Chen Zhiyun, Chen Shanbin, and Chen Zhixiang were known as F3, sharing the surname Chen [1]. In their student days, they could do pretty much everything. However, they also had top grades and thus were the “tall, rich, and handsome” that everyone was jealous of.
As time passed, some things changed, but some things hadn’t.
When Lu Yuan followed Chen Feng and arrived at the place, he saw a bunch of young people who seemed familiar but yet a little unfamiliar at the same time.
Amongst these people, Chen Zhiyun and Chen Zhixiang were extremely popular, surrounded by both men and ladies who were trying to curry up to them. They were like influential figures. As for Chen Shanbin, he seemed a little down, no longer having the same glory as he had in the past.
“A`Yuan, we must have a good relationship with Chen Zhiyun and Chen Zhixiang. One of them will debut this year and will likely become a great celebrity. The other one has a great career with his business raking in great profits. If we can build a good relationship with them, it would be nice as well!” After saying that, Chen Feng picked up his wine glass, wearing a flattering smile as he walked toward Chen Zhiyun.
Lu Yuan didn’t hang out that much with these classmates to begin with, and considering how so many years had passed, they were even more estranged now. Therefore, Lu Yuan didn’t know what he should do when he stood amongst the crowd. He found a random spot, ate the cakes on the table, and looked at the bunch of rowdy classmates.
He remained very calm.
Anyway, this was how a class reunion was like anyway. The people who were doing well would be surrounded and curried up to. Those who didn’t would try very hard to flatter them, hoping that they’d help them out. Either that or they’d shrink in a corner, watching others flaunting while feeling extremely bitter…
Lu Yuan should have been one of those who felt extremely bitter…
However, at this moment, he realized that he was very calm, overbearingly so…
He should feel envious, but…
He realized that he couldn’t feel any envy.
What was going on?
“Brother Zhiyun, I heard that there are ranks in this kind of contract. What rank are you at?”
“What rank? Of course, it’s C-list. I’m different from those D-list people. I have my personal manager to handle things.”
“Wow, that’s so amazing! You had been an influential figure in school back then, but I didn’t expect that you would really join the entertainment circle after entering society. There’ll definitely be a spot for you in the entertainment circle!”
“Haha, I’m just a little luckier and a director had set his eyes on me, allowing me to take on a role…”
“Brother Zhiyun, that’s not right. I heard that you are the fourth supporting male character in the movie [Our Youth] that will be released on September 1st. Moreover, you have quite a lot of scenes in the movie! Brother Zhiyun, you’re really special. The company must be planning to go all out to nurture you!”
“Haha, it’s alright. It’s just that the company has a better feeling toward me… Haha.”
“Wow, Brother Zhiyun, you must give me a signature! When you become a big star in the future, your signatures will be really expensive!”
“Haha, sure, sure. We’re all classmates who have known each other for so long. A signature is nothing!”
“Wow!”
“Wait a minute. My manager calls me. I’ll take it first.”
“Alright!”
A group of ladies crowded around Chen Zhiyun, chattering non-stop in exclamation. Chen Zhiyun appeared humble when surrounded by the ladies, but he was wearing a smile that seemed as if he was enjoying all the flattery.
He had a super-strong sense of superiority, and he’d get a lot of attention just from flaunting his phone or his watch.
He felt that the entertainment circle was a glorious world, and in the future, he would become a shining star…
Chen Feng walked back to Lu Yuan, a little tipsy. His face was red and he looked extremely happy…
“Lu Yuan, why aren’t you going over to offer a toast?”
“Uh… I don’t really drink…”
“Sigh, you can’t be like this. Come, let me bring you over to offer Chen Zhixiang a toast. Chen Zhixiang is quite a nice person and is easy to talk to. He promised to give me a position in his company this year. The salary is $3,500 monthly!”
“Ah, this… No need for that. I’m actually doing quite well.” Lu Yuan watched as Chen Feng patted him on the shoulder and then shook his head.
“Lu Yuan, this isn’t the time to be concerned about your face. We’ve entered the working society and thus should live like a member of the working society. We should lower our stance or smile whenever needed. Look at how glorious their lives are. Although we can’t be compared to them, if a little flattery can make our lives a little better, why not? Face? How much money was one’s face worth? If you insist on hanging on to your face, you’ll suffer unnecessarily. Moreover, we’re all classmates. He’ll still help you out more or less.” Chen Feng thought that Lu Yuan was still unable to let things go just like how he had been back in their school days. He started to persuade Lu Yuan, wanting Lu Yuan to be slightly more flexible.
“…” Lu Yuan took a bite of the cake, not knowing how he should reply.
He knew that Chen Feng was doing this out of goodwill.
However, he felt that he and someone like Chen Zhixiang were really different types of people.
He recalled that Chen Zhixiang always wore a superior expression whenever he saw him back in school. He had greeted Chen Zhixiang a few times, but the latter would show him an expression of disdain, feeling that he was just like an insignificant ant.
Lu Yuan was someone with pride. The current him was unable to do things like buttering a person up.
Society had worn down people’s sharpness. Some people might learn to become more flexible, currying up to others for their own livelihood even if it meant that other people would look down on them. However, this wasn’t so for Lu Yuan.
Pride wasn’t worth money, but at least, he didn’t wish to become a dog.
Moreover, the current him didn’t really need to beg others…
“Hmmm? Isn’t this Lu Yuan? Why are you sitting here?” At that moment, Chen Zhixiang happened to chance upon Lu Yuan and thus walked over, wearing a smile.
