Chapter 8, Gathering (1)

Then came a round of mutual compliments between the couple

Cheng Ran wet a cloth in front of the basin to wipe his face and neck, then sat back at the dining table to eat hot rice. The rice, distinct in grains, was mixed with shredded meat and accompanied by bean paste. He scooped it up in large bites, eating with great relish

So, what I mean to say is, everything is fine on your end, right..." Liu Ying said hesitantly in a low voice on the other end of the phone

The arrival of three individuals changed the atmosphere once again. In fact, the girls in the courtyard of Huadong Company are quite charming; for instance, Liu Ying is delicate, while Yao Beibei exudes a spirited aura. Their qualities are generally commendable, especially Yang Xia, who is the class flower of Class 4. Sun Jichao and others are simply in their element, and coupled with their eloquence, they share their travel experiences and tell jokes that can make the girls burst into laughter.

At that time, a computer easily cost over ten thousand, and the number of families that could afford a computer was few and far between, making it a source of envy. Computers were precious, and those who mastered the technology appeared significantly more distinguished, as their aura of mystery left others in awe. In this context, Liu Ying's remark about Sun Jichao being able to repair computers was quite surprising. Everyone knew that the myriad commands of the DOS system resembled a collection of cryptic texts, enough to bewilder anyone unfamiliar with them, which explains Liu Ying's admiration.

Well then... just keep an eye on the time when it comes!

This inevitably leads the girls in the company courtyard to subconsciously compare themselves. In contrast, the boys in their own unit, whether in terms of attire or perspective, cannot be compared to individuals like Sun Jichao from the government complex. They seem to be experiencing a sense of hierarchical difference for the first time

Jiang Hongshao glanced at the dishes on the table that were not steaming hot and asked, "Aunt and Uncle are not joining us?"

"No, no, just right!" Liu Ying greeted with a smile.

Jiang Hongshao smiled and said, "Alright"

On the morning of the 1st of May, Xu Lan and Cheng Feiyang both woke up a bit late. They looked into the empty room of Cheng Ran through the open bedroom door.

Xu Lan glared at him and said, "It's good enough to have it! This kid has liked Yang Xia since he was young; do you see that Yang Xia cares to pay him any attention?"

"There is, there is, there is, what are you saying... it's all ready. Come and eat quickly!"

"Where did Cheng Ran go so early in the morning?" Xu Lan asked in surprise

"It's just a child's matter, why do you care so much..." Cheng Feiyang smirked and said, "It's perfectly normal not to like him, isn't it..."

When Jiang Hongshao peeked in from outside the door, her drooping shoulders and two small curls bounced slightly, and after confirming the location, she walked in, everyone's spirits were lifted.

Zhang Lin smiled and said, "Her acting is truly remarkable..."

In such an environment, the male companions in the courtyard, including Yu Xiao, Zhang Xin, and Xie Dong, became even more silent

Zhang Lin tugged at Liu Jun's sleeve and said, "It is best not to say a word! Do you think that girl is foolish? She has a status, and she has seen more than both you and I! If you reveal even the slightest hint, she will know that we are being deliberate! The performance just now was the best! Honest... harmless!"

Before long, people from the neighboring government office arrived, including Wang Yuran, Zhou Bin, and of course, Sun Jichao. These individuals were all close friends of Sun Jichao and, naturally, were not on good terms with Yu Xiao and the others. However, it was already evident at this point that they came from affluent families. The three of them were well-dressed and spoke in a manner that suggested they had seen the world. For instance, Wang Yuran wore a pair of silver-rimmed glasses, presenting an image of a top student, while Zhou Bin was tall and dressed in a full basketball outfit, exuding a sporty vibe that was quite eye-catching. From their appearance, it was clear that Sun Jichao was indeed the most handsome among the three, though his eyes occasionally revealed an air of arrogance.

The door of Liu Ying's house was wide open, and a red figure soon appeared there

Cheng Ran thought carefully for a moment and had a vague impression. He was someone from the government institute, also in the same class as Liu Ying. It seemed that his family had a director of some bureau, and he was rather arrogant. Back in the day, he was quite domineering when they played together, and Cheng Ran stood up for a friend, resulting in a fight between them. From then on, they had a conflict. Cheng Ran, however, was carefree and indifferent afterward, but Sun Jichao seemed to hold a grudge. There were often whispers from the government institute circle about his grievances against Cheng Ran.

Xu Lan and Cheng Feiyang exchanged a glance, and neither spoke again. Cheng Feiyang went to the living room to read the newspaper, occasionally glancing at Cheng Ran with his peripheral vision. Recently, he had been behaving unusually. ... Not only was he studying, but he was also getting up early to exercise ... ? ... Is this a change of character or has he been possessed?

Oh, it's him... No problem at all," Cheng Ran responded, "just a minor disagreement, nothing to worry about.

"Did you go for a run?" Xu Lan asked

Liu Ying over there said hesitantly, "Well, I still need to mention this to you. Sun Jichao heard about my invitation and specifically called me, saying he wants to come over... you know, it's not easy for me to refuse..."

Liu Jun has already gone to get his coat, and Liu Ying has also finished chatting with Jiang Hongshao. Only then did she smile at everyone and say, "We are going out for a walk, you all have fun today!"

Not only does the family have a computer, but they have also replaced it with two new ones, and they understand computer technology. Some girls look at him differently now.

This remark left Liu Ying somewhat bewildered. She had informed Yu Xiao and others about the invitation yesterday, but had inadvertently left Cheng Ran out. It was only today, as the event approached, that she called him, as it was important to maintain social niceties. In fact, within this exchange, if Cheng Ran were to awkwardly say, "Then I guess I won't come..." she would immediately respond, "Alright then, I'll treat you to a meal another day, I truly apologize..."

