Chapter 841: Chapter 303: 50th Anniversary of No. 2 High School, Zhao Mingxuan’s Troubles (2)
This bootlicker was their former vice class monitor, Liu Hui, with a rat-like face. Back in high school he was already a brown-noser, but back then he specialized in sucking up to Zhao Mingxuan, since Mingxuan’s old man was a deputy mayor, rich and powerful. Now he’s switched over to flattering Su Zelin.
"Su Zelin, your grades back then weren’t great, but I always felt a smart guy like you was destined for big things. Sure enough, you’re the one with the highest achievements in our class now. If one day I can’t get by anymore, I’ll just come work under President Su!"
"Hehe, exactly. Su Zelin, we were roommates for three years. I’m working in Lin’an now too—if you’ve got any good connects, remember to look after me!"
"..."
A bunch of suck-ups were lined up there kissing his ass, making Su Zelin shake his head nonstop.
These people really were just a bunch of fence-sitters, changing sides with the wind as smooth as anything.
And this was exactly the kind of person he despised most.
The girls were a bit better—their skin wasn’t that thick. They just circled around Qin Shiqing gossiping about her and Su Zelin’s love story.
"Shiqing, I heard you and Su Zelin are in the same company, and you’re even living together, right? Did you start after graduation?"
"You two are something else—dating and not even telling your good sisters. If Xiaolaba hadn’t told me, I’d still be in the dark!"
"We had several couples from our class in high school, you know. Shiqing and Su Zelin ending up together doesn’t surprise me at all—after all, the one who’s closest to the water gets the moon first. The real shocker is Lu Haoran and Xiaoyanzi."
"Hey, don’t look down on Lu Haoran, okay? He’s working at Lin’an Steam Turbine Group now. That state-owned enterprise has amazing benefits!"
"That kid looks honest, but he’s actually sharp as hell inside. He even chose marine engineering as his major. That major was super niche—who would’ve thought it’d be so in demand now!"
"..."
After college graduation, most people’s job situations were more or less tied to their old grades and the universities they went to. Those who graduated from key universities generally didn’t end up with bad jobs.
There were a few cases that were quite unexpected, and the biggest surprise, needless to say, was Su Zelin. As a former slacker, he’d somehow become a senior executive at a big company. Who would’ve imagined that back then?
Lu Haoran was also a bit unexpected. His grades in high school were just okay—not exactly top-notch. In class he was slightly above average. His university of technology wasn’t some elite school either, yet thanks to his major he managed to flip his fate.
But it wasn’t that this "honest guy" was actually that cunning; it was that he’d taken Su Zelin’s advice when filling out his college applications.
Anyway, the atmosphere at the reunion was pretty lively. Everyone was in high spirits, except for one person sitting absent-mindedly in the corner, drinking alone—class monitor Zhao Mingxuan.
The guy with glasses went to Xia Country University of Political Science and Law, stayed in Beijing after graduation, and successfully became a lawyer. He even had a girlfriend from Beijing. On paper, he should have been one of the most successful and smug among them.
At the previous reunions he’d been quite active—chatting, drinking, singing karaoke, definitely not low-key, always trying to be the center of attention. But tonight, he clearly wasn’t in a great mood.
Su Zelin noticed, walked over with a glass of wine, and casually asked, "Old Zhao, what’s up?"
Zhao Mingxuan snapped back to himself and glared at him. "What ’Old Zhao’? Can you stop giving people nicknames?"
Su Zelin chuckled. "But you really do look old tonight. Your face looks exhausted. Got something on your mind? Need a listener? Don’t worry, I swear in the name of the Operations Director of New Era that I’ll never tell anyone your secrets!"
Compared to those brown-nosers, the former slacker actually had more of a soft spot for Zhao Mingxuan.
Honestly, the guy with glasses had been a good class monitor; he’d put a lot of effort into Class Two. It was just that back then they were on different paths and couldn’t see eye to eye—one was the leader of the class, the other was dragging at the tail and constantly breaking school rules. Add in the whole Qin Shiqing situation, and it was no wonder Zhao couldn’t stand the sight of Su Zelin.
After graduation, once Zhao Mingxuan got a girlfriend, the bad blood between them pretty much faded. The guy with glasses had even given them his blessing, so Su Zelin no longer held any grudges against him.
Zhao Mingxuan snorted. "Get lost, I don’t have anything on my mind!" ℯℯ𝑙.
"Fine, if you don’t want to talk, I won’t push. But you don’t mind having a drink with me, right?"
Su Zelin raised his glass first.
Zhao Mingxuan clinked glasses with him and downed his drink in one go, then sighed. "It’s got to do with my girlfriend."
Claiming he had nothing on his mind was just saving face. Truth was, Zhao had been pretty depressed lately and really did want someone to talk to.
He just didn’t trust the others; the guy with glasses didn’t want to tell them.
But he trusted Su Zelin.
The former slacker was indeed a man of his word, and besides, he was now a senior manager at New Era. To reach that level, your credibility had to be solid.
By this point, Su Zelin had already guessed most of it.
Given Zhao Mingxuan’s situation, the only thing that could make him this down had to be a relationship problem.
His girlfriend was no easy character. In his previous life, after they got married she’d even cheated on him, and her family had nothing but contempt for this son-in-law from a small city. Even though the guy with glasses was excellent and worked hard.
Su Zelin didn’t say anything; he just sat quietly and listened.
"My girlfriend’s from Beijing, you know that. A while back, I went to meet her parents. Her mom and dad were really cold to me. Sigh, I get it. We were born in a small place like Jianglan—what can you do?"
As Zhao Mingxuan gave a bitter smile, he poured another drink and clinked glasses with Su Zelin.
Even though his own conditions in Jianglan were already considered excellent—his dad was a deputy mayor, and he’d graduated from the University of Political Science and Law and become a lawyer with a decent income—in the eyes of his girlfriend’s parents in Beijing, he was still just a lowly nobody from the sticks.