Chapter 187: Class Gathering Excitement

After the homeroom teacher left, everyone kept discussing the programs or chatting away.

The noise seemed quieter yet more chaotic.

Lin Zheng Ran and Jiang Qian were tallying the programs everyone wanted to sign up for when a few girls curiously asked:

“Class monitor, we’ve heard other classes are having gatherings tonight. How about ours? Let’s invite the teacher too.”

A boy chimed in, “Yeah, high school’s over and other classes are gathering. Does our class have any funds left? If so, we can use them for the meal and everyone can chip in for the rest.”

Seeing everyone’s strong interest, Lin Zheng Ran smiled and nodded:

“A gathering sounds great. Let me check with everyone. We have some unused class funds I was going to distribute, but if you all want to gather, we can use them for the meal instead.”

The boys and girls cheered.

Lin Zheng Ran stood at the podium: “Does everyone want to go to the gathering tonight? Raise your hand if you do, so I can see how many.”

As soon as they heard about the gathering, everyone was surprisingly eager.

Everyone raised their hands.

With the graduation ceremony still ahead, no one could leave yet, and at that moment, they were all happy to share a meal—otherwise, once it ended, some might never see each other again.

Lin Zheng Ran laughed: “Alright, since you’re all up for it, how about this afternoon? We’ll use the class funds for the meal; if it’s not enough, I’ll cover the rest.”

Before he finished, Jiang Qian stepped up to the podium: “I’ll handle the rest. Let me treat everyone to dinner.” She whispered to Lin Zheng Ran so only they could hear: “You don’t need to pay; consider it my treat for you.”

The whole class thanked them in unison: “Thank you, class monitor and deputy class monitor! May you both have endless blessings and long life.”

Fang Meng smiled from below, thinking the blessing was quite over-the-top.

She watched the two silently.

Once the gathering was set, Lin Zheng Ran and Jiang Qian went to tell the teacher about the meal.

The homeroom teacher was thrilled and eager to join: “Sounds good! Once I wrap up today’s work, I’ll come eat with you all in the evening!”

They picked a simple spot: a large barbecue restaurant.

It had two floors.

Coincidentally, Heqing’s Class Three was also dining there tonight, just on a different floor.

Lin Zheng Ran learned about it when he called the Three Little Ones that afternoon.

Hearing both classes were gathering, they decided to combine the events.

Lin Zheng Ran’s class was on the second floor, while Heqing’s was on the first.

In the large private room on the second floor, students chatted and laughed with the homeroom teacher during the meal, with some toasting like adults.

They talked about missing the teacher and each other, promising occasional meetups, while some girls cried buckets, tears and snot streaming down.

The homeroom teacher smiled and advised everyone to drink sparingly today, especially the girls—better not to drink at all if possible.

Lin Zheng Ran sat with Jiang Qian and Fang Meng; he was drinking beer while the two girls started with juice.

Seeing Lin Zheng Ran with beer, they switched to it too.

Amid the joyful atmosphere.

Lin Zheng Ran said:

“I know you’re well-off and always contribute the most to class fees, but as class monitor, I can’t let you cover this gathering alone. I’ll split it with you, and the teacher insists on treating too, so let’s just share it among the three of us and not argue over it.”

Jiang Qian glanced at the homeroom teacher in the distance and thought, since Lin Zheng Ran suggested it, she could only agree.

In her cool voice, Jiang Qian asked: “Are you still signing up for a program at the graduation ceremony? The student representative speech is us, I assume, but we should report one. I see you haven’t written anything yet.”

Lin Zheng Ran glanced at Jiang Qian: “I haven’t decided yet; I can just pick something later…”

Jiang Qian interrupted: “How about a piano duet? I’ll do it with you; this time, I’ll accompany you.”

Lin Zheng Ran shrugged it off: “Sure, that works—it’s like bookending our school days.”

Jiang Qian smiled.

Fang Meng watched the two from the corner of her eye and took a sip of wine, feeling an unexplained unease.

Ever since Fang Meng and Jiang Qian reconciled a month ago, both had started seeing Lin Zheng Ran differently.

Fang Meng had to admit she was beginning to care about him.

Though the past two months focused on studying for exams, with little interaction, Fang Meng now occasionally glanced at Lin Zheng Ran in class, not just Jiang Qian.

She wasn’t sure when this feeling started—maybe during that karaoke night, or earlier—but it was there.

Similarly, after reconciling, Jiang Qian listened as Fang Meng detailed Lin Zheng Ran’s habits and attitudes.

Jiang Qian finally understood her curiosity about him.

She realized Lin Zheng Ran was like a stronger version of herself, as if she had grown up without that past event.

Confident and powerful, he never doubted his abilities or sacrificed everything for strength, even personal time.

Deep down, Jiang Qian yearned for that state; after junior high, she hadn’t been truly happy and wished to be free from her obsessions like in childhood.

That curiosity drove her interest in Lin Zheng Ran’s life path.

She had thought about beating him to prove her changes were right, but reality showed she couldn’t win and even envied his approach to life.

Jiang Qian asked: “Have you finalized your college choices? No more changes?”

Lin Zheng Ran nodded, recalling their argument: “You and Fang Meng are heading to Stanford abroad, right? It’s a great school with huge potential.”

Jiang Qian didn’t nod; she just took a sip of wine.

She stared at her glass, lost in thought.

Jiang Qian once wanted Stanford for its top finance program, but now she wondered if it was still the right fit.

“Is your class monitor here?” The door opened, and a little fox peeked in.

Lin Zheng Ran saw it was Han Wenwen and smiled, getting up to greet her.

Han Wenwen spotted Lin Zheng Ran approaching and quickly said hello; the other two were at the door too.

Lin Zheng Ran asked: “What brings you three up here? Done with your gathering?”

The three girls shook their heads.

Heqing said sweetly: “Not yet. Everyone’s drinking down there, but we aren’t, so we thought we’d sneak up and see what you’re up to.”

Lily asked curiously: “Zheng Ran, are you drinking?”

Lin Zheng Ran: “Just a bit.”

Jiang Qian and Fang Meng watched Lin Zheng Ran chatting and laughing with the three.

Both felt a mix of emotions.

The next day, Lin Zheng Ran finished tallying all the programs.

As he was about to hand them to the teacher,

A boy from class approached Lin Zheng Ran: “Class monitor! Do you have a moment? I need your help. I… I like you!”

Lin Zheng Ran: “Hmm?”