Chapter 5: A Dizzying Reunion of Old Faces

Having just emerged from the restroom, I nearly collided head-on with an approaching figure.

The person was clad in peculiar attire, and as I scrutinized his face, it took me a considerable moment to recall his name:

“Jia Boli?”

“Mu Feng! Where have you been? I haven’t seen you all night!”

I had spent quite some time trying to place him, only for him to blurt out my name instantly, which made me feel a little self-conscious.

“Well… the company had overtime tonight, so I was a bit late. I just arrived.”

The excuse for my tardiness was already well-rehearsed, allowing me to deliver it effortlessly.

“But you…”

Gazing at Jia Boli’s outfit, I found myself at a loss for words.

Had it not been for his peculiar attire, I doubted I would have spent so long trying to recall his name.

“Are you… wearing a priest’s robes?”

Rummaging through all my mental impressions, the only image that converged with his appearance was that of individuals from the Church of God, often seen in television shows and movies.

He wore a pure black cassock, its hem reaching his ankles, with something akin to a stole draped over his shoulders, and a thick book clutched in his hand.

This entire ensemble made it incredibly difficult to reconcile him with the person I knew in high school.

The transformation was truly profound.

“You joined that Church of God?”

“See, you’re asking the same thing! Everyone else has asked me that several times already!”

Jia Boli beamed with pride.

“Of course! Not long ago, I passed my trials and became a glorious priest. From this day forward, I shall dedicate my entire life to the Great Lord!”

“Well, congratulations then…”

This was truly unexpected.

He and I had actually been quite close back in the day; I distinctly recalled Jia Boli’s immense fondness for anime in high school, and I would occasionally borrow manga from him.

My enduring impression of him was that of a quintessential otaku.

Never in a million years would I have predicted that such a person would one day embark on a religious path.

While the priest’s attire surprisingly suited him aesthetically, I still couldn’t help but feel a twitch at the corner of my mouth.

I simply couldn’t associate him with devout religious workers, and I suspected my other classmates would feel the same way upon seeing him.

“So, you even came to the reunion dressed like this?”

I still struggled to adapt to Jia Boli’s transformation.

It was rare enough to encounter someone from the Church of God in everyday life, let alone see them in such vestments, yet here he was, at our high school reunion.

“Not necessarily,”

He scratched his head.

“It’s mainly because I just attended a memorial mass and didn’t have time to change. Actually, I usually wear yellow vestments.”

“I meant, don’t you own any casual clothes…?”

“How could I not! If I don’t constantly wear the garments God has bestowed upon me, wouldn’t that be disrespectful to the Lord?”

A shiver ran down my spine; I actually caught a glimpse of fanaticism in his eyes.

What on earth had this guy experienced over the past few years?

“Alright, fine, whatever suits you.”

I conceded defeat, unwilling to debate the matter further.

Just as I was about to leave, Jia Boli unexpectedly grabbed my arm.

“Wait a moment, Mu Feng! How do you feel about our Church of God? Would you be interested in visiting our church to learn more about it sometime?”

My goodness, was he already trying to recruit people?

That was a bit too quick, and how was he so practiced?

I shook my head, naturally uninterested in his so-called church, and flatly refused.

“But I truly believe you have a strong connection with the Lord. To meet is to be fated, and our encounter here today is a divine arrangement. I can sense your innate spiritual wisdom, you know.”

Jia Boli was clearly not giving up, but what was with his sales pitch?

It felt decidedly off; was this truly the rhetoric of the Church of God?

“No thanks, you should look for someone else!”

Without another word, I shook off his hand and swiftly retreated back into the private room’s main hall.

“Won’t you reconsider? Dear~”

Jia Boli’s final plea echoed from behind me, and I nearly slipped and fell.

****

Upon re-entering the private room, I again surveyed my surroundings.

My classmates were still gathered in various groups, their spirits high.

My original seat remained vacant, but given its proximity to Xu Qianran, I decided it would be better not to return there.

Ultimately, I chose to avoid the situation.

The hall’s speakers blared a song someone had requested, and the sounds of finger-guessing games and excited shouts filled the air.

Unexpectedly, in an inconspicuous corner, I discovered another empty seat.

Next to it sat a girl, quietly engrossed in a book, a stark contrast to the boisterous atmosphere of the room.

I recognized the girl instantly; she was Shen Lei, our former class valedictorian.

I silently made my way to the empty seat and sat down, glancing curiously at her.

She appeared to be reading a physics textbook.

Ah, yes, I remembered hearing that Shen Lei had been admitted to the prestigious Huaqing University, a renowned institution in China.

She had even graduated early and was fast-tracked into a master’s program, specializing in physics.

She was as brilliant as ever; from high school onward, she had consistently ranked first in every exam, rarely faltering, truly deserving the title of a top student.

No, that wasn’t quite right!

In my opinion, calling her a “study god” now would be no exaggeration.

“Um…”

I couldn’t help but ask.

“Why aren’t you joining them? It’s a rare chance for all of us to gather at a reunion.”