“Urgh, hello…” Lu Yuan stood up politely after seeing Chen Zhixiang, wearing a pretentious smile.
“We’re all old classmates, there’s no need to be so nervous or stand on ceremony… Haha, we aren’t at our workplace and there aren’t any leaders here.” Chen Zhixiang smiled after seeing Lu Yuan’s expression. Although Lu Yuan appeared very calm, Chen Zhixiang felt that Lu Yuan was feeling unsettled and nervous. After all, he had always been a person with a high position over the past few years, and thus he would feel that it was good to see the people below him feel nervous when they looked at him.
“Hahahaha,” Lu Yuan continued to laugh, wearing a silly expression.
Nervous?
He wasn’t nervous at all.
However, Lu Yuan didn’t rebut. He merely smiled and looked on quietly.
“I remember that you were seated in the third seat in the first row, right?”
“That’s right, I was seated by the window.”
“Haha, how have you been over the years?”
“It’s alright. I can manage to get by.”
“Oh-oh? I heard from Chen Feng earlier that you haven’t been doing that well? You can’t even afford to pay off your housing rent.” Chen Zhixiang chuckled. It was as if he wasn’t giving Lu Yuan a slap in the face for mentioning this in public, but was just saying something out of concern.
“No, it hasn’t been bad.” Lu Yuan continued to smile but was feeling really helpless inside.
What was this, if not a smack in the face?
However, Lu Yuan continued to look at him calmly.
“How about this… I still need an administrative staff. If you’re interested, you can come for the job. The base salary will be $2,800, with additional overtime pay. What do you think?” Chen Zhixiang looked at Lu Yuan with a beaming face, waiting for Lu Yuan’s thankful gaze.
He felt that it was very interesting to look down on a minor character from a superior height.
The minor characters’ gazes and agitation made him feel especially exhilarating.
He seemed to have returned to the days where everything would go according to his wishes.
And he was the king!
“Lu Yuan, it’s rare that President Chen has spoken. Why aren’t you quickly thanking him?”
“Lu Yuan, offer a toast. Are you someone who can’t read the situation?”
“With President Chen helping you out, Lu Yuan, you’re going to strike it big…”
“Lu Yuan…”
All sorts of voices rang out around Lu Yuan. It was as if everyone was trying to teach Lu Yuan how he should act and how he should be doing things…
“Lu Yuan, come and work as a planner for me. I’m short of a planner who will also be tasked with running errands…” At this moment, Chen Zhiyun, who had just returned from his call, walked over as well. After taking a look at Chen Zhixiang, he also broke into a smile. It was just that his smile had a hint of a challenge in them.
What was a class reunion?
It was an event for comparisons and flaunting!
Who was Lu Yuan?
He was just an insignificant character, someone whom he might not even care for.
But…
He mustn’t let Chen Zhixiang steal the limelight!
They were at the class reunion!
What was a class reunion?
Wasn’t it an event for flaunting?
Therefore, he also wanted to offer Lu Yuan a job.
“Lu Yuan, come work for me. I’ll give you a base salary, five insurance [1], and a housing fund[2]! There’ll also be a year-end bonus!”
“Lu Yuan, come work for me. You’ll be able to come into close contact with celebrities. Do you know An Xiao? I can help you to get her signature! Moreover, you should know what kind of place the entertainment circle is. If you work for me, you’ll have a chance to enter China Gold to become an official employee. This is a heaven-sent opportunity!” said Chen Zhixiang.
He threw a glance at Chen Zhiyun, wearing a challenging smile on his handsome face. When he looked at Lu Yuan again, although he put up a good act, he was totally looking at a flaunting backdrop…
He thought he was able to get everything he wished in life.
Everything was going so smoothly.
It was so comfortable!
“Wow! Lu Yuan, you’re really goddamn lucky!”
“Lu Yuan, I’m really envious of you!”
“Wow!”
“Lu Yuan… You are really damn…”
“Quickly offer a toast!”
“…”
Envious voices rang out around them, and even Chen Feng couldn’t help but exclaim at Lu Yuan’s amazing luck…
“Cough, cough… I’ll go take a call…” At this moment, Lu Yuan’s phone rang. Lu Yuan looked and saw that it was from Tang Chong.
He got up and went to a quiet spot to pick the call.
“Hello, A`Yuan? Is it convenient for you to talk now?”
“I’m at a class reunion.”
“Where is it?”
“Yangfan Restaurant. What’s the matter?”
“Erm, if it’s convenient, I feel that we can have a chat… I’m really very sincere…”
“I’m busy…”
“You’re at Yangfan… Is it that Yangfan Restaurant in Hengdian? I’ll come over right away… Wait a moment, I won’t hold you up for long…”
“…”
He had just hung up when his phone rang again. This time around, it was from Wang Jinxue.
“Where are you?”
“At my class reunion…”
“Is it over?”
“No…”
“Then I’ll go over.”
“What for?”
“To talk about arrangements for the movie.”
“Erm… Let’s forget about it today. I’d only be able to go back very late.”
“Are there a lot of female students?”
“Quite a lot.”
“…”
“Du du du.”
“???”
[1] A play on F4 from Hana Yori Dango/Meteor Gardens.
[2] China’s Social Security System consists of 5 mandatory insurance schemes (pension fund, medical insurance, industrial injury insurance, unemployment insurance, and maternity insurance) + a housing fund (only applicable to Chinese employees). https://www.hrone.com/guide-chinas-social-security-system-pays/
[3] https://www.china-briefing.com/news/housing-fund-china-investors-need-know/