Chapter 458: They Aren’t Truly Happy

The city area near Spring Festival is always bustling. However, in a small county town like Jizhou, there’s only one major shopping district.

At this moment, those who arrived early were already gathered in the Diamond Karaoke TV’s largest private room, a group of about seven or eight.

Gradually, more people pushed the door open, entered the private room, exchanged quick jokes, and then went to find their best friends from high school or those they still kept in touch with to form smaller clusters.

“Class leader, how many people have come? It’s almost too crowded.”

“Almost everyone, I guess.”

The class leader, Liu Hui, had organized the gatherings in previous years, and this year was no exception.

But the number of people who registered this time was beyond her expectations. Not only did those who missed the past two gatherings show up, even those high school quiet ones, who felt somewhat invisible, were here.

It was all because their class’s angelic girl was coming.

Feng Nanshu, during high school, was hardly social. Moreover, since classes one, two, and three were the newly established ‘rocket classes’, most had never even spoken to her.

Liu Hui felt her popularity was quite good, but she could only gather about twenty people at a time. She never imagined Feng Nanshu’s pull would be this strong.

A goddess is a goddess. She has almost become a symbol, epitomizing many people’s youthful spring days.

Just as Liu Hui was contemplating, the door was pushed open again.

A tall, thin man, dressed in a black down jacket, sporting a buzz cut and wearing black glasses, stepped in.

With his arrival, a murmur ran through the room.

“Even Song Ruiyang has come?”

“Truly a rare guest…”

“Doesn’t he never attend gatherings?”

“It must be because Feng Nanshu is coming. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have.”

Amid the whispers, Song Ruiyang walked deeper into the room, greeted a few people, and sat not far from Liu Hui, holding a bottle of water and looking around.

He was the eternal second place in Class 1, Grade 3, brilliant in studies but always behind Feng Nanshu.

However, during that summer’s college entrance exam, Feng Nanshu somehow scored the lowest in history, and the top honor unexpectedly went to Song Ruiyang, surprising everyone.

Aside from being first in his class, he was also Jizhou City’s top scorer, a rather sensational figure.

However, what Song Ruiyang was most famous for was publicly admitting his crush on Feng Nanshu.

School’s second best liking the first best was always a hot topic, and his presence at the reunion was undoubtedly for Feng Nanshu.

“How have you been lately?”

“Not bad, I’m applying for a government-funded scholarship abroad, lots of paperwork.”

“Are you dating anyone?”

“No, haven’t met anyone I like.”

“…”

Meanwhile, outside Diamond Karaoke, Jiang Qin, who had just had a haircut, and Feng Nanshu were approaching.

Due to the saying ‘cutting hair in January kills your uncle’, it became customary to have a haircut in December.

Jiang Qin had a slight trim, while Feng Nanshu added two strands of pink highlights, looking brightly charming, adding a playful and seductive touch to her pure and beautiful face, almost like a little demoness in the real world.

“Do you think it looks good?”

“It looks good,” Feng Nanshu nodded firmly.

Jiang Qin was slightly amused.

At the hairdresser’s, a trendy girl was getting highlights. He casually complimented her, which caught the attention of a rich little girl, making her want to try it too.

Jiang Qin, fearing she might regret it later, allowed the hairstylist to attach two fake strands, which could be removed if she didn’t like them.

But Feng Nanshu’s beauty was resilient. Although the colors were somewhat flashy, they were stunning, leaving Jiang Qin almost breathless.

“Brother, do you think it looks good?”

“Indeed, it looks good.”

Feng Nanshu narrowed her eyes, “More than that girl just now?”

Jiang Qin: “…”

Soon after, they entered Diamond Karaoke and based on the room number, found the private room booked by Class 1. They pushed the door and entered.

While others’ private rooms were dark with flashing lights, looking like a melee, theirs was brightly lit as if it were broad daylight.

Seeing Feng Nanshu enter, numerous eyes swiftly turned her way, all holding their breath at the sight of her with pink highlights.

Some beauties never fade with time; instead, not seeing them for a while makes them even more breathtaking.

At that moment, ‘The End Song’ from ‘The Legend of Sword and Fairy 3′ was playing — forgetting the time.

Gradually forgetting, forgetting the time…

But soon, Liu Hui’s voice brought everyone back to reality.

“The goddess is here, long time no see.”

“Long time no see, class leader.”

Liu Hui stood up and looked around, “It’s quite crowded today, many who usually don’t come are here today. Feel free to sit anywhere, next to me is fine too.”

On hearing this, many boys simultaneously extended their hands, subtly pushing their longtime friends aside.

Even Song Ruiyang coughed, picked up his down jacket from the right, and made space for one person, though he said nothing, his action said everything.

After hearing this, Feng Nanshu looked towards the door, “Brother, where should we sit?”

