C64 – Encountering an Old ssmate


    The morning streets bustled with activity.


    Surrounding him were numerous office buildings, and the passersby were all office-goers, many of whom bore signs of weariness.


    Once upon a time, Su Ming had been one of them.


    As Su Ming strolled along, a person suddenly emerged from a nearby corner.


    This individual’s attire was disheveled, holding a briefcase in their right hand and a bun in their left, hastily cramming it into their mouth.


    However, their rapid pace prevented them from dodging when they spotted Su Ming, resulting in a collision.


    Su Ming remained unharmed.


    Yet, the person slipped and tumbled onto the dew-covered grass nearby.


    The grass glistened with dewdrops.


    “This is my brand-new suit.”


    Frustrated, the person rose from the ground. “Old Su?”


    Seeing Su Ming, they were taken aback.


    Su Ming was equally surprised.


    It was his high school ssmate, Wang Kai!


    The two of them had been close in high school, but after heading off to university, their contact had dwindled. Just recently, Su Ming had heard that Wang Kai hadnded a good job. He hadn’t expected to encounter Wang Kai in Eastsea.


    It was truly a remarkable coincidence.


    Wang Kai blinked and couldn’t resist yfully punching Su Ming. “It’s been four or five years since west met.”


    Su Ming also felt delighted. “Do you work around here?”


    “Yes.”


    Wang Kai nodded. “I used to be in the provincial capital. But two months ago, thepany initiated a new project here, so they sent me over.”


    “Your career has clearly flourished.”


    Su Ming grinned.


    “I can’t chat for long; I’ll bete.”


    Wang Kai gestured to his watch. “I’ll call you after work. Let’s grab a drink and catch up.”


    “Certainly!”


    Su Ming nodded. After exchanging phone numbers, Wang Kai took his leave.


    Su Ming chuckled. Even after all these years, Wang Kai’s personality remained unchanged.


    Wang Kai seemed to be leading a prosperous life.


    His suit alone was worth at least ten thousand yuan, and his watch cost three or four thousand yuan.


    Su Ming randomly selected a mall for a meal and then headed to the cinema for a movie.


    It wasn’t until noon that he leisurely strolled out.


    Suddenly, Su Ming’s phone rang. Retrieving it, he saw it was Wang Kai.


    “Old Su, where are you? My project has wrapped up, and I can take a break for a couple of days. Let me treat you to a drink. It won’t interfere with your work, will it?”


    Wang Kai sounded delighted.


    “I’m currently without a job.”


    Su Ming offered a faint smile and scanned his surroundings. “There’s a new hotpot restaurant on Victory Road.”


    “Okay.”


    Su Ming shared the restaurant’s location with Wang Kai and entered the hotpot establishment.


    In less than ten minutes, Wang Kai arrived, and they exchanged pleasantries over a ss of wine, reminiscing about their college days.


    They toasted to the past and chatted about their current lives.


    “Hey, Su.”


    Wang Kai fixed his gaze on Su Ming and inquired, “I heard you were nning to tie the knot. How’s that going?”


    “We’ve called it quits,” Su Ming responded, taking a sip of his drink.


    “Why?”


    Wang Kai was momentarily surprised. “I thought you two were close, and your families were keen on the marriage.”


    “She’s expecting,” Su Ming disclosed with a faint smile. “Regrettably, it’s not my child.”


    Wang Kai mmed his ss on the table, eximing, “She actually did that? Breaking up with her was the right move.”


    Su Ming merely smiled and shook his head.


    Despite Wang Kai’s sessful career, he still had a short temper.


    “Su, have you found work yet?” Wang Kai suddenly asked. “If you’re open to it, I could rmend a job. I don’t mean to belittle you, but the cost of living in Eastsea is quite high.”


    Su Ming understood Wang Kai’s good intentions. He replied, “Kai, I don’t need a job.”


    Su Ming smiled faintly, adding, “The ie from my city-center farming covers my expenses.”


    Wang Kai shook his head, remarking, “You’re not even drunk yet, and you’re already boasting.”


    Su Ming chuckled and said nothing more.


    He was not one to unt his achievements.


    Suddenly, Wang Kai remembered something. He retrieved his phone and checked their high school ss group. “Did you know there’s a high school reunion tomorrow night?”


    “A reunion?”


    Su Ming expressed surprise. “It’s been two years since we graduated from university. Can we still get in touch with our high school ssmates?”


    Taking a sip of wine, Wang Kai exined, “Actually, most of our high school ssmates returned to Eastsea after finishing college. It’s a first-tier city, and their families are here.”


    Su Ming nodded in understanding.


    He inquired, “Who’s organizing the event?”


    Wang Kai replied with a meaningful tone, “Our ss monitor, Sun Ming.”


    Su Ming was unsurprised by the choice.


    Back in high school, Sun Ming, their ss monitor, was a wealthy second-generation student.


    He had good grades and ranked second in their ss during the college entrance exams, with Su Ming taking the top spot.


    At the high school graduation party, Sun Ming had belittled Su Ming multiple times.


    Wang Kai and a few others had defended Su Ming, but most students had remained silent, knowing they couldn’t afford to offend Sun Ming.


    Sun Ming’s father was a sessful entrepreneur, with local factories and various transportation ventures, amassing substantial wealth.


    Su Ming hailed from a rural background, and his family was of average means. However, they did have a family business, which Su Ming would take over upon graduating from university.


    Consequently, few people were willing to support Su Ming.