Class Reunion (2)
The party continued. After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became more lively and more explicit. Zhao Yali quickly became one of the focal points of the conversation.
"Yali, your coat looks great! What brand is it?"
"Oh, it's not a big brand, just a niche designer from abroad. My husband brought it back for me when he went to Europe on a business trip," Zhao Yali said casually, stroking the sleeve of her coat.
"Mr. Ma must be in big business, right? You have an extraordinary air about you!"
"Not at all, just doing a little business to make a living," Old Mr. Ma said modestly.
"Yali is living a life of luxury now, isn't she? Staying at home like a rich housewife?"
"No, not really. I just help with some household chores. My husband does most of the work," Zhao Yali said, leaning closer to Old Mr. Ma in a Little Bird manner, but her eyes darted towards Lin Feng. "By the way, Lin Feng, I heard you're studying in the provincial capital? You haven't graduated yet, have you? It's not easy for college graduates to find jobs these days. You need to start planning early. Should I ask my husband to keep an eye out for you? He knows a lot of people."
Her words sounded like concern, but the sense of superiority in her tone and the hint of "you're not as successful as me" were obvious to anyone with a modicum of sensitivity present.
Lin Feng looked up at her, his gaze calm and unwavering. "No need, thank you."
"Oh, don't be so polite! Old classmate, it's only right to help each other." Zhao Yali persisted, picking up her wine glass and gently swirling the amber liquid inside. "Look at me, I didn't continue my studies after high school, I came out into the world early, and now I'm doing just fine, aren't I? Sometimes, having a lot of education isn't necessarily useful; the key is opportunity and who you align yourself with." As she spoke, she glanced at Old Mr. Ma beside her, her eyes filled with "admiration" and "dependence."
Old Mr. Ma frowned almost imperceptibly, gently patted Zhao Yali's hand, and gently interrupted her, "Yali, say less. Student Lin is clearly a diligent young person with his own plans." He raised his glass to Lin Feng, "Xiao Student Lin, Yali is straightforward and doesn't mean what she says. I'll toast you on her behalf, wishing you academic success and a bright future."
Lin Feng picked up his teacup and clinked it against his. "Thank you, Mr. Ma."
Zhao Yali was interrupted by her husband, feeling a little embarrassed, but she didn't dare to continue targeting Lin Feng. Instead, she chatted with her other female classmates about skincare, travel, and luxury goods. However, she never forgot to include phrases like "My husband said...", "My husband bought me...", and "My husband took me...", showing off to the fullest. As she got more excited, her voice rose a few decibels.
"My husband took me to Hong Kong last month, and wow, it's so convenient to shop there! This bag, I bought it there, the sales associate said there are only three in Hong Kong!" She patted a leather bag with a prominent logo on the chair next to her.
"We went to a hot spring last week, one of those private villas, and it cost this much for one night!" She gestured with her finger, which was painted with bright red nail polish.
"My husband said he'll take me to the Maldives next spring to stay in an overwater bungalow! That's what a vacation should be like!"
With each sentence she spoke, she would glance at Lin Feng out of the corner of her eye, as if waiting for his reaction. Unfortunately, Lin Feng simply kept his eyes down, slowly eating his food, occasionally exchanging a trivial remark with the classmate next to him, completely ignoring her performance.
Old Mr. Ma seemed somewhat helpless, but he remained composed, occasionally whispering a word of advice, "Yali, have some food," but most of the time he smiled gently, listened to everyone's conversation, and did not participate in those exaggerated topics.
Halfway through the meal, Old Mr. Ma got up and said he needed to use the restroom.
A little while later, class monitor Liu Hao's phone rang. He went out to answer it, and when he returned, his expression was a bit strange. He leaned close to Zhao Yali and whispered a few words. Zhao Yali was taken aback at first, then a mixture of smugness and "should have been" on her face. Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for half the table to hear. "Oh dear, my husband is really something... I promised to treat the classmates! How could he secretly pay the bill! Really..."
It turned out that Old Mr. Ma had gone out and settled the bills for both tables.
The atmosphere at the table shifted subtly again. Several students immediately spoke up:
"Mr. Ma, you're too kind!"
"How could I accept this! We agreed to split the bill!"
"Yali, your husband is so generous!"
"This meal wasn't cheap..."
Zhao Yali basked in the envious and flattering gazes of the crowd, waving her hand demurely, "It's nothing, just a little money. My husband said it's rare for us all to get together, so having fun is the most important thing." She then looked at Lin Feng, this time with an even clearer meaning in her eyes, as if to say, "See? This is real power. No matter how much you study, can you afford this?"
Lin Feng put down his chopsticks, picked up a napkin, and wiped his mouth. He had no interest in who would pay the bill; he just found the gathering long and tedious, and Zhao Yali's clumsy performance was particularly annoying. He checked the time and prepared to find an excuse to leave.
Old Mr. Ma returned quickly, his face still bearing that gentle smile, as if he had merely gone for a walk. When someone brought up the matter of paying the bill, he waved his hand, saying, "It's just a small token, nothing to mention. Everyone, please enjoy your meal."
Zhao Yali immediately became like a peacock spreading its tail feathers, showing off her "happy" life even more enthusiastically, talking about her husband's business empire, the decoration of their mansion, the famous paintings she collected, and the yacht she planned to buy... Her voice grew louder and louder, almost drowning out the conversation of others.
Old Mr. Ma tried to change the subject several times, but she interrupted him each time. The gentle smile on his face finally revealed a hint of imperceptible fatigue and helplessness.
Lin Feng picked up his teacup and drank the last bit of tea, which had gone cold. The bottom of the cup gently tapped against the bone saucer, making a crisp sound.
He looked at the woman opposite him, who was immersed in her own lavish dream and kept trying to hurt him with her words and gestures, and then at the old man beside her who still had a dignified air but could not hide the twilight and a little embarrassment.
There was neither sorrow nor joy in my heart, only a faint sense of absurdity.
He put down his teacup and was about to get up.
Zhao Yali seemed to notice his movement, and her voice suddenly rose another octave, carrying a triumphant smugness, addressed to everyone at the table, and also as if she were speaking specifically to Lin Feng:
"Oh, right! I forgot to tell you all, my husband recently invested in a new project in the provincial capital! A high-end retirement community! If any of our old classmates' elders need anything in the future, just let me know! They'll definitely get the best treatment! Lin Feng, your parents are back in our hometown, right? If they ever want to retire in the provincial capital, just let me know, and I'll give you an insider price!"
Her smile was radiant, but her eyes seemed to hold thorns.
Finally, Old Mr. Ma couldn't hold back any longer. He coughed softly, his voice deepening, "Yali, that's enough."
Zhao Yali then restrained herself slightly, but the smug look on her face was impossible to hide.
Lin Feng looked at her and suddenly felt a little ridiculous, and a little pathetic. He said nothing, but calmly looked away, as if her words were just insignificant noise passing by his ears.