The moment Jiang Chengyi arrived, he instantly became the center of attention.
Although most people in the private room were from Class 6 while Jiang Chengyi was from Class 3, and he should have made appearances in other rooms first, he stayed. This was partly because Principal Wen was here, and partly because he was close to several basketball team members from Class 6. Everyone naturally pulled him to sit on the sofa, making him drink penalties and offering him cigarettes, creating an exceptionally lively atmosphere.
It was understandable why his classmates acted this way. After all, since Jiang Chengyi left for B City, they had barely heard from him, and he hadn’t shown up at any class reunions in recent years. Beyond the joy of reunion, everyone was curious about his life in B City over the past few years.
Tang Jie maintained her dignity by not rushing to join the crowd despite the bustling atmosphere. However, as everyone’s attention shifted, she found herself sitting aside, becoming a silent observer.
Frustrated, she wanted to take it out on Lu Yan, but when she turned to look – well, this woman was quietly eating fruit in the corner, as peaceful as a cat.
Lu Yan hadn’t missed Tang Jie’s disapproving glances beside her, but she had no intention of responding. The dragon fruit on the plate was sweet, and the kiwi wasn’t sour. She had never found fruit so delicious before, completely immersed in eating with utmost concentration.
After glaring several times with no response from Lu Yan, Tang Jie gave up and turned her attention back to Jiang Chengyi.
Principal Wen, after lamenting about life’s mundanity and time’s swift passage, looked kindly at Jiang Chengyi. “Which department are you assigned to after coming back? Still working as a criminal investigator?”
Jiang Chengyi smiled, took a sip of beer, and replied, “Yes, I’ve been transferred to the Anshan District Branch.”
Anshan District Branch? Tang Jie’s ears perked up – wasn’t that in the same district as Lu Yan’s hospital?
Ding Jing smiled coyly: “Principal, Jiang Chengyi performed excellently at work. He even received a second-class merit citation in B City, and before transferring to S City, he was already a Deputy Team Leader.”
She then glanced sideways at Jiang Chengyi, seeking confirmation: “Right? Jiang Chengyi.”
The way she pronounced “Jiang Chengyi” was soft and tender, seemingly filled with countless emotions, creating an ambiguous atmosphere that was hard to describe.
Everyone exchanged knowing looks.
Ding Jing had some distant family connection with the Jiang family, and she had been in Class 3 with Jiang Chengyi. Everyone had heard about Ding Jing’s feelings for him.
Everyone deliberately fell silent waiting for Jiang Chengyi’s response, with some even glancing toward Lu Yan in the corner.
Lu Yan remained oblivious, though perhaps from eating fruit too quickly, she suddenly felt the urge to use the restroom.
Unexpectedly, Teacher Zhou spoke up, seemingly completely unaware of the tacit atmosphere around him: “Anshan District Branch? Xiao Jiang, was there a vacancy at the Anshan District Branch recently? I heard lateral transfers within the police system aren’t easy.”
Jiang Chengyi looked at Teacher Zhou and smiled: “Other branches in S City had no positions, but coincidentally, a senior officer at the Anshan Branch recently got promoted due to his merits, and there wasn’t an immediate replacement. There happened to be a vacancy, so you could say I got lucky.”
Principal Wen offered his advice: “Although you’re a local of S City, you’ll probably need some time to adjust to the new work environment. If you don’t mind our old folks being long-winded, feel free to share any work-related troubles with us. However, the principal has great confidence in you. I still remember your brilliance when you led the ’09 basketball team to win the S City School League Championship. Years have passed, but the principal still remembers your excellence, and I’m looking forward to your next achievement to bring glory to your alma mater.”
Tang Jie could only stifle a yawn listening to this. What selective memory Principal Wen had, almost painting Jiang Chengyi as an “exemplary student.”
The old man might not remember, but she did – this fellow once beat up a student from a neighboring school at the basketball court so badly that he almost received a major demerit.
Actually, although Jiang Chengyi was arrogant, he rarely caused trouble. Throughout three years of high school, he only got into that one fight, but it was earth-shattering, causing massive waves.
If classmates hadn’t broken up the fight in time, and if Jiang’s father hadn’t stepped in to apologize afterward, the matter wouldn’t have been resolved so easily.
Oh right, what was that fight about? She frowned while munching on chips.
Ah, it was because that student from the neighboring school had been stalking Lu Yan after she rejected him.
Lu Yan was very perceptive and soon discovered she was being followed, but she couldn’t find evidence. She only knew the stalking mostly happened at night, sometimes during the day, making her feel constantly on edge.
Lu Yan was young then, and after learning about this, she became too scared to attend evening self-study sessions.
Later, somehow the news reached Jiang Chengyi’s ears, and within days, the fight broke out. That’s when they learned the stalker was a student from the neighboring school.
At the time, she was indignant about it, but over the years, some things became puzzling.
That student from the neighboring school had seemed quite pleasant, and after being caught, he insisted he had only followed Lu Yan once. According to him, it wasn’t even stalking – he had just bought a gift for Lu Yan and wanted to give it to her, but somehow Jiang Chengyi caught him that one time.
Recently, Tang Jie had accidentally run into that student at a shopping mall.
Years had passed, and he was now married with a child. The three of them were shopping for women’s clothing in the high-end section. He spoke gently to his wife and looked at their child with what could only be described as fatherly tenderness, completely exemplifying the model of a good husband. It was impossible to imagine he had once been so disturbing.
It was also during that incident that Tang Jie learned about Lu Yan and Jiang Chengyi’s relationship.
She remembered the day after the fight, three of them had planned to walk home together after school. However, after she and another friend waited at the school gate’s small shop for nearly an hour without seeing Lu Yan, they worried something might have happened and went back to look for her.
Since there was no evening self-study on Fridays, the school was empty except for a few boys playing soccer on the field.
They searched Class 6’s classroom but found no one, then checked each classroom along the corridor on their way back.
When they reached Class 3’s classroom, they heard a faint sound.
Of the two, she was walking slightly ahead, so she peered in first. The classroom appeared empty at first glance, showing only rows of desks and chairs, white walls, and a modest ceiling.
Just as she was about to look away, her friend suddenly tugged at her uniform, gesturing toward an inconspicuous corner at the back of the classroom.
Following the indication, she looked in and froze.
There were two people by the window in the back, embracing each other intimately.
Her heart skipped a beat as she quickly recognized the girl sitting on the desk as Lu Yan, with Jiang Chengyi standing in front of her.
Lu Yan had her eyes closed, as did Jiang Chengyi. The striking part was that despite the bruises on Jiang Chengyi’s face and the antiseptic cotton ball in Lu Yan’s hand, Lu Yan had her arms around his neck, and they were kissing passionately.
It was already dusk, and the crimson sunset streaming through the classroom’s large windows bathed them in flowing colorful light.
She stood there staring stupidly, knowing she should leave quickly but somehow transfixed, because that unusual brilliance was the most beautiful sight she had ever witnessed in her life.
The next day, when she teasingly asked Lu Yan if she was dating Jiang Chengyi, she expected Lu Yan, with her unpredictable personality, to firmly deny it. Surprisingly, Lu Yan just smiled mischievously, clearly confirming it.
By Monday, Lu Yan even boldly brought homemade qingtuan to Class 3. That blatant declaration of relationship status drew envious glares from the girls in Class 3.
Recalling these memories, Tang Jie once again shot a frustrated glare at Lu Yan huddled in the corner. She wondered what had happened between them – where had that passionate young girl who dared to love and hate gone?