Negative Electrode Material Chapter 5

Alumni Association

No matter where people are from, they love building connections, and there is always someone organizing social events from time to time. Indeed, many things connect from dots into lines because of this, achieving twice the result with half the effort.

One day at noon shortly after the Spring Festival, the weather was exceptionally pleasant. Lorenzo invited Gao Huan to lunch in Marylebone.

Come on, you don’t have fencing that day anyway. You might even run into your first love! Lorenzo urged Gao Huan to attend the alumni association meeting.

Gao Huan paused. He did not recall ever telling Lorenzo about his first love—if that even counted as one. Back in the all-boys school, there had been a classmate: thin and small, always sitting in the window seat. His voice was not loud, but every time they had a lesson on a subject he loved, his entire being would light up. His eyes were focused and his speech firm, as if the world contained nothing but the topic at hand in that moment.

Gao Huan only knew that his heart had felt a bit warm at the time, but he could not say for sure if it was love. He did not know if he truly liked boys or if he was simply drawn to the look in that person’s eyes.

He had never told anyone.

Haha, did I guess right? Lorenzo teased with a smile.

Aren’t you bringing Deconstructionism? Gao Huan ignored the comment.

Who? Oh, Ben. I don’t think he would like this kind of occasion. Lorenzo knew exactly which person to appear with at what time and place.

The gathering was held in a restaurant within a private museum in London’s West End.

On a weekend evening, a few hours after the museum had closed to the public, alumni carrying invitations were welcomed into the building in small groups by the staff.

A five-meter-high glass dome brought the night sky and starlight into the hall, making it feel as though one were inside a transparent crystal box. The outside of the restaurant connected to an exquisite little garden. In the early spring season, the daffodils were in full bloom, silently watching the venue as it slowly began to grow lively.

Gao Huan wore a leather jacket with a simple white T-shirt underneath, paired with black jeans and black mid-calf boots. For such an occasion, he was underdressed, yet his slender build and indifferent expression made him stand out compared to his peers, who had their hair meticulously combed and wore defensive smiles.

Lorenzo stood out in a different way—wearing a grey-blue suit with a bright yellow silk scarf, his mannerisms were flamboyant, greeting everyone with a “I’ve missed you to death!”

Huan, it’s truly rare to see you show up! Someone holding a wine glass smiled and stepped forward to greet him.

Gao Huan nodded, his voice faint. Yes, long time no see. How have you been lately?

I’m doing well. I’m writing some small columns for a few newspapers now. What about you? The other person seemed quite sincere.

I’m not doing much at the moment. Sometimes I work as a volunteer guide at an art gallery. Gao Huan did not feel this was something that couldn’t be said.

The other person clearly hadn’t expected a classmate to be doing that. Their expression faltered for a moment before they smiled and raised their glass again. To Turner and David Hockney!

The hall of the alumni association remained bustling. Some were talking volubly about their new positions, some were enthusiastically discussing future investment projects, and others were quietly exchanging gossip about former classmates.

Out of Gao Huan’s line of sight, the columnist from moments ago was speaking in low tones with several other classmates. Do you remember? There was a rumor back then that Gao Huan was actually the owner of our school. Really? I don’t remember that at all! Tsk, well, when you put it that way, it’s no wonder…

Lorenzo, standing not far away, caught wind of this and his heart immediately tightened. Things that Gao Huan had never addressed directly were almost certainly things he did not want outsiders discussing casually. With a quick change of thought, Lorenzo circled into the middle of that group and cut into the conversation with a bright smile. Have you tried the white truffle mayonnaise hash browns here? Highly recommended!

As he spoke, he raised a finger to summon a circulating waiter with a silver tray. On the tray sat a neat row of golden hash browns, accompanied by the distinct, fresh aroma of truffles. Lorenzo used food to shift the topic to the school’s catering back in the day, then to the teachers, and then to the scandals between teachers and students—it was entirely his home turf.

Gao Huan did not notice that evening that behind the laughter and noise, someone was already drafting an article in their mind.