When Ge’er’s cousin, Jiang Wei, spoke, she was met with enthusiastic responses. Everyone was as excited as if they were going to a Jay Chou concert, eager to leave and have fun even before finishing their meal. Amidst lively discussion, they settled on a destination: a newly opened KTV on Xubin Coastal Road, called Yun Ding, which was also the property of Ge’er’s uncle and Lu Qingxu.
Ge’er couldn’t go, as KTVs were noisy and the air would surely be stuffy, possibly with smoke. She didn't participate in the discussion. After Lei Dongyi greeted her, she quietly settled down. To her surprise, Jiang Wei wouldn't let her off the hook. After finalizing the location with everyone, she pushed her chair over to Ge’er’s side and invited Lei Dongyi to sit at their table.
“We’re all old classmates, and everyone misses you so much. Why are you sitting over there instead of with us? Come, sit here,” Jiang Wei said, urging Ge’er to join them. “Don’t move. I’ll go get your chair.” With that, Jiang Wei pushed Ge’er into her seat and ran to another table to drag Lei Dongyi’s chair over, then sat beside him.
Lei Dongyi, holding his wine glass, had Ge’er on his left and Jiang Wei on his right. Since he was already seated, he couldn’t easily refuse. He calmly put down his wine glass, greeted the classmates opposite him, and then turned to Ge’er.
“Long time no see.”
As expected, he offered the most basic greeting, just like any other classmate. Reflecting on their past relationship and their current interaction, Ge’er couldn’t help but feel a sense of irony. She inwardly sneered, her expression unchanged. She raised her bottle of mineral water and clinked it against his glass, remaining silent. The greeting had been exchanged.
Lei Dongyi was soon drawn back into Jiang Wei’s conversation, engaging with them. The conversation revolved around typical reunion topics: what they studied in college, where they were working, how long they planned to stay, and where they were living now. Ge’er wasn’t interested in his current life. Seeing that no one else was eating, she began to move around the table, picking out dishes she liked. She didn’t hear a single word of their conversation.
As she ate, a plate of Longjing Prawns was quickly emptied. The dish was quite to her liking today, but no matter how much she enjoyed it, she knew she had to maintain some decorum and not finish it completely, as if she hadn’t eaten in ages. She quietly put down her chopsticks and started drinking water, looking for other dishes she might enjoy. Just then, a waiter approached to refill their drinks.
Lei Dongyi, while talking to everyone, got up to receive the decanter from the waiter. Before sitting down, he casually instructed the waiter in a level tone.
“Could you please bring us two more servings of Longjing Prawns?”
After speaking, he didn’t even glance at Ge’er and took the decanter to the other side of the table, pouring drinks for a male classmate before resuming their conversation. Ge’er wasn’t sure if others had heard his instruction, but she certainly had, and felt a bit awkward. He had been facing the other way talking to them the whole time, so how did he know she had finished the prawns? And why did he order two more plates? Did he think she ate too much and didn’t leave any for others, or was it something else?
After a moment of awkwardness, seeing his nonchalant demeanor, as if the matter wasn’t important at all, she chided herself. Why was she overthinking? What did he matter? She took a sip of warm water, and the waiter brought two more plates of prawns. The others were still boasting and chatting, laughing heartily, and no one noticed this small detail.
Feeling a rare good appetite today, Ge’er continued to eat the freshly served, tender prawns, bite after bite. The dishes from the seven-star hotel were exquisitely made and beautifully presented, but the portions were disappointingly small. A plate of prawns costing hundreds would have no more than twenty pieces. Soon, this plate was also empty. However, Ge’er had eaten her fill.
Now that they had eaten and it was getting late, if she left now, surely Jiang Wei wouldn't say anything more. She took a napkin and slowly wiped her mouth, preparing to slip away quietly. Just then, Lei Dongyi returned with the decanter. He had clearly been drinking quite a bit today; he had unbuttoned the top button of his shirt, and his cheeks were flushed with alcohol. He looked a little inexplicably cute when he smiled at others. However, he carried a strong scent of alcohol that, as he sat down, swirled around him like a gust of wind and hit Ge’er’s nose, giving off a powerful aura of masculinity.
As he sat down, he continued talking to someone, placed the decanter in front of Jiang Wei, and then rotated the lazy Susan to bring another plate of prawns in front of himself. He then continued talking to the people on the other side, slowly picking up a prawn and putting it into his mouth.
Ge’er felt she had to leave; otherwise, her gaze would keep being drawn to him. She clutched her bag and began to push her chair back. Suddenly, Lei Dongyi put down his chopsticks and turned his head slightly to look at her.
“The taste is indeed good, very fresh and sweet. Eat more if you like it.”
“……”
Did he have a third eye? How did he still see her? Even if he saw her, why did he have to say it in that tone? Was he genuinely concerned, or was he mocking her? Thinking about his sudden departure back then and his current feigned unfamiliarity, Ge’er couldn’t help but feel angry. She had intended to slip away quietly, but instead, she stood up abruptly and openly.
“I’m full. I have something to do. You all continue chatting, I’m leaving now.”
Jiang Wei, who was in a lively conversation with the female classmate next to her, quickly stood up upon hearing this. “It’s only a little past one, and the dishes have just been served. You’re leaving already? Why go back so early?”
Ge’er felt she had already shown Jiang Wei enough respect today. If it weren't for her repeated invitations, she would have been home in bed by now, instead of wasting time with these boring people. “Didn’t I tell you, I have something to do. You all enjoy yourselves.”
Jiang Wei winked at her. “Don’t be like that. Didn’t everyone just say we’re going to KTV later? No one can be missing. What do you mean by leaving now?” “You and your sister have been absent from every class reunion these past few years. What’s the deal? Do you look down on your old classmates and don’t want to interact with us?” “With so many executives in your company, what important matter can’t they handle? It’s not that urgent. Be good, sit a while longer, eat something. We’ll disperse soon.”
Ge’er looked at Jiang Wei with a sense of exasperation, wishing she could slap her. Was she that desperate for a man? Was Lei Dongyi so familiar with you? You don’t even know him, yet you’re chasing him so eagerly. Aren’t you afraid of jumping into a fire pit? Besides, if you want to chase him, fine, but why drag me along? Just as she was about to refuse, Jiang Wei leaned in, grabbed her arm, and whispered.
“I haven’t gotten his WeChat yet. He just said he was invited back by your brother this time and is going to work as a legal advisor for your Zhan Shi Group. Only you here can help me. What do you mean by leaving?” “Please, please, I’ll buy you a bag, okay? Just help me this one time.”