Wang Lei stood at the door of the small restaurant that once carried the laughter of youth, took out the yellowed high school group photo from his pocket, and quietly compared the faces that came. The breeze blew the ends of his hair, but his heart was mixed.
"Wang Lei, I haven't seen you for so many years, you are still the same!" A familiar voice broke his musings. When he looked up, he saw Li Hua, a former scholar, still wearing a pair of thick glasses and a kind smile on his face.
"Li Hua, it's really you, still so diligent, I heard that you are still continuing your studies?" Wang Lei greeted him with a smile, and the two patted each other's shoulders, as if they were patting away the dust accumulated over the years.
"Yes, now I'm doing research at a local university. Are these years okay? Li Hua asked.
"It's not like that, starting a family, ordinary is true." Wang Lei sighed.
At this time, three more figures came one after another. Zhao Gang, the guy who used to always have an indifferent attitude, is now well-dressed and exudes the confidence of a successful person. followed by the introverted Xiao Min and the inadvertently still eye-catching Zhao Lin.
"Isn't this Zhao Gang? I heard you're doing a good job now. Wang Lei looked at Zhao Gang in surprise, he was too changed.
"Everywhere, everyone is cheering." Zhao Gang is modest but reveals a hint of pride.
Zhao Lin took Xiao Min's hand and walked up: "Wang Lei, Li Hua, it's been a long time, you haven't changed." ”
"Zhao Lin is still so beautiful." Li Hua smiled slightly, breaking the subtle atmosphere on the scene.
"Coincidentally, I'm an elementary school teacher now." Xiao Min said quietly, "Although it is ordinary, I like my work very much. ”
In the restaurant, old songs slowly float out, and six people sit around a round table, a little cramped, but also natural. Seven people, it should be a big table full.
"By the way, have you contacted any of the other students?" Wang Lei couldn't help but ask.
"I tried to get in touch with some, but everyone has their own lives, either busy or far away." Zhao Lin said with a little regret.
"Yes, after all, everyone's path is different." Wang Lei nodded, "Li Hua, how is the research you doing now?" ”
"I'm still struggling to explore, scientific research, I always have to come little by little." Li Hua spread his hands a little helplessly.
Then, Zhao Gang took out his mobile phone, put a group photo, and said with a smile: "Look at us back then, who would have thought that now we each have our own lives." ”
Several people looked at the photo, some smiled, some were silent, and those days were as gorgeous as fireworks, but they were fleeting.
"Let's not mention the past, let's get here today, let's enjoy this time!" Wang Lei broke the slightly silent atmosphere. "Zhao Gang, how did you do it?" Wang Lei couldn't help but ask curiously. He remembers that in high school, Zhao Gang was always at the bottom of his grades, and his teachers and classmates almost didn't have hope for him.
Zhao Gang smiled and poured a glass of wine, as if he was reminiscing about the unknown past: "It's a long story, who wasn't enthusiastic at that time, although I didn't study well, I was particularly interested in electronic products, and after graduation, I began to sell electronic accessories." ”
"But you must have experienced a lot of twists and turns from the stall to the current company, right?" Li Hua took over the conversation, and his tone revealed his admiration for Zhao Gang's experience.
"There were many twists and turns, and many people laughed at me at that time, but I always believed in my own vision." Zhao Gang sighed and said humorously, "Now, at least it can prove that I wasn't a fool back then." ”
Wang Lei and Li Hua looked at each other and smiled, they felt unprecedented touch. Wang Lei said: "Zhao Gang, I really underestimated you before, I didn't expect you to come to this point, it's amazing." ”
At this time, Zhao Lin and Xiao Min also joined the discussion. "Do any of you remember when I was in high school and I used to say I wanted to be a model?" Zhao Lin suddenly mentioned it, his eyes flashing with memories.
"Remember, you were always the brightest one back then." Xiao Min said softly.
Zhao Lin smiled slightly: "As a result, reality gave me a slap in the face, and now I am a mother of two children, working as a nutritionist." The dream of being a model, I have let go. ”
"But it sounds like you're satisfied." Li Hua said with a smile.
Zhao Lin nodded: "Yes, my life is very peaceful and satisfying now. ”
On the other hand, Xiao Min talked about her education work: "I feel very fulfilled to be with children every day. Maybe my life isn't thrilling enough, but for me, that's what I want to live. ”
The atmosphere of the party gradually livened up. Li Hua shared his academic challenges: "Back then, I was regarded as a top student, as if I was labeled as a non-failure. Actually, I stumbled on the academic path, but those failures taught me more. ”
Zhao Gang nodded in agreement: "Failure is the mother of success, everyone has their own way." Isn't it? ”
At this time, Wang Lei took out his mobile phone and looked at the photos of those years: "Our class was really a variety of talents back then, but I didn't expect that today we all went in different directions." ”
"Life is like this, different choices, different paths," Li Hua said, "the important thing is not where we go, but whether we are responsible for our choices." ”
After a conversation, they began to talk about the details of their lives, from family chores to children's growth, from workplace challenges to personal hobbies. There is an inexplicable warmth and maturity at the dinner table.
