Zhang Yang sat in the driver's seat without moving, extended his arm to open the passenger door, and took a look with a smile: "Wearing this to eat at Haidilao? Isn't it a bit too formal?"
Being reminded by Zhang Yang, Lin Nianwei also felt it was a bit inappropriate: "How about you take me back to change clothes, and then you go queue up? Haidilao is definitely busier on weekends; I'll just grab a taxi and head over!"
"Alright! Get in!" Zhang Yang found that reasonable and gestured for her to get in the car.
Lin Nianwei got into the passenger seat confidently and sat down. Zhang Yang hit the gas and drove towards Lin Nianwei's rented place.
Lin Nianwei's temporary place wasn't too far from the downtown Haidilao, roughly four to five kilometers in a straight line. Old Zhao helped find this studio apartment, and the company provided a monthly rent subsidy of one thousand yuan. Living alone, the young girl was doing quite well.
The minivan parked downstairs, and after a brief goodbye, Lin Nianwei went upstairs. Zhang Yang turned around right there and quickly drove towards Haidilao.
Once the car was parked, as expected, the place was quite busy on the weekend.
There were at least dozens of people in line ahead. According to the server's prediction, it would take half an hour to an hour to get a seat.
Since he was already there, Zhang Yang didn't mind and patiently queued up.
He casually munched on some snacks from the waiting area and fiddled with his phone, checking out the fishing group and chatting with fellow enthusiasts to pass the time.
About ten minutes later, Zhang Yang was engrossed in his phone when suddenly he felt a strong pat on his shoulder.
Zhang Yang looked up and saw that the greeting came from a man over 1.8 meters tall, with a slick middle-parted haircut and a long face like a shoe last.
This man's face seemed familiar, yet somewhat strange, and Zhang Yang couldn't quite place him at the moment.
The guy appeared to be about the same age as Zhang Yang, dressed somewhat ostentatiously, and had his left arm around a moderately pretty girl with heavy makeup.
"Hey, it really is you, pal! Here alone for hotpot, huh!" The long-faced man confirmed it was Zhang Yang and gave him another hearty slap on the shoulder.
Getting slapped suddenly, Zhang Yang was already a bit annoyed—he hadn't even figured out this guy's name yet. After another heavy hit, Zhang Yang's eyebrows raised slightly: "Take it easy, what's the matter?"
"Didn't you agree to the class reunion? Everyone from dorms 109 and 111 got called. Didn't you get the class president's notice?
What have you been up to? Haven't heard from you since high school graduation! Let me introduce you, this is my girlfriend, Wang Xiaoli!"
The long-faced guy followed up on Zhang Yang's queries with a brief explanation.
Once the class president and the reunion were mentioned, Zhang Yang recalled who he was—Ma Chang, a high school classmate.
During school, Zhang Yang was the type who didn't stand out, and didn't have a strong presence in class. Average academically, and not particularly close to anyone.
Ever since high school graduation, he lost touch with many classmates, though he never changed his home phone number.
Even though Ma Chang greeted him so enthusiastically, they weren't especially close during school; that's why Zhang Yang couldn't remember his name right away.
"Hi, I'm Zhang Yang!" Zhang Yang nodded at Wang Xiaoli, considering that as a greeting.
"No need to wait in line! Let's go to the private room!" Ma Chang waved his hand grandly, pointing towards the private room entrance.
Zhang Yang paused: "You guys go ahead, I have other plans! I'll find you in the private room later!"
"Come on, we're classmates, no need to be shy! Just come along!" Ma Chang said loudly and boldly.
"I really have something going on, meeting a friend! I'll definitely come find you guys later!" Zhang Yang repeated.
"Alright! We're in room 203, come by later!"
Once Ma Chang and his girl went upstairs, Wang Xiaoli muttered with some disdain: "Honey, what does that classmate of yours do? All dressed in bargain-bin stuff, and what decade is it that he's still using a broken Nokia phone!"
Ma Chang dropped the courtesy he showed before going upstairs: "Seems like he's from the countryside; don't really know the details! A nobody, really. He was barely noticeable during school. With his type, it's likely the class president didn't bother inviting him!"
The two sauntered into the private room, where sure enough, six or seven people had already arrived earlier.
The class president, named Xue Yang, looked every bit a successful individual, wearing a small suit and white shirt, appearing quite formal.
"Ma Junzi, you're finally here, order some dishes! There are a few more people coming! I'm treating today; let me just say upfront, no arguing over the bill!"
Xue Yang seemed high-spirited and rather ostentatious.
"Class president, did you not inform Zhang Yang about this gathering? When Lili and I came up, he was waiting in line downstairs!" Ma Chang said.
"Zhang Yang? I don't have his number. Since you bumped into him, he can just join. Anyway, it's on the company's tab, so an extra pair of chopsticks doesn't matter!" Xue Yang said nonchalantly.
"I heard the class president got promoted?" Ma Chang didn't pick up that thread but asked with a meaningful look.
"Just got into the tobacco bureau thanks to some help from my old man, nothing worth mentioning!"
Xue Yang savored the moment, puffing on a cigarette while nonchalantly showing off.
"Impressive, the tobacco bureau is a great place to work, with good benefits! When Xiaoli and I get married, may need your help with the cigarettes! Getting some from within your bureau would be cheaper, right?"
"Of course! Factory price arrangement!"
"Thanks in advance then..."
Upon hearing that the class president had joined the tobacco bureau, several other classmates chimed in with flattery, lacking any of the genuine feelings from school days, indistinguishable from the shallow social interactions seen in society.