Class Reunion (3)

Inside the private room, one after another, the signature dishes of "Gathering Worthies Pavilion" were served: glistening red braised pork knuckle, golden and crispy squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, steaming mushroom stewed chicken... The lazy Susan slowly turned, chopsticks rose and fell, accompanied by increasingly lively laughter and the crisp clinking of glasses. The air was filled with the aromas of smoke, alcohol, food, and perfume, creating a thick, inseparable atmosphere unique to a New Year's gathering.

Lin Feng and Monkey sat at a table slightly off-center by the window. Monkey was still indignant about Zhao Yali's boastful words about "internal prices in the retirement community," muttering "What a load of crap," before Lin Feng stopped him with a look. Lin Feng simply ate a plate of stir-fried kale in front of him, his expression as calm as if he were eating at home, the surrounding noise seemingly separated from him by an invisible glass.

Just then, the door to the private room was pushed open again.

The man who entered appeared to be in his early thirties, wearing a well-tailored, expensive-looking dark blue cashmere overcoat, over which he wore a crisp white shirt and a grey sweater. He wasn't wearing a tie, but a simple yet highly recognizable luxury watch peeked out from the cuff. His hair was meticulously styled with hair gel, and he wore gold-rimmed Glasses. A deliberately restrained yet still arrogant smile graced his face. He also held a brand-new business phone in his hand, his fingers unconsciously stroking the device.

As soon as he entered, his gaze swept across the room like radar, and as he passed over those familiar yet unfamiliar faces, the smile on his lips deepened, but it was devoid of warmth.

"Hey! Isn't this our ' President Zhang '? You've finally arrived! We've been waiting for you!" Squad leader Liu Hao once again displayed his charming and shrewd nature, being the first to stand up and greet him, his tone warm but with a hint of deliberate flattery.

The man addressed as "President Zhang" nodded reservedly, casually handing his coat to the waiter who followed him in, revealing an expensive outfit underneath. As he walked, he took off his Glasses and wiped them with a soft cloth he carried with him, his movements slow and deliberate.

"Class Monitor Liu, sorry, there was a bit of traffic on the way. This small county town's planning is still lacking." He spoke, his voice not loud, but with a habitual, commentary tone, casually putting his clean Glasses back on. "It's only a short distance from the hotel, and the traffic lights aren't even set up very reasonably."

The Monkey leaned close to Lin Feng's ear and whispered quickly, "Zhang Chi, remember him? The one in the third row, the math class representative. He went to the south after graduating high school, and I heard he got a job at a big factory, doing quite well, I think he became a small manager. He was always quite pretentious, and now he's even more..."

Before the Monkey could finish speaking, Zhang Chi had already walked to the vicinity of the main table. Liu Hao had specially asked the waiter to add a seat next to him, right next to Zhao Yali and Old Mr. Ma.

Zhang Chi sat down, not immediately exchanging pleasantries with those around him. Instead, he first surveyed the dishes on the table, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly before relaxing and adopting a "what's done is done" expression. When a classmate offered him a drink, he waved his hand, saying, "I drove here, I won't drink. Just give me a glass of water, lukewarm, cold water is bad for my stomach."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was loud enough for half the table to hear. Immediately, someone flattered him. "Mr. President Zhang knows his stuff! Living in a big city for so long makes for healthy lifestyle habits!"

Zhang Chi smiled slightly, took the warm water handed to him by the waiter, took a sip, and then, as if finally having some free time, began to pay attention to his old classmates around him, starting his habitual "topic-setting."

"Actually, coming back this time has been a rather complicated experience." He put down his water glass, leaned back slightly, and glanced at everyone with a touch of melancholy. "Staying in Shenzhen for so long, the pace is fast, there are many opportunities, but it's also tiring. Coming back to this small county town is quiet, but... in many ways, we really can't keep up."

