Going to Shen City for the Class Reunion

During the latter half of August, Fang Qingye led his team to the countryside every day while also attending meetings for the loan approval committee.

Had this been ordinary work alone, it would have been fine, but the bosses’ phone calls had become increasingly frequent.

They inquired about approval results, pressured him to grant approvals, and more often than not, invited him out for lavish dinners, drinking sessions, karaoke, and sauna baths.

Things went even further when they invited him to the Royal Win International Entertainment Club located downtown.

Damn it!

What kind of place was that?

It was the Jinghai version of "Heaven on Earth"!

Every day before this upscale entertainment club opened, all the "princesses," "princes," and hostesses would assemble along the roadside to receive "instructions," forming a crowd of handsome young men and women that became a distinct "street spectacle."

I am still a virgin in this lifetime, and they want me to go to places like that?!

Fang Qingye simply could not take it anymore. He had originally planned to wait for the Apple 4 to drop before directly switching to a smartphone, but it seemed he could no longer wait.

He went to the China Mobile store and bought a Samsung G808 slider phone, a model whose advantage was its dual-SIM, dual-standby capability.

Fang Qingye bought a new mobile number, sent a group text to his friends announcing his new phone number, and turned off his old phone right after getting off work. The world instantly became much quieter.

Today was Friday, and Fang Qingye went home on time.

Zhang Qunying had originally proposed working overtime on Sunday so the review committee could hold a meeting to assess the backlog of corporate loan applications from the past few days, but Fang Qingye refused.

I want to go fishing!

Of course, he couldn't say that out the door, so he claimed he had family matters over the weekend and needed to help his grandfather tend to the plant nursery.

Su Ming also smiled and said he had to accompany his child to the city over the weekend and probably wouldn't have time.

"Let's schedule it for Monday instead," Xia He finally said.

Deep down, she didn't want to work overtime either.

Fang Qingye went home for dinner, planning to head to Yikang Garden to play badminton with Xia He in the evening. Before he even left, he suddenly received a call from Song Dahai.

"Yezi, are you home?"

"Yes. Don't ask me out for dinner, I have plans tonight," Fang Qingye replied.

"No, I'm coming over to drop off a gift for you."

Fang Qingye was somewhat surprised. "You're bringing me a gift? What kind of play is this?"

"It's not from me, it's from Boss Tian. His loan has already been approved, and he insisted on showing his gratitude while asking what to send. I told him you liked drinking tea, especially Dahongpao, so he bought a box."

Oh, so that was it.

"Well, thank you then," Fang Qingye replied.

There was no need for him to act like a saint untainted by worldly affairs.

Song Dahai delivered the tea and left. Fang Qingye opened the exquisite packaging, took out some leaves, and brewed a cup.

Not bad.

However, it wasn't the aromatic variety, and it still fell a bit short compared to what Song Dahai's old man drank.

That kind of stuff was hard to buy on the open market nowadays.

He would drink it when he returned.

Fang Qingye packed his sports bag for badminton when his phone rang again. Glancing at the screen, he was surprised to see it was a call from a college classmate.

The caller was Liu Shuai, who had been the class monitor and roommate during Fang Qingye's university days. He was also from Jiangsu Province, though specifically from a rural area in Northern Jiangsu. What deeply moved Fang Qingye was Liu Shuai's sheer perseverance—it was said he was single-mindedly determined to attend Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, taking the entrance exams three years in a row before finally getting in, bearing a strong resemblance to a modern-day Fan Jin.

Yet Liu Shuai was no mere bookworm. On the contrary, he was lively, enthusiastic, and warm-hearted. Perhaps because he was a few years older than his classmates, he handled matters with maturity and served as class monitor for all four years.

During graduation season, he took the national civil service exam, applying for a position with the Shanghai Banking Regulatory Commission. Fighting his way through rounds of elimination, he ultimately passed and stayed in Shanghai to work, becoming the envy of his peers.

