The meal lasted two or three hours. Toward the end, everyone began toasting one another. Wang Cheng was one of the centerpieces of the gathering, and because of Zhang Wu, plenty of people came to drink with him. Huang Tong’an had it even worse. Rumor had it his family was wealthier than Song Yuanyuan’s, so he was already someone certain classmates wanted to curry favor with and consequently had even more alcohol pushed on him. Fortunately, Tong Yangyang helped drink some of it, keeping him from getting truly drunk.
“Your alcohol tolerance hasn’t changed at all.” Huang Tong’an glanced at Wang Cheng, whose face was slightly flushed but whose mind was still clear, and remembered the time they had competed at drinking in high school. They had downed five or six bottles of beer and Wang Cheng’s expression had not changed. Back then, Huang Tong’an had sworn he would get Wang Cheng drunk someday. Then graduation came and he lost contact with Wang Cheng altogether. Later, he had even regretted not giving Wang Cheng a phone back then.
“Yours isn’t bad either. You’ve trained it these past few years, haven’t you?” Wang Cheng tugged at the clothes over his chest. Today he was wearing the shirt and sweater Chu Yifeng had bought him. Neither was especially thick, but Wang Cheng had always handled the cold well, and now that he had drunk a fair amount, he was starting to feel hot.
“I’m helping my dad at the company now. I have to entertain clients every day. It’s annoying as hell. How could my tolerance not improve?” Huang Tong’an did not want to talk about the mess of family obligations waiting for him at home. He wanted to start something freely like Wang Cheng and do whatever he liked, but as the only son, he was destined to inherit the family business.
“Plenty of people envy you.”
Countless people spent their whole lives drifting along, running themselves ragged and worrying over money. They envied the wealthy so much they wished they could trade backgrounds with them. But nobody could choose the family they were born into. If they simply surrendered to fate because of that, then they really would be destined to accomplish nothing. Most wealthy people had also reached their current position through their own efforts. What was the point of only envying others?
“I admit it, money is definitely a good thing. But wouldn’t it be even better if I had more freedom? I’ve always wanted a freer, better life.” Huang Tong’an had drunk a little too much, and even his voice had begun to float.
A phone suddenly rang. Huang Tong’an thought it was his, but when he took it out, the screen was dark. “What the hell, not mine. Wang Cheng, your phone’s ringing.” As he spoke, he kicked Wang Cheng lightly. Wang Cheng was rubbing his eyes and had not reacted.
“Boss Chu, are you done talking?” Wang Cheng answered without looking. He assumed it was Chu Yifeng. Instead, Wang Ning’an’s voice suddenly came through the phone.
“Chengcheng.”
Wang Cheng’s back straightened instantly, and he became much more alert. “B-Big Brother? Why did you suddenly think of calling me this late?”
“Am I not allowed to call you at night? You thought it was your boss? I’d actually like to know why, this late at night, you expected your boss to be calling you.” Wang Ning’an was not as easily fooled as Papa Wang. In fact, he was even sharper than Mama Wang.
“Uh, Boss had an appointment with a client and needed an assistant, but he couldn’t find anyone else at night. Since I live across from him, he asked me to come along. I’m waiting for him at the hotel right now, so I thought he was finished.” Wang Cheng began lying with a completely straight face.
“Really?”
“Of course. Why would I lie to you for no reason? Big Brother, what did you call me about anyway? You didn’t really call just to ask this, did you?”
“Isn’t your agreement with Huaying Real Estate almost over? Are you planning to stay there and keep working?”
Thank goodness his brother did not know the details, or that lie would already have fallen apart. Wang Cheng hurried to patch it. “It expires in a few days. We originally agreed on three months, but later, because of some things, it was extended by half a month. I’m planning to resign and go home to work for myself. Big Brother, don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.”
“That’s fine. Mom just called me and said she tried calling you several times but you didn’t answer. She was afraid something had happened. Call her back when you have time so she won’t worry. I’ll tell her you’re all right first.”
“Got it.”
Wang Cheng checked his phone. Mama Wang had indeed called twice, both more than half an hour ago. It had probably been noisy then, with lots of people coming over to toast him, so he had not noticed.
“Was that your amazing big brother?” Huang Tong’an had vaguely heard Wang Cheng say Big Brother, though he could not make out the rest. He leaned over after Wang Cheng hung up. Wang Cheng had told him about his older brother before, supposedly a brilliant student and a famous figure at school. Huang Tong’an had always wanted to meet him, but by the time he transferred to Shanhai High School, Wang Cheng’s older brother was already in university and nearly graduating.
“That was him. If fate allows it, maybe you’ll run into him in the capital someday. Though even if you do, you won’t recognize him.” Wang Cheng set his phone near the edge of the table.
“Tch.” Huang Tong’an heard the schadenfreude in his tone.
At nine, Class Monitor Ma Song, acting as Song Yuanyuan’s representative, decided everyone had eaten and chatted enough and invited the group to go to KTV together. Not many people chose to go. Those who already had families were not planning to stay out. For women like Lin Qi, who already had a child at home to look after, even coming tonight had been difficult enough.
