Lin Yu strolled toward the corner of the wall and circled around the father and son duo. After scratching his chin contemplatively, he squatted down to observe Li Tianyu. Li Tianyu's head had swelled into a sizable bump, resembling an exaggerated version of a unicorn—both amusing and alarming. Nevertheless, Lin Yu acted with discretion; he wouldn't go to the extent of causing grievous harm.
"My dear blockhead, reciprocity is key. For someone of your ilk, if I don't impart a profound lesson, it seems unlikely that you'd retain any wisdom. I'm regretful; your pleasant days are drawing to a close," Lin Yu retrieved his phone and, after a few taps, found his wife's number. With a glance, he etched it clearly in his memory—so long as he didn't wish to forget, it would remain indelible in his mind.
"Well, why don't you take a rest and recuperate your spirits?" Lin Yu smirked, slinging his bag over his shoulder and departing.
Emerging from the alley, he glanced around, finding no one particularly attentive. Lin Yu strode along the roadside, disappearing swiftly within the bustling crowd.
A brief physical maneuver earlier had inadvertently loosened the seam of his clothing around the armpit. Raising his arm caused a gust of air to stream through, refreshing but drawing persistent gazes from passersby. Lin Yu found this attention somewhat awkward. He needed to purchase a couple of garments.
While he typically leaned toward an air of sophistication, his current appearance was proving quite the eyesore for onlookers. This made him feel somewhat embarrassed.
After traversing a distance, he noticed a nearby department store and promptly entered. Even if he didn't plan to change, the piercing stares of passersby, mistaking him for someone else, made it imperative. He felt extremely uncomfortable being a conspicuous focus at every turn. This spotlight, in particular, made him exceedingly uneasy.
Since a change was in order, he decided on a complete overhaul, changing both clothes and shoes. It was better than parading around in a shabby outfit, inviting disdain.
Ascending to the third floor, he reached the sports brand section. Being quite patriotic, Lin Yu randomly selected a Li-Ning store, opting for a T-shirt paired with sport pants. He retired to the fitting room, discarding his previous attire. Sitting on a resting sofa, as he bent down to change his shoes, a voice beside him exclaimed in surprise, "Lin Yu?!"
Lifting his head, he paused for a moment, then smiled, "Xiao Yibin, what a coincidence. Are you also out for a stroll?"
Opposite him stood a young man of a similar age to Lin Yu, around twenty-three or twenty-four, wearing glasses and adorned in a well-fitted suit with polished leather shoes, giving off a distinctly professional vibe.
He was Xiao Yibin, Lin Yu's high school classmate. Back then, his family's financial circumstances weren't particularly affluent; both parents were unemployed laborers. However, after so many years, Lin Yu was unsure of his current occupation. During their school days, they had a good relationship and shared many conversations.
Judging by his appearance, Xiao Yibin seemed to have done quite well for himself. Lin Yu felt genuinely pleased for him. By Xiao Yibin's side was a lady of similar age, their intertwined fingers signaling their status as a couple.
The girl possessed an average appearance and a slender build, quite ordinary in the crowd. Her face bore light makeup, neither remarkable nor unattractive, simply blending into the masses.
Her slightly slanted eyes carried an inexplicable air of superiority. Additionally, her thin lips indicated a sharpness, the kind that could render one speechless with a single remark. Simultaneously, she deliberately flaunted a large diamond ring on her right middle finger, an unspoken display of status.
With two shopping bags in hand, she was also perusing the mall. At this moment, she frowned, particularly when she noticed Lin Yu changing his clothes and shoes nearby. Disdain flashed briefly in her eyes.
"Ah, Lin Yu, from afar, I could discern it was you. Still as independent and distinctive as ever," Xiao Yibin chuckled, extending his hands as if to embrace him. After all, they were old classmates who hadn't seen each other in many years.
However, his girlfriend tugged him and shot a glare, prompting Xiao Yibin to retract his gesture awkwardly.
Lin Yu originally intended to stand up to shake hands or offer a hug, but seeing the girl's reaction to him—akin to encountering a toad—he merely shrugged, dropping the idea.
With a faint smile, he adjusted his clothing and dumped the torn clothes and shoes with broken seams into the shopping bag. He handed the money to the salesperson for payment, jesting, "You remain as you were, fond of commenting on others."
His initially playful remark irked Xiao Yibin's girlfriend slightly. She glared at Lin Yu, sneered, and pulled Xiao Yibin's hand, remarking, "Yibin, let's go. My dad is hosting a celebration for your civil service exam success tonight. He's invited a few leaders for dinner. You don't have time to chat with some idle and worthless person here, do you?" She huffed with an air of arrogance and sharpness, characteristics Lin Yu had correctly observed in her.
Lin Yu shook his head inwardly. Clearly, she came from a family with considerable influence, perhaps holding a government position or involved in significant business dealings.
From her insinuations, it seemed his classmate had managed to climb up the social ladder.
However, he had no inclination to argue with an immature girl—des
pite being close in age, his mental maturity likely doubled the sum of these two before him. Having seen through the ways of the world, there was no point in engaging with them.
Upon hearing his girlfriend's words, Xiao Yibin's expression changed. His eyes harbored a hint of anger, but when he turned, he saw his girlfriend glaring at him. His anger instantly dissipated, replaced by a forced smile, which left Lin Yu feeling rather disinterested.
Nevertheless, it was indeed a joyful occurrence for an old classmate to secure a civil service job, a guaranteed livelihood. Lin Yu patted his shoulder, chuckled, "Yibin, congratulations on passing the civil service exam. Remarkable achievement."
Xiao Yibin's face brightened. Regardless of the situation, satisfying a bit of vanity in front of an old classmate was a joyful thing.