[Chapter 190]
"I know him! He's my classmate from high school. What's wrong, Gerald? We haven't seen each other for around three years now. Have you forgotten about me?"
Lilian said in surprise. But other than surprise, she seemed to be filled with a kind of sarcasm at that moment, mocking Gerald.
It was the kind of feeling one had when she finally realized that the person whom she thought had long disappeared appeared in front of her again. After so many years, the b*stard whom she thought had long been dead appeared out of nowhere. She was filled with that kind of surprise.
In fact, looking at Lilian like that, Gerald was stunned too. He was tongue-tied…
Certainly, he knew who Lilian was. They were in the same class since sophomore year. When they were about to go into different courses in junior high, they were put in the same class again.
At that moment, Lilian seemed to be the art committee member. She was good at singing and dancing.
However, there was nothing special in their relationship back then.
A girl like Lilian would certainly like those boys whose families were rich and were esteemed in high school. Gerald did not have those qualities.
Further, their school was located in town, and Lilian was a resident there. So her taste and family background did not allow her to befriend a person like Gerald.
For three years in high school, the things they said to each other were less than what they said to each other when they met each coincidentally there at the school just now.
So they certainly did not keep in touch with each other after they graduated from high school.
Although Gerald noticed Lilian's disdainful gaze just now, he still cherished things of old.
"Yes, we haven't met each other for three years now. I almost couldn't recognize you. You're so much prettier now!"
Gerald smiled slightly.
"Hey! It's indeed been a long time. Even you can learn how to praise others. But why did I feel quite awkward about it, listening to your praises?"Lilian crossed her arms around her chest and smiled coldly.
"Lilian, let's introduce him to us since he's your old classmate…"
That woman noticed that Gerald appeared pleasing to the eye, so she smiled and said directly.
"What the hell! Fiona, could you please stop fawning on every man you met all the time? Do you know what kind of a person Gerald was during my high school?"
'Oh my god!' Lilian was tongue-tied.
Her best friend always acted like that. She was obsessed with finding herself a boyfriend every time she met a slightly handsome man.
But she thought that Fiona really needed to keep her eyes open.
Lilian could not help but admit that Gerald was indeed quite handsome, but he was just a…
"What's wrong?"
"Gerald was an infamous poor person back in high school. Do you know what he usually ate during lunch hour at that time? He ate only plain bread with a few pickled vegetables. Besides, his uniform was so shabby that the pants around his knees were all torn. He even put patches on them. But he did not even want to buy a new uniform!"
"What? How is it possible that there's such a poor person?"
The beautiful woman——Fiona stuck out her tongue, claiming that she was indeed frightened and shocked.
"I don't believe you! Lilian, are you exaggerating the facts?"
That man smiled bitterly. "If I was as poor as that, I think it's better if I kill myself!"
"What? Was I exaggerating the facts? Gerald, tell them whether what I said is true."
Lilian became anxious.
She just wanted to prove to the others that she was right. Regarding how he condemned Gerald and upset him, Lilian did not even think about it. For her, Gerald was just a gossip topic.
Gerald sneered. "Yes, it's true!"
Gerald smiled faintly, realizing that Lilian's temper and characteristics had not changed at all.
Although she annoyed him, he did not appear angry at all.
After all, what Lilian said just now was true. He did not care even if they looked down on him given that it was meaningless if he exposed his real identity and showed off his wealth before them.
"By the way, Lilian, why did you come to this school? From what I see, are you the teacher here? Did you find your job so soon?"
Gerald asked her. When he left the conference hall, he found that all of the teachers there were in that uniform.
"Yes, we completed our internship fast. Besides, I have a teacher qualification certificate. Certainly, I get it all done and settled.
From now on, I'll be leading a life here in this big city——Mayberry. How about you? I heard that you're studying at Mayberry University. Have you found a job yet?"
After all, Lilian was quite mature now after all those years. Although she looked down on Gerald, she still inquired after him politely.
"Me? Not yet. I'm still wondering what I should do from now on!"
Lilian smiled.
"To be frank, Gerald, I thought that you'll be much improved after you went to college. Surprisingly… If you couldn't do it, just return to your hometown. See if you could find a job in the town. If not, you could always return to your village and buy some land. You can start with farming or something else. That's how university students nowadays start their business!"
Lilian crossed her arms around her chest. Right from the start, she felt that Gerald was a good-for-nothing. After having a casual conversation with him, her opinion of him worsened.
He was about to go for an internship, but he still did not know what kind of thing he wanted to do in the future.
Looking at how Lilian advised him, he only smiled bitterly and nodded repeatedly.
Beside them, that man nodded too. He then said, "What you said is right. It's difficult for university students to find a job nowadays. Some small companies do not have a promising future. The large companies want only the talented ones. Just look at Mayberry university, only the most exceptional ones will be able to find good jobs. How about the others? They either rely on some connections or their families in order to have a promising future."
Another girl beside them added, "That's true. The people who suffer the most are the ones like Gerald. He doesn't even have the capabilities and eloquence. Besides, he's quite poor both economically and in the cultural aspect too."
They were immersed in a heated discussion, and Gerald stood there having nothing to do.
At last, Gerald managed to say something after they were done. "Are the four of you the newly recruited teachers here? It's not bad indeed. The salary given is quite good too since the investor has provided a huge amount of funds. The living arrangement which they prepared is quite good too!"
Gerald just wanted to chat with her as an old school mate.
"What the hell? Gerald, don't pretend that you know a lot here. You said those things just because you want to show off in front of us. I'm well aware of that. What do you have to be so smug about? I know about your situation clearly. Do you want me to spill everything?"
Lilian said rather helplessly.
Gerald only touched his nose slightly and smiled bitterly.
"By the way, let me tell you something since we bumped into each other here today…"
At that moment, Lilian looked up, as if she had thought about something.