Although there were some unpleasant incidents, the class reunion could proceed normally with the organizers smoothing things over.
The men and women took their seats at separate tables, and the delicious food was quickly served.
Jiang Yi stood up, holding a large glass of beer, and shouted, "Come on, brothers, let's toast to our reunion today!"
He seemed to have forgotten the unpleasantness from earlier, once again casting himself in the role of the protagonist.
It couldn't be helped; educational conditions were poor in the countryside, and it was almost impossible to change one's destiny through schooling.
Most people either didn't finish junior high or, at most, finished high school before going into factories or venturing into big cities.
Therefore, wealthy second-generation individuals like him undoubtedly possessed a sense of inherent superiority.
"Brother Jiang, cheers!"
Zhang Liang was the first to stand up and clink glasses with him.
Others also stood up one after another, raising their glasses in a toast.
Only Lin Fan refused to give him face.
Jin Peng, sitting beside him, immediately tugged at Lin Fan's sleeve.
However, Lin Fan still didn't stand up, refusing to give Jiang Yi the respect.
Jin Peng hesitated for a moment, then sighed softly and sat back down.
If they are friends, if they are brothers, then no matter what they do, one must stand by their side!
Lin Fan smiled and gave Jin Peng a triumphant look: "Relax!"
Jiang Yi had been watching them intently.
Seeing that they weren't giving him face, he coldly snorted.
However, in front of so many people, he didn't dare to get angry, and could only drink the wine in his glass with a look of embarrassment.
After everyone was seated again, they ate and chatted about things they found interesting.
Some who had done well were constantly talking about their achievements.
Lin Fan hadn't seen them for years, and they hadn't been close to begin with, so he felt no affection for them.
He hadn't touched his chopsticks yet, occasionally glancing at the table of female classmates.
Wang Ying also hadn't touched her chopsticks, but was constantly chatting and laughing with the person next to her.
Tang Yu sat opposite her, occasionally staring at her, as if she had something to say to her.
Lin Fan noticed this and felt very confused: "Is this Tang Yu plotting something bad?"
Jin Peng leaned over to Lin Fan's ear and teased, "Xiao Fan, are you looking at your girlfriend or Cai Yan?"
At this moment, a beautiful, slender young woman was standing up to speak.
She was the Cai Yan mentioned by Jin Peng.
Cai Yan had once been the most beautiful girl in their class.
Now, she was even more beautiful and captivating than before.
Her every smile and frown was so soul-stirring, like a vixen reincarnated.
"Why would I look at her?"
Lin Fan turned his head, finally picked up his chopsticks, and took an oyster.
"Come on, who in our class didn't have a crush on her back then!"
Jin Peng chuckled and said, "But it's hard to say now. Your girlfriend is truly beautiful, no less than Cai Yan."
"No, she's even prettier than Cai Yan."
Jin Peng took a swig of his drink and continued, "Why don't I have good luck like you? Why don't pretty girls fancy me?"
Lin Fan patted Jin Peng's shoulder and asked, "What, you don't have a girlfriend yet?"
"Alas~" Jin Peng sighed, "It's not easy!"
"I dated one before, and we were at the stage of discussing marriage. But her family wanted a house, a car, and a bride price. I couldn't afford it, so it fell through."
As Jin Peng spoke, he suddenly remembered something and asked, "Xiao Fan, your girlfriend is so beautiful, her requirements must be very high, have you asked?"
"I..." Lin Fan was stunned. "I haven't asked, it's not time yet."
He really hadn't expected Jin Peng to ask such a question.
He also couldn't answer it, as the only woman he ever wanted to marry was his sister-in-law.
Jin Peng put his arm around his shoulder and said earnestly, "Xiao Fan, let me tell you, women nowadays are realistic from a young age."
"Even if you date without being conservative, it's useless. When it comes to marriage, it'll still be a dead end without money."
"Even if your girlfriend agrees, what about her parents? They wouldn't marry their daughter off to a pauper, would they?"
Lin Fan nodded, not continuing the conversation.
After all, the women around him either had no parents or were successful in their careers. Even if he married them all, he wouldn't have to worry about money.
He felt that if you like someone, you should be together, it's that simple!
Seeing his nonchalant attitude, Jin Peng laughed, "You don't have to worry about it now, you'll have your struggles later."
"We'll see then."
Lin Fan really didn't want to talk about this topic.
They were on completely different wavelengths, and even though they breathed the same air, they didn't live in the same world!
Given Wang Ying's financial situation, would she care about these external things?
She had already transcended such petty concerns!
On the other side, after Cai Yan and a few female classmates went to the restroom, Tang Yu seized the opportunity. As Wang Ying unintentionally glanced at her, she immediately smiled at Wang Ying and said, "Hello."
"Hello."
Wang Ying returned the smile.
She was determined to give Lin Fan face, so every movement, every smile, exuded an elegant demeanor, like a rich young lady in a drama.
"Are you Lin Fan's..."
"I am his girlfriend. My name is Wang Ying. Are you his classmate?"
As Wang Ying introduced herself, she was overjoyed inwardly.
She could finally be Lin Fan's girlfriend legitimately.
"Girlfriend... I'm not his classmate, just like you, I'm also his classmate's partner."
Tang Yu pointed to Zhang Liang at another table and introduced, "That's my boyfriend, Zhang Liang."
Wang Ying glanced at Zhang Liang, then looked at Tang Yu and smiled, "What a coincidence. Then we should have a drink, juice for me, I don't drink."
As she spoke, Wang Ying raised a glass of juice.
"Okay."
Tang Yu drank her juice while appraising Wang Ying's looks, thinking, "No wonder he's indifferent to me. So he has such a beautiful girlfriend."
"But..."
"Should I tell him the truth or not?"
Tang Yu still resented Lin Fan for refusing to help her.
She had been so humble, yet Lin Fan was like a block of wood, not even looking at her directly.
How could she not resent him?
Wang Ying didn't know her and hadn't heard Lin Fan mention her, so they chatted enthusiastically.
"Sister Wang Ying, what kind of work do you do?"
Tang Yu keenly noticed Wang Ying's unusual demeanor. "You speak with such grace, you don't seem like an ordinary person."
Wang Ying chuckled, "Oh, I'm just a regular civil servant. What grace could I have? Don't talk nonsense."
"Wow!" Tang Yu exclaimed, "Sister Wang Ying, you're in the system!"
"Oh dear, little sister, don't be so dramatic. I'm just a small soldier who takes orders."
Wang Ying didn't reveal her true identity.
After all, the others were young girls, and she didn't need to tell them everything.
If she told them the truth, that she was a section-level cadre in the system, a group of young girls might think she was showing off.
"Sister Wang Ying, can you tell me..."
Tang Yu was about to ask further when suddenly, the female classmates who had gone to the restroom with Cai Yan ran back, shouting together, "Oh no, Cai Yan is being forced to accompany someone for drinks, what should we do?"