Chapter 4050

Su Xinghui laughed heartily upon hearing this. Luo Xiaomei gave Wu Yuansheng a playful jab, then shook hands with Su Xinghui in a poised manner, saying, "Xinghui, welcome back!"

Next, Xue Qin shook hands with Su Xinghui. Her emotions were complex, but her expression remained natural as she said, "Mayor Su, hello, welcome back!"

Xue Qin's form of address left Su Xinghui slightly stunned, but he immediately returned to his natural self and said, "Xue Qin, hello!"

The other classmates also shook hands with Su Xinghui one by one. Some addressed him as "Xinghui," but most called him "Mayor Su." When some shook his hand, they even bowed slightly, wearing somewhat sycophantic smiles.

This gave Su Xinghui a moment of reflection, but the thought passed through his heart in an instant. After all these years, he had seen all walks of life; this was the tragedy of the "little person"—even those who used to walk with their arms around his shoulders couldn't act naturally now under the halo of his mayorship.

Among all his classmates, there were only a few left who could still be relaxed with him. Perhaps this was the feeling of "it is cold at the top."

Su Xinghui could foresee that as his status grew higher, he would become increasingly lonely and his friends would become fewer. Perhaps this was the reason why ancient emperors referred to themselves as "the lonely one."

However, Su Xinghui still tried his best to maintain a warm attitude toward his classmates, and he had them take their seats one by one.

Comrade Comrade Comrade Qi Jian smiled and said, "Mayor Su, you said you wanted to see your old classmates, so today I invited all the old classmates you were close with in Shangjun."

Su Xinghui said sincerely, "Secretary Qi, thank you."

Comrade Comrade Comrade Qi Jian replied, "Mayor Su, you are being too polite. Isn't this what I should do?"

During this meal, Su Xinghui tried his best to make things feel natural, but few of his classmates could manage it. They were all very restrained, afraid to speak or pick up food casually. Basically, they only answered when Su Xinghui asked a question, and they only picked up food when Su Xinghui told them to.

This left Su Xinghui feeling quite reflective; the camaraderie of the past was likely gone forever.

Everyone finished the meal with some awkwardness. One classmate clumsily suggested going to sing, offering to pay, but Su Xinghui declined, saying he had traveled a long way and was tired, which left that classmate feeling embarrassed.

To be honest, these classmates all wanted to curry favor with Su Xinghui—who wouldn't want to please a classmate who had become such a figure? But they didn't know how, and that classmate's suggestion was indeed inappropriate. Su Xinghui was a mayor now and not suited for such venues; it wasn't a decade ago anymore.

Several classmates didn't know what to do. Seeing this, Su Xinghui smiled and said, "Don't overthink it. I really am a bit tired. If you want to go sing, feel free to go and have a good time."

Those classmates left to go sing with some embarrassment, and Su Xinghui didn't hold them back. The only ones left were Wu Jun, Wu Yuansheng, Luo Xiaomei, and Xue Qin.

Su Xinghui said to Comrade Comrade Comrade Qi Jian, "Secretary Qi, I'm going to chat with a few old classmates in a room. If you have things to do, please go ahead. Thank you for today!"

Comrade Comrade Comrade Qi Jian knew that Su Xinghui hadn't seen these old classmates for years and must have a lot to say, so he laughed and said, "Alright, go catch up."

Comrade Comrade Comrade Qi Jian had already booked a suite for Su Xinghui on the eighth floor of the Shangjun Hotel. Su Xinghui and his old classmates went up to the eighth floor, entered the room, and he smiled, saying, "We couldn't be relaxed at the table, but now that it's just us, feel free to say whatever you want."

Su Xinghui had everyone sit down and prepared to pour tea, but Xue Qin snatched the thermos and poured a cup for everyone. Wu Yuansheng laughed, "Oh my, Director Xue, having you pour tea for us personally—we don't deserve that!"

Xue Qin smiled, "What do you mean 'don't deserve'? I'm younger than you, so I'm your little sister. It's only right that I pour tea for you."

Wu Yuansheng said, "Director Xue, please don't call yourself my little sister; I can't handle that."

Su Xinghui could hear the underlying emotions in Wu Yuansheng's words; there was definitely some friction between Wu Yuansheng and Xue Qin.

Su Xinghui also understood a bit. Xue Qin's personality had some utilitarian elements; she was doing quite well in officialdom, so she likely looked down on classmates who were just getting by. Wu Yuansheng had always been blunt, and he clearly couldn't stand Xue Qin's personality, which was why he acted this way.

Xue Qin smiled unnaturally and didn't say anything more, then sat down.

Su Xinghui said, "Yuansheng, I heard you're the principal of Shangjun No. 1 now. Back when we were students, you used to curse Principal Du all the time. Now that you're a principal yourself, do you have students cursing you?"

Su Xinghui was changing the subject to prevent Wu Yuansheng and Xue Qin from causing a scene, which wouldn't look good. Wu Yuansheng's attention was indeed drawn away.

Wu Yuansheng sighed, "Sigh, I was young and ignorant back then, thinking Principal Du wasn't much. But now that I'm a principal, I know it's not easy. Principal Du really did have our best interests at heart. It's a pity he passed away so early."

At this point, everyone's expression turned solemn.

The principal of Shangjun No. 1 back then was named Du; he was a very strict person who worked very seriously, so many students didn't like him because he managed them too tightly.

Once, Wu Yuansheng was being mischievous and went to the restroom to smoke, but Principal Du caught him. Principal Du scolded him severely and even called his parents to the school. After Wu Yuansheng went home, he got a sound beating—a "mixed doubles" from both parents.

Since then, Wu Yuansheng often cursed Principal Du in private, but he never dared to smoke again and started studying seriously, no longer as mischievous as before. That was how he was able to get into university and eventually become a principal.

Now that he was a principal himself, he realized that being a good principal like Principal Du was truly not easy.

And Principal Du had passed away from illness a few years after they graduated. Hearing Wu Yuansheng bring this up, everyone's expression became solemn.

Su Xinghui said, "Indeed, Principal Du was a good principal. If he hadn't been so strict with us, I suspect many of us wouldn't have made it to university."

Wu Yuansheng said, "It's a pity, I don't think I can teach your son."

Su Xinghui laughed, "I guess you can't teach him, but you can still teach the children of other classmates. You must be as strict with them as Principal Du was."

Wu Yuansheng nodded, "I definitely have to be strict. I want to be responsible for them just like Principal Du was. If teaching isn't strict, it's the teacher's negligence."

Luo Xiaomei said, "You're just like Principal Du; you get cursed by students plenty."

Wu Yuansheng said, "I'd rather they curse me now than have them curse me in the future."

Su Xinghui said, "Well said. Better they curse you now than let them curse you later! A teacher must have such a sense of responsibility. If even the teacher isn't responsible, what will this society become?"