He paused, seemingly searching for a suitable example. "Take the commercial facilities, for instance. It's hard to find a decent coffee shop to quietly handle some work emails. And then there's the mindset of the people here; sometimes when we talk, I feel there's a generation gap..."

His tone was calm, as if he were merely stating objective facts, but the sense of superiority he felt from "returning from a big city" and the subtle criticism he held of "small places" were clearly conveyed between the lines.

Many students at the table wore stiff smiles, but no one refuted them. After all, he was a "manager at a big company," experienced in the world, and probably telling the truth.

However, not everyone is convinced.

"Oh, President Zhang, are you 'returning home in luxury,' looking down on everything now?" A slightly mocking female voice rang out; it was Zhao Yali. She had just been reprimanded by her husband and was feeling a bit stifled. Hearing Zhang Chi's "commanding" of the situation, her boastful and defiant spirit resurfaced. She glanced at Zhang Chi, her brightly painted lips curling into a smirk. "This small town can't compare to the skyscrapers of Shenzhen, but when it comes to life, comfort and ease are the most important things. Besides, truly capable people can thrive anywhere. Don't you think so, honey?"

As she spoke, she naturally linked her arm with that of Old Mr. Ma beside her, leaned closer, and put on that smug, sweet smile again, but her eyes looked at Zhang Chi defiantly.

Old Mr. Ma patted her hand helplessly and smiled apologetically at Zhang Chi: "Yali is just outspoken, Mr. Zhang, please don't mind."

Zhang Chi's reserved expression froze for a moment after being provoked by Zhao Yali's words. However, his gaze quickly swept over Zhao Yali's expensive outfit and then landed on the composed and well-dressed Old Mr. Ma next to her. In particular, his gaze lingered for a moment on the seemingly unassuming but actually incredibly valuable antique watch on the old man's wrist.

The arrogance in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a mixture of surprise, assessment, and a quickly adjusted enthusiasm. A smile immediately spread across his face, and his tone became humble, even slightly ingratiating.

"Mrs. Ma kind! It was my slip of the tongue!" He quickly picked up his water glass and gestured towards Zhao Yali and Old Mr. Ma. "I have no right to comment. I've just been away for many years and am used to the pace of life there, so I just remarked. Mrs. Ma is so insightful. In life, comfort is the most important thing! Look at Mrs. Ma and Mr. Ma's demeanor; they are truly people who know how to live and have a high level of taste!"

His transition was swift and natural, as if those critical remarks hadn't come from him at all. Then, he subtly shifted the subject, inquiring, "Mr. Ma, you seem like a seasoned entrepreneur who has achieved great things. May I ask what industry you work in? Perhaps our company can have some business dealings..."

Seeing that the arrogant "President Zhang" had instantly changed his attitude to flattery, Zhao Yali's slight displeasure was immediately replaced by satisfaction. With her chin slightly raised, she began to boast about her husband's "business empire" and "network of connections."

Zhang Chi listened attentively, nodding repeatedly and offering perfectly timed agreement and praise. Occasionally, he would ask a question or two that seemed quite professional, prompting Old Mr. Ma to chime in with a few more words. For a moment, their area resembled a small "business exchange corner."

However, while Zhang Chi was flattering Old Mr. Ma, he was also keeping an eye on the reactions of the other people at the table. He quickly noticed that Zhao Yali seemed to have a subtle sense of rejection and hostility towards Lin Feng, who was eating quietly and almost invisible across from her. Although he didn't understand why, it didn't stop him from making a quick judgment—standing on Mrs. Ma's side couldn't be wrong.

Just then, someone asked about Lin Feng: "Lin Feng, you're studying law, do you want to be a lawyer or take the civil service exam?"

Before Lin Feng could answer, Zhang Chi seemed to suddenly become interested and took over the conversation, a smile that appeared to be concerned but was actually condescending:

"Law? This major... well, how should I put it." He pushed up his Glasses, his tone becoming somewhat meaningful. "I have a friend who also graduated from a prestigious law school and interned at a top-tier law firm. Guess what? After three years, the most he learned wasn't how to handle cases, but how to organize case files, photocopy documents, and... pick up takeout for the lawyers on the team."

