The growth system comes at the age of 30

Chapter 239 A chance encounter with the high school class beauty; the difference in beauty is immediately apparent (4.5K)

Dongxin was the earliest comprehensive shopping mall in Jiangbei.

It's been around for almost 20 years. It was opened by a local real estate developer. Back then, it attracted a lot of attention from the citizens, and the business was always booming. As a result, the prices of several surrounding properties also rose steadily.

Later, with the entry of brands such as Walmart and Patagonia into Jiangbei, the flow of people gradually decreased.

However, even today, it still holds a certain position thanks to its superior location and reputation, competing with other major shopping malls.

The advantage of Dongxin is that there's plenty of food.

From inside the mall to outside, there are all kinds of restaurants, offering a wide variety of dishes from all over the country, as well as various local snacks, milk tea, and desserts.

For many people born in the 90s and 00s in Jiangbei, Dongxin is one of their important memories of their student days.

The two drove to Dongxin, but instead of going straight to find something to eat, they decided to wander around first.

Chen Jingle didn't say he hated shopping; it was all about who he was with. Like now, holding hands with Teacher Li, he could shop all day long.

They ordered two cups of milk tea and strolled around leisurely with them.

Unlike Chen Jingle, who was lazy, Li Beixing was full of energy.

No matter what kind of shop it is, even if it's a small stall selling pirated anime stickers or other small merchandise, she'll go in and take a look, and buy whatever catches her eye.

I bought quite a few things along the way, none of them were expensive, and the most important thing was that I was happy and liked them.

Some were for Chen Jingle, some were for herself, and some were used to reward students.

Teacher Li is never stingy with money, no matter who it is.

Not to mention that these things are not expensive to begin with; you can get several times the happiness for a little money, which is a great deal.

……

"Help me get my bag, I need to use the restroom."

"It's probably because I drank too much milk tea," Li Beixing said.

Chen Jingle took the bag and nodded, "Okay, go ahead."

He just sat there, carrying his bag and stuff, leaning against the railing looking at his phone.

Passersby couldn't help but stare, but Chen Jingle was already used to it.

It would be truly abnormal if you went out without being stared at.

Like everyone else, Lin Liyun noticed Chen Jingle's presence and her eyes lit up.

You know, it's very rare to see such a super handsome guy in a small place like Jiangbei.

This isn't a first-tier city like a provincial capital. Most of the time, you see either primary or middle school students who haven't even grown up yet, or KLF guys with yellow hair, tight pants, and loafers, or middle-aged or elderly men wearing slippers, shorts, and yellowed T-shirts with big bellies.

The chances of meeting a handsome guy are comparable to getting hit on the head with bird poop as soon as you step outside!
However, Lin Liyun was really lucky today. She was just thinking of taking her child for a walk when she saw a handsome guy leaning against the railing of the mall looking at his phone.

Just looking at that profile, one can't help but be amazed.

hiss~
He's so handsome!

And he happens to be her type: fair skin, well-defined facial features, and striking features—far superior to the ugly men in the current Chinese entertainment industry!
Following the principle of "why not take a look if you're not going to," Lin Liyun slowed down and took a good look at the other person while they weren't paying attention to her.

Don't assume that women don't like looking at handsome men. On the contrary, their desire for handsome men is even stronger than men's desire for beautiful women.

After all, there are really few handsome men in real life!
Not to mention places like the Rice Noodle Country, where there are no handsome men but only giant flying cockroaches.

Women are different. 80% of women in the country are in the top 5% of terms of appearance. As long as they are not really ugly, they can use makeup to make themselves beautiful.

Even if all else fails, there's always a beauty filter.

However, before she could take a second look, the baby suddenly started crying loudly.

Lin Liyun quickly bent down to comfort her: "Baby, what's wrong? Oh, don't cry, don't cry, Mommy's here!"

Hearing the child crying, Chen Jingle subconsciously looked up and found a tall woman pushing a stroller and comforting the child.

At first, the other person had their back to him, so he didn't think anything of it. But when the other person stood up after calming the child down, he was surprised when he saw what the other person looked like.

If he hasn't mistaken me for someone else, it seems like we're acquaintances?

Just then, Lin Liyun also noticed Chen Jingle's gaze and subconsciously looked over. She felt a little embarrassed; why did the child have to cry now of all times?

I feel so rude.

The next second, Chen Jingle greeted her with a smile: "Hi, what a coincidence? Long time no see."

"what?"

Lin Liyun was stunned, a little taken aback.

After confirming that no one else was around, she looked blank and hesitated before asking, "Are you talking to me?"

She had no recollection of knowing such a handsome man.

I searched my memory but couldn't find a single name that matched. Could it be that the other person had mistaken me for someone else?
Or was he trying to chat me up?

Lin Liyun felt a fleeting flutter in her heart, but quickly dismissed the idea.

Chen Jingle raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "Don't you remember me, Miss Lin?"

Lin Liyun was even more confused. It seemed that the other person really did know her, but the problem was that she had no recollection of the person at all.

This is very embarrassing.

Lin Liyun quickly asked, "Uh, sorry, have we met before?"

