"Bro, are you so happy that you can’t speak? Ms. Chenchen has been away for five years. This time, I heard she won a world brilliance award. We were planning to pick her up together, but I handled it well. I got everyone else out of the way. Tomorrow at 3:30 in the afternoon, you deal with it yourself."
Shen An was overly excited, almost acting strange, with a hint of schadenfreude, and also excitement.
But Shen Liao’s response was quite a letdown.
"You guys go pick her up. I don’t have time tomorrow."
"Even if you don’t have time, you have to make time. You haven’t seen each other for five years. What’s more important than picking her up now?"
"Shen An."
"Hmm?"
"If you have nothing to do, why not go on a business trip to South Africa? They need someone in management there."
Shen An fell silent quickly, filled with doubt and confusion, and was hung up on. Everything he had anticipated didn’t happen, which made his well-planned first step go awry.
In the group chat, everyone was waiting for his response.
Li Yahan: [What’s going on, is President Shen too excited?]
Li Yahan: [Where’s Shen An? Tell us quickly, we’re dying of anxiety]
Shen An: [Pretty much, my brother is someone who wouldn’t react even if the sky fell]
Xiao Jun: [Going to pick her up together tomorrow?]
Shen An: [Let’s not join in the fun. I’ve already told my brother. He can pick her up alone.]
Wang Nan Nan: [Ms. Chenchen’s coming back, someone might cry]
Wang Nan Nan: [Hilarious, when Jiang Lai gets kicked out, let’s all see her off]
Qi Yage: [Then find someone to tease her, avenge our Ms. Nan!]
Qi Yage: [@Xiao Jun, it’s you, you’re the most flamboyant. Jiang Lai is all yours!]
Xiao Jun: [Get lost, I’m not picking up trash]
Li Yahan: [Go on, go on, not for Nan Nan, think about Ms. Chenchen. How dare she try to hook up with Ms. Chenchen’s man, you have to skin her]
Wang Nan Nan: [Oh, someone’s about to react]
Shen An: [If Ms. Chenchen doesn’t want you, I do. Come on, Jun!]
Xiao Jun: [Scram]
——
The class reunion was set in a hotel at the county center.
Jiang Lai originally intended to go alone, but unexpectedly Shen Liao also suggested going together.
"It’s just right, when the gathering ends, we can go back."
"If you’re in a hurry, you can go back first. I want to finish my drafts before I return."
Of course, Shen Liao didn’t agree, and Jiang Lai playfully coaxed him.
"Come on, come on, it’ll only take me a day or two to finish the drawings. Then at home, I’ll let you see me in the clothes from the second layer of the closet."
Just thinking about the style of those clothes in the second layer of the closet, the man’s throat visibly throbbed, his eyes looking ravenous.
If they hadn’t already reached the restaurant’s entrance, Shen Liao would have pinned Jiang Lai down for a kiss.
A few people were already seated in the private room, all old classmates, warmly greeting Jiang Lai and Shen Liao as they arrived.
Throughout, Jiang Lai held Shen Liao’s hand, introducing him to everyone.
"This is my boyfriend, Shen Liao."
"Wow, your boyfriend’s so handsome, perfectly matched couple!"
A female classmate who was married with kids directly asked.
"So, when are you guys planning to get married?"
Jiang Lai looked at Shen Liao and smiled.
"We haven’t thought about that yet, maybe wait and see in a couple of years."
"You shouldn’t wait, the longer you wait, the more problems arise. If you love each other, just get married quickly. Those around me who dated for years all ended up breaking up."
Before Jiang Lai could say more, Shen Liao chimed in.
"She’s still young now, we’ll prepare for it after this year."