Chapter 1981: 1980 Reunion
Chapter 1981: 1980 Reunion
When Jing Xiaocha arrived at Yi Pin Xuan Pavilion, it was already eleven fifty.
After paying the taxi fare, she got out of the car, and her phone started ringing.
Seeing the caller ID, Jing Xiaocha frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment, and then pressed the answer button, “Hello.”
“Xiaocha, are you at school?”
The voice on the phone was Jin Zheyu’s. Back then, when she went abroad as an exchange student, Jin Zheyu was one of those who went with her.
This time, when Jing Xiaocha returned to China, Jin Zheyu followed along again.
Jing Xiaocha looked up at the sign of Yi Pin Xuan Pavilion and said calmly, “I’m not at school.”
“I’m at school now. I heard you were here this morning. I was hoping to catch you for lunch. Where are you?”
“I have something to do outside. I’ll call you later.”
“Take care then.” Jin Zheyu’s voice was cheerful. Despite Xiaocha’s consistently indifferent attitude toward him, Jin Zheyu didn’t mind.
He believed that even if Jing Xiaocha were a stone, he could warm it.
Moreover, Jing Xiaocha wasn’t a stone; she was a warm-hearted person. Now, the whole school was buzzing with rumors that Jing Xiaocha was Jin Zheyu’s girlfriend, and the two of them were a perfect match.
With that, it was only a matter of time before Xiaocha became his girlfriend.
Jing Xiaocha went up to the third floor and happened to see Tongtong, Momo, and Xinxin running out from a private room.
Having not seen them for more than a year, both Tongtong and Momo and Xinxin had grown a lot, and it took Jing Xiaocha a couple of glances to recognize them.
She was overjoyed and cheerfully called out, “Tongtong…”
Wen Ran was following behind them and walked out of the private room, immediately seeing Jing Xiaocha a few steps away.
“Xiaocha.”
Surprise flashed in Wen Ran’s eyes, soon replaced by a delighted smile as she greeted her warmly.
At the sound of her voice, the three children also stopped and looked up at Jing Xiaocha.
Both Momo and Xinxin were too little and had already forgotten Jing Xiaocha, whom they hadn’t seen for over a year.
But Tongtong was different. After blinking her big eyes a few times, a brilliant smile bloomed on her little face as she sweetly called out, “Aunt Xiaocha.”
A surge of indescribable emotions filled Jing Xiaocha’s heart as she looked at the three children and Wen Ran standing just a few steps away.
The memories she had chosen not to remember played before her eyes like a slideshow.
After more than a year apart, Wen Ran was still just as beautiful and charming, without any changes.
Wen Ran stepped forward a few paces, came to Jing Xiaocha, and eagerly took her hand, looking her over, “Xiaocha, you’ve lost weight since going abroad. Did you have trouble adjusting?”
Jing Xiaocha felt warmth in her heart and shook her head, replying, “Sister Wen, I didn’t have trouble adjusting abroad, only my face lost weight, my body didn’t.”
Wen Ran observed her closely and then smiled, “It seems you’re right; apart from your face being thinner, you’re not lacking anything elsewhere.”
Hearing the teasing in her words, Jing Xiaocha blushed with embarrassment and laughed, “Sister Wen, you’re teasing me again.”
Wen Ran laughed even more joyfully, “Who told you not to inform us when you returned to the country? Come on, let’s go to the private room, everyone’s here now, except you.”
Wen Ran pulled Jing Xiaocha by the hand into the private room.
Indeed, the room was full, and a string of familiar faces came into view, making Jing Xiaocha’s emotions complex.
Especially among the beaming faces or those with faint smiles, Wen Jin was the only one with a calm expression and eyes as tranquil as water.
The full heart of warmth and gratitude in Jing Xiaocha turned cold and inexplicably cold when meeting his indifferent gaze.
Meanwhile, Wen Ran’s introduction faded away amidst this chill, leading her to wonder if Wen Jin didn’t want to see her.
“Xiaocha, today is Bai Xiaoxiao and Luo Haofeng’s registration day. Your timing couldn’t be better.”
Wen Ran’s voice brought Jing Xiaocha back to the present, and she smiled, offering her congratulations to Bai Xiaoxiao and Luo Haofeng, “Sister Bai, I wish you and President Luo happiness and a long, loving marriage.”
Bai Xiaoxiao pointed to the seat beside her, “Xiaocha, come sit here.”
An Lin teased, “Xiaocha, if you sit next to Xiaoxiao, you’ll catch some of her joy and quickly find a match for yourself.”
“Sister An, is this Qingqing?”
Jing Xiaocha curiously asked while looking at the cute little girl sitting next to Ziyi, who looked like a doll.
Before An Lin could respond, Ziyi said, “Aunt Xiaocha, this is Sister Qingqing.”
Everyone then introduced Qingqing and Tongtong’s younger brother Zinan to Jing Xiaocha.
Jing Xiaocha greeted everyone one by one, and when it came to Wen Jin, she hesitated inexplicably. Under everyone’s gaze, she softly said, “Brother Wen.”
“Mm.”
Wen Jin didn’t say any more, merely responding with a simple syllable.
Mo Xiuchen’s sharp eyes swept over Wen Jin, whose cool demeanor never broke into a smile for Jing Xiaocha, with a deep, inscrutable look passing through his eyes.
He noticed how Jing Xiaocha’s demeanor subtly shifted when facing Wen Jin, different from how she was with everyone else.
He faintly smiled.
Jing Xiaocha’s seat was directly opposite Wen Jin.
Wen Ran smiled and said, “Xiaocha, even though you’ve been abroad for over a year, don’t become distant from all of us.”
Jing Xiaocha maintained a polite smile, “Sister Wen, I won’t.”
“How about changing seats? You used to sit next to your big brother Wen. Now that you’re back, you might as well come help at the factory when you have time.”
Wen Ran’s suggestion was friendly, with a smile directed at Jing Xiaocha.
Jing Xiaocha’s eyes flickered and she subconsciously looked at Wen Jin, whose expression remained unchanged, as if he hadn’t heard Wen Ran’s suggestion.
Jing Xiaocha politely declined, “Sister Wen, I’m afraid I can’t help at the factory anymore.”
“Why not?”
Wen Ran asked, her curiosity piqued.
Bai Xiaoxiao, Bai Yiyi, and An Lin all looked at Jing Xiaocha in unison.
Jing Xiaocha smiled warmly and explained, “I’ve been busy rushing to publish a manuscript lately, and I don’t have time to take on other jobs.”
Upon hearing this, Wen Ran was delighted, “Xiaocha, have you become a writer now?”
“I’m just writing casually. I’ve always dreamed of being a writer since I was a child. Last year, while abroad, I tried writing, and surprisingly, a publisher took notice… It’s hard to explain in just a few words. I’ll tell you more when I have time later, Sister Wen.”
“Not just tell Sister Wen, but all of us.”
Bai Xiaoxiao playfully chimed in, looking at Jing Xiaocha with smiling eyes.
An Lin and Bai Yiyi also agreed, “Yes, yes, after the meal, you’ll have to tell us all about it and what you’ve published.”
Jing Xiaocha softly agreed.
Sitting across from her, Wen Jin’s eyes subtly shifted after her explanation, and he finally spoke, calmly saying, “Let’s start eating. We shouldn’t keep the children waiting.”
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