Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Class Reunion
"Hello, do you have a reservation?"
As Yun Zijin walked into Sijie Restaurant, a waitress came up to greet her.
"Private room 0212."
That was the room number the reunion organizer had posted in the temporary group chat. Yun Zijin had glanced at it once and memorized it.
"Of course. This way, please!"
The waitress gave a sweet smile and gestured for Yun Zijin to follow.
As Yun Zijin started walking, the waitress moved just ahead and to her left to lead the way.
’Ah! So beautiful, and her voice is so sweet. Is she some kind of angel?’
’She’s driving a Ferrari at her age... Looks like she’s very good at making money...’
After Yun Zijin left the main hall, the people seated there began to murmur among themselves, but unfortunately, Yun Zijin couldn’t hear them.
"Here we are, private room 0212. Would you like me to knock for you?"
This was a level of service she wouldn’t have offered to just anyone, but seeing Yun Zijin made the waitress want to go the extra mile.
"No, thank you. I can get it myself."
Yun Zijin raised her hand and knocked three times.
Soon, someone opened the door from the inside. When they saw Yun Zijin, their expression clearly faltered.
"Um... this is a class reunion. Are you sure you’re in the right room?"
It was no surprise he thought so. After all, Yun Zijin’s attire was far beyond what one would expect from any of the invited guests at this reunion.
"I’m in the right place. I’m here for the reunion."
Yun Zijin explained.
"Oh! Then come in! Please, come in! Which classmate are you? I don’t think I’ve seen you before..."
He said, holding the door open for Yun Zijin to enter.
"My name is Yun Zijin."
Yun Zijin stated her name.
Upon hearing the name "Yun Zijin," many people in the room froze for a moment. But that quickly shifted to curiosity and interest, mixed with a few hints of jealousy and malice.
"Yun Zijin? The Yun Zijin who got into Dijing University?"
In the minds of these high school alumni, the most profound impression of Yun Zijin was "the one who got into Dijing University."
"That’s me."
Yun Zijin admitted it freely. It was, after all, the truth.
"It really is Yun Zijin! Someone in the group chat said she was coming, but I didn’t believe it!"
"That whole aura of hers... I guess that’s what you’d expect from someone who went to one of the country’s top universities, huh?"
"And did you guys not see the handbag she’s carrying?"
...
The moment Yun Zijin entered the room, many people began to whisper amongst themselves. Whether their intentions were good or ill, it was all happening right under her nose.
"The great Yun University Genius has graced us with her presence! Our humble reunion is truly honored! Doesn’t that call for a drink?"
As soon as Yun Zijin sat down, someone suggested a group toast.
Yun Zijin frowned. She didn’t really want to drink.
"I’ve been taking some Chinese medicine lately, so I can’t drink. I’ll toast with tea instead."
Before everyone could raise their glasses, Yun Zijin tactfully declined to drink alcohol.
’The Rose Essential Oil she was using was mixed with Chinese herbs, so it wasn’t a lie.’
"Whoa, that’s not cool! What, Yun University Genius, are you looking down on us alumni who didn’t do as well as you in school? It’s just one glass. What’s the big deal?"
Hearing Yun Zijin’s refusal, the person who had proposed the toast felt he had lost face, and his tone immediately became aggressive.
"So not drinking means I’m looking down on people? That’s some logic I’ve never encountered before."
Yun Zijin wasn’t about to indulge him.
"Yeah, we’re all alumni here. Why bring that corporate drinking culture stuff into it?
Everyone came today to catch up and reconnect. Shouldn’t drinking be optional?"
"Yeah, I didn’t really want to drink either..."
Clearly, quite a few people present didn’t want to drink, but they had been guilt-tripped by him. Not wanting to argue, they had resigned themselves to it.
Yun Zijin was the first person that day to openly defy him.
"You... Do you have any idea who I am? If it weren’t for me, how would any of you poor schmucks ever be qualified to eat at Sijie Restaurant!
You’re all riding my coattails, and you don’t want to give anything in return? You wish!"
"Oh? So by your logic, you’re treating everyone to dinner today?"
The man was struck speechless by Yun Zijin’s question. Of course he wasn’t going to treat them; it had already been decided that everyone would be splitting the bill.
Sijie Restaurant cost about five hundred per person. With thirty people attending, the total bill would be around fifteen thousand. If he were to treat everyone, it would cost more than his entire monthly salary.
"Since you’re not paying, what right do you have to tell me whether I drink or not? We all paid our share, so what makes you think you’re better than everyone else?"
When Yun Zijin put it that way, the others came to their senses as well.
"Do you know who I am."
"Do you have amnesia? You don’t even know who you are."
"You!"
"Um... Brother Chen, calm down. The University Genius probably spent all her time studying and doesn’t know how to drink. Please, don’t lower yourself to her level."
A tall, thin guy standing beside Chen Fan saw Chen Meng’s chest heaving with anger and quickly tried to placate him.
Yun Zijin, however, leisurely remained in her seat, found a dish she liked, and started eating.
Watching the tense, hostile atmosphere between Yun Zijin and Chen Meng from the side, Wang Shuming felt a pang of regret.
’He shouldn’t have called Yun Zijin. This Chen Meng is known to be vengeful over the smallest slight. What if...’
Wang Shuming looked at Yun Zijin with worry in his eyes.
Yun Zijin noticed Wang Shuming’s gaze and gave him a small smile.
She could more or less guess why the others had compromised after just a few words from Chen Meng. It was simply a matter of social status.
Chen Meng was likely one of the more successful people in the room. The others either needed something from him or just didn’t want to cause trouble.
But having run into her, Chen Meng’s plan to show off his might today was destined to fail.
"As I recall, wasn’t our Yun University Genius from an orphanage? This outfit of yours doesn’t look like it came from an orphanage."
Since Chen Meng was able to get by in the world, he naturally had a discerning eye.
Although Chen Meng couldn’t identify the brands of all of Yun Zijin’s clothes, jewelry, and handbag, the items he could recognize were worth no less than a hundred thousand.
"I grew up in an orphanage. I’ve never denied it."
"So you admit it? Being a kept woman so openly... the great Yun University Genius really lives up to her reputation!"
Yun Zijin frowned. She had only said she didn’t deny growing up in an orphanage. How did that turn into her being a kept woman?
"Do you have any idea what you’re saying?"
’She really couldn’t comprehend this man’s train of thought.’
"Look at your outfit, it’s worth at least a hundred thousand! What orphanage could afford to buy you these things?
You haven’t even graduated from university yet. Do I really need to spell out where the money for these luxuries came from?"
The more Chen Meng spoke, the more reasonable he found his own words, and the more twisted his expression became.
"Heh!"
Yun Zijin was so angry she actually laughed. She had originally agreed to this reunion thinking they were, after all, fellow alumni, and the person who had called her was their high school class president.
She never would have imagined she’d run into such a weirdo. Her appetite was completely gone.
"Spreading rumors right to my face... I have to say, you’ve got some nerve!"
"Classmate Yun, you..."
"Class President, the role of peacemaker doesn’t suit you at all."
Yun Zijin cut Wang Shuming off before he could finish.
