Winter Returns

Chapter 156 Hot Pot
The school bell rang.

The students from Class 1 swarmed onto the podium like bees, surrounding Old Song completely.

"Who's eating here? Are there many people?"

Zhang Shutong asked Qinglian for directions.

"Not many, five."

Zhang Shutong nodded first, then asked in confusion:
"When did this happen?"

He felt like he hadn't woken up yet, and suddenly Old Song was standing on the podium, inviting him to dinner—it was all so unexpected.

"During the break of the third period," Lu Qinglian also turned her gaze away from the podium. "As for why no one called on you, it was because Teacher Song instructed us to do so."

"so……"

Zhang Shutong glanced at his phone and, sure enough, Ruoping had already notified him in the group chat during the break last class. He had his answer in mind. He then looked at the podium and had to admit that Old Song was very popular. Everyone was chattering and pestering him to talk, and he probably wouldn't be able to get away for a while.

Zhang Shutong quietly slipped out of the classroom, only realizing later that Lao Song's attack was completely unexpected, and he even doubted whether Lao Song's body could withstand it.

But this is good, it allows me to tell them about the basement.

He recalled what Lao Song had just said, about bringing his junior high school career to a perfect close. Did Song Nanshan's return also signify a close? Unfortunately, things always seem to come in waves, with little time to settle down.

Before he knew it, Zhang Shutong had arrived at the school gate.

There weren't many people on campus yet. Their school didn't have a cafeteria, so there wasn't the situation where everyone would rush to grab food like wild horses as soon as get out of class ended. People would usually pack their things leisurely, chat and laugh, and dawdle for quite a while.

A row of trees stood at the school gate. In December, it was quite rare to see a few withered yellow leaves still hanging on the branches. As the cold wind blew, the leaves twirled and landed at Zhang Shutong's feet.

Next to the trees on the east side was a concrete area with several parking spaces marked on it. Zhang Shutong subconsciously walked to the parking space. In the past, if Lao Song said he would treat everyone, he and a few close friends would come to the parking lot to wait and watch the man walk over from a distance, swinging his car keys.

But the parking lot was completely empty; there wasn't a single car left. Zhang Shutong sighed, "People's habits are truly terrifying," and turned around to continue waiting.

Are you deliberately pretending you didn't see me?

Someone glared at him.

"How dare I?" Zhang Shutong turned around again, too embarrassed to say that he could now detect her presence without using his eyes.

Gu Qiu Mian appeared behind him without his noticing. Zhang Shutong looked her up and down, still not quite used to the long-haired young lady.

In fact, Ruoping had already mentioned in the group that because Lao Song's car was gone, they would have to trouble Gu Qiumian's driver to pick them up and drop them off for lunch.

Zhang Shutong didn't see the details too closely; it was all just a matter of her saying a few words.

So he came directly to the school gate to wait after school.

Zhang Shutong thought he had left relatively early, but he didn't expect that someone had left even faster than him.

Next comes the daily ritual of seeing her – admiring the young lady's wardrobe. Today, she finally wasn't wearing ankle boots, but rather a pair of knee-high boots paired with black tights and a beige trench coat that Zhang Shutong had never seen before. Zhang Shutong thought to herself, "You're being vain again."

Anyway, she looked a bit cold. She breathed on her hands to warm them, and tiptoed around on her toes, her long hair rising and falling with her jumps.

There were still hardly any people on campus, so Gu Qiumian stood beside him and whispered:
What do you want to eat for lunch?

"Hasn't it been decided yet?"

"Teacher Song said to listen to us."

Zhang Shutong had just uttered the word "whatever" when Gu Qiumian snorted. Ever since becoming class monitor, she seemed to have become increasingly authoritative, so Zhang Shutong had no choice but to change his words:

"What about you?"

"I can do it."

Zhang Shutong thought to himself that one shouldn't be too hypocritical when dealing with autumn rain.

She asked again:
"Are you cold?"

Zhang Shutong said it's alright, unlike you who's so vain.

He spoke a little without thinking today, and as soon as he finished speaking, he knew he was in trouble. He thought he was going to get another glare from her, but to his surprise, Gu Qiu Mian smiled with her eyes crinkling:
"You have a good vision."

Zhang Shutong was startled and it took her a while to understand Gu Qiumian's thinking. It turned out that she had automatically filtered out the word "stinky," and saying that she was vain was equivalent to praising her beauty. Zhang Shutong was full of admiration for her translation skills.

It's quite strange, though. Gu Qiu Mian wasn't this talkative yesterday, nor did she wrinkle her nose or curl her eyelashes. She was so calm and composed in front of everyone yesterday, but now she's acting like a little girl. Zhang Shutong was just about to ask if she hadn't slept well either when a bunch of students ran out of the teaching building. Some of the familiar faces greeted them:

"Squad leader, I was wondering why I hadn't seen you. Why are you out so early?"

"I have something to take care of today."

Squad Leader Gu used concise and efficient language, never uttering an unnecessary word.

As more and more people came out of the teaching building, people would often strike up a conversation with her every now and then. If she encountered someone she was close to, she would smile and reply; if she encountered someone she wasn't close to, she would just nod. Zhang Shutong even overheard two boys whispering:
"The class monitor is still so aloof..." Zhang Shutong thought it was actually alright. Based on past experience, as long as you don't make her angry or shy, it's actually quite rare to see a cold and beautiful version of Gu Qiumian.

Then they didn't have time to talk anymore, because the campus was gradually filled up, and at the same time, a short-haired girl came running over shouting.

