Chapter 89: Reuniting with an Old Acquaintance

Words : 1806 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 89: Reuniting with an Old AcquaintanceAround noon the next day, Lu Liang arrived at the Indy Hotel, following the address on the wedding invitation. As he pulled into the parking lot, he realized he’d forgotten to bring enough cash. Since he was used to scanning QR codes and using cards, his wallet only had about a thousand yuan in cash as backup. Back when Lu Liang got married, Liu Mingxuan had gifted him an 1800-yuan red envelope, the largest among his friends without a doubt. Looking around, Lu Liang spotted an ATM across the street, withdrew 2000 yuan, and bought a red envelope from a nearby convenience store. After writing his name on it, he stepped out of the shop. Outside, he ran into a woman who seemed vaguely familiar, though he couldn’t quite place her. The woman furrowed her brow as if trying to recall something, then suddenly clapped her hands in excitement. "Lu Liang, right?" "You’re here for Mingxuan’s wedding too?" Lu Liang gave a dry laugh. The most awkward part of reunions after a long time was when someone remembered him, but he couldn’t remember them at all. Her name was right on the tip of his tongue, but it just wouldn’t come to him. "Judging by your expression, you probably can’t remember who I am, can you?" the woman asked with a sharp look. "Of course not—how could I forget you, Xiao Huang?" As soon as he heard the familiar phrase, it all came back to him. Huang Lihui paused, then fell into nostalgia. "What a throwback of a name. These days, everyone just calls me Big Huang." "Well, it seems like life’s been treating you well—no worries about food or clothing. It’s only right you’ve ‘evolved,’" Lu Liang teased with a grin. The reason he hadn’t recognized her immediately was because his former classmate had gained a noticeably more affluent appearance over time. Standing at about 1.6 meters, her weight was probably close to his, maybe around 150 pounds. She was decked out in gold and jade accessories, the quintessential "wealthy woman" look. "You’ve still got such a sharp tongue." Huang Lihui glared at him before adding, "I heard you got divorced?" She had arrived about half an hour earlier and had spent some time upstairs chatting with other old classmates. She had just received a call asking her to move her car and had decided to stop by the store to buy a few things. Lu Liang nodded, and Huang Lihui pressed further. "So, where are you making your fortune these days, old classmate? Still in real estate?" "After the divorce, I didn’t feel like working, so I quit my job. These days, I’m just running a small business to get by." "What a pity. I was thinking of buying a few properties in Magic City and was hoping you could give me some advice." Huang Lihui spoke casually, her eyes subtly observing Lu Liang’s reaction. At weddings and reunions, some people genuinely wanted to catch up, while others came to flaunt their achievements and feed their vanity. Back in university, she had been a wallflower who didn’t experience the "springtime of youth," which was why she now eagerly attended every class reunion or wedding. The saying "Thirty years on the east bank, thirty years on the west bank—never underestimate a young underdog" was undoubtedly her driving force. "If you really need help, I can recommend a few former colleagues later," Lu Liang replied nonchalantly, glancing at the lobby’s display board, where he learned that Liu Mingxuan’s bride was named Liu Yuzhen. "It’s on the third floor, right?" ᚱÅΝοＢЁṠ Huang Lihui nodded, but her mood had soured. Earlier, when she’d mentioned buying a few properties in Magic City, her former classmates had eagerly flattered her, asking about her business ventures and even offering her their business cards. Lu Liang’s lukewarm attitude, however, had bruised her pride. Forcing a smile, she asked, "What kind of small business are you running, Lu Liang? My husband is in the construction materials business in Puxin District—fairly well-known. Maybe we can help each other out." "Thank your husband in advance for me, but I doubt there’s any chance of collaboration since I’m just selling grilled gluten skewers outside subway stations," Lu Liang replied with a faint smile, seeing through her desire to boast and obliging her. After ten years, the only classmate Lu Liang still kept in touch with was Liu Mingxuan. The rest didn’t matter to him. This was just a formality—he would offer his congratulations to the couple, have a meal, and leave. Whether they met again in three years, five years, or never, it made no difference to him. "Small business owners have it good—no pressure, no obligations. Eat your fill, rest when you want, unlike us, who have to worry about the livelihood of hundreds of employees the moment we open our eyes in the morning. The stress is real," Huang Lihui said, clearly satisfied with her own self-praise. "Exactly," Lu Liang responded half-heartedly as they reached the banquet hall on the third floor. There, Liu Mingxuan and his bride, dressed in traditional Chinese red wedding attire, stood warmly greeting guests at the entrance. Upon seeing Lu Liang, Liu Mingxuan strode over and gave him a playful punch. "Trying to steal the show by showing up last?" "Not at all. I just ran into Big Huang downstairs