ragginovel Chapter 124 Exposing the Hypocritical Masks of Old Classmates
Chapter 124 Exposing the Hypocritical Masks of Old Classmates
"You're welcome." Shen Yu patted him on the shoulder. "This is what you deserve. With your abilities, you should have been in this position long ago."
"Yes, yes," Wang Hui quickly bowed to Shen Yu and Jiang Xinlan.
"Shen Yu, Xin Lan, you are truly our family's benefactors! Thank you so much! We will definitely repay you in the future!"
Those classmates who had just mocked Zhang Qiang for being foolish and offending people for Shen Yu now wished they could slap themselves.
Look at him! With just one word from Shen Yu, Zhang Qiang got promoted, received a raise, and became a manager, earning millions a year!
Moreover, judging from Zhao Feng's respectful attitude towards Shen Yu, Zhang Qiang will definitely benefit a lot in the workplace in the future because of his status as Shen Yu's good friend from university!
Forget about being a manager, he might even become a director in the future!
Why can't they have such a good opportunity?
If they had known this would happen, they should have cultivated a good relationship with Shen Yu back then!
One by one, they rushed forward, holding wine glasses and smiling obsequiously.
"Brother Qiang, congratulations! Please take care of me in the future!"
"Yes, Brother Qiang, we were just being immature before. Please forgive us!"
"Shen Yu, we were blind to your greatness just now, please don't hold it against us!"
A girl who had once torn up Chen Fangcao's textbooks with her stood at the front, holding a wine glass, a fake smile plastered on her face:
"Xinlan, I'm so sorry. We were all fooled by Li Qianqian and Chen Fangcao back then. They talked badly about you in class every day. We were young and didn't know any better, so we believed them. Please be magnanimous and don't hold it against us."
"Yeah, yeah," another boy who used to throw trash into her desk quickly chimed in.
"It's all Li Qianqian's and the others' fault! We're victims too! Look, we know we were wrong now, so please forgive us. If there are any good opportunities in the entertainment industry in the future, please give us a helping hand."
Others echoed his sentiments.
"That's right, they're all old classmates, so many years of friendship..."
"We're all on the same side, so don't forget about us when something good happens. I even got you hot water back then..."
Seeing their arrogant attitude followed by their obsequious behavior, Jiang Xinlan felt nothing but utter irony.
Back when she was being called a mistress and a whore in class, several of those people were just standing by laughing and watching the spectacle.
When she was forced to drop out of school in a sorry state, they just watched coldly and even laughed at her behind her back, saying she deserved it and that she had no choice but to become a mistress and marry a rich man.
Now that she's a big star and the daughter of the Jiang family, they all flock around her, constantly talking about their classmate friendship, as if those hurtful words from back then were never said.
Jiang Xinlan looked at them, then suddenly laughed, a cold and distant laugh: "Fooled by Li Qianqian and Chen Fangcao?"
She took a step forward, her gaze sweeping over everyone present. Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear:
"Back then, they said I was being kept by an older man, and you believed them. But did you ever consider that someone who works three jobs a day and can't even afford a new piece of clothing doesn't look like someone who's being kept?"
"Back then, when I was heavily pregnant, I went to the school to withdraw from the program. You all surrounded me, pointing and whispering. Some people threw water bottles at me, and some called me 'shameless.' Why didn't anyone say they were deceived? Why didn't anyone stand up and say, 'Maybe it's not like that'?"
"Now that I've made it big, you're all blaming her for everything and claiming you're innocent?" Jiang Xinlan's voice suddenly rose.
"You are not innocent! You are accomplices! You enjoy the thrill of bullying others, watching me being trampled into the mud, and you feel superior. Now that I've gotten back up, you want to leech off me? There's no such thing as a free lunch!"
The girl's face flushed red and then paled, and she bit her lip as she said, "Xinlan, why are you so petty? So many years have passed, we were classmates, why say such harsh things?"
