Sima Chu slowly raised his hand, the one with the needle in it. "Qi Huan, look. I've only been to the hospital twice in my life, and this is the second time. I remember the first time, you were sitting in this very spot. You treated me to what I still consider the best meal in the world. That was also the first time I felt genuine care from someone. And the time I stole money, you rushed into the classroom to save me. If it weren't for you, I might have been labeled a thief for life. There are so many other small things too; I remember them all, I'm grateful for your kindness. So, I gave you my utmost trust. But it all shattered the moment you stole my data. So, I hate you, but I won't hurt you. From now on, we're even. You can leave." After saying this, Sima Chu waved his hand, signaling Qi Huan to leave the ward.
"Xiao Chu." Qi Huan finally shed tears and called out Sima Chu's name.
"You, go now!" Sima Chu shouted with all his might.
Seeing Sima Chu's resolute expression, Qi Huan slowly got up from the bed and left the ward. What exactly happened to Sima Chu afterward, Qi Huan didn't know. Since that parting in the ward, Qi Huan had never returned to her university dormitory. Following her full scholarship study abroad plan, Qi Huan completed her university studies at the beginning of the second semester of her senior year and graduated smoothly. With the roar of the airplane engine, Qi Huan finally bid farewell to her youth.
Five years later, Qi Huan returned to China. At that time, she happened to receive a message from Han Lin about a university reunion. After thinking about it, Qi Huan decided to attend.
"Hey! Old classmate, what brings you so late?" Han Lin greeted Qi Huan as soon as he reached the hotel entrance. Five years had passed, and Han Lin had changed quite a bit, to the point that Qi Huan didn't recognize him at first.
"What? Old classmate, you don't even recognize me?" Han Lin asked jokingly after seeing Qi Huan's brief look of surprise.
Qi Huan chuckled, gently patted her forehead, and replied with a smile, "So it's the class monitor."
"Hurry up and go in, you're the only one we're waiting for." Han Lin said with a smile, stepping aside to lead the way for Qi Huan.
The gathering was organized by Han Lin and took place in a relatively spacious small banquet hall, where all three large tables were filled. Five years have passed, allowing everyone to move beyond their naive youth. Now, the confidence of maturity radiates from their faces.
"Sister Huan, over here, over here!" As soon as Qi Huan entered the banquet hall, Xiao Qing saw her and waved enthusiastically. Qi Huan smiled and sat down next to Xiao Qing. At this moment, Xiao Ye also saw Qi Huan and waved warmly to her.
Qi Huan glanced around at everyone present, then looked away in disappointment. Xiao Qing, sitting next to Qi Huan, seemed to sense her thoughts and gently nudged her before asking, "Sister Huan, are you looking for Xiao Chu and Ling Zixuan?"
Qi Huan glanced at Xiao Qing, smiled, and nodded. "Are you still in contact with Xiao Chu?"
"Ever since that suicide attempt, she's become very taciturn. Even with us, she hardly speaks. We've asked her several times why she tried to commit suicide, and she just shakes her head faintly each time. Huan-jie, you and Xiao Chu are such good friends, do you know why Xiao Chu wanted to commit suicide?"
Hearing Xiaoqing's words, Qi Huan's heart was stirred again. But Qi Huan still shook her head, "I don't know, she didn't say much to me. After I went abroad, I changed my contact information, so I lost contact with you." Qi Huan said this with great disappointment. During her five years abroad, she really missed her university days.
"However, I later heard that Xiao Chu married a wealthy foreigner and then settled abroad."
"Well, this isn't a bad choice for her. At least she won't have to suffer anymore." Qi Huan sighed silently to herself.
"By the way, what about Ling Zixuan? Do you still keep in touch with him?" Although so many years have passed, Qi Huan still can't completely forget Ling Zixuan.
"Ling Zixuan?" Xiao Ye overheard Qi Huan and Xiao Qing's conversation and exclaimed in surprise, "He's quite the big shot now. I heard that in just a few years, he's already become the head of the Greater China region for a multinational corporation. Apparently, he was also notified of today's gathering, but he's a very busy man, flying all over the world. I wonder which high-level conference room he's in right now."
"Xiao Ye, you're being so sarcastic." Xiao Qing smiled at Xiao Ye, and then the two clinked glasses.
Upon hearing about Sima Chu and Ling Zixuan's situation, Qi Huan smiled with relief, picked up the wine glass in front of her, and took a sip of wine.
"By the way, stop talking about others. Huan-jie, tell us about your experiences abroad? Were there lots of handsome guys? Were there even more people pursuing you? How many boyfriends have you had?" Xiao Ye changed the subject, her curious and gossipy eyes darting around as she stared at Qi Huan and asked curiously.
Qi Huan smiled and then shook her head. "There's not much difference between abroad and at home, except for the lifestyle and scenery. As for handsome guys, there are definitely plenty."
Just as Xiao Ye and Xiao Qing were about to press Qi Huan for more information after hearing her words, Han Lin walked up to her with a wine glass. "I must first toast our class's goddess." With that, Han Lin clinked glasses with Qi Huan without her noticing.
Qi Huan smiled and downed the glass of red wine in one gulp.
"Class monitor, you're really biased! You only toast Sister Huan, but you don't even toast us!" Xiaoqing said, raising her glass to Han Lin.
"What are you saying, young lady? Here." With that, Han Lin refilled his glass with wine.
Everyone chatted and exchanged pleasantries, talking about all sorts of interesting things that happened at university, both good and bad. Unless someone initiated a conversation with Qi Huan, she would always smile, hold her wine glass, watch everyone's happy faces, and then drink the wine in her glass in one gulp.
Qi Huan had a good tolerance for alcohol, but that night, he drank rather recklessly. He had no idea how much he had drunk, nor how he got home after the banquet. Qi Huan only felt dizzy, his mind replaying events from university. Some of these events were about himself, some about Ling Zixuan, and some about Sima Chu.
Qi Huan stretched her aching neck and slowly opened her still groggy eyes. She found herself in bed, but this wasn't her room. Qi Huan tapped her head, suddenly becoming fully awake. She opened her eyes wide, completely disoriented.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
