Chapter 3

The air before a storm was hot and sticky.

I sat in the car, watching messages constantly pop up in my class group chat.

Class president @everyone:

[Tonight at 7 PM, Parson Hotel. Bring your families! Dr. Andre will be there too!]

Of course it had to be tonight.

We hadn't been in touch for five years. I never expected Audrey had already become the second-in-command at Rayjedo Company Group.

The person who was supposed to show up at today's negotiation was originally a vice president from Rayjedo Company. They changed it at the last minute.

Made me step in shit.

Someone @'d me: [William, why aren't you responding? You have to come! Dr. Andre always cared about you the most!]

I stared at the screen and finally replied "okay."

Dr. Andre had been kind to me. I couldn't disrespect him just because I didn't want to see Audrey.

That evening, Audrey booked the Presidential Hall at Parson Hotel and let everyone party freely.

Our class of 36, plus family members, made for a lively crowd.

As soon as I pushed open the door, I heard Benjamin's laughter.

He stood next to Audrey, surrounded by several classmates flattering him.

Someone saw me and immediately stirred up conversation.

"Oh, William's finally here!"

"I heard after you quit, you haven't had steady work? Man, they say the closer you are, the better your chances. You and Audrey got recruited by the same company right out of school. Why didn't you know to hold onto her?"

I smiled and didn't respond. I found a corner to sit in.

The class president was already drunk. He suddenly slapped the table. "What do you guys know! William back then... *hic*... to go to the same school as Audrey, he could have gotten into Harvard!"

"Oh my god! Really?"

"Of course it's true! His family told him to think carefully, but he insisted on going to the same school as Audrey!"

Everyone sighed.

Audrey swirled her wine glass, smiling faintly. "Everyone has their own fate."

I couldn't help but think of that youth that would never return.

Back then, I really was stupid enough to downgrade my school application.

At eighteen, I believed some things were worth sacrificing all rationality for.

Now, hearing her casual tone, I just felt laughably naive.

Benjamin laughed loudly nearby. "Whatever you say about William's feelings back then, they were real and brave. Come on, everyone raise a glass to William!"

Someone immediately chimed in.

"Benjamin really has class! Now you and Audrey have both career and love. That's true fulfillment!"

"Some people, well, they chose their own path and have to deal with the consequences. Can't blame anyone else."

I looked down and sipped my coffee.

The coffee was warm, but it couldn't warm the coldness in my fingertips.

My phone vibrated. It was my mom calling.

I got up and went to the balcony.

Her voice on the other end was slightly angry. "What time are you coming back? Go pick up the kid."

I turned to the side and lowered my voice. "Soon. Right away."

When I hung up, I turned around and found two female classmates standing at the balcony door, their expressions odd.

"William, did you have a wedding ceremony? We're all old classmates. Why didn't you invite us?"

I shook my head. "No ceremony."

"But we just heard you say... you need to pick up a kid?"

I smiled, half-joking. "Yeah, my job now is picking up and dropping off kids."

The two exchanged glances, their expressions somewhat strange.

When I returned to the private room, I learned Dr. Andre had something come up and couldn't make it.

I grabbed my jacket from the back of the chair. "Enjoy yourselves, everyone. I need to go."

A drawn-out teasing voice came from behind me. "Oh my, the employer's kids need their driver to pick them up!"

Everyone laughed.

I turned to look at the female classmate who'd just talked to me on the balcony.

Is this what she told them?

I didn't bother to argue. I pushed open the door and left.

Outside the hotel, rain poured down.

I waited for a while, but the rain didn't let up.

People from the party gradually started leaving the hotel.

Audrey held a black umbrella and walked up beside me. "Where do you live? I'll give you a ride."

"No need."

She stared at me and suddenly said, "William, what exactly do you want?"

I looked at her like she was an idiot. "I don't want anything. But Audrey, aren't you afraid your fiancé will be jealous if you give me a ride?"

Audrey frowned. "I was forced into what happened with Benjamin back then. He was delirious from the poisoning. What could I do? If there was really something between us, we'd have kids by now."

I looked at her calmly. "Then I wish you both many children. Is it too late for that?"

"You—"

I didn't wait for her to finish. I walked straight to a taxi that had stopped by the curb.