Chapter 13: Class Reunion

Cameron Lyson finally noticed the boy beside her. "You're… Reid Quinny!" "It's really you!" "You're still alive?" Reid Quinny knew there was no way his fall off the cliff had stayed secret from classmates who lived for gossip. "Barely," he said. "I got lucky." Cameron's eyes lit up. "That's amazing. Everyone was heartbroken for a long time, especially Jeffrey Yeates and Zander Spears." Then she remembered something. "Wait, what are you doing in Eastown?" "I came to study." "Me too." Cameron smiled. "My parents opened a medical clinic here, so I transferred over." She tilted her head. "Which school are you at?" "First High School." "I'm at Second High School." She looked genuinely disappointed. "Too bad." Second High School was closer to her home. A beat later, she brightened again. "Oh, right. There's a class reunion tomorrow. It's all people from back home. Come with me!" "Jeffrey Yeates and Zander Spears will be there too." At the mention of their names, two familiar figures rose in Reid's mind, one tall and one short, both still wearing the awkwardness of adolescence. His heart gave a sudden, sharp thump. Back in middle school, those two had been among his very few friends. Three thousand years had passed, yet he still wanted to see them. "Alright," he said. "Save my number. Call me later." They exchanged phone numbers, and Cameron left to handle her business. Reid vaulted the guardrail and returned to Jada Thubron's car. Jada pursed her lips. "Hmph. You got lucky this time. Good thing that little girl woke up, or you'd be in huge trouble!" She shot him a look, half annoyed, half relieved. "Seriously. Always trying to play the hero." Jada had no idea the one who had truly saved the child was Reid. "Drive," Reid said. He couldn't be bothered to explain anything to the proud, prickly heiress. After dropping him off downstairs, Jada didn't even get out. She drove away without a word. Reid went upstairs. From the window, he could see Cloudtop Mountain Villa more clearly. The lake shimmered under the mountains, the scenery so serene it looked like something stolen from a paradise painting. "Cameron Lyson's family has a strong foundation," he murmured. "She's already got some real skill." His gaze cooled. "But that child's injuries were severe. A hospital might not be able to fix it." Then a faint smile tugged at his lips. "Tomorrow's reunion… I wonder what kind of faces Jeffrey Yeates and Zander Spears will make when they see me again." He sat cross-legged on the balcony and continued cultivating. The Spiritual Energy was thin, and progress came slowly. That afternoon, Cameron called. "Reid Quinny, tomorrow at ten in the morning. Myriad Springs Hotel. Don't be late!" "Got it," Reid said, and hung up. The next day, Myriad Springs Hotel. As the organizer of the gathering, Cameron arrived early and waited at the entrance. She wore a long white chiffon dress, a butterfly clip pinned in her hair. Clean, sweet, and bright, she looked exactly like the neighbor's little sister everyone wanted to protect. Reid arrived ten minutes early, neither rushed nor late. "Reid Quinny, you made it!" Cameron waved him over, smiling wide. "Come on. Everyone's here. You're the only one missing!" Sunlight washed over her face, giving her a soft, almost holy glow. After yesterday's incident with the little girl, she treated Reid with unmistakable warmth. "Mhm," Reid replied, following her up to a private room on the third floor. Cameron pushed the door open. A large round table filled the room, with more than a dozen classmates seated around it, men and women mixed together. "Everyone, look who it is!" Cameron announced, beaming. "Whoa, Reid Quinny!" "You're actually alive!" "This guy's got nine lives!" Voices overlapped in a storm of surprise. Reid's eyes locked onto two classmates. One was tall and lanky, long choppy hair hanging around his face, thin as a bamboo pole. The other was his complete opposite, short and chubby, with an honest, simple-looking face. Both of them stared at Reid like they'd seen a ghost, eyes stretched wider than a bull's. The skinny tall one was Zander Spears. The short chubby one was Jeffrey Yeates. "Reid Quinny, you bastard!" "You didn't die and you didn't even tell us? Where the hell have you been for three years?" They sprang up from their seats and rushed over, each grabbing one of Reid's arms like he might vanish if they let go. Zander punched Reid lightly in the chest. "Quinny, that's cold. If you were fine, you could've at least let us know you were alive!" Their eyes glistened. "Sorry," Reid said. "I didn't have a choice these past three years. I only got back a couple days ago." Looking at the raw emotion on his two brothers, warmth spread through Reid's chest. Cameron was moved too. She turned her face away and discreetly wiped at the corner of her eye. "Alright, alright," she said, voice steadying. "Sit down first. Later we'll make Reid Quinny tell us everything, where he went these past three years!" "Yeah, sit, sit!" They dragged Reid back to the table and pushed him into a seat. Cameron was about to sit beside him when a boy in a designer shirt suddenly stood up and smiled. "Cameron, come sit over here." The room fell silent. Something subtle shifted in the air, spreading through the classmates like a ripple. Reid glanced at him. The boy was Ander Showyer. Back in school, he had been one of the campus big shots. His family ran a large supermarket, making him a minor rich kid. Cameron was the school beauty, and she knew medicine. Her family wasn't poor either. To the boys, she had been a goddess. Ander was one of her pursuers, and not the reasonable kind. The truth was, Cameron hadn't even invited him to this reunion. He had shown up anyway the moment he heard about it. A boy beside him hurriedly rubbed the chair with his sleeve and offered an ingratiating grin. "Belle Cameron, please sit!" Jeffrey Yeates looked at him with open disdain. The guy was Jones Looske, Ander's loyal lapdog. Cameron smiled politely, unbothered. "Thanks, but I'll sit here." She knew exactly what Ander was trying to do. She had rejected him clearly back then, but he still clung on shamelessly. She wasn't about to walk into trouble by sitting beside him. Ander's gaze flicked to Reid, and a flash of venom crossed his eyes. "Damn it," he thought. "The moment Cameron walked in, she got all close with this guy." He sneered inwardly. "Trying to steal the woman I already claimed? Fine. Don't blame me for getting nasty." Cameron called out, "Waiter, please bring the dishes!" Amid the chatter, the food arrived quickly and filled the table. Cameron stood and lifted her glass of red wine. The room quieted at once. "We all came to Eastown from our hometown to study," she said. "From here on out, let's look out for each other. Come on. Cheers!" Cameron wasn't just pretty. She had presence, the kind that naturally held a room together. Ander watched her with even deeper infatuation. He stood up and raised his glass. "Cameron's right. Everyone, drink up. If you don't, you're disrespecting me!" Jeffrey's expression turned sour. The guy was clearly forcing his way into the spotlight. Jeffrey had never seen someone so shameless. Still, out of respect for Cameron, everyone drained their glasses. Even two girls frowned as they forced the wine down. Reid didn't move from his seat. He simply lifted his glass and drank in silence. When everyone sat again, Ander poured himself another glass. His smile didn't reach his eyes as he looked at Reid. "Reid Quinny, Mount Mightspine is so high, and it still didn't kill you. That's worth celebrating." He leaned forward, voice dripping with mockery. "You should get on your knees and toast the heavens. Thank them for showing you mercy." He called it a celebration, but anyone could hear what he meant: he was cursing the sky for not finishing the job. The room went dead quiet. The tension sharpened, as if the air itself had drawn a blade.