Volume 2: High School - The Era of White Clothes

  At that time, the cafeteria of No.1 Middle School did not have a card-swiping system, and each window was contracted to individual vendors, where you could pay cash for meals. After finishing their meal, several people found a corner seat, as it was just the beginning of the semester, most new students still came to the cafeteria to eat, so the cafeteria was basically packed. Unlike most senior students who knew which dishes were delicious and reasonably priced, the cafeteria had issues like flies coming out of the food...

  A noisy canteen and a humming ceiling fan, white shirts with black sports pants, this is the high school career of most students...

  Just as they sat down, Liu Xiaomei mysteriously pointed at the people who had just entered the door and whispered, "Do you see? The one over there is Xu Jian from high school, the one on his left is his friend Kevin, the one on his right is called Su Xi, who like Zi Qing is a middle school exam champion, and next to him are Liu Fei and Zhang Yuan, all of whom came up from No. 1 Middle School's junior department. How about it? Handsome, huh?"

  Willow Leaf looked at the people he pointed to and found that two of them were seen last time, so she asked in a daze, "How do you know so much? Do you all know them?"

  Liu Xiaomei smiled proudly, revealing an expression that you wouldn't understand. "I also came from the junior high school department of No. 1 Middle School, what is it that 'Liu the Genius' doesn't know?"

  Attracting everyone's scornful gaze.

  Zhang Yuan's eyes were sharp, and he saw that there was an empty seat on the side where Wang Lele and Ai Ziqing were sitting. He quickly ran over to call everyone over, and Su Xi and Xu Jian were stunned for a moment before following him over.

  Su Hei wore a white collar shirt and black casual pants today, a very ordinary outfit, but it looked great on him.

  It's been a long time since Liu Fei wore a white Zhongshan suit with an open collar, Zi Qing was speechless, wasn't he cold?

  Xu Jian and Kevin were wearing black basketball uniforms, with sweat still on their foreheads. Both of them were over 180 cm tall, with a strong and lean build, making them rare handsome men. Xu Jian looked slightly more mature and calm, while Kevin had a bit of a cool demeanor. Ai Zi Qing couldn't help but admire the handsome men while also evaluating them in her mind.

  Bored, Zhang ran over to sit next to Ai Ziying, wiping the sweat with his clothes, and said with a grin, "I'm dying of heat! This damn weather, so many people in the cafeteria, how can we eat?" As he spoke, he directly picked up the chicken leg from Ziying's bowl and stuffed it into his mouth.

  Zi Qing helplessly covered her forehead, wondering whose precious child this was.

  Wang Lele was particularly mindful, and as soon as Zhang Yuan's eyes swept to her plate, she quickly covered it tightly, without even a tiny gap! Ai Ziqing couldn't help but secretly admire her.

  Liu Fei and Su Xi also sat down directly. Liu Fei smiled at Zi Qing, "How's the new semester? Which class are you in?"

  "High school one and two, not bad, are you guys also coming to the cafeteria for lunch?" Zi Qing asked with a nod. It seems that they can also be considered old students of No. 1 Middle School, just like in Zi Qing's previous life, she wouldn't go to the cafeteria for meals more than twice a year. What about these rich kids?

  "Yeah, it's a hassle to go out and eat, but the food here is actually not bad." Liu Fei said with a smile as he watched Zhang Yuan peel the chicken leg for Ai Zhenqing. He also didn't forget to introduce Xu Jian and Kevin to Ai Zhenqing and Wang Lele.

  A few people nodded slightly, which was a greeting. Liu Fei didn't introduce them in detail, probably because he didn't want them to have any interaction with each other.

  Ai Zi Qing briefly introduced a few people around her, then bowed her head to eat, after school she still had to go practice shooting with Hei Zi, of course she needed to replenish her energy.