“Dandan, are you going?” Lin Qi asked.
Wei Dandan hesitated and looked in a certain direction.
Lin Qi followed her gaze and saw Wang Cheng and Huang Tong’an supporting a thoroughly drunk Tong Yangyang. She sighed and shook her head.
“Dandan, you might not like hearing this, but I still want to tell you. I actually knew you liked Wang Cheng back in high school. Because of Song Yuanyuan, you couldn’t confess then, and you probably regret that. But I don’t think the two of you are suited to each other.”
“But… I finally ran into someone I used to like again. I still want to try. Even if the result isn’t what I hope for, at least I won’t leave myself with regrets.” Wei Dandan was not surprised her friend had guessed. She had made her feelings fairly obvious today.
“All right. Since you’ve made up your mind, go for it.” Seeing her determination, Lin Qi could only support her, even though she had already guessed the likely outcome.
With her friend’s encouragement, Wei Dandan finally gathered her courage. When they reached the hotel lobby, she walked toward Wang Cheng.
Wang Cheng was complaining that Tong Yangyang might have slimmed down but was still heavy, perhaps because his bones were too dense. All three of them had been drinking, so they were walking unsteadily. If Huang Tong’an had not noticed Wei Dandan and nudged him, Wang Cheng would not have seen her.
“Wang Cheng, Ma Song said Song Yuanyuan invited us to KTV. Are you guys going?”
Wang Cheng shook his head without hesitation. “I’m tone-deaf. I’m afraid I’ll scare everyone away, so I’m not going.” The moment he heard Song Yuanyuan’s name, he lost whatever interest he might have had.
Huang Tong’an did not expose him. Back in their third year, the three of them had gone karaoke together before. Wang Cheng’s singing could not compare to professional entertainers, but he was much better than Huang Tong’an and Tong Yangyang. At school, only the two of them knew.
“I see. Then I’m not going either,” Wei Dandan said, trying to sound casual.
“Better not. It’s dangerous for a girl to stay out all night. Men have less to worry about. A man could sleep by the roadside and no one would bother with him.”
Hearing his concern for her safety, Wei Dandan smiled. “I was worried about that too, so I won’t go. By the way, are you free this weekend…”
“Wang Cheng.”
The sudden voice cut her off. Wang Cheng turned and saw Chu Yifeng walking out of the hotel alone. His client had probably already left. Chu Yifeng had a strong presence, and everyone around the entrance was one of Wang Cheng’s classmates, so the moment he approached, they all noticed him.
Wei Dandan suddenly became nervous, and her occupational reflex almost kicked in.
“Finished?” Wang Cheng asked naturally, not thinking anything of it. He had already planned to call Chu Yifeng after Huang Tong’an and Tong Yangyang left.
Chu Yifeng nodded. “Mm. Ready to go back?”
“They’re planning to go sing, but I’m not interested. I was just about to head back.”
“Then let’s go together.”
Wang Cheng suddenly looked troubled and pointed at his two friends. “What about them?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll get this damn fatso Tong Yangyang home. You go ahead. Don’t worry about us.” Huang Tong’an had sobered up the moment Chu Yifeng approached. His head had only been a little fuzzy to begin with, not truly drunk. Besides, he kept feeling Chu Yifeng looked familiar.
“You can’t drive after drinking,” Wang Cheng calmly pointed out. Even if Huang Tong’an was not drunk, he still could not drive. Wang Cheng did not want to wake up the next morning and see on television or in the newspaper that a certain Mr. Huang and Mr. Tong had gotten into a car accident.
“Do you think I’m stupid? I’m still young. Why would I gamble with my wonderful life? Of course we’re taking a taxi. All right, all right, hurry up and go. If you keep dawdling, it’ll get really late.” Huang Tong’an shoved him lightly and took over supporting Tong Yangyang himself.
The valet had already brought Chu Yifeng’s car around. Because it was maintained every month, the body was still glossy black. Wang Cheng reminded Huang Tong’an a few more times, then ignored everyone else’s stares and got into the car with Chu Yifeng before they drove away. Several people stared after them wide-eyed and could not help regretting that they had not gone over to ingratiate themselves with Wang Cheng during the reunion. How could someone who knew a man driving a sports car, and was close enough to be driven home by him, possibly be ordinary?
“Zhang Wu, did you already know? Do you know Wang Cheng?” Song Yuanyuan was stunned by the scene too. Wang Cheng had clearly said he was running a small family business. Where had this man with the sports car suddenly come from, acting so familiar with him? After Zhang Wu’s earlier warning, she had not thought too much of it. But now Wang Cheng’s circumstances seemed rather different from what she had imagined. If Zhang Wu really knew him… she suddenly felt uneasy. She had been badmouthing Wang Cheng to Zhang Wu for ages.
“I don’t know him. Today was the first time I ever heard of Wang Cheng.”
Zhang Wu did not want to explain too much to her. Things like judgment and bearing were too intangible, and even if he explained, she would not understand. He was already considering whether he should break up with Song Yuanyuan. He really did not know Wang Cheng, but he did know the man who had just left with him.