Chapter 1 The Reunion Of The Class Fallen On Hard Times
A class reunion was underway at the Cuiyuan Villa.
It was the fourth gathering organized by Class 92 of Huacheng High School, held every three years.
Dressed in suits and high heels, the attendees included dashing young men and elegant women, engaging in lively conversations about their companies' operations and progress.
In a corner, a man in a cheap short-sleeved shirt, purchased for fifty yuan at a street stall, sat alone, looking out of place among the affluent crowd.
"Li Shu, come join us! It's been ages since we last met, have a drink with us."
Zhang Tianyu, the class monitor who had ventured into politics post-graduation and now held a prominent position in the Huacheng government, had organized the reunion. He noticed Li Shu, who seemed to be on the sidelines.
Zhang Tianyu ushered Li Shu into the group.
"Li Shu, didn't you move down south after graduation? When did you return?"
"Don't ask. His company went under, and now he's just drifting without a job."
"What a pity, Li Shu. You were our top student back in the day. I saw Teacher Tian recently, and he was still singing your praises."
"Top student, and now you've fallen so far from grace. How did it come to this?"
The classmates chuckled, teasing Li Shu with a tinge of mockery in their words.
Li Shu forced a smile. Their words and laughter felt like sharp knives piercing him, leaving him wounded.
Back in school, everyone present had lower grades than Li Shu. Yet now, those who used to slack off were faring better than him.
Li Shu yearned to escape from this distressing environment.
"Let's raise our glasses and toast to the bond of our classmates." Zhang Tianyu intervened on Li Shu's behalf.
Li Shu smiled wryly, his gaze drifting towards a woman.
Wang Hongyu, the beauty of Class 92. Li Shu's girlfriend for three years in high school. He had given his all for her, only for her to choose material wealth and leave him.
Sensing Li Shu's stare, Wang Hongyu glanced at him disdainfully before flashing a charming smile and cozying up to a handsome young man beside her.
"Tianlin, weren't you going to announce our engagement today in front of everyone?"
Shen Tianlin, who consistently ranked last in Class 92 during exams, had performed poorly in the college entrance examination and failed to secure a university spot.
However, his father, the general manager of Huamei Company's Huacheng branch, was a prominent figure in the city. Shen Tianlin had now been promoted to vice general manager of the company, making him the wealthiest young master in the class.
"Yes, I almost forgot. Classmates, on this reunion day, I have a big announcement. I will be marrying Hongyu on the 13th of this month. I hope to see you all at the wedding."
"I've taken care of the drinks for today's reunion on behalf of everyone."
All eyes turned to Shen Tianlin, who was being showered with compliments.
"Top student, you must come! You were the best in our class, so your presence at my wedding is a must. Otherwise, it will lack luster!"
Shen Tianlin embraced Wang Hongyu and provocatively glanced at Li Shu.
Li Shu's lips quivered, struggling to find words.
He felt as though Shen Tianlin and Wang Hongyu had plunged a knife into his heart, causing it to bleed. Shen Tianlin was clearly trying to provoke him, the ex of Wang Hongyu.
Wang Hongyu sneered, "Darling, don't bother inviting this useless person. He can't even afford a gift, what good is he here for?"
"You!" Li Shu clenched his fists.
"What about me? Just calling you useless is already giving you too much credit. I'm embarrassed that I used to be with you. What do you have to compare to my husband?" Wang Hongyu's eyes were full of disdain.
"My husband is paying for this reunion. We are the hosts, and I don't welcome a useless person to attend. Please leave!" Wang Hongyu pointed to the door of the private room.
Class monitor Zhang Tianyu wanted to mediate, but Li Shu couldn't take it anymore. He pushed open the door and walked out.
As he stepped out of the private room, a cold wind blew, causing Li Shu to shiver. His body was cold, but his heart was even colder.
Why, why were all his classmates who used to perform worse than him now doing better? Why did he have to endure such mockery after giving everything to a woman?
"Waste! She called me a waste?"
Li Shu's heart was full of anger.
"One day, I will crush Shen Tianlin under my feet! I will make Wang Hongyu kneel in front of me, begging for my forgiveness! I will make everyone unable to lift their heads in front of me!"
Li Shu clenched his fists tighter.
"I always thought that dreams were the eternal direction, always disappointed, always hurt, how to hide, how to forget, tasting the vicissitudes of life alone, tears have flowed a thousand times..."
The phone suddenly rang, and Li Shu answered it, hearing his father's voice on the other end.
"Li Shu, your mother is sick, come back quickly."
"What? What happened to my mom? Dad, I'll come back right away, I'll take a taxi now!"
After hanging up the phone, Li Shu felt anxious.
His parents were both farmers, making a living by farming. They couldn't afford to eat or dress well on a daily basis, saving every penny to put him through college.
He thought that graduating from college and finding a job would allow them to live a good life. But he didn't expect that the company he had worked for almost ten years would go bankrupt. Now, approaching thirty, he still couldn't give them any return.
"Driver, hurry! Xiaoshan Village."
"Xiaoshan Village is not close, it will take two hours. Three hundred."
"Three hundred it is, hurry up!"
Li Shu checked his pocket, there was exactly three hundred yuan, he took it all out and gave it to the taxi driver.
"Mom, please don't have any accidents. If something happens to you, I will feel guilty for the rest of my life. You have suffered all your life, and I have never let you enjoy any happiness. You must wait for me to earn money, so I can buy you delicious food, nice clothes, and take you on a plane ride."
Li Shu's heart was about to burst with anxiety. Tears couldn't be held back any longer and streamed down his face.
"Young man, what's the use of crying like this as a grown man? When faced with a problem, you should find a solution. You are so young, what is there to be afraid of," the driver comforted Li Shu.
"No more crying! No more crying! Yes, I am still young, there is nothing to be afraid of, everything will be fine," Li Shu avoided the driver's gaze, wiped away his tears, and looked out of the window.
Outside the window, the rain started to drizzle. Li Shu thought of the times when his mother walked with him in the rain on muddy roads on the way to school.