But who would have thought that Cheng Ran was completely unconcerned and did not give her any opportunity to express herself subtly. Liu Ying's father, Liu Jun, actually looked down on Cheng Ran's father, Cheng Feiyang. After the company's performance declined, most people sought their own paths, and Liu Jun started a small company, truly feeling proud in the workplace. He naturally held a disdainful view towards Cheng Feiyang, who, despite being less successful than him in the past, still remained stagnant and 'unambitious.' Liu Ying had heard this many times; while she did not remember much else, she did recall her father saying that the Cheng family belonged to the eliminated class.

The sound of a key turning in the lock was heard, and the door creaked open, revealing Cheng Ran, drenched in sweat, wearing a tank top, shorts, and sneakers.

... ...

A phone call came in shortly after, it was Liu Ying looking for Cheng Ran. Cheng Ran answered the phone and said, "... ... Yes, Yu Xiao told me about it yesterday"

Sun Jichao casually remarked, "My family has replaced two computers; installing the operating system and repairing or replacing hardware are just routine tasks for me"

Is there food to eat

Liu Jun and Zhang Lin stepped out. In the corridor, Liu Jun, who had not spoken a word from beginning to end, finally said to Zhang Lin, "I didn't say a word just now, nor did I greet you. Isn't that a bit inappropriate..." If someone were to see this, they would never believe that Liu Jun, who had now become the boss of dozens of subordinates, usually exuded an air of confidence and success, yet here he was, so hesitant and timid.

Liu Ying's home was tidily arranged, spacious and clean, and she had even bought some small flowers and balloons in advance as decorations, which could be considered a thoughtful setup. Yu Xiao arrived first and was greeted by a lively atmosphere, with people like Yao Beibei, Zhang Xin, and Xie Dong among others. The group of children from the courtyard had arrived even earlier than him. Yu Xiao noticed Yang Xia, who was the center of attention, and everyone merely greeted him casually. Yu Xiao was not surprised; after all, everyone's focus was not on him at that moment.

Liu Ying came out of the kitchen and said, "Sun Jichao, thank you for helping me with my computer last time. You fixed it so easily; you must have reinstalled the system. Watching your operation was like reading a book in a foreign language to me!"

After that, looking at Cheng Ran, she also developed a sense of pride and arrogance. Moreover, Sun Jichao clearly displayed his animosity towards Cheng Ran. The main point was that she had finally managed to invite Jiang Hongshao this time; previously, Jiang Hongshao had not come several times, but this time she finally agreed to attend. She placed great importance on the atmosphere of this gathering, and in order to avoid any awkwardness, Liu Ying actually hoped to find a breakthrough from Cheng Ran. Sun Jichao's father is the director, and they are in the same class. Although Cheng Ran grew up in a prestigious family, in terms of inclination, she was not on Cheng Ran's side. She placed great importance on the atmosphere of this gathering, and in order to avoid any awkwardness, Liu Ying actually hoped to find a breakthrough from Cheng Ran. Sun Jichao's father is the director, and they are in the same class. Although Cheng Ran grew up in a prestigious family, in terms of inclination, she was not on Cheng Ran's side.

Liu Jun's triumphant demeanor reemerged, "That is! Don't you even know who I am!"

After hanging up the phone, Cheng Ran shook his head again. How could he be deceived by Liu Ying's reluctant words? Usually, he would certainly go along with it, but he had encountered many friends who had vanished into thin air. Now, he actually just wanted to take this opportunity to see the people he still knew.

At this moment, Liu Ying's parents came out of the kitchen, where a large table of dishes had been prepared. Liu Jun remained silent, but Liu Ying's mother, Zhang Lin, smiled and said, "I have prepared all the dishes for you... Oh! Little Jiang has come! ... Oh my, Aunt Zhang hasn't seen you in a long time, and you've become even more beautiful. People say that girls change a lot as they grow up, but in fact, you haven't changed much at all; you've always been this good-looking!"

Sun Jichao shrugged his shoulders and murmured, "I didn't say anything wrong!"

I just want to relive that feeling. As for the rest, I am not particularly concerned

No, no! You are having a gathering, and we have also made plans with friends. Hong Shao, you must spend some quality time with Liu Ying today, as it has been a long time since you last visited our home

Here... Jiang Hongshao blinked her bright, big eyes, then spotted Liu Ying among the crowd in the room, followed by Yang Xia, Yu Xiao, and other familiar faces. She clasped her hands in front of her red dress in a gesture of apology and glanced at the clock hanging in the hall. "Am I late?"

In fact, Jiang Hongshao arrived five minutes earlier than the six o'clock mentioned by Liu Ying; she simply did not realize that so many people had gathered so early, largely because of her.

But now, Zhang Lin is nothing like her usual self; she is truly amiable. Sun Jichao then timely remarked to Liu Ying, "Your mother is really gentle..." Only after saying this did he realize that a group of people from the neighboring unit was staring at him as if he were an alien

Cheng Feiyang just smiled, "It can't possibly be looking for a female classmate!"

A group of familiar children from the courtyard were astonished by Zhang Lin. It is important to note that Zhang Lin is not an ordinary person; she was previously a Chinese language teacher at the Fifth Middle School of the city, and later joined the Education Bureau's Teaching and Research Institute, serving as the director of the primary school research office. She possesses profound expertise in the humanities and is a member of the provincial writers' association. She has short curly hair, thick glasses resembling beer bottle bottoms, and narrow eyes at the back, which, combined with her former teacher's demeanor, gives her an imposing presence without needing to be angry. She usually commands respect at her workplace, and Liu Jun's company, which he started after leaving the unit, also benefited from her connections; otherwise, things would not have gone so smoothly. Among the children in the unit, the one they fear the most among these aunts is Zhang Lin.