Classmates

After parting ways with Sheng Hai, Chen Chuan was looking for his classmates when, after only a few steps, he suddenly heard a shout behind him: "Chen Chuan!" The shout was so loud that it turned the heads of classmates dozens of meters away. He looked back to see a tall, burly, solidly built boy running over. He wore a casual blue-green tracksuit with the zipper left wide open—none other than Ding Jiao, his middle school desk mate and close friend. Ding Jiao came up, slung an arm around his shoulder, and laughed. "I knew you'd get here early." "You're unzipped," Chen Chuan remarked suddenly. Startled, Ding Jiao glanced down. Chen Chuan said deadpan, "I meant your jacket." Ding Jiao cursed, "Damn it, messing with your bro, are you?" He playfully hooked an arm around Chen Chuan's neck in a headlock. Just then, a look of surprise crossed Ding Jiao's face. He stepped back a few paces and gestured with his hand between his head and Chen Chuan's. "Whoa, haven't seen you in a month and you've gotten quite a bit taller, bro! Let's measure again in another two months—I can't let you pull ahead." Chen Chuan smiled. "How've you been lately?" Ding Jiao waved it off. "You know me, same old. All day messing around with those motorized two-wheelers alongside my old man. Even my meals taste like algae oil. I mean, it's pretty fun, and I get to take them out for a spin once in a while, but that's about it. I can already see myself turning into the spitting image of my old man in twenty years. Still, it makes money, so it's not bad. Anyway, enough about me—what about you?" "I've found a place," Chen Chuan said, "though it'll be tough to secure a solid footing there. I'll probably be tied up with it for the next few months. I'll let you know once things are certain." Knowing Chen Chuan's uncle served in the constabulary, Ding Jiao guessed he might be trying to land a spot there. That kind of thing was awkward to discuss, especially since Chen Chuan also had a cousin. So, he clapped Chen Chuan's shoulder sympathetically. "Same as always—if you ever need anything, hit me up. If I can help, I definitely will." Chen Chuan nodded and glanced around. "Did you see anyone from our class when you got here?" "Yeah, I did. Come on, everyone's over at... Whoa, crap—!" Ding Jiao grabbed Chen Chuan to guide him and strode forward, but failed to budge him in the slightest. His foot skidded outward, nearly sending himself tumbling. Chen Chuan caught him with a steadying hand and said calmly, "Take it easy." Lately, from sparring with Lu Ke to defend against throws and clinches, Chen Chuan had developed a subconscious habit of controlling his center of gravity, which had practically become second nature. When Ding Jiao pulled him just now, his body had naturally anchored itself in resistance. Ding Jiao didn't think much of it and said, "Not that your bro is weak or anything—these floor tiles are just too damn slick. Come on, let's go, let's go..." The two headed toward the area arranged for their class. After a few minutes' walk, they found an awning set toward the eastern side. Underneath were two rows of tables: one lined up along the edge of the terrace railing, and the other separated by an aisle wide enough for three people to walk abreast. It could seat around sixty people. With only thirty-nine students in their class, there was more than enough room. When Chen Chuan and Ding Jiao stepped in, several classmates had already arrived. Spotting the pair, they cheerfully came over to greet them. Having not seen one another for over a month, everyone was warm and animated upon reuniting. After talking about post-graduation affairs, the conversation soon shifted to other classmates, mainly focusing on those who had landed exceptionally good opportunities after graduation. Besides envy, these students spoke with an unmistakable air of reflected glory. Chen Chuan's relations with these particular classmates had been ordinary—neither close nor distant. Since everyone had their own small circles, they chatted for a few moments before parting to take their seats. Arriving early meant empty seats were everywhere, so Chen Chuan and Ding Jiao chose a table by the terrace railing that offered a great view. Once seated, Ding Jiao picked up a bottle of Shazhen soda from the table, shook it vigorously, expertly popped the cap, and, leaning over the bubbling fizz, poured a glass for both himself and Chen Chuan. He then took an eager gulp, let out a burp, and declared loudly, "Refreshing!" Chen Chuan took a sip as well. The taste reminded him of a certain carbonated beverage from his previous life, though