Shen Youjin was listening to the gossips when her hand holding the chopsticks froze in mid - air.
Just as she was about to fight back, the sound of footsteps came from outside the door.
The next second, the door of the private room was pushed open again.
A clear and pleasant female voice rang out behind her, full of the vitality of the whole midsummer.
"Sorry! There was a traffic jam on the way. I'm late!"
The long - awaited clear voice rang out behind her. Shen Youjin's heart was instantly covered with the vines of joy.
She didn't notice that Gu Zhiyuan retracted the hand that wanted to interrupt those people.
She turned around and saw that Ling Qiuqiu still had her neat short hair. Her face seemed not much different from the one in her memory.
Youthful, bright, and full of vitality. Even the red mole under her eye was still as vivid as ever.
"Qiuqiu..."
Shen Youjin couldn't help calling out her name, but Ling Qiuqiu just gave her a quick glance and then looked at the empty seat beside Gu Zhiyuan.
"Is this seat reserved for me?" Ling Qiuqiu put her hands in her pockets. "I don't deserve it. I'll just sit here!"
She casually picked up an idle chair and wanted to find a suitable place, but found that all the seats in the room were occupied.
This was the chance Gu Zhiyuan had been waiting for. "Student Shen, come and sit over here. Make room for Student Ling."
Shen Youjin looked at Ling Qiuqiu. Ling Qiuqiu raised her eyebrows with the chair in her hand, looking at her as if she were a stranger.
Her heart was stabbed for a moment. After hesitating for five seconds, she still made room for Ling Qiuqiu.
If it were someone else, she definitely wouldn't have done so, because only she knew how much psychological pressure it took to sit beside Gu Zhiyuan.
She picked up her bag and finally sat beside Gu Zhiyuan, like a canary that couldn't return to its master's cage.
Gu Zhiyuan pushed his glasses with his slender fingers, and a smile curled up on his lips.
"Okay, since everyone is here, let's raise a glass to Teacher Gu!"
Led by the class monitor, everyone poured a glass of wine. Only Shen Youjin's glass was empty.
"I've quit drinking." She poured a glass of tea. "Drinking tea instead of wine. Does Teacher Gu mind?"
She deliberately emphasized the words "Teacher Gu". She didn't believe that as a teacher, he would dare to force her to drink in front of so many people.
Gu Zhiyuan sized her up, his eyes full of scrutiny. She just calmly met his gaze, waiting for his judgment.
But before Gu Zhiyuan could answer, an unpleasant voice rang out again.
"Shen Youjin, you're really being so impolite! It's an honor for you that someone like Teacher Gu would drink your wine."
"Yeah! Stop pretending! You must have drunk a lot outside, right?"
"Ling Qiuqiu, you were the closest to her before. Persuade her!"
Shen Youjin turned to look at Ling Qiuqiu and accidentally met her eyes.
Ling Qiuqiu was sitting there, exuding a strong aura, but her smile made Shen Youjin feel uneasy.
She had treated Ling Qiuqiu so badly back then. Would Ling Qiuqiu help these people persuade her to drink?
"If you want to persuade her, do it yourself. Don't drag me into it." After a long while, Ling Qiuqiu said indifferently. "I haven't been in touch with her for a long time."
After saying that, she filled her own glass without even giving Shen Youjin another look.
Shen Youjin bit her lip. It was impossible not to feel sad, but she could only blame herself.
Everyone was quietly watching the show. The class monitor wanted to take this opportunity to regain his lost face, but Gu Zhiyuan suddenly spoke up.
"You're all classmates. If you keep acting like this, I'll have to consider whether I've come to the wrong reunion." After saying that, he glanced at Shen Youjin. "Student Shen has been wronged. With the teacher here, you can drink whatever you like."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was stunned. Gu Zhiyuan was obviously helping Shen Youjin and even seemed to be standing up for her!
He was the young master of the Gu family, one of the five great families. He had always been very strict with the women around him, and there had never been any scandals about him. How could this be...
The class monitor was already sweating profusely. If Gu Zhiyuan had taken a fancy to Shen Youjin, then his targeting of her at the beginning...
He didn't dare to think any further. For the rest of the time, he changed his previous attitude and was much more polite to Shen Youjin.
Shen Youjin remained unmoved. She could tell that the class monitor still didn't think much of her.
After three rounds of drinks, the originally tense atmosphere relaxed, and everyone was a little drunk.
Only Shen Youjin and Gu Zhiyuan were sober. She was because she hadn't drunk, and Gu Zhiyuan was because he had drunk very little.
For a big shot like him, just showing up here was already giving them face. He didn't drink just anyone's wine.
Watching Ling Qiuqiu get up and leave the table, Shen Youjin asked in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "Why did you come here?"
Gu Zhiyuan picked up a piece of fish she liked and put it on her plate. "Guess?"
Shen Youjin was startled by his action. She quickly looked around to make sure no one was paying attention before she felt relieved.
"I'm going to the bathroom."
She stood up, picked up the gift bag she had prepared long ago, and walked out.
Gu Zhiyuan knew what she was going to do but didn't stop her. He just picked up the wine glass in front of him and took a sip by himself, with a meaningful smile on his lips.
It seemed that his little girl still didn't understand that people would change.
So much time had passed. Who would be waiting for her in the same place?
It was the same for love as it was for friendship.
In front of the lavishly decorated sink, Ling Qiuqiu was washing her hands. When she looked up, she saw Shen Youjin suddenly appear in the mirror.
Those eyes were still as clear and innocent, so charming that she used to can't help but want to protect her every time she looked at her.
But now, she showed an indifferent expression, dried her hands, and was about to leave.
She didn't want to talk to Shen Youjin!
"Qiuqiu, I have something to tell you."
Shen Youjin quickly grabbed Ling Qiuqiu's wrist, her voice full of earnestness.
Ling Qiuqiu glanced at her and unhesitatingly shook her off.
"I have nothing to say to you."
Shen Youjin chased after her and eagerly explained, "Qiuqiu, what happened back then was a misunderstanding. It was Shen Qilin..."
She spoke very fast, as if Ling Qiuqiu would disappear from her sight if she spoke one second slower.
Just as she finished her last sentence, Ling Qiuqiu stopped walking.
Her heart began to race, but she found that when Ling Qiuqiu turned around, the smile on her lips was full of mockery. It made her heart sink into an icy lake in an instant.
"Are you saying that just because you had your reasons, I should forgive you?" Ling Qiuqiu looked at her coldly. "I chased after you so many times. Why didn't you say anything? Since you didn't say it then, there's no need to say it now."
After saying that, Ling Qiuqiu turned around, tossed her coat, and left without looking back.
Only Shen Youjin was left standing there quietly, still holding the gift that she hadn't even had a chance to give away.