Welcome to the Ability Shop!

Chapter 217 Social Arts Student

Over the next two days, Chen Xuan was also busy. He took Lin Qing to visit all the famous scenic spots in Yuecheng and even rented a storefront near his home to include it as a branch.

This way, in case of any emergency, he can travel smoothly between the two places.

On the morning of the third day, Zhao Jin sent a text message announcing that the gathering would be held at the White Swan Hotel. This was the most upscale hotel in Yuecheng, and hosting a party there would obviously cost a lot of money; most people couldn't afford it. This confirmed his parents' prediction that their son was clearly doing quite well.

As for Gu Zhaoning, she had contacted him a day in advance, saying that her plane would arrive in the afternoon. After Chen Xuan explained the situation, she didn't mind at all and said she would come to the hotel to find him then.

Around 12:30, Chen Xuan and Lin Qing arrived at the White Swan Hotel as agreed.

Taking the elevator to the fifth-floor private area, he immediately spotted several high school classmates—although it had been so many years, their faces hadn't changed much, only their clothing and appearance had matured considerably. He also noticed quite a few strangers he'd never seen before, both men and women… It was easy to guess that he wasn't the only one with friends.

This is not surprising, as most people are around 26 or 27 years old, and quite a few are already married.

"Chen Xuan, over here!" Zhao Jin saw him at this moment and waved for him to come over.

Zhao Jin stood out today. His black turtleneck sweater and brown Korean-style suit looked expensive and were clearly meticulously designed. Even though he wasn't particularly handsome, this outfit gave him a sophisticated and elite air.

Chen Xuan walked to the front of the group, and the others also came over to greet him.

"Hey, Brother Xuan, long time no see!"

"Why haven't you had time to come to Yuecheng in the past few years? How's work?"

"They must have made a fortune by now! I heard that big companies give out year-end bonuses of over a hundred people."

"Absolutely. Back then, he was the top student in the class, and my mom used him as a role model every day."

Zhao Jin looked at him with a smile, seemingly waiting for his answer.

Chen Xuan had nothing to hide, "I've already resigned."

"Resigned?" Everyone was stunned. "Why?"

"It's too greasy, I don't want to do it anymore."

"So what are you doing now?"

"Working at a fast food restaurant."

Upon hearing this answer, everyone looked at each other in disbelief.

After all, the two jobs were so different that no one could have imagined that he would make such a choice.

"Haha... It's a matter of personal freedom to do whatever you want, what's so strange about it!" Zhao Jin clapped his hands, signaling everyone not to ask any more questions. "Besides, I'll also help Chen Xuan with his job search. He's an old classmate, so I'll definitely lend a hand if I can."

Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow slightly. He realized that this guy was deliberately showing off to him. In the past, he would have felt annoyed and even turned around and left, but now he was completely unfazed. If he weren't afraid of being exposed, he would have laughed along with him.

"Introduce your friend to us?" Zhao Jin then turned his gaze to Lin Qing beside him. "Could it be... your girlfriend?"

“No, it’s just ordinary—” Chen Xuan was interrupted by Lin Qing halfway through his sentence.

She affectionately took Chen Xuan's arm, removed her sunglasses and mask, and waved to everyone, saying, "Hello, just call me Lin Qing!"

The scene suddenly fell silent.

Everyone... regardless of gender, stared at Lin Qing, and for a moment no one spoke.

The same applies to Zhao Jin.

A look of shock appeared in his eyes.

"Wait a minute?" Chen Xuan was somewhat surprised. Although he knew Lin Qing was very beautiful, he didn't think she was so stunning that it would leave people speechless. Your reactions... are like you've seen an alien.

"Haha... Hello, hello!" Zhao Jin was the first to respond, and he laughed awkwardly twice. "Miss Lin, right? Your arrival really makes this hotel seem much more upscale."

"Isn't it already the best hotel in Yuecheng?" Lin Qing asked deliberately. "There are even national-level hotels above that," Zhao Jin changed the subject. "This place has food and entertainment, you can do whatever you want... There are no rules at a class reunion, have fun."

Chen Xuan grabbed some food from the self-service counter and sat down at a random table.

This is indeed a great place; the venue is quite large, around 1,000 square meters. There's a buffet at the entrance, unlike typical company dinners where everyone is confined to a large table, toasting and chatting. There are two entertainment areas on either side of the hall, offering karaoke and mahjong facilities – two of the most common group activities after starting work.

Lin Qing integrated into the classmate circle at a speed that Chen Xuan could hardly comprehend.

This wasn't an exaggeration; it was the truth—it had only been about ten minutes since she entered, yet she had already become the center of attention, drawing attention wherever she went. First, it was the gossipy female classmates, then the male classmates who mustered the courage to strike up a conversation… Lin Qing handled these interactions with ease, being both enthusiastic and respectful, poised and generous while also being mindful of everyone's feelings.

This can no longer be considered social terrorism.

She's practically a social arts student, the kind who grows a beard.

Zhao Jin should have been the star of the party, but now Lin Qing has taken her place.

After making a ruckus for over an hour, she finally found a moment to approach Chen Xuan with a smile. "Why are you all alone here? It seems your high school life was quite monotonous."

"I didn't realize you were so sociable." Chen Xuan handed her a glass of juice. "Did you have fun?"

Lin Qing sat down next to him. "It's actually not that great. You might as well lie on the sofa and surf the internet."

"Then why are you still pretending to be so stern?"

"Who told others to use you as a source of bragging rights?" Lin Qing pouted. "You are the noble store manager, of course I have to elevate your image."

After saying that, she moved closer and stretched out a slender finger, circling it against Chen Xuan's chest, saying, "Don't hold back your laughter. Actually, you're quite happy right now, aren't you?"

Oh no, she found out.

Chen Xuan looked up at the sky guiltily.

"Though it was boring, I also gained quite a bit," Lin Qing said, withdrawing her hand.

"What's the catch?"

“Those people went on and on about your past, telling me everything. I never imagined you used to be such an excellent student. I think I understand why Zhao Jin talked about you in public.” She finished her juice in one gulp and burped. “Didn’t you realize it before? You were the ‘other people’s child’ that parents always talked about.”

Chen Xuan sighed softly. In truth, he could sense the alienation and rejection from his classmates to some extent, but what did it matter? He went to university in another city, found a job, resigned... all the decisions were made by himself. Even when he was alone in his rented room, feeling lonely in the quiet of the night, it only happened for a few days a year.

After all, the ability to eat and sleep exceptionally well is no joke.

It wasn't until he became the manager of the Ability Shop that things started to liven up around him.

"But it doesn't matter. After we defeat the Dimensional Agency and save the world, they will all realize their mistakes," Lin Qing said confidently.

Talking about saving the world at a hometown reunion made Chen Xuan feel a sense of incongruity. Indeed, a 14-year-old high school student savior seemed strange no matter how you looked at it.

"Why are you two resting?" At this moment, Zhao Jin led a group of people over and sat down around the round table. "How about we play some cards together? There's already a table over there, we can put together another one here."

What brand?

"The simplest one is Texas Hold'em."

Lin Qing winked playfully at Chen Xuan.

The meaning in her eyes was quite clear: I can't help you this time, you'll have to do it yourself.

Chen Xuan chuckled. What was there to talk about? This level of intrigue... Did he think this was a battlefield? But sometimes avoiding the issue could backfire. It was better to completely dispel the other party's idea of ​​showing off right here.

"Great, it's been a long time since I've played this game."

(End of this chapter)