MMB Chapter 1442 An Ran's Class Reunion
Chapter 1442 An Ran's Class Reunion
An Ran remained steadfast in her post within the intelligence department. Chen Jun deeply understood the heavy burden and hardship a woman had to bear, balancing career and family. However, An Ran never complained a single word in front of him; instead, she quietly transformed all her busyness and exhaustion into a warm smile when he returned home.
A surge of indescribable tenderness and love welled up in Chen Jun's heart. He reached out and hugged his wife tightly, as if trying to convey his understanding and apology to her through the warmth of his embrace.
The two embraced for a moment in the quiet entryway, neither speaking, only their heartbeats and breaths mingling. After a while, An Ran stirred slightly, lifting her head from Chen Jun's embrace, her eyes gleaming, and softly asked, "You...don't need to rush back to work tomorrow, right?"
"No need," Chen Jun replied firmly, gently stroking her shoulder with his thumb. "Even if I have something to do, I'll cancel it and spend some quality time with you."
"That's great!" An Ran's eyes lit up instantly, filled with anticipation and playfulness. "Perfect timing! I have a high school reunion tomorrow. Why don't you come with me to relax? One of my best friends, whom I haven't seen in years, is back this time. They... seem to be bringing their spouses. I, An Ran, am a woman with a legitimate husband, too!"
After speaking, she stepped back slightly from Chen Jun's embrace, tilted her head up, and looked at him with her clear and bright eyes, her gaze filled with expectation and a hint of barely perceptible unease.
“Of course, if you really find this kind of occasion boring, or if you have other things to do, that’s fine too.” She quickly added, her tone considerate, “I can go by myself, or I can arrange to meet up with my best friend another day. It really… has been so many years since we’ve gotten together.”
“Yes, of course I’ll go with you.” Chen Jun didn’t hesitate at all, stroking An Ran’s soft, long hair, his tone gentle yet firm, “Just consider it a break. They all brought their husbands, how can my An Ran not have her husband by her side? I have to go, to make sure you have a good impression.”
"Really? That's great!" An Ran's face lit up with a bright smile, and she quickly kissed Chen Jun on the cheek on tiptoe. "They always thought I was divorced, and every time I told them you were too busy with work to get away, they didn't seem to believe me... Are you sure you want to go?"
"Absolutely, definitely, and certainly." Chen Jun smiled and playfully pinched her nose. "Tomorrow, let them see for themselves what kind of person Comrade An Ran's husband is."
"Thank you, honey!" An Ran smiled radiantly, a sly glint in her eyes. "Then... to show my gratitude, how about I spell out a few letters for you tonight?"
The next moment, Chen Jun felt his blood rush to his head and almost had a nosebleed on the spot.
……
The following evening, Chen Jun, refreshed after a full day of rest at home, accompanied An Ran, who was dressed up, to her first classmate reunion.
Chen Jun changed into a simple dark casual suit. The suit was of good quality and well-tailored. It made him look even taller and more upright. His refined and handsome temperament between his brows could not be concealed. He looked no different from an ordinary handsome man, and his identity was well hidden.
“He looks handsome even in casual clothes,” An Ran said, linking her arm with his and examining him closely, her eyes full of admiration and pride. “My husband really does look good in anything; he has a perfect grasp of style.”
Chen Jun nodded with obvious satisfaction, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Comrade An Ran, you really have a good eye. Let's go, Xu Zhengyang's car should be waiting downstairs."
The two went downstairs together and entrusted the child to the care of their elders. Once inside the car, Xu Zhengyang, the security manager and driver, remained as calm and reliable as ever.
On the way, Chen Jun casually asked, "Are the classmates at this reunion from junior high school or high school?"
“It’s mainly high school classmates. It’s been more than ten years since we graduated, and many of them are scattered all over the country, so it’s rare for us to get together.” An Ran leaned against him, her tone tinged with emotion. “This time, it was organized by an overseas Chinese classmate who has been living abroad for many years. I didn’t really want to attend this kind of gathering, but several of my close friends from back then insisted that I attend, and I really couldn’t refuse.”
Chen Jun lowered his voice and asked with a hint of teasing, "Isn't this the same old routine? At class reunions, there's always someone still thinking about the beautiful class beauty from back then?"
