Chapter 2
Just as everyone was deep in discussion, the door to the private room swung open, accompanied by a teasing remark:
“What, bullying my wife while I’m gone?”
Jiang Cheng strode over to my side, loosened his tie with a flick of his hand, then draped his arm around my shoulders, his gaze sweeping across the room.
Everyone was stunned.
“Wife? Class Monitor, are you… are you the one engaged to Gu Qiao?”
For a moment, even Xie Chuan, who had been silent for a long time, trembled slightly as he held his wine glass, his cool gaze turning in our direction.
Jiang Cheng pulled out a chair and helped me sit down. He lazily lifted his eyelids:
“What? Is it illegal for the two of us to get engaged?”
“I remember you two used to argue all the time back in school… couldn’t stand each other.”
Jiang Cheng and I grew up together in the same compound; our mothers are best friends. Jiang Cheng was born six months before me. It’s said that when I was born, his mother was even more excited than my father, shaking Jiang Cheng-who was still gnawing on his fingers at the time-and saying, ‘Son, you have a wife now.’
But we fought from childhood all the way to adulthood, neither of us thinking much of the other, so naturally, no one expected us to end up together.
“Gu Qiao and I are childhood sweethearts-our engagement was set before we were even born. Isn’t it only natural for us to be together?
“Besides, isn’t it normal for couples to quarrel at the head of the bed and make up at the foot?”
He lowered his eyes, a faint, unreadable smile tugging at his lips, then changed the subject:
“Gu Qiao was blind when she was young-just fooling around, nothing serious.”
His gaze paused, landing on Xie Chuan.
“Isn’t that right, Class Rep?”
Xie Chuan’s fingers tightened abruptly around his wine glass, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly. After his gaze swept coldly past me, he tossed out a line in a chilly voice:
“Whether it’s serious or not, Gu Qiao knows best.”
In that moment when our eyes met, the feeling was both familiar and strange-a mix of heartache and amusement.
As the tension lingered, someone stepped in to smooth things over:
“Class Monitor, long time no see! We heard you weren’t coming to the School Reunion-everyone was disappointed. Now that you’re here, come on, let’s all have a drink together.”
Everyone chimed in.
To be honest, in the whole class, Xie Chuan and Jiang Cheng were the most successful, and there was no shortage of people eager to curry favor with them. None of us were seventeen or eighteen anymore; in the adult world, profit comes first.
Jiang Cheng shook his head, a hint of helplessness in his tone:
“Sorry, we’re preparing for pregnancy, so I can’t drink.”
He poured himself a glass of juice, raised it, and downed it in one go.
“We’ve just reunited after a long separation, so we won’t keep you company for long. Please, everyone, enjoy yourselves.”
His gaze swept over the table, then he added:
“Besides, Gu Qiao is probably already tired of these home-style dishes.”
Jiang Cheng took my hand and stood up. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Xie Chuan and Xu Wei beside him, a mocking smile curling at his lips:
“Oh, so the Class Rep brought his girlfriend today. I have to say, you two are quite a match.”
His tone was casual and indifferent.
“Our top-quality Biluochun tea is truly exceptional. I’ll have the kitchen send over a pot later as a little gift from me.”
His gaze shifted, lingering briefly on Xie Chuan’s wrist.
“Class Monitor, you really are a different man now-I’m impressed. That watch looks expensive, doesn’t it? Nice watch~”
Xie Chuan’s face remained cold, his eyes seemingly suppressing a thousand emotions. Jiang Cheng lazily added:
“But giving your girlfriend an entry-level Hermès is a bit stingy, isn’t it?”
His tone was openly mocking and sarcastic.
With that, he ignored everyone’s stares, grabbed my hand, and led me out.