Chapter 16: Classmates
After Chen Chuan walked away from Sheng Hai and Liang Tong, he started looking for his classmates. After just walking around a bit, though, he heard someone calling him from behind.
“Chen Chuan!”
The speaker was so loud that even the students dozens of meters away looked over to see who had shouted.
Chen Chuan turned around and saw a tall and stocky boy running to him. The boy wore casual blue sportswear with an unzipped jacket. He was Chen Chuanʼs desk mate and best friend, Ding Jiao.
Ding Jiao threw an arm around Chen Chuan’s shoulder the moment he reached him and laughed. “I just knew you’d come early.”
“Zip it,” Chen Chuan remarked. Ding Jiao was shocked and looked down.
“I was talking about your jacket,” Chen Chuan deadpanned.
Ding Jiao cursed. “You’re such a clown!”
While laughing, he moved his arm around Chen Chuan’s neck and gave it a squeeze.
Suddenly, he noticed something. He took a few steps back and used his hand to measure the tops of his and Chen Chuan’s heads. “Huh. It’s been only a little over a month since we last met, and you’ve grown taller again. Let’s compare our heights in another two months. I won’t lose to you.”
Chen Chuan laughed. “How have you been?”
“You know me. Same as ever. All I do is tinker with motorbikes every day with my dad. Even the food I eat tastes like algae fuel. It’s interesting and all, and I can even sometimes take those things out for a spin, but it’s nothing special. I can already imagine myself being exactly like my dad twenty years later. He earns money, though, so such a life isn’t too bad. By the way, why are we talking about me? How about you?”
“I’ve decided on my path forward, but it’ll be quite tough finding my footing there. I’ll have to spend the next few months focusing on making sure there’s room for me in that place. Once I get my results, I’ll tell you.”
Ding Jiao knew that Nian Fuli was working at the Constabulary and thought that Chen Chuan was thinking about going there, but whether or not he would be able to get in was up in the air, since Chen Chuan had a cousin who Nian Fuli would want to pass his position over. So, he patted Chen Chuan’s shoulder sympathetically. “I’m going to repeat myself. If you’re ever in trouble, come to me. I’ll help you however I can.”
Chen Chuan nodded and looked around. “Have you seen any of our other classmates since you got here?”
“I know where they are. Come on,” Ding Jiao said. He grabbed Chen Chuan’s hand and started walking forward. “Our classmates are... What the hell?!”
He did not manage to pull Chen Chuan along, but stumbled and nearly fell.
Chen Chuan steadied him and said calmly, “Careful now.”
Since he had been frequently sparring with Lu Ke, he always subconsciously controlled his center of gravity in order to prevent being taken down. It was second nature. Hence, when Ding Jiao pulled him, Chen Chuan didn’t move an inch.
“I’m not weak. The tiles are just slippery. Come on, let’s go.” Ding Jiao did not give it much thought.
They walked toward the area assigned to their class. After a few minutes, they reached a canopy on the eastern side of the rooftop with two rows of tables underneath it. One row was lined up against the parapet, while the other was set far enough from the first row that it formed a passage big enough for three people to walk side by side.
Around sixty people could be seated around the tables, even though they only had thirty-nine people in their class. There was plenty of space.
When Chen Chuan and Ding Jiao walked over, a few other classmates were already around. Upon seeing them, they greeted them enthusiastically.
Since it had been more than a month since they last met, they talked in a really friendly manner. They shared what had happened to them after they graduated before shifting the topic to other classmates, though they mainly focused on the few who had landed excellent jobs or gone to good universities. The classmates were envious, but also felt honored that they were once studying together with those people.
Chen Chuan was not particularly close with his classmates. They all had their own cliques, so after exchanging a few words, they sat down in their own circles.
It was still early, so there were plenty of empty seats. Chen Chuan and Ding Jiao sat down at the table near the parapet, which offered a better view of the entire place.
Ding Jiao picked up a bottle of Sand Pearl Soda and shook it before popping off the cap with familiar ease. The bubbles fizzed up, and he filled their glasses full before taking an eager sip and burping.