  Liu Xiaomei's mouth was wide open in shock, her cheeks flushed red, thinking that she had just made a fool of herself by bragging about someone else's friend. She might as well have hit her head against the wall and died! Zhang Yuanyuan, on the other hand, was extremely excited, chattering non-stop. Ai Ziqing felt like all she could see were Zhang Yuanyuan's opening and closing mouth, which gave her a severe headache. Although she also liked looking at handsome guys, did it have to be like there were firecrackers tied to her mouth?

  Zhang Yuanyuan seems to be particularly interested in several boys, but is also a bit reserved, so she keeps looking for interesting stories to tell Ai Ziqing and others, her eyes occasionally glancing at the boys. If any of them talk to her, she becomes even more enthusiastic, unfortunately, except for Zhang Yuan who knows how to humor beautiful girls, the others either smile and listen or have a dead fish face while eating rice.

  Just as Zi Qing finished eating and was about to leave, a loud "bang" came from above the dinner table, startling everyone. A pleasant female voice then rang out, "Why didn't you wait for me to eat together? Who are they?"

  Ai Zi Qing raised her head to take a look, and the person who came was actually the violent woman Xue Mei from this morning. At this moment, she was scanning the several girls in the room with a slightly cold gaze, but her words were directed at Xu Jian.

  Xu Jianyi was taken aback, then just smiled and said "Having dinner with a few friends, anything wrong Miss Xue?" But his expression was filled with impatience.

  "Ah..." Xue Mei's expression changed upon hearing the words, but instead of getting angry, she smiled and said "I've told you many times, just call me Mei Mei, why can't you remember? This weekend is my birthday, I'm planning a party, don't forget to come. And by the way, my dad will be discussing that project with Uncle Xu in two days."

  Upon hearing this, Xu Jianguo swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue, nodded slightly and smiled saying "Help me pass a message to Uncle Xu, Miss Xue's birthday I will definitely attend."

  Xue Mei finally revealed a satisfied smile, turned her head to Su Xi and the others and said "Su Shao, you guys must participate too?" After finishing, she raised her eyes to scan several girls, especially sizing up Zhang Yuyun who had just spoken enthusiastically, and raised the corner of her mouth saying "Since everyone knows each other, let's all get together for a gathering on the weekend!" Xue Mei sneered in her heart, towards these girls who thought they could get close to the rich young master, she hadn't seen few, inviting them to the gathering was also hoping they would experience the difference brought by the gap between the rich and the poor, so that they would give up those unrealistic thoughts!

  After seeing Zhang Yuanyuan nodding foolishly under her gaze, she left with her hands around her chest, wearing high heels and a proud expression, leaving everyone looking at each other in dismay.

  Xu Jian's father, Xu Yandong, was a member of the provincial party committee and vice secretary-general, making him the de facto second-in-command in Liaoning Province. Xue Mei's father, on the other hand, was the richest man in Yang City, Xue Bin! Xu Jian tolerated Xue Mei not because he feared her, but rather because officials and businesspeople had different social status. His tolerance stemmed from his father, Xu Yandong, who was struggling to find a solution for the privatization of state-owned enterprises, and urgently needed Xue Bin's cooperation to boost his own political achievements. Since 1984, when the Central Committee of the Communist Party implemented the decision on economic reform, state-owned enterprises could be contracted out to individuals, with profits and losses borne by the contractors themselves. This model had achieved some success, but as time went on, its drawbacks became apparent, and it eventually declined to a low point. If Xu Yandong could gain Xue Bin's support and cooperation in Liaoning Province, he might be able to revive this model, respond to the national call, and add a strong color to his own political achievements.

  As for why he was in a hurry to add political achievements, it has to be traced back to this year's provincial party secretary election! Xu Yandong is nearly 40 years old, in his prime, and has already reached the political height of provincial party deputy secretary. The old secretary is advanced in age and will be transferred to Beijing People's Congress this year. The position of provincial party secretary, which is the top spot, has long been coveted by Xu Yandong. However, Governor Zhou Kang is a major rival! There are rumors that Zhou Kang has a high chance of winning the election, so Xu Yandong had no choice but to make a big show of his political achievements at this critical moment in order to win the election.

