"Qing He, let's talk over there. Other classmates haven't arrived yet," Gui Yun invited.
"Okay, I'll come over in a moment."
"Mhm." Gui Yun, arm in arm with her boyfriend Cao Ru Lan, walked to another side of the lobby where a few other classmates were chatting.
"Zhou Hong, why did you introduce yourself as my boyfriend?" After Gui Yun and her boyfriend left, Changsun Qing He asked Zhou Hong, her face slightly flushed.
"It doesn't matter. I just said it casually, and no one knows if it's true or not," Zhou Hong replied with a wry smile.
"That's true, but you can see now, can't you? As soon as they heard you were from a third-tier city, they immediately felt distant from you."
"Heh, it doesn't matter. I don't even care about people of this caliber," Zhou Hong chuckled.
"Yes, how would they know that you could even defeat Bai Mao Yu, a genius on the Earth Ranking?" Changsun Qing He couldn't help but smile. She had indeed noticed a hint of regret in Gui Yun's eyes just now. But it was understandable; she, once a renowned campus beauty, had lowered her status by working in a third-tier city after graduation. Finding a boyfriend from a third-tier city would naturally invite disdain in the capital.
"Qing He, why don't you go talk to your classmates? I'll just wander around," Zhou Hong said to Changsun Qing He. He had no interest in talking to Changsun Qing He's university classmates. It was better to wander around this five-star hotel.
"Okay, don't go too far. I'll be done soon too."
"Mhm."
Zhou Hong nodded and walked out of the hotel, while Changsun Qing He headed towards the group of classmates at the other end of the lobby.
After leaving the hotel, Zhou Hong didn't go far, just milling about the vicinity.
As this was a five-star hotel, there were scenic spots like rock gardens and fountains everywhere. It was nice for Zhou Hong to wander around.
After some time, Zhou Hong's phone rang. He picked it up and saw it was Changsun Qing He.
"Zhou Hong, where are you? Come to the hotel lobby."
"Are you done yet?" Zhou Hong asked.
"Not yet, we still have to have a meal. It's almost noon now. We can't eat here while you're wandering outside the hotel alone. Come to the hotel lobby now, and I'll come down to take you to the private room."
"Oh, okay."
Zhou Hong stopped wandering. Unbeknownst to him, he had been strolling around the hotel for nearly two hours. No wonder Changsun Qing He said it was almost time for lunch. Looking at the time, it was indeed close to twelve o'clock.
Soon, Zhou Hong returned to the hotel lobby, where Changsun Qing He was already waiting.
"Didn't you say you'd be done soon?" Zhou Hong walked over and said with a smile.
"I also thought the class reunion would just be a casual meeting and chat. I didn't expect it to drag on. And the classmates who organized it have already booked a private room. Since a private room is booked, we definitely have to eat before leaving. I'll take you to the private room now, and we'll eat together before leaving."
"Mhm." Zhou Hong nodded indifferently and followed Changsun Qing He to a large private room. Five tables were already set up, and each large round table was full.
"Why are there so many people all of a sudden?" Zhou Hong asked, surprised to see all five tables in the private room occupied.
"Yes, I didn't expect almost all the classmates from our year to show up."
Changsun Qing He led Zhou Hong to one of the tables, and everyone's eyes immediately turned towards them.
Seeing Changsun Qing He holding hands with a guy, they were all puzzled. After all, Changsun Qing He had been the most dazzling presence in their class back then, the campus belle whom countless boys pursued but none could win.
"Everyone, classmates, allow me to introduce my... boyfriend. His name is Zhou Hong, and he's from Jinzhou City. He's my colleague," Changsun Qing He introduced with a slight blush, as he wasn't her real boyfriend.
For a moment, the entire private room, with its five tables, fell silent, seemingly surprised. Some of the guys, in particular, felt a pang of dissatisfaction.
If Changsun Qing He had found a prodigy from a prominent family, they might have offered their blessings. But to think that the campus belle of yesteryear had found a colleague from a third-tier city left them somewhat unwilling to accept it.
"Zhou Hong, don't be polite. Sit down," Changsun Qing He gestured for Zhou Hong to sit beside her.
However, as soon as Zhou Hong sat down, a guy sitting diagonally opposite said sourly, "Qing He, you've really broken everyone's hearts." Su Dan Novel Network
"Liu Da Wei, if you have something to say, just say it," Changsun Qing He replied with a smile.
"Back then, so many excellent guys in the academy pursued you, and you didn't fancy any of them. We thought you had very high standards. But now, you've found a boyfriend from a third-tier city. How can the boys who pursued you back then feel at ease? Of course, I'm just stating facts, not targeting your boyfriend. Please don't mind."
Changsun Qing He sighed softly. If Zhou Hong hadn't introduced himself as her boyfriend, she wouldn't have had these troubles. But since Zhou Hong had already said it, she could only brace herself and admit it.
"As long as I like him, that's all that matters," Changsun Qing He said with a bitter smile.
"Qing He, I'm not saying this to be mean, but with your qualities, even if you're lonely, you shouldn't...!" another girl said regretfully.
"Wang Xiao Hong, what kind of talk is that?" Changsun Qing He appeared somewhat annoyed.
"Qing He, do you remember Yang Jia Bao, who pursued you the most fiercely back then?" a male classmate suddenly said.
Changsun Qing He frowned slightly. Of course, she wouldn't forget Yang Jia Bao, who had pursued her most relentlessly during their university days.
That classmate continued, "Yang Jia Bao is now working in the Six Doors. You should know what kind of organization the Six Doors is. Your current Jinzhou City Criminal Investigation Bureau is a subordinate department of the Six Doors. Yang Jia Bao is currently a team leader in the Six Doors, and his direct superior is Ou Yang Bei Hua." After the male classmate finished speaking, everyone in the room stared intently at Changsun Qing He, as if wanting to see if she would regret rejecting Yang Jia Bao back then.
Now, Yang Jia Bao was in such a promising organization. And Changsun Qing He had found a boyfriend from a third-tier city. The gap was undeniably significant.
Changsun Qing He was also slightly stunned. She truly hadn't known that Yang Jia Bao had actually joined the Six Doors.
That's right, Jinzhou City Criminal Investigation Bureau was a subordinate unit of the Six Doors.
Those who could enter the Six Doors were not ordinary people, and their future prospects were extremely broad. Furthermore, there were many geniuses and experts within the Six Doors, which meant that everyone who could enter the Six Doors would have many opportunities.
"Qing He, there aren't many graduates from our Nanshan Martial Arts Academy who can enter the Six Doors. Perhaps not even one in ten years. And now, Yang Jia Bao, who pursued you so persistently, is the only one from our Martial Arts Academy to enter the Six Doors in the past decade. If you hadn't rejected him back then, I believe things would be much better for you now. I'm not looking down on your current boyfriend, but compared to Yang Jia Bao, he is indeed far, far, far behind."