Who else could it be but Xu Zhiruo?

"Hello, senior." She had learned her lesson today and waved to greet him first.

Zhang Shutong greeted her, but couldn't figure out what the girl meant. Did she also want to freeload a meal?
As it turned out, he was overthinking it. Xu Zhiruo only came to talk to Gu Qiumian for a while. Girls always have endless topics to talk about. Anyway, the three of them stood neither too far nor too close, but it was obvious that they were a group. Zhang Shutong heard the two of them whispering something. Sometimes the secretary would point at her, and Gu Qiumian would cover her mouth and chuckle. Although the movement was quite elegant, the laughter was not quiet. Zhang Shutong rolled his eyes at her, and she rolled her eyes back without showing any weakness.

A Land Rover pulled up at the school gate. Gu Qiumian said goodbye to Xu Zhiruo and then told him that there was only one car today, so it should be enough for everyone. They could squeeze in, since Teacher Song hadn't told them in advance.

Zhang Shutong did the math: there were six people in total. With Lao Song in the passenger seat, could five people really squeeze into the back?
To his surprise, Gu Qiumian told him as a matter of course that the car had three rows of seats.

Zhang Shutong has learned another little-known fact.

Soon, Lao Song and his group arrived. As they got closer, Zhang Shutong noticed that Lao Song looked terrible. It turned out that his energetic demeanor on the podium was just a facade. His face was sallow, and despite the cold weather, his forehead was covered in a thin layer of sweat. Before Zhang Shutong could speak, Lao Song glared at him and said, "You unfilial disciple! How could you abandon your master and run away?"

Zhang Shutong knew he had deliberately changed the subject, and felt a little uncomfortable. Gu Qiumian also asked with concern, "Teacher, how are you?" Old Song waved his hand.
"It's nothing, it's nothing. It's normal for me to look pale right now. It would be strange if I recovered immediately. I talked a bit too much just now. I'll be fine after resting for a while. By the way, Qiu Mian, you asked Dad to help the teacher contact the director of the county hospital. The teacher hasn't thanked you yet."

Zhang Shutong only then realized that there was such a thing hidden.

"Let's get in the car first. We've discussed it, and we're going to have hot pot." Old Song waved his hand, displaying the same commanding presence he had on the podium back in the day.

Zorro didn't come.

The five people were himself, his two best friends, Gu Qiu Mian, and Lu Qing Lian.

Everyone naturally greeted each other before getting on the bus.

Zhang Shutong felt that their relationship was actually a bit strange. When he watched Gu Qiumian and Ruoping talk, although they were smiling on the surface, it was as if there was a thin film between them. Even so, Ruoping was the person he was most familiar with among this group of people.

Needless to say, Qingyi never gets involved in women's topics.

Gu Qiumian and Lu Qinglian's relationship was just so-so. They could only be called classmates before, and now that they were in different classes, they were even more like "former classmates." Zhang Shutong recalled that their friendship during their four years of junior high school was pitifully small.

As for Lu Qinglian, Zhang Shutong couldn't tell who she was close to. Her relationship with Ruoping should be considered good, but by "good," it only meant that she would give a perfunctory reply when Ruoping spoke to her.

Sometimes I think it's quite amazing to be able to bring together a group of people who don't know each other very well.

The hot pot restaurant that Lao Song chose was a place they used to frequent.

As soon as you push open the shop door, a cloud of white steam rushes out, blurring everyone's faces.

Gu Qiumian first stretched, letting out a relieved sigh:

"They're finally gone..."

Zhang Shutong knew she was talking to him. If Xu Zhiruo were here, he might have some doubts, but since she wasn't here, he was the only one she could talk to.

You mean the driver?

“Yes,” Gu Qiumian took off her scarf and coat, “those are the people my dad found. Look outside, he’s watching from inside the car.”

Zhang Shutong didn't need to turn around to know that the man was the one who bumped into her on the way home from school yesterday. He had a thick beard, and aside from other aspects, he was very intimidating as a bodyguard and driver.

Old Song had just exchanged a polite greeting with the other party, but the man simply shook his head in refusal and waited in the car.

This meal was more than just a simple get-together.

Some are happy and some are sad.

Old Song was the happiest one, saying that it was a celebration for the teacher's discharge from the hospital, and that surviving such a disaster meant good fortune was sure to follow. He naively thought that everyone thought he had been in a car accident, and told them to order whatever they wanted to eat.

Ruoping and Qingyi were clearly preoccupied. Qingyi was a little better; she simply ticked the baby bok choy and subtly pushed the menu towards Ruoping. Ruoping, on the other hand, checked the winter melon and absentmindedly typed on her phone:

How should we talk about the dormitory situation?

"Let's finish eating," Zhang Shutong replied. "I'll tell him when I have time."

Some things, once said, will make people put down their chopsticks, and Zhang Shutong felt there was no need to ruin the atmosphere of the meal.

Ruoping pushed the menu to Lu Qinglian again, and she leaned over to discuss with Lu Qinglian what dishes to order.

In the end, the menu went around in circles and returned to Lao Song. It turned out to be all vegetables, meatballs, and tofu. Everyone wanted to help him save some money, but Lao Song was both amused and exasperated. He waved and ordered six plates of mutton.

The meal was eaten very quickly.

He rode back to school in that Land Rover.

As everyone parted ways and said goodbye, Song Nanshan turned around:
"Shutong, is there something you want to tell me?"

(End of this chapter)