If they didn’t already know about Chen Feng’s substantial wealth, these old classmates definitely would have stepped in to diate, perhaps even siding with Cao Jun to throw a jab or two at Chen Feng, which would have seed normal.
After all, most of them used to have a much closer relationship with Cao Jun.
But now, Chen Feng is quite wealthy, owning a film company worth over twenty million. He is the most successful among their group of classmates.
Earlier, Chen Feng had already told them not to try to diate between him and Cao Jun. Naturally, these old classmates wouldn’t jump in to say anything now; in fact, they didn’t dare to offend Chen Feng. After all, Chen Feng is a wealthy man now.
This is the reality of the world!
"Haha, Chen Feng, you really haven’t changed. Your words are still as harsh. With a personality like yours, do you know you’re in for a rude awakening in society?"
Cao Jun didn’t hold back either and imdiately countered. Though his tone was sowhat playful, it carried the deanor of their old class leader. Compared to Chen Feng’s tone earlier, it was more tactful.
In college, Cao Jun was very scheming and certainly sinister; otherwise, he wouldn’t have backstabbed Chen Feng, his rival in love.
"Haven’t you also remained the sa? Still smiling on the surface, stabbing people in the back. Didn’t you set up quite a few people in the past few years?"
Chen Feng’s remarks were cutting and hit Cao Jun right where it hurt. Because in recent years, he did indeed set up many people. Otherwise, how could he have achieved his current success?
The corporate world is a battlefield. His family background is average, and he’s not a local in Xiu Zhou. To establish himself in this bustling city, re hard work and perseverance aren’t enough. He must use every possible ans, even unscrupulous ones, to climb upward.
He started as an intern, and step by step, within just eight years, he climbed to the position of deputy general manager.
It’s not quite "many bones lay bleached for a general’s success," but along his journey from the bottom of the company to his current position, he had to knock down many competitors and obstacles, so through cunning sches. A few even ended up in prison.
"Chen Feng, we might be old classmates, but if you slander recklessly, don’t bla for turning hostile."
Cao Jun stopped smiling and adopted a serious, stern deanor, looking at Chen Feng with an obviously unfriendly gaze.
Chen Feng completely ignored his hostile look. With a faint smile, he said, "Speaking of slander, you’ll need to bla yourself more. Didn’t you slander back then? I can’t compare to you in that area."
"Nonsense! When did I ever slander you? You were always stubbornly accusing ."
Back then, his rumors were very covertly spread. If Chen Feng hadn’t coincidentally heard about it from an insider, he might have never guessed that Cao Jun was behind it.
However, at the ti, Cao Jun vehently denied it and, without solid evidence, he wouldn’t admit it now either. But anyone with a brain knew Chen Feng wasn’t wrong in accusing him back then.
It’s just that so many years have passed, and people see that Chen Feng still holds a grudge against Cao Jun. They privately think he might be a bit small-minded.
Moreover, with today’s class reunion, anyone with a bit of tact wouldn’t want to make the situation too awkward.
Given Chen Feng’s identity now, different from the past, nobody said anything to him.
"You and I both know the truth. I didn’t wrong you about what happened back then. Actually, after all these years, if you had admitted it outright, I would still respect you as a man. But, unfortunately, you seem hopeless, refusing to own up even now. I can only describe you with three words: two-faced snake."
Cao Jun’s face imdiately beca very ugly because, in the company, people privately called him this nickna. He even suspected Chen Feng might have investigated him in secret. Otherwise, how would he know this?
"Chen Feng, you’re going too far!"
At this point, Yuan Hua, who was unaware of Chen Feng’s current status, couldn’t help but speak up. Back in college, Yuan Hua and Cao Jun were on good terms. When he and Cao Li got married, Cao Jun even traveled to their hotown to attend the wedding and gave them 1999 yuan in gift money—the highest among their classmates.
Therefore, seeing everyone keeping quiet and not intervening, Yuan Hua decided to stand up for Cao Jun, and in his view, Chen Feng had indeed gone too far with his words.
Cao Li chid in, echoing her husband’s sentints, "Chen Feng, it’s been so long. Why hold a grudge? It’s rare for us all to gather again. Whatever small disagreents there were should be laughed off now. It’s not like there’s a deep-seated hatred; there’s no need to be so petty."
At first glance, Cao Li’s words seed plausible, but upon deeper scrutiny, they were nonsensical.
Like the saying goes: until you’ve walked in soone’s shoes, you can’t tell them how to be good—or why they should let go.
Nowadays, too many people are refined self-interest supremacists, which is simply being lenient with themselves and strict with others. Expecting saintly standards from others while holding themselves to lower standards is highly unethical behavior.
Chen Feng rolled his eyes at this couple in silent contempt, not even bothering to argue.
"Alright! Alright! Let’s all say a little less. Chen Feng, Cao Jun, for the sake of our old classmates, let’s not argue anymore. Chen Feng, why don’t we swap seats?"
Zhang Kewei, the initiator of this gathering, spoke wisely and impartially, striking a balance that both Chen Feng and Cao Jun could accept.
Chen Feng had no objections to Zhang Kewei and didn’t want to sit next to Cao Jun anyway, so he stood up and swapped seats with Zhang Kewei.
"Alright, let’s have a toast to celebrate us old classmates reuniting," Zhang Kewei said, raising his glass of poured wine and standing up.
Everyone obliged, pouring wine or drinks, standing up with their glasses, and downed them in one go.
After drinking, the atmosphere beca relaxed and cheerful. A few people started joking and laughing. Tang ngjie and the other two female classmates decided to head to the TV to pick so songs for karaoke.
Once the music in the room started playing, the atmosphere turned even more lively.
Perhaps out of consideration for Cao Jun, the commotion on Chen Feng’s side subsided, but two male classmates sitting next to him struck up conversations and tried to build rapport.
Chen Feng took the opportunity to learn more about their current situations. One of them, a slightly balding guy, is a software engineer, or simply, a programr. Nowadays, he works in an online gaming company, living the 996 life. The only consolation is that his salary and benefits are decent, above the city’s average.
The other has a bit of family money. Previously, he co-opened a foot massage parlor with relatives, and business is doing okay. He can earn a dividend of about a hundred thousand a year. Plus, the family owns two rental apartnts, netting roughly another hundred thousand annually.
The foot massage parlor doesn’t require his managent, so he’s basically idle every day. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have traveled such a long way from his hotown for this class reunion.
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