Time passed quietly, and they seemed to have returned to that sunny campus, but now they have different life experiences. As the dinner deepened, the topic of conversation slowly deepened. Zhao Gang took a sip of wine, and his eyes became deep: "Actually, when I first started, the capital chain was broken and I almost went bankrupt. During that time, it was really like a year. ”
Wang Lei's eyes widened: "Why didn't you say it before?" ”
"I was afraid of being embarrassed at that time, after all, I was not a good student in the class." Zhao Gang's voice carried a hint of bitterness, "But I told myself, in this society, isn't it just to suffer losses and learn to be obedient?" ”
Xiao Min said softly: "Actually, everyone has a problem, but we don't often say it." ”
Zhao Lin also chimed in: "Yes, who doesn't have a trough? The year I gave birth, I almost lost my job, and the pressure was no less than yours. ”
Wang Lei nodded, fell into deep thought, and then said slowly: "Who says it's not, my own company was just merged last month, and I am also facing the embarrassment of finding a new job." ”
"Wang Lei, I feel very grateful to you for this gathering, if it weren't for your organization, we might all still feel sorry for ourselves in our respective worlds." Li Hua comforted.
Everyone smiled knowingly, and Wang Lei sighed: "Yes, I always thought that everyone else was doing well, but I couldn't." ”
"However, it seems that everyone has a story that no one knows." Zhao Gang looked at everyone, with a bit of smile and emotion in his tone.
Li Hua smiled slightly: "Yes, everyone's life is not easy, we always see the bright side of others, but we don't see the hard work behind them." ”
Xiao Min interjected: "Yes, when I first started as a teacher, there were students in the class who had problems with their families, and I had to go to their homes every day after school to do ideological work. ”
Wang Lei said with emotion: "It's really not easy, each of us is struggling and working hard in our own position. ”
Zhao Lin said with deep feelings: "Yes, life is like this, there are ups and downs, sweet and bitter. Rather, it is these experiences that make us grow. ”
Li Hua nodded: "Only those who have gone through the trough know how to cherish it more." Right, we're all the same. ”
In the words, the original indifference and prejudice slowly dissolved, and a warm current surged in everyone's hearts. They began to listen to other people's stories with a more open mind, and their shared experiences made each other not only old classmates, but also partners who have gone through the ups and downs of life together.
The atmosphere of the party gradually changed from solemn to relaxed, and everyone began to talk about each other's happy moments, whether it was the first word of the child or a breakthrough in the career, it became a reason for everyone to celebrate and share.
Zhao Gang joked: "It seems that we are all old and have started to talk about 'back then'." ”
"Haha, indeed." Wang Lei also smiled, "But I feel that we are cooler now than we were back then." ”
Everyone laughed loudly, forgetting for a moment the passage of time. They share the happiness of the present and look forward to meeting in the future. By the end of the party, the lights had softened and the restaurant was sprinkled with a faint moonlight. Everyone stood up and reluctantly said goodbye at the door. Wang Lei said with emotion: "Today is really meaningful, although the people are not together, but I feel that my heart is closer." ”
"yes, I think so too. This gathering was so precious. Li Hua nodded.
Zhao Gang stretched his waist and said with a smile: "Let's not wait another ten years to see each other, otherwise it will really become an antique." ”
Xiao Min smiled gently: "Yes, at the next party, I will be responsible for bringing some student handicrafts to show you." ”
Zhao Lin also said: "Next time, I will also bring my children and let them meet my good classmates." ”
Everyone smiled and nodded, thinking about the next reunion. Wang Lei looked at the backs of his old friends, and a warmth arose in his heart. He raised his head slightly, looked at the sea of stars, and a bold thought sprouted in his heart: "Perhaps, I should also re-evaluate my life and find something I am truly passionate about to pursue." ”
At the moment of farewell, Li Hua patted Wang Lei on the shoulder: "Life is all about continuous exploration and discovery, Wang Lei, I believe that no matter what path you choose, you will have our support." ”
"Thanks, Li Hua. And your story has also inspired me a lot. Wang Lei smiled.
"Actually, we're all groping on the road of life, aren't we?" Zhao Gang said.
Wang Lei looked at the night sky and asked: "Yes, life is full of unknowns, but isn't this its charm?" ”
[This content is a fictional story, please read it rationally, do not sit in the right seat]