  As the son, Xu Jian naturally knew what kind of trouble his father was in this time, so he endured the humiliation from Xue Mei, whom he had always ignored before. He met her at a gathering two years ago and she stuck to him ever since. Normally, even if he didn't like the girl, he would still treat her with courtesy. However, the evaluation of her within their social circle and the rumors about her made it impossible for him to have any good impression of her. Not only was she overbearing and arrogant, but also had ambiguous relationships with many men. Even after showing affection towards him, she remained so. Such a woman clinging to him made him extremely annoyed!

  These things Ai Zi Qing naturally did not know, if she knew, she would definitely wipe her mouth after dinner and tell him "Brother, your father can't be the provincial party secretary, and even has a life-threatening danger, no need to rush. I gave Zhou Kang a fortune-telling, he is destined to win the election and harm one side!"

  Ai Zi Qing concentrated on eating her rice, she didn't like Xue Mei, never liked her from the start, but also didn't have any feelings of disgust. After all, it had nothing to do with herself. In her previous life, people like herself and rich girls like Xue Mei were from two completely different worlds, they wouldn't have any intersection at all. She had her own life, whether she was arrogant or spoiled, it didn't matter.

  Wang Lele quietly introduced Xu Jian and Xue Mei's background, at this time Liu Fei said in a low voice "If Zi Qing doesn't like it, then don't go on Saturday." This sentence made Xu Jian and others curiously size up Ai Zi Qing.

  Just as she was about to respond, her hand was gently grasped by Zhang Yuanyuan. Turning around and seeing the pouting and wronged expression on her face, Zi Qing found it somewhat amusing - who told you to be infatuated with him yourself? After thinking for a moment, Saturday's training could indeed be pushed aside. Su Xi and the others were all her friends; if Zhang Yuanyuan went by herself, it wouldn't be suitable. Although this matter had nothing to do with her, who made her consider them as friends? Moreover, it wasn't a big deal, no need to pretend to be indifferent and think that it was none of her business, just to show off her aloofness.

  "It doesn't matter anyway, I'll go with you guys, won't they welcome me?" Zi Qing said with a light smile.

  "Of course, welcome! I'll come pick you up on Saturday and we can go together." Su Xi said after thinking for a moment.

  "Whatever, I don't know where it is anyway." Ai Zi Qing replied casually. She knew Su Xi might be worried that she wouldn't fit in at that kind of gathering and would feel awkward, which was why she offered to accompany her.

  Su He's reflection made Xu Jian and Kevin even more curious, looking at Ai Zi Qing's outfit was really ordinary, her appearance could only be considered delicate and beautiful, but there were many beautiful girls, besides this girl seemed not to be from their circle. Moreover, Su He and Liu Fei's personalities they were still familiar with, some couldn't understand why the two took extra care of such a girl.

  After dinner, on the way back, Zhang Yuyun regretfully pulled her hair "Oh no, oh no, how did I offend this jinx! Often talking about other girls' right and wrong, didn't expect to be the protagonist today!"

  Liu Xiaomei was also anxious and biting her lip, worried that Xue Mei would deal with Zhang Yuanyuan. After all, the two had been together since junior high school, and both families were considered wealthy, but compared to those with political backgrounds, they were worlds apart.

  "It's nothing, just attending a gathering, she wouldn't embarrass you by ignoring her identity. She just wants to let these women who are 'climbing the dragon and attaching themselves to the phoenix' in her eyes see her life and then retreat with difficulty." Wang Lele said with a smirk, it's not a big deal, why be so nervous?

  For Liu Xiaomei and others who had heard about Xue Mei's various deeds since junior high school, offending Xue Mei was undoubtedly a source of anxiety for them. Especially in the dark side of the school, girls were sometimes more terrifying than boys. Xue Mei had not hesitated to lead people to confront students who made her angry before, and once even took nude photos of a girl to threaten her. In the end, the incident was suppressed by the school authorities and nothing came of it.

  ——?

  If you like it, don't forget to give flowers, tickets, collect and diamonds!

  Today's ticket sales are a disaster! Strongly protesting...