with a crisper texture. "Is everyone in our class coming this time?" "Probably most of them..." Ding Jiao said casually, then caught on and wiped his mouth. "You mean those few? They hardly ever showed up normally. Probably won't show their faces today either." Chen Chuan hummed in acknowledgment. Their class usually numbered thirty-nine students, but the roster actually listed forty-two. Those extra three rarely came to school because they had private tutors. They were registered at Municipal No. 1 High School only because the school received annual recommendation quotas to send students to higher education institutes in Center City—and those quotas were reserved for them. From the very beginning, they were set apart from ordinary students. In fact, middle schools across Yangzhi City had operated this way for decades, so no one found anything unusual about it. "Oh, right." Ding Jiao winked at him playfully. "Since you came today, maybe your special someone will show up too." Chen Chuan shook his head. "There's nothing between her and me." He knew who Ding Jiao meant, but even though his predecessor had interacted with her, their relationship was nothing like what outsiders imagined. Ding Jiao gave him an "as if I'd believe that" look. While the two chatted, more classmates arrived in ones and twos. They greeted one another, exchanged recent updates, and clinked opened drink bottles, enlivening the atmosphere all around. By now, Ding Jiao had already downed a bottle of soda, but apparently unsatisfied, he grabbed another, uncapped it, and chugged half of it in one go. "By the way, is Gao Ming coming today?" he asked. Chen Chuan thought for a moment. "He seems to be out of town. He probably won't make it back in time." Gao Ming was their classmate, but Gao Ming's mother and Chen Chuan's mother were cousins, making the two not only classmates but also relatives, and their relationship was quite good. The Gao family had a lineage of pleaders. Gao Ming himself had caught the eye of a senior pleader early on and was taken as a pupil, studying under him during middle school and remaining at his side after graduation—someone who had secured a future early on. Ding Jiao gave an "Oh." After a moment's thought, he lowered his voice. "Did you hear? Guan Xiaohui from Class Three—word is her dad ran up massive gambling debts and signed her over to a gang to settle it. Her stepmother ran off with her younger sister too. Now gang thugs harass her place every day, so she had no choice but to hide out at some relative's place in the countryside. What a mess, right?" Chen Chuan recalled her: a gentle-smiling, rather introverted girl. Ding Jiao seemed to have had a secret crush on her once, though Chen Chuan's stronger impression of her was that she had practiced martial arts as well. While Ding Jiao was talking, his eyes flicked sideways. He slapped the table repeatedly and gestured outside. "Hey, hey! Look over there—Han the Third! Now that he's entered Molan Company, he acts all high and mighty. Word is his dad over at the Water Bureau pulled strings for him." Chen Chuan turned to look. A boy was walking over, hair parted down the middle and dressed in an imported black suit. His looks were decent enough, but his posture and speech were stiff and pompous, reeking of pretense. A few students clustered around him. Though not from their class, they were clearly buttering him up. Seeing him arrive, several classmates under the awning also stood up immediately, eagerly approaching to greet him and ask for his contact details. The boy seemed to relish the adulation, lingering outside for a full ten minutes before walking in, surrounded by the crowd. As he walked, he raised a hand to greet the seated classmates. "Sorry I'm late, sorry I'm late! Got held up by some company business. My apologies, everyone, my apologies." Ding Jiao said sourly, "Look at him strutting around. He's not even a full employee of Molan yet, just in corporate training." From his predecessor's memories, Chen Chuan knew this boy was named Han Shu. Because his grades were perpetually bested by Chen Chuan's predecessor and another girl, leaving him stuck in third place year after year, Ding Jiao jokingly dubbed him "Han the Third." Perhaps due to conflicting personalities, Han Shu had never gotten along with Ding Jiao or Chen Chuan's predecessor during school, and their relationship as classmates had been anything but harmonious. Han Shu also noticed Chen Chuan and Ding Jiao at that moment. His steps paused briefly. He pulled his sleeve up a fraction to reveal a silver-cased wristwatch, then strolled over in their direction.