My Youth Began With Him - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

A red taxi stopped at the front doors of Kempinski Hotel, and a young woman, who appeared to be in her early twenties, stepped out from the vehicle . She was in a simple white cotton dress, and her long hair was loosely curled . Her look was neither gaudy nor lavish; it was simple, yet fully capable of withstanding any scrutiny . Her makeup was likewise applied lightly, and she clutched a white handbag in her hand . This, paired with a pair of plain black heels, made her look like a goddess from a secluded and peaceful oasis .
 
Her beauty wasn't the type to awe the masses, but her facial features were delicate and easy to remember . She gave others the feeling of being caressed by a gentle spring wind . There were such women in the world, whose beauty was not stunning but still enchanting all the same . And it just so happened that Huo Mian was one of those few women, who could captivate those around her with her unique presence .
 
"Oh my, Huo Mian, you're here! Hurry upstairs to the Peony Room on the second floor . Everyone's waiting there . If they knew you came, they'd all be overjoyed!" At the door, old classmates who were in charge of welcoming guests gave her directions with warm smiles . Huo Mian nodded, returning the smile as she made her way slowly towards the second floor . She didn't know why, but she felt an unplaceable sense of unease bubbling up inside of her . This was a feeling that she hadn't had in a very long time .
 
Truth be told, she rarely attended these high-school reunions . It wasn't that Huo Mian was unsociable, or that she thought she was too good for them . Only that, during those three years of high school, someone left such a deep mark in her heart and soul that she had subconsciously avoided all of these events .
 
This time, she only chose to attend because her high school homeroom teacher personally called and invited her . Ms . Yao was over sixty years old and had retired a long time ago . From what Huo Mian heard, she immigrated to New Zealand with her daughter some time ago . But now, not only did she suddenly return to the country, she also organized this reunion . Huo Mian really had no reason to refuse . Although she was never the type of student that caught the teacher's attention through academics, she was as fond of Ms . Yao as her old classmates were .
 
Besides, that person's been missing for seven years . There is no way he will show up for this reunion, right? Reassuring herself, Huo Mian struggled to suppress her unease .
 
When she finally pushed through the door, there were already twenty or so people inside . Hearing the door open, they all looked over at the entrance and saw Huo Mian smiling timidly .


 
"Hi, everyone . It's been a while," she greeted .

 
"Hey, if it isn't the beautiful Miss Huo, what a surprise that you actually came to a reunion! Hell must be freezing over," one of her female classmates said in a mocking tone .
 
Huo Mian smiled awkwardly and didn't reply . Just then, the Class President, Han Xu, stood up and walked over with a warm greeting, "Huo Mian . It's been a while, everyone missed you! How're you doing these days?"


 
"Oh, I'm doing well, Class President," Huo Mian looked around the room . When she didn't see the homeroom teacher, she couldn't stop herself from asking, "Where's Ms . Yao?"
 
"Ah, Ms . Yao just called and said that she's stuck in traffic . She'll be here soon . Come on, take a seat first . "
 
Huo Mian nodded . Finding a quiet corner, she sat down and listened to the loud banter of the classmates around her .


 
It had been many years since they graduated from high school, and everyone had changed . Some were now famous entrepreneurs, some were working for the government, and some others had gone to study abroad . All in all, compared to these people, the girl who'd once been touted as a genius with an IQ of 130 could not appear any more ordinary right now .
 
After graduating high school, she rejected colleges in the capital city and surprised everyone when she applied to the nursing school at a local medical academy . After graduation, she went directly into the provincial hospital to become a nursing intern, signing a 3-year contract .
 
Now, she had a stable relationship with an intern in the ophthalmology department of the hospital where she worked . Although his family background was fairly average, he had a decent future ahead of him . Huo Mian felt that she could ask nothing more from this life . She didn't wish for wealth and fortune, only stability and security .

Then, someone suddenly patted her back . Startled, Huo Mian turned around .