The change in the atmosphere brought about by Jiang Hongshao made Yang Xia, who was usually dazzling, feel as if her light was taken away. She greeted Jiang Hongshao reservedly and secretly looked at her attire. She was wearing a red skirt with lotus edges. The curve of her waist and abdomen gathered by the skirt made Yang Xia, a girl, have the urge to reach out and grab her. With her white arms and a pair of black leather shoes with excellent texture at the end of her calves, she looked delicate and graceful, and at the same time, she had a natural and overflowing atmosphere.
This temperament alone is not something that an ordinary girl can cultivate easily.
Willow flowers circled around Jiang Hongshao like butterflies, but the girls at the scene were not as active as before. Perhaps because of the comparison, most of the girls felt inferior to her. Judging from her aura, they couldn't help but pay attention to their own words and actions.
Yu Xiao, who was standing aside, watched the boys' eyes constantly wandering over Jiang Hongshao, and he sighed in his heart, "This is what they call 'My flower blooms and all other flowers die'. Jiang Hongshao is still Jiang Hongshao! Still so domineering!"
Liu Ying looked at the whole place and clapped her hands, "Everyone is here, let's have dinner!"
Seeing everyone walking towards the dining table one after another, Yu Xiao finally realized, where is Cheng Ran? Why hasn't this guy come yet
"Um, Cheng Ran hasn't come yet..."
Hearing this sensitive name, several people had different expressions. Yang Xia actually noticed that Cheng Ran didn't show up, and thought that Liu Ying didn't call him. After all, she had heard about the conflict between Sun Jichao and Cheng Ran. But today, all the friends in the compound were here. If Liu Ying didn't call Cheng Ran, it would be a bit too much. However, he didn't come. Why, did he forget or was he not punctual? Looking at the enthusiasm of the boys around her, Yang Xia was a little surprised in contrast.
However, Sun Jichao's ears twitched. The reason why he had been brooding over the fight with Cheng Ran was that he had never suffered any loss in all the fights he had participated in since he was a child. But when he met the unruly Cheng Ran at that time, he was defeated miserably and was beaten by him. If it was someone stronger and better than him whom he could not afford to offend, it would be fine, but it was a small character like Cheng Ran, so he hated him.
Liu Ying looked uncomfortable, and was secretly annoyed with Yu Xiao. She knew Cheng Ran didn't come, and she thought he was self-aware and had figured it out. That's why she said "everyone is here" just now. But now she had no choice but to say, "Then... why don't you give him a call..."
In fact, everyone present could hear the reluctance in her words. Privately, the young men in the compound had also heard some of Liu Ying's statements that showed her disdain for Cheng Ran.
Yu Xiao really didn't know what to do. He came to the phone and called Cheng Ran's home. He said something like "hmm" and "ah" and hung up and said, "Cheng Ran said he won't come over for dinner. He'll eat at home and come over and sit for a while."
"Haha... what a big shot!" Yao Beibei said.
Liu Ying smiled and invited everyone to eat.
Being able to enjoy the meals cooked by his mother at home, Cheng Ran certainly had no intention of going to Liu Ying's house for dinner. He just wanted to see his old friends, and it would be enough to just take a look after dinner. He did not take this as a serious matter.
What's more, today Xu Lan made the cold chicken specially for him, and he was really greedy. If nothing unexpected happened, he could only taste this kind of flavor during festivals in his previous life, and for various reasons, he might not be able to go home every year. Rebirth gave him the opportunity to experience another life, so how could he miss such a feast.
While eating, Xu Lan asked indirectly, "I heard that Liu Ying is treating us today... She... didn't invite you?"
"I did... I'm here to eat the food you cooked... I don't have time to go over." Cheng Ran was gnawing on a chicken leg without raising his head.
Xu Lan breathed a sigh of relief. "You really are. Yu Xiao asked you not to go, and Liu Ying asked you not to go either. Although I've seen you studying hard these past two days, don't go too far. You still have to go to the parties you're supposed to have. After dinner, go find them. I'll wash the dishes."
At Xu Lan's urging, Cheng Ran didn't even finish his meal, and his bowl was snatched away. No one knows a son better than his father. Cheng Feiyang saw Cheng Ran still smacking his lips. Although he didn't know why Cheng Ran was more greedy than usual, he also said, "Son, you haven't eaten enough..."
"He's already eaten such a big bowl and still isn't full. He's a pig. Eat well in the morning, eat enough at noon, and eat less at night. Don't you understand? Go play first. You haven't been out for two days. Go and move around. Come back and drink the chicken soup in the evening!"