Hearing this, An Ran couldn't help but laugh, her eyes crinkling into crescents: "Back in the day, your wife was indeed considered a class beauty, and quite a few people had their eyes on me, didn't they?" Her tone was relaxed, with a hint of smugness, before she tightened her grip on Chen Jun's arm. "But don't worry, that's all in the past. If anyone's too clever for their own good later, you'd better hold on tight, Chen the Great 'God of War'?"
"Hahaha..." Chen Jun was amused by her and laughed heartily, pulling his wife even tighter into his arms. In his heart, how could any man in the world compare to the woman in his arms?
The car came to a smooth stop in front of a high-end hotel. Xu Zhengyang dutifully escorted the leader and his wife safely to their destination.
An Ran, arm in arm with Chen Jun, walked familiarly towards the reserved private room. Pushing open the door, they found it empty, with only a neat round table and bright lights; none of their classmates had arrived yet.
"Are we too early?" Chen Jun asked, slightly unaccustomed to the situation. In his work schedule, it was usually others who waited for him, their superior.
"Ah! Anran! You really came! We were just betting that you probably wouldn't show up, this is great!"
A surprised female voice came from behind An Ran.
An Ran immediately turned around, a surprised smile appearing on her face: "Zhang Xinyi! It really is you! It's been more than ten years!" She warmly took the other's hand, then turned to introduce her, "Xinyi, this is my husband, Chen Jun. Husband, this is my best friend from high school, Zhang Xinyi."
Chen Jun smiled and nodded politely to Zhang Xinyi: "Hello."
Zhang Xinyi looked Chen Jun up and down, her eyes showing admiration, and said with a smile, "Anran, you have great taste! Your husband is tall and handsome, and has an outstanding temperament. He's obviously much better than mine!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Jun keenly noticed that the man standing next to Zhang Xinyi, who was of medium build, wore glasses, and had a refined appearance, had his expression change almost imperceptibly, but quickly returned to normal.
Zhang Xinyi seemed oblivious, took the man's arm, and enthusiastically introduced him: "Come, let me introduce you, this is my husband, Wang Haoran."
Just then, Chen Jun's personal cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He took it out and saw that the screen displayed the number of an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He smiled apologetically at An Ran and Zhang Xinyi, "Sorry, I need to take this work call." Then, holding his phone, he quickly walked out of the private room and into the relatively quiet corner of the corridor.
Over the phone, a colleague from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs inquired about specific details regarding troop deployment arrangements in defense cooperation with the Republic of Korea and the Goguryeo Kingdom. Despite it being private time, Chen Jun maintained a professional attitude, speaking clearly and concisely, providing principled instructions. Just as he hung up, an encrypted message from Wen Changlin came in, briefly reporting the latest unusual movements of the US military in the relevant waters.
After handling several key calls, Chen Jun put away his phone, rubbed his temples, and then turned and walked back to the private room.
Pushing open the door to the private room, the scene inside was completely different from before. The spacious room was almost full of people, men and women, about a dozen in total, chatting and laughing in small groups, creating a lively atmosphere. The air was filled with the scents of alcohol, perfume, and the boisterous atmosphere unique to long-awaited reunions.
Chen Jun stood at the door, his gaze sweeping quickly and calmly across the room. Years of professional experience allowed him to almost instantly spot the focal point of the crowd.
He was a man around thirty-five or thirty-six years old, dressed in a well-tailored suit, with an expensive watch on his wrist, surrounded by several classmates like a star. His voice was loud and clear, carrying a deliberately ostentatious confidence, or even a sense of superiority.
"...Let me tell you, I'm so glad I made the decisive decision to study abroad back then, otherwise, I would never have achieved what I have today. The job market in China, tsk, it's really incomparable. There are fewer opportunities, a lower ceiling, and the salaries are worlds apart." He swirled the red wine in his glass and spoke eloquently, "And then there's the culture in the Chinese workplace, especially in some companies, where seniority is strictly enforced. There are too many leaders who don't have any real skills and just rely on their seniority, which stifles development."