Well, her words made Chen Jingle a little embarrassed. If he had known she wouldn't recognize him, he would have preferred not to say hello at all.

He could only sigh and say, "I'm Chen Jingle, your high school classmate. Do you remember me?"

Chen Jingle?!

A flash of inspiration struck Lin Liyun, and she finally remembered. She nodded quickly, "Yes, yes, Chen Jingle! No wonder you looked familiar! But I remember you used to look quite different from how you are now."

I never expected that the other person would be my high school classmate. What a coincidence!
Although upon closer inspection, the facial features did match up, she still found it hard to believe that the dark-skinned, thin, and not-so-tall boy had transformed into a handsome, celebrity-level man!

That's a bit of an exaggeration.

Chen Jingle smiled: "It's been almost ten years since we last met, it's normal to have changed. You've changed quite a bit too, of course, you're still just as beautiful."

Lin Liyun smiled and said, "No way, I'm all old and faded."

If other people said she was pretty, she would just smile, but being praised to her face by such a handsome man made her feel a little flattered.

Although Chen Jingle's words were somewhat flattering and polite, Lin Liyun was indeed the prettiest girl in her high school class. Back when everyone obediently wore school uniforms, she dared to wear athletic shorts to school, and her pair of fair, straight, long legs attracted the attention of countless boys.

Although she is now a mother of three, time has not left many marks on her face. She is only just over 30 and takes good care of herself. Compared with her younger days, she has a different kind of charm.

This is the type that Prime Minister Cao liked the most.

……

In Chen Jingle's memory, Lin Liyun was probably the one who married the best among all the girls in his high school class.

She got married right after graduating from university. Her husband seemed to be quite a bit older than her, and his family was quite wealthy. When she got married, many boys in her class who had a crush on her were heartbroken, feeling that a beautiful flower had been wasted on a pile of dung.

Looking back now, they were indeed smart; they knew what they wanted, and their goals were clear from the beginning.

It's at least better than those who try to find a better opportunity while still employed, or those who try to raise fish in a pond and then use their first skill to get out of the water.

Since getting married, Lin Liyun's WeChat Moments have been filled with photos of her exquisite life, much like those socialites online later on, and even several years earlier.

It's clear that the life of a wealthy woman in a small town is indeed quite good.

Well, judging from her current skin condition, it's obviously very good.

Chen Jingle looked at the baby in the stroller: "This is the smallest, right?"

She looks like she's only a little over one year old, not even two.

"Yes, the other two older ones went to school. You know that?" Lin Liyun raised an eyebrow.

She was secretly delighted that Chen Jingle would pay attention to her life.

Chen Jing chuckled: "I used to check my WeChat Moments, and I just happened to come across this."

Look at them, they've already had their third child! That's fast, they've only been out of school for a few years.

On the other hand, some classmates are already 30 and still don't have a partner.

Fortunately, he has Teacher Li now, otherwise he would be the one being reflected upon.

Lin Liyun curled the corners of her lips and subconsciously tucked her hair behind her ear, her every move exuding mature feminine charm.

How come she never noticed how handsome Chen Jingle was before?

The changes in just ten years are truly remarkable.

No, not ten years. She had seen Chen Jingle's college graduation photo before, and he wasn't this handsome back then. At most, he was just a little better looking than an average person.

Shouldn't people become uglier and uglier after graduation due to work and life pressures?

How come she's aging in reverse? That's really amazing.

Compared to her own balding, pot-bellied husband who only knows how to socialize with his friends until midnight after get off work, she suddenly felt a little resentful.

I knew earlier...

Never mind, there are no "what ifs".

Despite her fantasies, she was still very clear about what she should and shouldn't do.

Don't really think she's a woman who only makes a living based on her looks and figure.

……

Faced with Lin Liyun's petty schemes, Chen Jingle remained calm, not even blinking.

Looking at the stroller, she asked with a smile, "How many sons and how many daughters do you have?"

"Three sons," Lin Liyun said helplessly.

Chen Jingle was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said, "Well, in an ordinary family, this would be quite a headache, but since your family can afford it, you don't need to worry."

"It's alright, just too naughty, it's giving me a headache." Lin Liyun pretended to rub her forehead.

"That's what the little boy is like."

Chen Jingle shook his head and chuckled softly.

"And you? Are you married?" Lin Liyun looked at the woman's handbag in his hand.

Chen Jingle smiled and said, "Not yet."

Lin Liyun covered her mouth and chuckled: "Then you'd better hurry up. It seems that quite a few of the boys in our class are already married."

"Let it be. It will happen naturally when it's time. There's no use rushing it." Chen Jingle remained noncommittal.

"By the way, what are you doing right now?" Lin Liyun asked again.

Chen Jingle said, "I recently set up a calligraphy and painting studio, and I also do some business consulting for others."

"Calligraphy and painting? How did you end up developing in the direction of art?" Lin Liyun asked in surprise.

They were in a humanities class in high school, not an art class, and as far as I can remember, Chen Jingle's college major had nothing to do with calligraphy and painting. How did he suddenly jump to the field of art?

