Chapter 2, The Gathering

The sea let out a long sigh: "Beijing, the capital city, is actually not comparable to Lingnan. On this desolate street, not even a ghostly shadow can be seen. In Lingnan, at this moment, it is bustling with activity. Ziqi, with your background, studying here must not be without its stories, right?"

The sea exclaimed excitedly: "Those little brats are just jealous of my physique at school. If I don't find a heavenly beauty to keep them in check, what will I do? Let me just say this: you are like the wilted green leaves beside my little Ruo, what a promotional effect!"

Thus, whenever Ning Qing invites me, I will go, trying time and again to let him into my heart. However, I still cannot find the feeling of being moved. Instead, I have attracted trouble; everyone in the company knows that I have an exceptional golden turtle by my side. In the eyes of Da Hai and Xiao Ruo, I have already been marked with Ning Qing's name. Those who are not Ning Qing are not welcomed. My protests were in vain; once, I hesitantly said to Ning Qing, "We are just friends, don't let others misunderstand us." Ning Qing's eyes emitted a fierce aura, and I remember it very clearly, it was a fierce aura. Instead, I have attracted trouble; everyone in the company knows that I have an exceptional golden turtle by my side. In the eyes of Da Hai and Xiao Ruo, I have already been marked with Ning Qing's name. Those who are not Ning Qing are not welcomed. My protests were in vain; once, I hesitantly said to Ning Qing, "We are just friends, don't let others misunderstand us." Ning Qing looked at me calmly and said, "We will be more than just friends."

I looked at him with suspicion and said: "Hu Dahai, with your height of 1.82 meters, you are famously the top figure in the company. If you don't go around flirting, it means that the good girls have escaped the calamity of romance. Only Xiaoruo sacrifices herself to uphold your reputation as a lovesick fool. When I stand next to you, it is clear that I am just a stunted weed, unable to overshadow your prestige no matter how hard I try. So tell me, apart from paying respects to Xiaoruo today, what other purpose do you have?"

I said with a smile: "Once you've vented, it will be fine. You should be grateful for this trip; isn't it better than being with Xiao Ruo?"

The sea did not ask again, he stretched his body and said, "Tang Ziqi, I will also attend your class reunion. Ning Qing has assigned me to protect you, a heavy responsibility indeed." After saying this, he did not wait for my response and walked away.

As I was laughing along with everyone, Xiao Ruo's call came in, her crisp voice calling out to me: "Sister, don't let Da Hai get too drunk." I readily agreed. This little girl usually bullies Da Hai, but deep down, she cares for him a lot. Da Hai is indeed fortunate to have her. At that moment, a male classmate beside Da Hai suddenly said, "She said she has something to do and won't come." Da Hai responded with an "oh," his expression unchanged, and turned to pull me out, saying to everyone, "Zi Qi is not only my colleague but also my Xiao Ruo's god-sister." His classmates understood the implication, and the wine glasses followed the assembly line without giving me any time to refuse, one cup after another being handed to me. I kicked Da Hai's leg hard with my foot, smiling while elegantly raising my cup in response. When I finally sat down, before I could say anything, Da Hai leaned over knowingly and said, "Zi Qi, today you finally look like a woman." I was taken aback and kicked him again, probably a bit too hard, as Da Hai let out a loud "Ah! Haha, haha!" His laughter replaced the awkwardness.

The sea is about to surrender, climbing onto my shoulder and saying: "Ziqi, aren't we brothers? For a brother, isn't it only right to take a knife in the ribs? In the future, if it were you, I would accept three knives and six holes without hesitation!"

I couldn't help but laugh: "The sea, seeing a man over 1.8 meters tall crying at the car door, is truly a ridiculous sight."

The sea no longer wore its usual playful smile, and there was a kind of pain on the handsome face. It was a pain I was familiar with. It dissipated my anger. I slowly sat down, my hands subconsciously tugging at the grass in front of me. I heard the sea softly say: "Ziqi, do you know? Our class only has ten spots for staying in Beijing, and no matter how hard we fight for it, we cannot remain. We can only part ways." She saw me off at the train station, and I lightly kissed her face and said take care before boarding the train. When the train started moving, I ran madly to the door to look, but she had already left, not even a silhouette remained, and tears streamed down my face. She saw me off at the train station, and I lightly kissed her face and said take care before boarding the train. When the train started moving, I ran madly to the door to look, but she had already left, not even a silhouette remained, and tears streamed down my face. It was the first time I cried so sorrowfully.

Ning Qing thus entered my life, and Xiao Ruo, whether intentionally or unintentionally, created opportunities for her elder brother, often bringing the four of us together for outings. I am not a fool; I can see the kind of interest that sparkles in Ning Qing's eyes. However, as I have said before, Qi Da is not an ordinary person. Moreover, I am not moved.

Under his gaze, I broke out in goosebumps

I feigned great anger: "Hu Dahai, did I owe you two dou of rice in my past life and have not repaid it? Do you want me to be your ox or horse in this life?"

