Eating, drinking, chatting, reminiscing, singing, playing cards... it continued on into the night.

Li Yan tried several times to say goodbye and leave, but was held back by the "enthusiastic" classmates. After arriving here, it wasn't just He Zhexia's enthusiasm anymore, everyone was eager to keep him from leaving.

This left him helpless, so during a break to the bathroom, he texted Zhang Yurong, telling her he'd be back late and that nothing was wrong.

In the evening, as they left the hotel, they were supposed to go their separate ways, with some heading back to nearby cities. However, at least half of them exclaimed that it was a rare joy, they should find a place to continue drinking, playing until midnight.

But Li Yan had repeatedly expressed his desire to leave, so he certainly wouldn't join them again. Qiao Huanxuan excused herself, saying she needed to rest and prepare for work, and Bai Jie, living in the suburbs, also needed to return.

The female classmates weren't going, so it wasn't as much fun, but with only the men, it could become even more entertaining.

He Zhexia wasn't going with them either, stating he needed to give the women a ride, so everyone went their separate ways.

As Li Yan was about to say goodbye and leave, He Zhexia pulled him aside and handed him a note with just a phone number on it, which made Li Yan curious — how could he not have a business card if he was the boss?

He Zhexia explained, "Everyone just gave you a lot of business cards, but I reckon you'll throw them away once you leave. I especially wrote down this number for you. You might throw it away, but I hope you remember it. Contact me when you're bored or need help!"

He spoke sincerely, and to show his sincerity, took the time to write it by hand instead of using a business card.

This touched Li Yan slightly, and he replied with a bitter smile, "It's really not necessary..."

"Oh come on, if you don't want too many people to know your number, you can at least tell the three of us, right? Don't worry, I have a husband, I won't bother you, just want to keep in touch. Do you want to wait another decade, until someone accidentally bumps into you, to see each other again?" Bai Jie said, taking out her phone, waiting for Li Yan to say his number.

"Although campus life is long past and can never return, classmates will always be classmates..." Qiao Huanxuan chimed in.

They all still remembered their high school classmates, university classmates, and Qiao Huanxuan even had classmates abroad, still remembering him as a junior high classmate. Li Yan couldn't harden his heart to disconnect from them any longer, so he recited his phone number.

"Just to clarify, I'm not sure how many years I'll use this number, if I suddenly change it, I may not notify everyone..."

"Alright, as long as it's not fake to fool us." Bai Jie entered the number and immediately called it to verify.

They did the same, making Li Yan's phone keep ringing.

After confirming it was Li Yan's number, they were all a bit relieved.

"How should we go? I'm not drunk, I can drive without problems. But I need to take Bai Jie home, she's farther away. Li Yan, could you please take Huanxuan to the hotel?" He Zhexia arranged.

Having already created an opportunity for them earlier, Bai Jie winked and went ahead to open the car door and got in.

Couldn't they each call a taxi? As if taxi drivers wouldn't know the hotel address? Li Yan wanted to say that, but it would hurt Qiao Huanxuan directly. Given the afternoon ride down memory lane, and the gathering until now, it was even less appropriate to say.

"Sure, I will, you two be careful!"

"Haha, I can definitely drive, it's just a little alcohol, as long as we're lucky and don't run into police checkpoints."

"I'm not worried about you crashing the car, I'm worried about you misbehaving after drinking."

Hearing Li Yan's words, He Zhexia was startled, but quickly laughed, "Haha, haha!"

Bai Jie laughed too, "Nice, nice! You finally cracked a joke, you've been a sourpuss all afternoon, almost turned into Nicolas Cage."

Qiao Huanxuan also smiled gently.

Looking at their appearances, Li Yan suspected they were already in cahoots, but it was none of his business, so he waved them off.

...

"Let's go too!"

Qiao Huanxuan stood there without moving, looking at him and said, "Li Yan, you can go!"

"Hmm?"

"I know you're brushing me off, you don't want to take me and probably hurry back to find your girlfriend, right? No worries, I've been to S City a few times, and it's not late enough for any security issues."

Lying needs good disguises, brushing off people too. Today, Li Yan was forced to be invited over, always brushing them off. Others might think he was uneasy, but the three of them noticed Li Yan's discomfort, mainly due to lack of interest in the gathering.

Seeing Qiao Huanxuan straightforwardly express, Li Yan was also satisfied, he originally didn't want to give her a ride, so it was just right. It's not that he was eager to meet his girlfriend, but he had a wife at home, and coming back late would arouse suspicion of fooling around.

"You're straightforward, I like that. I won't give you a ride then, let me flag a taxi for you!"

The two of them started walking outside.

"Hmph! Helping me call a taxi, you're really generous!" Qiao Huanxuan said sarcastically.

"Uh… I can pay for the taxi fare first."

