The master-level skill upgrade card for the mission reward was carefully considered by Qin Tian for two days before he chose to use it on his driving skills.
He had indeed considered the stock trading skill, but after weighing the pros and cons, he decided against it.
The reason was that this skill was already at level 5, and combined with his foresight advantage as a reborn individual, it was sufficient for making money in the stock market.
On the other hand, his driving skill, accumulated from his previous life, was only level 2, which was at a very ordinary level among normal people.
Increasing it directly to master level this time, he believed, would have a greater impact.
If any emergency situations were to occur while driving, this skill could save his life at a critical moment.
He dared not gamble that if he were hit by a car, the system could still act like a healer in a game and directly restore his health.
The countdown on the system page corresponded to the time his soul would remain in this timeline.
Qin Tian had actually tried to ask the system, "Master," whether his soul would return to his pre-rebirth timeline if he met with an accident in this timeline, and what had happened to his pre-rebirth self.
However, "Master System" was very aloof and didn't respond at all.
Qin Tian could only give up on finding answers to these questions, or rather, he himself didn't want to know.
He was very satisfied with his current life, and even if he could go back, he didn't want to try.
He preferred to treat his pre-rebirth life as a dream.
Therefore, Qin Tian could be said to be very cautious about his life.
He not only had to ensure his soul lived in this timeline but also that he did not suffer physiological death.
With so many car accidents happening in the world every day, improving his driving skills was very necessary.
As for the eight thousand points, Qin Tian also browsed the treasure pavilion. There were good things he wanted, but he hadn't exchanged them yet. It wouldn't be too late to exchange them when he needed them.
As everyone gradually returned from their holidays, the class group for the third year of high school, which had been quiet for half a year with only occasional posts and had become increasingly deserted, gradually became lively again.
From time to time, people suggested that the class monitor organize everyone to go out for a meal and a karaoke session to get together.
After everyone discussed it, the class monitor Mu Nan set the time and place for the gathering.
The time was the day before the "Minor New Year" on the twenty-fourth of the twelfth lunar month, and the place was a restaurant near their alma mater, Fourth Middle School.
Before this gathering, Qin Tian and Xia Nuannuan, along with the small group that had previously organized study sessions together, also arranged to have a meal together.
On the evening of the 20th at six o'clock, Qin Tian, instead of driving, walked with Xia Nuannuan to a hot pot restaurant near the school.
In the dead of winter, a gathering of several people was more suited for hot pot.
Upon entering the hot pot restaurant, the two quickly spotted Mu Nan and Liao Juan already seated.
"Class Monitor, Liao Juan!"
Xia Nuannuan, with Qin Tian's arm linked through hers, called out with a smile.
The two who were chatting immediately looked towards them.
"Qin Tian, Nuannuan, hurry over."
Liao Juan raised her arm and waved at them with a bright smile.
The two walked over quickly and sat opposite them.
"Here, have some tea."
Mu Nan picked up the complimentary tea from the table and poured a cup for each of them.
"Thank you."
Xia Nuannuan rubbed her hands, picked up the hot tea in front of her, blew on it, and at the same time, her curious gaze surveyed the two.
The two had returned a week ago, but due to the bad weather and the cold outside in the past few days, they hadn't arranged to go out together.
"Class Monitor, you're planning to grow your hair out!"
Xia Nuannuan said in surprise.
"Yes, it's growing a bit slowly."
Mu Nan smiled a little sheepishly and reached out to touch her hair, which had grown to her neck.
During their third year of high school, she always had neat, short ear-length hair and didn't pay much attention to her appearance. Now that her hair had grown, she had a bit more femininity.
"It's great, you look prettier!"
Xia Nuannuan praised with a smile.
"Not really!"
Mu Nan smiled modestly.
"Nuannuan, what about me, what about me? Look at me, have I changed at all?"
Liao Juan, sitting beside her, pointed at herself and said with a hearty smile.
Xia Nuannuan looked at her for a moment and then shook her head with a pretend look of regret.
"No change, still the same as before!"
"Ah? You don't say!"
Liao Juan's face immediately showed bitterness.
"Pfft, I'm kidding! You've probably had your eyebrows done, and you're wearing makeup. You look so much prettier, like a girl from a big city."
Xia Nuannuan said with a smile.
"Really? I haven't left the school gate for almost half a year! What big city? This was done by my roommate, who is from Shanghai and is quite good at dressing up."
"Is that so? No wonder I feel like your clothes look better too."
"Really?"
"Mhm!"
The three girls chatted and laughed, and soon they regained their former closeness.
Qin Tian didn't interrupt their reunion and sat aside, slowly sipping his tea, being a quiet handsome man.
Before long, Zhang Peng, Tian Jiajia, and Su Yan also arrived together.
After the three were seated, the five girls gathered together, and it became even more lively.
Mu Nan and Liao Juan, who had already learned about Tian Jiajia and Zhang Peng's situation through their communication with Xia Nuannuan, now teased Tian Jiajia with knowing smiles.
A waiter carrying a menu walked over.
"Are you ready to order?"
"Just a moment, we're still waiting for someone."
Xia Nuannuan said hastily.
"Okay, just signal me when you're ready."
The waiter nodded and turned away first.
"Why aren't Cui Ying and Qiu Man here yet?"
Liao Juan asked in surprise.
"I don't know, maybe they're on their way!"
Xia Nuannuan glanced back at the door, her expression a little complicated.
"Have you been in contact with them recently?"
Mu Nan asked.
"I haven't. Su Yan and I weren't their friends to begin with."
Tian Jiajia answered first.
"I haven't contacted them either,"
Liao Juan added.
At this point, the girls' gazes turned to Xia Nuannuan.
Among them, Xia Nuannuan was naturally the most familiar with Cui Ying and Qiu Man. The others weren't really close.
"We were in contact for a while when we first went to school, but then we gradually drifted apart."
Xia Nuannuan's tone was a little dejected.
The matter of their arranged hot pot dinner was discussed in that study group. During that time, Qiu Man and Liao Juan had also been lurking and hadn't spoken up.
After waiting for a few more minutes, everyone realized that those two probably wouldn't come, but no one felt comfortable saying it directly.
"Let's not wait anymore, let's order,"
Qin Tian said, then looked at the waiter not far away.
"Waiter, we'd like to order!"
"Okay!"
The waiter responded and quickly walked over again with the menu.
"Shall we get a split pot? What do you all want to eat?"
Qin Tian took the menu and asked.
"No objections, a split pot is fine!"
"I want tripe, and anything else is fine."
"Beef, lamb, let's have more meat."
Several people responded consecutively.
"Slow down, slow down, let me select some dishes that Nuannuan likes first."
Qin Tian said while marking the menu.
"Tsk..."
Zhang Peng and the others immediately let out a chorus of jeers.
Xia Nuannuan's smile widened, and her low mood improved significantly.