The next day, Qin Ruojing outwardly returned to her usual self. After breakfast, she left ho, while Qin Ruoying slept in lazily, not getting up even as Qin Ruojing left.
Early in the morning, Chu Ge shaved, took a quick shower, and picked out a casual outfit that was neither flashy nor shabby. Rarely, he looked in the mirror, fixed his hair, and gave himself a broad smile, scrutinizing his reflection.
After all, tonight he would et many friends he once spent morning and evening with, and as the husband's relative, he naturally had to be mindful of his image. He certainly couldn't embarrass Shi Tong in front of his maternal relatives, right?
No matter how many people would still cherish the bonds of those years, he genuinely valued this reunion.
Having sorted out the issue of what to wear, Chu Ge took out the red envelope he had prepared long ago and stuffed a thousand yuan into it.
Not particularly much, but certainly not little either.
Closing the bedroom door, he sat on Qin Ruojing's bed, looking at his phone. It was rare for him to feel on edge, wanting several tis to call Shi Tong and ask who would attend the reunion tonight, but he restrained himself each ti.
This way, there was more anticipation and mystery. Of course, a more important reason was his lingering hope that Situ Ying might attend, fearing that calling would shatter that hope.
In his left hand was the antiquated phone, irreplaceable if broken, while his right hand gently caressed it. Chu Ge's expression was infinitely tender, as if he wasn't holding a battered phone, but was running his fingers through a lover's hair, caressing her delicate face.
This phone was a gift from Situ Ying back when they were carefree middle schoolers. Situ Ying had spent all her long-saved and reluctantly-used scholarship money to buy it for him. At the ti, the phone was quite a status symbol, drawing many envious and jealous eyes towards Chu Ge.
He still rembered that high school student who, in collusion with so bullies from outside school, tried to steal his phone. With eyes red with anger, he grabbed a stool and broke the arms of three bullies, biting off a piece of flesh from another one's leg.
Unfortunately, while he injured others in his rage, his own injuries were more severe. He lay on the ground, covered in blood, unable to move. If Situ Ying hadn't arrived in ti, knocked out the remaining five or six people, retrieved the phone, and carried him back to the orphanage, he might have died out there.
Unknowingly, ten years have passed...
At this mont, Chu Ge's gaze fell on the battered phone, completely imrsed in past mories, devoid of his usual calm and confidence, resembling an awkward teenager, sotis gazing tenderly, sotis sorrowful, sotis with reddened eyes, sotis laughing foolishly.
Only when Qin Ruoying's voice ca from outside the door did Chu Ge calm his turbulent thoughts, putting on his trademark smile before walking out of the room.
This day, in Chu Ge's anticipation, seed to stretch endlessly. It was only with difficulty that he endured until five in the evening, leaving ho full of expectation yet a little anxious.
Chu Ge did not give in to Qin Ruoying's suggestion to drive the Ferrari 458 or the Maserati; instead, he took a taxi directly to the Papas Grand Hotel.
As he said, he was going to reunite and reminisce with friends from the orphanage, not to show off to them, which would be too distasteful.
Though the world is so utilitarian and realistic, he still held a space of purity in his heart—naïve or stubborn as it might be; but that was Chu Ge.
In fact, who once didn't have sothing they held onto with persistence and belief? Only over ti, things gradually faded, or even... utterly disappeared, or were completely overturned.
Yet, Chu Ge really didn't expect Shi Tong to set the venue at a five-star hotel like Papas. If he wasn't putting on airs, it suggested he must be doing quite well, given the high cost of this place.
The set ti was six o'clock, and by half-past five, Chu Ge arrived at Papas.
As he exited the elevator and stepped into the corridor, he spotted the private room Shi Tong had booked. Seeing the open door and hearing the lively noise inside, he felt unexpectedly nervous and sowhat apprehensive, a hint of hesitation creeping into his deanor.
If she is there, what... should I say to her? What expression should I wear first?
Chu Ge had pondered this question countless tis that day, but at this mont, his mind suddenly went blank, and all the answers vanished.
Truly, where there is concern, there is chaos. At this mont, Chu Ge was no longer the ticulous, decisive, unflappable "overlord" in the face of life and death, but an ordinary young man, bewildered by feelings and concerns.
