Chapter 26: Classmate

Chen Xiao, of course, would not refuse.

There was no other reason; as long as someone else was complicit, he was no longer the only one acting out of line.

That morning, he received a message from Zhao Xiangjun: "Great, you insisted on me using such an expensive computer, and now they’re spreading even more rumors about me!"

"What rumors?"

"The whole company is saying I’m being kept by a sugar daddy—and not just one."

"..."

"Do you believe them?"

"No!"

"It’s true! Why don't you believe me?"

I’d have to be a fool to believe that. With your fiery temper, you’re not the type to be kept by anyone. Besides, no one who is being kept lives such an ordinary, mundane life.

"If they said you were the one keeping someone, I’d believe that. I could even provide personal testimony!"

"Hahaha, right, and I'm keeping you, too!" she replied with a laugh.

"Then would you like me, the one being kept, to show a little affection?"

"Just focus on your work. I’m fine. I’ve been used to this for years; there are all sorts of versions of rumors about me."

She knew Chen Xiao was worried about her. She was a very sensitive and perceptive person; not caring about things and not understanding them were two entirely different matters.

Xu Wu also sent a message: "Chen Xiao, did Zhongjian sign with you guys?"

"You’ve got a sharp nose, very quick to react!"

"Chen Xiao, are you even a man? Do you have any class at all, always taking advantage of people with your words?"

"I’m a man, but not *your* man, so why should I bother keeping up appearances in front of you? The contract is signed—it’s not much, only 9 million."

Only 9 million. Xu Wu felt a surge of anger so intense her chest tightened, her 35C bust practically swelling to a 35D.

That bastard, that foul man—taking advantage of her and stealing her order to boot!

Xu Wu jabbed a pen aggressively at the little figurine on her desk, as if it were Chen Xiao himself. Yes, Chen Xiao was a petty villain!

At 3:00 PM, the various departments of the company were buzzing with activity.

Several major orders had come in over the past few days, and everyone was working overtime.

"Where’s Chen Xiao?" Feng Feifei asked as she walked over.

Yuan Kai replied, "Manager Feng, he went out at noon. He didn't say what for."

Ma Jing blinked, unsure how to cover for him. She knew Chen Xiao had been invited out for tea by a few high school classmates and had just slipped out since he didn't have anything urgent on his plate.

Would this count as absenteeism? Would he be punished?

"Oh, that’s fine. I’ll find him when he gets back."

Just like that? She wasn't even going to ask if he was slacking off? Yuan Kai felt a deep sense of injustice, but there was nothing he could do—that was simply the treatment afforded to the top salesperson.

The Chunhui Club was a venue primarily focused on fine tea, business, and leisure.

Business was booming; by the time Chen Xiao arrived, there was only one parking spot left.

Today, his high school classmates Tao Yong, Liu Bo, and Meng Jianshu had invited him to catch up. Liu Bo had come from their hometown and worked at China Mobile; among their peers, he was doing quite well for himself.

Tao Yong worked at an insurance company, and Meng Jianshu was involved in earthwork construction projects.

These men rarely kept in touch. After graduation, they had scattered in different directions, and with everyone busy, opportunities to gather were rare.

Today was because of Liu Bo. He and Chen Xiao had been on decent terms back in high school, which was why Chen Xiao had decided to come in the afternoon.

Tao Yong and Liu Bo were already there. When they saw Chen Xiao arrive, they stood up and hugged him.

Liu Bo was in Jiangzhou for company training and had reached out after realizing it had been a long time since he’d seen his old classmates.

They exchanged updates on their lives. Liu Bo was already a junior manager; since the cost of living in their hometown county was low, his salary of over 20,000 a month was quite substantial.

Tao Yong claimed an annual salary of nearly 400,000, drawing endless praise from Liu Bo.

Chen Xiao gave a simple answer, saying he worked in sales for a tech company, with a low base salary and relying mostly on commissions.

That was the life of a salesman everywhere, and everyone was used to it.

Just then, Meng Jianshu arrived. The group stood up to welcome him, though he wasn't alone—he had brought a flashy, gaudily dressed woman with him.

He wasn't old, but he had already grown portly. He walked with his toes pointed outward, and combined with his potbelly, he gave off the distinct vibe of a greasy middle-aged man.

The woman he brought was heavily made up, wearing a perfume so pungent it could be smelled from far away. She wore a skirt that barely covered her backside and fishnet stockings, giving her a very tawdry appearance.

Looking closer as she sat down, one could see her nose and eyes had been subtly altered, and it was obvious she had received injections for "slimming" her face.

One could easily imagine that she wouldn't dare step outside without her makeup on.

Meng Jianshu, acting very "worldly," told the beauty, Lily, to greet Manager Liu, Manager Tao, and Manager Chen.

Lily offered a sweet greeting. After they sat down and everyone finished introducing their situations, it was clear she was much more polite to Liu Bo.

She was much colder toward Tao Yong and Chen Xiao, as Chen Xiao was just a salesman, and while Tao Yong claimed a 400,000 annual salary, his attire and demeanor suggested he was largely bluffing.

Meng Jianshu was very enthusiastic toward Liu Bo, insisting that his old classmate stay for a few days so he could take him out to see the sights.

He mentioned a farmstead in the suburbs of Jiangzhou, recommended by an old superior, and suggested they all go together.

He instructed Tao Yong and Chen Xiao to bring their girlfriends, not even bothering to ask if they had any.

As he spoke, he kept his arm around Lily's waist, as if having a girlfriend were a symbol of status.

Tao Yong, who was also in insurance sales, felt that Meng Jianshu was the "big shot" of the group and kept steering the conversation toward him.

He even fawned, "Of all our classmates, Manager Meng is definitely the most successful. To have achieved so much at such a young age—you must have a house and a car in Jiangzhou by now, right?"

Meng Jianshu said haughtily, "I’m already looking at houses. I don't settle for anything mediocre; it has to be at least 120 square meters, a four-bedroom place. As for the car, I’ve already bought one."

Tao Yong asked what kind of car, and upon hearing it was a BMW 3 Series, he launched into another round of flattery.

At the same time, Tao Yong added, "I’m also planning to buy a car recently. I’ve already picked it out and negotiated the price; I’m planning to pay for it in the next couple of days."

Liu Bo asked, "Old Tao, what kind of car are you getting?"

"An Audi A4, around 400,000—not too expensive!"

Good grief, what kind of Audi A4 costs 400,000? Anyone who had ever looked at a car website would know better than to be that ignorant.

The group paused in unison. Lily sneered, "Manager Tao, I’m afraid that car must have a lot of added extras. My friend just picked one up, and it was less than 250,000 on the road."

Tao Yong quickly explained, "It’s a different version, mine is the PLUS model."

This sent Liu Bo and Meng Jianshu into a fit of laughter. An Audi A4 with a "PLUS" model? He really needed to be more careful when bluffing.

Chen Xiao said nothing, and no one asked him anything. For a salesman to buy a house or a car in Jiangzhou was a pipe dream, given the unstable income and the crushing pressure of mortgage payments.

He had a quiet personality and was content not being bothered. He often said that being with Zhao Xiangjun was the most comfortable because she was also a quiet person who never wasted a word if she didn't have to.

It was only when he and Chen Xiao were alone that they would bicker—a side of them that only appeared when they were together, never in front of outsiders.