The student, referred to as "Wang Hao," continued with obvious arrogance on his face: "It's not just about jobs and opportunities, but also the living environment. The air abroad is filled with the fragrance of flowers and the feeling of freedom. What about in China? In many ways, it still falls short."
"Wang Hao, your annual salary must be several times ours now, right? There's really no comparison." A male classmate next to him chimed in, his tone tinged with envy and self-deprecation. "The domestic economic situation is not good right now, and the income in our line of work has also decreased. The pressure is immense."
"So, if you have the opportunity and the ability, you should try to go abroad as much as possible." Wang Hao summarized with the tone of someone who had been there, as if he had grasped the true meaning of life. "The outside world is a vast place where you can achieve great things. The domestic market is subject to various technological blockades and is also highly competitive. To be honest, there is not much hope."
As he spoke, seemingly to prove his success, he casually placed a luxury car key with a prominent logo on the table, making a slight cracking sound. "I've accumulated some resources outside. If any of my classmates are really interested in going out to develop their careers, they can talk to me. If I can help, I definitely will."
Sitting next to Wang Hao was another man with the same "returned overseas student" air about him. They were about the same age and shared the same arrogant demeanor. However, when his gaze swept over An Ran's direction, a hint of undisguised, unsettling covetousness would flash in his eyes.
The students sitting around reacted in different ways. Some remained silent, some looked embarrassed, while others smiled and flattered, nodding in agreement. The scene became somewhat awkward for a moment.
In this atmosphere centered around Wang Hao, a mixture of boasting, agreement, and subtle silence, a deep, clear voice, tinged with obvious coldness, abruptly broke through, instantly shattering the existing rhythm:
"If you think the air abroad smells good, and even 'shit' has a unique flavor, then why bother coming back? Why not just stay there and enjoy it to the fullest?"
The voice wasn't loud, but it was like an ice cube thrown into warm water, instantly quieting the lively private room.
Everyone turned around in astonishment, only to see Chen Jun standing near the center of the private room. His face was calm, with hardly any extra expression, but his upright posture, his deep and unfathomable eyes, and the invisible aura he naturally exuded—aura that comes from long-term high positions and experience of trials and tribulations—made him exude a strong and undeniable sense of intimidation, even in his simple casual clothes.
An Ran's face immediately lit up with a smile when she saw Chen Jun, as if she hadn't heard his barbed words or cared about the suddenly cooled atmosphere. She stood up, walked quickly to Chen Jun's side, and affectionately and naturally took his arm, introducing him to the classmates in a clear voice:
"Honey, where have you been? I've been looking everywhere for you!" She turned to the crowd and said gracefully, "Let me formally introduce you all. This is my husband, Chen Jun. Honey, these are all my high school classmates. You're probably meeting many of them for the first time, aren't you?"
Chen Jun smiled gently at An Ran, nodded, and then calmly swept his gaze over everyone present as a greeting, saying in a nonchalant tone, "I was outside just now and received two urgent work calls to handle some matters."
In the crowd, Wang Hao, who had just been bluntly rebuked, now had a dark expression. He stared at Chen Jun, then glanced at An Ran, who was intimately acquainted with Chen Jun. His displeasure and a hint of offended anger became even more pronounced after hearing the term "husband." He snorted coldly, sizing up Chen Jun, his tone clearly hostile and provocative:
"Not bad, quite the boast. No wonder you're so 'arrogant,' turns out you're the husband of our school beauty, An Ran." He deliberately emphasized "school beauty" and "husband," his tone laced with sarcasm. "Didn't you just ask me why I came back to China? Fine, since you're so 'curious,' I'll tell you the answer in front of our old classmates!"
Wang Hao looked at Chen Jun and said calmly, "Originally, I wanted to interact with you as an ordinary person, but I was met with indifference and misunderstanding. Fine, I'll be frank. Right now, I'm a senior executive at Goldman Sachs in China. That's why I came back to China."
"Holy crap, this is Goldman Sachs, a Fortune 200 company! Wang Hao, you've actually made it to a high-level executive position? But you're just hanging on to someone else's coattails, like I'm going to hang on to one of them?"
Wang Hao shrugged, struck a pose like Gao Qisheng, and said, "Welcome to Goldman Sachs."