“Anywhere, let’s sit in the corner.”

As the voice faded, everyone’s gaze froze, then they saw Jiang Qin push the door open and enter, “Class leader Liu, our class never gathers, mind if I crash?”

“Ah? No, not at all. Just one more person.”

Jiang Qin sat down in the corner first, then pulled Feng Nanshu to sit beside him.

Seeing this, many boys’ eyes gradually dimmed, especially Song Ruiyang, whose hopeful eyes seemed to have their lights turned off.

Everyone had wondered if Jiang Qin would come with Feng Nanshu?

Because there were rumors last year in their circle that they were dating, and some even said they were living together.

Even though the rumors were vivid, many still stubbornly didn’t believe them because Feng Nanshu represented a moonlight-like aloofness. Dating was outrageous enough, let alone living with someone.

Thus, many had hoped Feng Nanshu would come alone.

Back then, everyone was too shy to take the initiative, but this time they definitely wanted to make friends with her.

But watching her cling to Jiang Qin, showing cute expressions unknowingly, that feeling was indeed too heart-wrenching.

Song Ruiyang put down his bottle of water and picked up a Budweiser, silently took a few sips.

Even if Feng Nanshu wasn’t in a relationship, he probably wouldn’t dare to confess, otherwise, he would have in high school. But seeing his beloved goddess become someone else’s darling was tough to accept.

“Old Sun, how have you been?”

“Not bad, but why do you look like you’re about to cry?”

“It’s nothing, just nostalgic seeing you guys.”

“Then let me request a song I’m nostalgic about. I remember you used to sing pretty well.”

Karaoke in small towns is usually in bulk-selling style, private rooms are rare, and even if there were, students wouldn’t be able to book them, so thirty people together was really cramped.

Feng Nanshu was pressed against Jiang Qin, and his arm was already deep into the rich little girl’s bosom, which was quite overwhelming.

But soon, the boys began to instinctively move aside, desperately even if it squeezed their close friends, unwilling to see Feng Nanshu pushed into Jiang Qin’s arms.

Then, almost a meter of space suddenly cleared on both sides of Jiang Qin and Feng Nanshu.

The rich little girl almost burrowed into her brother’s arms. The next second, she suddenly felt less squeezed and then dumbfounded for a moment, thinking these people are all bad…

“Father, is the Class 1 gathering fun?”

“It’s okay. It’s not much different from a university gathering. First we sing, warm up, then go eat, boast a bit, then split into small teams. Some go online, some play pool, others hit the bars. It’s the same old routine.”

Jiang Qin was typing away on his Nokia.

Guo Zihang sent a crying emoji, “It sounds very fun.”

“Yeah, I’m actually quite…happy, but I’m not sure about them.”

“Ah?”

Jiang Qin looked around the private room, noticed many guys forcing smiles, and continued typing, “I guess they aren’t really happy. Their smiles seem just like a camouflage they wear.”

Guo Zihang: “?????”

Not long after, the drinks on the table were almost finished, and some social phobics couldn’t help but come over and start chatting with Jiang Qin.

Someone eventually couldn’t hold back and asked the century-old mystery: how exactly did Jiang Qin manage to win over Feng Nanshu.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qin straightened up, his mind racing.

To be honest, he had been asked this question many times, even his own mother had asked him, with his carefree demeanor, how did Nanshu ever fall for you.

If it were the usual scenario, he would have retorted, don’t talk nonsense, we’re just friends!

But not in this setting.

In this place and atmosphere, you definitely can’t deny it because clearly, some people here are interested in his little rich girl.

“It’s mainly because of a love for studying. The little rich girl was someone I picked up in the library, then one thing led to another, you know.”

“Can you share the details?”

Jiang Qin paused, turned to Feng Nanshu, “You’re not eavesdropping, are you?”

Feng Nanshu with a cool face: “I’m not.”

“Back when we just finished the high school exams, I went to the library to study, met her there, and then shamelessly sat opposite her, occasionally brought her snacks, helped her find books, and she was charmed away. Love should always go with the flow.”

“And she kicked me once,” Feng Nanshu whispered.

Jiang Qin turned to her, “I thought you said you weren’t eavesdropping?”

“I’m not eavesdropping. I’m just clarifying.”

“Actually, I lied to them. I secretly switched from friendship to love.”

“Brother is always right, sister always believes.”

Feng Nanshu puffed her cheeks then saw someone go upfront and selected a song about lying, beginning to sing passionately.

Every class has some who are microphone hogs, while others were still singing ‘Borrow Another 500 Years from the Sky’, ‘Invisible Wings’, ‘Too Far’, and ‘Fairy Tale’, they were already on to very new songs.

I didn’t lie, where did I lie…

You understand me, I never pretend…

Found a bug, fixed it, this chapter felt scattered.