Chapter Ninety-Three: Bragging and Flaunting

Perhaps because the place was so upscale, Zhao Ming seemed somewhat ill at ease. His expression had been stiff the whole time. When Ling Tian made his suggestion, Zhao Ming only nodded and said nothing.

Ling Tian went on, “Back when we were in school, we all made grand promises. Over the years, we’ve probably been working hard to live up to the big talk we once mouthed. I remember my own grand ambition was to become the president of a company on the Fortune Global 500. In the end, I’m only a petty office worker now.”

Ling Tian hoped to use self-mockery to help his old classmate relax a little, because he knew Zhao Ming was not doing well these days and felt inferior.

Sure enough, Zhao Ming’s expression eased somewhat as he said, “Yes. Back then we were full of lofty words, but now we’ve fallen on hard times and can barely make ends meet.”

“All right, everyone’s here. We can begin.” As the organizer of this gathering, Luo Jun began ushering everyone to the table. “This reunion was initiated by me and a few other classmates. All of today’s expenses will be covered by us, so everyone eat and drink to your heart’s content.”

Another organizer stood up and said, “This banquet costs five thousand yuan a table. I’m guessing most of you haven’t had a meal like this before, so be sure to eat well and drink well.”

Luo Jun continued, “I’m just getting by these days, working as a small manager in a company under the Nangong Group. My annual salary is only a little over two hundred thousand, and life is far from satisfying. I expect all of you are doing better than I am.” Then Luo Jun turned to look at Ling Tian and said, “Ling Tian, you were the top student in our class. You should be doing the best of us, right?”

Hearing Luo Jun’s words, many of the classmates wanted nothing more than to slap him. An annual salary of a little over two hundred thousand and he calls that just getting by? Then what about the rest of us, still earning only a few thousand a month and barely meeting the basic cost of living? Wouldn’t that mean we’re not even as good as dogs?

“Ling Tian, long time no see. What field are you in now?” A coquettish voice sounded by Ling Tian’s ear.

Ling Tian turned and saw that it was a girl from their class named Nuo Xiaoxiao. Back then, Nuo Xiaoxiao had admired Ling Tian very much and had even once written him a love letter. But Ling Tian had never liked her.

“I’m just a small employee at the Qingcheng Group now,” Ling Tian said indifferently.

“The Qingcheng Group is a major company,” Nuo Xiaoxiao said with a smile.

Ling Tian replied calmly, “Just average, I suppose.”

Nuo Xiaoxiao then asked, “Did you drive here?”

Ling Tian knew what she wanted to ask. She was simply trying to find out whether he had bought a car, so he did not bother responding.

“Where did you buy your house?” Nuo Xiaoxiao continued.

At that moment, Luo Jun seized the chance to belittle him. “Xiaoxiao, Ling Tian’s doing pretty well now. He makes two or three thousand a month.”

At first, when Nuo Xiaoxiao heard the words Qingcheng Group, her expression clearly turned excited. Qingcheng Group was a large corporation with excellent benefits. But after hearing the remark about two or three thousand a month, her expression immediately cooled. She took her wineglass and went over to another table to toast people.

Faintly, Ling Tian heard Nuo Xiaoxiao say, “I thought he was doing pretty well. Turns out he’s just a lowly wage slave. Good thing I never ended up with him back then, or I’d have suffered right along with him.”

Upon hearing that, Zhao Ming almost wanted to slap Nuo Xiaoxiao on the spot. Ling Tian stopped him.

“Don’t bother with that kind of shameless woman. She has no real ability, yet still hopes to snag a rich husband. She’s utterly self-important,” Ling Tian said coolly.

Zhao Ming snorted. “She really is shameless. Look at her now, going around trying to flirt with those so-called successful men.”

Nuo Xiaoxiao was holding her wineglass and chatting and laughing with several male classmates dressed in fine clothes, giggling so hard her whole body trembled. One rich second-generation son even reached out and squeezed her hip. Not only did Nuo Xiaoxiao not get angry, she instead laughed coquettishly and said, “You’re so wicked, always taking advantage of me.”

Luo Jun came over with a wineglass and said, “Xiaoxiao, my place just finished renovation. Why don’t you come over and have some fun? My bed is very big.”

The moment she heard about the house, Nuo Xiaoxiao’s eyes lit up at once. Her gaze toward Luo Jun was almost glowing green. “Sure, dropping by your place sounds nice too.” As she spoke, she shot Luo Jun a look that said it all. Luo Jun chuckled and nodded.

With just a simple sentence and a glance, the two of them were already hooked up.

Under the stimulation of alcohol, the atmosphere at the reunion grew lively. The classmates began talking loudly, boasting about how well they were doing. Some worked in banks, some were civil servants, and some had jobs in state-owned enterprises. The ones who were doing well boasted incessantly, while the ones doing poorly were so ashamed they could hardly bear it, heads lowered as they kept drinking and eating, trying to hide their embarrassment.

One classmate who was very close to Luo Jun raised his glass and said to him, “Last year I met the daughter of a bank president. She’s ugly, but for the sake of my future, I gave it my all. Now, with my father-in-law’s help, I’ve got both a house and a car.”

“I’m not bad either. I found a rich woman. Her family assets are over ten million.”

“I don’t even need to go to work most of the time. I can do whatever I want. What can I say? Who told me I have a rich father?”

Zhao Ming took a swig of dull, bitter wine and said, “Class reunions have changed in flavor.”

Ling Tian said, “Yes. In the past, they were pure class friendships. Everyone got together simply to stay in touch and strengthen their bonds. Now it’s different. One group is showing off, while another is so ashamed they want to leave at once.”

After three rounds of wine and five courses of dishes, once the food and drink were mostly finished, it was time for the boasting and bragging to begin.

When Zhao Ming was pouring wine for Ling Tian, Luo Jun happened to come over. The two bumped into each other, and the wine nearly spilled onto Luo Jun.

“Damn it, watch where you’re going. This suit of mine cost more than three thousand. If you stained it, could you even afford to pay for it?” Luo Jun glared at Zhao Ming with disgust and shouted loudly.

Zhao Ming lowered his head and said nothing. It was simple: he was not doing well, so he lacked confidence. If Luo Jun really demanded compensation, that would be trouble. Three thousand yuan meant nothing to Luo Jun, but to Zhao Ming it was a large sum indeed.

Against a man as wealthy and arrogant as Luo Jun, someone like Zhao Ming, an ant struggling at the bottom of society, could not afford to provoke him.

Luo Jun was simply too good at putting on airs. Ling Tian could not stand it. He lifted the wineglass from the table and, smiling, said to Luo Jun, “Is your suit really worth more than three thousand?”

Luo Jun said proudly, “Of course. Someone like me, a successful man, naturally has to dress a bit more upscale. People like you, living at the bottom of society, wouldn’t understand even if I explained it. I’m guessing your monthly salary couldn’t even buy clothes this expensive.”

“Indeed, it is very pricey. Honestly, I’ve never bought clothes this expensive myself. I’m rather curious—what exactly is the difference between a three-thousand-yuan suit and the clothes we’re wearing?”

“Of course there’s a difference,” Luo Jun said smugly.

“Then let me try it out.” Ling Tian raised his wineglass and, before everyone’s eyes, splashed it straight onto Luo Jun.