I wore a pullover sweater, a printed long skirt, and ankle boots. My curly hair cascaded down to my waist, and I wore light makeup. The sea whistled at me and exaggeratedly said: "Ziqi, you look truly beautiful in that dress; I am counting on you to save my face today"

I smile like a flower: "Alright, remember these words today, let's go."

As he was walking, Dahai stepped onto the green space by the roadside and sat down. I stood in front of him, feeling really cold, this guy. I sat down next to him. Then I heard Dahai speak in a desolate tone: "She hasn't come yet, Ziqi." I suddenly stood up, pointed at him, and scolded: "Hu Dahai, you are thinking of the pot while eating from the bowl! How can you treat Xiaoruo like this?"

The sea looked up at me, its eyes filled with a plea: "Ziqi, I truly love Xiaoruo. Today, I just remembered, I just remembered... It has been two years since I graduated, and this is my first time back in Beijing. I just want to see it one more time."

The sea turned its head and roared at me: "Tang Ziqi, you really know how to ruin the atmosphere!" After saying this, it paused for a moment and then laughed, "Yes, it's all in the past. Looking back won't add any extra weight. I'm really glad to have found Xiao Ruo. I should finish my work early and go home to hold her."

Returning to the hotel, I took a hot shower and lay on the bed. Unexpectedly, I recalled the words spoken by the sea. Ning Qing, sigh, what do you wish to know

The night deepened, and my classmates dispersed. Standing by the street, I shivered from the cold. Da Hai said, "Zi Qi, shall we walk a bit before taking a taxi?" I glanced at him, tightened my coat, and walked ahead. Chang'an Avenue stretched forward under the glow of the yellow streetlights, with no other pedestrians in sight; I felt as if I were walking in a desert. The nights here are particularly lonely. There are no roadside stalls, no passersby, not even a sound. The only time I can sense that this city is still alive is when a car rushes by. Chang'an Avenue stretched forward under the glow of the yellow streetlights, with no other pedestrians in sight; I felt as if I were walking in a desert. The nights here are particularly lonely. There are no roadside stalls, no passersby, not even a sound. The only time I can sense that this city is still alive is when a car rushes by.

After taking my seat, I gently smiled at everyone. The sea and I are not only colleagues but also friends, and with Xiao Ruo, who calls me sister, I regard him as family. He doesn't want me to show off, right? Then I shall suppress my brilliance and present myself as a virtuous and gentle woman. Yet, my eyes secretly searched the gathering for the sea's former girlfriend. At a round table with thirteen people, aside from me, there were only two girls. So I shall suppress my brilliance and present myself as a virtuous and gentle woman. Yet, my eyes secretly searched the gathering for the sea's former girlfriend. At a round table with thirteen people, aside from me, there were only two girls. Both had straight hair cascading down to their shoulders and both were delicate in appearance. However, their speech was anything but refined, as they vied to share risqué jokes. At that moment, the taller one, named Qin, was telling a disgusting story about straws and toothpicks. Although it wasn't the first time I had heard it, her vivid storytelling brought new life to an old tale.

As soon as I entered, I heard a burst of screams, and figures were swaying before my eyes. Men and women all rushed to the door to embrace the sea. I took a step back and smiled as I watched them frolic. Someone said that in a person's life, there are several kinds of emotions: familial love, romantic love, and friendship. The strongest is undoubtedly familial love, which is blood-related and ingrained in one's bones from birth, impossible to cast aside. The most sincere is friendship, especially the friendships formed during school years, born from sharing a room and sleeping on bunk beds, devoid of any societal influences. It seems that after two years apart, the sea and his classmates still cherish the emotions from their school days.

The little brat thinks he can drag me down just by changing his mind. I cursed silently in my heart. I did not respond. Looking at the endless Chang'an Avenue before me, I recalled Yi's words: "Ziqi, let's walk down Chang'an Avenue together when it snows in the future." The November nights in Beijing are already very cold. I shivered, stood up, and said to Dahai: "It's so cold, let's go back to the hotel."

Ning Qing is Xiao Ruo's elder brother. After I got to know Da Hai, I became acquainted with Ning Ruo, and then I met him. Ning Ruo once proudly said that there are only eight words to describe her elder brother: a modest gentleman, warm and gentle as jade. She was not exaggerating at all; when I first saw Ning Qing at the Ning family home, he was dressed in a cream-colored suit, exuding an air of cultured elegance. I thought his profession would be that of a teacher or a lawyer, but to my surprise, he is the general manager of the Ning Group, a standard golden turtle man at the age of thirty. I remember at that time I nudged Da Hai with my elbow and raised my eyebrows, saying, "I didn't expect your Ning Ruo to be the Ning Ruo of the Ning family." Da Hai replied to me, "Who says the Ning family's Ning Ruo can't marry a commoner?"

I anxiously said to Juanzi: "I am not moved; even a man as outstanding as Ningqing does not stir my heart. What should I do?" Juanzi replied earnestly: "Have you heard of the saying that feelings develop over time? Given enough time, even a stone-hearted person can be touched. The best way to forget someone is to find another person. Once he fills your heart, you will no longer think of others and will forget them."