“This is the best!” he exclaimed.
Chen Chuan took a sip too. The taste reminded him of a certain carbonated drink from his previous life, but this one tasted more refreshing. “Do you think everyone from our class will come?”
“Probably,” Ding Jiao replied offhandedly before Chen Chuan’s question fully registered in his head. He wiped his mouth. “Are you talking about those guys? They don’t usually come, so I don’t think they’re going to show their faces this time either.”
“I see,” Chen Chuan hummed. They had thirty-nine regulars in their class, but the full roster listed forty-two students.
The extra three usually did not come to school because they had home tutors. They were only listed as students of First High School because the school could recommend a number of students every year to universities in Central City.
The three were different from ordinary students, but they were no rare exception. Yangzhi City’s high schools had operated like that for decades, so no one thought that it was unusual.
Ding Jiao wiggled his eyebrows at him. “By the way, since you’re here today, that person might come too.”
Chen Chuan shook his head. “There’s nothing between us.”
He knew who Ding Jiao was talking about, but even if the old Chen Chuan had ties with that person, their relationship was not what everyone thought it was.
Ding Jiao gave him a look that said that he did not believe him whatsoever.
While they talked, their other classmates arrived one after another. They greeted each other and gave an update on their current lives. Sometimes, someone popped open a soda to give a toast, and the atmosphere livened up.
Ding Jiao had already drunk a full bottle of soda, but he still didn’t seem to have his fill yet. He grabbed another bottle and drank half of it straight before he asked, “By the way, is Gao Ming coming today?”
Chen Chuan thought about it. “I think he’s out of town and won’t be able to make it back.”
Gao Ming was a classmate and a relative. His mother was cousins with Chen Chuan’s mother, so they were pretty close.
Gao Ming came from a family of lawyers and was taken in as a student by a high-ranking lawyer, who thought he had talent. He was given lessons while still being in high school. After graduation, he went straight to the lawyer’s side to study more and gain experience. He was considered one of those who had their future set very early on.
Ding Jiao hummed and pondered it before he whispered, “Do you know Class Three’s Guan Xiaohui? Her dad apparently accrued a huge debt and sold her to a gang to pay it off. Her stepmother ran away with her daughter. Those gang members went to their house every day to harass Guan Xiaohui and get their hands on her, so she could only run away to her relatives living in the countryside. What a mess.”
Chen Chuan remembered the girl. She was introverted, but had a gentle smile. If he remembered correctly, Ding Jiao had a crush on her before, but the reason why the girl had left an impression on him was because she practiced martial arts.
While Ding Jiao was talking, he looked to the side and slammed his hands on the table. “Hey! Look over there, it’s Mr. Third Place! He’s been acting all proper since he started training at Black Orchid. I heard that he got in because his dad pulled some strings.”
Chen Chuan looked over and saw a boy walking over. He had a middle part hairstyle and wore a fancy, imported black suit. His looks were decent, but his posture and speech said that he thought he was above everyone. He was always putting on airs.
A few students surrounded Han Shu, though none of them were from Class Four. Clearly, they were just there to suck up to him. When the Class Four students saw him, some of them immediately stood up to greet him and asked for his contact number.
Han Shu seemed to enjoy this sort of flattery. He lingered outside the canopy for more than ten minutes before he walked over with a gaggle of students around him.
“Sorry I’m late. I got delayed because of some things at the company. I’m really sorry, everyone,” he said after greeting his classmates.
“Look at how smug he’s acting. He’s not even an official employee at Black Orchid yet. He’s just there for training.” Ding Jiao huffed with jealousy.
Based on the old Chen Chuan’s memories, Han Shu consistently ranked third in class because he and another girl always scored better than he did. That was why Ding Jiao called him “Mr. Third Place.”
Perhaps it was due to their different personalities, but Han Shu did not get along with Ding Jiao and the old Chen Chuan. They were not on good terms.
Just then, Han Shu noticed the two of them. He stopped and rolled up his sleeves a little to reveal a silver watch on his wrist. Then, he walked over to them.