After Fang Qingye answered the call, Liu Shuai announced that he was organizing a class reunion in Shanghai on August 31st—the day after tomorrow, which was Sunday—and insisted that Fang Qingye must attend.

"Qingye, the two of us ate out of the same bowl back in our school days. This is the first time I'm organizing a class reunion, so you have to support me and show up on time," Liu Shuai said over the phone.

Since things had reached this point, Fang Qingye could only agree and promise he would definitely come.

The gathering was set for the day after tomorrow at noon, so it would be best to set off tomorrow.

Sigh, it seemed his fishing trip was going down the drain.

As Fang Qingye pondered this, he suddenly remembered that Bai Ou was also about to return to school for the start of the semester, and wondered if she would be willing to travel together. In the past, Bai Ou's father had always driven her to school.

It would also make good company along the way.

Fang Qingye took out his phone and immediately dialed Bai Ou's number.

"Bai Ou, I'm heading to Shanghai the day after tomorrow for a college reunion and plan to drive over tomorrow. Would you like to share the ride?"

"Sure! I was originally planning to leave the day after tomorrow, but tomorrow works too. What time are we leaving?" the girl asked happily on the other end.

"You name it."

"Hmm... how about eight-thirty?"

"Alright, I'll drive over to the entrance of your residential complex to pick you up then."

"Okay."

Just as Fang Qingye hung up, his mother, Zhang Meili, pushed open the door, cracking sunflower seeds as she asked, "Xiaoye, are you and Xiao Ou going to Shanghai together tomorrow?"

"I'm going to a college reunion, and isn't Bai Ou heading back to Shanghai for school? So we're just going together... Mom, how are your ears so sharp? You heard all that?" Fang Qingye asked.

Zhang Meili didn't answer her son's question, instead cautioning, "Don't let your dad know. Be careful or your dad will scold you."

"My dad is really... so narrow-minded. Besides, what's wrong with Bai Ou hitching a ride? We're childhood friends after all," Fang Qingye complained.

"Just keep it in mind," Zhang Meili looked at her son, "Actually, I think you and Xiao Ou are quite a good match. You know each other inside and out, but unfortunately, you probably won't get past your dad's objection."

"Bai Ou hasn't even graduated yet, and whether she'll come back to work in the future is uncertain—she might just stay in Shanghai," Fang Qingye said, adding, "Besides, I haven't considered these things yet."

"Suit yourself," Zhang Meili said, turning back to the living room to continue watching television.

Fang Qingye shook his head, shouldered his bag, and left the house.

Waking up a little past seven the next morning, Fang Qingye finished breakfast, packed two changes of clothes into his travel bag, and drove to the entrance of the Binhai Garden residential complex at eight-twenty to wait for Bai Ou.

Within a few minutes, he saw Bai Ou dragging a large rolling suitcase out of the complex, followed by a middle-aged couple, with the man carrying a large cardboard box.

"Uncle Bai, Aunt Wan," Fang Qingye greeted with a smile.

"Xiaoye, thank you so much! It's a huge relief that you can drive Xiao Ou to Shanghai. I've been extremely busy with work lately and simply haven't had the time," Bai Chuanzhe said.

"You're welcome, I'm heading that way anyway... Uncle Bai, is that an orchid in the box? Let's put it in the back seat," Fang Qingye said as he opened the car door.

The suitcase was loaded into the trunk, Bai Ou took the front passenger seat, and Fang Qingye started the car engine.

"Bye, Mom and Dad!"

"Goodbye, Uncle and Aunt!"

"Goodbye, drive safe on the road!"

As the car drove away, Bai Chuanzhe watched its receding figure and remarked, "What a fine couple they make."

"In your dreams!" his wife retorted playfully. "Do you think you can talk Fang Jianwen around?"

"That old Fang, what deep hatred or grudge does he hold against me anyway? Back in the day, we even ate out of the same bowl... Sigh," Bai Chuanzhe sighed.