"You've lost weight, you're practically skin and bones."
Lin Fan chuckled.
Shi Tian's family owned a small restaurant, and his parents were excellent cooks. They had always kept him plump and fair-skinned since he was young.
By the standards of his school days, he had indeed lost a considerable amount of weight.
"When did you two hook up?"
Shi Tian glanced at Gao Lu, then at Lin Fan, and asked.
Gao Lu lowered her eyes and remained silent.
"Let's go, the other classmates are waiting,"
Lin Fan smiled and changed the subject.
Shi Tian understood and didn't pry further.
The three arrived at the hotel entrance. The other classmates looked at Lin Fan and Gao Lu with somewhat odd expressions.
Chen Feng gave a thumbs-up, "Xiao Fan's made it big, he can even afford a Ferrari now."
His words were clearly for pleasantries.
Everyone knew the car was bought by Gao Lu when she got together with Lin Fan.
"It's alright. I originally wanted to buy it, but the owner of Tiandi Car Dealership was generous and insisted on giving it to me," Lin Fan said truthfully.
"..."
Everyone was instantly speechless.
"You even know Mr. Wu?" Chen Feng was surprised.
"I just helped his wife conceive their second child, it's not a big deal," Lin Fan replied.
Chen Feng suddenly understood. Mr. Wu had been trying for a second child for years, visiting numerous top hospitals without success.
He thought it was his wife's issue and even took a mistress, but still, there was no sign.
Unexpectedly, Lin Fan had cured this "ailment"!
"Everyone's here, let's go inside."
Chen Feng ushered everyone into the hotel.
Upon learning that the Ferrari was bought by Lin Fan and not that he was living off Gao Lu's money, their attitudes towards him clearly shifted.
Lin Fan and Gao Lu were surrounded, like stars orbiting the moon.
Everyone was tacitly understanding, refraining from asking about Lin Fan and Gao Lu's personal matters.
"Xiao Fan is really something these days, treating important people every day, his pockets must be overflowing with money!"
"Not at all, not at all, just small money, all small money."
Lin Fan modestly replied.
The others cursed inwardly. He drove a Ferrari, yet claimed it was "small money." What an impressive show-off!
This Lin Fan, after so many years, was still as infuriating as ever!
However, they dared not voice it.
Back in school, they didn't dare because Shi Tian protected him.
Now, they didn't dare because he was a prominent figure!
The group took their seats, filling two tables.
Chen Feng, the organizer of the gathering, hadn't made any specific arrangements.
But everyone sat down very consciously, in their rightful places.
Those with money, status, and their own companies naturally gravitated towards each other, discussing profits from past projects and investments for future ones.
The ordinary individuals who took up jobs after graduation, earning a few thousand yuan a month with fixed salaries, had no common ground with them and could only huddle together for warmth.
"Xiao Fan, come sit over here!"
Chen Feng pulled Lin Fan and Gao Lu towards the table of classmates who had started their own businesses.
After dropping out, Lin Fan had only attended one other class reunion. This was his second.
Last time, he had been somewhat shy; this time, he was much more relaxed.
"Come, to our reunion, let's all raise our glasses!"
Lin Fan raised his glass, initiating the toast.
Each person, with their own complex emotions, clinked their glasses together.
No one drank first. Instead, they all looked at Lin Fan, intentionally or unintentionally.
Seeing Lin Fan drain his glass in one gulp, they then followed suit.
"Don't all stare at me, let's eat!"
Lin Fan picked up his chopsticks, and the others followed.
He had now become the central figure of this gathering.
"Remember when Xiao Fan fought with the class monitor back then? As the saying goes, you don't get to know someone until you fight. Shouldn't you two toast?" someone suggested. xxs壹贰
Chen Feng chuckled and raised his glass, "I've never been beaten by anyone in my life, except for that one time in childhood when Xiao Fan hit me on the back with a brick. It still hurts!"
Lin Fan burst into laughter and clinked glasses with him, "I remember the teacher told you back then, 'Lin Fan hit you, hit him back! What are you crying about?'"
"Right, what did you say back then?"
"The class monitor said, 'Teacher, I, I can't beat him, he fights like he's risking his life!'"
At this, the crowd erupted in laughter.
Even Shi Tian, who was somewhat introverted, laughed uncontrollably.
The guests clinked glasses and drank heartily.
With glass after glass of alcohol consumed, most were already feeling tipsy.
Some complained about the unfairness of fate, how their diligent work was met with ostracism from colleagues.
Others had recently gone through a breakup; the reason was that all their money had been spent on the bride price for their girlfriend, and because they couldn't afford to buy a house outright, she refused to marry.
"Do you know? Every day after work, I sit in my car for half an hour, smoking one cigarette after another... Why is it so hard for us men! We act like subservient dogs earning money outside, and then have to face our wives' moods at home."
"Today she complains you don't earn enough, tomorrow she grumbles you don't wash your feet before sleeping. I get kicked out to the bathroom just for wanting to smoke a cigarette at home. What on earth am I working so hard for?"
"Xiao Fan, if only I had your skills, then no one would dare offend me!"
Lin Fan smiled and comforted him, "Don't compare yourself to me. Look at Chen Feng, he inherited such a large family business, he doesn't need to work hard his entire life."
Chen Feng smiled wryly and waved his hand, "Every family has its own burdens. You see me all glamorous on the surface, but actually, the hotel is drowning in debt and is about to go under."
The others were surprised and instinctively looked at Chen Feng.
However, since he was unwilling to elaborate, they didn't press.
"Xiao Fan."
A female classmate, with blurry eyes, walked over holding a wine glass.
Her name was Lin Shanshan. She was the beauty of the class back then. She had developed well physically since childhood, and the male classmates privately called her "little chubby girl."
Many male classmates had a crush on her.
Even now, including Chen Feng, they were still pursuing her.
When Lin Fan was in junior high, he had also written her a love letter.
However, she had a high opinion of herself and not only read the love letter aloud in front of the entire class but also tore it up and threw it in Lin Fan's face.
Later, she got into an art academy in the city and now worked as an extra in various film crews.
Her personal qualities were better than many famous stars, but unfortunately, she lacked resources and connections, making it incredibly difficult to achieve fame.
"Xiao Fan, it was all my fault back then. I shouldn't have humiliated you in front of so many people. I'm sorry!"
Lin Shanshan drank the contents of her glass in one go, then stumbled and almost fell.
Lin Fan quickly grabbed her arm, "I've long forgotten about what happened in childhood."
"Xiao Fan~"
Lin Shanshan bit her lip, then rubbed her hands together, as if she had made a significant decision.
"Xiao Fan, do... do you still... still like me?"
Her question caused the once boisterous private room to fall silent.