Chapter 356: 356 Heart Old

“Do you really plan to keep us standing here?” Shasha crossed her arms over her chest.

“Alright, sit down.” Chen Xu got up and sat on the side opposite Liu Xiaoshang, leaving room for the two girls to sit together.

Chen Xu waved, beckoning the waiter, and said, “Order whatever you want, it’s my treat this time.”

When in Beijing, they had treated him once to thank him for rescuing them. Other than that, it was always split bills.

After sitting down, Shasha picked up the menu. “If you insist, I won’t hold back.”

It was then that Xiao Shang finally had a chance to interject, asking, “These two are…”

“Oh right, let me introduce you.”

Chen Xu then remembered to make the introductions. “This is my friend, Liu Xiaoshang, this is Shasha, and this is Xiao Yin, I met them last week on a business trip to Beijing.”

“Hello.”

“Hello.” Both parties greeted each other and got acquainted.

However, the look Xiao Shang gave Chen Xu seemed a bit off.

Chen Xu knew he had misunderstood but didn’t explain, asking the two girls, “How come you returned so quickly?”

Shasha paused while flipping through the menu and said, “Actually, we caught the noon flight yesterday and arrived last night.”

Honestly, they had never thought they’d meet Chen Xu after returning. Although they had gotten along well and even exchanged some pleasant feelings, they had added each other on WeChat without any plans of further contact.

Their trip to Beijing had been an encounter that was hardly romantic.

Yet, coincidentally, they ran into Chen Xu while out shopping and dining the day after they returned. It was truly fate.

“Oh, then you returned earlier than me; I arrived this morning on the overnight flight,” said Chen Xu, roughly guessing their thoughts. When he had bid them farewell, they hadn’t mentioned this, nor had he pointed it out.

Originally, it was supposed to be just two guys dining, but with two young, beautiful girls added, the atmosphere was completely different.

Xiao Shang was naturally a talkative person and could chat with anyone, familiar or not. As the conversation flowed, everyone became more familiar.

“So, you’re only twenty-six?”

When the topic of age came up, Shasha was visibly shocked, and Xiao Yin also seemed surprised. “You’re just a few years older than us; I thought you were over thirty.”

Chen Xu touched his face and asked, “Do I really look that old?”

“Of course, people would believe if you said you were thirty-five or thirty-six. My goodness. You’re only twenty-six? Are you kidding with us?” Shasha was still somewhat in disbelief.

Xiao Shang couldn’t help but laugh, looking at Chen Xu, he said, “Indeed, hearing them say that, I also feel this guy looks a lot older than before.”

The usually quiet Xiao Yin suddenly spoke up, “Maybe it’s maturity.”

Chen Xu sighed, “Alas, my body isn’t old, but my heart is.”

Mentally, he felt like a sixty-year-old, given all the years he had experienced in his dreams, which naturally affected his mindset.

Then, conversation turned to their college. This time, they didn’t hide it and directly revealed the name of their prestigious university.

Both men hadn’t graduated long ago and hearing about the current lives of college students made them feel a generation gap.

Both had been working for three years, and Xiao Shang was now married, which naturally shifted his mindset entirely.

The meal ended, and over an hour had passed.

When Chen Xu went to the restroom midway, he paid the bill. Xiao Shang, being a married man, probably didn’t have much money on him.

It was getting late, so Xiao Shang prepared to head home, and the two girls also needed to return to campus, so they split up at the restaurant door.

Chen Xu looked up a ride online, and while waiting, Xiao Shang said, “Those two girls are quite nice, pretty and pleasant. What do you think, any interest?”

The wind outside was pretty strong and chilly, and there were far fewer pedestrians on the street.

Chen Xu, who had drunk quite a bit of beer, had a slightly flushed face but was clear-headed. He countered, “How do they compare to my girlfriend?”

Xiao Shang suddenly fell silent, and after a while, he said, “Well, you really can’t compare them.” He had a deep impression of Yang Jinxia.

“If you like her, then go after her,” Chen Xu jokingly said.

Xiao Shang vigorously shook his head, “That won’t do, I’m already married. It wouldn’t be right. It’s different for you; you’re not married.”

“You know it,” said Chen Xu. He still remembered the last time they met, when they accidentally bumped into each other on the street and went to dine together, and his wife had video-called him during the meal.

It was also that day that he met Yang Jinxia, so he remembered it very clearly.

“I’ve discussed this with her, and she promised not to video call when I’m out socializing,” Xiao Shang said as a black car stopped in front of them.

The driver rolled down the window and asked, “Did you call for a ride?”

“Yes, it’s us.”

Once in the car, Xiao Shang continued, “Speaking of which, aren’t you running into a streak of luck with beautiful women appearing one after another?”

He had noticed during dinner; the girl named Shasha seemed to have a bit of interest in Chen Xu.

Chen Xu shook his head, saying, “Count for yourself; it’s only three, and that’s hardly a lot.” Indeed, there were quite a few beautiful women around him, but Xiao Shang only knew of these three.

“Let’s drop that topic,” Xiao Shang recalled something serious, “It’s a little more than a month till the Spring Festival. Our class monitor is organizing a reunion; you should come too.”

Chen Xu asked, “When is it?”

“Definitely after Lantern Festival.”

Most people go back to their hometowns for the Spring Festival, and college classmates mostly come from different places, so it’s really hard to gather during the New Year. It only works after Lantern Festival.

Chen Xu said, “I’ll see how it goes then. If I have time, I’ll come over.”

Generally, in college, dormitories form small groups. The relationships between classmates aren’t like those in high school or middle school.

“Alright then, that’s enough. I’ll give you a call at that time,” Xiao Shang was quite happy. As the vice class president, and one of the organizers, it was good to gather as many as possible.

Originally, less than one-third of their class remained in the city, the rest either went back to their hometowns or moved to other cities for work.

In a few more years, even fewer would still be in the city.

Xiao Shang clapped his hands excitedly, “When the time comes, bring your girlfriend along and wow those old classmates. It’ll definitely be interesting.”