"There's no other way, we need to eat."

Chen Jingle smiled, offering no further explanation, and instead asked, "And you? What kind of work do you do now?"

Lin Liyun pouted: "I stay at home taking care of the kids, I don't go to work."

Chen Jingle sighed, "Being a wealthy wife is much happier than being one of us who toil like slaves outside."

Lin Liyun yawned, looking languid, tossed her long hair behind her, and said with her head held high: "Sometimes it's quite boring. At most, I'll invite a few friends to play mahjong or get a beauty treatment. Jiangbei is so small that I have to go all the way to the provincial capital to buy clothes."

Wow, women who are married and have had children definitely have a different kind of charm.

As far as I remember, she wasn't that old.

Chen Jingle blinked: "Indeed, Jiangbei is still far behind first-tier cities."

"Right, right? That's why I sometimes envy those of you who stay in big cities after graduation," Lin Liyun sighed.

Chen Jingle chuckled: "It takes real skill to be able to establish yourself in a big city. Someone like me is someone who gets eliminated by big cities."

"You just mentioned a calligraphy and painting studio, is it like a tutoring class?" Lin Liyun asked curiously.

Chen Jingle shook his head: "No, it's the kind of high-end custom-made calligraphy and painting."

Lin Liyun was somewhat surprised: "Where is the studio? Is it in Jiangbei City?"

"Yes, it's over on Dongfeng North Road."

Is it near Gougongzhang Park?

"Yes, it's not far away."

"I'll go and visit sometime when I have the chance."

"Welcome to visit."

"..."

However, everyone knew that this was mostly just polite talk, but they still went along with each other's conversation.

Ha, hypocritical adults.

……

Just then, Li Beixing returned.

She came out of the bathroom and saw Chen Jingle chatting and laughing with a woman in the distance. She was slightly surprised, but didn't say anything.

Based on her understanding of Chen Jingle, it's highly likely that she ran into an old classmate, otherwise the chat wouldn't have been triggered.

He usually refuses when girls try to chat him up.

However, seeing him chatting and laughing with other girls, the love-struck Li Beixing was still a little unhappy and her possessiveness kicked in.

We must assert our sovereignty!

Lin Liyun was about to say something when she suddenly saw a beautiful, radiant girl walk up to Chen Jingle and look at her curiously.

He froze, looking at Chen Jingle: "This is... your girlfriend?"

"um, yes."

Chen Jingle smiled slightly and said to Li Beixing, who had returned, "Let me introduce you. This is my high school classmate, Lin Liyun."

Then he said to Lin Liyun, "My girlfriend is Li Beixing."

Li Beixing looked at Lin Liyun and her child with some curiosity, and said with a slight smile, "Hello."

"Hello."

Lin Liyun's smile looked a little forced.

Because she discovered that her pride and joy, whether it was her looks or her figure, were inferior to Li Beixing's.

Even their demeanor is inferior to others.

It is said that one's environment shapes one's temperament and physical constitution. After getting married, she lived the life of a wealthy lady, wearing all kinds of designer brands from head to toe. However, when facing Li Beixing, she felt like she was punching cotton.

Her clothes and appearance were very ordinary, yet she gave off an unusual feeling, especially the collagen in her face, which made this 30-year-old woman drool.

The difference between the two is obvious!
Or rather, they're not even on the same track!

She suddenly felt a little jealous.

She was jealous of Li Beixing's beauty, and also jealous that she had such an excellent boyfriend as Chen Jingle.

She was just thinking that although Chen Jingle is very handsome now, his girlfriend might not be as good as her.

But reality slapped her hard in the face the moment she turned around.

Looking at the two who seemed like a match made in heaven, Lin Liyun felt a pang of jealousy.

He forced a smile and said, "Since your girlfriend is back, I won't bother you any longer. You two enjoy your shopping. I have something to do, so I'll be going now. Let's have tea together sometime."

"Okay, goodbye." Chen Jingle waved.

"..."

Watching Lin Liyun push the stroller away, Chen Jingle looked away and noticed Li Beixing watching him with great interest.

My heart tightened, but I asked calmly, "What's wrong?"

"High school classmates?"

"Hmm, is there a problem?"

"You didn't have anything going on with her in high school, did you?" Li Beixing's eyes narrowed slightly.

Her intuition told her that the woman was not simple.

"..."

Chen Jingle rolled her eyes: "What are you thinking? She's not my type. Besides, she wouldn't even look at me. She's so arrogant. A lot of boys pursued her in high school, from her own class and the next class, but she didn't like any of them. She didn't date in college either, but got married right after graduation."

Li Beixing immediately became interested: "Oh? Then tell me, what type do you like?"

Chen Jingle chuckled: "She has to be a gentle and mature woman, preferably someone who usually wears glasses and looks very refined, but is actually more sassy than anyone else in private."

Li Beixing's face flushed red, and she lashed out with her little fists: "Are you trying to die?!"

How dare they humiliate me like this!

So what if it's astringent!
Who says women can't be aroused?
And I'm not horny to just anyone!

(End of this chapter)