After Zhou Wang decided to attend, Jiang Qingkui also agreed to the invitation from their original class teacher, now the Director of Academic Affairs at Jing City First Middle School, Teacher Qin Li.
Today being the opening day of the event, it would be the day with the largest number of returning alumni. The principal, official representatives, and local business representatives would all attend.
Only Jing City First Middle School, as the city’s signature, could receive such high-level treatment.
Ordinary high schools couldn’t even afford the words "homecoming season," and having some conscientious graduates buying some fruit to visit their teachers was as good as it got.
This was the first time Zhou Wang, considered a "poor student," learned about these things, and he listened with great interest from the back seat of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class.
"So this ’alumni association’ of Jing City First Middle School actually has an invisible threshold, feels like a private club, only those who are doing well can be absorbed into it..."
Behind the homecoming season activities, not only was Jing City First Middle School organizing, but an "alumni association" spontaneously established by some graduates also played a major role.
"You can’t say that, the ’alumni association’ has been around for a long time, at least the initial veterans had pure intentions, it’s just that social hierarchies are everywhere, and diversion is inevitable."
Jiang Qingkui shook her head, offering her insight, "In the end, those who aren’t doing well are embarrassed to join."
"True enough,"
Zhou Wang nodded in agreement.
The main city area of Jing City was so small that within a few minutes, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class drove into Jing City First Middle School.
Normally, vehicles couldn’t enter freely, but today, due to the special circumstances, the security only asked a few questions before letting them in.
"Is this a high school?"
Entering the new campus, Miao Ying, unusually, took the initiative to ask, with a tone of surprise.
She was indeed a bit shocked.
Whose high school was this big?
Zhou Wang and Jiang Qingkui just exchanged a smile, still feeling a bit proud mentioning it.
Speaking of Jing City First Middle School, its various honors and facilities aside, just the land area alone was enough to outshine countless advanced high schools.
Combined with the old and new campuses, Jing City First Middle School covered more than 300 acres.
A typical small neighborhood with seven buildings would be about 40 to 50 acres...
Not to mention high schools, many smaller universities might not even have such an area.
For example, Beidou’s Four Little Dragons Academy...
The key point was that this over 300-acre area was in the most central and prime location of Jing City.
When Jing City First Middle School expanded its old campus, the city government didn’t even consider relocation as an option; it ignored the real estate boom of that time and handed the best lands to Jing City First Middle School, showing its status.
Following the road signs, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class drove into the parking lot.
As the three got out of the car, a little girl wearing a school uniform and name badge ran over with a sweet smile: "Welcome to the homecoming season event. Do you need me to take you to the venue?"
"No need, we can find it."
Having not set foot on this campus for a long time, Zhou Wang certainly intended to take a stroll, and he declined with a smile.
After the little girl walked away, Zhou Wang looked at some of the students scattered around the campus and couldn’t help but shake his head, "Poor things, caught back as volunteers even during summer vacation..."
"There will always be some students who willingly accept it,"
Jiang Qingkui smiled faintly.
Zhou Wang thought it made sense, among his former classmates, some liked to engage with teachers and actively participated in school activities.
Mostly girls.
Although in the eyes of some boys at the time, they were just "lickspittles."
Miao Ying evidently had no interest in following; she would also feel uncomfortable, so Zhou Wang let her do as she pleased, and in the end, Miao Ying chose to stay in the car, enjoying the air conditioning and music.
Zhou Wang, on the other hand, walked slowly with Jiang Qingkui, past the statue of Confucius at the main entrance.
Reminiscing the past along the way, they chatted happily; although they graduated two years apart, it was this kind of communication that sparked many interesting topics.
Before they knew it, they arrived at the rubber-paved playground, and Zhou Wang stopped for a while in a daze, suddenly stepping into the playground.
Jiang Qingkui followed him, somewhat puzzled.
In the middle of the empty playground, Zhou Wang pointed to a large two-story white building on the side and asked Jiang Qingkui with a smile, "Do you know what that place is?"
"It’s a bathroom, what else could it be... Although it wasn’t built when I was there, I did come back afterward."
Jiang Qingkui thought Zhou Wang was trying to mislead her and rolled her eyes.
Because the building’s appearance was indeed quite confusing, and if it weren’t for the holes in the walls, it wouldn’t easily be associated with a restroom.
"When we were in school, we liked to call it the ’White House,’ hahaha..."
Zhou Wang was evidently not making fun of her, he just said sentimentally, "Because back then, a group of us who smoked liked to gather on the second floor there to smoke after morning exercises every day, hence the name."
Jiang Qingkui took another look at the fancy design of the restroom, and listening to Zhou Wang’s description, it indeed felt a bit accurate, bringing a chuckle.
"We were so professional back then, there would even be someone standing outside at a distance to keep watch, warning us if teachers came."
Zhou Wang chuckled, "Looking back now, those students keeping watch were rather pitiful; outwardly they seemed like buddies, but in reality, they were on the fringes..."
"Were you one of those watchers?"
"Not quite,"
Zhou Wang laughed, "I was not notable in high school, but no one bullied me either, just that chimerical average."
Zhou Wang shifted his gaze from the "White House," and moved a bit toward the center of the playground, stomping on the rubber ground beneath him.
"Qingkui, do you know, in our graduation year, for some inexplicable or trendy reason, the school actually organized a dance..."
"Hmm?"
Jiang Qingkui expressed surprise, "Jing City First Middle School had a dance like that?"
"Not like those fancy overseas graduation balls. When I think about it now, it’s quite amusing. At that time, this so-called ball was actually attended in school uniforms, dancing very reserved social dances."
While speaking, Zhou Wang asked Jiang Qingkui to extend her hand, demonstrating it to her.
"Just like this, palm to palm, another hand behind, then the two would spin around, with the only contact being the palms..."
"Feels a bit silly,"
Jiang Qingkui withdrew her slender hand, giving an objective judgment.
"But back then, it felt quite fun. You know how monotonous high school coursework was, everyone was really repressed... At that age, everyone thought they were the protagonist. I even wanted to invite the prettiest girl in the class to be my dance partner."
Zhou Wang recalled with a laugh, "Of course, I failed. Ah, young people, it takes a few years to realize there aren’t many protagonists... Someone like you, Jiang Qingkui, born to stand out, is an exception."
"Back then, when we stood here, most of us were just here to make up the numbers."
Facing the direction of the audience stand, Zhou Wang exhaled a long breath, his eyes turning distant.
Jiang Qingkui silently watched Zhou Wang, sensing there was much more on his mind.
She didn’t know what stories Zhou Wang had been through, but instinctively, she reached out, subconsciously wanting to hold Zhou Wang’s hand again or offer some form of comfort...
Just before she could make contact, Zhou Wang suddenly burst into laughter, his look of nostalgia vanished, replaced by a smug expression.
He took out a cigarette, lit it, and contentedly exhaled a cloud of smoke.
"I used to think, just graduate quickly, one day I’ll stand here and light a cigarette openly for myself. Tsk, now it seems that this wish was indeed the easiest to fulfill..."
"What’s not easy is that I can still stand straight right now!"