"I don't feel anything else today, just that my energy has improved a lot. Normally, spending a few hours at the ski resort would leave me exhausted by the time I got back!"
"Mom, you didn't even ski today—just took pictures! What's there to be tired about?" Beibei muttered while playing with a remote-controlled car on the sofa.
"Haha, you mischievous little monkey, always trying to undermine me, huh?" Mrs. Han laughed and playfully scolded her grandson, affectionately poking him with her finger.
Even Doctor Zhang found it amusing, and for a moment, the atmosphere was harmonious and lively.
"Doctor Zhang, if we can't explain the reason, let's not overthink it. Maybe my mother-in-law has accumulated blessings from all the good deeds she's done!" Yin Qi joked with a smile, analyzing the situation. Her mother-in-law spent time worshipping Buddha, cultivating kindness, and performing charitable acts, so maybe there really was some truth in her perspective.
"Indeed, sometimes misfortunes can turn into blessings. But Mrs. Han still needs to pay close attention to her health. Recurrent coronary disease can be very dangerous."
Doctor Zhang said with sincere concern. Technically speaking, given her age, she ought to avoid stress and agitation, which could be very harmful.
"Doctor Zhang, how about joining us this evening at that private restaurant for a tasting?" Yin Qi suggested. It was clear that, while Doctor Zhang didn't openly admit it, he was intrigued.
"Then I humbly accept!" Doctor Zhang quickly agreed. Perhaps he might discover something new after tasting the food.
New Year's Day, January 1, 2005. Li Si hadn't expected she'd find herself attending a classmates' reunion. She sighed inwardly—are reunions all the rage these days?
Last night, she had been enjoying a dream, only to be startled awake by Bai Shasha's relentless phone call. After the two chattered for nearly half an hour about how they'd been spending these days, Bai Shasha finally revealed that Wang Man and Zhang Weicheng were organizing a high school classmates' reunion today, and insisted Li Si must attend.
Reminiscing about her life before her rebirth, Li Si recalled how she had refused to attend this very reunion. Back in high school, she had always been in the spotlight, but after her father passed away, she became a pitiful girl dependent on others. She felt too humiliated to face her classmates at the time. She realized now how narrow-minded she'd been—in the end, some things still unfold along their destined paths.
"Hey, Li Si, what are you so deep in thought about? Have you secretly gotten a boyfriend in college? Come on, tell us what he looks like! Is he handsome?" Wang Man walked over, sat down beside her, and gave her an affectionate pat on the shoulder.
Li Si glanced up at Wang Man—she had changed a lot. In high school, Wang Man looked every bit the stereotypical studious girl: never dressed up, always in sportswear, with a short buzz cut. Now she wore long, flowing hair adorned with a butterfly-shaped rhinestone clip, sparkly blue eye makeup, a red princess dress, and black knee-high boots. She had undergone a complete transformation—it was true what they say, one year apart feels like three autumns gone.
"You're the one with the boyfriend, Wang Man. My goodness, you've changed so much. If it weren't for this reunion, I wouldn't have recognized you on the street!" Li Si joked. They hadn't been particularly close in high school; Wang Man had sat at the front desk near her, and Bai Shasha had been her deskmate.
"Oh my, everyone listen up! Our talented Li Si always has a way with words—she even manages to compliment you so elegantly that it makes you feel good!" Wang Man teased, her exaggerated tone making the two girls sitting nearby laugh along.
They called it a reunion, but with a class of 52 people, only those who were relatively close got the invite. Two tables were arranged, as many couldn't be reached or chose not to come.
It seemed too early still; at the girls' table, only Wang Man, Li Si, and two other girls had arrived. Meanwhile, at the boys' table, only Zhang Weicheng and three other guys were present.
"Li Si is absolutely right—Wang Man, haven't you already bagged yourself a boyfriend? Didn't you manage to win over handsome Zhang Weicheng? What more could you ask for?" Li Si remarked to a slightly chubby, bespectacled guy whose name she vaguely remembered as Sun something.
"Get lost! Nobody's asking you to talk!" Wang Man stood up, visibly irritated, and even shot a surreptitious glare at the innocent-looking Zhang Weicheng, who didn't say a word.
"Wang Man! What are you yelling about? I could hear you from across the room!"
Bai Shasha made a striking entrance in sleek black attire; her hair was styled into a bun, her forehead exposed beautifully, and she wore subtle makeup.
"Why are you so late? Even Li Si got here earlier than you!" Wang Man grumbled.
Bai Shasha took a seat beside Li Si. "Of course Li Si got here first! She's a natural beauty who doesn't need makeup. Me? It's rare enough for me to come to a reunion—I had to doll myself up a bit, didn't I?"
As soon as she finished speaking, a voice called out from the boys' side, "Bai Shasha, even without makeup, we still adore you!" "Buzz off!"
Everyone laughed heartily, and Bai Shasha leaned over to whisper in Li Si's ear, "What's up with Wang Man? If I hadn't heard her sound first, I wouldn't have recognized her. Did her mom even recognize her?"
Li Si chuckled and pinched her, whispering back, "Stop joking like that. Don't you know the saying, 'Women dress up for those who please them?'"
"Oh… Got it. So who are you dressing up for, hmm, Sisi?"
"Dress up your head! Come on, behave! Can't you get serious for once?" Li Si shot her a glare—it's always the same with her, mischief all day long.
Classmates began arriving gradually, and those who were familiar naturally gravitated toward each other. Li Si glanced around at the girls near her; counting her close high school friends, aside from Bai Shasha, there was only her desk neighbor, Zhou Rou—but Zhou Rou hadn't arrived yet.
"Wang Man, did you notify Zhou Rou?"
Li Si caught Wang Man as she walked by and asked.
"Her? I told another classmate to let her know; not sure if she'll come. Li Si, let me warn you—don't get too close to her. I heard she's been heading downhill lately, working at Hou Gong KTV." Wang Man whispered cautiously into her ear.
Li Si felt a shock—Hou Gong KTV was infamous locally; it was membership-based, outrageously expensive, and included escort services.
"That can't be…"
Li Si couldn't believe that gentle, kind Zhou Rou would go down that path.
"You're too naïve, Li Si. Why would I make up rumors about her? Supposedly, someone spotted her dressed very provocatively there. Anyway, believe what you want!" Wang Man snapped, annoyed by Li Si's disbelief, and stormed off to the boys' table.
"Sisi, what were you two talking about?" Bai Shasha returned from the restroom and saw Li Si frozen in thought. She wiped her hands with a tissue while asking.
"Shasha, Wang Man said Zhou Rou is working at Hou Gong!"
"What?? No way?" Bai Shasha also looked stunned, unable to believe it.
Their mood sank a little. Just then, a breeze of perfume wafted over. "Li Si, Bai Shasha, I missed you two so much!"
Turning their heads, who else could it be but Zhou Rou?
She was dressed the same way she had in school: a pink dress paired with white ankle boots, exuding a soft, gentle vibe. Although not strikingly beautiful at first glance, her warmth and delicate charm drew people in upon closer inspection. Her watery eyes seemed to evoke care and tenderness.
"Why are you so late? We were just talking about you!" Li Si warmly held her slightly cold hands.
"I had something to do and got delayed. What were you all saying about me?" Zhou Rou accepted the hot tea Bai Shasha handed her and tried to mask the slight unease on her face.
"What could we even say? Just that we were wondering why you hadn't arrived yet!" Bai Shasha, sitting on Li Si's other side, chimed in. "So where are you studying now?"
"I didn't go to college. After my father passed away, my family had to deal with a lot of debt." Zhou Rou spoke softly, her eyes clouded with sorrow.