It seems that if I don’t go out, I won’t even have chicken soup to drink.
Cheng Ran changed his shoes reluctantly and went out. He memorized the location of Liu Ying's house, walked along the community road past three buildings, and arrived at the fourth building. The house in the unit was still brand new. It was built with funds raised a few years ago. More than ten years later, commercial housing was everywhere. These new houses back then have become a mark of the times and have aged with time.
Cheng Ran turned around and saw the several buildings he had passed by. The people he once knew in those buildings seemed to have never appeared. They were killed by time and space.
Is my appearance a blessing or a misfortune
From time to time, laughter and cheers could be heard from the windows on the fifth floor of Liu Ying's house. Cheng Ran looked up and heard some familiar voices. This was why he came here today. He could still meet his childhood companions and see his past life trajectory, proving that it was not false. This was such a precious thing at the moment.
He walked up.
In fact, the meal was very pleasant. Although everyone was from different classes and even different colleges, they were still young at heart. Once they started having fun and making noise, the atmosphere became harmonious.
Although Sun Jichao, Zhou Bin, and Wang Yuran were a little reserved at the beginning, these boys in the Huatong Company compound were simply not on the same level as them. Even when they were speaking, the latter could not even interrupt them and could only be guests. They were like a group of lambs that had been squeezed into a corner of a sheepfold by wolves. They felt like they were in control of the whole situation, and naturally became more and more casual and relaxed.
Then there was Jiang Hongshao. Her excellence began to make the girls present feel ashamed. But when they were eating and chatting afterwards, she always took care of everyone present. When someone was speaking, she would never interrupt, but stared at the other person under her long eyelashes and listened and responded. When everyone talked about the embarrassing and interesting things that happened among the children of the compound when they were young, she did not feel out of place. She seemed to be really happy that they had such a group of friends who had grown up together. Emotions can be felt by people. Yang Xia, Liu Ying and others talked more enthusiastically. When talking about the time when they set off firecrackers and scared a tricycle on the side of the road, and were caught up by others to investigate, Jiang Hongshao looked at Xie Dong, who had not been very talkative, and said, "So, it was you who stepped forward and took all the responsibility at that time... You were really brave."
Xie Dong was usually very quiet and shy, and was the least noticeable person at the party. Being looked at by Jiang Hongshao at this time, and being evaluated like this, his face flushed instantly, and he dared not look directly at her, but he stammered and mustered up the courage to say, "No, it's okay! I'm used to it anyway! When I was fat before, they used me as a meat shield..."
It made everyone laugh.
When talking about this, the loud-voiced Yao Beibei beside Yang Xia shouted, "Yu Xiao, you and Cheng Ran went to the Internet station not far from our office last night, right? I saw both of you! Hey, let me say that Cheng Ran is too ambitious! He just said that he wanted to be admitted to No. 1 Middle School, but this didn't motivate him at all, and he's still hanging around all day!"
Yu Xiao felt that he was wrongly accused and was about to speak when Yang Xia looked at him with a stern face, "Yu Xiao, please tell your good friend. If he continues like this, he will really be finished!"
"We didn't go out to play at all, you read it wrong! Cheng Ran has been reviewing at home these past two days!"
"Forget it, stop covering for him!" Yao Beibei pouted, "What's the point of you lying to us? Can you cheat on the upcoming high school entrance exam? Can you cheat on the test paper that will show the truth?"
Everyone nodded in agreement. Jiang Hongshao just glanced at Yu Xiao and said nothing.
I don't care, but Yu Xiao is crying out for Cheng Ran. When I went to find him, he was reading at home and couldn't even go out to the Internet cafe to play games. This shows that Cheng Ran is really trying hard, but in the end he got such misunderstanding and criticism...
But he felt somewhat powerless, because his reason told him that it was too late for Cheng Ran to make efforts now that his last few dozen days were approaching!
Seeing Yu Xiao in a daze, everyone started talking about other topics.
Liu Ying looked at the atmosphere and thought that this was a perfect party. This was because Jiang Hongshao came, the dishes cooked by her parents were very rich and suited everyone's taste, and also, the last thing was that Cheng Ran did not come and did not meet Sun Jichao, which ruined the atmosphere.
Just as Liu Ying was thinking this, there was a knock on the door. Yu Xiao immediately jumped off the stool, rushed to the door, unbolted the bolt and opened the door.
Cheng Ran appeared there. Of course he didn't know that people were discussing him just now. He just felt that the atmosphere suddenly became a little quiet, so he waved to the people in the room.
"Everyone is here... Hello..."