Upon seeing Lin Wanrong's shabby attire, the literati immediately regained their haughty demeanor. The pleasant self-perception was restored to them, and they completely disregarded Lin Wanrong's appearance. Instead, they found immense confidence in his shabbiness, and one by one, they began to make sarcastic remarks.
Before entering this world, Lin Wanrong served as the marketing department manager in a moderately-sized company. Graduating from university at the age of twenty-one, he diligently worked for four years, becoming the youngest department manager at the age of twenty-five. He encountered a variety of characters during this time.
Observing the gazes of those around him, Lin Wanrong knew exactly what they were thinking. Suppressing a cold laugh in his heart, he realized that the disdain for the poor and admiration for the rich had a long history. This phenomenon transcended eras and was not unique to his previous world.
The three painted boats of Lord Hou gradually departed, and the onlookers dispersed. The women beside Lin Wanrong stole a glance at him and left with flushed faces.
Seeing that the scenery on the lake remained unchanged, Lin Wanrong couldn't help but find it amusing. During his university days, he had witnessed countless scenes of courting, and compared to those, Lord Hou's confession seemed quite childish.
A faint nostalgia swept over Lin Wanrong's heart as he recalled his former dormitory brothers and his first girlfriend. Memories of the night she looked at him with desperate pain upon their breakup resurfaced.
Although she had gone to the United States, Lin Wanrong knew she harbored deep feelings for him. She had repeatedly asked him to go with her, even preparing visas and tickets, but he ruthlessly rejected her.
In the context of Peking University and Tsinghua, going abroad was fashionable. However, Lin Wanrong chose a different path, not opting for prominent companies but selecting a moderately-sized one.
He had a profound attachment to his hometown, and Lin Wanrong believed a single phrase of his would remain unforgettable to his ex-girlfriend: "I don't want to see the world through my black eyes, which, in their view, appears blue."
When she boarded the plane, Lin Wanrong didn't go to the airport. It wasn't that he was heartless, but he didn't know what to say. It was her choice, and everyone had to take responsibility for their actions.
He heard that she cried profusely, almost missing the flight. Aside from feeling a pang of heartache, Lin Wanrong also experienced a sense of satisfaction in retaliation. Who said men couldn't be petty?
In the four years that followed, Lin Wanrong worked hard, both in his career and in pursuing romantic interests. While his career flourished, his girlfriends changed frequently. "I'm not a sentimental person by nature," Lin Wanrong would often say with a smile to his friends.
His comfortable and carefree life changed when a certain girl joined the company. Holding the title of deputy general manager, she happened to be Lin Wanrong's superior. For some inexplicable reason, she targeted him at every turn, never showing him a friendly face.
If it weren't for her father's face, Lin Wanrong would have dealt with her a long time ago. By the way, the father of this girl happened to be the chairman of the company.
Thinking of that annoying girl, Lin Wanrong gritted his teeth. If not for her, how could he end up in this wretched place? Recalling the moment he fell from the top of Mount Tai, her expression seemed off, as if in pain. Yes, very painful. In a daze, Lin Wanrong remembered her pulling him, as if trying to pull him up, or maybe he pulled her, and then it seemed she followed him down.
Of course, these were uncertain memories. At that time, Lin Wanrong was already disoriented, unable to distinguish between directions. These hazy memories couldn't confirm what actually happened.
Lin Wanrong wouldn't believe that the girl jumped down by herself. Falling off Mount Tai, she probably felt delighted. Lin Wanrong grumbled about the girl for a while, then decided not to think about her. Since he had arrived, he had adopted a local's perspective to care about and consider the issues.
"The warm breeze intoxicates the tourists, mistaking Hangzhou for Bianzhou." Lin Wanrong recited softly. The current scene and mood perfectly matched this line. As for the poet who composed this verse, it wasn't important. In this place, anything recited by Lin Wanrong belonged to him.
Shameless, invincible!
As a market manager who fought on the frontlines year-round, Lin Wanrong had seen all sorts of shameless things. Compared to those dirty and shameless underground transactions, reciting a poem made Lin Wanrong feel as pure as a virgin in a naive circle.
Watching yet another literati being invited onto the boats of wealthy young ladies on Xuanwu Lake for "sincere talks," Lin Wanrong thought about his current miserable situation. He spat disdainfully into the lake, wishing that his disdainful saliva would drown these reckless guys who pursued women.
"Ah, 'the warm breeze intoxicates the tourists, mistaking Hangzhou for Bianzhou.' Brother, this line is truly exquisite, extremely exquisite." A crisp voice sounded behind Lin Wanrong, accompanied by the rhythmic tapping of a small fan against a palm. Surprisingly, someone was praising him.
The clear voice slowly repeated the poem he had just recited, and there was a considerable amount of admiration in the tone.
Finally, someone appreciates me, Lin Wanrong chuckled inwardly, feeling somewhat proud. Although I didn't write this poem, I can recite it. I'm not simple. Lin Wanrong's father was a Chinese language teacher in a rural elementary school. Since childhood, to enhance his memory, he had recited numerous classical Chinese poems and verses.
Lin Wanrong turned around slowly, and there stood a stunning young gentleman with powdered skin, smiling at him.
The reason for using the term "stunning" was because this young gentleman truly lived up to it.
Slender willow eyebrows, phoenix eyes, lips like vermillion dots, eyes like morning stars, holding a white fan in hand, dressed in a light yellow robe, he stood there like a willow gently swaying in the wind, exuding an indescribable charm.
Although Lin Wanrong hadn't seen Song Yu and Pan An, he estimated that those two fellows couldn't compare to the current stunning young gentleman.
Despite Lin Wanrong considering himself handsome, he had been here for just over a month and still had a strong aversion to this environment. Another reason was that this guy emitted an air of cosmetic elegance, clearly a rich young master who enjoyed lounging in the chambers. Compared to Lin Wanrong's rugged prince charming style, they were entirely different.
So, in terms of elegance, Lin Wanrong truly couldn't compete. In this month, among all the young masters and misses he had encountered, not one could match this stunning young gentleman by even a tenth.
Beside the stunning young gentleman stood a delicate young servant, also exceptionally handsome.