Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 109: Missing has a Flavor

Chapter 109: Chapter 109: Missing has a Flavor

This high school reunion was the most attended yet. Everyone was particularly excited upon meeting, each seeking out old friends and playmates, gathering in threes and fives, chatting enthusiastically.

When Chen Ningxi walked in, Zhang Yuetong quickly approached her, "Why are you only getting here now? We’ve been waiting for you forever."

Chen Ningxi gave a small smile, "I came ten minutes early and I’m still late."

"Look at how many people are here, you tell me if you’re late or not," Zhang Yuetong laughed as she pulled Chen Ningxi inside. "Did you set the date for the event?"

Chen Ningxi said, "June twenty-eighth at nine o’ eight, Zhoushan’s Jade Jiali."

"Wow," Zhang Yuetong raised her eyebrows, "Having it at Jade Jiali, that’s quite grand."

"It’s okay, I know someone there, so we’re holding it there. We should get a discount on the catering," Chen Ningxi, influenced by her father, was used to keeping a low profile.

"Ning Xi, sit next to me," Song Shiyi pulled her over, "You sat next to me back in school, come over here."

Zhang Yuetong said, "No way, let her sit next to me."

"No way, she’s sitting here."

In the end, Zhang Yuetong was no match for Song Shiyi’s strength, so Chen Ningxi sat down next to Song Shiyi, with Zhang Yuetong on the other side.

Only after sitting down did she realize that He Yunyi was sitting at the table across from them.

Lu Xiaodong came in with another seven or eight classmates, clapped his hands at the door, "Everyone’s here, find a seat, and I’ll have the waiters start serving the dishes so we can chat while waiting."

"Alright..."

Everyone echoed in agreement.

Considering that most classmates were married, Lu Xiaodong had arranged for male and female classmates to sit separately.

As the dishes started being served one after another, Lu Xiaodong said, "Class monitor, say a few words, or else we can’t start eating, and the girls are hungry."

"Hahaha..."

Lu Xiaodong’s words caused an uproar of laughter.

He Yunyi raised his glass and, facing everyone, said, "You’re quick to pass the buck. You’re the one who organized this, yet you’re asking me to speak after finally gathering everyone together. Fine, I’ll say a few words.

First, our entire class should thank Lu Xiaodong for making this reunion happen. It’s been more than nine years since we last met, almost a decade, and everyone has changed yet remained the same. We’ve changed in age and experience, but our feelings and original intentions haven’t. It’s truly rare and not easy for us all to gather like this, since our classmates are scattered all over the country, contributing to the building of it. I’ll toast to Lu Xiaodong’s hard work, to our youthful enthusiasm, to the deep friendship we share, and to a future better than the past. Cheers."

"Well said."

The classmates stood up, holding their glasses, filled with emotion as they clinked...

"To our youthful enthusiasm."

"To the longevity of friendship."

"To a future better than the past."

"To a smooth future."

"To everyone’s happiness."

"To the girls becoming more beautiful and slender."

"To the guys becoming rich and handsome."

The last two remarks caused everyone to burst into laughter.

"After the monitor’s speech, let’s hear from the Youth League secretary." Someone encouraged.

Chen Ningxi waved her hand, "The class monitor spoke for all of us and spoke so well, I have nothing to add."

He Yunyi helped smooth things over, "If she doesn’t want to speak, she doesn’t have to. The girls are hungry, so everyone should enjoy the food and drinks; everything we want to say is in our cups."

Chen Ningxi turned around, raised her glass in gratitude toward He Yunyi, who responded with a slight smile.

Midway through, Chen Ningxi went to the restroom and saw two silhouettes disappearing hurriedly around a corner. When she came out, she noticed them standing close together in the shadows but separated quickly when they saw her.

She’d heard of some things but could only pretend she hadn’t seen anything. As she turned around, He Yunyi also came out of the restroom. They bumped into each other, and he glanced toward the dark end of the hallway, seemingly aware of the inappropriateness, then quickly turned and left.

After two or three rounds of drinks, some classmates cried during conversations, some became depressed, others laughed heartily, and some felt melancholy, all feeling that time flew by too quickly and they were unprepared for adulthood, burdened with family, spouses, children, car and house loans, and household chores, with no one carrying themselves anymore.

When your beloved grandfather passed, you realized it wasn’t you who had grown up, but he who had aged.

When you took your parents on a trip and saw them looking helpless in front of an electronic check-in machine, you realized it was they who had grown old.

When you brought a birthday cake home, made a lavish meal for your child, and lit the candles, you suddenly thought: How did I grow up?

We grew up unknowingly while they aged silently. In the end, we became them, and they became us.

The seventeen-year-old summer filled with cicada cries vanished;

The school-uniform-clad youth had grown up.

The feast eventually came to an end, and everyone was reluctant to part, unsure when they would gather again.

He Yunyi caught up with Chen Ningxi in the hallway, "How are you getting home? I called a driver, let me take you."

Chen Ningxi smelled the strong scent of alcohol on him and saw the restrained impulse in his eyes. He must have seen that pair too.

Politely declining, she said, "No need, I also called a driver."

He Yunyi gave a small "oh," and silently followed behind her. She could feel his hesitation, or perhaps he was mentally preparing himself. Seeing someone ahead, Chen Ningxi called out:

"Zhang Yuetong, wait for me."

Zhang Yuetong turned her head at the sound, "Hey, Ning Xi, where do you live, is it on the way, give me a ride."

Chen Ningxi quickened her pace to catch up, hooking her arm with Zhang Yuetong’s, "It’s on the way."

He Yunyi could only watch them walk away and suddenly sobered up, feeling ashamed of his own pettiness.

The two had just stepped outside and hadn’t yet descended the steps when Zhang Yuetong looked at the person below and asked Chen Ningxi, "Is your husband picking you up?"

"Huh?" Chen Ningxi was momentarily confused before noticing Cheng Qiaobei standing by the stone lion at the restaurant’s entrance.

At that moment, the night breeze under the ink-black sky became unbelievably gentle, countless tiny stars sprinkled like diamonds, the rain scattered, and memories unfolded like a play, overlaid with line after line, pressing down on her heart with a bittersweet tang.

It turned out that longing had a flavor.

He wore a pale blue pinstriped shirt, neatly rolled at the cuffs, his trousers sharp, and his hair tidily combed. The calm and noble demeanor of a man radiated from him uncontrollably.

Such a handsome man was actually her husband. Chen Ningxi rarely engaged in such thinking, but at this moment, she felt a profound pride emanating from within her.

Cheng Qiaobei stepped forward with a gentle, "Didn’t I tell you to eat slowly and not rush?"

Chen Ningxi: "..."

When did he say that?

He Yunyi exited the restaurant just in time to see Cheng Qiaobei, who flashed a charming smile that only a mature man could exude and greeted He Yunyi:

"Hello, Mr. He."

He Yunyi didn’t know whether it was the wind or the unexpected sight of Cheng Qiaobei that caused his body to sway slightly, nearly stumbling.