"Do I need your tiny bit of taxi fare?" Qiao Huanxuan continued with an unfriendly tone.

Li Yan didn't know what she was up to again, wasn't it her who said to go separately? At this moment, a taxi had already come over and stopped right in front of them.

"You first!" He said as he went over to help her with her luggage.

Qiao Huanxuan snorted, "You still know to help me with my luggage? I'm alone, and when I get off later, I have to handle it myself. I tell you to leave, and you really leave? Do you understand politeness? I'm polite with you, and you become impolite with me!"

Li Yan sweated profusely, politeness! Horse's! Politeness my ass, aren't you just playing with me?

Seeing them settle down, the driver didn't want to waste any time, and came over to help them put their luggage in the back, including Li Yan's luggage bag along with Qiao Huanxuan's.

As the driver closed the rear lid, Qiao Huanxuan said softly, "Look, how convenient it is for him, like he's taking his own stuff. And his face is full of flesh, his eyes fierce; if it's only me, and he takes me to a remote place, isn't that a recipe for robbery and assault?"

Li Yan secretly smiled bitterly, aren't you just wanting me to escort you, proving how charming you are? Do you have to slander the poor driver?

The luggage had already been put inside, so he just went with the flow. Send her to the hotel first, then take the same taxi back home.

"Please, Miss Qiao!" Li Yan opened the door, but entered first himself.

Qiao Huanxuan was about to enter and was speechless, so she could only get in from the other side.

"Where to?"

"Where to?" The driver asked Li Yan, and Li Yan asked Qiao Huanxuan.

"Sheraton Hotel," Qiao Huanxuan answered the driver, and after the driver had started driving, she added, "The seaside branch."

"Got it!" The driver was excited.

Li Yan's "got it" was full of gloom.

The key point of excitement and gloom was the same place, just different perspectives for different people. Because this Sheraton seaside branch is located in the eastern suburbs near the beach at the seaside bathing area, and it'll take at least an hour to get there from here!

If it's just nearby, the driver certainly wouldn't earn much; going a bit farther, the driver would be happy. Li Yan, however, was worried about the time; back and forth, and helping her carry luggage up, would take two or three hours, and by the time he got home, it would definitely be midnight.

He really wanted to ask the driver to stop so he could get off first. But seeing the driver driving fast, he could only turn to look at Qiao Huanxuan: "You didn't say we're going to the seaside..."

Qiao Huanxuan looked at him strangely, "You didn't ask me either. It's because it's far, if it's nearby, would I need you to send me? I could just go myself."

Li Yan simply closed his eyes and said, "I drank too much, a bit sleepy, wake me when we arrive."

He stopped talking, and Qiao Huanxuan also quieted down, occasionally turning to look at Li Yan. It seemed she wanted to see how much now he differs from the image in her memory.

Looking won't make you pregnant or lose a piece of meat, Li Yan was too lazy to care, continued to feign sleep with closed eyes. Finally, he could enjoy some peace and quiet.

…

All the way east, words unspoken; later, even Qiao Huanxuan closed her eyes for a nap.

When the car reached the east, passing by the Golden Coast, Li Yan couldn't help but sigh internally; if Xiaodi went home, if I didn't need to go home, then coming over to see her would truly be "convenient."

Bypassing the Golden Coast and the seaside bathing park, the driver brought them to the Sheraton Hotel. The driver got out and swiftly helped them unload the luggage.

"Driver, I need to head back later; why don't we keep my luggage in your car? You can wait here, and keep the meter running."

Upon hearing this, the driver didn't believe it, laughed and said, "You leave your stuff here, you won't be at ease. If I don't collect the fare for this ride first, I won't be at ease. Better pay first, take your luggage inside. If, later, you come back down and I haven't picked up another customer, I'll take you back!"

Ugh, do I look like someone who cheats taxi fare? If I really needed that petty cash, wouldn't it be quicker just to take you out?

Li Yan had no choice but to carry his own luggage and help Qiao Huanxuan with hers inside.

"Two ID cards."

While Qiao Huanxuan was at the front desk checking in, Li Yan stood beside her with the luggage. The result was, the receptionist mistakenly thought they were going to stay in one room, and immediately stated the above requirement.

"Please, I'm not here to check in, I still need to leave shortly. I'm just carrying the luggage because there's no one to watch over it." Li Yan explained.

"Please help cooperate, that's just how strict the management is now. Even if you're just delivering luggage, you need to register." The front desk girl politely said, secretly mocking them internally, your looks — all carrying luggage — and leaving soon? Who'd believe that!

Thus, Li Yan, who was delivering luggage, unwittingly got registered for a stay.

(No extra pass… Alright, pre-update 240 additional content…) (To be continued, to know what happens next, please log onto www.qidian.com, more chapters available, support the author, support genuine reading!)

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