Those Classmates who Suddenly Disappeared
Chapter 426: Watching the Flower Parade Together

Chapter 426: Chapter 426: Watching the Flower Parade Together

At seven in the evening, with just an hour to go before the float parade, the major streets nearby were all blocked off. Everyone had to walk to the location.

After Gu Fan, Lin Xi, and others got off the subway, they followed the crowd. No need for directions, joking and laughing all the way. Word was there’d be some big celebrities performing tonight. Who exactly was going to be there was kept under wraps for now.

To Lin Xi’s left was Li Xiaoyan, and to her right was Gu Ling. Three girls in one show, incessantly chatting when they got together. Talking about a cool clothing store they wanted to visit, and so on.

In comparison, Gu Fan, Lu Yi, and Jie chatted about eSports competitions and basketball games. The conversation topics between the men and women were totally different. Each group engaged in their own conversations, occasionally exchanging a few words.

At the venue, the crowd overflowed on both sides of the street. Even the tall Gu Fan had to tiptoe to barely see the scene ahead, making it tough for the girls who didn’t want to have made the trip for nothing.

So Lin Xi hastily called Du Jun for help in arranging a good spot. Without a second thought, Du Jun booked an open-air high-end restaurant on the fifteenth floor. The view and scenery were both spectacular.

The elegantly-lit restaurant, coupled with the city’s brilliant lights and the crowd below, made everyone feel that Du Jun had finally done something right.

Knowing that this was arranged by Du Jun, Li Xiaoyan couldn’t help but ask, "Didn’t Du Jun go abroad for further studies? How come Lin Xi, just one call from you could get him to help us get such a great viewing spot?"

Listening to this, and seeing the puzzled expression on Li Xiaoyan’s face, Lin Xi realized how foolish she’d been for not considering this.

Everyone knew that Du Jun had pursued Lin Xi and didn’t give up even when she started dating Gu Fan. In theory, Lin Xi should not have sought help from Du Jun in front of Gu Fan.

Just when Lin Xi didn’t know how to explain, Li Xiaoyan with a hopeful expression said, "Since you can reach Du Jun, and quickly arranged this place for us, it means Du Jun is in town. Is he going to join us later?"

Lin Xi was taken aback at first, but then it dawned on her that Li Xiaoyan hadn’t given up on Du Jun yet. What Li Xiaoyan really cared about was whether Du Jun would show up.

This was when Lu Yi, the doomsayer, said, "Why don’t we just invite Du Jun and Qin Jia together?"

"Who’s Qin Jia?" Li Xiaoyan was puzzled. She wondered if the unfamiliar name coupled with Du Jun meant her dream of joining the wealthy elite had been shattered.

Lin Xi gave Lu Yi a look of ’shut your mouth’, as if things weren’t complicated enough already.

Understanding Lin Xi’s plight, Li Xiaoyan was a good friend, as was Qin Jia. If her two good friends become love rivals, Lin Xi wouldn’t be able to take sides. Should Li Xiaoyan ever learn why Du Jun ended up with Qin Jia, she’d probably sever ties with Lin Xi in a heartbeat.

"What a headache. Why didn’t I consider this when I played matchmaker with Du Jun and Qin Jia?" Lin Xi wasn’t regretful, just feeling like she hadn’t thought things through.

Fortunately, Du Jun only arranged the location and didn’t plan to come himself so, for the moment, everything seemed safe.

At this point, Lu Yi also realized something was off. She warned, "I worry that Du Jun might show up with Qin Jia unexpectedly, putting you in an awkward position, Lin Xi."

"Lu Yi, if you don’t shut up, I swear I’ll tear your doomsayer mouth apart...." Lin Xi was worried sick when suddenly she saw Du Jun walking in with Qin Jia.

Not only was Lin Xi taken aback, but everyone else was also stunned. Then Lin Xi’s murderous look focused on Lu Yi as she muttered, "Lu Yi, you should thank Gu Fan. Otherwise, I would have thrown you, the doomsayer, off of this building. If tonight ends in chaos, it won’t be just me having a hard time, you won’t have it easy either."

At this moment, Lu Yi was hitting her own mouth in regret, genuinely baffled as to how she became a doomsayer.

As soon as Du Jun and Qin Jia arrived, they greeted everyone cordially. Gu Fan voluntarily made room for them. All seemed very pleased to see each other, acting like old friends who hadn’t seen each other for ages.

Du Jun, who now had Qin Jia, was no longer Gu Fan’s love rival. On top of that, Gu Fan had to thank Du Jun. If it weren’t for Du Jun’s revelation, Gu Fan would have never known that he had missed out on Lin Xi, who still loved him deeply.

Luckily, the two men were friends now, probably one of the rarest occurrences.

However, a new rivalry emerged as Li Xiaoyan continuously darted meaningful glances at Qin Jia, appearing to be sizing her up. Qin Jia also noticed Li Xiaoyan’s hostility. Driven by women’s intuition, Qin Jia immediately took a disliking to Li Xiaoyan.

Du Jun suddenly felt an oppressive atmosphere envelop him, making him uncomfortable. Completely clueless about what had happened, he looked at Gu Fan for help.

Gu Fan just shrugged. indicating that he was helpless. In the battlefield of womanhood, it is best for bystanders not to interfere. Otherwise, the aftermath can be ugly.

Lin Xi massaged her temples, feeling the incoming headache. Both of them were her best friends—it was like being forced to choose between two beloved children. It seemed a fight could break out at any moment, leaving her, stuck in the middle, in quite a predicament.

Just thinking about it got Lin Xi angry. She shot a fierce glance at Lu Yi, who by that point turned into a turtle hiding in his shell.

Nevertheless, everyone managed to keep up appearances: eating, drinking, chatting, and laughing to liven up the atmosphere. In particular, the ever-lively Gu Ling prattled on like a happy little bird. She was the only one who was oblivious to the shift in the atmosphere. Her energy was infectious.

Right now, Lin Xi was counting on Gu Ling to keep the mood high and prevent Li Xiaoyan and Qin Jia from confronting each other.

Truth be told, Li Xiaoyan wasn’t inferior to Qin Jia. In fact, she had known Du Jun longer. Sometimes, fate just works like that. It’s not about being early, it’s about being timely.

Looking from Li Xiaoyan’s perspective, her dream of joining the elite class had been shattered. She would surely feel regretful, especially when that dream was crushed by her good friend, Lin Xi.

In her heart, Lin Xi prayed a thousand times over that Li Xiaoyan doesn’t find out. Please, let her not find out.

At this moment, Li Xiaoyan checked her phone and was surprised to find out that Yang Xinran was nearby as well. She was also there to watch the parade. Since they were all in the same place, why not get together?

Hearing Li Xiaoyan’s suggestion, everyone’s heart sank. Lin Xi had heard that Yang Xinran had a date with her boyfriend that night, so if Yang Xinran was nearby, could it possibly mean...