He laughed as he finished speaking, as if he had told a very funny joke. A few classmates at the table also chuckled awkwardly.

After laughing, Zhang Chi continued in a "been there, done that" tone, "Seriously, I'm not kidding. The legal industry is incredibly competitive these days, especially for young people just starting out. They have no cases, no connections, no experience—just a diploma. It's tough. My friend couldn't take it anymore and switched to in-house counsel, but the income isn't all that great."

He paused, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over Lin Feng, a faint sneer playing on his lips, "So, sometimes choice is more important than effort. You choose a major that sounds prestigious, but in the end you might only be dealing with 'food delivery'—either delivering food or picking it up for people. Haha, that's... a complete industry chain?"

He summarized it in what he thought was humor, which elicited a few chuckles in agreement. Zhao Yali even let out a sneer without any attempt to hide it, her eyes filled with smug satisfaction as she looked at Lin Feng.

The Monkey, listening nearby, was furious, his fists clenched, and he turned to speak up for Lin Feng, about to retort, "Zhang Chi, you..."

At that moment, Lin Feng gently pressed down on the Monkey's wrist under the table. The force was light, but it carried an undeniable calmness.

The Monkey turned its head in surprise, only to see that Lin Feng's face remained expressionless. He even picked up the serving chopsticks, placed a piece of steamed fish belly on his plate, and slowly and methodically picked out the bones. He raised his eyelids, glanced at the Monkey, his eyes calm and unwavering, and shook his head almost imperceptibly.

The meaning in his eyes was clear: it's unnecessary.

The Monkey's chest heaved a few times. Looking at Lin Feng's completely indifferent attitude towards Zhang Chi Chi's sarcasm, and then at Zhang Chi's smug face, he finally swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue, angrily turned his head away, and took a big gulp of beer.

Lin Feng put the deboned fish meat into his mouth; it was fresh, tender, and smooth. As he chewed, his gaze calmly swept over Zhang Chi's performance—eager to please Zhao Yali and her husband while simultaneously belittling him to show off his "knowledge"—over Zhao Yali's eyes, filled with a sense of superiority and vengeful pleasure, and over the other classmates at the table, whose expressions ranged from awkward to spectator to indifferent.

I felt nothing, and even found it somewhat boring.

He'd seen people like Zhang Chi before. Having achieved a little success in a big city, they couldn't wait to seek superiority within their former circles, confirming their "success" by belittling others. Their world was narrow and utilitarian, their standards of judgment simplistic and laughable. Their approval or ridicule was as insignificant to him as a feather.

As for Zhao Yali's childish targeting and boasting, it's not even worth a second glance. A woman whose self-worth is completely dependent on her elderly husband's wealth reveals a pathetic weakness in her joy, anger, and aggression.

Arguing or bickering with such a person is pointless and only wastes time and lowers one's own standards.

They are like part of the background noise in this noisy dinner party; perhaps jarring, but once you turn the corner, you'll never hear them again.

Lin Feng swallowed the fish, picked up his teacup, and moistened his throat. The tea had cooled down and had a slightly astringent taste.

He put down his cup and looked out the window. The afternoon sun shone through the glass, casting bright spots of light on the tablecloth, where tiny dust particles could be seen dancing.

The noise in the private room, Zhang Chi's continued, ingratiating conversation, Zhao Yali's occasional giggles, the clinking of glasses, the soft clatter of dishes... everything seemed to be separated by a transparent membrane.

He sat there quietly, like an audience member who had stumbled into a noisy theater, watching the clumsy performance on stage with only a clear indifference in his heart.

Looking at his calm profile, the Monkey suddenly realized that his brother seemed to have really changed. Not that he had become indifferent, but rather... it was as if he had stood in a higher place, looking down on all this trivial noise, and even getting angry felt like a waste.