"Making a fuss?" Jiang Xinlan sneered. "When you bullied me back then, why didn't you tell me not to hold it against you? When I was heavily pregnant and you were insulting me, why didn't you say we were classmates?"
"Let me tell you, I, Jiang Xinlan, am the most vengeful person in my life. I'll remember those who are good to me for a lifetime. I'll also remember those who are bad to me for a lifetime. I will never forgive what happened back then."
Her words were like a sharp knife, piercing through everyone's hypocritical masks.
The private room was deathly silent. Everyone kept their heads down, not daring to look her in the eye. Those who had just been demanding her forgiveness now wished they could disappear into the ground.
Shen Yu didn't even glance at them, took Jiang Xinlan's hand, stood up, and said calmly:
"We have something to do, so we'll be leaving now. If you ever need anything in the future, don't contact us; we're not familiar with you."
Zhang Qiang and Wang Hui quickly followed. When they reached the door, Zhang Qiang glanced back at the classmates who were looking at each other blankly, straightened his back, and strode out with Shen Yu and Jiang Xinlan.
Stepping out of the Star River Hotel, the evening breeze carries the fragrance of gardenias.
Jiang Xinlan took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, feeling as if the huge stone that had been weighing on her heart for six years had finally been lifted off her feet.
I felt much more relaxed, and even my breathing became smoother.
"Feeling better?" Shen Yu looked down at her, his eyes full of tenderness.
"Mmm." Jiang Xinlan leaned against him and nodded.
"I used to feel like those things were a thorn in my heart that I couldn't get rid of. But now that I've talked about it all, it doesn't seem like a big deal anymore. Those people aren't worth my time at all."
"That's right." Shen Yu kissed her forehead. "Cultivation is all about having clear thoughts. Today you've resolved your inner conflict, and your mental state has improved significantly. It won't be long before you break through to the first level of Qi Refining."
Jiang Xinlan was taken aback for a moment, then laughed: "So there's this kind of benefit? I should have given them a piece of my mind a long time ago."
The two smiled at each other, then took hands and got into the car.
Mr. and Mrs. Zhang sat in the back, watching the loving couple in front of them, their faces full of gratified smiles.
Over the next two days, Jiang Xinlan canceled all unnecessary activities and spent the time with Shen Yu and their family, taking their two children on a trip to Jiangcheng.
On the morning of the third day, the family drove back to Jiang Jianping's hometown.
Back then, Jiang Xinlan became pregnant out of wedlock, and the villagers gossiped about her endlessly. Only her uncle's family and her third aunt and second uncle truly cared for her.
They said harsh things, criticizing her for not respecting herself, for being pregnant out of wedlock and burdening her parents, and for being disappointed in her.
Even so, when Jiang Jianping was hospitalized in a vegetative state, Jiang Xinlan shouldered the burden of the family alone. When she was worried about Jiang Jianping's medical expenses, the cost of milk powder for the two children, and the money for food for herself and Su Hui, they still squeezed out money from their meager savings to lend her.
Although Jiang Xinlan has gradually paid off the money over the years through her work, she has always kept this kindness in her heart. Every time she comes back for the Chinese New Year, she brings them gifts and red envelopes.
This trip back was no exception.
Jiang Xinlan gave them all large red envelopes containing tens of thousands of yuan, and also carried many gifts in bags and packages.
Those villagers who used to gossip the most, upon hearing that Jiang Xinlan had become a big star and even found a wealthy father in Beijing, all flocked over, hoping to get some of her fame.
Some wanted Jiang Xinlan to help their children find jobs, while others wanted to do business with the Jiang family.
Jiang Xinlan and Shen Yu only gave a few perfunctory replies and didn't even drink the water they were offered.
The same way they kicked me when I was down is how they're treating me the same way now.
The villagers were filled with regret, but they could only slink away in disgrace.
They stayed in their hometown for one night and returned to Jiangcheng the next day. As soon as they got back, Jiang Xinlan received a call from Lin Wan.