Shen Yuan waved his hand, "I don't smoke, and you should cut down too, teaching all those juniors and seniors is exhausting. Don't think your health is still good, you're what, 50 this year?"
"I'm actually 51, but you showing concern like this sounds really awkward."
Old Yu stuffed the cigarette back into his pocket disdainfully, "I can't be moved by this, I prefer it when you and the 'Nautilus' talk back to ."
"You just can't stand hearing sothing nice."
Shen Yuan sneered. The 'Nautilus' referred to the guy who ranked last in class. Ever since he went to study in Australia, Old Yu started calling him Nautilus.
"Now you're all high and mighty, Shen Yuan. Never thought that you, a privately educated student from a second-tier college, would also be invited to the alumni reunion."
Old Yu patted Shen Yuan's shoulder proudly, "Back then, you dragged down our class's first-tier university admission rate, cost a bonus of 5000. If it weren't for you making look good this ti, I'd rember that for life."
Liya Middle School had a first-tier university admission rate of over 97% in recent years, so a second-tier university student like Shen Yuan directly affected the entire school's rate.
God knows how much Old Shen had spent to cram his son into this high school, but when the college entrance exam results ca out, not to ntion others, Old Yu definitely just shook his head.
The admission rate mattered not just for the horoom teacher's face, but also their bonus. Old Yu might not rember the diocre students, but he surely rembered the underachievers who cost him his bonus.
"I'm truly honored then, others are rembered by teachers for their good grades, I'm rembered for my bad grades."
Shen Yuan said with a grin, "But I'm still puzzled, why would the school invite this ti?"
"The principal, Tang, ntioned your na, and that's when I found out you're doing quite well these days."
Old Yu, seemingly having nicotine withdrawal, slipped the cigarette pack back into his pocket and took out his lighter to play with, "When I retire, see if there's any security work at your company that I could handle, preferably the kind that pays little but keeps busy."
Shen Yuan laughed, "Pays little but keeps you busy?"
Old Yu laughed as well, "Really getting old here, can't even speak straight. What I ant was a job that pays well and isn't too demanding."
Shen Yuan promised with a smile, "Alright Old Yu, when the ti cos, I'll definitely exploit you just like you did to us in high school."
Old Yu cursed with a laugh, "Heh, you little rascal, have no sense of respect for your teachers!"
Shen Yuan returned to the serious topic, "But Old Yu, why did Principal Tang invite ? How did he know about ?"
Old Yu explained, "He said the district mayor ntioned you to him when they were at a eting in the district."
"Oh, I see now."
During the last reunion at the International campus, Hua Zhongkui asked Shen Yuan which high school he graduated from. When Shen Yuan said Liya, he was ridiculed for being Liya Middle School's "one that got away."
It seems Hua Zhongkui rembered that, and Principal Tang thought of inviting him to this reunion.
"Alright, I am going to mingle elsewhere. Do you see that spot? That's your seat, your class leader and two other classmates are also next to you."
Old Yu excused himself to leave. Knowing he was itching for a smoke, Shen Yuan didn't stop him. Looking in the direction he pointed, Shen Yuan saw several familiar yet unfamiliar faces and walked straight over.
Two n and one woman, the skinny guy with glasses was their class leader, Zeng Jiayao, ranked top three in the class and top twenty in the grade, he got into Beijing University.
There was a plain-looking girl too, her na was Ding sothing... oh right, Ding Manman.
And the slightly overweight and dark-skinned guy was... damn, he'd forgotten the na!
But that was normal. After all, they hadn't interacted much in the past and hadn't kept in touch after graduation. Probably in a few more years, not only the nas but even the faces would be forgotten.
It would be just awkward if he couldn't rember people's nas later.
As Shen Yuan walked towards them, they were discussing him. Ding Manman frowned, "Why is Shen Yuan here? Our old class teacher said only three of us got the invitation. Class leader, do you know?"
Zeng Jiayao adjusted his glasses, shaking his head indifferently, "I don't know."
"What about you, Ye Yu?"
The overweight dark-skinned young man referred to as Ye Yu shook his head, "I don't know, wasn't he the one who only got into a second-tier college?"