After hesitating for nearly a minute, Chu Ge gave himself a ntal boost, tidied his jacket, and finally moved forward, heading towards the nearby private room.
The private room was large and lavishly decorated, with two big round tables inside. One table was crowded, almost a bit cramped, while the other one was relatively spacious.
Although from Chu Ge's perspective, so people had their backs to him, his glance quickly confird one thing.
That was, Situ Ying hadn't co.
He sighed, then smiled with relief and put on a congratulatory smile as he stepped inside.
When Chu Ge walked into the private room, there was a brief silence; most people paused for a mont and looked at him hesitantly.
Although Cao Xu and Liang Jinjiang at the less crowded table imdiately saw him, they exchanged knowing smiles with each other and looked at the sowhat confused Shi Tong, without saying a word.
"Sorry, you are..."
As the groom-to-be tomorrow, Shi Tong was a slender, energetic young man. Seeing Chu Ge enter, he approached and asked, sowhat apologetically and with so confusion.
Chu Ge smiled, took out a red envelope with a thousand yuan, and handed it over, "Stone, congratulations, I'm Chu Ge."
Upon hearing Chu Ge introduce himself, everyone suddenly understood.
In their mory, Chu Ge was still that constantly shaved bald head kid who liked to stir up trouble, always with a rebellious look, but now Chu Ge had turned into a grown man. Even if there were traces of the past between his brows, his hair was now slightly longer, and his temperant had entirely changed, so it was no wonder everyone couldn't recognize him.
"It's you, I'm really sorry, it's been so many years, your change is just too big, for a mont, I couldn't recognize you."
At this mont, Shi Tong hurriedly greeted him with a smile but didn't hug Chu Ge as Liang Jinjiang or Cao Xu did, instead choosing to shake his hand.
Then, Shi Tong discreetly pinched the red envelope with his fingers, judging the amount of money inside based on its thickness, feeling a little surprised.
Most people here gifted two hundred yuan, only a few who did well gave five hundred to a thousand gift money, so could it be that Chu Ge is doing well now?
Although Shi Tong's tone sounded quite pleased, and his face bore a smile, with Chu Ge's insight, he could easily see that the genuine delight was only a small part of the reaction, and more so, it was a display of social politeness.
At both tables, besides Liang Jinjiang and Cao Xu, everyone else also began to greet Chu Ge.
However, most of their reactions were similar to Shi Tong's, simply a matter of social formality. After the greetings, they resud their earlier conversations with one another.
For this kind of situation, Chu Ge wasn't surprised, after all, everyone had been apart for so many years, it was entirely normal.
After all, as a child, he was too stubborn and always liked to do bizarre things to stand out. Except for childhood sweetheart Situ Ying, along with Liang Jinjiang and Cao Xu, his two close friends, others never really cared for him.
"Co, Chu Ge, sit with , the last ti we t was too rushed, today we must have a good drink!"
Cao Xu stood up from the table, laughing heartily, and approached Chu Ge, giving him a punch to the chest.
Seeing Cao Xu's warm gesture and hearing his enthusiastic words, everyone in the room was subtly moved, not expecting that Chu Ge and Cao Xu were in contact, and their gazes toward Chu Ge changed slightly.
You should know that Cao Xu was like a big brother figure when he was in the orphanage, and after leaving, he beca the director of the Qinggang City Electric Power Bureau at under thirty. Among their group, he was already doing exceptionally well.
Liang Jinjiang also stood up from the table and smiled sincerely, "Alright, you two co over quickly, Chu Ge, I've already poured the wine for you, you're so late, don't you think you should be punished with a few drinks?"
This ti, seeing not only Cao Xu treating Chu Ge this way, but also Liang Jinjiang, who is now a customs section chief, acting similarly, the expressions of those at the table froze slightly.
Several people felt a bit regretful, thinking if only they had been a bit warr to Chu Ge earlier. If in the future there really was sothing to seek from Cao Xu or Liang Jinjiang, at least today they could have left a good impression of being loyal and faithful.
At the sa ti, everyone was whispering to themselves, how could Chu Ge manage to cling to Cao Xu's thigh, it's truly impressive.
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