Chapter 9: Am I Meant to Be a Laborer?

If He Haoxuan were to arrive in a luxury car, it would surely mean he was doing well. If he came in an ordinary car, Chen Hanfei wouldn’t even bother to notice. Every year, Chen Hanfei organized these class reunions, hoping to draw in classmates who had made something of themselves, perhaps leveraging their connections to boost his own future career. Yet, after waiting so long, he still hadn’t seen He Haoxuan arrive.

Some of the latecomers, seeing the class monitor waiting outside, also lingered, chatting amongst themselves. Cao Dawei, hearing Chen Hanfei’s doubts, called He Haoxuan again. He Haoxuan had just parked a shared electric scooter when his phone rang. He answered, “Dawei, I’m here.”

“Where are you?” Cao Dawei looked around, never even glancing toward the shared scooters. After all, He Haoxuan was such an oddball—sandals and beach shorts, who would dress like that for a class reunion?

He Haoxuan spotted Cao Dawei and waved. At that moment, the classmates noticed him. “Is that He Haoxuan?”

“No way, has he become a laborer?”

Chen Hanfei’s face turned cold. “It’s about time. I’ll go in and take a look.” What He’s father had said about He Haoxuan doing well was just a parent’s opinion; what father would say his child was doing poorly?

As Chen Hanfei entered, the others followed, leaving only Cao Dawei waiting for He Haoxuan.

Cao Dawei walked over, sighing in resignation. “Haoxuan, you’re still as poor as ever? If money’s tight, you could’ve told me. At least rent something decent to wear.”

Cao Dawei thought that for such a gathering, unless He Haoxuan was truly destitute, he would have worn something more presentable.

“Good brother.” He Haoxuan patted Cao Dawei’s right shoulder.

“Come, let’s go inside, have something to eat, and drink a little.” Cao Dawei knew He Haoxuan was proud; he wouldn’t ask for money outright. It seemed he’d have to find another way to help him.

They entered room 368 at the hotel, which featured a large round table with an automatic turntable, seating about thirty people. According to Cao Dawei, their class had over sixty students, and only thirty or so had come. The rest were either out of town or simply didn’t want to attend.

“Monitor, Haoxuan’s here. Should we ask the waiters to start serving?” Cao Dawei asked Chen Hanfei.

Chen Hanfei shot him a glare. “What’s the rush? Xiaoyan hasn’t come yet.”

“What? The campus belle Yi Xiaoyan is coming?” A crew-cut young man behind them stood up, excited.

He Haoxuan, sitting at the back, trembled slightly, his gaze unfocused.

“Of course, it’s her. I spoke to her just yesterday,” Chen Hanfei boasted.

Cao Dawei asked, puzzled, “Monitor, didn’t Yi Xiaoyan refuse to join our reunions before?”

The crew-cut youth, Xu Jipeng, laughed. “Dawei, things are different now. This year, our monitor was promoted to section chief at the Human Resources Bureau. He’s got real power. Last time, I saw some official from another department bowing and scraping when he met our monitor—like he was greeting his parents.”

“Yes, yes, the monitor is really something,” the others chimed in, flattering Chen Hanfei.

After all, if any of them needed help in the city, they’d have to ask Chen Hanfei.

Chen Hanfei relished the compliments. Yesterday, when he called Yi Xiaoyan, she’d said she was busy. Later that afternoon, he called again, mentioning that He Haoxuan would also be attending. No matter how busy she was, she had to give him, the monitor, some face and come.

Sure enough, after a while, Yi Xiaoyan agreed to attend.

Ha! Xu Jipeng was right. Yi Xiaoyan must have seen him become a minor leader and was secretly interested. She must be considering him as a potential partner.

He’d chased Yi Xiaoyan since their first year of high school, employing many little tricks, but never succeeded. Now that he was in a position of authority, women’s hearts changed. No wonder so many elders said that once you hold power, you can have any beauty you desire.

Tonight, he would find a way to make things happen with Yi Xiaoyan.

Cao Dawei noticed He Haoxuan sitting at the furthest edge and moved over, whispering, “Haoxuan, I didn’t know Yi Xiaoyan would be here. If I had, I wouldn’t have invited you.”

He knew Yi Xiaoyan was He Haoxuan’s old wound, one that hurt him deeply.

He Haoxuan smiled. “Dawei, it’s been so many years. I hardly remember those old memories. It’s fine. I barely recognize everyone after so long.”

“Yeah, you seem much more mature now. If you hadn’t answered the phone, I wouldn’t have recognized you,” Cao Dawei thought of He Haoxuan’s arrival on the shared scooter and broke into a cold sweat.

Chen Hanfei called Xu Jipeng aside, whispering something to him.

Not long after, the private room door opened and a woman walked in. All the men’s gazes were drawn to her. She wore a white blouse with a floral collar and a black skirt, elegant and graceful. Her ponytail, though seemingly ordinary, made her look like a fairy descended to earth.

Chen Hanfei was stunned. If Xu Jipeng hadn’t nudged him, he might not have recovered.

He hurried over, smiling obsequiously. “Xiaoyan, we’ve been waiting for you. Come, sit next to me.”

He had already arranged for himself to sit at the head, with Yi Xiaoyan beside him.

Yi Xiaoyan nodded slightly, glanced around the room, and greeted everyone.

When she reached He Haoxuan’s side, her beautiful eyes flashed. “He Haoxuan, you seem to have changed a lot.”

Cao Dawei was quietly surprised. Could she still recognize He Haoxuan after so much change?

Just as Chen Hanfei beckoned Yi Xiaoyan over, she took a seat next to He Haoxuan. “Monitor, I’m sensitive to air conditioning. I’ll sit here if that’s alright.”

Chen Hanfei’s eyes widened; he silently cursed Xu Jipeng. “You idiot, why did you turn the air conditioning up so high?”

Now that everyone had arrived, Chen Hanfei asked the waiters to serve the dishes.

He Haoxuan said nothing, drinking tea as if his life depended on it.

“He Haoxuan, where are you working now?” Yi Xiaoyan asked.

Hearing her question, the classmates quieted, eager to know what job He Haoxuan held. After all, everyone else was dressed impeccably; none looked as shabby as He Haoxuan, worse than a laborer.

Chen Hanfei, unhappy that He Haoxuan sat beside Yi Xiaoyan, signaled to Xu Jipeng.

Understanding, Xu Jipeng called out, “He Haoxuan, with clothes that poor, are you working as a laborer, hauling bricks? I know some contractors, I can introduce you.”

“Xu Jipeng.” Yi Xiaoyan was displeased by his words.

Just then, the waiter brought in roast chicken. He Haoxuan grabbed a drumstick and bit into it. “If I were a laborer, would I not have to pay for this meal?”

“Hahaha.” Chen Hanfei was delighted at He Haoxuan’s shamelessness and laughed heartily.

Noticing everyone staring at him, he stopped laughing. “Eat up, everyone, or the food will get cold. He Haoxuan, don’t worry. Originally, everyone had to pay two hundred for this meal, but I’ll cover it for you, our laborer.”

To be able to put down He Haoxuan in front of Yi Xiaoyan, Chen Hanfei was thoroughly excited.