Chapter 1576 - 918: Reunion with an Old Classmate

Chapter 1576: Chapter 918: Reunion with an Old Classmate

The pastries Grandma likes, the traditional Chinese dress Mom covets, the white liquor Dad loves, plus some miscellaneous snacks... Li Xiaoyan packed a full travel bag.

Due to weather conditions, the highway was closed for two days, and Li Xiaoning stayed in Sha City for two extra days. This gave Li Xiaoyan plenty of time to prepare gifts for the family.

"Li Xiaoyan?"

As she pushed the door open to enter the hotel where her brother was staying, a tall and elegant woman standing to the side of the door looked her up and down with surprise in her eyes, "Is it really you?"

"Wen Jie? What are you doing here? When did you arrive?" Slightly stunned, Li Xiaoyan’s smile bloomed brightly at the sight of her friend.

She and Wen Jie were childhood friends, the best of friends. When she dropped out of high school to work, Wen Jie cried the hardest of anyone.

"Ah, we’re seeing each other again, it’s so nice! I missed you so much!" Wen Jie exclaimed excitedly, her face flushed with happiness, "I just arrived in Sha City yesterday. This hotel is run by my brother-in-law. With the job resignations during New Year’s, they needed help. I came along with my husband who’s here to help out."

"I was planning to settle in first and then find a way to look for you. But it was such a coincidence to run into you. By the way, you rascal, why did you stop replying to my letters all those years ago? I went to your house to ask Uncle Li and Aunt Li what happened, and they said they didn’t know."

Later, I wrote you a few more letters, but they seemed lost at sea. For the first two years, I went to your house to visit during New Year’s, but I never ran into you. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

I asked your parents, and they said you were always working in Sha City and didn’t return home during New Year’s to earn more money. I asked for your address and phone number, but they didn’t know."

"Xiaoyan, what did I do wrong for you to dislike me so much?" Wen Jie said, her eyes starting to turn red.

Hearing Wen Jie’s words, Li Xiaoyan’s expression turned awkward. When she first started working, she communicated with Wen Jie weekly. Later, Wen Jie’s parents wrote her a letter specifically, saying they didn’t want her to talk to Wen Jie too much about societal matters, which might disrupt Wen Jie’s focus and affect her college entrance exams.

They subtly pointed out that it would be best if she cut off contact with Wen Jie, encouraging Wen Jie to aim higher and make friends with better conditions.

Receiving that letter, her heartbreak was understandable. However, thinking they were doing it for Wen Jie’s sake, she complied with their wishes and proactively ended her correspondence with Wen Jie.

Though, she couldn’t quite understand why they misunderstood her messages. She only ever offered encouragement and never painted a rosy picture of society. How could they misinterpret her intentions like that?

It wasn’t until later, when she got some clues from other friends, that she realized their words and their intentions were entirely different...

Seeing Li Xiaoyan not respond for a long time, Wen Jie nudged her, "What’s really going on? I’ve never understood why you treated me that way over the years. Now that we’ve met, you must tell me!"

"I just didn’t want to affect your college entrance exams, so I stopped replying to your letters. Later, when I heard you got into college, I felt inferior and embarrassed to contact you." Li Xiaoyan could only give this insincere answer. It had been so many years, revealing the truth now wouldn’t mean anything.

Some matters were already settled for good. She would bear the blame, for she was Wen Jie’s best friend, and no matter what, Wen Jie’s parents genuinely had her well-being at heart. Causing conflict between Wen Jie and them now was truly unnecessary.

"I didn’t get into college at all, who told you I did? Besides..." Wen Jie glared and pouted, "Even if I got in, you wouldn’t have treated me like that, you’re not that kind of person!"

"At the time, I had just started working and felt sensitive about dropping out, so I overthought things. People always have moments of confusion; it’s all behind us now. We’ve met again, let’s not dig into it further, okay?"

"Alright." Seeing Li Xiaoyan unwilling to say more, Wen Jie didn’t press. Her gaze fell onto the bag Li Xiaoyan held, with confusion in her eyes, "Are you checking into a hotel?"

"No, my brother is staying here. He came with his school’s teachers to attend a math competition. He was supposed to leave the day before yesterday, but due to fog, the highway was closed, so he stayed two extra days.

I’ve used this opportunity to buy more things anyway. Since my dad goes to school every week to bring him food, I can lighten the load a bit when I go home for New Year’s."