Hearing my question, Shen Lei quietly lifted her eyes, gave me a brief glance, and uttered three words in a flat tone:

“No interest.”

She then resumed her reading, completely absorbed in her book, all within a span of no more than five seconds.

It was as if I didn’t exist at all.

Still as difficult to get along with as ever… the familiar disposition, the familiar formula.

I patted my chest in relief, glad to have finally encountered a classmate who hadn’t changed much.

The mental shock inflicted by Jia Boli earlier had been truly overwhelming; I could still feel the cold sweat trickling down my back.

“Oh! Isn’t that Mu… Mu Feng? Why didn’t you… didn’t you tell me you were here!”

Suddenly, a slurred voice reached my ears, and I turned my head to see.

Nie Hongwen was swaying precariously, clutching a liquor bottle, and reeking of strong alcohol as he stumbled towards me.

He was clearly heavily intoxicated, far beyond a typical buzz.

“Hehehe… you… you’re being… being unfair! And here I thought we were good… good friends!”

Indeed, he and I had been quite close friends during high school, sharing a surprising number of common interests.

However, our contact had dwindled significantly after we started university.

At that moment, another classmate stood by, anxiously supporting him, fearing he might fall at any moment, and unable to dissuade him from drinking more.

“My apologies, I was busy with work and arrived late.”

I stood up, offering my explanation with an apologetic tone.

To my surprise, Nie Hongwen simply thrust the liquor bottle he was holding into my arms.

“Then stop talking so much! Come… drink! You say how many… how many penalty shots?”

As expected, he was direct; what had to come, would come.

I glanced at the classmate beside him, who subtly shook their head at me.

“Then… three shots! How’s that? I’ll do it myself.”

Three shots felt a bit much; my alcohol tolerance wasn’t particularly high.

However, seeing his state, I felt awkward suggesting fewer.

Consequently, I picked up three glasses and poured them full of alcohol.

“Alright… then I’ll… I’ll drink this first as a sign of respect!”

With that, he snatched a glass and was about to tip it into his mouth.

“Hey, no, no, no!”

I grabbed his wrist, and together with the other classmates, we forcibly pried the glass from his hand.

“You really shouldn’t drink anymore. I’ll take those three shots.”

After downing three glasses in one go, Nie Hongwen finally chuckled foolishly, satisfied at the sight of the empty cups.

“That’s… that’s loyalty!”

He then staggered off towards other people, still clutching the nearly empty bottle.

“Phew…”

I let out a long breath of relief.

Fortunately, it was beer, so the alcohol content wasn’t too high, though I felt a slight bloating in my stomach.

Beside me, Shen Lei continued to read quietly, completely unaffected, as if no one had even approached us.

‘What a master!’

I wiped a bead of sweat from my brow.

“Oh, quick, quick, quick!”

Several girls’ voices suddenly erupted from the center of the room.

“Ren Yunkong, isn’t this the song you requested? Where’s the microphone? Hurry and give it to him!”

Amidst the commotion, Ren Yunkong finally secured the microphone and stepped onto the stage.

“Now, allow me to serenade you all with ‘Fairy Tale.’ I hope you enjoy it!”

A mere introduction wasn’t enough; Ren Yunkong, ever the showman, bowed flamboyantly to the crowd.

He then turned to face the large screen and slowly began to sing.

“I’ve forgotten how long it’s been

Since I last heard you

Tell me your favorite story.

I’ve been thinking for so long now,

And I’m starting to panic,

Have I done something wrong once more?”

I had to admit, Ren Yunkong possessed a truly captivating singing voice.

His emotional rendition of this familiar old song was delivered with such grace that, in some respects, it came remarkably close to Guang Liang’s original.

As I gazed at his imposing figure, amidst the girls’ intermittent cheers and screams from below the stage, and the scattering applause, I most unceremoniously let out a burp.

It seemed the effects of the alcohol were finally beginning to creep in.

My gaze towards the stage seemed to blur, double vision creeping into my sight…

My vision grew increasingly indistinct.

I vigorously shook my head.

It was only three beers; could the after-effects truly be this potent?

Then again, my alcohol tolerance was, at best, perhaps a little over one bottle of beer, so in that light, it wasn’t so strange after all.

To try and maintain some semblance of sobriety, I could only force my eyes wide open, staring straight ahead.

“I want to become the angel

You love in a fairy tale,

Spreading my arms

To turn into wings and protect you.

You must believe

That happiness and joy are the ending.”

As the song reached its crescendo, the audience’s reaction grew increasingly fervent.

I felt myself beginning to falter, and a sudden wave of dizziness washed over me.

Inadvertently, I glanced up at the ceiling.

The rotating light fixture above, fueled by the escalating ambiance, seemed to spin faster and faster, more urgently, and brighter.

My entire vision, amidst the dizzying whirl, gradually faded into a blinding white.

The melodious singing that had echoed in my ears abruptly ceased at the same moment.

The surroundings suddenly fell silent, as if dead, with only the karaoke background music gently playing on…