Generally speaking, class reunions don’t lack conversation’s topics.
All kinds of love stories in that innocent time, whether sad or happy, all flooded into everyone’s memories.
Some recited the poems they wrote, some sang the songs they composed, and also some asked where their loved ones were now, and then they would turn their heads and burst into tears.
Of course, there were those who showed off their accomplishments by telling others that they had bought a fancy apartment, and then another person showed off his wealth by deliberately saying that he had two apartments.
It was a special party, not was a social one, and not exactly a casual chat between schoolmates. Anyway everyone had a good time.
After chatting for a while, everyone was a little drunk.
“Nala, why did you drop out of school at that time? Where have you been? Studying abroad?” Feng Shen asked me suddenly.
“It’s a long story, a little sad.” I said.
“Was it something unfortunate that happened?” Feng asked.
It was a really hard question for me, and I felt awkward answering it, but Feng Shen just kept asking me.
“When my mother passed away, I was in a bad mood, so I stopped studying,” I managed to say.
“I’m sorry for mentioning that,” Feng said.
“It’s okay, it’s been a long time, I’m not very sad anymore.” I said with a smile.
“It was an open secret in our dormitory that then Feng liked you, because he had been splashed with foot-washing water by you. It can be said that he bonded with you because of the foot-washing water.”
Suddenly people laughed together, even Feng laughed along with them.
The embarrassing events of the past were all funny memories today.
“Splashing water should have been done by a student from the dormitory, I can’t do that kind of thing, and that water isn’t necessarily foot washing water.” I explained with a smile.
“Nala, what line of work are you in now?” Feng asked me.
“I work for a company.” I answered with a smile.
“Which company? I still know more about the company in Hai City.” Feng Shen asked again.
“I’m at Hai City Telecom.” I answered.
“A company owned by Hua Corporation. The owner is Leon Hua.” He said.
I nodded.
“Leon Hua? The name sounds so familiar.” A man said.
Although Leon was famous, he still belonged to the upper class. If you didn’t get into that class, you wouldn’t know him.
“I met him once, arrogant and domineering. He thinks he’s a rich second generation, so he looked down his nose at everybody” Feng said through the wine.
It seemed he had a stereotype about Leon Hua.
But he was right. Leon Hua had always been described by people as being too arrogant. It made people not like him at all.
“Then wouldn’t it be a lot of pressure for you to work in his company?” Another man was very sympathetic to me.
“It’s quite stressful,” I said with a nod, then tried to change the subject, “Actually every boss has their own personality I guess, and one may feel stressed no matter who he works for. Do you guys ever go back to your alma mater?” I changed the topic suddenly at the end of my talk.
Yet they were less interested in talking about their alma mater, while another alumnus went on to discuss Leon Hua, “I saw this Leon Hua online. He looks serious, but he is super handsome.”
“You girls only look at the looks of guys. What’s the point of being handsome?” The other man retorted.
I was also speechless why they keep discussing Leon. Too much topics about Leon was bound to lead to conflicts.
“It’s not important whether a man is handsome or not. The most important thing is that Leon Hua is not only handsome but also rich. It’s normal for a man with a lot of money to be a bit grumpy.” An alumna said.
This time male’s and female’s views diverged, both sides argued on this issue. Finally the topic of Leon Hua was bypassed, I was relieved.
But the topic quickly came back. A female alumna said, “The rich men nowadays are not loyal to marriage. I remembered that there are rumors on the Internet that Leon Hua even had a mistress. He also opened a bridal shop for his mistress. It was all over the internet, and it was on a local hot search before.”
Again, I was speechless. Did they have to keep gossiping about Leon? What could I do to stop them?
“For them, opening a bridal shop for a mistress is perfectly normal. And he’s handsome and rich, there must be many women who are willing to be his mistress.”
Finally Feng Shen made concluding remarks, “I also run a company. Where the energy is spent, the achievement is where it is. Leon Hua’s personal life is so terrible, how can he run the company well? He’s completely dependent on his father. I’m afraid his company would have gone bankrupt if Hua Corporation hadn’t backed him up.”
After hearing his words, I was a little angry. For all of Leon’s faults, he was not the incompetent dude he claimed to be.
Leon Hua runs Hai City Telecom, which was the most profitable subsidiary of Hua Corporation, a fact that even Hua Corporation admitted internally.
I was hesitant whether I should refute him.
I approached him to convince him to sell the company to Hai City Telecom. If I started arguing with him right now over his negative comments about Leon, how can I continue this conversation with him? I had to listen to him incorrect comments about Leon, but I can’t stand it. After all, Leon wasn’t the one that he said.
I took a deep breath and decided not to argue with him.
But I was willing to put up with it, but people wouldn’t let me.
An alumni said, “Nala works for Leon Hua and she knows more about him. She has more to say. We should listen to her.”
So all eyes were on me, they were all waiting for me to come up with an objective comment.
I eventually couldn’t escape, and after thinking a while, I said, “Leon Hua does have a bad temper and he is vain, but he’s not without merit. Hai City Telecom is the largest contributor to profits of all Hua Corporation’s subsidiaries.”
“You speak highly of him. Do you like your boss?” someone said.
I didn’t explain, I just laughed.
Then my phone suddenly rang, and it was Leon Hua’s call.
“Where are you? Why aren’t you home?” Leon asked as soon as I answered the phone.
“I’m eating out with a friend. I’ll be back soon.”
“What friend? Where do you eat?” Leon pursued.
“My schoolmates.” I implied Leon that I was having dinner with Feng Shen. He was aware that Feng Shen was my alumni.
“Text me the location and I’ll come get you.” Leon said.
I couldn’t send him my location, or I’d be a little embarrassed if these people knew about Leon Hua’s relationship with me.