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After a shooting, Shen Mingbei suddenly received Gu Yibai’s call. “Xiao Bei, we previously decided to visit Wan-laoshi – do you still remember? The date has been set for next Friday and the Class President will be our host. Let’s go together to see Old Wan.”
Shen Mingbei was overjoyed to see the old man, Wan-laoshi, so he immediately accepted.
Shen Mingbei had Xiao Zhang make adjustments to his schedule. Two days later, Shen Mingbei encountered Gu Yibai at his company’s building.
Gu Yibai wore a wide smile on his face. He said he came to discuss the termination of a contract with a small artist from Shen Mingbei’s company.
“I’ll leave you to work then? I won’t disturb you any longer. See you next week at the school.” Shen Mingbei felt very embarrassed.
However, Gu Yibai didn’t mind. “We’ve already finished our discussion, so this is my own time.”
Speaking of this, Gu Yibai paused before asking Shen Mingbei, “How about we go downstairs and have a cup of tea? I’ve tried it before and it’s pretty good.”
Shen Mingbei had worked in this company for years, but never knew they could drink tea downstairs. He glanced at Gu Yubai with a puzzled expression. However, he was quite happy to see his old classmate, so he accepted.
On their way downstairs, he and Gu Yibai stood in the elevator. For a moment, it was just them two.
Shen Mingbei stared at the level lights. Gu Yibai suddenly asked, “Have you been well these past few years?”
Not understanding why he would ask this, Shen Mingbei looked at him with a strange expression.
A faint blush dusted Gu Yibai’s cheeks. He lowered his head. “I heard them say, in passing, that you fell ill a while ago, so I just wanted to ask.”
Hearing this, Shen Mingbei released the breath he’d been holding – he asked because he heard the public statement about his suspension. He explained to Gu Yibai, “It was nothing severe. I just had a slight fever and wanted to take a break anyway.”
They were old classmates, but they still weren’t close enough to talk about marriage and divorce.
Shen Mingbei obscurely explained his current troubles until the elevator arrived on the first floor. He took a step out with Gu Yibai leading as he explained where the teahouse was.
“It’s quite interesting, isn’t it?”
Only after Gu Yibai led them to a private booth and ordered tea from the waiter, leaving just the two of them there, did Shen Mingbei take off his mask and reveal his delicate face.
“I didn’t even know there was such a teahouse here,” Shen Mingbei remarked surprisedly as he held his teacup. After the hot water was poured in, red began blooming at the bottom of the once-white porcelain cup.
“If there’s another chance in the future, let’s come back.” As he said this, Gu Yibai gazed at Shen Mingbei with tenderness and anticipation.
Shen Mingbei took a sip from his cup. This hundred-dollar tea was not bad indeed.
Hearing Gu Yibai speaking of next time, he nodded.
He never thought he’d have such a pleasant time interacting with an old classmate. Shen Mingbei almost couldn’t wait for the class reunion next week. Perhaps he could even revive friendships that were long left behind.
Not long after, Shen Mingbei received a call from his assistant. He hurriedly left the teahouse and returned to work.
Gu Yibai smilingly sent him off before he sat back, unmoving. He stared at the cup Shen Mingbei drank from for a while before suddenly calling in the waiter from outside.
“I want to buy this cup. How much is it?”
…..
On Friday, Shen Mingbei arrived at the school gates as scheduled. He thought he came quite early, but Gu Yibai was earlier.
“Mingbei, do you want milk tea?”
Gu Yibai was holding seven or eight drinks, evidently bought for everyone who was coming today.
Shen Mingbei didn’t think much of it. He took a cup of unsweetened black tea and, with a slightly distressed expression, said, “Once I finish drinking this, I wonder how long I’ll have to run for in the gym.”
Hearing Shen Mingbei’s sarcastic remark, Gu Yibai felt happy. With a smile, he responded, “It’s my fault. If you want to run, I’ll accompany you.”
“These are your words! Once the reunion ends, let’s go to the gym. Don’t even think about going home without completing twenty.”
“Alright!” Gu Yibai replied earnestly.
The two exchanged a few more words before the Class President finally arrived bringing everyone else. Each received a drink. They casually chatted for a short moment by the gates, maintaining the pleasant ambience.
The Class President had called Wan-laoshi, who determined he had no classes this afternoon. Old Wan, who’d long been expecting his students, ran out.
After they all gathered, Wan-laoshi spoke a few words to the security guard before leading them all to his office. One by one, the students greeted Wan-laoshi. When it came to Shen Mingbei, Old Wan squinted.
“You are…?”
Shen Mingbei hurriedly took off his mask, revealing his face.
Suddenly realising, Wan-laoshi exclaimed, “Shen Mingbei! You really came.”
“Hello, laoshi.” He smiled, causing the entire office to become brighter.
The group travelled to the box they’d reserved. The Class President and Sports Committee member drove the atmosphere and brought up many things from the past.
Like how the Sports Committee member chased after the campus belle from the adjoining classroom. Before they met, he borrowed Shen Mingbei’s name to ask her out on a date. As a result, once the campus belle arrived and saw that it was the Sports Committee member, she immediately turned around and left.
Hearing this, Shen Mingbei was astonished. Such a thing happened?
A girl from beside him laughed. “That’s right. The campus belle had a crush on you – everyone knew this.”
Shen Mingbei truly couldn’t recall who the campus belle from the adjoining classroom was.