While they didn't voice it, there was an implicit sense of superiority as if Shen Yuan didn't belong at a selective alumni gathering.
Shen Yuan ranked bottom in his class, only managed to get into an ordinary second-tier university, often went out to surf the internet, got into fights, and even skipped classes, so how did he have the right to be here?
Shen Yuan originally wanted to say hello to his old classmates, but he saw the three of them sitting up straight with aloof expressions, so he didn't bother greeting them.
Education is supposed to be a stepping stone, and he actually admired those who could get into prestigious universities like Capital University for their talent and hard work.
Shen Yuan vaguely rembered how, at the graduation banquet, the entire class had applauded Zeng Jiayao's entrance, casting admiring glances at him, since he had made it into Capital University with the sixth-best scores in the entire school.
But well, putting on airs was not okay.
In front of soone like who's just scraping by, you'll just be high-level wage earners in the future.
However, it was understandable they thought this way. Getting into a good university, they imagined a bright future for themselves, especially with family and friends lifting them up to the skies, it was inevitable they'd develop a sense of superiority as if they were above the rest.
They figured, if Shen Yuan greeted them first, they would respond, but for them to initiate the greeting? That would be like a higher-ranking official toasting a lower one.
But who knew Shen Yuan wouldn't even lift an eyelid, just giving them a casual glance, truly showing no respect at all.
Shen Yuan couldn't be bothered with these people who hadn't been toughened up by society. He took a seat next to an empty spot beside Ye Yu and pulled out his phone to search sothing up on Baidu.
"How to beco a visiting professor at Capital University?"
"Can a net worth of tens of billions qualify soone to be a visiting professor at Capital University?"
"Having made outstanding achievents in the field of charity or business, can one beco a visiting professor at Capital University?"
"...."
He searched several questions and there were indeed serious answers, but before Shen Yuan had the chance to read them in detail, soone ca over to say hello.
"Junior brother, hello."
Beside him stood a young man with gold-rimd glasses, looking around twenty-five or twenty-six, dressed in a shirt and trousers, with a peaceful smile as he reached out his hand.
Shen Yuan shook his hand, "Hello, senior brother."
They introduced themselves, and Shen Yuan learned his na was Wei Ming, graduate of Zhejiang University, and currently working at a public hospital in Star City.
Shen Yuan also shared the na of his school, but Wei Ming didn't show any signs of being impressed.
After all, he's a man of society; no matter what he thought inside, at least he had better social graces than those greenhorns who hadn't left campus yet.
"Did you co alone, junior brother? Don't tell you were the only one from your class invited?" Wei Ming asked with a chuckle.
Shen Yuan smiled, "A few classmates look down on my university, so here I am sitting by myself."
"No way, our Liya produces such idiots... I an, has our Liya really fostered such students?"
Wei Ming exclaid in surprise; he couldn't quite believe that Liya would have such nincompoops.
Shen Yuan was wearing a Nautilus on his wrist and his outfit was Zegna and Brioni—a look that cost over a million altogether. His classmates looked down on him?
Getting into a good university wasn't useless, but its utility was limited. Without resources, you're just another worker post-graduation.
Though Shen Yuan was an International campus graduate, who's to say his family or he didn't own a big company—these kinds of top-tier resources. Isn't it the perfect opportunity to cling to those coattails?
Shen Yuan's classmates must have had a screw loose!
Alright, even if his classmates didn't pay attention to luxury brands and failed to see Shen Yuan's wealth, the re fact he could be here was telling enough. Were school leaders just inviting people haphazardly?
"They are too superficial, how can they judge a person by the university one attended?!"
Wei Ming, eager to latch onto this big opportunity, indignantly said, "I believe our being here is not because we did well and went to so university, but rather because of the accomplishnts we've made, the contributions we've brought to the school!"
Shen Yuan was taken aback, finding the words sowhat familiar. Hadn't he just said sothing similar?
Wei Ming's voice was not too loud nor too soft, just enough to reach the ears of Zeng Jiayao and Ding Manman, who imdiately changed color upon hearing it, their faces turning alternately red and green.
Reviews
All reviews (0)