d known, I would have worn more. No need to suffer for appearances.”

Ye Mian shook her head. “When you’re away from home, your dignity is what you give yourself. I’ve heard reunions are mostly a place for boasting. At least let’s not be stepping stones for others’ bragging.”

“You’re right.” Jiang Yuan pondered and nodded gravely. “Let’s see who starts the boasting tonight.”

The reunion was in full swing.

It resembled a grand wedding.

Since it was also the New Year period with no scheduling conflicts, nearly every classmate in Jiang City had come.

Watching familiar faces enter the hall one by one, Ye Mian and Jiang Yuan found their class table and sat down.

Technically, Ye Mian belonged to Class 1, but since she had also been in Class 2, no one made a fuss.

Jiang Yuan whispered into Ye Mian’s ear, “Eating is just the start. Everyone’s looking forward to playing privately with familiar faces. But I’m here to see the teachers; we’ll leave after dinner.”

As the seats filled, lively chatter broke out—sometimes about school, sometimes about internships.

They expected the conversation to stay light.

Suddenly, a girl recalled the past and said to Jiang Yuan, “Hey, I remember you used to be quite chubby. We were elementary school classmates. You’ve slimmed down now and even have a boyfriend from the architecture department. You must have worked hard to find one, right?”

Her words immediately drew everyone’s attention to Jiang Yuan.

Though lively and cheerful every day, Jiang Yuan still carried the weight of childhood taunts about her weight, and hearing it publicly mentioned made her feel insecure.

“You’re Hu Li?” Ye Mian, having caught the mocking tone, snapped back coolly, refusing to tolerate such cruelty. “You’re so pretty I barely recognize you. How much did you spend on your face? For whom? So hardworking.”

She loathed people who made jokes about appearances.

The lively table suddenly fell silent.

A few tactful classmates stepped in to ease the tension.

But once the spark was lit, the atmosphere inevitably stiffened.

Thanks to bds, Deep Autumn, Liao Girl, Xiao Muchuan, and several others for the support—deeply grateful, bowing and tossing flowers!

Thanks also to:

Sleeping851, Little Bunny Rabbit, So Want to Love This World, Leslie, Xiao Zhizhi, Overwhelmed by Heartbeats, Nao Nao Mommy, Wei & Yi, Deep Autumn, Little Simple!, ESHUN, The Poor Reborn as a Bitter Complainer, Past Books, Wild Goose Passing Blue Sky, Whale Fall, Soda-flavored Little Friend, With Seven as the Book°, Milk Tea is Sweet but I’m Sweeter—

Grateful for the monthly tickets from these dear friends—thank you so much, bowing and tossing flowers!

Thanks to everyone for the recommendation tickets as well! Deeply grateful! Bowing and tossing flowers!

Saved up several days’ worth of monthly ticket rewards—thank you!

Still earnestly hoping for monthly tickets, reviews, and recommendation votes.