The Sports Committee member didn’t mind, however, and was even happy about it. “It doesn’t matter if she liked him or not – she’s my wife now.”
He even handed a glass of beer to Shen Mingbei. “Nevertheless, Shen Mingbei was Xiao Feng and I’s matchmaker, so I have to make this toast…”
With those words, these old classmates were no longer separated by their ‘celebrity’ and ‘ordinary person’ status. Shen Mingbei was asked questions regarding filming in the entertainment industry, camera poses, and scripts.
After two or three drinks, the ambience became much livelier.
The Sports Committee member suddenly asked Shen Mingbei, “Speaking of which, there should be many beautiful ladies among the celebrities, right? How come I haven’t heard of any gossip regarding you?”
Before Shen Mingbei could even respond, a female classmate beside him spoke up.
“Is this how you ask for gossip? Could it be you want Shen Mingbei to introduce some pretty female celebrities to you? When we return, I’ll tell Xiao Feng.”
The sports committee member hastily shook his head and told her that his sincerity towards his wife was witnessed by Heaven and Earth.
After that, the classmate smiled at Shen Mingbei. “I understand that you can’t talk nonsense about relationships in the entertainment circle. They’re uncouth fellows, so they don’t understand.”
Indeed, this sort of thing wasn’t easy for Shen Mingbei to discuss, hence he thanked her for helping him out.
The two clinked their glasses. Recalling the past, the female classmate asked, “Actually, I also had a crush on you back then. I found you really cool because of how cold and silent you were! Although everyone else liked Lin Xiang, I always found you more handsome. Later, when you rose in fame through acting, I felt extremely proud.”
She revealed the ring on her finger. “I found my husband by sticking to this criteria.”
“Then, congratulations.” Shen Mingbei didn’t expect this and wasn’t sure what to say. He asked for her WeChat ID and told her he’ll send her a red envelope1.
The classmate was quite happy exchanging WeChat IDs, but she refused the money. “I didn’t accept any money even during my wedding ceremony. Besides, I didn’t invite you either, so there’s no need.”
Shen Mingbei nodded and didn’t insist.
The classmate looked at Shen Mingbei and whispered, “Actually, if you don’t like women, you can consider Gu Yibai.”
Shen Mingbei: “?”
A meaningful smile spread across her face. “Gu Yibai was the one who told our Class President to host the reunion today and everyone here today was called over by him too because we keep our lips sealed. He’s quite considerate and thoughtful towards you.
“I heard Old Wan say Gu Yibai gifted him two large boxes of tea leaves.
“Don’t let him know I told you this.”
Shen Mingbei never would’ve expected something like this. He looked at Gu Yibai, who was sitting across the table. Suddenly, their eyes collided.
Shen Mingbei felt a little complicated, yet Gu Yibai still smiled warmly at him.
Once everyone began cheerily dispersing – some together, some alone – the female classmate waved at Shen Mingbei with suggestive eyes before leaving.
Shen Mingbei discovered that the only ones remaining were him and Gu Yibai – oh, and Old Wan.
Wan-laoshi pulled Shen Mingbei up. The three began walking downstairs.
“Xiao Shen, I feel reassured now that I see you’re living well,” Wan-laoshi began as they walked down the stairs.
“Back then, after the accident occurred to your family, I always worried you’ll be unable to recover. Right now, you’re doing well. As long as you’re alive, there will always be hope and a future. When I read the news about you crashing into the sea a few days ago, I was scared to death.
“Struggling alone is difficult. If you encounter something you can’t get over, then tell me. If you’re worried about the generation gap between us, then you can also talk to Xiao Gu.”
As he said this, Wan-laoshi pulled over Gu Yibai’s hand.
Shen Mingbei didn’t expect Wan-laoshi to suddenly do this. Remembering his classmate’s words, he quickly withdrew his hand. With slight reservedness, he said, “Laoshi, there were too many people just then, so it wasn’t convenient for me to say this, but I’m already married.”
After a pause, Shen Mingbei hesitantly continued, “Someone’s taking care of me.
“Crashing into the sea was just an accident. I was too tired and didn’t pay attention to where I was driving…”
Wan-laoshi parted his lips. As if remembering something, he glanced at Gu Yibai.
From the moment Shen Mingbei withdrew his hand, Gu Yibai’s smile had been a little stiff. Hearing that Shen Mingbei was already married, it took a long while before he could force out a smiling expression.
“I didn’t even know. When did this happen?”
Shen Mingbei: “Artists like me need to keep some things hidden, which is why it never got publicly announced. You and laoshi must keep this a secret for me.”
Watching these two, Wan-laoshi sighed. He patted Gu Yibai’s shoulder. “My car is here. I’ll be leaving first.”
Wan-laoshi got in the car and left.
Shen Mingbei was about to call his company, but Gu Yibai held onto his hands. With a hint of longing in his eyes, he asked, “Are you two living well together?”
Shen Mingbei hesitated. At this sort of time, there was no need to give Gu Yibai hope, hence he cautiously nodded.
Gu Yibai appeared to let out a breath he’d been holding, yet he also seemed to lose all strength. He carefully asked, “Is she gentle? You two must be deeply in love.”
Shen Mingbei looked at Gu Yibai and nodded.
In the past, at least, he believed that Qu Lang was gentle and they were deeply in love.
Footnotes
WeChat has an application that allows you to send digital red envelopes to contacts, allowing money to be deposited into their accounts.