Lu Zheng ate his meal with relish, but Qiao Zhen suffered because she was preoccupied with her own thoughts. Even the most delicious food tasted bland to her.

Fortunately, Lu Zheng did not make things difficult for her.

After finishing the meal, he dropped Qiao Zhen off at her company building and then left, making an excuse that he had something to do.

Qiao Zhen spent the entire afternoon sitting at her workstation, her mind constantly replaying Shen Yan's words.

She had suspected that Shen Yan was deliberately saying those things to sow discord between her and Lu Zheng, but Lu Zheng had neither refuted nor offered any explanation.

Just as I was lost in thought, my phone suddenly rang.

Qiao Zhen noticed that it was another text message from Gu Xijue: Qiao Zhen, don't forget tonight's dinner party.

Qiao Zhen's heartbeat suddenly slowed down by half a beat.

She thought that after so many years, she and Gu Xijue had become two parallel lines, with no possibility of ever intersecting again.

Unexpectedly, Gu Xijue still remembered her.

"Okay, I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone."

Out of politeness, Qiao Zhen replied.

Setting her phone aside, Qiao Zhen suddenly remembered her high school days.

At that time, the Qiao family had not yet declined, and she was still the beloved eldest daughter of the Qiao family. But back then, she had a bitter unrequited love experience.

The object of her secret crush was Gu Xijue.

Just then, several people from the same department came over.

"Qiao Zhen, our department has had good performance this month, and the supervisor is thinking of treating everyone to dinner tonight. Would you like to come?"

Since Qiao Zhen started her job, her supervisor has always been very kind to her, and she doesn't want to offend him. But tonight, she's afraid she really won't have time.

"I won't be going. Please tell the supervisor that my high school classmates are having a reunion tonight. It's their first reunion since graduation, and I don't want to miss it."

Qiao Zhen smiled apologetically at those people.

"Oh, okay, go ahead, we'll pass on the message to the supervisor for you."

The group left, chatting and laughing.

Qiao Zhen sighed softly.

She was well aware that people in the company held a prejudice against her. Even those in her own department, she couldn't completely trust.

Picking up her phone, Qiao Zhen sent a text message to her supervisor explaining why she was absent that evening, before taking a taxi to the riverside hotel.

When I arrived, it was already more than ten minutes past the agreed time of seven o'clock.

Qiao Zhen glanced at the time, quickened her pace, and jogged to the private room indicated in the text message.

Before I even went inside, I could hear laughter coming from inside.

"Xi Jue, I didn't expect you to have developed so well these past few years. It's truly enviable."

"That's right, back in school, he was the undisputed school heartthrob and top student. Now that he's in the workforce, he's still just as dazzling. It's true what they say, comparisons are the thief of joy."

After a flurry of compliments, Qiao Zhen heard a familiar, deep voice.

"Not at all, everyone is too kind. Actually, I just did my best. Luck played a big part in my success today."

Gu Xijue's voice has lost its youthful naiveté and gained a more mature and deep quality.

Qiao Zhen's heart trembled, and the feelings of unrequited love from back then seemed to surge up again.

After mentally preparing herself for a while, Qiao Zhen took a deep breath and pushed open the door to the private room.

"Sorry everyone, I'm late."

As soon as Qiao Zhen entered, she apologized before looking up. She was met with a pair of dark, starry eyes.

Gu Xijue looked completely different from how I remembered him; he had shed his youthful naiveté. His features were exquisite and well-defined, as if sculpted by the hand of God.

As Qiao Zhen looked at the noble and elegant man in front of her, the bittersweet feeling of having a crush on him back in school resurfaced in her heart.

"haven't seen you for a long time."

When Gu Xijue saw Qiao Zhen, his dark eyes lit up for a moment.

His thin, rosy lips parted slightly, exuding politeness and gentlemanly manners, like a Western nobleman.

Even today, Qiao Zhen still feels her face flush and her heart race when she sees Gu Xijue's face.

"haven't seen you for a long time."

After stammering through her words, Qiao Zhen lowered her head.

She was no longer the glamorous young lady of the Qiao family she once was. Standing before Gu Xijue again, Qiao Zhen felt nothing but shame.

"Qiao Zhen is here too, is everyone here now?"

Teacher Jin sat on the sofa inside and addressed the group.

Gu Xijue glanced around the crowd and nodded to Teacher Jin.

"Okay, this is the first reunion of our Class 1, 2008 since graduation. It's been almost ten years since we last met. As your former class teacher, I am very happy to see everyone's achievements today."

Teacher Jin delivered a passionate speech, which drew a round of applause.

“Teacher Jin, our achievements today are inseparable from your earnest teachings back then. In fact, we should be thanking you.”

With Gu Xijue taking the lead, the others followed suit.

"Yes, Teacher Jin, we should be thanking you."

“Teacher Jin, the fact that you were able to cultivate a talent like Xijue is enough to prove your ability.”

"Speaking of which, isn't Xijue the most accomplished of our graduating class? He's now the CEO of a multinational corporation."

The discussion shifted from praising Teacher Jin to unanimously complimenting Gu Xijue.

Teacher Jin, however, remained calm and showed no sign of dissatisfaction.

"Qiao Zhen, didn't your boyfriend come?"

Teacher Jin suddenly remembered the man who was walking around the campus with Qiao Zhen that day.

In terms of both appearance and temperament, she was on par with Gu Xijue. Teacher Jin didn't want to spend her whole life as a high school teacher, so naturally she wanted to get to know more successful people in Jiangcheng to find a way out.

Teacher Jin's words drew everyone's attention to Qiao Zhen's face.

Qiao Zhen blushed instantly, her face turning red under the gaze of so many people, especially in front of Gu Xijue.

Thinking of her relationship with Lu Zheng, a hint of melancholy flashed in Qiao Zhen's eyes.

"Teacher Jin, you've misunderstood. It's not what you think. He's not my boyfriend."

Qiao Zhen's explanation drew laughter from those around her.

"By the way, I remember back in high school, Qiao Zhen, you liked Gu Xijue, right?"

I don't know which girl was being nosy, but she suddenly brought it up.

Qiao Zhen's face flushed even more as she looked up at Gu Xijue.

Gu Xijue happened to be looking at her as well.

The two looked at each other, and Gu Xijue gave Qiao Zhen a faint smile.

"Yes, Qiao Zhen is the school's undisputed beauty, and Xi Jue is the school's heartthrob. Just seeing the two of them standing together is enough to make your eyes light up."

The men joined in the commotion.

"Xi Jue, are you still single?"

Gu Xijue was suddenly called upon and nodded politely.

"Yes, I'm currently single."

Qiao Zhen was taken aback by Gu Xijue's answer.

Based on Gu Xijue's looks and abilities, she assumed he was already married.

Not only Qiao Zhen, but the other women were also taken aback. Their gazes towards Gu Xijue held a deeper, more probing look.

"Alright, alright, everyone, stop joking around and sit down to eat."

Gu Xijue noticed Qiao Zhen's resistance to these jokes and greeted her.