and chatted for a bit," Lu Liang replied, nodding toward her. Liu Mingxuan’s expression turned peculiar as he leaned in and whispered, "She didn’t brag about her husband’s construction business or her plans to buy more houses, did she?" Lu Liang chuckled and nodded. "She did." "And you didn’t pop her bubble?" Liu Mingxuan asked with a mischievous grin, completely forgetting that it was his wedding day. "Not worth the effort." Lu Liang rolled his eyes and walked over to the bride, smiling warmly. "Congratulations on your marriage! I’m Lu Liang, a good friend of Mingxuan’s." The bride seemed a bit shy and returned his smile. "Hello, I’ve heard Mingxuan mention you often." Lu Liang turned to Liu Mingxuan, patted his shoulder, and said, "Congrats again. Don’t worry about me—I’ll find my way around." Spotting a few familiar faces at the classmates’ table, he left the red envelope, signed his name, and headed over to join them. Liu Mingxuan checked the thickness of the red envelope, his smile deepening. "Help yourself, buddy—don’t wait on me!" Two thousand yuan, give or take—it wasn’t stingy, and he was satisfied. True friends connect through sincerity and mutual respect. It's not about how much money one has or how much one can casually throw around. Lu Liang having money was his own business. Liu Mingxuan enjoyed his company because they could share a cigarette back in the day or grab a late-night snack now without overthinking things. After over a decade of friendship, what mattered most was Lu Liang’s personality. If Liu Mingxuan truly needed something, he would ask directly—it wasn’t something for Lu Liang to casually dole out as charity. Fortunately, Lu Liang understood this well. “Old Lu, you’re late!” “Haven’t seen you in years, and you’re looking younger than ever.” “Your belly’s gone, and your skin looks better too. Is this what they call reverse aging?” As soon as Lu Liang sat at the classmates’ table, he became the center of attention. By the time people hit their thirties, it wasn’t just the body that aged but also the soul. Most were bound by the burdens of having families, careers, and responsibilities. They dared not quit their jobs, couldn’t afford to get sick, had aging parents to support, young children to raise, and spouses to appease. At this stage, one was no longer a complete individual but more like a tool, barely surviving to fulfill obligations. It felt as though life was buried neck-deep in yellow earth. Once the parents passed and the children grew up and started their own families, they themselves might as well return to the ground. Their own priorities were pushed to the back burner, and in many cases, they lost any sense of self. Naturally, physical appearance and health became afterthoughts. Baldness and beer bellies were the norm. In a group where everyone’s life circumstances were more or less the same, seeing someone like Lu Liang seemingly living his "second life" sparked envy. Sёarch* The nôᴠel Fire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even Huang Lihui couldn’t help but feel jealous. She had gone from "Little Huang" to "Big Huang," so why did Lu Liang still look so youthful? “Maybe it’s just because I’ve had more time to work out lately. Losing weight really does make you feel younger,” Lu Liang said casually. Most of the group didn’t have Huang Lihui’s mindset. Hearing this, they began comparing their younger selves to their present lives. One person said their digestion wasn’t what it used to be. Back in the day, they could eat two pounds of meat in one sitting without needing any vegetables or carbs, but now they couldn’t handle overeating—it left them bloated and constipated. These days, meals had to include a balance of carbs and veggies, and even then, they couldn’t eat too much. Another person said the most depressing part of their day was washing their hair. Watching dozens of black strands fall out amidst the white foam, they joked that soon every strand of hair would need its own serial number. After sharing their health woes, the conversation shifted to causes and remedies—from sleep schedules to dietary fixes to old family remedies. Lu Liang listened and smiled. This was exactly how reunions with old friends should be—classmates reminiscing freely, temporarily forgetting the pressures of life and work, and revisiting their youthful memories. However, Huang Lihui was visibly unhappy. She was so wealthy now, but no one was trying to flatter her. If people didn’t care about her money, then what was the point of having it? “In my opinion, it’s all about regularly visiting beauty salons and gyms, and spending a bit of money to hire professional personal trainers for customized programs,” she said nonchalantly, mentioning that she spent at least hundreds of thousands, if not millions, on such things annually. Her yearly expenses on self-care alone were equivalent to two or three years of an average person’s entire income. But before the others could even show envy, Lu Liang smiled and said, “But it doesn’t seem to be working all that well, does it?” That one sentence left the entire table struggling to keep a straight face. When you thought about it, it was true—if it had worked, Little Huang wouldn’t have turned into Big Huang.

Chapter 89: Reuniting with an Old Acquaintance

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